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Pharmacology & Therapeutics Mar 2020As a Traditional Chinese Medicine, Paeonia lactiflora Pallas has been used to treat pain, inflammation and immune disorders for more than 1000 years in China. Total... (Review)
Review
As a Traditional Chinese Medicine, Paeonia lactiflora Pallas has been used to treat pain, inflammation and immune disorders for more than 1000 years in China. Total glycoside of paeony (TGP) is extracted from the dried root of Paeonia lactiflora Pallas. Paeoniflorin (Pae) is the major active component of TGP. Our research group has done a lot of work in the pharmacological mechanisms of Pae and found that Pae possessed extensive anti-inflammatory and immune regulatory effects. Pae could inhibit inflammation in the animal models of autoimmune diseases, such as experimental arthritis, psoriatic mice and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and so on. Pae modulates the functions and activation of immune cells, decreases inflammatory medium production, and restores abnormal signal pathway. Pae could balance the subsets of immune cells through inhibiting abnormal activated cell subsets and restoring regulatory cell subsets. Pae could regulate signaling pathways (GPCR pathway, MAPKs /NF-κB patway, PI3K /Akt /mTOR pathway, JAK2 /STAT3 pathway, TGFβ /Smads, and etc.). TGP is composed of Pae, hydroxyl-paeoniflorin, paeonin, albiflorin and benzoylpaeoniflorin etc. Pae accounts for more than 40% of TGP. Like Pae, TGP has anti-inflammatory and immune regulatory effects. TGP has been widely used to treat autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), psoriasis, allergic contact dermatitis, and etc. in China. Furthermore, TGP has some superior features with immune regulation, gentle effect, many indications and few adverse drug reactions. These findings suggest that TGP may be a promising anti-inflammatory and immune drug with soft regulation and has more superiority in the treatment of AIDs. Currently, TGP is used for the treatment of RA, SLE and other AIDs in more than 1000 hospitals in China, which obtained great social and economic benefits.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Autoimmune Diseases; Glucosides; Humans; Immunologic Factors; Monoterpenes; Paeonia
PubMed: 31836457
DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2019.107452 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2020Thymol (2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol) belongs to the phenolic monoterpenes and mostly occurs in thyme species. It is one of the main compounds of thyme essential oil. Both... (Review)
Review
Thymol (2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol) belongs to the phenolic monoterpenes and mostly occurs in thyme species. It is one of the main compounds of thyme essential oil. Both thymol and thyme essential oil have long been used in traditional medicine as expectorant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, and antiseptic agents, mainly in the treatment of the upper respiratory system. The current search for new directions of biological or therapeutic activities of natural plant substances with known structures includes thyme essential oil and thymol. Novel studies have demonstrated their antibiofilm, antifungal, antileishmanial, antiviral, and anticancer properties. Also, their new therapeutic formulations, such as nanocapsules containing these constituents, can be beneficial in medicinal practice and create opportunities for their extensive use. Extensive application of thymol and thyme essential oil in the healthcare sector is very promising but requires further research and analysis.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antifungal Agents; Antiparasitic Agents; Antiviral Agents; Apoptosis; Biofilms; Cell Proliferation; Cryptococcus; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Monoterpenes; Oils, Volatile; Phenols; Plant Extracts; Plant Oils; Polymers; Thymol; Thymus Plant
PubMed: 32917001
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25184125 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2019Specialized plant terpenoids have found fortuitous uses in medicine due to their evolutionary and biochemical selection for biological activity in animals. However,... (Review)
Review
Specialized plant terpenoids have found fortuitous uses in medicine due to their evolutionary and biochemical selection for biological activity in animals. However, these highly functionalized natural products are produced through complex biosynthetic pathways for which we have a complete understanding in only a few cases. Here we review some of the most effective and promising plant terpenoids that are currently used in medicine and medical research and provide updates on their biosynthesis, natural occurrence, and mechanism of action in the body. This includes pharmacologically useful plastidic terpenoids such as -menthane monoterpenoids, cannabinoids, paclitaxel (taxol), and ingenol mebutate which are derived from the 2--methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway, as well as cytosolic terpenoids such as thapsigargin and artemisinin produced through the mevalonate (MVA) pathway. We further provide a review of the MEP and MVA precursor pathways which supply the carbon skeletons for the downstream transformations yielding these medically significant natural products.
Topics: Animals; Biosynthetic Pathways; Cannabinoids; Diterpenes; Erythritol; Herbal Medicine; Humans; Mevalonic Acid; Monoterpenes; Paclitaxel; Sugar Phosphates; Terpenes; Thapsigargin
PubMed: 31683764
DOI: 10.3390/molecules24213961 -
International Journal of Molecular... Feb 2021Even though several plants can improve the female reproductive function, the use of herbs, herbal preparations, or essential oils during pregnancy is questionable. This... (Review)
Review
Even though several plants can improve the female reproductive function, the use of herbs, herbal preparations, or essential oils during pregnancy is questionable. This review is focused on the effects of some essential oils and their constituents on the female reproductive system during pregnancy and on the development of the fetus. The major concerns include causing abortion, reproductive hormone modulation, maternal toxicity, teratogenicity, and embryo-fetotoxicity. This work summarizes the important studies on the reproductive effects of essential oil constituents anethole, apiole, citral, camphor, thymoquinone, -sabinyl acetate, methyl salicylate, thujone, pulegone, β-elemene, β-eudesmol, and costus lactone, among others.
Topics: Animals; Bicyclic Monoterpenes; Camphor; Female; Genitalia, Female; Humans; Oils, Volatile; Pregnancy; Terpenes
PubMed: 33673548
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052380 -
Phytochemistry Oct 2021α-Pinene represents a member of the monoterpene class and is highly distributed in higher plants like conifers, Juniper ssp. and Cannabis ssp. α-Pinene has been used... (Review)
Review
α-Pinene represents a member of the monoterpene class and is highly distributed in higher plants like conifers, Juniper ssp. and Cannabis ssp. α-Pinene has been used to treat respiratory tract infections for centuries. Furthermore, it plays a crucial role in the fragrance and flavor industry. In vitro assays have shown an enantioselective profile of (+)- and (-)-α-pinene for antibacterial and insecticidal activity, respectively. Recent research has used pre-validated biological structures to synthesize new chemical entities with pharmacological and herbicidal activities. In summary, this review focuses on recent literature covering synthetic pathways of flavor compounds and scaffold hopping based on the α-pinene core domaine, as well as the (enantioselective) activities of α-pinene. Recent approaches for authenticity control of essential oils based on their enantiomeric profile are also presented.
Topics: Bicyclic Monoterpenes; Juniperus; Monoterpenes; Oils, Volatile
PubMed: 34365295
DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.112857 -
Nature Communications Jan 2020The bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane architecture is a privileged structural motif found in over 1000 natural products with relevance to neurodegenerative disease, bacterial and...
The bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane architecture is a privileged structural motif found in over 1000 natural products with relevance to neurodegenerative disease, bacterial and parasitic infection, and cancer among others. Despite disparate biosynthetic machinery, alkaloid, terpene, and polyketide-producing organisms have all evolved pathways to incorporate this carbocyclic ring system. Natural products of mixed polyketide/terpenoid origins (meroterpenes) are a particularly rich and important source of biologically active bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-containing molecules. Herein we detail a fully synthetic strategy toward this broad family of targets based on an abiotic annulation/rearrangement strategy resulting in a 10-step total synthesis of garsubellin A, an enhancer of choline acetyltransferase and member of the large family of polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols. This work solidifies a strategy for making multiple, diverse meroterpene chemotypes in a programmable assembly process involving a minimal number of chemical transformations.
Topics: Biosynthetic Pathways; Monoterpenes; Oxidation-Reduction; Stereoisomerism; Terpenes
PubMed: 31980637
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14354-5 -
International Journal of Molecular... Sep 2020Monoterpenes, comprising hydrocarbons, are the largest class of plant secondary metabolites and are commonly found in essential oils. Monoterpenes and their derivatives... (Review)
Review
Monoterpenes, comprising hydrocarbons, are the largest class of plant secondary metabolites and are commonly found in essential oils. Monoterpenes and their derivatives are key ingredients in the design and production of new biologically active compounds. This review focuses on selected aliphatic, monocyclic, and bicyclic monoterpenes like geraniol, thymol, myrtenal, pinene, camphor, borneol, and their modified structures. The compounds in question play a pivotal role in biological and medical applications. The review also discusses anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticonvulsant, analgesic, antiviral, anticancer, antituberculosis, and antioxidant biological activities exhibited by monoterpenes and their derivatives. Particular attention is paid to the link between biological activity and the effect of structural modification of monoterpenes and monoterpenoids, as well as the introduction of various functionalized moieties into the molecules in question.
Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Antioxidants; Monoterpenes; Structure-Activity Relationship
PubMed: 32992914
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197078 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2020Geraniol is a monoterpenic alcohol with a pleasant rose-like aroma, known as an important ingredient in many essential oils, and is used commercially as a fragrance... (Review)
Review
Geraniol is a monoterpenic alcohol with a pleasant rose-like aroma, known as an important ingredient in many essential oils, and is used commercially as a fragrance compound in cosmetic and household products. However, geraniol has a number of biological activities, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have shown the activity of geraniol against prostate, bowel, liver, kidney and skin cancer. It can induce apoptosis and increase the expression of proapoptotic proteins. The synergy of this with other drugs may further increase the range of chemotherapeutic agents. The antibacterial activity of this compound was also observed on respiratory pathogens, skin and food-derived strains. This review discusses some of the most important uses of geraniol.
Topics: Acyclic Monoterpenes; Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Antioxidants; Humans; Odorants; Oils, Volatile; Perfume
PubMed: 32708169
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25143303 -
Journal of Industrial Microbiology &... Dec 2021Monoterpenoids are C10 isoprenoids and constitute a large family of natural products. They have been used as ingredients in food, cosmetics, and therapeutic products.... (Review)
Review
Monoterpenoids are C10 isoprenoids and constitute a large family of natural products. They have been used as ingredients in food, cosmetics, and therapeutic products. Many monoterpenoids such as linalool, geraniol, limonene, and pinene are volatile and can be found in plant essential oils. Conventionally, these bioactive compounds are obtained from plant extracts by using organic solvents or by distillation method, which are costly and laborious if high-purity product is desired. In recent years, microbial biosynthesis has emerged as alternative source of monoterpenoids with great promise for meeting the increasing global demand for these compounds. However, current methods of production are not yet at levels required for commercialization. Production efficiency of monoterpenoids in microbial hosts is often restricted by high volatility of the monoterpenoids, a lack of enzymatic activity and selectivity, and/or product cytotoxicity to the microbial hosts. In this review, we summarize advances in microbial production of monoterpenoids over the past 3 years with particular focus on the key metabolic engineering strategies for different monoterpenoid products. We also provide our perspective on the promise of future endeavors to improve monoterpenoid productivity.
Topics: Limonene; Metabolic Engineering; Monoterpenes; Terpenes
PubMed: 34601590
DOI: 10.1093/jimb/kuab065 -
Sheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao = Chinese... Feb 2022Monoterpenoids that belong to the terpenoids family are usually volatile and have strong aroma. Some monoterpenoids also have antioxidant, antibacterial and... (Review)
Review
Monoterpenoids that belong to the terpenoids family are usually volatile and have strong aroma. Some monoterpenoids also have antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities, which make them important raw materials for medicine, food and cosmetics industry. In recent years, the heterologous synthesis of monoterpenoids by microorganisms has attracted extensive attention. However, its large-scale application is greatly hampered by the low yield and high production cost. Nowadays, the rapid development of synthetic biology provides new approaches for enhancing the production of monoterpenoids by microorganisms. Different kinds of recombinant strains can be obtained via engineering of microbial cells to produce a variety of monoterpenoids with different properties. This paper summarized the latest strategies and progress in the application of synthetic biology to produce monoterpenoids by microorganisms, including the design and modification of biosynthetic pathway, as well as the design and optimization of high-yield monoterpenoids producing chassis cells.
Topics: Biosynthetic Pathways; Metabolic Engineering; Monoterpenes; Synthetic Biology; Terpenes
PubMed: 35234374
DOI: 10.13345/j.cjb.210145