A review of botanical characteristics, chemical composition, pharmacological activity and use of parsley

Parsley is a biennial aromatic plant from the Apiaceae family, which is characterized by an unbranched root, pinnately divided leaves, umbels and schizocarp. It contains essential oil in all parts, with phenylpropane and terpene compounds as main components. It is rich in flavonoids and other polyphenolic compounds, containing furanocoumarins, carotenoids, polyacetylenes, and its leaves are a source of vitamins and minerals. The chemical composition of parsley depends on a number of factors, so it differs not only in different parts and varieties of the plant but also in different samples of the same parts of one variety. The most important parsley compounds are myristicin, apiol, 1-allyl-2,3,4,5-tetramethoxybenzene, b-phellandrene, 1,3,8-p-menthatriene, b-pinene, terpinolene, apiin, oxypeucedanin and falcarinol. Parsley has a long tradition of use in the treatment of urinary tract disorders, and modern in vitro and in vivo studies reveal numerous effects of various parsley preparations such as diuretic, antiurolithiasis, hypouricemic, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, hypotensive, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet effect. Today, apart from its medical application, parsley is one of the most commonly used culinary herbs.

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Prosopis Plant Chemical Composition and Pharmacological Attributes: Targeting Clinical Studies from Preclinical Evidence

Biomolecules ◽

10.3390/biom9120777 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 777 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Javad Sharifi-Rad ◽

Farzad Kobarfard ◽

Athar Ata ◽

Seyed Abdulmajid Ayatollahi ◽

Nafiseh Khosravi-Dehaghi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chemical Composition ◽

Clinical Studies ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Biological Effects ◽

Food Supplement ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Plant Chemical ◽

Food Applications

Members of the Prosopis genus are native to America, Africa and Asia, and have long been used in traditional medicine. The Prosopis species most commonly used for medicinal purposes are P. africana, P. alba, P. cineraria, P. farcta, P. glandulosa, P. juliflora, P. nigra, P. ruscifolia and P. spicigera, which are highly effective in asthma, birth/postpartum pains, callouses, conjunctivitis, diabetes, diarrhea, expectorant, fever, flu, lactation, liver infection, malaria, otitis, pains, pediculosis, rheumatism, scabies, skin inflammations, spasm, stomach ache, bladder and pancreas stone removal. Flour, syrup, and beverages from Prosopis pods have also been potentially used for foods and food supplement formulation in many regions of the world. In addition, various in vitro and in vivo studies have revealed interesting antiplasmodial, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic and wound healing effects. The phytochemical composition of Prosopis plants, namely their content of C-glycosyl flavones (such as schaftoside, isoschaftoside, vicenin II, vitexin and isovitexin) has been increasingly correlated with the observed biological effects. Thus, given the literature reports, Prosopis plants have positive impact on the human diet and general health. In this sense, the present review provides an in-depth overview of the literature data regarding Prosopis plants’ chemical composition, pharmacological and food applications, covering from pre-clinical data to upcoming clinical studies.

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Nontoxic Silicon Nanocrystals and Nanodiamonds as Substitution for Harmful Quantum Dots

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/proc-1241-xx03-11 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 1241 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anna Fucikova ◽

Jan Valenta ◽

Ivan Pelant ◽

Vitezslav Brezina

Keyword(s):

Quantum Dots ◽

Chemical Composition ◽

Silicon Nanocrystals ◽

Nanocrystalline Silicon ◽

Semiconductor Quantum Dots ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Long Term Stability

AbstractThe commercially available semiconductor quantum dots have been proven to be slightly to significantly toxic by recent publications depending on the chemical composition. We are developing new non-toxic fluorescent labels based on (i) nanocrystalline silicon, suitable for in vivo studies due to their biodegrability, and on (ii) nanodiamonds, intended mainly for in vitro use due to their long-term stability and nondegradilibity.

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Phytochemical composition and biological screening of two Lophophytum species

Boletin Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Plantas Medicinales y Aromaticas ◽

10.37360/blacpma.21.20.6.43 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (6) ◽

pp. 598-610

Author(s):

Carola A. Torres ◽

◽

Cristina M. Perez Zamora ◽

Hector A. Sato ◽

Maria B. Nuñez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chemical Composition ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Tree Roots ◽

In Vitro Methods ◽

Phytochemical Composition ◽

First Results ◽

Anti Inflammatory ◽

Β Carotene

Lophophytum species are holoparasites that grow on tree roots. The objectives of the work were to explore the chemical composition of the tubers of two Lophophytum species and to analyze the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antilithiatic activity of their extracts using in vitro methods. The chemical composition was determined by histochemical, phytochemical and TLC tests. In addition, the profile of phenolic compounds was determined by HPLC-MS. The presence of secondary metabolites of recognized activity was demonstrated. The results of the HPLC-MS/MS allowed the tentative identification of catechin, luteolin and glycosides of eriodictyol, naringenin and luteolin in the extract of Lophophytum leandri and eriodictyol, naringenin, luteolin and their glycosylated derivatives in Lophophytum mirabile. The extracts showed promising antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS and β-carotene-linoleic acid), anti-inflammatory (inhibition of 5-LOX) and anti-urolytic (by bioautographic TLC) activity. It is noteworthy that these are the first results of the phytochemical composition and biological activity of L. mirabile. However, in vivo studies are required to corroborate these activities.

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Vasculoprotective and Neuroprotective Effects of Various Parts of Pomegranate: In Vitro, In Vivo, and Preclinical Studies

10.5772/intechopen.96680 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Maria Trapali ◽

Vasiliki Lagouri

Keyword(s):

Ellagic Acid ◽

Therapeutic Agent ◽

Neuroprotective Effect ◽

Pomegranate Juice ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Neuroprotective Effects ◽

Hydrolysable Tannins ◽

Main Components

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is one of the oldest edible fruits in the Mediterranean area and has been used extensively in the folk medicine. Popularity of pomegranate has increased especially in the last decade because of the health effects of the fruit. Polyphenols, represent the predominant class of phytochemicals of pomegranate, mainly consisting of hydrolysable tannins and ellagic acid. Pomegranate is a rich source of the ellagitannin punicalagin, which has aroused considerable interest in pomegranate fruit as a new therapeutic agent in recent years. Most studies on the effects of pomegranate juice have focused on its ability to cure diabetes and atherosclerosis. The present review summarizes some recent studies on the vasculoprotective and neuroprotective effect of various parts of pomegranate and its main compounds especially hydrolysable tannins ellagitannins, ellagic acid and their metabolites. The in vitro and in vivo studies, showed that the whole parts of pomegranate as well as its main components had a positive influence on blood glucose, lipid levels, oxidation stress and neuro/inflammatory biomarkers. They could be used as a future therapeutic agent towards several vascular and neurodegenerative disorders such as hypertension, coronary heart disease and Alzheimer.

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Nanomedicine Based on Natural Products: Improving Clinical Application Potential

Journal of Nanomaterials ◽

10.1155/2022/3066613 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 2022 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Zhe Li ◽

Tingting Zhao ◽

Jiaxin Li ◽

Qingying Yu ◽

Yu Feng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Natural Products ◽

Clinical Application ◽

Medical Application ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Research Progress ◽

Pharmacological Activities ◽

Application Potential ◽

Clinical Transformation

Natural products have antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other pharmacological activities and are an important source of drugs for prevention and treatment of various diseases. However, the inherent defects of natural products in physiological media such as poor solubility and stability and short biological half-life limit their clinical application. In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to the science of drug delivery by nanoscale materials. A large number of in vitro and in vivo studies have further confirmed the efficacy and safety of nanomedicine based on natural products in preclinical models of various diseases. In this review, we summarized the achievements of nanomaterials in improving the efficacy of natural products, introduced the research progress in several key fields of natural product-based nanomedicine in medical application, and discussed the challenges and prospects of clinical transformation of nanomedicine.

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Chemical Composition, Diuretic, and Antityrosinase Activity of Traditionally Used Romanian Cerasorum stipites

Frontiers in Pharmacology ◽

10.3389/fphar.2021.647947 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Mihai Babotă ◽

Oliviu Voştinaru ◽

Ramona Păltinean ◽

Cosmin Mihali ◽

Maria Inês Dias ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chemical Composition ◽

Urinary Tract Disorders ◽

Diuretic Agents ◽

Inhibitory Potential ◽

Pharmacological Potential ◽

Eastern European Countries ◽

Bioactive Potential ◽

Few Data

Cherry stems (CS) represent a by-product intensively used in Eastern European countries as a traditional remedy for urinary tract disorders. Ethnopharmacological evidences sustain the use of CS as aqueous preparations (infusion and decoction), but few data were previously reported about phytochemical profile and pharmacological potential of CS hydroalcoholic extracts. In this regard, we aimed to evaluate the phenolic profile, in vitro antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory potential, and in vivo diuretic activity of 70% hydroethanolic cherry stems extract and cherry stems decoction (CSD). LC-DAD-ESI/MSn analysis revealed the presence of flavonoid-type compounds as main constituents for both preparations, especially flavanones (naringenin glycosides). Antioxidant activity evaluated through DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP methods was superior for cherry stems extract, probably due to the presence of phenolic-derived compounds in higher amounts than CSD. On the other hand, tyrosinase inhibitory potential and diuretic effect exerted by CSD were stronger, highlighting that other types of hydrophilic secondary metabolites are responsible for this bioactivity. Overall, our findings indicate that CS preparations could be used as promising mild diuretic agents and encourage further investigations regarding the correlation between their chemical composition and bioactive potential.

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Plants and Diabetes: Description, Role, Comprehension and Exploitation

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22083938 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (8) ◽

pp. 3938

Author(s):

Alessandra Durazzo ◽

Massimo Lucarini ◽

Antonello Santini

Keyword(s):

Chronic Diseases ◽

Diabetes Management ◽

The Body ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Treatment Of Diabetes ◽

Main Components

Many plants have been known for centuries to have medicinal importance with potential beneficial effects on health. Phytotherapeutic compounds are well known to play a globally significant role, in particular in the management and treatment of various chronic diseases. Among these, diabetes can cause long term damage to the body other than having a relevant economic burden on society being among the costliest chronic diseases. This motivated the focus of the proposed Special Issue, intended to develop and exploit the potential role of plants in the management and treatment of diabetes. The main topics included are: (i) description and use of medicinal plants for diabetes management; (ii) the elucidation and delineation of their main components, properties (anti-hyperglycaemic, hypoglicaemic, anti-infiammatory, apoptotic agents, etc.), (iii) the mechanism of action (in vitro and in vivo studies); (iv) formulation of nutraceuticals, botanicals, and dietary supplements useful as tools as an alternative or support to anti-diabetic pharmacological therapies; (v) development of new markers.

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Prebiotic Potential of Cereal Components

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10102338 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 2338

Author(s):

Reihane Abdi ◽

Iris J. Joye

Keyword(s):

Dietary Fiber ◽

Functional Food ◽

Food Production ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Fiber Types ◽

Food Ingredient ◽

Innovative Strategies ◽

Main Components

One type of functional food that has been receiving much attention is food rich in prebiotics. The old but still valid definition of prebiotics defines them as non-digestible food components that selectively stimulate the growth and/or activity of the beneficial bacteria in the colon and, as a result, improve the host health. Cereals, as one of the main components in the human diet, contain substantial levels of dietary fiber with probable prebiotic potential. In addition, dietary fiber, particularly soluble dietary fiber, has recently emerged as a promising natural highly functional food ingredient in food production. This review focuses on the prebiotic potential of cereal dietary fiber types and covers the achievements and developments regarding its isolation. First, the probiotic and prebiotic concepts will be discussed. Next, different components of dietary fiber and their effect on the host bacteria through in vitro and/or in vivo studies will be reviewed. In a last part, this paper also discusses means of boosting the prebiotic properties of cereal components and innovative strategies for the extraction of cereal dietary fiber. The review focuses on wheat as a leading cereal crop that is widely and intensely used throughout the world in food production.

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