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Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of... Jul 2023Morus alba is a fast-growing shrub or medium-sized tree with a straight, cylindrical trunk. Medicinally, whole plants, leaves, fruits, branches, and roots have been... (Review)
Review
Morus alba is a fast-growing shrub or medium-sized tree with a straight, cylindrical trunk. Medicinally, whole plants, leaves, fruits, branches, and roots have been employed. Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were used to search for relevant material on the phytochemical components and pharmacologic and mechanism of action of the Morus alba. This was reviewed to assess important updates about Morus alba. The fruits of Morus alba have traditionally been used as an analgesic, anthelmintic, antibacterial, anti-rheumatic, diuretic, hypotensive, hypoglycemia, purgative, restorative, sedative tonic, and blood stimulant. Various plant parts were used as a cooling, sedating, diuretic, tonic, and astringent agent to treat nerve disorders. The plant contained tannins, steroids, phytosterols, sitosterol, glycosides, alkaloids, carbohydrates, proteins, and amino acids, as well as saponins, triterpenes, phenolics, flavonoids, benzofuran derivatives, anthocyanins, anthraquinones, glycosides, vitamins, and minerals. Previous pharmacological research identified antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunological, analgesic, antipyretic, antioxidant, anti-cancer, antidiabetic, gastrointestinal, respiratory, cardiovascular, hypolipidemic, anti-obesity, dermatological, neurological, muscular, and protecting effects. This study looked at Morus alba's traditional uses, chemical components, and pharmacological effects.
Topics: Anthocyanins; Plant Extracts; Alkaloids; Phytochemicals; Anti-Infective Agents; Caffeine
PubMed: 36877269
DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02434-4 -
Pharmaceutical Biology Dec 2023Sieb. et Zucc (Polygonaceae), the root of which is included in the Chinese Pharmcopoeia under the name 'Huzhang', has a long history as a medicinal plant and vegetable.... (Review)
Review
CONTEXT
Sieb. et Zucc (Polygonaceae), the root of which is included in the Chinese Pharmcopoeia under the name 'Huzhang', has a long history as a medicinal plant and vegetable. has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of inflammation, hyperlipemia, etc.
OBJECTIVE
This article reviews the pharmacological action and the clinical applications of and its extracts, whether or . We also summarized the main phytochemical constituents and pharmacokinetics of and its extracts.
METHODS
The data were retrieved from major medical databases, such as CNKI, PubMed, and SinoMed, from 2014 to 2022. , pharmacology, toxicity, clinical application, and pharmacokinetics were used as keywords.
RESULTS
The rhizomes, leaves, and flowers of have different phytochemical constituents. The plant contains flavonoids, anthraquinones, and stilbenes. and the extracts have anti-inflammatory, antioxidation, anticancer, heart protection, and other pharmacological effects. It is used in the clinics to treat dizziness, headaches, traumatic injuries, and water and fire burns.
CONCLUSIONS
has the potential to treat many diseases, such as arthritis, ulcerative colitis, asthma, and cardiac hypertrophy. It has a broad range of medicinal applications, but mainly focused on root medication; its aerial parts should receive more attention. Pharmacokinetics also need to be further investigated.
Topics: Fallopia japonica; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Phytochemicals; Polygonum
PubMed: 36620922
DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2022.2158349 -
Biomolecules Jun 2023Fungi in the genus occur in every environment in both terrestrial and marine contexts, where they have been quite frequently found in association with plants and... (Review)
Review
Fungi in the genus occur in every environment in both terrestrial and marine contexts, where they have been quite frequently found in association with plants and animals. The relationships of symbiotic fungi with their hosts are often mediated by bioactive secondary metabolites, and species represent a prolific source of these compounds. This review highlights the biosynthetic potential of marine-derived strains, using accounts from the literature published since 2016. Over 500 secondary metabolites were extracted from axenic cultures of these isolates and about 45% of them were identified as new products, representing a various assortment of chemical classes such as alkaloids, meroterpenoids, isocoumarins, anthraquinones, xanthones, phenalenones, benzofurans, azaphilones, and other polyketides. This impressive chemodiversity and the broad range of biological properties that have been disclosed in preliminary assays qualify these fungi as a valuable source of products to be exploited for manifold biotechnological applications.
Topics: Animals; Talaromyces; Biological Products; Polyketides; Biotechnology; Isocoumarins
PubMed: 37509057
DOI: 10.3390/biom13071021 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2023Anthraquinones are bioactive natural products, which are often found in medicinal herbs. These compounds exert antioxidant-related pharmacological actions including... (Review)
Review
Anthraquinones are bioactive natural products, which are often found in medicinal herbs. These compounds exert antioxidant-related pharmacological actions including neuroprotective effects, anti-inflammation, anticancer, hepatoprotective effects and anti-aging, etc. Considering the benefits from their pharmacological use, recently, there was an upsurge in the development and utilization of anthraquinones as reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulators. In this review, a deep discussion was carried out on their antioxidant activities and the structure-activity relationships. The antioxidant mechanisms and the chemistry behind the antioxidant activities of both natural and synthesized compounds were furtherly explored and demonstrated. Due to the specific chemical activity of ROS, antioxidants are essential for human health. Therefore, the development of reagents that regulate the imbalance between ROS formation and elimination should be more extensive and rational, and the exploration of antioxidant mechanisms of anthraquinones may provide new therapeutic tools and ideas for various diseases mediated by ROS.
Topics: Humans; Antioxidants; Reactive Oxygen Species; Anthraquinones; Structure-Activity Relationship
PubMed: 38138627
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28248139 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2023Insulin resistance presents a formidable public health challenge that is intricately linked to the onset and progression of various chronic ailments, including diabetes,... (Review)
Review
Insulin resistance presents a formidable public health challenge that is intricately linked to the onset and progression of various chronic ailments, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cancer. Effectively addressing insulin resistance is paramount in preventing and managing these metabolic disorders. Natural herbal remedies show promise in combating insulin resistance, with anthraquinone extracts garnering attention for their role in enhancing insulin sensitivity and treating diabetes. Anthraquinones are believed to ameliorate insulin resistance through diverse pathways, encompassing activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway, restoration of insulin signal transduction, attenuation of inflammatory pathways, and modulation of gut microbiota. This comprehensive review aims to consolidate the potential anthraquinone compounds that exert beneficial effects on insulin resistance, elucidating the underlying mechanisms responsible for their therapeutic impact. The evidence discussed in this review points toward the potential utilization of anthraquinones as a promising therapeutic strategy to combat insulin resistance and its associated metabolic diseases.
PubMed: 38053837
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1275430 -
RSC Medicinal Chemistry Aug 2023With the increasing prevalence of untreatable infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the discovery of new drugs from natural products has become a hot... (Review)
Review
With the increasing prevalence of untreatable infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the discovery of new drugs from natural products has become a hot research topic. The antibacterial activity of anthraquinones widely distributed in traditional Chinese medicine has attracted much attention. Herein, the structure and activity relationships (SARs) of anthraquinones as bacteriostatic agents are reviewed and elucidated. The substituents of anthraquinone and its derivatives are closely related to their antibacterial activities. The stronger the polarity of anthraquinone substituents is, the more potent the antibacterial effects appear. The presence of hydroxyl groups is not necessary for the antibacterial activity of hydroxyanthraquinone derivatives. Substitution of di-isopentenyl groups can improve the antibacterial activity of anthraquinone derivatives. The rigid plane structure of anthraquinone lowers its water solubility and results in the reduced activity. Meanwhile, the antibacterial mechanisms of anthraquinone and its analogs are explored, mainly including biofilm formation inhibition, destruction of the cell wall, endotoxin inhibition, inhibition of nucleic acid and protein synthesis, and blockage of energy metabolism and other substances.
PubMed: 37593578
DOI: 10.1039/d3md00116d -
Nature Communications Jan 2024Industrial hydrogen peroxide (HO) is synthesized using carbon-intensive H gas production and purification, anthraquinone hydrogenation, and anthrahydroquinone oxidation....
Industrial hydrogen peroxide (HO) is synthesized using carbon-intensive H gas production and purification, anthraquinone hydrogenation, and anthrahydroquinone oxidation. Electrochemical hydrogenation (ECH) of anthraquinones offers a carbon-neutral alternative for generating HO using renewable electricity and water instead of H gas. However, the HO formation rates associated with ECH are too low for commercialization. We report here that a membrane reactor enabled us to electrochemically hydrogenate anthraquinone (0.25 molar) with a current efficiency of 70% at current densities of 100 milliamperes per square centimeter. We also demonstrate continuous HO synthesis from the hydrogenated anthraquinones over the course of 48 h. This study presents a fast rate of electrochemically-driven anthraquinone hydrogenation (1.32 ± 0.14 millimoles per hour normalized per centimeter squared of geometric surface of electrode), and provides a pathway toward carbon-neutral HO synthesis.
PubMed: 38278793
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44741-1 -
Phytomedicine : International Journal... Oct 2023Experimental studies emphasize the therapeutic potential of plant-derived photosensitizers used in photodynamic therapy. Moreover, several in vitro and in vivo research... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Experimental studies emphasize the therapeutic potential of plant-derived photosensitizers used in photodynamic therapy. Moreover, several in vitro and in vivo research present the promising roles of less-known anthraquinones that can selectively target cancer cells and eliminate them after light irradiation. This literature review summarizes the current knowledge of chosen plant-based-photosensitizers in PDT to show the results of emodin, aloe-emodin, parietin, rubiadin, hypericin, and soranjidiol in photodynamic therapy of cancer treatment and describe the comprehensive perspective of their role as natural photosensitizers.
METHODS
Literature searches of chosen anthraquinones were conducted on PubMed.gov with keywords: "emodin", "aloe-emodin", "hypericin", "parietin", "rubiadin", "soranjidiol" with "cancer" and "photodynamic therapy".
RESULTS
According to literature data, this review concentrated on all existing in vitro and in vivo studies of emodin, aloe-emodin, parietin, rubiadin, soranjidiol used as natural photosensitizers emphasizing their effectiveness and detailed mechanism of action in anticancer therapy. Moreover, comprehensive preclinical and clinical studies on hypericin reveal that the above-described substances may be included in the phototoxic treatment of different cancers.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, this review presented less-known anthraquinones with their promising molecular mechanisms of action. It is expected that in the future they may be used as natural PSs in cancer treatment as well as hypericin.
Topics: Photosensitizing Agents; Anthraquinones
PubMed: 37603973
DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155035 -
Biotechnology Advances 2023Dye-decolorizing Peroxidases (DyPs) are heme-containing enzymes in fungi and bacteria that catalyze the reduction of hydrogen peroxide to water with concomitant... (Review)
Review
Dye-decolorizing Peroxidases (DyPs) are heme-containing enzymes in fungi and bacteria that catalyze the reduction of hydrogen peroxide to water with concomitant oxidation of various substrates, including anthraquinone dyes, lignin-related phenolic and non-phenolic compounds, and metal ions. Investigation of DyPs has shed new light on peroxidases, one of the most extensively studied families of oxidoreductases; still, details of their microbial physiological role and catalytic mechanisms remain to be fully disclosed. They display a distinctive ferredoxin-like fold encompassing anti-parallel β-sheets and α-helices, and long conserved loops surround the heme pocket with a role in catalysis and stability. A tunnel routes HO to the heme pocket, whereas binding sites for the reducing substrates are in cavities near the heme or close to distal aromatic residues at the surface. Variations in reactions, the role of catalytic residues, and mechanisms were observed among different classes of DyP. They were hypothetically related to the presence or absence of distal HO molecules in the heme pocket. The engineering of DyPs for improved properties directed their biotechnological applications, primarily centered on treating textile effluents and degradation of other hazardous pollutants, to fields such as biosensors and valorization of lignin, the most abundant renewable aromatic polymer. In this review, we track recent research contributions that furthered our understanding of the activity, stability, and structural properties of DyPs and their biotechnological applications. Overall, the study of DyP-type peroxidases has significant implications for environmental sustainability and the development of new bio-based products and materials with improved end-of-life options via biodegradation and chemical recyclability, fostering the transition to a sustainable bio-based industry in the circular economy realm.
Topics: Peroxidases; Biocatalysis; Lignin; Hydrogen Peroxide; Heme; Coloring Agents
PubMed: 37044267
DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108153