Hippophae rhamnoides L.: A Comprehensive Review on the Botany, Traditional Uses, Phytonutrients, Health Benefits, Quality Markers, and Applications.

Hippophae rhamnoides L. (sea buckthorn), consumed as a food and health supplement worldwide, has rich nutritional and medicinal properties. Different parts of H. rhamnoides L. were used in traditional Chinese medicines for relieving cough, aiding digestion, invigorating blood circulation, and alleviating pain since ancient times. Phytochemical studies revealed a wide variety of phytonutrients, including nutritional components (proteins, minerals, vitamins, etc.) and functional components like flavonoids (1-99), lignans (100-143), volatile oils (144-207), tannins (208-230), terpenoids (231-260), steroids (261-270), organic acids (271-297), and alkaloids (298-305). The pharmacological studies revealed that some crude extracts or compounds of H. rhamnoides L. demonstrated various health benefits, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anticardiovascular disease, anticancer, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, neuroprotective, antibacterial activities, and their effective doses and experimental models were summarized and analyzed in this paper. The quality markers (Q-markers) of H. rhamnoides L. were predicted and analyzed based on protobotanical phylogeny, traditional medicinal properties, expanded efficacy, pharmacokinetics and metabolism, and component testability. The applications of H. rhamnoides L. in juice, wine, oil, ferment, and yogurt were also summarized and future prospects were examined in this review. However, the mechanism and structure-activity relationship of some active compounds are not clear, and quality control and potential toxicity are worth further study in the future.

New compounds from the stems of Fissistigma acuminatissimum Merr. and their in vitro anti-inflammatory activity.

Three new compounds, 4,5,6,7-tetramethoxy-3-benzoylbenzofuran (1), 4-hydroxy-3,5,6-trimethoxydihydrochalcone-2-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2) and 2-hydroxy-3,4,5,6-tetramethoxyphenylethyl benzoate (3) along with five known flavonoids were isolated from the dichloromethane fraction of the stems of Fissistigma acuminatissimum Merr.'s ethanol extracts. The compounds were obtained by chromatographic methods and the structure elucidation was completed primarily on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, all of these compounds were isolated from F. acuminatissimum for the first time. All the fractions and compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) production in RAW264.7 cells in vitro. The dichloromethane fraction showed the most potent inhibition(38.2%) at 60 µg/mL, compound 1 (70.2%) and 3 (65.2%) showed significant inhibition at 10 µM.

Role of curcumin in the treatment of acute kidney injury: research challenges and opportunities.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in clinical inpatients, and it continues a high morbidity and mortality rate despite many clinical treatment measures. AKI is triggered by infections, surgery, heavy metal exposure and drug side effects, but current chemical drugs often fall short of expectations for AKI treatment and have toxic side effects. Therefore, finding new interventions and treatments, especially of natural origin, is of remarkable clinical significance and application. The herbal monomer curcumin is a natural phenolic compound extracted from the plant Curcuma longa and showed various biological activities, including AKI. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that curcumin restores renal function by modulating the immune system and the release of inflammatory mediators, scavenging oxygen free radicals, reducing apoptosis and improving mitochondrial dynamics. However, curcumin has a low bioavailability, which limits its clinical application. For this reason, it is essential to investigate the therapeutic effects and molecular mechanisms of curcumin in AKI, as well as to improve its bioavailability for curcumin formulation development and clinical application. PURPOSE: This review summarizes the sources, pharmacokinetics, and limitations in the clinical application of curcumin and explores methods to optimize its bioavailability using nanotechnology. In particular, the therapeutic effects and molecular mechanisms of curcumin on AKI are highlighted to provide a theoretical basis for AKI treatment in clinical practices. METHODS: This review was specifically searched by means of a search of three databases (Web of Science, PubMed and Science Direct), till December 2021. Search terms were "Curcumin", "Acute kidney injury", "AKI", " Pharmacokinetics", "Mitochondria" and "Nano formulations". The retrieved data followed PRISMA criteria (preferred reporting items for systematic review) RESULTS: Studies have shown that curcumin responded to AKI-induced renal injury and restored renal tubular epithelial cell function by affecting multiple signaling pathways in AKI models induced by factors such as cisplatin, lipopolysaccharide, ischemia/reperfusion, gentamicin and potassium dichromate. Curcumin was able to affect NF-κB signaling pathway and reduce the expression of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α, thus preventing renal inflammatory injury. In the prevention of renal tubular oxidative damage, curcumin reduced ROS production by activating the activity of Nrf2, HO-1 and PGC-1α. In addition, curcumin restored mitochondrial homeostasis by upregulating OPA1 and downregulating DRP1 expression, while reducing apoptosis by inhibiting the caspase-3 apoptotic pathway. In addition, due to the low bioavailability and poor absorption of curcumin in vivo, curcumin nanoformulations including nanoparticles, liposomes, and polymeric micelles are formulated to improve the bioavailability. CONCLUSION: This review provides new ideas for the use of curcumin in the prevention and treatment of AKI by modulating the molecular targets of several different cellular signaling pathways.

α-Pyrones with glucose uptake-stimulatory activity from the twigs of Cryptocarya wrayi.

Five new α-pyrones, cryptowratones A-E (1-5), and five known congeners (6-10), together with four other known compounds 11-14 were isolated from the twigs of Cryptocarya wrayi. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analysis and ECD calculations. All α-pyrones except 6 were evaluated for their stimulatory effects on glucose uptake in vitro with CHO-K1/GLUT4 cells. The positive control insulin displayed an approximate 42 ± 0.14% promotion on glucose uptake at 25 µM, compared with the CHO-K1/GLUT4 group. Compounds 1a/2a, 2, 3, and 10 showed a more significant stimulation of glucose uptake than insulin (25 µM) by 36 ± 0.08%, 27 ± 0.12%, 28 ± 0.12%, and 25 ± 0.12% at 1.5 µM, respectively. Immunofluorescence assays indicated the glucose uptake-stimulatory activity of α-pyrones might be correlated with increased GLUT4 translocation.

New compounds from the stems of Fissistigma oldhamii var. longistipitatum and their cytotoxic activities.

Two new aporphine alkaloids, (R)-1,2-methylenedioxy-3,9-dimethoxy-11-hydroxy-N- carbamoyl-noraporphine (1) and 3,10,11-trimethoxy-1,2-methylenedioxy-7-oxoaporphine(2), and one new dihydrochalcone, 4',5'-dimethoxy-2'-hydroxy-3',6'-quinodihydrochalcone (3), along with five known alkaloids were isolated from the ethanol extracts of the stems of Fissistigma oldhamii var. longistipitatum. The compounds were obtained by various classical column chromatographic methods, and the structure elucidation was completed primarily on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, such as UV, NMR and HR-ESI-MS. The isolated compounds were subjected to evaluate cytotoxic activities in vitro, compound 1 had activity against HL-60 and HELA (IC50 value of 8.4 µM and 5.2 µM, respectively), compound 2 against MCF-7 (IC50 value of 3.7 µM), compound 3 against HEPG2 (IC50 value of 10.8 µM), respectively.

Three novel pterosin dimers form Pteris obtusiloba.

Three novel pterosin dimmers, named as obtupterosin A (1), B (2) and C (3), together with eight known pterosins (4-11) were isolated from Pteris obtusiloba. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectral data, CD, X-ray and literature comparisons. Compounds 1 and 2 were a pair of isomers. Compounds 1 and 3 were the novel type of pterosin dimer. The new compounds (1-3) were assessed for their cytotoxic activities and their α-glucosidase inhibition activity. Compounds 1-3 exhibited cytotoxic activity against HCT-116 cells with IC50 value of 27.5 µM, 30.6 µM and 12.8 µM, respectively. However, all were found to be inactive at 200 µM for α-glucosidase inhibition.

A new triterpenoid and a new flavonoid glycoside isolated from Bupleurum marginatum and their anti-inflammatory activity.

This study to investigate chemical constituents from the aerial of Bupleurum marginatum led to the isolation of a new trierpenoid and a new flavonoid, namely 3ß-hydroxy-cycloart-24-en-26-acetyloxy (1), and 3, 3', 5'-trimethoxyl-myricetin 7-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2) along with eight known compounds (3-10). Their structures were established by spectral data analyses (MS, 1D and 2D NMR), as well as by comparison of spectral data with those of the related known compounds. The 24-en-lanostane type triterpenoid with a cyclopropane ring (1 and 3) was firstly reported from this specie, which might be chemotaxonomic markers of this specie. In addition, compounds 1 and 2 were examined for their anti-inflammatory activity. Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited the NF κB induction by 60.61% and 24.30%.

Four New Pterosins from Pteris cretica and Their Cytotoxic Activities.

Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Pteris cretica led to the isolation and elucidation of nine pterosins, including four new pterosins, creticolacton A (1), 13-hydroxy-2(R),3(R)-pterosin L (2), creticoside A (3), and spelosin 3-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside (4), together with five known pterosins 5-9. Their structures were identified mainly on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectral data, ESI-MS and literature comparisons. Compounds 1 and 3 were new type of petrosins with a six membered ring between C-14 and C-15. The new compounds were tested in vitro for their cytotoxic activities against four human tumor cell lines (SH-SY5Y, SGC-7901, HCT-116, Lovo). Results showed that compounds 1 and 2 exhibited cytotoxic activity against HCT-116 cells with IC50 value of 22.4 µM and 15.8 µM, respectively.

A sesquiterpene glycoside and phenylalanine derivatives from Tinospora sinensis.

A new sesquiterpene glycoside and a new amide have been isolated from the stems of Tinospora sinensis. Their structures were established by 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques (1H,1H-COSY, NOESY, HSQC and HMBC) and mass spectrometry. The isolated compounds were subjected to evaluate neuroprotective activities in vitro. The pre-treatment of two new compounds can significantly ameliorate damage of oxidative stress induced by Aß25-35 and improve PC12 cells survival.

The anti-hyperuricemic effect of four astilbin stereoisomers in Smilax glabra on hyperuricemic mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Smilax glabra Roxb. (SG), a Chinese medicinal herb which called "tufuling", is believed to be effective in treating hyperuricemia and gout symptoms. But the active substance and pharmacological mechanism of reducing uric acid remain unknown. This study aimed to obtain the total flavonoids including four astilbin stereoisomers and to examine their effects on reducing uric acid content in hyperuricemic mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The total flavonoids of S. glabra (TFSG) were purified and then analysed by HPLC-PDA-MS. The effect of TFSG on the content of serum uric acid (SUA), Serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and the activities of xanthine oxidase (XOD) in hyperuricemic mouse model induced by potassium oxonate were examined. Western blot and PCR method were also used to investigate whether TFSG have effect on renal transport protein organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1), organic cation/carnitine transporter 2 (OCTN2) and their mRNA in hypeuricemic mice. RESULT: Total flavonoids were obtained from EtOAc soluble portion of S. glabra. Four compounds were identified as neoastilbin, astilbin, neoisoastilbin and isoastilbin, which accounted for 55.6% of total flavonoids. TFSG could significantly reduce the serum uric acid content in hyperuricemic mouse (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). The activities of hepatic XOD have been reduced in hyperuricemic mouse administered with 125 mg/kg TFSG (p < 0.05). The expressions of renal OAT1, OCTN2 and their mRNA have been up-regulated in hyperuricemic mice administered with TFSG (250, 125 mg/kg) (p < 0.01or p < 0.05). TFSG (62.5 mg/kg) could also elevated the expression of renal OCTN2 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A novel and simple method for preparative separation of astilbin stereoisomers from S. glabra was developed. It was the first time to obtain total flavonoids (including four marker compounds) of S. glabra, and the total content was up to 55.6%. The results suggested TFSG has significant effect on reducing uric acid in hyperuricemic mice by inhibiting the XOD activities and up-regulating the expression of OAT1, OCTN2 and their mRNA in kidney tissue.

Structures and biological evaluation of phenylpropanoid derivatives from Murraya koenigii.

Four new phenylpropanoid derivatives (1-4), together with eleven known analogues (5-15) were isolated and identified by comparison with their references and extensive spectroscopic methods from Murraya koenigii for the first time. Compounds (1-15) were assayed for their inhibitory activities by measuring IL-6-induced STAT3 promoter activities in HepG2 cells, and found compounds 1, 2, 6, and 15 showed inhibitory effects with IC50 values of 11.5, 18.7, 8.9, and 22.7 µM, respectively. The inhibitory activities of compounds (1-15) were screened against NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells, and found compounds 3, 4, 9, 11, and 14 exhibited inhibitions against LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 macrophages, with IC50 values of 32.7, 7.9, 42.1, 58.9, and 62.4 µM, respectively.

[Two new compounds from Smilax glaucochina].

A new sesquiterpenes named glaucochinarol A (1) and a new phenylpropane glycoside named glcacochinaside A (2), together with six known ones, including trichothecolone (3), ß-D-(6-O-trans-feruloyl)fructofuranosyl-α-D-O-glucopyranoisde (4), 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl-ß-D-glucopyranoside (5), (4R)-p-menth-1-ene-7,8-diol-7-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (6), naringenin (7), and emodin-8-O-ß-glucoside (8) were isolated from smilax glaucochina warb. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR, MS and published data. Compounds 3-8 were isolated from the species for this first time.

Three new flavonoid glycosides from Smilax glabra and their anti-inflammatory activity.

Three new flavonoid glycosides, 2(S)-5-hydroxy-6,8-dimethoxyflavonone-7-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (1), 5-hydroxy-3,8-dimethoxyflavone-7-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2) and 3,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone-6-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (3), together with five known flavonoids (4-8) were isolated from the roots of Smilax glabra Roxb. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence, as well as by comparison with literature data. Three new flavonoids were subjected to evaluate anti-inflammatory activity. Compounds 1-3 inhibited the NF κB induction by 32.2, 55.8 and 61.7%, respectively.

Three new abietane-type diterpene glycosides from the roots of Tripterygium wilfordii.

Three new abietane-type diterpene glycosides named as tripterycoside A (1), tripterycoside B (2), tripterycoside C (3), along with two known ones, 11-O-ß-d-glucopyranosyl-neotritophenolide (4), wilfordoside A (5), and nine other known compounds, 5-hydroxymethylmellein (6),1,2-bis-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-propanediol (7), leptolepisol C (8), icariol A2 (9), tripfordine A (10), 16α-hydroxy-ent-kauran-19-oic acid (11),wilforine (12), wilfordine (13), 3-acetyloleanolic acid (14),were isolated from the roots of Tripterygium wilfordii. Their structures have been elucidated on the basis of NMR and MS data. To the best of our knowledge, abietane-type diterpene glycosides were rarely reported natural products, especially abietane-type diterpene glycoside containing 7-oxo group (compound 3) was reported here for the first time. Furthermore, compounds 6, 7, 8 and 14 were isolated from this plant for the first time. Compounds 1-5 showed statistically significant inhibitory effects on IL-1ß secretion in LPS-induced rat primary synovial fibroblasts at 10µM.

Six new furostanol glycosides from Smilax glauco-china and their cytotoxic activity.

Six new steroidal saponins, namely glauco-chinaosides A-F, and one known compound were isolated from the tubers of Smilax glauco-china. Their structures were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic analysis and hydrolysis followed by spectral and chromatographic analysis. Compounds 1-7 were tested in vitro for their cytotoxic activities against four human tumor cell lines (SH-SY5Y, SGC-7901, HCT-116, and Lovo). Compounds 1, 2, and 5 exhibited cytotoxic activity against SGC-7901, with IC50 values of 2.7, 11.5, and 6.8 µM, respectively.

Chemical composition and antioxidant activities of essential oils from different parts of the oregano.

This research was undertaken in order to characterize the chemical compositions and evaluate the antioxidant activities of essential oils obtained from different parts of the Origanum vulgare L. It is a medicinal plant used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of heat stroke, fever, vomiting, acute gastroenteritis, and respiratory disorders. The chemical compositions of the three essential oils from different parts of the oregano (leaves-flowers, stems, and roots) were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant activity of each essential oil was assessed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay and reducing the power test. Among the essential oils from different parts of the oregano, the leaf-flower oils have the best antioxidant activities, whereas the stem oils are the worst. The results of the DPPH free radical scavenging assay showed that the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of the essential oils were (0.332±0.040) mg/ml (leaves-flowers), (0.357±0.031) mg/ml (roots), and (0.501±0.029) mg/ml (stems), respectively. Interestingly, the results of reducing the power test also revealed that when the concentration exceeded 1.25 mg/ml, the leaf-flower oils had the highest reducing power; however, the stem oils were the lowest.

A novel phloroglucinol and two new phenolic glycosides from Psidium littorale.

One novel phloroglucinol, psidosone A (1), and two new phenolic glycosides, psidoside A (2), and psidoside B (3), together with nine known phenol compounds (4-12), were isolated from the fruits of Psidium littorale Raddi. Their structures were elucidated using data obtained from MS, 1H and 13C NMR spectra, and correlation experiments (HMQC and HMBC), as well as by comparison with published data.

Diterpenoids from Leaves of Rubus chingii.

The leaves of Rubus chingii were examined for their phytochemical composition and anti-yeast activity. In the process, seven diterpenoids (compounds 1-7), including a new natural compound (14ß, 16-epoxy-7-pimarene-3α, 15ß-diol, 1), were isolated and elucidated. Compound 1 exhibited moderate anti-Candida activity.

[Studies on chemical constituents of rhizomes of Smilax trinervula].

The chemical constituents were separated and purified from the 70% ethanol extract of Smilax trinervulaby various chromatographic methods including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, MCI and preparative HPLC. Their structures were obtained and identified by analysis of the spectroscopic data. Compounds 1-11 were separated from this genus for the first time. Compound 12 was obtained from S. trinervula for the first time.

Research progress of bioactivity of steroidal saponins in recent ten years.

Steroidal saponins have a wide range of pharmacological effects and biological activities, such as anti-tumor, antifungal, hypoglycemic, immune regulation, insecticides, etc. In the last ten years, some new structures of steroidal saponins compounds were found from natural plants, they have some new and different activities. In order to accelerate the research on the drug innovation of steroidal saponins, we summarized the new progress of the research on such compounds.