Phytochemical Analysis最新文献

Background: Curcumin is recognized for its therapeutic potential in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), with effects on cardiomyocytes, vascular function, and hypertrophy.

Objective: This review aims to evaluate curcumin's therapeutic effects, mechanisms of action, and safety in CVD management.

Methods: A comprehensive review of existing literature was conducted, focusing on curcumin's impact on ischemia, hypoxia, myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis, and endothelial function.

Results: Curcumin protects cardiomyocytes, enhances vascular function, and exhibits inconsistent effects on cholesterol accumulation in macrophages.

Conclusion: While curcumin shows promise as a complementary agent in CVD management, further research, particularly large-scale clinical trials, is essential to validate its efficacy and safety.

Introduction: Corosolic acid (CRS) is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid primarily isolated from Lagerstroemia speciosa and other medicinal plants and has attracted growing interest because of its promising anticancer properties.

Objectives: This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the botanical sources, biopharmaceutical characteristics, molecular mechanisms of action, toxicological profile, and clinical evidence associated with CRS.

Materials and methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major scientific databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Wiley Online, covering studies published up to April 2025. Peer-reviewed articles investigating the anticancer activity, pharmacology, toxicity, pharmacokinetics, and clinical relevance of CRS were included.

Results: Preclinical evidence demonstrates that CRS exerts broad-spectrum anticancer activity by inducing apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, and cytotoxicity, while inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, metastasis, and survival signaling pathways, including PI3K/Akt/mTOR, NF-κB, STAT3, and YAP/TAZ. Emerging data also highlight its immunomodulatory role, particularly through suppression of Th17-mediated inflammatory responses, which may further contribute to its antitumor effects. Toxicological evaluations indicate that CRS possesses a favorable safety profile at therapeutic doses; however, its clinical translation is hindered by poor aqueous solubility and limited oral bioavailability. Recent advances in formulation strategies and structural modification approaches show potential for overcoming these limitations.

Conclusion: Overall, this review integrates current knowledge, identifies critical research gaps, and emphasizes the need for well-designed clinical trials to establish CRS as a viable multitarget anticancer agent.

Background: The NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammatory response plays a critical role in endothelial dysfunction. Danqi pill (DQP), a Chinese patent medicine composed of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Panax notoginseng, has demonstrated protective effects on endothelial cells, though its underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood.

Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) to simulate ischemic injury. Cell viability, migration, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane potential, and protein expression related to the NLRP3 inflammasome and Src homology 2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP2) were assessed.

Results: DQP (600 μg/mL) protected HUVECs against OGD-induced injury by enhancing cell viability and migration, reducing ROS production and cell death, and preserving mitochondrial membrane potential. Mechanistically, DQP promoted the translocation of SHP2 to mitochondria, which subsequently suppressed ROS generation and NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Conclusion: These findings reveal that DQP attenuates OGD-induced injury in HUVECs via SHP2-ROS-NLRP3 axis.

Background: Self-assembled nano-systems (SANS) formed in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoctions have recently emerged as promising carriers for enhancing the oral bioavailability of poorly soluble components. However, the pharmacokinetic characteristics of SANS in Xiaochaihu (XCH) decoction remain insufficiently investigated.

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the component distribution and pharmacodynamic relevance of the nanoemulsion phase of XCH decoction (N-XCH) and to assess its potential to improve pharmacokinetics and tissue targeting.

Methods: N-XCH was characterized by particle size analysis, zeta-potential measurement, TEM, UV-Vis, and FTIR spectroscopy. HPLC fingerprinting was used to compare the distribution of active components among the four phase states of XCH decoction. Gray relational analysis (GRA) was applied to relate index components to hepatoprotective and antipyretic endpoints. In vitro release, in vivo pharmacokinetic, and tissue distribution studies were performed to evaluate the release behavior and in vivo disposition of representative components.

Results: Fingerprint and GRA analyses indicated that N-XCH is the optimal dissolution phase for co-loading active constituents, and identified saikosaponin A as a key component associated with both hepatoprotective and antipyretic effects. In vitro, N-XCH displayed sustained-release behavior obeying Weibull kinetics with Fickian diffusion. In rats, N-XCH significantly increased the AUC of baicalin, wogonoside, liquiritin, and glycyrrhetinic acid compared with the decoction, while maintaining similar or slightly reduced Cmax values and altered tissue exposure profiles with enhanced hepatic uptake (RUE > 1) for multiple analytes.

Conclusion: N-XCH, as a self-assembled nanoemulsion phase in XCH decoction, markedly improves the systemic exposure and liver targeting of representative actives without excessive peak concentrations. These findings highlight the potential of SANS in TCM decoctions to optimize oral bioavailability and organ targeting, and provide an integrated analytical-pharmacokinetic framework for linking spectrum-effect relationships with nano-phase behavior.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by persistent inflammation, synovial hyperplasia, and osteochondral damage. Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack (MP), a botanical source of Murrayae Folium et Cacumen (MFC), has not previously been investigated for its potential arthritis-protective effects and underlying mechanisms, prompting our study of MP in this context.

Objectives: This study is aimed at evaluating the ameliorating effects of MP and elucidating its underlying mechanisms in RA.

Methods: The chemical composition of MP extract was analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). The anti-arthritic effects of MP extract were assessed in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats and interleukin (IL)-1β-stimulated SW982 cells.

Results: UPLC quantification identified four major constituents: luteolin tetramethylether (0.547 ± 0.012%), 5,7,3',4',5'-pentamethoxyflavone (1.558 ± 0.030%), 3',4',5,5',6,7-hexamethoxyflavone (0.273 ± 0.006%), and 5-demethylnobiletin (0.848 ± 0.023%). In vivo, MP alleviated arthritis in CIA rats by reducing clinical symptoms (including arthritis index, hind paw volume/swelling, and histopathological joint damage), suppressing inflammatory responses, and attenuating oxidative stress. In vitro, MP mitigated pathological changes in IL-1β-stimulated SW982 cells by inhibiting cell proliferation and migration, dampening inflammation, and reducing oxidative stress. Furthermore, network pharmacology and transcriptomic analyses guided the investigation of MP's regulatory effects on key RA-related targets. Specifically, MP downregulated IL-1β-induced overexpression of iNOS, COX-2, and MMP2/9 in SW982 cells and inhibited AP-1/NF-κB activation. These effects were confirmed in vivo, where MP suppressed MMP2/9 expression and blocked AP-1/NF-κB activation in CIA rats.

Conclusions: Integrating phytochemical profiling, in vivo and in vitro models, network pharmacology-transcriptomics, and target validation, this study demonstrates that MP exerts anti-arthritic effects via modulating proliferation-inflammation-oxidation crosstalk.

Introduction: Goat horn is a primary substitute for the endangered Saiga antelope horn in traditional medicines. Current quality control (QC) methods lack specificity to effectively detect economically motivated adulteration with horns from other Bovidae species.

Objective: This study is aimed at discovering the species-specific peptides and to develop a reliable mass spectrometry-based method for authenticating goat horn and quantifying its signature peptides.

Methods: A label-free proteomics strategy was employed to characterize the tryptic digests across five Bovidae species: goat horn (originated from Capra hircus), sheep horn (Ovis aries), buffalo horn (Bubalus bubalis), cattle horn (Bos taurus), and yak horn (Bos grunniens) on a nanoLC-Orbitrap mass spectrometry and screen signature peptides. A novel ultrasound-assisted simultaneous extraction-enzymolysis (UASEE) method was developed for sample preparation. An absolute quantification for seven goat horn peptides was established on UHPLC-MS/MS. Twenty-two batches of goat horn samples were analyzed.

Results: Thirteen signature peptides enabling unambiguous differentiation of five Bovidae species were identified. The UASEE method reduced the sample preparation time from over 24-6 h. The quantification method demonstrated satisfactory linearity (r ≥ 0.997), precision (RSD < 8.2%), repeatability (RSD < 5.8%), stability (RSD < 9.2%), and accuracy (recoveries 84.6%-114.2%, RSD < 13.9%). Based on the quantification results, GHpep 7 (mean 0.224 mg/g) and GHpep 11 (mean 0.137 mg/g) were proposed as the optimal QC markers due to high abundance and minimal batch variability (RSD < 15%).

Conclusion: This work provides a platform for signature peptide discovery and absolute quantification using UASEE and LC-MS/MS for quality evaluation of goat horn. It effectively addresses adulteration challenges and establishes a foundation for QC standards of goat horn.

Introduction: Cyperus rotundus (CR) has been widely explored for the treatment and prevention of diseases. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it is commonly used to treat liver diseases, abdominal pain, irregular menstruation, and dysmenorrhea. It has various processed products in clinical prescription; however, the quality distinctions among different processed products of CR remain unexplored.

Objectives: To explore the quality distinctions in color, flavor, and volatile compounds among four processed products of CR.

Methods: Eleven batches for each of the four processed products of CR were prepared. The color of the powders was determined utilizing the electronic eye (E-eye). The flavor information of each sample was analyzed with flash gas chromatography electronic nose (Flash GC e-nose). The volatile components were characterized using headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS), and the data were analyzed employing chemometric methods.

Results: The color parameters L*, a*, and b* were consistently obtained by E-eye, and four discriminant functions were established to distinguish different CR products rapidly. Using the Flash GC e-nose, 20 odor compounds were identified, among which 2-methylpropanal, 2-methylbutanal, methyl 2-methylbutyrate, and ethyl 2-methylcrotonate were generated after vinegar-processing, wine-processing, and stir-frying. A total of 36 volatile compounds were identified by HS-GC-MS with acetic acid and furfural being newly generated. Four potential differential chemical markers were selected.

Conclusion: Overall, this study provides novel ideas and methods for the identification and quality evaluation of four processed products of CR. Furthermore, it also provides a reference for standardizing the processing technology of TCM.

Introduction: Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco is a unique tree species in China with a long cultivation history and diverse medicinal values. Its dried branches and leaves, called Platycladi Cacumen (PC), contain bioactive compounds. However, conventional extraction methods such as leaching or steam distillation are often associated with high consumption of reagents, time, and energy.

Objectives: This study aims to develop an efficient and environmentally friendly approach for extracting flavonoids from PC by integrating the "oil-polymer-salt" three-liquid-phase system (OPS-TLPS) with coaxial liquid centrifugal technology.

Material and methods: The OPs-TLPS was constructed using di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (D2EHPA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and sodium citrate. During the study, a stable OPs-TLPS was screened by varying the phase-forming substances of the salts and oil-phase reagents, and the effects of three-phase mass fraction and reaction conditions on the extraction of active components from PC were investigated.

Results: The D2EHPA-PEG-sodium citrate system demonstrated high stability and efficiency for flavonoid extraction. Key factors, such as D2EHPA concentration, mass fractions of PEG and sodium citrate, pH, and centrifugal time, significantly influenced yield. After 2 h of extraction, over 50% of flavonoids were successfully partitioned into the oil and PEG phases. The integration of OPS-TLPS with coaxial centrifugation notably reduced organic solvent usage and improved extraction efficiency, offering a more automated and greener alternative to conventional techniques for isolating natural products.

Conclusion: This method provides a novel, sustainable, and efficient strategy for extracting flavonoids from Platycladi Cacumen, with potential applications in natural product extraction.

Introduction: In this study, two new papulacandin analogs (1-2), together with 12 known compounds (3-14), were identified from the co-culture of two endophytic fungi, Pestalotiopsis sp. J025 and Nigrospora sp. Wn-2-2, which were isolated from Wikstroemia nutans Champ. ex Benth.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the antifungal activity of papulacandins and other secondary metabolites from the co-culture of two endophytic fungi.

Material and methods: Their chemical structures, including relative configurations, were elucidated using extensive spectroscopic analyses, including HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, ECD calculations, and quantum mechanical-NMR calculations, as well as comparison with reported analogs.

Results: Compound 3 demonstrated promising in vitro antifungal activity against fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans with a minimum inhibitory concentration in 50% isolates (MIC₅₀) of 0.57 ± 0.01 μM.

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that the papulacandin family is a promising resource for the development of antifungal agents against invasive Candida infections.

Background: Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a nondestructive technique that simultaneously captures spectral and spatial information across multiple wavelengths. It has gained importance in plant science for detecting primary metabolites, vital for growth, and secondary metabolites, essential for plant defense and human health. Conventional methods such as chromatography and mass spectrometry, though accurate, are destructive, time-consuming, and require laborious sample preparation.

Objectives: This review examines the potential of HSI as a rapid and noninvasive tool for metabolite detection and classification, emphasizing its role in precision agriculture, plant phenotyping, and medicinal plant research.

Methods: This review summarizes principles of HSI, hardware components, image acquisition strategies, and processing techniques. Special focus is given to the integration of machine learning for extracting and classifying biochemical information from high-dimensional spectral data.

Results: Studies show that HSI enables accurate, real-time assessment of plant metabolic profiles. Machine learning approaches enhance predictive performance, while advances in imaging sensors, illumination systems, and computational tools are improving applicability. HSI is increasingly adopted for monitoring plant quality, stress responses, and bioactive compound content.

Conclusion: This review highlights HSI as a transformative tool in plant metabolomics, providing scalable, rapid, and sustainable alternatives to traditional methods, with strong potential to advance agricultural productivity and medicinal plant applications.