scholarly journals A Systematic Review of Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics on Astragali Radix: Implications for Astragali Radix as a Personalized Medicine

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenzhen Guo ◽  
Yanmei Lou ◽  
Muyan Kong ◽  
Qing Luo ◽  
Zhongqiu Liu ◽  
...  

Astragali radix (AR) is one of the most widely used traditional Chinese herbal medicines. Modern pharmacological studies and clinical practices indicate that AR possesses various biological functions, including potent immunomodulation, antioxidant, anti-inflammation and antitumor activities. To date, more than 200 chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from AR. Among them, isoflavonoids, saponins and polysaccharides are the three main types of beneficial compounds responsible for its pharmacological activities and therapeutic efficacy. After ingestion of AR, the metabolism and biotransformation of the bioactive compounds were extensive in vivo. The isoflavonoids and saponins and their metabolites are the major type of constituents absorbed in plasma. The bioavailability barrier (BB), which is mainly composed of efflux transporters and conjugating enzymes, is expected to have a significant impact on the bioavailability of AR. This review summarizes studies on the phytochemistry, pharmacology and pharmacokinetics on AR. Additionally, the use of AR as a personalized medicine based on the BB is also discussed, which may provide beneficial information to achieve a better and more accurate therapeutic response of AR in clinical practice.

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 132
Author(s):  
Nilufar Z. Mamadalieva ◽  
Davlat Kh. Akramov ◽  
Ludger A. Wessjohann ◽  
Hidayat Hussain ◽  
Chunlin Long ◽  
...  

The genus Lagochilus (Lamiaceae) is native to Central, South-Central, and Eastern Asia. It comprises 44 species, which have been commonly used as herbal medicines for the treatments of various ailments for thousands of years, especially in Asian countries. This review aims to summarize the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of species from the genus Lagochilus to unveil opportunities for future research. In addition, we provide some information about their traditional uses, botany, and diversity. More than 150 secondary metabolites have been reported from Lagochilus, including diterpenes, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, triterpenoids, iridoid glycosides, lignans, steroids, alkaloids, polysaccharides, volatile, non-volatile and aromatic compounds, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and other secondary metabolites. In vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies on the crude extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds from Lagochilus species showed hemostatic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, cytotoxic, enzyme inhibitory, antispasmodic, hypotensive, sedative, psychoactive, and other activities.


Parasitology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 146 (10) ◽  
pp. 1233-1246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francianne Oliveira Santos ◽  
Amanda Ponce Morais Cerqueira ◽  
Alexsandro Branco ◽  
Maria José Moreira Batatinha ◽  
Mariana Borges Botura

AbstractThe gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) stand out as an important cause of disease in small ruminant, especially on goat farm. Widespread resistance to synthetic anthelminthics has stimulated the research for alternative strategies of parasite control, including the use of medicinal plants. The present work summarizes the in vitro and in vivo studies of plants with activity against GIN of goats, focusing on the description of chemical constituents related to this effect. This review retrieved 56 scientific articles from 2008 to 2018 describing more than 100 different plant species. The most frequently investigated family was Fabaceae (30.7%). Most in vitro studies on the activity of plant extracts and fractions were carried out with of free-living stages nematodes. In vivo studies were conducted mainly with the use of plants in animal feed and generally showed lower effectiveness compared to in vitro assays. The main plant secondary metabolites associated with anthelmintic effect are condensed tannins, saponin and flavonoids. However, the studies with compounds isolated from plants and elucidation of their mechanisms of action are scarce. Herbal medicines are thought to be promising sources for the development of effective anthelmintic agents.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (02) ◽  
pp. 287-328
Author(s):  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Jing Kong ◽  
Jin-Hua Zhang ◽  
Lu Wang ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
...  

Flacourtiaceae plants are widely used as folk medicines in traditional medicine systems for its chemical diversity and pharmacological activities. In many different areas, Flacourtiaceae plants are used as traditional medicines for the treatment of ulcers, malaria, rheumatism. The Flacourtiaceae plants contain a very plentiful chemical composition, and phytochemical studies show that the Flacourtiaceae plants contained terpenoids, aromatic glycosides, flavnoids, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids, fatty hydrocarbon, and other compounds. In pharmacological studies, various extract and isolated individual compounds exhibited antitumor, anti-oxidation, and anti-inflammatory activities. In this review, the literature data on the chemical constituents and pharmacological investigations of the Flacourtiaceae plants are summarized, to provide information about a more comprehensive chemical composition and detailed pharmacological activities of Flacourtiaceae plants, with a view of further development of clinical medication. However, research on quantitative analysis, toxicity, and drug safety in vitro and in vivo is still insufficient, and further research is required.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunshuang Fan ◽  
Yamei Li ◽  
Yuanyuan Wu ◽  
Lixin Li ◽  
Yuming Wang ◽  
...  

Simiao Wan (SMW), an important multiherbal formula used in traditional Chinese medicine, is extensively used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. However, the knowledge of the bioactive components of SMW remains unclear. Thus, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) were used to analyze the chemical constituents of volatile and nonvolatile extracts of SMW, as well as its absorbed components in rat plasma after oral SMW administration. Identification of several compounds was enabled by comparison of retention times, MS spectra, and MS/MS spectral data with the standard substance and reference materials reported in the literature. In the volatile extracts, GC-MS identified 26 compounds in vitro, three of which observed in blood by GC-MS. In the nonvolatile extracts, LC-MS identified 49 compounds in SMW; 18 compounds containing 7 prototype compounds, 5 metabolites, and 6 unknown compounds were absorbed by blood. The proposed GC-MS and LC-MS method was appropriate not only for the rapid screening and identification of multiple components of an SMW extract but also for screening its bioactive constituents in vivo. The proposed method could be a promising tool for the quality control of other Chinese herbal medicines.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 1454
Author(s):  
Young-Kyung Jung ◽  
Dongyun Shin

Imperata cylindrica is a medicinal plant native to southwestern Asia and the tropical and subtropical zones. To date, 72 chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from I. cylindrica Among these compounds, saponins, flavonoids, phenols, and glycosides are the major constituents. Investigations of pharmacological activities of I. cylindrica revealed that this edible medicinal herb exhibits a wide range of therapeutic potential including immunomodulatory, antibacterial, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and liver protection activities both in vivo and in vitro. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of I. cylindrica studies until 2019. This article also intends to review advances in the botanical, phytochemical, and pharmacological studies and industrial applications of I. cylindrica, which will provide a useful bibliography for further investigations and applications of I. cylindrica in medicines and foods.


2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (04) ◽  
pp. 637-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xirui He ◽  
Fei Luan ◽  
Zefeng Zhao ◽  
Ning Ning ◽  
Maoxing Li ◽  
...  

The aim of the present review is to comprehensively outline the botanical description, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of Patrinia, and to discuss possible trends for the further study of medicinal plants from the genus Patrinia. The genus Patrinia plays an important role in Asian medicine for the treatment of erysipelas, conjunctival congestion with swelling and pain, peri-appendicular abscesses, lung carbuncle, dysentery, leucorrhea, and postpartum disease. More than 210 chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from Patrinia plants, especially P. scabiosaefolia Fisch., P. scabra Bunge, P. villosa Juss., P. heterophylla Bunge and P. rupestris(Pall.) Juss[Formula: see text] Of these compounds, triterpenoids and saponins, iridoids, flavonoids, and lignans are the major or active constituents. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have indicated that some monomer compounds and crude extracts from the genus Patrinia possess wide pharmacological activities, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral effects. In addition, they have been shown to have valuable and positive effects on the immune and nervous system in experimental animals. There are also some reports on the clinical uses and toxicity of these species. However, few reports have been published concerning the material identification or quality control of Patrinia species, and the clinical uses and toxic effects of these plants are relatively sparse. More attention must be given to these issues.


Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Nadjib Boukhatem ◽  
William N. Setzer

After its recent discovery in patients with serious pneumonia in Wuhan (China), the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), named also Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread quickly. Unfortunately, no drug or vaccine for treating human this coronavirus infection is available yet. Numerous options for controlling or preventing emerging 2019-nCoV infections may be predicted, including vaccines, interferon therapies, and small-molecule drugs. However, new interventions are likely to require months to years to develop. In addition, most of the existing antiviral treatments frequently lead to the development of viral resistance combined with the problem of side effects, viral re-emergence, and viral dormancy. The pharmaceutical industry is progressively targeting phytochemical extracts, medicinal plants, and aromatic herbs with the aim of identifying lead compounds, focusing principally on appropriate alternative antiviral drugs. Spices, herbal medicines, essential oils (EOs), and distilled natural products provide a rich source of compounds for the discovery and production of novel antiviral drugs. The determination of the antiviral mechanisms of these natural products has revealed how they interfere with the viral life cycle, i.e., during viral entry, replication, assembly, or discharge, as well as virus-specific host targets. Presently, there are no appropriate or approved drugs against CoVs, but some potential natural treatments and cures have been proposed. Given the perseverance of the 2019-nCoV outbreak, this review paper will illustrate several of the potent antiviral chemical constituents extracted from medicinal and aromatic plants, natural products, and herbal medicines with recognized in vitro and in vivo effects, along with their structure–effect relationships. As this review shows, numerous potentially valuable aromatic herbs and phytochemicals are awaiting assessment and exploitation for therapeutic use against genetically and functionally different virus families, including coronaviruses.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 1667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Li ◽  
Andrew Hung ◽  
Mingdi Li ◽  
Angela Yang

Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus (FTB) has been widely used as an antitussive herb for thousands of years in China. However, FTB’s traditional uses, chemical compounds and pharmacological activities have not been systematically reviewed. This study aimed to review its traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and toxicity. We searched the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine to explore the historical records which indicate that it acts to clear heat, resolve phlegm, relieve cough, remove toxicity and disperse abscesses and nodules. We searched 11 databases to identify potential phytochemical or pharmacological studies. Characteristics of its chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, pharmacokinetic and toxicity were descriptively summarized. A total of 9706 studies were identified and 83 of them were included. As a result, 134 chemical constituents were identified, including 26 alkaloids, 29 compounds found in essential oils, 13 diterpenoids, two carbohydrates, two sterols, 18 amino acids, six nucleosides, four nucleobases, four fatty acids, three lignans, and 27 elements. Thirteen pharmacological effects of FTB were identified, including anti-cancer, tracheobronchial relaxation, antitussive, expectorant, anti-muscarinic, anti-inflammation, anti-thyroid, regulation of blood rheology, antiulcer, anti-diarrhea, pain suppression, antioxidation and neuroprotection. These pharmacological activities may be mainly attributed to the alkaloids in FTB. Further phytochemical, pharmacological and network pharmacological studies are recommended.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-149
Author(s):  
Mamta B. Shah ◽  
◽  
Vinisha A. Dudhat ◽  
Krupa V. Gadhvi ◽  
◽  
...  

Lepidium sativum Linn. (family Cruciferae) is an edible herb that is botanically related to watercress and mustard, having their peppery, tangy taste and odour. Traditionally L. sativum seeds are used to treat wounds, sprains, asthma, bronchitis, cough and is considered useful as abortifacient, aphrodisiac, antibacterial, diuretic, expectorant, gastrointestinal stimulant, gastroprotective, laxative and stomachic. Many of these traditional uses have been scientifically validated using different in vitro and in vivo studies and in this review are compiled in an inclusive manner. Seeds are reported to be rich in carbohydrates, vitamins, amino acids, proteins, triterpenoids, steroids and saponin glycosides possessing different pharmacological activities. Aim of the study: This study is an effort to collate complete scientific literature published till March 2021 in order to generate a succinct summation on the distribution, traditional beneficial potential, chemical constituents, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of this coveted species of genus Lepidium. Materials and Methods: Exploring assorted scientific databases. Results: The present methodically compiled review article accentuates medicinal and nutritional significance of this highly valued plant by focusing on various aspects of the plant such as the, physicochemical characterisation and pharmacological studies that validates folklore uses. Thus, this annotated script on L. sativum would be a handy tool to explore the future prospective of research on this traditional plant.


Author(s):  
Pavani C H

Hyperlipidemia is the immediate results of the excessive fat intake in food. This results in the elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. This leads to heart conditions like CAD, hypertension, congestive heart failure as risk factors which can be lethal. There are many drugs to treat and control the lipids levels in the body. These drugs are either designed to prevent LDL accumulation and VLDL synthesis. Some drugs also lower the elevated levels of saturated lipids in the body. But many drugs are known to cause side effects and adverse effects; therefore, alternatives to the drugs are the subjects for current investigations. Herbs and medicinal plants are used as treatment sources for many years. They have been used in the Indian medical systems like Ayurveda, Siddha etc. As the application of herbs in the treatment is growing, there is an urgent need for the establishment of Pharmacological reasoning and standardization of the activity of the medicinal plants. Chloris paraguaiensis Steud. is Poyaceae member that is called locally as Uppugaddi. Traditionally it is used to treat Rheumatism, Diabetes, fever and diarrhoea. The chemical constituents are known to have anti-oxidant properties and most of the anti-oxidants have anti-hyperlipidemic activity too. Since the plant has abundant flavonoid and phenol content, the current research focusses on the investigation of the anti-hyperlipidemic activity of the plant Chloris extracts. Extracts of Chloris at 200mg/kg showed a comparably similar anti hyperlipidemia activity to that of the standard drug. The extracts showed a dose based increase in the activity at 100 and 200mg/kg body weight.


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