Paeoniae Radix Rubra: A Review of Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Activities, Therapeutic Mechanism for Blood Stasis Syndrome, and Quality Control.

Paeoniae Radix Rubra (PRR) known as Chishao, in China, is the dried root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. or Paeonia veitchii Lynch, with a history of over 2000 years in traditional Chinese medicine, is employed to clear heat, cool the blood, dispel blood stasis, and alleviate pain. Phytochemical investigations identified 264 compounds that contained monoterpenes and their glycosides, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, steroids, flavonoids, lignans, tannins, volatile oils, and other compounds. It has been reported to have different pharmacological activities, including cardiovascular-protective, antidepressive, neuroprotective, antitumor, hepatoprotective, and anti-inflammatory effects. This study offers a comprehensive review covering ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, therapeutic mechanism for blood stasis syndrome, and quality control of PRR. The comprehensive analysis aims to achieve a thorough understanding of its effects and serves as a foundation for future research and development.

Anti-HIV Compounds from the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Chaetomium globosum.

Chemical investigation on the deep-sea-derived fungus Chaetomium globosum led to the isolation of nine compounds. By extensive analyses of the 1D and 2D NMR as well as HR-ESI-MS spectra, their structures were elucidated as xylariol A (1), 1,3-dihydro-4,5,6-trihydroxy-7-methylisobenzofuran (2), epicoccone B (3), epicoccolide B (4), chaetoglobosin G (5), chaetoglobosin Fex (6), cochliodone A (7), cochliodone B (8), and chaetoviridin A (9), assorting as four phenolics (1-4), two cytochalosans (5-6), and three azaplilones (7-9). Compounds 1-3 were firstly reported from C. globosum. Under the concentrations of 20 µg/mL, 1, 2, and 3 exhibited potent in vitro anti-HIV activity with the inhibition rates of 70 %, 75 %, and 88 %, respectively.

Fusarisolins A⁻E, Polyketides from the Marine-Derived Fungus Fusarium solani H918.

Five new (fusarisolins A⁻E, 1 to 5) and three known (6 to 8) polyketides were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Fusarium solani H918, along with six known phenolics (9 to 14). Their structures were established by comprehensive spectroscopic data analyses, methoxyphenylacetic acid (MPA) method, chemical conversion, and by comparison with data reported in the literature. Compounds 1 and 2 are the first two naturally occurring 21 carbons polyketides featuring a rare ß- and γ-lactone unit, respectively. All isolates (1 to 14) were evaluated for their inhibitory effects against tea pathogenic fungus Pestalotiopsis theae and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) synthase gene expression. Compound 8 showed potent antifungal activity with an ED50 value of 55 µM, while 1, 8, 13, and 14 significantly inhibited HMG-CoA synthase gene expression.

Spirograterpene A, a Tetracyclic Spiro-Diterpene with a Fused 5/5/5/5 Ring System from the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Penicillium granulatum MCCC 3A00475.

A novel spiro-tetracyclic diterpene, spirograterpene A (1), was isolated from the deep-sea-derived fungus Penicillium granulatum MCCC 3A00475, together with two biosynthetically related cyclopianes, conidiogenone I (2) and conidiogenone C (3). The relative configuration of 1 was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses, and the absolute structure was established by the modified Mosher's method. Compound 1 is the second example of a diterpene featuring a 5/5/5/5 spirocyclic carbon skeleton. It showed modest antiallergic activity.

Blumea balsamifera Oil for the Acceleration of Healing of Burn Injuries.

Blumea balsamifera oil (BBO) is a main extract obtained from Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC (Ainaxiang) leaves, which are widely used as a traditional medicine by the Miao and Li Nations to promote skin trauma or burn injury healing. This study was initiated to investigate the healing efficacy in deep second-degree burn model in rats. The rats were treated by BBO for 21 consecutive days. The rate of healing, scabs dropped time and re-epithelialization time were observed every three days for 21 days after burn injury. The samples were collected from different treated rats by sacrificing the animals on the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 9th, 14th, and 21st day post-burn creation. Then, the water content of burn tissue was measured. Plasma interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were evaluated, and the tissue expressions of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß) were determined along with skin histopathology. The results showed that the water content of tissue was significantly reduced, the scabs dropped time shortened, and healing accelerated after treatment with BBO in the burn injury rats. Furthermore, the expressions of growth factors were significantly increased in the tissue; however, the levels of inflammatory factors on plasma decreased. This study confirms the efficacy of BBO consumption on burn injuries.

Blumea balsamifera--a phytochemical and pharmacological review.

The main components of sambong (Blumea balsamifera) are listed in this article. The whole plant and its crude extracts, as well as its isolated constituents, display numerous biological activities, such as antitumor, hepatoprotective, superoxide radical scavenging, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammation, anti-plasmodial, anti-tyrosinase, platelet aggregation, enhancing percutaneous penetration, wound healing, anti-obesity, along with disease and insect resistant activities. Although many experimental and biological studies have been carried out, some traditional uses such as rheumatism healing still need to be verified by scientific pharmacological studies, and further studies including phytochemical standardization and bioactivity authentication would be beneficial.

External application of the volatile oil from Blumea balsamifera may be safe for liver--a study on its chemical composition and hepatotoxicity.

Ainaxiang (Blumea balsamifera), also known as Sambong, is an important ancient medicinal herb in Southeast Asia. It is rich in volatile oil, and still widely used nowadays for skin wound healing and treatment of sore throats. We analyzed the volatile oil from Blumea balsamifera (BB oil) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Forty one components, including l-borneol, were identified. Next, the damaging effects of BB oil diluted with olive oil on liver at different concentrations (100%, 50%, 20%), were evaluated, using both normal and wounded skin. Plasma ALT, AST, ALP and TBili were assessed, along with liver histopathology. The results showed that serum levels of liver toxicity markers in the high concentration groups (100% w/v) increased compared with control groups, whereas no significant changes was observed in histopathology of liver samples. In the wound groups, treatment with BB oil resulted in a decrease in serum toxicity index, compared with normal animal groups. This study confirms the safety of short term BB oil consumption, though high BB oil doses may lead to mild liver injury and this response might be weakened in the case of cutaneous wounds. These results are expected to be helpful for guiding appropriate therapeutic use of BB oil.

Effect of volatile oil from Blumea Balsamifera (L.) DC. leaves on wound healing in mice.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of violate oil from Blumea Balsamifera (L.) DC. leaves (BB oil) on wound healing in mice. METHODS: Undiluted BB oil and its diluted solutions with olive oil to 1/5 and 1/10 to yield BB oil1/5 and BB oil1/10 were applied to the wounded skin before wound healing conditions were assessed by healing rate, histopathology, and contents of collagen, hydroxyproline, and Neuropeptide Substance P (SP). All above results were compared with the efficacies of the control, pure olive oil, basic fibroblast growth factor (BFGF), and cream of Jing Wan Hong (JWH). RESULTS: BB oil1/5 and BB oil1/10 improved wound contraction and closure. Histopathology study further confirmed a desirable histological organization of wound tissues. BB oil1/5 and BB oil1/10 reduced the number of inflammatory cells, increased wound-healing rates, and significantly increased the hydroxyproline content. Both BB oil1/5 and BB oil1/10 improved formation of collagen, and reduced the frequency of fibroblasts. Moreover, BB oil1/5 and BB oil1/10 markedly promoted SP expression. However, undiluted BB oil may induce skin thickening and hardening, inhibite collagen synthesis and delay complete skin wound healing. CONCLUSION: The BB oil1/5 and BB oil1/10 promoted capillary regeneration, blood circulation, collagen deposition, granular tissue formation, epithelial deposition, and wound contraction. The mechanism underlying the action might be related to induction of SP secretion, and the proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal cells.

Fecal metabolomics combined with 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyze the effect of Jiaotai pill intervention in type 2 diabetes mellitus rats.

The occurrence and development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are closely related to gut microbiota. Jiaotai pill (JTP) is used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus, with definite efficacy in clinical practice. However, it is not clear whether the therapeutic effect is produced by regulating the changes in gut microbiota and its metabolism. In this study, T2DM rat models were established by a high-fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin (STZ). Based on the pharmacodynamic evaluation, the mechanism of JTP in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus was investigated by fecal metabolism and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results showed that JTP decreased blood glucose (FBG, HbA1c) and blood lipid (TC, TG, and LDL) levels and alleviated insulin resistance (FINS, IL-10) in T2DM rats. 16S rRNA gene sequencing results revealed that JTP increased microbiota diversity and reversed the disorder of gut microbiota in T2DM rats, and therefore achieved the therapeutic effect in T2DM. JTP regulated 13 differential flora, which were Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Eubacteriaceae, Prevotellaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Clostridium_IV, Clostridium_XlVa, Eubacterium, Fusicatenibacter, Romboutsia, and Roseburia. Metabolomics analysis showed that JTP interfered with 13 biomarkers to play a therapeutic role in type 2 diabetes mellitus. They were L-Valine, Choline, L-Aspartic acid, Serotonin, L-Lysine, L-Histidine, 3-Hydroxybutyric acid, Pyruvic acid, N-Acetylornithine, Arachidonic acid, L-Tryptophan, L-Alanine, and L-Methionine. KEGG metabolic pathway analysis of the above differential metabolites and gut microbiota by using the MetaboAnalyst database and Picrust software. It was found that JTP treated type 2 diabetes mellitus by affecting metabolic pathways such as amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and lipid metabolism. Spearman correlation analysis revealed high correlations for 7 pharmacological indicators, 12 biomarkers, and 11 gut microbiota. In this study, the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of JTP on type 2 diabetes mellitus were preliminarily demonstrated by gut microbiota and metabolomics, which could provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of T2DM with JTP.

Roquefortine J, a novel roquefortine alkaloid, from the deep-sea-derived fungus Penicillium granulatum MCCC 3A00475.

Chemical investigation on the deep-sea-derived fungus Penicillium granulatum MCCC 3A00475 led to the isolation of a previously undescribed (roquefortine J, 1) and four known (2-5) roquefortine alkaloids, along with six ergosterol analogues (6-11). The planar structure of 1 was established mainly on the basis of extensive analysis of its 1D, 2D NMR, and HRESIMS spectra. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by comparison of the calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroism spectra. Compounds 5, 6, and 7 exhibited potent anti-proliferative effects against HepG2 tumor cells with IC50 values of 7.0, 8.6, and 8.2 µM, respectively.