Chemical Profiling and Biological Activities on Nepalese Medicinal Plant Extracts and Isolation of Active Fraction of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis.

The importance of medicinal plants for the treatment of different diseases is high from the aspects of the pharmaceutical industry and traditional healers. The present study involves nine different medicinal plants, namely, Neolamarckia cadamba, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, Pogostemon benghalensis, Equisetum debile, Litsea monopetala, Spilanthes uliginosa, Desmostachya bipinnata, Mallotus philippensis, and Phoenix humilis, collected from Chitwan district of Nepal for biochemical analysis followed by the isolation of active plant fractions from the bioactive plant extract. The methanolic extracts of roots, barks, seeds, seed cover, and the other aerial parts of plants were used for the phytochemical analysis and biological activities. The DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging assay was adopted to evaluate the antioxidant activity. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method. The antidiabetic activity was studied by the α-amylase enzyme inhibition assay. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in extracts of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis followed by Mallotus philippensis (seed cover), Pogostemon benghalensis, Litsea monopetala, Phoenix humilis, and Neolamarckia cadamba with IC50 values of 27.38 ± 1.35, 32.08 ± 2.81, 32.75 ± 2.13, 33.82 ± 1.07, 40.14 ± 0.93, and 50.44 ± 3.75 µg/mL, respectively. The highest antidiabetic activity was observed in extracts of Phoenix humilis followed by Desmostachya bipinnata and Pogostemon benghalensis with IC50 values of 95.69 ± 6.97, 99.24 ± 12.6, and 106.3 ± 12.89 µg/mL, respectively. The mild α-amylase enzyme inhibition was found in extracts of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, Spilanthes uliginosa Swartz, Litsea monopetala, and Equisetum debile showing IC50 values of 110.4 ± 7.78, 115.98 ± 10.24, 149.83 ± 8.3, and 196.45 ± 6.04 µg/mL, whereas Mallotus Philippensis (seed cover), Mallotus philippensis (seed), and Desmostachya bipinnata showed weak α-amylase inhibition with IC50 values of 208.87 ± 1.76, 215.41 ± 2.09, and 238.89 ± 9.27 µg/mL, respectively. The extract of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis showed high zones of inhibition against S. aureus (ATCC 25923) and E. coli (ATCC 25922) of ZOI 26 and 22 mm, respectively. The chemical constituents isolated from the active plant Nyctanthes arbor-tristis were subjected to GCMS analysis where the major chemical compounds were 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid and methyl ester. These results support the partial scientific validation for the traditional uses of these medicinal plants in the treatment of diabetes and infectious diseases by the people living in different communities of Chitwan, Nepal.

Antibacterial activity and phytochemical screening of traditional medicinal plants most preferred for treating infectious diseases in Habru District, North Wollo Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia.

Ethiopia's healthcare system relies on traditional medicinal practices that use medicinal plants to treat human and livestock ailments. However, the lack of empirical validation regarding the efficacy of these treatments against specific infectious diseases necessitates rigorous scientific investigations. The objective of this study was to investigate the antibacterial activity and phytochemical screening on five selected medicinal plant species, namely Solanum somalense Franchet., Verbascum sinaiticum Benth., Rumex nervosus Vahl, Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal and Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth. The plants were first identified jointly with local informants and later considering mainly their high informant consensus and fidelity level values for their efficacy in treating infectious diseases in the area. Ethanol and aqueous extracts were prepared from the plant materials, and their antibacterial activities were evaluated against standard bacterial strains, representing both gram-positive and gram-negative types. To assess the antibacterial activity of the extracts, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using the broth dilution method. Additionally, phytochemical screening was performed using standard qualitative tests to identify various secondary metabolites. The results indicated antibacterial efficacy in the ethanol extracts of S. somalense, W. somnifera, and C. aurea against particular bacterial strains (S. somalense against S. agalactiae with MIC of 1.5 mg/mL; W. somnifera against S. aureus and E. coli, with MIC of 2 mg/mL; C. aurea against E. coli and K. pneumoniae, with MICs of 3 mg/mL and 3.5 mg/mL, respectively). The results of the phytochemical screening indicated the presence of steroids, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and terpenoids. The selected medicinal plants demonstrated promising antibacterial activity against certain bacterial strains. The current findings support the long-standing claim of the traditional medical system of the study area for their continued use of these plants in their treatment of infectious diseases. Further investigation is required to isolate the responsible active compounds and characterize the constituents and description of their antibacterial effect for possible use in areas where these infectious diseases are major health problems.

A Study of the Use of Medicinal Plants by Persons With Type 2 Diabetes in Iran.

Medicinal plants are used by many people with Type 2 diabetes in Iran. The aim of this study was to explore why this is so, from their perspective. Sixteen persons with Type 2 diabetes in Yazd City, Iran, were interviewed in April and May 2020 for this study. A thematic analysis of the transcripts of those interviews was done using MAXQDA 10 software. Six themes were identified: beliefs about medicinal plants, psychological factors, accessibility and economic barriers, patients' knowledge and awareness, social pressure, and the role of family culture. The recommendation of the study is that health counselors and specialists should provide needed information and skills for the proper use of medicinal plants, and the pharmaceutical infrastructures need to be expanded to provide enough drugs to facilitate better access to needed medication and reduce reliance on medicinal plants for persons with Type 2 diabetes.

Comprehensive Analysis of 11 Species of Euodia (Rutaceae) by Untargeted LC-IT-TOF/MS Metabolomics and In Vitro Functional Methods.

The Euodia genus comprises numerous untapped medicinal plants that warrant thorough evaluation for their potential as valuable natural sources of herbal medicine or food flavorings. In this study, untargeted metabolomics and in vitro functional methods were employed to analyze fruit extracts from 11 significant species of the Euodia genus. An investigation of the distribution of metabolites (quinolone and indole quinazoline alkaloids) in these species indicated that E. rutaecarpa (Euodia rutaecarpa) was the most widely distributed species, followed by E. compacta (Euodia compacta), E. glabrifolia (Euodia glabrifolia), E. austrosinensis (Euodia austrosinensis), and E. fargesii (Euodia fargesii). There have been reports on the close correlation between indole quinazoline alkaloids and their anti-tumor activity, especially in E. rutaecarpa fruits which exhibit effectiveness against various types of cancer, such as SGC-7901, Hela, A549, and other cancer cell lines. Additionally, the E. rutaecarpa plant contains indole quinazoline alkaloids, which possess remarkable antibacterial properties. Our results offer novel insights into the utilization of Euodia resources in the pharmaceutical industry.

Enrichment of Olive Oils with Natural Bioactive Compounds from Aromatic and Medicinal Herbs: Phytochemical Analysis and Antioxidant Potential.

Olive oil and herbs, two key components of the Mediterranean diet, are known for their beneficial effects on humans. In our study, we incorporated aromatic and medicinal herbs into local monovarietal olive oils via maceration procedures for enrichment. We identified the herbal-derived ingredients that migrate to olive oils and contribute positively to their total phenolic content and functional properties, such as radical scavenging activity. Thus, we characterized the essential oil composition of the aromatic herbs (GC-MS), and we determined the phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of the additives and the virgin olive oils before and after enrichment. The herbal phenolic compounds were analyzed by LC-LTQ/Orbitrap HRMS. We found that olive oils infused with Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum, Rosmarinus officinalis and Salvia triloba obtained an increased phenolic content, by approximately 1.3 to 3.4 times, in comparison with the untreated ones. Infusion with S. triloba led to a significantly higher antioxidant capacity. Rosmarinic acid, as well as phenolic glucosides, identified in the aromatic herbs, were not incorporated into olive oils due to their high polarity. In contrast, phenolic aglycones and diterpenes from R. officinalis and S. triloba migrated to the enriched olive oils, leading to a significant increase in their phenolic content and to an improvement in their free radical scavenging capacity.

Herbal compounds as promising therapeutic agents in precision medicine strategies for cancer: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The field of personalized medicine has gained increasing attention in cancer care, with the aim of tailoring treatment strategies to individual patients for improved outcomes. Herbal medicine, with its long-standing historical use and extensive bioactive compounds, offers a rich source of potential treatments for various diseases, including cancer. OBJECTIVE: To provide an overview of the current knowledge and evidence associated with incorporating herbal compounds into precision medicine strategies for cancer diseases. Additionally, to explore the general characteristics of the studies included in the analysis, focusing on their key features and trends. SEARCH STRATEGY: A comprehensive literature search was conducted from multiple online databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL-EBSCO. The search strategy was designed to identify studies related to personalized cancer medicine and herbal interventions. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Publications pertaining to cancer research conducted through in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies, employing natural products were included in this review. DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently applied inclusion and inclusion criteria, data extraction, and assessments of methodological quality. The quality assessment and biases of the studies were evaluated based on modified Jadad scales. A detailed quantitative summary of the included studies is presented, providing a comprehensive description of their key features and findings. RESULTS: A total of 121 studies were included in this review for analysis. Some of them were considered as comprehensive experimental investigations both in vitro and in vivo. The majority (n = 85) of the studies included in this review were conducted in vitro, with 44 of them specifically investigating the effects of herbal medicine on animal models. Additionally, 7 articles with a combined sample size of 31,271 patients, examined the impact of herbal medicine in clinical settings. CONCLUSION: Personalized medication can optimize the use of herbal medicine in cancer treatment by considering individual patient factors such as genetics, medical history, and other treatments. Additionally, active phytochemicals found in herbs have shown potential for inhibiting cancer cell growth and inducing apoptosis, making them a promising area of research in preclinical and clinical investigations. Please cite this article as: Tayeb BA, Kusuma IY, Osman AAM, Minorics R. Herbal compounds as promising therapeutic agents in precision medicine strategies for cancer: A systematic review. J Integr Med. 2024; 22(2): 137-162.

Pharmacological potential of (L.) P. Royen (Sapodilla): a narrative review.

Herbal medicine is safe and effective in treating various diseases. Traditional herbal medicine plays a tremendous role in treatment of various diseases and accompanying complications, hence herbal medicine requires remarkable attention in further research for the development of numerous active formulations for treatment of health troubles. The plant needs special consideration for development and research of unidentified compound and characterization of novel active molecules that overcome multiple pathological abnormalities. The genus Manilkara contains 135 plants around the world. This overview discusses all the virtues of most important and commonly used plant Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen (M. zapota), also known as Sapodilla. M. zapota has various traditional beneficial effects in treatment of various diseases and disorders dating back to prehistoric times and used in ancient traditional system of herbal medicine.

Microbial regulation of plant secondary metabolites: Impact, mechanisms and prospects.

Plant secondary metabolites possess a wide range of pharmacological activities and play crucial biological roles. They serve as both a defense response during pathogen attack and a valuable drug resource. The role of microorganisms in the regulation of plant secondary metabolism has been widely recognized. The addition of specific microorganisms can increase the synthesis of secondary metabolites, and their beneficial effects depend on environmental factors and plant-related microorganisms. This article summarizes the impact and regulatory mechanisms of different microorganisms on the main secondary metabolic products of plants. We emphasize the mechanisms by which microorganisms regulate hormone levels, nutrient absorption, the supply of precursor substances, and enzyme and gene expression to promote the accumulation of plant secondary metabolites. In addition, the possible negative feedback regulation of microorganisms is discussed. The identification of additional unknown microbes and other driving factors affecting plant secondary metabolism is essential. The prospects for further analysis of medicinal plant genomes and the establishment of a genetic operation system for plant secondary metabolism research are proposed. This study provides new ideas for the use of microbial resources for biological synthesis research and the improvement of crop anti-inverse traits for the use of microbial resources.

A multidimensional strategy for characterization, distinction, and quality control of two Clinopodium medicinal plants.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Clinopodium chinense Kuntze (CC) and Clinopodium polycephalum (Vaniot) C. Y. Wu & S. J. Hsuan (CP) are both included in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (edition 2020) as the legitimate source of "Duan Xue Liu" (DXL), which is a crucial traditional Chinese medicine used as a clinical remedy for bleeding diseases. However, the differences in plant endogenous metabolites and bioactivities between CC and CP are still unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to provide a scientific basis to investigate the differences between CC and CP ensuring the efficient and safe use of DXL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multidimensional strategy including plant metabolomics, digital reference standard (DRS) analyzer, and biological activities assay was creatively constructed for the characterization, distinction, and quality control of CC and CP. RESULTS: There were apparent differences in the metabolites between CC and CP. 7 compounds contributing to the differences were successfully identified. On that basis, linear calibration using two reference substances (LCTRS) methods was proved as a more accurate and specific quality analysis method for CC and CP. In addition, bioactivity assays showed that both CC and CP exhibited obvious hemostatic activity, while CC showed greater potential to resist inflammation and free radicals. CONCLUSION: In summary, it was the first time to investigate the chemical constituents and bioactivities differences between CC and CP with the help of plant metabolomics, DRS study, and biological activity assays. These two plants were significantly separated in the integrated analysis, suggesting that we should pay attention to the distinction to prevent unexpected risks caused by medicinal materials.

Molecular mechanism of miRNA mediated biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants.

Plant secondary metabolites are important raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry, and their biosynthetic processes are subject to diverse and precise regulation by miRNA. The identification of miRNA molecules in medicinal plants and exploration of their mechanisms not only contribute to a deeper understanding of the molecular genetic mechanisms of plant growth, development and resistance to stress, but also provide a theoretical basis for elucidating the pharmacological effects of authentic medicinal materials and constructing bioreactors for the synthesis of medicinal secondary metabolite components. This paper summarizes the research reports on the discovery of miRNA in medicinal plants and their regulatory mechanisms on the synthesis of secondary metabolites by searching the relevant literature in public databases. It summarizes the currently discovered miRNA and their functions in medicinal plants, and summarizes the molecular mechanisms regulating the synthesis and degradation of secondary metabolites. Furthermore, it provides a prospect for the research and development of medicinal plant miRNA. The compiled information contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the research progress on miRNA in medicinal plants and provides a reference for the industrial development of related secondary metabolite biosynthesis.

Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Are Key to Promoting the Growth and Furanocoumarin Synthesis of Angelica dahurica var. formosana under Low-Nitrogen Conditions.

Microbiomes are the most important members involved in the regulation of soil nitrogen metabolism. Beneficial interactions between plants and microbiomes contribute to improving the nitrogen utilization efficiency. In this study, we investigated the Apiaceae medicinal plant Angelica dahurica var. formosana. We found that under a low-nitrogen treatment, the abundance of carbon metabolites in the rhizosphere secretions of A. dahurica var. formosana significantly increased, thereby promoting the ratio of C to N in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils, increasing carbon sequestration, and shaping the microbial community composition, thus promoting a higher yield and furanocoumarin synthesis. Confirmation through the construction of a synthetic microbial community and feedback experiments indicated that beneficial plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria play a crucial role in improving nitrogen utilization efficiency and selectively regulating the synthesis of target furanocoumarins under low nitrogen conditions. These findings may contribute additional theoretical evidence for understanding the mechanisms of interaction between medicinal plants and rhizosphere microorganisms.

Antibacterial and anti-coronavirus investigation of selected Senegalese plant species according to an ethnobotanical survey.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In Senegal, upper and lower respiratory tract infections constitute a real health problem. To manage these disorders, most people rely on the use of local medicinal plants. This is particularly the case for species belonging to the botanical families, Combretaceae, Fabaceae, Myrtaceae and Rubiaceae, which are widely used to treat various respiratory problems such as colds, flu, rhinitis, sinusitis, otitis, angina, bronchitis, bronchiolitis and also pneumonia. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to identify medicinal plants traditionally used for the management of infectious diseases, in particular those of the respiratory tract. On the basis of these ethnopharmacological uses, this study made it possible to highlight the antibacterial, antiviral and cytotoxic activities of selected plant species. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Senegal among informants, including herbalists, traditional healers, and households, using medicinal plants in the management of infectious diseases, with a focus on respiratory tract infections. The most cited plant species were evaluated in vitro on a panel of 18 human pathogenic bacteria may be involved in respiratory infections and against the human coronavirus HCoV-229E in Huh-7 cells. The antiviral activity of the most active extracts against HCoV-229E was also evaluated on COVID-19 causing agent, SARS-CoV-2 in Vero-81 cells. In parallel, cytotoxic activities were evaluated on Huh-7 cells. RESULTS: A total of 127 informants, including 100 men (78.74%) and 27 women (21.26%) participated in this study. The ethnobotanical survey led to the inventory of 41 plant species belonging to 19 botanical families used by herbalists and/or traditional healers and some households to treat infectious diseases, with a specific focus on upper respiratory tract disorders. Among the 41 plant species, the most frequently mentioned in the survey were Guiera senegalensis J.F. Gmel. (95.2%), Combretum glutinosum Perr. Ex DC. (93.9%) and Eucalyptus spp. (82.8%). Combretaceae (30.2%) represented the most cited botanical family with six species, followed by Fabaceae (29.3%, 12 species). A total of 33 crude methanolic extracts of the 24 plant species selected for their number of citations were evaluated in vitro for their antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. Guiera senegalensis, Combretum glutinosum, Vachellia nilotica subsp. tomentosa (Benth.) Kyal. & Boatwr, Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., and Terminalia avicennioides Guill. & Perr., showed antibacterial activities. The most active plants against HCoV-229E were: Ficus sycomorus L., Mitragyna inermis (Willd.) Kuntze, Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir., and Spermacoce verticillata L. One of these plants, Mitragyna inermis, was also active against SARS-CoV-2. CONCLUSION: This work confirmed the anti-infective properties of plant species traditionally used in Senegal. Overall, the most frequently cited plant species showed the best antibacterial activities. Moreover, some of the selected plant species could be considered as a potential source for the management of coronavirus infections. This new scientific data justified the use of these plants in the management of some infectious pathologies, especially those of the respiratory tract.

Food drugs as drivers of therapeutic knowledge and the role of chemosensory qualities.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Chemosensory qualities of botanical drugs are important cues for anticipating physiologic consequences. Whether a botanical drug is used for both, food and medicine, or only as medicine depends on taste preferences, nutritional content, cultural background, and the individual and overall epidemiological context. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We subjected 540 botanical drugs described in De Materia Medica having at least one oral medical application to a tasting panel. The 540 drugs were grouped into those only used for medicine (388) and those also used for food (152). The associations with chemosensory qualities and therapeutic indications were compared across the two groups. We considered 22 experimentally assessed chemosensory qualities and 39 categories of therapeutic use groups. We wanted to know, 1): which chemosensory qualities increase the probability of an orally applied botanical drug to be also used for food ? 2): which chemosensory qualities augment the probability of an orally applied botanical drug to be only used for medicine? and 3): whether there are differences in therapeutic indications between orally applied botanical drugs also used for food (food drugs) and botanical drugs applied exclusively for medicinal purposes (non-food drugs) and, if yes, how the differences can be explained. RESULTS: Chemosensory qualities augmenting the probability of an orally applied botanical drug to be also used for food were sweet, starchy, salty, burning/hot, fruity, nutty, and cooling. Therapeutics used for diarrhoea, as libido modulators, purgatives, laxatives, for expelling parasites, breast and lactation and increasing diuresis, were preferentially sourced from food drugs while drugs used for liver and jaundice, vaginal discharge and humoral management showed significant negative associations with food dugs in ancient Greek-Roman materia medica. CONCLUSION: Therapeutics used for ailments of body organs involved in the digestion of food and the excretion of waste products showed a tendency to be sourced from food drugs. Arguably, the daily consumption of food offered the possibility for observing post-prandial physiologic and pharmacologic effects which led to a high therapeutic versatility of food drugs and the possibility to understand benefits of taste and flavour qualities. The difference in chemosensory qualities between food drugs and non-food drugs is demarcating the organoleptic requirements of food rather than that of medicine.

Saving the local tradition: ethnobotanical survey on the use of plants in Bologna district (Italy).

BACKGROUND: Traditional knowledge about plants is unfortunately subjected to a progressive loss, mainly due to globalization and depopulation of the rural areas. This work enhances the ethnobotanical knowledge from Northern Italy, specifically Bologna district, and contributes to preserving Italy's plant-based traditional knowledge and to valorize local resources also in view of an ecological transition. METHODS: The study was conducted between 2010 and 2016 in Bologna district encompassing 22 municipalities, which were grouped into three areas: hill, mountain, and plain. In total, 1172 key informants were interviewed, ranging in age from 50 to 85 years, and having strong links with traditional activities in the area. RESULTS: The final inventory included 374 taxa belonging to 91 families. Among these, 251 were wild native, 40 wild alien, 74 cultivated and 6 were products bought from the market. Hill, mountain, and plain provided information on 278, 213, and 110 taxa, respectively. The most cited families were Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, and Rosaceae. The information was systematized in 12 use categories (UC): medicinal (MED), food, cosmetic, domestic, superstitious-magical-religious (SMR), agropastoral, craft, repellent-insecticide, veterinary, toxic, games, other uses and information. The most relevant UC were in turn divided into subcategories. A descriptive table with all the results was also created. MED was the most relevant UC (310 taxa), and among the 17 MED subcategories, the most significant ones were: gastroenteric (160 taxa), respiratory (133 taxa), and dermatologic (122 taxa). Food was also relevant (197 taxa, and 16 subcategories), and the widest food subcategory was nutraceutical (98 taxa). In cosmetic, the most relevant subcategory was skin treatment (37 taxa). Within SMR, the majority of the plants were cited to heal a disease in a ritual or superstitious way (15 taxa), while for agropastoral, the majority of the taxa (29) were cited as feed. CONCLUSIONS: The data collected has highlighted a significant traditional use of plants in Bologna district. Some plants or uses emerged for the first time from an ethnobotanical study carried out in Italy. The inclusion of a large number of municipalities and informants enabled the collection of a wide spectrum of data, encompassing various uses, anecdotes, and historical curiosities, which are crucial to preserve from being forgotten.

Genetic diversities in wild and cultivated populations of the two closely-related medical plants species, Tripterygium Wilfordii and T. Hypoglaucum (Celastraceae).

BACKGROUND: The sustainable supply of medicinal plants is important, and cultivating and domesticating them has been suggested as an optimal strategy. However, this can lead to a loss of genetic diversity. Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. is a medicinal plant commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, but its wild populations are dwindling due to excessive harvesting. To protect the species and meet the increasing demand, it is urgent to cultivate it on a large scale. However, distinguishing between T. wilfordii and T. hypoglaucum, two similar species with different medicinal properties, is challenging. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the genetic diversity and population structure of these species for their sustainable utilization. RESULTS: In this study, we investigated the genetic diversity and population structure of the two traditional medicinal semiwoody vines plant species, Tripterygium wilfordii and T. hypoglaucum, including wild and cultivated populations using chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) sequences and microsatellite loci. Our results indicated that the two species maintain a high level of genetic divergence, indicating possible genetic bases for the different contents of bioactive compounds of the two species. T. wilfordii showed lower genetic diversity and less subdivided population structures of both markers than T. hypoglaucum. The potential factors in shaping these interesting differences might be differentiated pollen-to-seed migration rates, interbreeding, and history of population divergence. Analyses of cpDNA and microsatellite loci supported that the two species are genetically distinct entities. In addition, a significant reduction of genetic diversity was observed for cultivated populations of the two species, which mainly resulted from the small initial population size and propagated vegetative practice during their cultivation. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate significant genetic divergence between T. wilfordii and T. hypoglaucum. The genetic diversity and population structure analyses provide important insights into the sustainable cultivation and utilization of these medicinal plants. Accurate identification and conservation efforts are necessary for both species to ensure the safety and effectiveness of crude drug use. Our study also highlighted the importance of combined analyses of different DNA markers in addressing population genetics of medicinal plants because of the contrasts of inheritance and rates of gene flow. Large-scale cultivation programs should consider preserving genetic diversity to enhance the long-term sustainability of T. wilfordii and T. hypoglaucum. Our study proposed that some populations showed higher genetic diversity and distinctness, which can be considered with priority for conservation and as the sources for future breeding and genetic improvement.

High-throughput extraction and automatic purification of alternariol from edible and medicinal herbs based on aptamer-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles.

Mycotoxin contamination is widespread in plants and herbs, posing serious threats to the consumer and human health. Of them, alternariol (AOH) has attracted great attention as an "emerging" mycotoxin in medicinal herbs. However, a specific and high-throughput extraction method for AOH is currently lacking. Thus, developing an efficient pre-treatment technique for AOH detection is extremely vital. Here, a novel automated magnetic solid-phase extraction method was proposed for the highly efficient extraction of AOH. Combining the aptamer-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (AMNPs) and the automatic purification instrument, AOH could be extracted in medicinal herbs in high throughput (20 samples) and a short time (30 min). The main parameters affecting extraction were optimized, and the method was finally carried out by incubation AMNPs with 3 mL of sample solution for 10 min, and then desorption in 75% methanol for liquid-phase detection. Under optimal conditions, good reproducibility, stability, and selectivity were realized with an adsorption capacity of 550.84 ng/mg. AOH extraction in three edible herbs showed good resistance to matrix interference with recovery rates from 86% to 111%. In combination with AMNPs and the automatic purification instrument, high-throughput and labor-free extraction of AOH in different complex matrices was achieved, which could be extended in other complex matrices.

Development of a virus-based affinity ultrafiltration method for screening virus-surface-protein-targeted compounds from complex matrixes: Herbal medicines as a case study.

Herbal medicines (HMs) are one of the main sources for the development of lead antiviral compounds. However, due to the complex composition of HMs, the screening of active compounds within these is inefficient and requires a significant time investment. We report a novel and efficient virus-based screening method for antiviral active compounds in HMs. This method involves the centrifugal ultrafiltration of viruses, known as the virus-based affinity ultrafiltration method (VAUM). This method is suitable to identify virus specific active compounds from complex matrices such as HMs. The effectiveness of the VAUM was evaluated using influenza A virus (IAV) H1N1. Using this method, four compounds that bind to the surface protein of H1N1 were identified from dried fruits of Terminalia chebula (TC). Through competitive inhibition assays, the influenza surface protein, neuraminidase (NA), was identified as the target protein of these four TC-derived compounds. Three compounds were identified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), and their anti-H1N1 activities were verified by examining the cytopathic effect (CPE) and by performing a virus yield reduction assay. Further mechanistic studies demonstrated that these three compounds directly bind to NA and inhibit its activity. In summary, we describe here a VAUM that we designed, one that can be used to accurately screen antiviral active compounds in HMs and also help improve the efficiency of screening antiviral drugs found in natural products.

Phytochemical Profiles and Biological Activities of Frankenia Species: A Review.

The relatively small Frankeniaceae family is represented by halophyte plants, growing in arid and semi-arid climates in saline, alkaline or calcareous soils. Due to their living conditions, they usually produce a large diversity of compounds, which often exhibit bioactivities. Some species of this genus have long been used as traditional herbal medicines to treat dysentery, diarrhea, gonorrhea, vaginal leucorrhea, respiratory diseases and wounds. To date, several studies on either phytochemical or pharmacological aspects, or both, have revealed that this genus is a rich source of diverse and novel bioactive chemicals, including phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids and fatty acids. This review describes all the reported chemical profiles of Frankenia species, as well as the corresponding biological properties, when available. The aim of this review is to show the potential of these plants for various applications, especially therapeutic ones.

Identification of Phytochemicals from Arabian Peninsula Medicinal Plants as Strong Binders to SARS-CoV-2 Proteases (3CLPro and PLPro) by Molecular Docking and Dynamic Simulation Studies.

We provide promising computational (in silico) data on phytochemicals (compounds 1-10) from Arabian Peninsula medicinal plants as strong binders, targeting 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLPro) and papain-like proteases (PLPro) of SARS-CoV-2. Compounds 1-10 followed the Lipinski rules of five (RO5) and ADMET analysis, exhibiting drug-like characters. Non-covalent (reversible) docking of compounds 1-10 demonstrated their binding with the catalytic dyad (CYS145 and HIS41) of 3CLPro and catalytic triad (CYS111, HIS272, and ASP286) of PLPro. Moreover, the implementation of the covalent (irreversible) docking protocol revealed that only compounds 7, 8, and 9 possess covalent warheads, which allowed the formation of the covalent bond with the catalytic dyad (CYS145) in 3CLPro and the catalytic triad (CYS111) in PLPro. Root-mean-square deviation (RMSD), root-mean-square fluctuation (RMSF), and radius of gyration (Rg) analysis from molecular dynamic (MD) simulations revealed that complexation between ligands (compounds 7, 8, and 9) and 3CLPro and PLPro was stable, and there was less deviation of ligands. Overall, the in silico data on the inherent properties of the above phytochemicals unravel the fact that they can act as reversible inhibitors for 3CLPro and PLPro. Moreover, compounds 7, 8, and 9 also showed their novel properties to inhibit dual targets by irreversible inhibition, indicating their effectiveness for possibly developing future drugs against SARS-CoV-2. Nonetheless, to confirm the theoretical findings here, the effectiveness of the above compounds as inhibitors of 3CLPro and PLPro warrants future investigations using suitable in vitro and in vivo tests.

Molecular regulation of the key specialized metabolism pathways in medicinal plants.

The basis of modern pharmacology is the human ability to exploit the production of specialized metabolites from medical plants, for example, terpenoids, alkaloids, and phenolic acids. However, in most cases, the availability of these valuable compounds is limited by cellular or organelle barriers or spatio-temporal accumulation patterns within different plant tissues. Transcription factors (TFs) regulate biosynthesis of these specialized metabolites by tightly controlling the expression of biosynthetic genes. Cutting-edge technologies and/or combining multiple strategies and approaches have been applied to elucidate the role of TFs. In this review, we focus on recent progress in the transcription regulation mechanism of representative high-value products and describe the transcriptional regulatory network, and future perspectives are discussed, which will help develop high-yield plant resources.