Planta medica最新文献

Significant health and socio-economic challenges are posed by renal diseases, leading to millions of deaths annually. The costs associated with treating and caring for patients with renal diseases are considerable. Current therapies rely on synthetic drugs that often come with side effects. However, phytoestrogens, natural compounds, are emerging as promising renal protective agents. They offer a relatively safe, effective, and cost-efficient alternative to existing therapies. Phytoestrogens, being structurally similar to 17-β-estradiol, bind to estrogen receptors and produce both beneficial and, in some cases, harmful health effects. The activation of sirtuins has shown promise in mitigating fibrosis and inflammation in renal tissues. Specifically, SIRT1, which is a crucial regulator of metabolic activities, plays a role in protecting against nephrotoxicity, reducing albuminuria, safeguarding podocytes, and lowering reactive oxygen species in diabetic glomerular injury. Numerous studies have highlighted the ability of phytoestrogens to activate sirtuins, strengthen antioxidant defense, and promote mitochondrial biogenesis, playing a vital role in renal protection during kidney injury. These findings support further investigation into the potential role of phytoestrogens in renal protection. This manuscript reviews the potential of phytoestrogens such as resveratrol, genistein, coumestrol, daidzein, and formononetin in regulating sirtuin activity, particularly SIRT1, and thereby providing renal protection. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for designing effective treatment strategies using naturally occurring phytochemicals against renal diseases.

In recent years, the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, has exhibited a steadily rising trend, which has posed a major challenge to the global public health. Traditional Chinese medicine, with its multicomponent and multitarget characteristics, offers a promising approach to treating neurodegenerative diseases. However, comprehensively elucidating the complex mechanisms underlying traditional Chinese medicine formulations remains challenging. As an emerging systems biology method, network pharmacology has provided a vital tool for revealing the multitarget mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine through high-throughput technologies, molecular docking, and network analysis. This paper reviews the advancements in the application of network pharmacology in treating neurodegenerative diseases using traditional Chinese medicine, analyzes the current status of relevant databases and technological methods, discusses the limitations, and proposes future directions to promote the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine and the development of precision medicine.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of mortality worldwide. Andrographolide represents an important category of natural phytochemicals that has significant therapeutic potential in various conditions such as acute lung injury, heart disease, and viral infections due to its anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties. This compound plays a protective role in human pathophysiology. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the effects of andrographolide on cardiovascular disease and examines its essential roles and mechanisms in cardiovascular disease and other vascular dysfunctions. The data collected in this review serve as a comprehensive reference for the role of andrographolide in cardiovascular disease and provide valuable insights for further research and the development of andrographolide as a novel therapeutic approach for cardiovascular disease.

Green tea catechins are bioactive polyphenolic compounds that possess a number of biological activities and potential health benefits. This review will focus on discussing the effects of green tea catechins, with a particular emphasis on clinical studies that evaluate their anticancer potential. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), either as a stand-alone treatment or in conjunction with conventional anticancer therapies, represents a promising alternative strategy for the management of leukaemia. This review was based on a search of the scientific sources indexed in the databases PubMed and Scopus using the following keywords: 'Camellia sinensis', 'tea catechins', 'anticancer', 'antioxidant', 'hematological cancer', and 'leukaemia' in combination. A deeper comprehension of the multifaceted mechanisms and findings of research could facilitate the development of novel strategies and the integration of green tea catechins into clinical practice, thus enhancing treatment outcomes for patients with leukaemia.

Eleutherococcus senticosus (ES) exerts various pharmacological effects, including renoprotection in a rat model of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, the mechanisms of these effects remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of ES on aristolochic acid (AA)-induced acute kidney injury in mice. The experimental mice were divided into the control group, the model group (AA-induced acute kidney injury model), the model + ES group (Eleutherococcus senticosus boiled-free granules treated by gavage for two weeks), the model + fasudil group (fasudil administered intraperitoneally for three days), and the model + ES + fasudil group. After AA intervention in normal mice, the expression of ASC and NLRP3 and the levels of IL-1β, IL-18, and TNF-α were significantly elevated in mouse renal tissues (P < 0.05). However, AA-induced renal dysfunction was ameliorated by both ES and fasudil, which was confirmed by the decrease in serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels, as well as by renal histopathological abnormalities such as renal tubule dilation and tubular formation. In addition, the inflammatory response of AA-induced renal inflammation was inhibited by both ES and fasudil, and the expression of ASC and NLRP3 and the levels of IL-1β, IL-18, and TNF-α were significantly higher in mouse renal tissues after the treatment of either ES or fasudil (P < 0.05). ES may be a potential treatment agent for aristolochic-acid-triggered nephropathy, with inhibition of the NLRP3/IL-1β as one plausible underlying mechanism.

Astragalus adsurgens, a significant forage plant cultivated in arid regions of northwest China, remains underexplored for its triterpenoid saponins and medicinal properties compared to the extensively studied Astragalus membranaceus. To explore the phytochemical profile of A. adsurgens for its potential application in the medical field, we employed ultra-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with a tandem mass spectrometry-based method to identify cycloartane-type triterpenes. Eventually, five new cycloartane-type triterpenoids, adsurgosides A - D ( 1 - 4: ) and 3-methyl-3,4-seco-cyclostellanol (5: ), together with two known analogs, cycloastragenol (6: ) and cyclopycanthogenin (7: ), were isolated from the roots of A. adsurgens. Their structures were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR analyses in combination with HRESIMS data. Additionally, a comparative study on the distribution patterns of these compounds revealed qualitative and quantitative variations between A. adsurgens and A. membranaceus. Our findings not only identified an alternative plant for isolating cycloartane-type triterpenoids but also offer new insights into the chemical properties of A. adsurgens.

The phytochemical study of Zanthoxylum rhoifolium apolar and medium polarity stem bark and leaf extracts afforded 29 compounds, including three new sesquiterpenes (1 - 3: ) and one new α-ionone glycoside (4: ). All compounds were characterized by means of 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS data. Furthermore, a precise structural analysis was performed, employing a combined density functional theory (DFT)/NMR approach to elucidate the compounds configurations. The crude extracts were then tested against a panel of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria by broth dilution methods to determine their minimal inhibitory concentration. In these experimental conditions, no interesting antimicrobial activity was observed.

Alopecia is a common dermatological disorder of patchy hair loss with substantial patient burden. Phytotherapeutic compounds are increasingly used as a source of new therapeutic options. This review aimed to synthesize the evidence on plant species in hair growth and the methodological aspects of in vivo experimental models. The systematic scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA checklist, the Joanna Briggs Institute, and in accordance with Cochrane. A systematic search was carried out in the Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, and SciELO databases. In vivo experiments that evaluated hair growth activity using natural substances of plant origin were included. Data collection and analysis: a total of 1250 studies were identified, of which 175 were included for qualitative synthesis. Of these, 128 used mice, 37 rats, 10 rabbits, 1 guinea pig, and 1 sheep as animal models. The methodologies mapped were as follows: hair growth analysis, histological analysis, immunohistochemistry, gene expression analysis, Western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and biochemical analysis. Minoxidil and finasteride were the most commonly used positive controls. The studies evaluated plant species (166), algae (11), or isolated substances (31). Overall, 152 plant species and 37 isolated substances were identified. This is the first systematic scoping review on the methodological aspects of in vivo hair growth activity. We created a checklist to be completed by authors to allow data comparison and reproducibility, facilitate data interpretation by readers, and ensure better quality of evidence. This work may become a valuable tool for future research and contribute to significant advances in hair growth studies.

Podophyllotoxin is derived from plant sources and exhibits strong anticancer activity. However, limited natural availability and environmental impacts from traditional extraction methods drive the search for alternative production approaches. This review explores diverse strategies for sustainable podophyllotoxin synthesis, including biosynthesis, semi-synthesis, and biotransformation. Biosynthetic methods involve metabolic pathway engineering in plant or microbial cells, enabling increased yields by manipulating precursor availability and gene expression. Semi-synthetic approaches modify podophyllotoxin precursors or intermediates to enhance therapeutic effects, with derivatives like etoposide and teniposide showing clinical efficacy. Biotransformation, utilising organisms such as endophytic fungi or human hepatic enzymes, enables the transformation of substrates like deoxypodophyllotoxin into podophyllotoxin or its derivatives, yielding compounds with reduced environmental impact and improved purity. The anticancer efficacy of podophyllotoxin and its derivatives stems from multiple mechanisms. These compounds disrupt cell mitosis by inhibiting microtubule assembly, impairing nucleoside transport, and blocking topoisomerase II activity, leading to DNA cleavage and cancer cell apoptosis. Podophyllotoxin and its derivatives also exhibit anti-angiogenesis and anti-metastatic effects through signalling pathway modulation. Notably, derivatives like deoxypodophyllotoxin utilise advanced delivery systems, enhancing targeted efficacy and reducing side effects. Given the varied mechanisms and growing therapeutic applications, optimising biotransformation and delivery techniques remains essential for advancing podophyllotoxin-based therapies. This comprehensive review underscores the compound's potential as a robust anticancer agent and the need for continued research to maximise its production and clinical effectiveness.

Drynariae Rhizoma has been commonly used as a preventive and therapeutic agent for bone diseases. However, its pharmacological mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of Drynariae Rhizoma in a bilateral ovariectomized rat model and explore the correlation with gut microbiome. We established an ovariectomized rat model, which we treated with different doses of Drynariae Rhizoma (Drynariae Rhizoma-Low, 0.27 g/kg/day; Drynariae Rhizoma-Middle, 0.81 g/kg/day; Drynariae Rhizoma-High, 2.43 g/kg/day) through intragastric administration for 12 weeks. Results showed that Drynariae Rhizoma alleviated body weight, moderated bone microstructure, and promoted the expression of bone formation-related factors in ovariectomized rats, in which Drynariae Rhizoma-High showed the most significant effects among the three doses. Furthermore, the effects of Drynariae Rhizoma on promoting bone formation were correlated to the changes in microbial richness and the restorations of several genera, among which Ruminiclostridium and Ruminococcaceae_UCG_007 were positively correlated with the bone formation-related factors, and both were enriched in the Drynariae Rhizoma-High group as biomarkers. Moreover, CMP-legionaminate biosynthesis I might be a crucial pathway of Drynariae Rhizoma to regulate gut microbiota. The content of serum short-chain fatty acids in the ovariectomized rats were regulated by Drynariae Rhizoma. Our results demonstrate that Drynariae Rhizoma promotes bone formation in ovariectomized rats, and is related to the regulation of the gut microbiota structure.