Phytochemistry Reviews最新文献

Traditionally, Himalayan plants have been used as medicines for 6500 years. Traditional herbal remedies are used by people in the region to cure digestive disorders using indigenous knowledge. Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are a prevalent health concern globally, affecting millions of people. These disorders include various conditions such as ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The present review attempts to summarize the traditional plants of Western Himalaya that are used to cure the GI disorders and also highlights the significance phytoconstituents on GI disorders. Online databases like Science direct, Scopus, and PubMed were used as source for collecting and compiling the previous data. According to the study, 78 ethnomedicinal plant species belonging to 45 different families are used to treat GI disorders in Himachal Pradesh. A systematic approach is used to organize these plants, including botanical names, family names, common names, plant parts, regions, and GI disorders. This review paper aims to summarizes the folklore utilization of herbal plants found in Himachal Pradesh, used to cure GI disorders, and assess the bio-efficacy of these plants based on the phytochemical literature available and arranged in tabulated form. As part of our demonstration of traditional Himachal Pradesh health care, we reviewed the diversity of medicinal plants used to treat various disorders. Due to the high number of deaths caused by such disorders each year, it is crucial to increase rural access to traditional medicine. Traditional herbal medicine must be exploited sustainably in order to protect threatened species.

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Prostate cancer is among the tumors that contribute to the increasing male mortality rate due to cancer worldwide. Treatment options for prostate cancer include active surveillance, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, focal therapy, and surgery. Ongoing research investigates alternative treatment modalities, such as traditional medicine and natural products, to address prostate cancer, drug resistance, and the side effects linked to current treatment options. Sesquiterpenes are a group of substances that are naturally made up of three isoprene units, hence fifteen carbons bound together. An extensive number of naturally occurring products—nearly 5000 in total—are categorised as secondary metabolites in the context of medicinal plants, marine organisms and fungi. Numerous of them possess many biological activities, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and especially cytotoxic activity. Sesquiterpenes are an interesting group that was investigated due to their widespread occurrence and promising effects. Several studies have shown significant effects of sesquiterpenes on many types of cancer, including prostate cancer. Therefore, this review aims to include in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies of sesquiterpenes in prostate cancer. Based on the ring system, this review categorises sesquiterpenes as acyclic, monocyclic, bicyclic sesquiterpenes and other sesquiterpenes and their derivatives. A summary of sesquiterpenes' current status as cytotoxic with the potential for anticancer therapy agents is given concerning prostate cancer.

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In 2022, World Health Organization (WHO) established global objectives for diabetes, aiming for 80% of people with diabetes to achieve good control of glycaemia and blood pressure by 2030. Currently, there are approximately 537 million adults living with diabetes, placing them at a high risk of developing various complications. Discovering new antidiabetic agents involves exploring leading compounds with therapeutic activity and optimizing their structure in medicinal chemistry research. Phenolic compounds, derived from plant metabolism, are widely distributed in nature and known for their diverse biological properties, including antidiabetic activity. Over the past decade, carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP), consisting of α and β subunits, has been identified as a central mediator of glucose sensing in multiple metabolic organs. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a significant transcription factor involved in cellular stress resistance and represents a logical target for exogenous activators to combat chronic metabolic disorders. Recent findings reveal that NRF2 activation is necessary for ChREBPα-mediated enhancement of glucose-stimulated β-cell proliferation. This review aims to describe the modulatory effect of phenolic compounds on ChREBP and NRF2, focusing on their potential for type 2 diabetes treatment. It assesses relevant in vitro, in vivo, and human studies conducted over the past 10 years. Several analyzed compounds show promising activity and may be utilized in future diabetes therapy.

Passiflora ligularis (P. ligularis) is a species of the genus Passiflora distributed from Mexico to Bolivia, particularly along the Andes, found at altitudes between 1500 and 2500 m above sea level. This plant is of significant economic importance due to the commercialization of its fruits as food, and it has also been widely used in folk medicine. This systematic review was conducted, using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. The search focused on experimental research articles examining the pharmacological properties of P. ligularis. Studies were included if they investigated the biological activities or composition of P. ligularis, excluding reviews, meta-analyses, and non-experimental articles. A total of 1992 articles were identified, with 14 meeting the inclusion criteria. These studies explored the antioxidant, antimicrobial, hypoglycemic, and neuroprotective activities of P. ligularis. In vitro studies confirmed its potent antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, while in vivo studies demonstrated its efficacy in reducing blood glucose levels, managing lipid metabolism, and providing neuroprotection. Additionally, pharmaceutical technologies, such as gold nanoparticles and self-emulsifying systems, were developed to enhance the therapeutic effects of P. ligularis extracts. The evaluation of P. ligularis highlights its broad-spectrum pharmacological activities and potential as a natural therapeutic agent. The integration of advanced pharmaceutical technologies further enhances its clinical applicability, offering a promising alternative to conventional treatments.

Tremendous scientific advancements have been witnessed in phytochemical research in pursuit of their therapeutic and nutritional value. Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) is essential to handle the growing omics data and for the elucidation of novel potential phytochemicals. Interestingly, AI has transformed phytochemical research by enabling the efficient analysis of high-dimensional ‘omics’ data and facilitating the discovery of novel metabolites, structural elucidation, and metabolite profiling in plants. Taking together, this review highlights the implementation and significance of AI in various aspects of phytochemical research including analytical techniques, structural elucidation of phytochemicals, plant metabolomics, and genomics. The review also provides an outlook of prominent computational tools in phytochemical research including CASE followed by the present status and challenges of implementing AI in phytochemical research. We also propose the integration of more AI-driven analytical approaches in phytochemical research for the discovery of metabolites and to explore their applications in medicine and agriculture.

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Quercetagetin, 3, 5, 6, 7, 3′, 4′-Hexahydroxy-flavone (Que), is a yellow flavonol with an extra OH at C-6 in ring A related to the common 5,7-OH-type ring A flavonol quercetin. The related research about Que over the last 20 years has been obviously increased. This study delves into the research progress of Que: occurrence, chemical and biosynthesis pathways, physicochemical properties, delivery systems, pharmacological effects, clinical trial and human studies, toxicology and safety. Additionally, an overview of its marketed products, as well as patents is presented in this review highlighting future needed work to capitalize upon its biological merits. Que is found enriched in flowers of genus Tagetes and Citrus peel, and the enzyme flavonol 6-hydroxylase plays an indispensable role in the biosynthesis pathway of Que in Tagetes species via adding hydroxyl group in the C6 position of quercetin. With an increasing understanding of Que biosynthesis pathway and related genes being gradually annotated, biotechnology may be a potential way to obtain Que. Que exhibits various health-beneficial effects including antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammation, antivirus, antidiabetic and antilipemic. Some delivery systems are reported to improve its poor bioavailability and ultimate efficacy. The market products and patents of Que in pharmaceutical and food industries mostly used a mixture containing Que other than individual Que. The pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and pharmacological actions of individual Que are not fully studied, especially lack of clinical trial result. Therefore, deeper investigation about Que is needed, especially toxicology and safety, to enhance its clinical application, market product development as potential nutraceutical.

Hydroxyanthracene derivatives (HADs) are a class of naturally occurring organic compounds known for their diverse biological activities and applications. Due to their pharmacological versatility, hydroxyanthracene derivatives represent a major area of interest in natural products research and drug development. They are found in a wide variety of organisms including bacteria, fungi, plants and some animals. One of the most important sources of HADs is the plant Aloe vera, which is particularly rich in these compounds. HADs can be divided into several types based on their chemical structure and the presence of functional groups: anthraquinones, anthrones, anthranols, anthracenols and dianthrones, with anthraquinones being the most abundant. Plants are a particularly rich source, with around 200 known anthraquinones found in roots, rhizomes, flowers and fruits. These compounds are known for their diverse biological activities, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antiarthritic, antifungal, antibacterial and antimalarial properties. Some anthraquinones are already in clinical use and commercially available. In addition to their medicinal applications, these molecules are valuable in analytical chemistry and industrial processes such as cellulose production, and serve as dyes, agrochemicals and prototypes for the development of new bioactive molecules. Various techniques are used to extract anthraquinones from natural sources to maximize yield and preserve the integrity of the compounds. Common methods include maceration, soxhlet extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, green processes and ultrasound-assisted extraction. This chapter focuses on the key properties and applications of anthraquinone from Aloe vera. Through a comprehensive review of these aspects, this chapter aims to provide a thorough understanding of the potential of anthraquinones and their diverse roles in both natural and applied sciences.

Root tissues are broadly divided into mature tissue, elongation zone (developing tissue), root tip, and border cells. While each zone contributes individually to the overall root secretion profile, border cells are emphasized in this review due to their specialized secretory functions. Border cells are often overlooked in plant root focused studies, thus excluding an important component of root functionality. Border cells are a specialized cell type surrounding the root apical meristematic region of most plant species, with the exception of the Brassicaceae family that possess border-like cells. Both cell types share the commonality of complete detachment from the root tip and reliance on internal starch reserves to perform metabolic processes. However, border cells release from the root tip as single/individual cells whereas border-like cells separate as cohesive sheets. Furthermore, border cells, but not border-like cells, secrete a complex matrix consisting of mucilage, proteins, DNA, and metabolites. Many of these secreted compounds are bioactive (e.g. secreted mucilage supports microbial growth and DNA physically entangles pathogens) thus mediating symbiosis and pathogen defense. We are interested in metabolites secreted from individual root regions, with a heavy emphasis on those specifically arising from border cells. Border cell metabolite secretion is in need of further investigation, as current research indicates they secrete symbiosis-inducing, allelopathic, and defense oriented metabolites. This review will summarize current literature regarding metabolite secretions by specific root cell types and regions. In particular, it will focus on border cell contributions to the rhizosphere chemistry relative to other root tissue types.

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Photosynthetic organisms lie at the heart of the food chain, with plants acting as the primary carbon source in terrestrial ecosystems, essential for sustaining both human and animal life. The outbreaks of diseases in plants caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, or protozoa have a considerable impact on the economy and global food supply. Therefore, the use of safe alternatives to control them is highly desirable. According to one of the main models currently accepted for plant–pathogen interaction, resistance responses to attacks by disease-causing microorganisms involve signalling pathways, signal transduction, regulation of gene expression, and production of proteins and small molecules. These molecules, known as secondary metabolites (natural products), play significant role in the various defence mechanisms as components of plant chemical defence against biotic and abiotic stress. Due to advances in genetics and molecular biology research, numerous biosynthetic pathways to phytoalexins, phytohormones, antimicrobial and signalling compounds have been elucidated, as well as their regulation. The activation of these plant metabolic pathways may lead to an incompatible response, preventing the occurrence, or the establishment of the disease, with metabolic synthesis and exchange between the involved organisms. Understanding the interaction between plants and pathogens, as well as plant defence mechanisms, is crucial for developing new approaches to minimize the damage caused by pathogen attacks on agricultural crops worldwide. This review comprehensively addresses plant–pathogen interaction by delving into the molecular recognition and immune responses in plants and exploring the intricate signalling pathways mediated by phytohormones and other secondary metabolites.

The genus Valeriana L. is a large genus with its 436 accepted species distributed all over the world. Some members of the genus have been utilized in different folk medicines to cure many diseases especially anxiety, sleep disorders and epilepsy since remote times. Pharmacological studies on the extracts prepared mostly from below ground parts of some Valeriana species mainly from V. officinalis, V. jatamansi, and V. amurensis revealed their diverse bioactivities including, anxiolytic, antidepressant, anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and anticancer activities. Many secondary metabolites have been isolated and characterized from several Valeriana species that belong to mainly iridoid, sesquiterpene, lignan, flavonoid chemical classes. Bioactivity studies on the isolated iridoids, sesquiterpenes, and lignans derived from these species possess significant biological activities such as cytotoxic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and antiviral activities. This comprehensive review aims to provide an overview of the traditional use and phytochemical composition of Valeriana species as well as the very recent bioactivities of secondary metabolites derived from these species. Recent in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies are reviewed and discussed, particularly focusing on cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anti-viral activities of the isolated compounds from Valeriana species. Among the secondary metabolites, especially iridoids, sesquiterpenes, and lignans seem to be the compounds that are responsible for the pharmacological activities of extracts. Although promising results were reported for some secondary metabolites in in vitro studies, it is essential to perform in vivo and even clinical studies in order to discover new potential drug leads from this genus.