RESUMEN
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Sophorae tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma (STR), the dried root and rhizome of Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep., is commonly used in the treatment of tonsillitis and pharyngitis, throat soreness and throat obstruction, swelling and aching of gum, etc. in China or other Asian countries. STR is usually used as the core herb in traditional Chinese medicine preparations, such as "Biyanling Tablets", "Fufang Muji Granules" and "Ganyanling Injections", etc. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This review aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of STR in terms of botany, traditional use, phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicology and detoxification strategy, to provide a rational application in future research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The information involved in the study was gathered from a variety of electronic resources, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), SciFinder, Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Chinese Masters and Doctoral Dissertations. RESULTS: Till now, a total of 333 chemical components have been identified in STR, including 85 alkaloids, 124 flavonoids, 24 triterpenes, 27 triterpene saponins, 34 organic acids, 8 polysaccharides, etc. STR and its main active constituents have cardiovascular protection, anti-tumor activity, anti-inflammatory activity, antipyretic activity, analgesic activity, antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, antiviral activity, and hepatoprotective activity, etc. However, toxic effects of STR on the liver, nerves, heart, and gastrointestinal tract have also been observed. To mitigate these risks, STR needs attenuation before use, with the most common detoxification methods being processing and combined use with other drugs. The pharmacokinetics of STR in vivo and traditional and clinical prescriptions containing STR have been sorted out. Despite the potential therapeutic benefits of STR, further research is warranted to elucidate its hepatotoxicity, particularly in vivo, exploring aspects such as in vivo metabolism, distribution, and mechanisms. CONCLUSION: This review serves to emphasize the therapeutic potential of STR and highlights the crucial need to address its toxicity concerns before considering clinical application. Further research is required to comprehensively investigate the toxicological properties of STR, with particular emphasis on its hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Such research endeavors have the potential to standardize the rational application of STR for optimal therapeutic outcomes.
RESUMEN
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Zanthoxyli Radix (ZR), the dry root of Zanthoxylum nitidum (Roxb.) DC (ZN) is known as Liang Mian Zhen in China and has been the preferred Chinese medicine for the treatment of inflammation and cancer disease at home and abroad. ZR has been used as the core ingredient in anti-inflammatory traditional medicines, such as Sanjiuweitai granules and Jinji tablets, etc. AIM OF THE WORK: This review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of ZR in terms of traditional uses, quality control, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics. Meanwhile, the anti-inflammatory substances and mechanism of ZR were emphasized, to offer new perspectives and broad scopes for future studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The information was retrieved from Web of Science, Researchgate, Google Scholar, SciFinder, X-MOL, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Masters and Doctoral Dissertations, and Elsevier between 1984 and 2024. RESULTS: Till now, a total of 184 chemical components have been identified in ZR, including 91 alkaloids, 22 lignans, 4 flavonoids, 19 coumarins, 17 terpenoids, and 31 other types. Pharmacological studies have proved that ZR had a variety of biological activities, such as anti-tumour, antibacterial, antioxidant and other activities, particularly in anti-inflammation. ZR exerts anti-inflammatory disease effects by modulating various signaling pathways, including MAPK, NF-κB, P13/AKT and JAK/STAT. Pharmacokinetic studies have shown that ZR exhibits low absorption rates, broad distribution, and rapid metabolism. Additionally, this review also revealed the shortcomings of current research on ZR and possible future research directions. CONCLUSION: Extensive literature analysis indicates that ZR and its bioactive constituents possess diverse pharmacological activities, especially anti-inflammation. Moreover, in order to promote the safety and adaptability of ZR in clinical application, it is also strongly recommended that further research should focus on toxicity studies, pharmacokinetic studies of herb-drug interactions, and quality control.