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Phytotherapy Research : PTR Jun 2024The effect of Crocus sativus on several disorders has been discussed or even confirmed, but the efficacy of this herb on the female reproductive system has not been well... (Review)
Review
The effect of Crocus sativus on several disorders has been discussed or even confirmed, but the efficacy of this herb on the female reproductive system has not been well presented. In this regard, this systematic review comprehensively discussed the efficacy of C. sativus and its main phytochemical compounds on the female reproductive system and its disorders for the first time. In this systematic review, scientific databases, including PubMed, Web of Sciences, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Scientific Information Database, were explored profoundly. In vivo, in vitro, and human studies published until the end of July 2023, which had investigated the pharmacological properties of C. sativus, crocin, crocetin, safranal, or picrocrocin on the female reproductive system, were selected. A total of 50 studies conducted on the effect of C. sativus on the female reproductive system were acquired. These studies confirmed the efficacy of C. sativus or its main phytochemical ingredients in several aspects of the female reproductive system, including regulation of sex hormones, folliculogenesis, ovulation, and protection of the ovary and uterus against several oxidative stress. Several retrieved studies indicated that this herb also can alleviate the symptoms of patients suffering from dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, menopause, polycystic ovary disease (PCOD), and sexual dysfunction. Furthermore, it is a promising candidate for future studies or even trials regarding ovarian and cervical cancers. This review concluded that C. sativus can improve the symptoms of several female reproductive system disorders, which is particularly due to the presence of phytochemical ingredients, such as crocin, crocetin, and safranal.
Topics: Crocus; Humans; Female; Plant Extracts; Premenstrual Syndrome; Animals; Carotenoids; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Menopause; Dysmenorrhea; Phytochemicals; Vitamin A; Cyclohexenes; Glucosides; Terpenes
PubMed: 38558480
DOI: 10.1002/ptr.8186 -
Phytomedicine : International Journal... Jun 2024Obesity and hyperlipidemia can induce a variety of diseases, and have become major health problems worldwide. How to effectively prevent and control obesity has become...
BACKGROUND
Obesity and hyperlipidemia can induce a variety of diseases, and have become major health problems worldwide. How to effectively prevent and control obesity has become one of the hot-spots of contemporary research. Mulberry leaf is the dried leaf of Morus alba L., which is approved by the Ministry of Health as a "homology of medicine and food", rich in diverse active constituents and with a variety of health effects including anti-obesity and anti-hyperlipidemia activities.
PURPOSE
The review attempts to summarize and provide the molecular basis, mechanism, safety and products for further exploration and application of mulberry leaf on the treatment on the control of weight gain and obesity.
METHODS
This review is conducted by using ScienceDirect, PubMed, CNKI and Web of Science databases following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA).
RESULTS
Based on the research progress of domestic and foreign scholars, the effective phytochemicals, molecular mechanisms and product applications of mulberry leaf in the prevention and treatment of obesity and related metabolic diseases were summarized.
CONCLUSION
Mulberry leaf has excellent medicinal and health care value in obesity treatment. However, its pharmacodynamic substance basis and molecular mechanisms need to be further studied.
Topics: Morus; Plant Leaves; Obesity; Humans; Phytochemicals; Anti-Obesity Agents; Animals; Plant Extracts; Phytotherapy
PubMed: 38555774
DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155528 -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Jun 2024Morinda officinalis How is called "Ba-Ji-Tian" in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which belongs to the genus Rubiaceae and is widely used for medicinal purposes in... (Review)
Review
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Morinda officinalis How is called "Ba-Ji-Tian" in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which belongs to the genus Rubiaceae and is widely used for medicinal purposes in China and other eastern Asian countries. Morinda officinalis How polysaccharides (MOPs) are one of the key bioactive components, and have a variety of biological activities, such as antioxidation, antifatigue, enhanced immunity, antiosteoporosis, ect.
AIM OF THE REVIEW
This review is aimed at providing comprehensive information of the latest preparation technologies, structural characterization, and pharmacological effects of MOPs. A more in-depth research on the structure and clinical pharmacology of the MOPs was explored. It could lay a foundation for further investigate the pharmacological activities and guide the safe clinical practice of MOPs.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The Web of Science, PubMed, Scifinder, Google Scholar, CNKI, Wanfang database, and other online database are used to search and collect the literature on extraction and separation methods, structural characterization, and pharmacological activities of MOPs publisher from 2004 to 2023. The key words are "Morinda officinalis polysaccharides", "extraction", "isolation", "purification" and "pharmacological effects".
RESULTS
Morinda officinalis has been widely used in tonifying the kidney yang since ancient times, and is famous for one of the "Four Southern Medicines" in China for the treatment of depression, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, infertility, fatigue and Alzheimer's disease. The active ingredients of Morinda officinalis that have been researched on the treatment of depression and osteoporosis are mostly polysaccharides and oligosaccharides. The content of polysaccharides varies with different methods of extraction, separation and purification. MOPs have a wide range of pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, antifatigue, immunomodulatory, antiosteoporosis, and regulation of spermatogenesis activities. These pharmacological properties lay a foundation for the treatment of oxidative stress, osteoporosis, spermatogenic dysfunction, immunodeficiency, inflammation and other diseases with MOPs.
CONCLUSIONS
At present, MOPs have been applied in the treatment of skeletal muscle atrophy, varicocele, osteoporosis, because of its effects of enhancing immunity, improving reproduction and antioxidant. However, the structure-activity relationship of these effects are still not clear. The more deeply study could be conducted on the MOPs in the future. The toxicology and clinical pharmacology, as well as mechanism of action of MOPs were also needed to deeply studied and clarified. This paper could lay the foundation for the application and safety of MOPs in multifunctional foods and drugs.
Topics: Male; Humans; Morinda; Antioxidants; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Oligosaccharides; Osteoporosis; Phytochemicals; Polysaccharides
PubMed: 38521432
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118090 -
Journal of Integrative Medicine Mar 2024The field of personalized medicine has gained increasing attention in cancer care, with the aim of tailoring treatment strategies to individual patients for improved... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The field of personalized medicine has gained increasing attention in cancer care, with the aim of tailoring treatment strategies to individual patients for improved outcomes. Herbal medicine, with its long-standing historical use and extensive bioactive compounds, offers a rich source of potential treatments for various diseases, including cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To provide an overview of the current knowledge and evidence associated with incorporating herbal compounds into precision medicine strategies for cancer diseases. Additionally, to explore the general characteristics of the studies included in the analysis, focusing on their key features and trends.
SEARCH STRATEGY
A comprehensive literature search was conducted from multiple online databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL-EBSCO. The search strategy was designed to identify studies related to personalized cancer medicine and herbal interventions.
INCLUSION CRITERIA
Publications pertaining to cancer research conducted through in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies, employing natural products were included in this review.
DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently applied inclusion and inclusion criteria, data extraction, and assessments of methodological quality. The quality assessment and biases of the studies were evaluated based on modified Jadad scales. A detailed quantitative summary of the included studies is presented, providing a comprehensive description of their key features and findings.
RESULTS
A total of 121 studies were included in this review for analysis. Some of them were considered as comprehensive experimental investigations both in vitro and in vivo. The majority (n = 85) of the studies included in this review were conducted in vitro, with 44 of them specifically investigating the effects of herbal medicine on animal models. Additionally, 7 articles with a combined sample size of 31,271 patients, examined the impact of herbal medicine in clinical settings.
CONCLUSION
Personalized medication can optimize the use of herbal medicine in cancer treatment by considering individual patient factors such as genetics, medical history, and other treatments. Additionally, active phytochemicals found in herbs have shown potential for inhibiting cancer cell growth and inducing apoptosis, making them a promising area of research in preclinical and clinical investigations. Please cite this article as: Tayeb BA, Kusuma IY, Osman AAM, Minorics R. Herbal compounds as promising therapeutic agents in precision medicine strategies for cancer: A systematic review. J Integr Med. 2024; 22(2): 137-162.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Precision Medicine; Neoplasms; Plants, Medicinal; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 38462407
DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2024.02.001 -
Natural Product Research Feb 2024The Pyracantha genus consists of evergreen shrubs distributed from Southeast Europe to South-East Asia. They are found in geographical regions of India, China, and South... (Review)
Review
The Pyracantha genus consists of evergreen shrubs distributed from Southeast Europe to South-East Asia. They are found in geographical regions of India, China, and South West Europe. They are used in traditional medicines against earache, menstrual cycles, constipation etc. The genus is pharmacologically significant because of its antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. The genus also acts as a biomonitor species for heavy metals and bio sorbent in wastewater treatment. The review aims to present an overview of four species of the Pyracantha genus - and . The comparison of their geographical distribution, traditional uses, therapeutic uses, phytochemical components and future prospects has been described. In this study, 189 research and review articles were scanned to provide summarised research of phytochemical composition, pharmacological effects and future prospects of the species which can benefit the plant as a therapeutic drug or as a functional food.
PubMed: 38414268
DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2024.2319660 -
ACS Omega Feb 2024: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is among the major causes of dementia in the elderly and exerts tremendous clinical, psychological and socio-economic constraints. Currently,... (Review)
Review
: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is among the major causes of dementia in the elderly and exerts tremendous clinical, psychological and socio-economic constraints. Currently, there are no effective disease-modifying/retarding anti-AD agents. Emodin is a bioactive phytochemical with potent multimodal anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antifibrillogenic properties. In particular, emodin may result in significant repression of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying AD. The purpose of this review is to accumulate and summarize all the primary research data evaluating the therapeutic actions of emodin in AD pathogenesis. : The search, selection, and retrieval of pertinent primary research articles were systematically performed using a methodically designed approach. A variety of keyword combinations were employed on online scholarly web-databases. Strict preset inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to select the retrieved studies. Data from the individual studies were summarized and compiled into different sections, based upon their findings. : Cellular and animal research indicates that emodin exerts robust multimodal neuroprotection in AD. While emodin effectively prevents tau and amyloid-beta (Aβ) oligomerization, it also mitigates their neurotoxicity by attenuating neuroinflammatory, oxidative, and bioenergetic defects. Evidences for emodin-mediated enhancements in memory, learning, and cognition were also found in the literature. : Emodin is a potential anti-AD dietary supplement; however, further studies are warrantied to thoroughly understand its target players and mechanisms. Moreover, human clinical data on emodin-mediated amelioration of AD phenotype is largely lacking, and must be addressed in the future. Lastly, the safety of exogenously supplemented emodin must be thoroughly evaluated.
PubMed: 38405501
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c07178 -
Journal of Ovarian Research Feb 2024This study aims to investigate the effects of natural products on animal models of premature ovarian failure (POF). (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to investigate the effects of natural products on animal models of premature ovarian failure (POF).
METHODS
We conducted comprehensive literature searches and identified relevant studies that examined the protective effects of natural products on experimental POF. We extracted quantitative data on various aspects such as follicular development, ovarian function, physical indicators, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory factors, and protein changes. The data was analyzed using random-effects meta-analyses, calculating pooled standardized mean differences and 95% confidence intervals. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I statistic, and bias was estimated using the SYRCLE tool.
RESULTS
Among the 879 reviewed records, 25 articles met our inclusion criteria. These findings demonstrate that treatment with different phytochemicals and marine natural products (flavonoids, phenols, peptides, and alkaloids, etc.) significantly improved various aspects of ovarian function compared to control groups. The treatment led to an increase in follicle count at different stages, elevated levels of key hormones, and a decrease in atretic follicles and hormone levels associated with POF. This therapy also reduced oxidative stress (specifically polyphenols, resveratrol) and apoptotic cell death (particularly flavonoids, chrysin) in ovarian granulosa cells, although it showed no significant impact on inflammatory responses. The certainty of evidence supporting these findings ranged from low to moderate.
CONCLUSIONS
Phytochemicals and marine natural product therapy (explicitly flavonoids, phenols, peptides, and alkaloids) has shown potential in enhancing folliculogenesis and improving ovarian function in animal models of POF. These findings provide promising strategies to protect ovarian reserve and reproductive health. Targeting oxidative stress and apoptosis pathways may be the underlying mechanism.
Topics: Female; Humans; Animals; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency; Menopause, Premature; Flavonoids; Phenols; Peptides; Alkaloids
PubMed: 38378652
DOI: 10.1186/s13048-024-01369-5 -
Inflammopharmacology Apr 2024Owing to the rich phytochemical content of Silymarin, it may effectively manage inflammation and oxidative stress. We, therefore, aimed to examine the existing evidence... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Owing to the rich phytochemical content of Silymarin, it may effectively manage inflammation and oxidative stress. We, therefore, aimed to examine the existing evidence on the effect of Silymarin consumption on inflammation and oxidative stress factors by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
METHODS
A systematic literature search up to September 2023 was completed in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science, to identify eligible RCTs. Heterogeneity tests of the selected trials were performed using the I statistic. Random effects models were assessed based on the heterogeneity tests, and pooled data were determined as weighted mean differences with a 95% confidence interval.
RESULTS
Fifteen RCTs were included in this meta-analysis. Our findings showed that Silymarin consumption significantly decreased CRP (WMD, - 0.50 mg/L; 95% CI, (- 0.95 to - 0.04); p = 0.03), MDA (WMD, - 1.19 nmol/mL; 95% CI, (- 1.99 to - 0.38); p = 0.004), and IL-6 (WMD, - 0.44 pg/ml; 95% CI, (- 0.75 to - 0.12); p = 0.006). Silymarin consumption had no significant effects on IL-10, TAC, and GSH. A significant non-linear relationship was observed between the duration of the intervention and MDA changes.
CONCLUSIONS
Silymarin can help reduce inflammation in patients with diabetes and thalassemia by reducing MDA as an oxidative stress marker and CRP and IL-6 as inflammatory markers.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Biomarkers; Dietary Supplements; Inflammation; Interleukin-6; Oxidative Stress; Silymarin
PubMed: 38372848
DOI: 10.1007/s10787-023-01423-6 -
Heliyon Jan 2024[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21196.].
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21196.].
PubMed: 38347899
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22184 -
Nutrients Jan 2024The PHYTOME study investigated the effect of consuming processed meat products on outcomes related to colorectal cancer risk without testing the impact of genetic...
Genetic Variability Impacts Genotoxic and Transcriptome Responses in the Human Colon after the Consumption of Processed Red Meat Products and Those with Added Phytochemical Extracts.
The PHYTOME study investigated the effect of consuming processed meat products on outcomes related to colorectal cancer risk without testing the impact of genetic variability on these responses. This research aims to elucidate the genetic impact on apparent total N-nitroso compound (ATNC) excretion, colonic DNA adduct formation, ex vivo-induced DNA damage, and gene expression changes in colon biopsies of healthy participants. Through a systematic literature review, candidate polymorphisms were selected and then detected using TaqMan and PCR analysis. The effect of genotype on study outcomes was determined via a linear mixed model and analysis of variance. Machine learning was used to evaluate relative allele importance concerning genotoxic responses, which established a ranking of the most protective alleles and a combination of genotypes (gene scores). Participants were grouped by GSTM1 genotype and differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and overrepresented biological pathways were compared between groups. Stratifying participants by ten relevant genes revealed significant variations in outcome responses. After consumption of processed red meat, variations in NQO1 and COMT impacted responses in ATNC levels (µmol/L) (+9.56 for wildtype vs. heterozygous) and DNA adduct levels (pg/µg DNA) (+1.26 for variant vs. wildtype and +0.43 for variant vs. heterozygous), respectively. After phytochemicals were added to the meat, GSTM1 variation impacted changes in DNA adduct levels (-6.12 for deletion vs. wildtype). The gene scores correlated with these responses and DEGs were identified by GSTM1 genotype. The altered pathways specific to the GSTM1 wildtype group included 'metabolism', 'cell cycle', 'vitamin D receptor', and 'metabolism of water-soluble vitamins and co-factors'. Genotype impacted both the potential genotoxicity of processed red meat and the efficacy of protective phytochemical extracts.
Topics: Humans; Meat Products; DNA Adducts; Transcriptome; DNA Damage; Meat; Red Meat; Nitroso Compounds; Colon
PubMed: 38337709
DOI: 10.3390/nu16030425