The inhibitory effects of isolated constituents from Plantago major subsp. major L. on collagenase, elastase and hyaluronidase enzymes: Potential wound healer.

Plantago major L. which is a medicinal plant with important biological activities, commonly used as traditional medicine. Potential inhibitory activities of the aqueous extract and three isolated constituents calceorioside B (1), homoplantaginin (hispidulin-7-O-glucoside) (2) and plantamajoside (3) from the aerial parts of Plantago major subsp. major L. (Plantaginaceae) have been tested against hyaluronidase, collagenase, and elastase, which play critical roles in wound pathogenesis. Even though, the extract (27.04%), and among the isolated compounds, calceorioside B (41.16%) exerted significant inhibition against hyaluronidase enzyme, homoplantaginin and plantamajoside were found to be inactive. Similar results were obtained from collagenase enzyme inhibition test. The extract (21.92%) and calceorioside B (28.34%) also caused notable inhibition in this test. However, no remarkable inhibition was observed in the presence of elastase enzyme. The experimental data revealed that P. major subsp. major displayed remarkable inhibitory activity against hyaluronidase and collagenase enzymes. In vitro enzyme activity of P. major subsp. major is reported for the first time in the current study.

Roles of Medicinal Plants and Constituents in Gynecological Cancer Therapy: Current Literature and Future Directions.

Gynecologic cancers, including cervical, primary peritoneal, ovarian, uterine/endometrial, vaginal and vulvar cancers and gestational trophoblastic disease, are characterized by abnormal cell proliferation in female reproductive cells. Due to the variable pathology of these cancers and the lack of appropriate screening tests in developing countries, cancer diagnosis can be reported in advanced stages in most women and this situation adversely affects prognosis and clinical outcomes of illness. For this reason, many researchers in the field of gynecological oncology have carried out many studies. The treatment of various gynecological problems, which cause physical, biological and psychosocial conditions such as fear, shame, blame and anger, has been important throughout the history. Treatment with herbs has become popular nowadays due to the serious side effects of the synthetic drugs used in treatment and the medical and economical problems caused by them. Many scientists have identified various active drug substances through in vivo and in vitro biological activity studies on medicinal plants from the past to the present. While the intrinsic complexity of natural product-based drug discoveries requires highly integrated interdisciplinary approaches, scientific and technological advances and research trends clearly show that natural products will be among the most important new drug sources in the future. In this review, an overview of the studies conducted for the discovery of multitargeted drug molecules in the rational treatment of gynecological cancers is presented.

New Drug Discovery from Medicinal Plants and Phytoconstituents for Depressive Disorders.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Depression, a risk factor for several serious diseases, is a highly prevalent and life-threatening psychiatric disorder. It can affect the individual's position in life and reduce the living standards. The research on the use of medicinal plants in treating this disease has increased enormously because of the possible low rehabilitation rate and side effects of available synthetic drugs, such as sexual dysfunction, nausea, fatigue, insomnia, hypersomnia, and weight gain. CONCLUSION: Therefore, this review aimed to draw attention to the antidepressant effects of culinary herbs and traditional medicinal plants and their active components, thereby promoting their use in the development of more potent antidepressants with improved side effect profile.