Phytochemistry Reviews最新文献

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a very vital crop tree in many Middle Eastern countries and also, its fruits called dates are consumed worldwide by thousands of people. Date seeds which are the by-product of date fruits, are usually regarded as wastes and at most, only used as feed for farm animals. Unbeknownst to many however, date seeds are embedded with numerous amounts of fiber, carbohydrates, protein, oil, and dietary additionally, date seeds also contain phytochemicals that may elicit biological effects. Moreover, the abundant chemical composition of date seeds makes them apposite for use in medical supplements, food product formulation and cosmetics. It is the aim of the authors to review to the latest data on the pharmacological properties of date seeds discussing the botanical properties and industrial applications as well.

Terrestrial plants rely on protection conferred by their outer coverings to defend against desiccation, bruising, and microbial invasion. For food staples such as potato tubers, the periderm contains the phellem (tuber skin) which creates a hydrophobic barrier by depositing macromolecular composites comprised of waxes, soluble phenolics, and a complex aliphatic suberin polyester (or suberin aliphatic domain) and lignin-like biopolymer (or suberin polyphenolic domain) within the previously formed polysaccharide cell wall. The antibacterial activity of both the soluble chemical constituents and their solid polymeric assemblies provides essential plant defense; their antioxidant and waterproofing properties also offer practical potential for sustainable food preservation and packaging applications. To characterize these phytochemical composites comprehensively and in molecular detail, we developed an approach that coordinates ‘bottom-up’ analysis of extracted metabolites that include suberin precursors, solid-state NMR spectroscopy of the polymers in intact skins or solid suspensions, and ‘top-down’ analysis of chemical breakdown products of suberin. The usefulness of analytical methods that include LC–MS, GC–MS, multivariate analysis, solid-state NMR, SEM, and TEM is illustrated for studies of molecular and supramolecular structures that underlie protective function in three potato periderm systems: (1) native tuber periderms versus suberized wound-healing tissues including closing layer and wound periderm; (2) metabolites unleashed in rapid response to wounding prior to formation of suberized tissues; (3) wild type versus genetically modified potato varieties with altered suberin deposition. We also demonstrate how enrichment with stable ¹³C and ¹⁵N isotopes can improve our understanding of how the suberin biopolymer molecular structure develops, increasing the reach of MS, 2D solid-state NMR, and dynamic nuclear polarization spectroscopic methods and revealing phenolic amide constituents that could represent an underappreciated part of the plant’s defensive arsenal.

Liver disease is a significant global health concern, leading to around two million fatalities annually. This disorder encompasses a broad range of causes, including both well-established factors such as lifestyle choices, as well as less understood origins such as pre-existing medical diseases. In the present scenario, liver cancer poses a significant worldwide health concern, with projections indicating that the number of cases is expected to exceed one million by the year 2025. According to the World Health Organization, numerous developing nations, such as India, continue to rely on the utilization of plants and plant-derived substances for the treatment of diverse ailments. Desmodium Desv., a genus within the Fabaceae family, encompasses about 350 species that are primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. These plants have a long-standing history of traditional medicinal use in India, Thailand, and China, particularly for the treatment of liver diseases. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the ethnobotanical applications, phytoconstituents, and hepatoprotective properties associated with all species of Desmodium. The research employed various methodologies. Data on the Desmodium genus was collected up until the year 2022 through the examination of research articles, patents, and diverse online bibliographic databases such as PubMed, Research Gate, PubChem, Science Direct, Scopus, Wiley Online Library, Web of Science, eOL, POWO, and IUCN. The online search was conducted using the following keywords: Desmodium species, review articles, ethnobotanical uses, phytochemical constituents, and hepatoprotective property. In conclusion, it can be inferred that Ethnobotanical research has revealed that these particular species possess diverse pharmacological attributes, including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, cytotoxic, and hepatoprotective activities. The analysis of phytochemistry reveals the presence of various compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, phenols, and other constituents inside these species. Out of a total of 350 species, it has been observed that 18 possess hepatoprotective properties. In order to substantiate the hepatoprotective applications and advance the development of prominent pharmaceuticals, additional pharmacological investigations including animal models and phytochemical explorations are necessary.

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Inflammation assists in the healing process as a part of the natural defensive mechanism. Apart from the healing process, inflammatory mechanisms contribute to the progression and development of a range of ailments, including asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and so on. A new anti-inflammatory medication that is safe, potent, non-toxic, or less toxic is now required as the existing anti-inflammatory and non-steroidal drugs are associated with various side effects. In this context, we have reviewed the genus Ilex for traditional uses related to inflammation and anti-inflammatory properties (in vitro and in vivo) by utilizing databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct. According to ethnomedicinal information, these plants have been used to treat various inflammatory conditions. A total of 12 species were found with anti-inflammatory potential, where some studies were conducted using crude extracts and others with pure compounds. Many chemical compounds have been reported from the Ilex species; however, the bioactive composition explored for anti-inflammatory effects include rotundarpene, triterpenoid saponins, chlorogenic acid, ursolic acid, ilexgenin A, isoquercetin, kaempferol, ilexchinenosides J-Q and salicifoneoliganol. The mechanistic insights into how Ilex species deal with inflammatory stimuli in the mitogen-activated protein kinase, nuclear factor-κB, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription, and arachidonic acid pathways have also been highlighted. The toxicity profile of studies has also been discussed to assess safety. These plants can be developed as drug-developing candidates after detailed follow-up studies.

The genus Xanthium is an annual herb belonging to the family Compositae, widely distributed worldwide. The plants of Xanthium have long been used as traditional Chinese medicine for treating fever, rhinitis, headache, sinusitis, tympanitis, scrofula, and arthritis. The secondary metabolites of Xanthium species have been studied since the 1960s. So far, various chemical constituents have been isolated from the plants of Xanthium, including sesquiterpenoids, triterpenoids, diterpenoids, monoterpenoids, simple phenylpropanoids, lignans, coumarins, steroids, flavonoids, quinones, thiazinediones, thiophenes, glycosides, and others. Moreover, these compounds and extracts from Xanthium species have been reported to show various pharmacological activities, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-malarial, and anti-trypanosomal activities. Clinical studies indicated that the plants of the Xanthium genus exhibited significant curative effects on anaphylactic rhinitis, asthma, arthritis, and infantile diarrhea. In addition, improper use could cause severe toxic reactions because of the poisonous components found in the whole plant of Xanthium. This review summarizes the botany, traditional uses, secondary metabolites, quality control, pharmacological activities, clinical studies, and toxicology of Xanthium species. This review also discusses the gaps that still exist in present studies on Xanthium species to provide a scientific reference for further studies and accelerate the contemporary development of Xanthium species.

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Diabetes is a condition that affects metabolism of carbohydrates, sugars, proteins, and lipids. Chronic hyperglycemia caused by abnormalities in insulin secretion or insulin activity is its key characteristic. A severe threat to human health is posed by the rapidly rising prevalence of diabetes mellitus worldwide. Despite the availability of well-known anti-diabetic medications diabetes, and its associated complications, it remains a serious health concern. A severe threat to human health is posed by the rapidly rising prevalence of diabetes mellitus worldwide. This review examines antidiabetic properties of medicinal plants found in Himachal Pradesh, exploring their phytoconstituents and their potential role in managing diabetes mellitus. It collates in vivo and toxicological studies along with clinical trials on various plant species, found in Himachal Pradesh scrutinizing the bioactive compounds that exhibit antidiabetic effects. Results of these studies indicate that specific plant species can significantly reduce blood glucose levels in streptozotocin and alloxan monohydrate-induced diabetic animal models, including male Wistar rats and male Albino mice, over treatment periods ranging from 5 to 49 days. Furthermore, in human clinical settings, the antidiabetic effects of these plants in diabetic patients are investigated within 4 h to 3 months. Changes in biological parameters brought after treatment with these plant extracts are compared to diabetic animals and patients receiving no treatment. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of Himachal Pradesh's flora in managing and treating diabetes, advocating for further scientific validation and development of plant-based antidiabetic medications.

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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic digestive illness characterized by symptoms such as bloating, stomach discomfort, diarrhea, irregular bowel motions, and constipation. IBS is caused by genetic predisposition and the gut-brain axis, which affects the brain and psychological health. The gut microbiome may mediate dysbiosis in IBS patients, stress, and psychological comorbidity. Medications for IBS include probiotics, antispasmodics, antibiotics, and several agents acting on central nervous system. However, the disappointing results of conventional treatments are leading many patients to consider complementary and alternative medicines. The current study examines different herbal remedies, their phytoconstituents, the ways in which herbs work, and novel approaches based on nanotechnology to treat IBS. Moreover, with the help of the phytoconstituents discussed in this review, a ligand-based pharmacophore was generated in order to obtain structural knowledge for potential future developments of leads for the treatment of IBS. Potent activity against IBS may be enhanced by structural alterations of these phytoconstituents on hydrophobic, donor, and acceptor regions. In summary, this research could pave the way for the management of IBS through the use of herbal medicinal plants and encourage scientists to explore for novel natural remedies.

The isolation of pure compounds from extracts represents a key step common to all investigations of natural product (NP) research. Isolation methods have gone through a remarkable evolution. Current approaches combine powerful metabolite profiling methods for compounds annotation with omics mining results and/or bioassay for bioactive NPs/biomarkers priorisation. Targeted isolation of prioritized NPs is performed using high-resolution chromatographic methods that closely match those used for analytical profiling. Considerable progress has been made by the introduction of innovative stationary phases providing remarkable selectivity for efficient NPs isolation. Today, efficient separation conditions determined at the analytical scale using high- or ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography can be optimized via HPLC modelling software and efficiently transferred to the semi-preparative scale by chromatographic calculation. This ensures similar selectivity at both the analytical and preparative scales and provides a precise separation prediction. High-resolution conditions at the preparative scale can notably be granted using optimized sample preparation and dry load sample introduction. Monitoring by ultraviolet, mass spectrometry, and or universal systems such as evaporative light scattering detectors and nuclear magnetic resonance allows to precisely guide the isolation or trigger the collection of specific NPs with different structural scaffolds. Such approaches can be applied at different scales depending on the amounts of NPs to be isolated. This review will showcase recent research to highlight both the potential and constraints of using these cutting-edge technologies for the isolation of plant and microorganism metabolites. Several strategies involving their application will be examined and critically discussed.

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Plant dietary lipids remain one of the most intriguing and complex classes of biological molecules. Among them, medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) have garnered recognition for their unique physico-chemical properties and potential health benefits. Despite their classification as saturated fats, they stand apart from other saturated fatty acids due to their distinctive characteristics, positioning them as a valuable component in nutrition. While traditional dietary fats primarily contain long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), MCTs consist of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), naturally found in coconut and palm oils. The structural dissimilarity grants MCTs advantageous attributes, encompassing rapid digestion and absorption, providing a swift source of energy. Importantly, MCT oil derived from coconuts surpasses traditional coconut oil in efficiency and speed of energy conversion due to its higher concentration of readily metabolizable MCTs, making it a superior choice in human nutrition. This comprehensive study delves deeply into the potential of coconut-derived MCT oil, illuminating its chemical constituents, production from coconut oil, distinctive physical and chemical properties, and metabolic characteristics. Additionally, it highlights a range of potential biological activities of the oil, including its efficacy in managing gastrointestinal disorders and promising roles in anticancer, neuroprotective, and antimicrobial effects. The report also discusses the extensive applications of MCT oil across diverse industrial and technological sectors, as well as its utilization in structured lipids, oleogels, and as a carrier for capsaicin. Addressing safety concerns and providing dosage guidelines, this paper emphasizes MCT oil as an alternative to coconut oil in various applications, offering a holistic perspective on its benefits.

The genus Papaver L. includes 159 annual, biennial, and perennial species divided into 11 sections. Several studies on a few species in this genus have revealed that they have beneficial anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-depressant properties. In addition, they have analgesic and sedative effects to alleviate signs of various disorders such as pain, cough, and neurological problems. These beneficial properties have been shown to be primarily related to their alkaloids content. The majority of the alkaloids in the Papaver genus are aporphines, morphinanes, protoberberines, protopines, and simple benzylisoquinolines. Interestingly, studies on the pharmacological effects of their alkaloids, with focus on the structure–activity relationship, have revealed a number of biological activities, including effects on metabolic syndrome, neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. However, findings of literature on the toxic effects and low bioavailability of these bioactivitie alkaloids persuaded researchers to focus on the exact mechanisms of these alkaloids and improve their benefits by alleviating their side effects. In the current study, we aimed to review the chemistry and pharmacology of the Papaver alkaloids in order to assist researchers in their future studies on the genus Papaver to address research gaps. Additionally, we had a complete investigation on the taxonomy of Papaver spp. based on research references.

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