Authentication of edible herbal materials and food products using mass spectrometry based metabolites and inorganic constituents.

Medicinal food homologous (MFH) substances not only provide nutrition but also serve as a traditional means to overcome many health issues. Authentication of these products verifies their efficacity and assures consumers of a genuine product. In this review paper, we focus the determination of MFH authenticity including geographical identification and adulteration detection using mass spectrometry (liquid and gas chromatography) based metabolites and inorganic constituents (muti-elements and stable isotopes). The application of these techniques to determine product identification characteristics combined with chemometrics are discussed, along with the limitations of these techniques. Multi-elements, stable isotopes, and metabolite analysis are shown to provide an effective combination of techniques to resolve the origin of various MFH products. Most organic compounds from MFH products are identified using chromatographic separation techniques (HPLC, GC) combined with different detection methods. Chemometric analysis of organic and inorganic fingerprints offers a robust method to detect and classify mislabeled and suspected fraudulent samples of different MFH products.

Progress on the Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Structure-Efficacy Relationship of Polysaccharides from Medical and Edible Homologous Traditional Chinese Medicines.

Medicinal food varieties developed according to the theory of medical and edible homologues are effective at preventing and treating chronic diseases and in health care. As of 2022, 110 types of traditional Chinese medicines from the same source of medicine and food have been published by the National Health Commission. Inflammation is the immune system's first response to injury, infection, and stress. Chronic inflammation is closely related to many diseases such as atherosclerosis and cancer. Therefore, timely intervention for inflammation is the mainstay treatment for other complex diseases. However, some traditional anti-inflammatory drugs on the market are commonly associated with a number of adverse effects, which seriously affect the health and safety of patients. Therefore, the in-depth development of new safe, harmless, and effective anti-inflammatory drugs has become a hot topic of research and an urgent clinical need. Polysaccharides, one of the main active ingredients of medical and edible homologous traditional Chinese medicines (MEHTCMs), have been confirmed by a large number of studies to exert anti-inflammatory effects through multiple targets and are considered potential natural anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, the structure of medical and edible homologous traditional Chinese medicines' polysaccharides (MEHTCMPs) may be the key factor determining their anti-inflammatory activity, which makes the underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of polysaccharides and their structure-efficacy relationship hot topics of domestic and international research. However, due to the limitations of the current analytical techniques and tools, the structures have not been fully elucidated and the structure-efficacy relationship is relatively ambiguous, which are some of the difficulties in the process of developing and utilizing MEHTCMPs as novel anti-inflammatory drugs in the future. For this reason, this paper summarizes the potential anti-inflammatory mechanisms of MEHTCMPs, such as the regulation of the Toll-like receptor-related signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, JAK-STAT signaling pathway, NLRP3 signaling pathway, PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, PPAR-γ signaling pathway, Nrf2-HO-1 signaling pathway, and the regulation of intestinal flora, and it systematically analyzes and evaluates the relationships between the anti-inflammatory activity of MEHTCMPs and their structures.

Spatiotemporal analysis of microstructure, sensory attributes, and full-spectrum metabolomes reveals the relationship between bitterness and nootkatone in Alpinia oxyphylla miquel fruit peel and seeds.

The Alpinia oxyphylla fruit (AOF) is a popular condiment and traditional Chinese medicine in Asia, known for its neuroprotective compound nootkatone. However, there has not been a comprehensive study of its flavor or the relationship between sensory and bioactive compounds. To address this issue, we examined AOF's microstructure, flavor, and metabolomic profiles during fruit maturation. The key markers used to distinguish samples included fruit expansion, testa pigmentation, aril liquefaction, oil cell expansion, peel spiciness, aril sweetness, and seed bitterness. A full-spectrum metabolomic analysis, combining a nontargeted metabolomics approach for volatile compounds and a widely targeted metabolomics approach for nonvolatile compounds, identified 1,448 metabolites, including 1,410 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs). Notably, 31 DAMs, including nootkatone, were associated with spicy peel, sweet aril, and bitter seeds. Correlational analysis indicated that bitterness intensity is an easy-to-use biomarker for nootkatone content in seeds. KEGG enrichment analysis linked peel spiciness to phenylpropanoid and capsaicin biosynthesis, seed bitterness to terpenoid (especially nootkatone) biosynthesis, and aril sweetness to starch and sucrose metabolism. This investigation advances the understanding of AOF's complex flavor chemistry and underlying bioactive principle, encapsulating the essence of the adage: "no bitterness, no intelligence" within the realm of phytochemistry.

Study on medicinal food plants in the Gaoligongshan Biosphere Reserve, the richest biocultural diversity center in China.

BACKGROUND: Traditional knowledge associated with medicinal food plants (MFPs) plays a vital role in fighting hidden hunger and safeguarding the health of local people. MFPs resources are abundant in the Gaoligongshan area, a biosphere reserve with the richest biocultural diversity in China. Local people of different linguistic groups also have rich traditional botanical knowledge. However, there are still few comprehensive and systematic studies on MFPs there. METHODS: Ethnobotanical investigation including market survey, semi-structured interviews, free listing and key informant interviews was conducted in the Gaoligongshan area, Western Yunnan, Southwest China. A total of 13 local farmers' markets were selected and information about medicinal food plants, including food categories, medicinal and edible parts, modes of consumption, medicinal effects, and distribution were collected. The relative occurrence frequency (RFO) and cultural food significance index (CFSI) were calculated to identify the culturally significant MFPs. RESULTS: A total of 184 species of MFPs, belonging to 83 families, were collected in the Gaoligongshan area, including vegetables (77), medicinal diets (26), fruits (25), spices (18), herbal tea (13), tea substitutes (11), substitutes for staple food (8), nuts (5), oils and fats (4), and dye material (1). The most frequently used families were Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Apiaceae, with 11, 10, and 9 species, respectively. The most frequently used plant parts were the stems, followed by fruits and leaves. Based on the evaluation results of the CFSI and RFO indices, 18 species of MFPs with magnificent local cultural importance have been screened out, such as Houttuynia cordata, Eryngium foetidum, Sechium edule, Centella asiatica and Pseudocydonia sinensis. CONCLUSION: These findings have guiding significance for conservation of traditional knowledge associated with MFPs and facilitation of scientific utilization of MFPs to meet local people's needs for a healthy life.

A novel FCTF evaluation and prediction model for food efficacy based on association rule mining.

Introduction: Food-components-target-function (FCTF) is an evaluation and prediction model based on association rule mining (ARM) and network interaction analysis, which is an innovative exploration of interdisciplinary integration in the food field. Methods: Using the components as the basis, the targets and functions are comprehensively explored in various databases and platforms under the guidance of the ARM concept. The focused active components, key targets and preferred efficacy are then analyzed by different interaction calculations. The FCTF model is particularly suitable for preliminary studies of medicinal plants in remote and poor areas. Results: The FCTF model of the local medicinal food Laoxianghuang focuses on the efficacy of digestive system cancers and neurological diseases, with key targets ACE, PTGS2, CYP2C19 and corresponding active components citronellal, trans-nerolidol, linalool, geraniol, α-terpineol, cadinene and α-pinene. Discussion: Centuries of traditional experience point to the efficacy of Laoxianghuang in alleviating digestive disorders, and our established FCTF model of Laoxianghuang not only demonstrates this but also extends to its possible adjunctive efficacy in neurological diseases, which deserves later exploration. The FCTF model is based on the main line of components to target and efficacy and optimizes the research level from different dimensions and aspects of interaction analysis, hoping to make some contribution to the future development of the food discipline.

TCM "medicine and food homology" in the management of post-COVID disorders.

Background: The World Health Organization declared that COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency of global concern on May 5, 2023. Post-COVID disorders are, however, becoming more common. Hence, there lies a growing need to develop safe and effective treatment measures to manage post-COVID disorders. Investigating the use of TCM medicinal foods in the long-term therapy of post-COVID illnesses may be beneficial given contemporary research's emphasis on the development of medicinal foods. Scope and approach: The use of medicinal foods for the long-term treatment of post-COVID disorders is highlighted in this review. Following a discussion of the history of the TCM "Medicine and Food Homology" theory, the pathophysiological effects of post-COVID disorders will be briefly reviewed. An analysis of TCM medicinal foods and their functions in treating post-COVID disorders will then be provided before offering some insight into potential directions for future research and application. Key findings and discussion: TCM medicinal foods can manage different aspects of post-COVID disorders. The use of medicinal foods in the long-term management of post-COVID illnesses may be a safe and efficient therapy choice because they are typically milder in nature than chronic drug use. These findings may also be applied in the long-term post-disease treatment of similar respiratory disorders.

Molecular mechanisms of antidiabetic effect of betulinic acid in lotus rhizome.

OBJECTIVES: To explain the bio-physiological mechanisms of the antidiabetic effect of betulinic acid in Lotus rhizome. BACKGROUND: Even though Sri Lankan native medicine uses Lotus rhizome as a medicinal food for diabetes mellitus, its antidiabetic property has not been scientifically explained yet. It is found to compose several medicinally active components with antidiabetic properties, including Betulinic acid. METHODS: A narrator review was conducted with a literature search in PubMed and Google Scholar databases using the search terms "Nelumbo nucifera rhizome", "Lotus rhizome", "phytochemicals", "antidiabetic effect", "hypoglycaemic effect" "Betulinic acid", and "molecular mechanism". RESULTS: The triterpenoid, Betulinic acid exerts its antidiabetic effect via seven bio-physiological mechanisms including, inhibiting α-glucosidase and α-amylase, upregulating the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 α, enhancing AS160 protein phosphorylation, stimulating adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase activation, stimulating Glucose transporter type 4 synthesis and translocation, inhibiting Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1 B activity preventing dephosphorylation of insulin receptor and stimulating Takeda-G-protein-receptor-5 resulting in an increased release of insulin from insulin-containing granulesCONCLUSION: The available scientific knowledge explains that betulinic acid in Lotus rhizome can improve glucose homeostasis contributing to the antidiabetic effect of this root (Tab. 1, Fig. 6, Ref. 29).

Safety evaluation of Balanced Health Care Dan-A medicinal formulation containing traditional edible ingredients in lung tumor-loaded mice.

Chinese formulation-based medicinal food has been widely used in clinical trials, but its safety is not well studied. In this research, the edible safety assessment of Balanced Health Care Dan-a formulation containing traditional edible ingredients that were initially formulated to reduce side effects for lung cancer patients-was studied in mice based on biochemical and gut microbial analyses. The experimental mice were subcutaneously loaded with lung tumor A549 cells and then administrated with Balanced Health Care Dan (200 mg/kg or 400 mg/kg b.w. in gavage feeding) for 4 weeks. The body weight, blood parameters, and pathogenic phenotype in tissues were examined. No toxicological symptom was found in experimental mice compared with the normal control. Comprehensive analyses were also conducted to evaluate intestinal microbiota that are associated with many diseases. Balanced Health Care Dan modified the gut microbiota structure in a positive way. In conclusion, the Chinese formulation-based medicinal food has shown no toxicological effect in mice within 4 weeks of feeding experiment and has the potential to be used in clinical trials.

Enrichment and health risks associated with trace elements in medicine food homology teas.

Owing to the irreplaceable role of traditional Chinese medicine in the history of human resistance to diseases, medicine food homology teas (MFHTs) have emerged as a widely-consumed daily drink, although they may contain toxic or excessive trace elements. This study aims to determine the total and infused concentrations of nine trace elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cd, Cr, Cu, As, Pb, and Ni) in 12 MFHTs collected from 18 provinces in China, to evaluate their potential risks to human health, and to explore the factors affecting the trace element enrichment in traditional MFHTs. The exceedances of Cr (82%) and Ni (100%) in 12 MFHTs were higher than those of Cu (32%), Cd (23%), Pb (12%), and As (10%). The high values of the Nemerow integrated pollution index of dandelions and Flos sophorae (25.96 and 9.06, respectively) indicate severe trace metal pollution. The health risk assessment results showed that As, Cr, and Mn in the 12 types of MFHTs posed high non-carcinogenic risk. Honeysuckle and dandelion teas may be hazardous to human health through trace element exposure when consumed daily. The enrichment of Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Pb in MFHTs is influenced by the MFHT type and producing area, whereas As and Cd are mainly controlled by the MFHT type. Environmental factors such as soil background values, rainfall, and temperature also affect the enrichment of trace elements in MFHTs collected from different producing areas.

UHPLC-QTOF-MS-based untargeted metabolomics and mineral element analysis insight into the geographical differences of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat cv. "Hangbaiju" from different origins.

Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat cv. "Hangbaiju" (HBJ), known as one of the "eight flavors of Zhejiang", is commonly used as a classical tea material for both food and medicine over three thousand years in China. The quality of HBJ is closely related to its geographical origins. However, the mechanism underlying the geographical differences of HBJ remains to be elucidated. In this study, an untargeted metabolomic strategy based on UHPLC-QTOF-MS was established to discover the differential metabolites in HBJ samples from four different origins and explore the possible relationship with mineral elements in planting soils by chemometric analysis. Eight compounds were screened and identified as the key differential metabolites in HBJ samples from different origins. Among them, four important pharmacodynamic compounds including L-arginine, rutin, chlorogenic acid and apigenin-7-O-glucoside are the most abundant in HBJ samples from Tongxiang region, which suggests that HBJ planted in Tongxiang has higher medicinal values. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the contents of soil mineral elements are positively correlated with those of chlorogenic acid, rutin, apigenin-7-O-glucoside in HBJ samples. Furthermore, an interrelationship model based on random forest algorithm was established to successfully predict the contents of differential metabolites in HBJ samples by soil mineral elements. All these results indicated that the contents of differential metabolites in HBJ samples seemed to be affected by soil mineral elements and therefore resulted in the geographical differences of HBJ.

Myrtle: a versatile medicinal plant.

Myrtus, commonly called myrtle, is a genus of flowering plants in the Myrtaceae family. This study aimed to review myrtle's pharmaceutical, food, and other uses. The pharmacological effects of myrtle for antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities, reduction of COVID-19 symptoms, anti-diabetic in the animal model, hepatoprotective in the rat model, antihypertensive, control of intestinal helminthiasis in mice model, inhibition of glucosyltransferase activity, protective effect on oxidative metabolism in the hypothyroidism model, and reducing the damage caused by skin burns are reviewed. In addition, the food uses of this plant such as improving the oxidative and microbial stability of products containing salmon, antimicrobial activity in meat and dairy products, flavoring in sea salt, microbial improvement of fresh fruits during post-harvest storage, animal nutrition, and bio-oil production are summarized. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s41110-023-00194-y.

Recent advances in nutritional composition, phytochemistry, bioactive, and potential applications of Syzygium aromaticum L. (Myrtaceae).

Syzygium aromaticum is an aromatic plant native to Indonesia, and introduced to tropical regions worldwide. As an ingredient in perfumes, lotions, and food preservation, it is widely used in the food and cosmetic industries. Also, it is used to treat toothache, ulcers, type 2 diabetes, etc. A variety of nutrients such as amino acids, proteins, fatty acids, and vitamins are found in S. aromaticum. In addition to eugenol, isoeugenol, eugenol acetate, ß-caryophyllene and α-humulene are the main chemical constituents. The chemical constituents of S. aromaticum exhibit a wide range of bioactivities, such as antioxidant, antitumor, hypoglycemic, immunomodulatory, analgesic, neuroprotective, anti-obesity, antiulcer, etc. This review aims to comprehend the information on its taxonomy and botany, nutritional composition, chemical composition, bioactivities and their mechanisms, toxicity, and potential applications. This review will be a comprehensive scientific resource for those interested in pursuing further research to explore its value in food.

Effects of plant-based medicinal food on postoperative recurrence and lung metastasis of gastric cancer regulated by Wnt/ß-catenin-EMT signaling pathway and VEGF-C/D-VEGFR-3 cascade in a mouse model.

BACKGROUND: The plant-based medicinal food (PBMF) is a functional compound extracted from 6 medicinal and edible plants: Coix seed, L. edodes, A. officinalis L., H. cordata, Dandelion, and G. frondosa. Our previous studies have confirmed that the PBMF possesses anti-tumor properties in a subcutaneous xenograft model of nude mice. This study aims to further investigate the effects and potential molecular mechanisms of the PBMF on the recurrence and metastasis of gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: Postoperative recurrence and metastasis model of GC was successfully established in inbred 615 mice inoculated with mouse forestomach carcinoma (MFC) cells. After tumorectomy, 63 GC mice were randomly divided into five groups and respectively subject to different treatments for 15 days as below: model control group, 5-Fu group, and three doses of PBMF (43.22, 86.44, 172.88 g/kg PBMF in diet respectively). The inhibition rate (IR) of recurrence tumor weights and organ coefficients were calculated. Meanwhile, histopathological changes were examined and the metastasis IR in lungs and lymph node tissues was computed. The mRNA expressions related to the canonical Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and lymphangiogenesis were detected by RT-qPCR in recurrence tumors and/or lung tissues. Protein expressions of ß-catenin, p-ß-catenin (Ser33/37/Thr41), GSK-3ß, p-GSK-3ß (Ser9), E-cadherin, and Vimentin in recurrence tumors were determined by Western Blot. LYVE-1, VEGF-C/D, and VEGFR-3 levels in recurrence tumors and/or lung tissues were determined by immunohistochemistry staining. RESULTS: The mRNA, as well as protein expression of GSK-3ß were up-regulated and the mRNA expression of ß-catenin was down-regulated after PBMF treatment. Meanwhile, the ratio of p-ß-catenin (Ser33/37/Thr41) to ß-catenin protein was increased significantly and the p-GSK-3ß (Ser9) protein level was decreased. And PMBF could effectively decrease the mRNA and protein levels of Vimentin while increasing those of E-cadherin. Furthermore, PBMF markedly reduced lymphatic vessel density (LVD) (labeled by LYVE-1) in recurrence tumor tissues, and mRNA levels of VEGF-C/D, VEGFR-2/3 of recurrence tumors were all significantly lower in the high-dose group. CONCLUSIONS: PBMF had a significant inhibitory effect on recurrence and lung metastasis of GC. The potential mechanism may involve reversing EMT by inhabiting the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Lymphatic metastasis was also inhibited by PBMF via down-regulating the activation of the VEGF-C/D-VEGFR-2/3 signaling cascade.

Effects of MaiLiuPian on carotid thrombosis in rats and acute pulmonary embolism in mice and its antithrombotic mechanism.

Mailiupian (MLP) is a new patent functional food that consists of Crataegi Fructus, Notoginseng Radix, and Ginkgo Folium, which was reported to be active in improving the microcirculation based on formulation screening. However, whether it is effective in inhibiting thrombus and its mechanism has not been evaluated. Therefore, in the present study, the models of arterial thrombosis induced by FeCl3 and the models of APE by ADP were established to evaluate the antithrombosis effect of MLP. Results showed that MLP markedly reduced the weight and size of wet thrombosis in FeCl3 -induced rats and decreased the recovery time from symptoms of APE mice. MLP was proved to prolong APTT, PT, TT and improve the levels of t-PA and 6-keto-PGF1α significantly, meanwhile, PAI-1 and TXB2 were reduced apparently. By comparing tail bleeding time, MLP showed antithrombotic effects, but without the risk of bleeding, taking aspirin as a control. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Our experiments proved that MLP, a new patent health food, acted on both coagulation and fibrinolytic systems and the platelet aggregation to play antithrombosis roles, providing a theoretical basis for applications of MLP in preventing or curing thrombosis diseases.

Identification of behenic acid as medicinal food for the diabetes mellitus: structure-based computational approach and molecular dynamics simulation studies.

Vegetables, fruits, and spices have a pivotal role in maintaining the metabolism and have diversified health welfares. The food products have medicinal values (Medifood) and benefitted prophylactically and simultaneously; health experts recommend them due to their synergistic effect on medicine. Therefore, research thrusts have developed medifood and counted in the field of pharma-nutrition. Type II diabetes mellitus is one of the foremost progressive metabolic disorders, which affects several millions of people around the globe due to ignorance of food habits. Improvement in lifestyle and intake of habitual food may improve the diabetic conditions. In the present study, we performed in silico studies of fatty acids on the free fatty acid 1 receptor to identify fatty acids readily available in daily food content. Additionally, molecular dynamic simulation study to recognize the dynamic behavior of protein-fatty acid complex. The in silico results suggest that 04 fatty acids may be promising in which behenic acid was most potential and showed binding energy of - 110.857 kcal/mol. The stability of the protein-ligand complex is confirm in simulation studies, with occupancy of 95% and 84%, respectively. Behenic acid is present in different parts of the Moringa tree and may serve as medifood in type II diabetes mellitus.

Hearty recipes for health: the Hakka medicinal soup in Guangdong, China.

BACKGROUND: The Hakka are a subgroup of the Han Chinese, originally from northern China and mainly living in southern China now. Over hundreds of years, the Hakka have developed their own medical practices to prevent and cure diseases, such as medicinal soup, an important characteristic of Hakka cuisine. This study aims at documenting plant taxa used to make Hakka medicinal soup, along with their associated ethnomedical knowledge. METHODS: Data on Hakka soup-making plants were collected through key-informant interviews, semi-structured interviews, participatory field collection, and direct observation. The choosing of participants has followed the snowball sampling method. Herbs used for preparing medicinal soup were purchased on the local market or collected from the wild, and voucher specimens were collected and identified. The study result was also compared with published studies on soup-making plants in other parts of Guangdong province and the Hakka areas in Fujian Province of China. RESULTS: Eighty-three taxa belonging to 70 genera within 38 families were listed by our informants as being used to treat 55 kinds of health problems. Most documented plants are herbaceous species, followed by shrubs and woody liana. Roots were the most frequently used plant parts for medicinal purposes, followed, in descending order, by the whole plant, rhizomes, and flowers. Most plants used to prepare medicinal soup are wild-harvested (56 species), 4 cultivated, and 23 wild harvested or cultivated. According to the comparison, 18 Hakka medicinal soup species are shown both in Fujian Province and Guangdong Province. The Hakka soup-making plants in both provinces share very similar therapeutic functions. This study helps to extend the Hakka menu in both provinces. The study comparison also showed a big difference in the herb ingredients between Guangdong Hakka medicinal soup and Cantonese slow-cooked soup. CONCLUSION: Hakka medicinal soup is an important feature of the Hakka dietary culture. More studies are needed to be undertaken, especially on the efficacy and safety of this medicinal soup. Moreover, cultivation and conservation efforts are required to ensure the sustainability of the species that are used as ingredients in the soup. Consequently, further commercial development of medicinal soup should be promoted.

Chyawanprash, An Ancient Indian Ayurvedic Medicinal Food, Regulates Immune Response in Zebrafish Model of Inflammation by Moderating Inflammatory Biomarkers.

The time-tested Ayurvedic medicinal food, Chyawanprash, has been a part of the Indian diet since ancient times. It is an extremely concentrated mixture of extracts from medicinal herbs and processed minerals, known for its immunity boosting, rejuvenating, and anti-oxidative effects. In this study, we have evaluated the anti-inflammatory potential of Patanjali Special Chyawanprash (PSCP) using the zebrafish model of inflammation. Zebrafish were fed on PSCP-infused pellets at stipulated doses for 13 days before inducing inflammation through lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. The test subjects were monitored for inflammatory pathologies like behavioral fever, hyperventilation, skin hemorrhage, locomotory agility, and morphological anomaly. PSCP exerted a strong prophylactic effect on the zebrafish that efficiently protected them from inflammatory manifestations at a human equivalent dose. Expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, like interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), were also reduced in the LPS-stimulated zebrafish fed on PSCP-infused pellets. Skin hemorrhage, hyperventilation, and loss of caudal fins are characteristics of LPS-induced inflammation in zebrafish. PSCP prophylactically ameliorated skin hemorrhage, restored normal respiration, and prevented loss of caudal fin in inflamed zebrafish. Under in vitro conditions, PSCP reduced IL-6 and TNF-α secretion by THP-1 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner by targeting NF-κB signaling, as evident from the secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) reporter assay. These medicinal benefits of PSCP can be attributed to its constitutional bioactive components. Taken together, these observations provide in vivo validation of the anti-inflammatory property and in vitro insight into the mode-of-action of Chyawanprash, a traditionally described medicinal food.

Phytochemicals and Amino Acids Profiles of Selected sub-Saharan African Medicinal Plants' Parts Used for Cardiovascular Diseases' Treatment.

For years, the focus on the lipid-atherosclerosis relationship has limited the consideration of the possible contribution of other key dietary components, such as amino acids (AAs), to cardiovascular disease (CVD) development. Notwithstanding, the potential of plant-based diets, some AAs and phytochemicals to reduce CVDs' risk has been reported. Therefore, in this study, the phytochemical and AA profiles of different medicinal plants' (MPs) parts used for CVDs' treatment in sub-Saharan Africa were investigated. Fourier-transform infrared analysis confirmed the presence of hydroxyl, amino and other bioactive compounds' functional groups in the samples. In most of them, glutamic and aspartic acids were the most abundant AAs, while lysine was the most limiting. P. biglobosa leaf, had the richest total branched-chain AAs (BCAAs) level, followed by A. cepa bulb. However, A. cepa bulb had the highest total AAs content and an encouraging nutraceutical use for adults based on its amino acid score. Principal component analysis revealed no sharp distinction between the AAs composition of MPs that have found food applications and those only used medicinally. Overall, the presence of medicinally important phytochemicals and AAs levels in the selected MPs' parts support their use for CVDs treatment as they might not add to the AAs (e.g., the BCAAs) burden in the human body.

Combining the Anticancer and Immunomodulatory Effects of Astragalus and Shiitake as an Integrated Therapeutic Approach.

Astragalus root (Huang Qi) and Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinus edodes) are both considered medicinal foods and are frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine due to their anticancer and immunomodulating properties. Here, the scientific literatures describing evidence for the anticancer and immunogenic properties of Shiitake and Astragalus were reviewed. Based on our experimental data, the potential to develop medicinal food with combined bioactivities was assessed using Shiitake mushrooms grown over Astragalus beds in a proprietary manufacturing process, as a novel cancer prevention approach. Notably, our data suggest that this new manufacturing process can result in transfer and increased bioavailability of Astragalus polysaccharides with therapeutic potential into edible Shiitake. Further research efforts are required to validate the therapeutic potential of this new Hengshan Astragalus Shiitake medicinal food.

A Review on the Phytochemical and Pharmacological Properties of Rosa laevigata: A Medicinal and Edible Plant.

Rosa laevigata Michx., a medicinal and edible plant in China, has exerted a variety of medicinal values and health benefits. This present review aims to achieve a comprehensive and up-to-date investigation in the phytochemistry and pharmacology of R. laevigata. According to these findings in the literature, approximately 123 chemical ingredients covering triterpenoids, flavonoids, tannis, lignans and polysaccharides, have been characterized from various parts of this species. Among these isolates, 77 triterpenoids have been isolated and thus regarded as the primary and characteristic substance. Based on the chemical structures, most of the obtained triterpenoids can be classified into polyhydroxy triterpenoids and readily divided into four categories: ursane-type, oleanane-type, lupinane-type, as well as seco-triterpenoids. The crude extracts and the purified compounds have demonstrated various pharmacological effects in vitro and in vivo, such as antioxidant activity, immunomodulatory effect, anti-inflammatory effect, liver protection, kidney protection, cardiovascular protection, neuroprotective effect and improvement of diabetic cataract. Noticeably, these pharmacological results of R. laevigata provide evidences for its traditional uses. In addition, these different chemical ingredients existing in the title plant may have synergistic effects. In conclusion, the chemical profiles, including ingredients and structures, together with the modern pharmacological properties have been adequately summarized. These evidences have revealed this plant to be a valuable source for therapeutic foodstuff and more attention should be paid to a better utilization of this plant.