scholarly journals Bulbous Plants Drimia: “A Thin Line between Poisonous and Healing Compounds” with Biological Activities

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1385
Author(s):  
Madira Coutlyne Manganyi ◽  
Gothusaone Simon Tlatsana ◽  
Given Thato Mokoroane ◽  
Keamogetswe Prudence Senna ◽  
John Frederick Mohaswa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Google Scholar ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Anticancer Activities ◽  
Poisonous Plants ◽  
Thin Line ◽  
The Family

Drimia (synonym Urginea) plants are bulbous plants belonging to the family Asparagaceae (formerly the family Hyacinthaceae) and are distinctive, powerful medicinal plants. Just some species are indigenous to South Africa and have been traditionally utilized for centuries to cure various diseases and/or ailments. They have been recognized among the most famous and used medicinal plants in South Africa. Traditionally, the plants are used for various illnesses such as dropsy, respiratory disease, bone and joint complications, skin disorders, epilepsy and cancer. A number of studies have reported biological properties such as antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anticancer activities. Their bulbs are a popular treatment for colds, measles, pneumonia, coughs, fever and headaches. However, some plant species are regarded as one of the six most common poisonous plants in Southern Africa that are toxic to livestock and humans. Due to the therapeutic effects of the Drimia plant bulb, research has focused on the phytochemicals of Drimia species. The principal constituents isolated from this genus are cardiac glycosides. In addition, phenolic compounds, phytosterols and other phytochemical constituents were identified. This study constitutes a critical review of Drimia species’ bioactive compounds, toxicology, biological properties and phytochemistry, advocating it as an important source for effective therapeutic medicine. For this purpose, various scientific electronic databases such as ScienceDirect, Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed and Web of Science were researched and reviewed to conduct this study. Despite well-studied biological investigations, there is limited research on the toxic properties and the toxic compounds of certain Drimia species. Searching from 2017 to 2021, Google Scholar search tools retrieved 462 publications; however, only 3 investigated the toxicity and safety aspects of Drimia. The aim was to identify the current scientific research gap on Drimia species, hence highlighting a thin line between poisonous and healing compounds, dotted across numerous publications, in this review paper.

scholarly journals Traditional, phytochemical, and biological aspects of Rosa alba L.: a systematic review

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anju Verma ◽  
Rajni Srivastava ◽  
Pankaj Kumar Sonar ◽  
Ramprakash Yadav
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Medicinal And Aromatic Plants ◽  
Research Papers ◽  
Northwest Africa ◽  
The Family ◽  
White Rose

Abstract Background Rosa alba L. belongs to the family Rosaceae. This species is widely cultivated in Europe, Asia, North America, and Northwest Africa due to its fragrance, ornamental, and medicinal values. It is commonly known as white oil-bearing rose, white rose, white rose of York, backyard rose, and sufaid gulab. Main text Rosa alba L. has many biological properties like antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, antifertility, teratogenic, memory enhancing, cytotoxic, and genotoxic activities. The essential oil of Rosa alba L. possesses good antimicrobial activity and consists of many chemical constituents like- citronellol, geraniol, nerol, linalool, citral, carvacrol, eugenol, etc. Conclusion This article briefly reviews the cultivation, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and biological activities of Rosa alba L. Many research papers have been published on the proposed plant and still, there is a very vast scope of research on it. Therefore, this review will be very fruitful for those scientists who are doing or plan to do research work on this plant. All the scientific findings written in this review are explored from Google web, Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Abstracts (MAPA), and SciFinder. To date, it is the first systematic review article of such kind, on this plant.

scholarly journals Terpenoids and Their Biological Activities from Cinnamomum: A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Meiting Wu ◽  
Lin Ni ◽  
Haixiao Lu ◽  
Huiyou Xu ◽  
Shuangquan Zou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activities ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Pharmacological Effects ◽  
Bioactive Components ◽  
Anticancer Activities ◽  
Chemical Structures ◽  
The Family ◽  
Beneficial Uses ◽  
The Future ◽  
Depth Study

Cinnamomum is a genus of the family Lauraceae, which has been recognized worldwide as an important genus due to its beneficial uses. A great deal of research on its phytochemistry and pharmacological effects has been conducted. It is noteworthy that terpenoids are the characteristic of Cinnamomum due to the peculiar structures and significant biological effects. For a more in-depth study and the better use of Cinnamomum plants in the future, the chemical structures and biological effects of terpenoids obtained from Cinnamomum were summarized in the present study. To date, a total of 181 terpenoids with various skeletons have been isolated from Cinnamomum. These compounds have been demonstrated to play an important role in immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. However, studies on the bioactive components from Cinnamomum plants have only focused on a dozen species. Hence, further studies on the potential pharmacological effects need to be conducted in the future.

scholarly journals Composition, biological properties and therapeutic effects of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia L). A review

2014 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 56-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Prusinowska ◽  
Krzysztof B. Śmigielski
Keyword(s):  
Essential Oil ◽  
Chemical Compounds ◽  
Antimicrobial Activities ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Quantitative Composition ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Lavandula Angustifolia ◽  
The Family ◽  
Positive Effect

Abstract Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a shrub of the family Lamiaceae, native to the Mediterranean region. The material used for herbal purposes includes lavender flowers (Lavandula flores) containing essential oil (3%), anthocyanins, phytosterols, sugars, minerals, and tannins. The qualitative and quantitative composition of the essential oil of lavender is variable and depends on genotype, growing location, climatic conditions, propagation, and morphological features. The essential oil contains over 300 chemical compounds. The dominant components are linalool, linalyl acetate, terpinen-4-ol, acetate lavandulol, oci-mene, and cineole. Lavender essential oil has good antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and a significant positive effect on the digestive and nervous systems. Lavender extract prevents dementia and may inhibit the growth of cancer cells, while lavender hydrolate is recommended for the treatment of skin problems and burns.

scholarly journals Alkaloids Produced by Endophytic Fungi: A Review

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 1934578X1200700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanyan Zhang ◽  
Ting Han ◽  
Qianliang Ming ◽  
Lingshang Wu ◽  
Khalid Rahman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endophytic Fungi ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Indole Derivatives ◽  
Anticancer Activities ◽  
Action Mechanisms ◽  
The Future ◽  
Potential Applications

In recent years, a number of alkaloids have been discovered from endophytic fungi in plants, which exhibited excellent biological properties such as antimicrobial, insecticidal, cytotoxic, and anticancer activities. This review mainly deals with the research progress on endophytic fungi for producing bioactive alkaloids such as quinoline and isoquinoline, amines and amides, indole derivatives, pyridines, and quinazolines. The biological activities and action mechanisms of these alkaloids from endophytic fungi are also introduced. Furthermore, the relationships between alkaloid-producing endophytes and their host plants, as well as their potential applications in the future are discussed.

scholarly journals Biological Properties of 6-Gingerol: A Brief Review

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1934578X1400900 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaopeng Wang ◽  
Caihua Zhang ◽  
Guang Yang ◽  
Yanzong Yang
Keyword(s):  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Zingiber Officinale ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Anticancer Activities ◽  
Inhibition Of Angiogenesis ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Pharmacologically Active

Numerous studies have revealed that regular consumption of certain fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of many diseases. The rhizome of Zingiber officinale (ginger) is consumed worldwide as a spice and herbal medicine. It contains pungent phenolic substances collectively known as gingerols. 6-Gingerol is the major pharmacologically-active component of ginger. It is known to exhibit a variety of biological activities including anticancer, anti-inflammation, and anti-oxidation. 6-Gingerol has been found to possess anticancer activities via its effect on a variety of biological pathways involved in apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, cytotoxic activity, and inhibition of angiogenesis. Thus, due to its efficacy and regulation of multiple targets, as well as its safety for human use, 6-gingerol has received considerable interest as a potential therapeutic agent for the prevention and/or treatment of various diseases. Taken together, this review summarizes the various in vitro and in vivo pharmacological aspects of 6-gingerol and the underlying mechanisms.

scholarly journals Medicinal plants of the family Lamiaceae as functional foods – a review  

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (No. 5) ◽  
pp. 377-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Carović-Stanko ◽  
M. Petek ◽  
M. Grdiša ◽  
J. Pintar ◽  
D. Bedeković ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Bioactive Compounds ◽  
Functional Foods ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Food Preservation ◽  
Anticancer Activities ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Family ◽  
Special Complex

Historically, species of the family Lamiaceae have enjoyed a rich tradition of use for flavouring, food preservation, and medicinal purposes, due to both their curative and their preventive properties. It is well known that each species has a special, complex mixture of bioactive compounds in which each component contributes to its overall bioactivity. Their value lays in the production of a wide range of secondary metabolites with potent antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and anticancer activities. This review focuses on the Lamiaceae species and their secondary metabolites encompassing a wide array of beneficial functions and their applicability as sources of functional foods. It could help in addressing specific consumer needs as healthy diet is a part of the lifestyle that maintains or improves overall health.

scholarly journals Medicinal Plants Used by the Inhabitants of Alfred Nzo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-166
Author(s):  
Zingisa Thinyane ◽  
Alfred Maroyi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Pharmaceutical Products ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Snowball Sampling

Plant species used as herbal medicines play an important in the provision of primary healthcare in several rural communities. The current study was aimed at documenting medicinal plants used by the inhabitants of Alfred Nzo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Information on medicinal plants used for primary healthcare was collected through open-ended interviews with a sample of 124 participants selected via snowball-sampling technique between April 2017 and May 2018. A total of 34 plant species and one fungus species representing 20 families were used in the treatment of 13 different human diseases. The major diseases treated by the documented species included respiratory system, pain, sores and wounds, infections and infestations, digestive system, blood and cardiovascular system, fever and malaria, general ailments, reproductive system and sexual health and mental disorders. Popular herbal medicines with relative frequency citation (RFC) values exceeding 0.50 included Bulbine frutescens, Clivia miniata var. miniata, Elephantorrhiza elephantina, Centella asiatica, Hypoxis hemerocallidea, Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis, Leonotis leonurus, Agapanthus africanus and Datura stramonium. Such repository of medicinal plants and fungi reinforces the need for an evaluation of their biological activities as a basis for developing future medicines and pharmaceutical products.

scholarly journals Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of Garlic (Allium sativum L.): A Review

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaber El-Saber Batiha ◽  
Amany Magdy Beshbishy ◽  
Lamiaa G. Wasef ◽  
Yaser H. A. Elewa ◽  
Ahmed A. Al-Sagan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Allium Sativum ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Herbaceous Plant ◽  
Anticancer Activities ◽  
Active Constituent ◽  
Pharmacological Activities ◽  
Traditional Medicines ◽  
Traditional Remedy

Medicinal plants have been used from ancient times for human healthcare as in the form of traditional medicines, spices, and other food components. Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is an aromatic herbaceous plant that is consumed worldwide as food and traditional remedy for various diseases. It has been reported to possess several biological properties including anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, antidiabetic, renoprotective, anti-atherosclerotic, antibacterial, antifungal, and antihypertensive activities in traditional medicines. A. sativum is rich in several sulfur-containing phytoconstituents such as alliin, allicin, ajoenes, vinyldithiins, and flavonoids such as quercetin. Extracts and isolated compounds of A. sativum have been evaluated for various biological activities including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities among others. This review examines the phytochemical composition, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacological activities of A. sativum extracts as well as its main active constituent, allicin.

Lactoferrin, a bird’s eye view

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans J. Vogel
Keyword(s):  
Bone Growth ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Bovine Milk ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Iron Binding ◽  
Anticancer Activities ◽  
Bodily Fluids ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Iron Binding Protein ◽  
Orally Active

Lactoferrin is an abundant iron-binding protein in milk. This 80 kDa bilobal glycoprotein is also present in several other secreted bodily fluids, as well as in the secondary granules of neutrophils. The potent iron-binding properties of lactoferrin can locally create iron deficiency, and this is an important factor in host defense as it prevents bacteria from growing and forming biofilms. In addition to having antibacterial activity, lactoferrin is now known to have a long list of other beneficial biological properties. It has direct antiviral, antifungal, and even some anticancer activities. It can also promote wound healing and bone growth, or it can act as an iron carrier. Moreover, lactoferrin displays a cytokine-like “alarmin” activity, and it activates the immune system. Simultaneously, it can bind endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide), and in doing so, it modulates the activity of the host immune response. The majority of these intriguing biological activities reside in the unique positively charged N-terminal region of the protein. Interestingly, several peptides, which retain many of the beneficial activities, can be released from this region of lactoferrin. An isoform of the human protein, known as delta-lactoferrin, is expressed inside many cells, where it acts as a transcription factor. Lactoferrin purified from human and bovine milk have very similar but not completely identical properties. Lactoferrin receptors have been identified on the surface of various cells, and some of these can bind both the human and the bovine protein. Because of the extensive health-promoting effects of lactoferrin, there has been considerable interest in the use of bovine or human lactoferrin as a “protein nutraceutical” or as a therapeutic protein. When lactoferrin is used as a “biologic drug”, it seems to be orally active in contrast to most other therapeutic proteins.

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