Phytochemistry Reviews最新文献

Apocynaceae, one of the largest plant families with over 5.100 widely distributed species, serves as a significant model for evolutionary and biochemical studies. Within this family, compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids with potential therapeutic activities have been isolated. Among its subfamilies, Asclepiadoideae is recognized as a rich source of C₂₁ pregnane derivatives. This paper presents a comprehensive review of pregnane glycosides (PG) obtained from Asclepiadoideae, employing an interdisciplinary approach that combines chemophenetics with neural network data analysis to identify promising species and bioactive compounds. A dataset comprising 660 unique PGs and 705 botanical occurrences was compiled for this purpose. The ethnopharmacological aspects, as well as the extraction, isolation, and biological activity of PGs, were analyzed and discussed. Chemophenetic analysis using Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) and phylogeny reconstruction revealed similarities between the Marsdenia-Ceropegiae tribes and highlighted the occurrence of seco and diseco pregnane types predominantly within the Asclepiadeae tribe. Both scaffolds exhibited intriguing structural features, and their derivatives have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities. These findings provide valuable insights for future research on these compounds and their medicinal plant sources.

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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and most common cause of dementia among older people. The main pathological hallmarks of AD are formation of insoluble amyloid beta senile plaques and paired helical filaments of neurofibrillary tangles. AD features gradual memory decline, mild to severe cognitive impairment, eventually total dependence of patients on caregivers. Currently available drugs have not been able to modify AD pathology. This has drawn increasing attention to plant food materials with high nutritional and bioactive constituents as potential complementary therapy for AD. Sorghum bicolor is a widely available cost-effective source of proteins, fats, crude fibres, biopeptides and polyphenols which are vital for human wellbeing. This review discussed the major mechanisms underlying AD pathology. The nutritional and bioactive constituents of Sorghum bicolor grains were extensively described. There is limited report on anti-AD activities of sorghum grains. Therefore, the pharmacological mechanisms of action including scavenging of reactive oxygen species, inhibition of oxidative stress, anti-acetylcholinesterase activity and modulation of mitophagy were only speculated. This comprehensive update suggests more robust innovative studies that will provide critical theoretical details necessary to promote utilization of sorghum grains as functional food or source of bioactive molecules for AD therapy.

Flavonoids have a longstanding tradition of being employed in traditional medicine to improve human health. Crocin has been suggested as a potential candidate for addressing a range of ailments, including neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). In the modern era, diverse pharmacological activities of crocin have been explored due to its bioactive constituents like kaempferol, picrocrocin, safranal, and crocetin. It demonstrates pharmacological and therapeutic efficacy against various diseases such as cancer, kidney diseases, NDs, and measles, attributable to several mechanisms. Various studies evidence that it exerts a neuroprotective effect in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and others, by modulating relevant parameters. Despite harboring numerous pharmacological benefits, it exhibits low bioavailability due to poor solubility and limited ability to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB). To address this issue, diverse approaches involving nanoformulations have been developed to enhance their bioavailability, aqueous solubility, and BBB permeability. Various types of studies have been conducted on crocin-loaded nanoparticles against NDs, which are discussed in this paper.

Polyamines are low molecular weight amines that serve numerous pivotal functions in eukaryotic cells, such as contributing to processes like embryogenesis, organogenesis in plants, and host interactions in fungi. Over the years, there has been significant interest in these compounds concerning the enhancement of plant resistance to pathogenic infections. As polyamines play indispensable roles in both plant and fungal functionalities, elucidating their precise significance in the interplay between these two organisms remains intricate. Furthermore, it is becoming evident that polyamines can yield disparate effects contingent upon factors such as prevailing conditions, concentrations, and the specific species of both plants and fungi.

This paper provides an analysis of recent research conducted mostly within the last five years, concentrating on the multifaceted role of polyamines in the dynamic between plants and two types of fungi: phytopathogenic and mycorrhizal. The investigation places particular emphasis on two principal aspects. Firstly, it delves into the influence of polyamines on fungal pathogens, encompassing aspects such as mycotoxin production and the infection process. Secondly, it explores the intricate interplay of the plant's immune response to fungal pathogens.

The rise of air, water, and soil pollution poses a significant threat to global health, leading to widespread disease and premature mortality. Soil health is vital, ensuring the production of safe food, but it is compromised by pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, plastics, and excessive fertilization, resulting in the depletion of beneficial microorganisms and subsequently groundwater contamination. Water bodies are polluted due to contamination from industrial effluents, domestic wastewater, agricultural runoff, and oil spillage, further intensifying environmental pollution. On the other hand, atmospheric pollution, characterized by high emissions of gases, volatile compounds, greenhouse gases, not only impacts the climate but also poses serious risks to human health, leading to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular issues, and increased cancer risks. Thus, the strategic utilization of traditional plants emerges as a potent tool for environmental restoration and improving human health. The plants possess natural filtering capabilities, absorbing pollutants from air, soil, and water, thus mitigating their adverse effects. Through phytoremediation, plants can be actively used to extract and remove contaminants, contributing to detoxification and improving water and soil quality. Additionally, plants offer various health benefits. Moringa oleifera or the drumstick plant belonging to the Moringaceae family is one such indigenous plant with wide applications, that can be grown in extreme arid conditions. Since ancient times, this plant has been used for treating skin infections, anaemia, and blood impurities. This plant thrives in diverse climates addressing over 300 different aliments. Rich in phytochemicals and bioactive compounds, M. oleifera serve as a superfood, offering high nutritional values and exhibiting potential for drug development with fewer side effects. Extensive research has elucidated the diverse properties and applications of M. oleifera, however, in-depth research is needed to identify bioactive molecules, phytochemicals, and protein compounds involved, which will aid in understanding of the mechanisms of action of the plant's diverse functions. Although studies have reported several of individual M. oleifera attributes, there is no comprehensive study available addressing its diverse applications. This review covers the findings of past three decades and provides a detailed outline of M. oleifera plant and its various parts, its applications in environmental, industrial, food and health aspects documented to date.

Catechin is one of the prestigious phytoconstituent obtained from the divine wealth of nature. It is a polyphenolic constituent which is broadly distributed in plant kingdom and tea, legumes and rubeaceous plants are rich sources of it. Various research groups have extracted and isolated it by using different analytical techniques due to its diverse pharmacological profile. It is evident in nature that catechin possesses promising anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer and anti-viral properties. There are several formulations reported which are intended for multiple uses where catechins are important ingredient. This review discusses the various analytical techniques employed for the extraction and isolation of catechins from various sources, as well as a summary of various reported formulations. The authors also discuss the various pharmacological activities exhibited by catechins, along with the significant outcomes and plausible mode of action. In addition, the review provides an insight into various synthetic and biosynthetic procedures for catechins, along with a description of various clinical trials and patents. In the lateral sections of this compilation, an insight to various synthetic/biosynthetic procedures for catechins has been provided along with description to various clinical trials and patents. Although a lot of progress has been made towards exploration of catechins, still these are associated with some issues of bioavailability and unclear modes of action, which need to be resolved in upcoming times. This review is more comprehensive on catechins, as it covers a wider range of topic includings; analytical techniques for the extraction and isolations of catechins, formulations containing catechins, pharmacological activities, synthetic and biosynthetic procedure, clinical trials as well as patents. The review also provide a more in-depth discussion of the pharmacological activities of catechins, including the significant outcomes and plausible mode of action. The article also highlights the need for the further research to address the issues of bioavailability and unclear modes of action associated with the catechin. This is an important area of research, as it is essential to understand the ADME to develop effective catechin-based therapies.

Piper sarmentosum (Piperaceae) is a well-recognized traditional medicinal plant and has attracted considerable attention due to its extensive range of pharmacological properties. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, and biological and pharmacological activities associated with P. sarmentosum, focusing on the scientific literature appearing in the period 2012–2023. Published articles were selected from databases including Science Direct, Google Scholar, and those with a digital object identifier (DOI). The traditional uses of P. sarmentosum encompass a wide spectrum of biological activities, including anticancer, anti-osteoporotic, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic characteristics. The leaf part has been utilized in various forms, including crude extracts or standardized extracts, either alone or in combination with other pharmacological agents, for the treatment of diverse ailments in humans. This review highlights the phytochemical constituents of P. sarmentosum and their contributions to its pharmacological activities. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of identifying, determining, and standardizing the active constituents to examine the full biological potential of the plant in a reproducible manner. P. sarmentosum emerges as a rich plant source that holds promise for the development of potential standardized medication candidates. However, further research is needed to assess its safety and therapeutic efficacy beyond the existing data based on a standardized preparation. Preserving this valuable medicinal plant asset is crucial for the health benefits of future generations. This review serves as a comprehensive reference for researchers, medicinal plant practitioners, and healthcare professionals, and encourages further investigation into the multifaceted properties of P. sarmentosum paving the way for its optimal and sustainable utilization in contemporary healthcare.

Bakuchiol is a meroterpene that has recently aroused great interest in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Its main source is the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia, a medicinal plant native to Asia, despite having a wide geographical distribution. However, this medicinal herb faces endangerment due to low seed germination rates and high seedling mortality. In this context, this review article highlights studies that have focused on describing plant regeneration from root fragments. Subsequently, given its morphological similarity to other species, a technique that can be used to verify the authenticity of the plant and prevent counterfeiting is also mentioned and explored. Additionally, a “green” extraction method for obtaining bakuchiol is presented, and the possibility of obtaining bakuchiol through chemical synthesis routes is also explored. Furthermore, we provide an exhaustive description of bakuchiol's wide range of biological activities, with particular relevance to the skin. The main skin bioactivities of bakuchiol include antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiaging, depigmenting, and anticancer. However, the particular physicochemical properties of bakuchiol require and benefit from the development of innovative skin delivery systems that allow its encapsulation. These include micro- and nano-sized systems for therapeutic and cosmetic applications, which are also carefully described in this review article. Finally, regulatory issues, metabolic considerations, and toxicological concerns related to the use of bakuchiol in cosmetic and dermopharmaceutical formulations will be addressed, relating not only to the user but also to the environment.

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