Dichroa febrifuga Lour.: A review of its botany, traditional use, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, toxicology, and progress in reducing toxicity.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Dichroa febrifuga Lour., a toxic but extensively used traditional Chinese medicine with a remarkable effect, is commonly called "Changshan" in China. It has been used to treat malaria and many other parasitic diseases. AIM OF THE REVIEW: The study aims to provide a current overview of the progress in the research on traditional use, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, toxicology, and methods of toxicity reduction of D. febrifuga. Additionally, further research directions and development prospects for the plant were put forward. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The article uses "Dichroa febrifuga Lour." "D. febrifuga" as the keyword and all relevant information on D. febrifuga was collected from electronic searches (Elsevier, PubMed, ACS, CNKI, Google Scholar, and Baidu Scholar), doctoral and master's dissertations and classic books about Chinese herbs. RESULTS: 30 chemical compounds, including alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids and other kinds, were isolated and identified from D. febrifuga. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that these components have a variety of pharmacological activities, including anti-malarial activities, anti-inflammatory activities, anti-tumor activities, anti-parasitic activities and anti-oomycete activities. Meanwhile, alkaloids, as the material basis of its efficacy, are also the source of its toxicity. It can cause multiple organ damage, including liver, kidney and heart, and cause adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. In the current study, the toxicity can be reduced by modifying the structure of the compound, processing and changing the dosage forms. CONCLUSIONS: There are few studies on the chemical constituents of D. febrifuga, so the components and their structure characterization contained in it can become the focus of future research. In view of the toxicity of D. febrifuga, there are many methods to reduce it, but the safety and rationality of these methods need further study.

How to approach a study in ethnopharmacology? Providing an example of the different research stages for newcomers to the field today.

Ethnopharmacology seeks to investigate humankind's use of natural materials, such as plants, fungi, microorganisms, animals, and minerals, for medicinal purposes. In this highly interdisciplinary field, which can be described as a bridge between the natural/medical and socio-cultural sciences, pharmacological, anthropological, and socio-cultural research methods are often applied, along with methods from other branches of science. When entering the field of ethnopharmacology as a newcomer, student, or early career researcher today, the tremendous amount of scientific publications, and even classical books from this field and related scientific disciplines, can be overwhelming. Ethnopharmacology has evolved over the past decades, and new key topics, such as the decolonization of the field, issues on intellectual property and benefit-sharing, species conservation, the preservation of traditional knowledge, the protection of indigenous communities, science outreach, and climate change, have become important and urgent aspects of the field that must not be disregarded by today's ethnopharmacologists. One of the questions of newcomers will be, "Where to begin?" This review article offers a brief (and certainly not comprehensive) introduction to the science of ethnopharmacology, highlighting some of its past most notable achievements and future prospects. In addition, this article provides an example for newcomers to the field of how to address different stages that may be involved in conducting ethnopharmacological field and lab studies, including early-stage drug discovery and community work. The example presented summarizes a series of studies conducted in the remote Greater Mpigi region of Uganda, located in East Africa. Stages of ethnopharmacological research described include ethnobotanical surveying and fieldwork, the pharmacological assessment of activity with diverse targets in the laboratory, and the transfer of results back to indigenous communities, that is, non-financial benefit sharing as a potential best practice example. As a result of this research example, a total of six original research articles have been published on the medicinal application and ethnopharmacology of 16 plant species from the Ugandan study site, offering a large quantity of results. These six publications reflect the multifaceted nature of the interdisciplinary science of ethnopharmacology, which may serve as a reference point and inspiration for newcomers to design and conduct their own independent ethnopharmacological research endeavors at other study sites. Major bottlenecks and solutions are provided, and the current social media channels with educational ethnopharmacological content are briefly introduced.

Recent bioanalytical methods for the isolation of bioactive natural products from genus Codonopsis.

INTRODUCTION: Chromatography and spectroscopy are nowadays well-validated techniques allowing to isolate and purify different class of natural products from the genus Codonopsis. Several categories of phytochemicals with drug like properties have been selectively extracted, isolated, characterised by this methodology. OBJECTIVES: The present review aims to provide up-to-date and comprehensive information on the chromatography, phytochemistry and pharmacology of natural products of Codonopsis with an emphasis on the search for natural products having various biological activities and the semi-synthetic derivatives of bioactive ones and to highlight current gaps in knowledge. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was performed in the SciFinder Scholar, PubMed, Medline, and Scopus databases. RESULTS: During the period covered in this review, several classes of compounds have been reported from genus Codonopsis. Codonopsis pilosula and Codonopsis lanceolata are the most popular in the genus especially as per phytochemical and bioactive studies. Phytochemical investigation demonstrates that Codonopsis species contain mainly xanthones, flavonoids, alkaloids, polyacetylenes, phenylpropanoids, triterpenoids and polysaccharides, which contribute to numerous bioactivities. The major bioactive compounds isolated were used for semi-synthetic modification to increase the chance to discover lead compound. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that genus Codonopsis has been used as traditional medicines and food materials around the world over years due to chemical constituents with diverse structural types, exhibiting extensive pharmacological activities in immune system, blood system, cardiovascular system, central nervous system, digestive system, and so forth, with almost no obvious toxicity and side effect. Therefore, Codonopsis can be used as a promising ethnopharmacological plant source.

A comprehensive review of vine tea: Origin, research on Materia Medica, phytochemistry and pharmacology.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Vine tea is a popular folk tea that has been consumed in China for more than 1200 years. It is often used in ethnic medicine by ethnic groups in southwest China with at least 35 aliases in 10 provinces. In coastal areas, vine tea is mostly used to treat heatstroke, aphtha, aphonia, toothache, etc. In contrast, in the southwest inland regions, vine tea is mostly used to clear away heat and toxic materials, antiphlogosis and relieving sore-throat, lowering blood pressure and lipid levels, and alleviating fatigue. Three main species have been used as the source of vine tea, Nekemias grossedentata, Nekemias cantonensis and Nekemias megalophylla. Among them, the leaves of Nekemias grossedentata were considered as new food resource in complicance with regulations, according to the Food Safety Standards published by the Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the National Health and Family Planning Commission in China. AIM OF THE STUDY: At present, the comprehensively summary of Materia Medica on the history and source of vine tea is currently unavailable. The current article summed up the Materia Medica, species origin and pharmacological effects of all 3 major species used in vine tea to fill the knowledge gaps. We also aim to provide a reference for future research on historical textual, resource development and medicinal utilization of vine tea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adhering to the literature screening methodology outlined by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), this review encompasses 148 scholarly research papers from three database, paper ancient books, local chronicles and folklore through field investigations. We then comprehensively summarized and discussed research progresses in scientific and application studies of vine tea. RESULTS: The historical records indicated that vine tea could have been used as early as Southern and Northern Dynasties (AC 420-589). Nekemias grossedentata, Nekemias cantonensis and Nekemias megalophylla, were used to considered as vine tea in the ethnic medicine. The main phytochemicals found in three plants are flavonoids, polyphenols and terpenoids, among which dihydromyricetin (DHM) is the most important and most studied active substance. The key words "Ampelopsis grossedentata" (Synonym of Nekemias grossedentata) and "dihydromyricetin/DHM" showed the highest frequency over the last 27 year based on the research trend analysis. And the ethnopharmacology studies drawn the main activities of vine tea are antioxidant, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and anti-atherosclerosis activities. CONCLUSIONS: This review systematically summarized and discussed vine tea from the following five aspects, history, genetic relationship, phytochemistry, research trend and ethnopharmacology. Vine tea has a long historical usage in Chinese ethnic medicine. Its outstanding therapeutic efficacies have attracted extensive attention in other places in the world at present. Nekemias cantonensis and Nekemias megalophylla are quite similar to Nekemias grossedentata in terms of many aspects. However, the current research has a narrow focus on mainly Nekemias grossedentata and DHM. We propose that future studies could be carried out to determine the synergistic effect of multi-components and multi-targets of vine tea including all 3 species to provide valuable knowledge.

Icacinaceae Plant Family: A Recapitulation of the Ethnobotanical, Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Biotechnological Aspects.

Icacinaceae, an Angiospermic family comprising 35 genera and 212 accepted species, including trees, shrubs, and lianas with pantropical distribution, is one of the most outshining yet least explored plant families, which despite its vital role as a source of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals has received a meagre amount of attraction from the scientific community. Interestingly, Icacinaceae is considered a potential alternative resource for camptothecin and its derivatives, which are used in treating ovarian and metastatic colorectal cancer. However, the concept of this family has been revised many times, but further recognition is still needed. The prime objective of this review is to compile the available information on this family in order to popularize it in the scientific community and the general population and promote extensive exploration of these taxa. The phytochemical preparations or isolated compounds from the Icacinaceae family have been centrally amalgamated to draw diverse future prospects from this inclusive plant species. The ethnopharmacological activities and the associated endophytes and cell culture techniques are also depicted. Nevertheless, the methodical evaluation of the Icacinaceae family is the only means to preserve and corroborate the folkloristic remedial effects and provide scientific recognition of its potencies before they are lost under the blanket of modernization.

Bamboo leaf: A review of traditional medicinal property, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and purification technology.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Bamboos are perennial evergreen plants that belong to the subfamily Bambusoideae of the true grass family Poaceae, with more than thousands of species distributed around the world. They are used as a traditional medicine with demonstrated effects of anti-oxidation, free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, liver protection and ameliorating cognitive deficits. Bamboo leaf is mainly used for the treatment of atherosclerotic, diabetic and nervous system diseases. AIM OF THE STUDY: This review aims to provide up-to-date information on the traditional medicinal properties, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and purification technologies of bamboo leaf. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relevant information on bamboo leaf was obtained by an online search of worldwide accepted scientific databases (Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Elsevier, SpringerLink, ACS Publications, Wiley Online Library and CNKI). RESULTS: More than 100 chemical compounds, including flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides, volatile components, phenolic acids, polysaccharide, coenzyme Q10, phenylpropanoid and amino acids have been reported to be present. These compounds were usually extracted by column chromatography and membrane separation technologies. Preparative high performance liquid chromatography (PHPLC), high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC), simulated moving bed chromatography (SMB) and dynamic axial compression chromatography (DAC) were the advanced separation technologies have been used to isolate C-glycosides from bamboo leaf flavonoid, the main bioactive ingredient of bamboo leaf. Currently, bamboo leaf is mainly used for the treatment of atherosclerotic, diabetic, hepatic diseases and nervous system related symptoms, which are attributed to the presence of bioactive components of bamboo leaf. CONCLUSIONS: Phytochemical and pharmacological analyses of bamboo leaf have been revealed in recent studies. However, most of the pharmacological studies on bamboo leaf have focused on bamboo leaf flavonoids. Further studies need to pay more attention to other phytochemical components of bamboo leaf. In addition, there is lack of sufficient clinical data and toxicity studies on bamboo leaf. Therefore, more clinical and toxicity researches on this plant and constituents are recommended.

A comprehensive review on traditional and modern research of the genus Bupleurum (Bupleurum L., Apiaceae) in recent 10 years.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The genus Bupleurum (family Apiaceae), comprising approximately 248 accepted species, is widely distributed and used in China, Japan, India, Central Asia, North Africa and some European countries as traditional herbal medicines. Certain species have been reported to have significant therapeutic effects in fever, inflammatory disorders, cancer, gastric ulcer, virus infection and other diseases. AIM OF THE REVIEW: we performed a comprehensive review of the ten-year research progress in phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, along with bibliometrics research of the genus Bupleurum, aiming to identify knowledge gaps for future research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All the literatures are retrieved from library and electronic sources including Web of Science, PubMed, Elsevier, Google Scholar, CNKI and Baidu Scholar. These papers cover studies of the traditional use, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of the genus Bupleurum. RESULTS: There is a long history of using the genus Bupleurum in traditional herbal medicine that dated back to over 2000 years ago. Twenty-five species and 8 varieties with 3 variants within this genus have been reported to be effective to treat fever, pain, liver disease, inflammation, thoracolumbar pain, irregular menstruation and rectal prolapse. The main phytochemicals found in these plants are triterpene saponins, volatile oil, flavonoid, lignans, and polysaccharides. Many of these compounds have also been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antimicrobial, immunoregulation, neuroregulation, hepatoprotective and antidiabetic activities. Meanwhile, improper usage of Bupleurum may induce cytotoxic effects, and polyacetylenes may be the main poisonous compounds. CONCLUSIONS: This article summarized recent findings about Bupleurum research from many different aspects. While a small number of Bupleurum species have been investigated through modern pharmacology methods, there are still major knowledge gaps due to inadequate studies and ambiguous findings. Future research could focus on more specific phytochemistry studies combined with mechanistic analysis to provide better guidance to utilize Bupleurum as medicinal resources.

Ethnopharmacological survey of endemic plants used in ethnomedicinal knowledge of Soqotra Island.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Due to the long biogeographical isolation since ancient times, Soqotra Island (southern Yemen) is rich in medicinal endemic plants. However, information on their traditional therapeutic knowledge is scarce in scientific literature and still not completely documented. AIM OF THE STUDY: (1) Documentation and search the native traditional therapeutic knowledge focusing on the medicinal plants which are endemic to Soqotra (2) Identification of the important endemic plants treating diseases by quantitative analysis of the collected data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethnobotanical data were collected from 105 local informants through open interviews, semi-structured questionnaires and field survey in February 1990 to document the traditional medicinal plants in Soqotra Island. Of them we reported in this study the data of the endemic species, due to their wide biodiversity in the island. The quantitative data were analyzed for use reports (URs) and the informant consensus factor (ICF). The reported diseases were classified according to the International Classification of Primary Care-2 (ICPC-2). New reported medicinal plants in this study were identified compared to literature review. The level of traditional Soqotri knowledge among Islanders was observed during 1990-2003. RESULTS: In the study, 86 medicinal endemic plants with 7654 therapeutic URs were explored for 69 ailments types belongs to 11 (ICPC-2) groups. The highest ICF value (0.99) were calculated for both eye and ear diseases categories, followed by general and unspecified ailments (0.98), digestive and skin (0.97 for each), and musculoskeletal ailments (0.96) among all diseases categories. While the highest URs (2276) were identified for skin diseases, followed by digestive diseases (URs = 2146). All the 86 recorded medicinal plant species were endemic to Soqotra, belonging to 57 genera and 29 families. Euphorbiaceae and Burseraceae were the dominant families, followed by Apocynaceae, Fabaceae and Asteraceae. Shrubs were the dominant growth form (41 species, 47.67%), followed by herbs (27; 31.4%), and trees (14; 16.28%). Leaves (45 species; 31.25%) were the most frequently used parts, followed by stems (34 species; 23.61%) and barks (species 23; 15.97%). The most cited preparation method was paste for 51 species followed by liquid exudates (48 species) and powder (26 species). Based on the comparative literature review, we recorded 36 new endemic medicinal plants and reported new traditional therapeutic uses for the remaining 50 endemic plants for the first time. On the other hand, all the reported endemic medicinal plants have been enlisted in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, of them 21 endemic species enlisted as highest threatened species. CONCLUSION: According to the quantitative data analyzed, Soqotra Island has a valuable traditional knowledge in several medicinal endemic plants that used by local people in the primary health care until the study time at 1990. This study emphasizes the importance of early time in documenting traditional indigenous knowledge before losing and to protect and conserve the endemic plants against highly endangered. Consequently, these ethnomedicinal data could be used in the future as guide for pharmacological and phytochemical studies to discover new therapeutic drugs.

A systematic review: Botany, phytochemistry, traditional uses, pharmacology, toxicology, quality control and pharmacokinetics of Ilex rotunda Thunb.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ilex rotunda Thunb. (I. rotunda) is an Ilex species of Aquifoliaceae, widely distributed in East Asia. Its dried bark is commonly used as a medicinal part in the field of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), named Ilicis Rotundae Cortex. This medicinal plant is commonly used for clearing heat and removing toxin, draining dampness and relieving pain in TCM to treat tonsillitis, acute gastroenteritis, gastric and duodenal ulcer, rheumatism, traumatic injury, and so on. It also has significant development value on lipid-lowering, hepatoprotection and anti-inflammation, but the potential mechanism needs to be further explored. AIM OF THE REVIEW: More and more medicinal substances are being discovered in I. rotunda with multiple biological activities, which help to advance the ethno-pharmacological research in I. rotunda. However, to date there is a lack of a systematic summary of research progress on I. rotunda. This review aims to provide a critical summary of the current studies on I. rotunda. The progress in research on botany, phytochemistry, traditional uses, pharmacology, toxicology, quality control and pharmacokinetics of the plant is discussed. It hopes to provide useful references and guidance for the future directions of research on I. rotunda. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Studies of I. rotunda were collected via Google Scholar and Baidu Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, SciFinder, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WANFANG DATA and libraries. Some local books, official websites, PhD or MS's dissertations were also included. The literature cited in this review covered the period from 1956 to January 2022. RESULTS: Analysis of the literature indicates that I. rotunda is a potentially valuable herbal medicine for the therapeutic of various diseases. To date, 120 compounds were found and identified in I. rotunda, mainly including triterpenoids, phenylpropanoids, etc. Modern pharmacological studies also found that the plant has the activities of protecting the cardiovascular system, lowering lipids and protecting the liver, as well as being an anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and antibacterial. CONCLUSIONS: This review summarizes the results from current studies of I. rotunda. However, the current explanation seems insufficient and unsatisfactory, in terms of the relationships between the traditional uses and the modern pharmacological activities, the mechanisms and the material basis. Thus, a critical and comprehensive evaluation is necessary to explore its future research prospects and development direction.

Moroccan medicinal plants traditionally used for the treatment of skin diseases: From ethnobotany to clinical trials.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Skin diseases are among the most common human health affections. A healthy skin promotes a healthy body that can be achieved through modern, allopathic and natural medicines. Therefore, medicinal plants can be a reliable therapy in treating skin diseases in humans through a diverse range of bioactive molecules they contain. AIM OF THE STUDY: This review aims to provide for the first-time scientific evidence related to the dermatological properties of Morocco's medicinal plants and it aims to provide a baseline for the discovery of new drugs having activities against skin issues. METHODS: This review involved an investigation with different search engines for Moroccan ethnobotanical surveys published between 1991 and 2021. The plants used to treat skin diseases have been determined. Information regarding pharmacological effects, phytochemical, and clinical trials related to the plants listed in this review was collected from different scientific databases like PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Scopus. The data were analyzed and summarized in the review. RESULTS: A total of 401 plants belonging to 86 families mainly represented by Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, and Apiaceae which have been documented to be in common use by Moroccans for managing skin diseases. Among those plants recorded, the most commonly used are Allium cepa L, Chamaeleon gummifer (L.) Cass and Salvia rosmarinus Schleid. Mill. Leaves were the most commonly used plant part, while powder and decoction were the most common method of traditional drug preparation. 107 of the 401 plants (27%) have undergone pharmacological validation. A total of 44 compounds isolated from 27 plants were investigated to treat different types of skin diseases, and 25 plants have been clinically studied for their activities against skin diseases. CONCLUSION: The beneficial effects of using Moroccan medicinal plants to treat skin diseases, according to traditional practices, have been proven in numerous scientific studies. Therefore, other studies should focus on isolating and identifying specific bioactive compounds from plant extracts, revealing more valuable therapeutic properties. Furthermore, additional reliable clinical trials are needed to confirm their beneficial effect on patients with skin diseases.

From Traditional Ethnopharmacology to Modern Natural Drug Discovery: A Methodology Discussion and Specific Examples.

Ethnopharmacology, through the description of the beneficial effects of plants, has provided an early framework for the therapeutic use of natural compounds. Natural products, either in their native form or after crude extraction of their active ingredients, have long been used by different populations and explored as invaluable sources for drug design. The transition from traditional ethnopharmacology to drug discovery has followed a straightforward path, assisted by the evolution of isolation and characterization methods, the increase in computational power, and the development of specific chemoinformatic methods. The deriving extensive exploitation of the natural product chemical space has led to the discovery of novel compounds with pharmaceutical properties, although this was not followed by an analogous increase in novel drugs. In this work, we discuss the evolution of ideas and methods, from traditional ethnopharmacology to in silico drug discovery, applied to natural products. We point out that, in the past, the starting point was the plant itself, identified by sustained ethnopharmacological research, with the active compound deriving after extensive analysis and testing. In contrast, in recent years, the active substance has been pinpointed by computational methods (in silico docking and molecular dynamics, network pharmacology), followed by the identification of the plant(s) containing the active ingredient, identified by existing or putative ethnopharmacological information. We further stress the potential pitfalls of recent in silico methods and discuss the absolute need for in vitro and in vivo validation as an absolute requirement. Finally, we present our contribution to natural products' drug discovery by discussing specific examples, applying the whole continuum of this rapidly evolving field. In detail, we report the isolation of novel antiviral compounds, based on natural products active against influenza and SARS-CoV-2 and novel substances active on a specific GPCR, OXER1.

Duranta erecta Linn: A critical review on phytochemistry, traditional uses, pharmacology, and toxicity from phytopharmaceutical perspective.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Duranta erecta Linn. belonging to the Verbenaceae family is widely used in the traditional systems of medicines practiced in Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Brazil. The ethnomedicinal application as vermifuge, febrifuge, diuretic, anti-parasitic, and anti-malarial are well documented. D. erecta is also a significant source of phenylethanoid glycoside known as acteoside-a drug in clinical trials for IgA nephropathy patients. AIM OF THIS REVIEW: This review aims to critically highlight the existing studies on D. erecta, including its botanical authentication, geographical distribution, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties. Critical discussion is focused on the overview and gap in knowledge for future research. Additionally, the clinical significance of its major secondary metabolite, i.e., acteoside, has also been discussed with emphasis on biosynthesis, distribution, pre-clinical, and clinical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Professional research data from 1963 to 2021 appeared in scholarly journals, and books were retrieved from scientific database platforms viz. Sci-Finder, PubMed, CNKI, Science Direct, Web of Science, Wiley, Google Scholar, Taylor and Francis, Springer, and Scopus. The chemical structures for all the phytomolecules were validated using Sci-finder and first-hand references. While plant name and synonyms were corroborated by "The Plant List" (www.theplantlist.org). RESULTS: D. erecta and its key metabolite acteoside display various biological actions like antimalarial, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, antinephritic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and antiviral properties. Acteoside literature analysis shows its presence in different stages of clinical trials for anti-nephritic, hepatoprotective, and osteoarthritic activity. The phytochemical review of D. erecta exhibited 64 compounds that have been isolated and identified from D. erecta, such as iridoid glycosides, phenylethanoid glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, phenolics, terpenoids, and saponins. The other significant secondary metabolites responsible for its medicinal properties are acteoside, durantol, pectolinaringenin, repenins, scutellarein, and repennoside. CONCLUSION: Duranta erecta is one of the Verbenaceae plants, widely used in ethnomedicines having various phytochemicals with understandable pharmacological actions mainly confined at the crude extract level. However, further bioactivity-guided or fingerprint-assisted studies are required to validate the ethnomedicinal uses, concerning cellular and molecular mechanisms, quality standardization, and safety with respect to its bioactive constituent(s). Therefore, the present review identified the gap in the research on scientific validation of Duranta based ethnomedicines and may provide critical information for the development of phytopharmaceuticals/Phyto-cosmeceuticals.

Aconitum pendulum and Aconitum flavum: A narrative review on traditional uses, phytochemistry, bioactivities and processing methods.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Composed of dried Aconitum pendulum and Aconitum flavum roots, Tiebangchui, is an important Tibetan medicine and has been traditionally and widely used as a remedy for cold and pain for thousands of years because of its extraordinary pharmacological activities. The toxicity and efficacy of Tiebangchui as a typical toxic traditional Tibetan medicine, are interdependent, and thus to make sure its safe use in clinics is also noteworthy. AIM OF THE STUDY: This review aims to document and summarize critical and comprehensive information about traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and processing methods of Tiebangchui. Perspectives for possible future investigations have been discussed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relevant information about Tiebangchui (A. pendulum and A. flavum) was collected from internationally recognized electronic scientific databases, such as Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, Springer Link, ACS, and CNKI. Then, classic Tibetan medical books, such as Four Medical Tantra, and Jing Zhu Materia Medica, and official drug standards were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 95 chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from Tiebangchui, and most of them were diterpenoid alkaloids. These phytochemicals showed a wide range of pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammation, anti-rheumatoid arthritis, analgesic, local anesthetic, anti-cancer and anti-bacterial activities. Hence, Tiebangchui is broadly used in hundreds of preparations to treat fever, arthritis, rheumatic arthralgia, traumatic injury, furuncle and swelling. Cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity and gastrointestinal toxicity are the main toxic effects caused by the Aconitum alkaloids of Tiebangchui. Various processing methods, including steaming, decocting and sand-frying, and traditional Tibetan medicine processing methods, such as processing with Hezi decoction, Qingke wine and Zanba, are effective in attenuating toxicity while retaining efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: The present review provides primary information of Tiebangchui, particularly for its traditional uses, botanical characteristics, phytochemicals, outstanding bioactivities and processing methods. However, studies that explored the in vivo pharmacokinetics and mechanism of Tiebangchui, as well as its quality markers, qualitative and quantitative analysis are still insufficient. Processing methods that attenuate toxicities, evaluations of efficacy, in vivo processes and biological effects, the mechanisms of processed products should be further explored.

Journey of Alpinia galanga from kitchen spice to nutraceutical to folk medicine to nanomedicine.

ETHANOPHARMACOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE: Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd (AG), belonging to Zingiberaceae family is used as a spice and condiment in various culinary preparations of Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. It has been also used as a key ingredient in various traditional systems of medicine for the treatment of throat infection, asthma, urinary ailments, inflammation and rheumatism amongst other conditions. AG is widely used as a functional food and included in various preparations to obtain its nutraceutical and pharmacological benefits of its phytoconstituents such as phenyl propanoids, flavonoids and terpenoids. Over the past decades, several researchers have carried out systematic investigation on various parts of AG. Numerous studies on AG rhizomes have shown positive pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antipsoriasis, antiallergic, neuroprotective and thermogenesis. Till date, no comprehensive review summarizing the exploitation of AG into nanomedicine has been published. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This comprehensive review aims to briefly discuss cultivation methods, propagation techniques, extraction processes for AG. The ethnopharmacological uses and pharmacological activities of AG extracts and its isolates are discussed in detail which may contribute well in further development of novel drug delivery system (NDDS) i.e. future nanomedicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Information about AG was collected using search engine tools such as Google, Google Scholar, PubMed, Google Patent, Web of Science and bibliographic databases of previously published peer-reviewed review articles and research works were explored. The obtained data sets were sequentially arranged for better understanding of AG's potential. RESULTS: More advanced genetic engineering techniques have been utilized in cultivation and propagation of AG for obtaining better yield. Extraction, isolation and characterization techniques have reported numerous phytoconstituents which are chemically phenolic compounds (phenyl propanoids, flavonoids, chalcones, lignans) and terpenes. Ethnopharmacological uses and pharmacological activity of AG are explored in numerous ailments, their mechanism of action and its further potential to explore into novel drug delivery system are also highlighted. CONCLUSIONS: The review highlights the importance of plant tissue culture in increasing the production of AG plantlets and rhizomes. It was understood from the review that AG and its phytoconstituents possess numerous pharmacological activities and have been explored for the treatment of cancer, microbial infection, gastrointestinal disorders, neuroprotective effects, obesity and skin disorders. However, the use of AG as alternative medicine is limited owing to poor solubility of its bioactive components and their instability. To overcome these challenges, novel drug delivery systems (NDDS) have been utilized and found good success in overcoming its aforementioned challenges. Furthermore, efforts are required towards development of scalable, non-toxic and stable NDDS of AG and/or its bioactives.

Ziziphus oenoplia Mill.: A Systematic Review on Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of an Important Traditional Medicinal Plant.

BACKGROUND: Ziziphus oenoplia Mill. (Family- Rhamnaceae) an important shrub, often found throughout the hot regions of tropical Asia and northern Australia, is commonly well known as Jackal jujube in English. It is a folk herbal medicine used as an abdominal pain killer and antidiarrhoeal agent. OBJECTIVE: The review aims to provide up-to-date information on the vernacular information, botanical characterization, distribution, ethnopharmacological uses, pharmacological activities, and chemical constituents of Z. oenoplia for possible exploitation of treatment for various diseases and to suggest future investigations. METHODS: This review was performed by studying online resources relating to Z. oenoplia and diverse resources, including scientific journals, books, and worldwide accepted databases from which information was assembled to accumulate significant information and relevant data in one place. RESULTS: Investigations on Z. oenoplia have been focused on its pharmacological activities, including its antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antihepatotoxic, antiulcer, antiplasmodial, anticancer, wound healing, anthelmintic, antioxidant, analgesic and antinociceptive, hypolipidemic activity, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antidiarrheal activities. Phytochemical studies resulted in the isolation of fatty acids, flavonoids, phenols, pentacyclic triterpenes, hydroxycarboxylic acids, aliphatic hydroxy ether, and cyclopeptide alkaloids. CONCLUSION: Most of the ethnopharmacological relevance of Z. oenoplia is justified, but more studies are needed. Further investigations are necessary to fully understand the mode of action of the active constituents and to exploit its preventive and therapeutic potentials.

A Review of Recent Studies on the Antioxidant and Anti-Infectious Properties of Senna Plants.

The use of phytochemicals is gaining interest for the treatment of metabolic syndromes over the synthetic formulation of drugs. Senna is evolving as one of the important plants which have been vastly studied for its beneficial effects. Various parts of Senna species including the root, stem, leaves, and flower are found rich in numerous phytochemicals. In vitro, in vivo, and clinical experiments established that extracts from Senna plants have diverse beneficial effects by acting as a strong antioxidant and antimicrobial agent. In this review, Senna genus is comprehensively discussed in terms of its botanical characteristics, traditional use, geographic presence, and phytochemical profile. The bioactive compound richness contributes to the biological activity of Senna plant extracts. The review emphasizes on the in vivo and in vitro antioxidant and anti-infectious properties of the Senna plant. Preclinical studies confirmed the beneficial effects of the Senna plant extracts and its bioactive components in regard to the health-promoting activities. The safety, side effects, and therapeutic limitations of the Senna plant are also discussed in this review. Additional research is necessary to utilize the phenolic compounds towards its use as an alternative to pharmacological treatments and even as an ingredient in functional foods.

The relevance of quantitative ethnobotanical indices for ethnopharmacology and ethnobotany.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: As an interdisciplinary field of research ethnopharmacology draws on methodologies and methods from a variety of disciplines. A range of ethnobotanical indices are frequently used to transform primary data obtained through field studies into statistical measures. These indices are claimed to serve as a proxy for efficacy or drug discovery (Fidelity Level 'FL') and to show the importance of botanical drugs and plants used as medicines (Relative Importance 'RI', Use Value 'UV' or Cultural Importance Index 'CI', Cultural Value Index 'CV', Relative Frequency of Citation 'RFC'). This is, however, doubtful, as these indices have not been developed by statisticians, nor by pharmacologists while a proof of concept is lacking. Moreover, the question whether a simple number can summarize the cultural value or importance of plants is not only mathematical but also epistemological. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The FL, RI, UV/CI, CV and the RFC are shortly reviewed. Their statistical rigour is explained and the relevance for ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology and drug discovery discussed. RESULTS: The effect of the sample size on the dispersal of data and the differential probability of botanical drugs being used for the different categories of use are not being considered by these indices. They lack statistical rigour and are simple percentage calculations. Moreover, important factors influencing plant use, such as the availability of pharmaceutical drugs, or the severity of diseases covered by the use-categories, are not accounted for. CONCLUSION: Especially unexperienced and young researchers may be ensnared by using ethnobotanical indices to describe their field data. However, the cultural value and importance of plants in general, and more specifically, of medicinal plants and botanical drugs cannot be summed up by numbers. The discussed indices encrypt parts of the primary data but fail to show the value or importance of plant use because the reasons for which plants are valued or important to people are far more complex than what the formulations of these indices suggest. The indices also lack the power to pinpoint plant species or botanical drugs for drug discovery that contextualized primary data has. Botanical drugs may be useful for a range of disorders or only for specific indications, according to their pharmacologic properties. Therefore, the exclusiveness of therapeutical applications (FL) does not serve as a proxy for effectiveness. The solution is to use and understand the contextualized primary data.

Constructing tongue coating recognition model using deep transfer learning to assist syndrome diagnosis and its potential in noninvasive ethnopharmacological evaluation.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Tongue coating has been used as an effective signature of health in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The level of greasy coating closely relates to the strength of dampness or pathogenic qi in TCM theory. Previous empirical studies and our systematic review have shown the relation between greasy coating and various diseases, including gastroenteropathy, coronary heart disease, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the objective and intelligent greasy coating and related diseases recognition methods are still lacking. The construction of the artificial intelligent tongue recognition models may provide important syndrome diagnosis and efficacy evaluation methods, and contribute to the understanding of ethnopharmacological mechanisms based on TCM theory. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study aimed to develop an artificial intelligent model for greasy tongue coating recognition and explore its application in COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Herein, we developed greasy tongue coating recognition networks (GreasyCoatNet) using convolutional neural network technique and a relatively large (N = 1486) set of tongue images from standard devices. Tests were performed using both cross-validation procedures and a new dataset (N = 50) captured by common cameras. Besides, the accuracy and time efficiency comparisons between the GreasyCoatNet and doctors were also conducted. Finally, the model was transferred to recognize the greasy coating level of COVID-19. RESULTS: The overall accuracy in 3-level greasy coating classification with cross-validation was 88.8% and accuracy on new dataset was 82.0%, indicating that GreasyCoatNet can obtain robust greasy coating estimates from diverse datasets. In addition, we conducted user study to confirm that our GreasyCoatNet outperforms TCM practitioners, yet only consuming roughly 1% of doctors' examination time. Critically, we demonstrated that GreasyCoatNet, along with transfer learning, can construct more proper classifier of COVID-19, compared to directly training classifier on patient versus control datasets. We, therefore, derived a disease-specific deep learning network by finetuning the generic GreasyCoatNet. CONCLUSIONS: Our framework may provide an important research paradigm for differentiating tongue characteristics, diagnosing TCM syndrome, tracking disease progression, and evaluating intervention efficacy, exhibiting its unique potential in clinical applications.

Differential toxicity and teratogenic effects of the hot water and cold water extracts of Lignosusrhinocerus (Cooke) Ryvarden sclerotium on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The sclerotium of Lignosusrhinocerus (Cooke) Ryvarden is highly valued for its purported medicinal properties. The decoction and macerated materials prepared from the sclerotium are used for treating cancer and other ailments based on extensive traditional knowledge. Scientific evidence from in vitro cytototoxicity, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory analyses showed the effectiveness of sclerotial water extracts but toxicity assessment of such preparations has not been reported. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to compare the differential toxicity and teratogenicity (if any) of the hot water (HW) and cold water (CW) extracts of both wild and cultivated sclerotium on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Zebrafish embryos were treated with varying concentrations of the sclerotial HW and CW extracts (0.3-500 µg/mL) for 72 h until hatching. The hatching, mortality and heartbeat rate of the embryos as well as the potential teratogenic effect of the extracts were assessed in embryos post-treatment with the extracts. RESULTS: While the sclerotial HW extracts were nontoxic (LC50 > 500 µg/mL), the sclerotial CW extracts delayed the hatching of the embryos up to 48 h and showed slight toxicity with LC50 values of 398.4 µg/mL and 428.3 µg/mL for the cultivated and wild sclerotium, respectively. The sclerotial CW extracts also induced minor tachycardia in zebrafish larvae. Phenotypic assessment revealed that, while yolk sac edema was observed at high concentrations (300 and 500 µg/mL) of all extracts, curved trunk and bent tail were only observed in the embryos treated with CW extracts of wild sclerotium (300 and 500 µg/mL) but not for CW extracts of cultivated sclerotium at similar concentrations. CONCLUSION: The sclerotial water extracts of L.rhinocerus prepared using different methods have varying degree of toxicity and teratogenicity in zebrafish embryos with the sclerotial CW extracts showed higher toxicity than the HW extracts.

Plant sources, techniques of production and uses of tar: A review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Throughout history, Humans have always used tar for different purposes such as gluing materials, waterproofing, and conserving wood, but today, it is also used in medicines and cosmetics. Many countries around the world, Norway and Morocco to name a few, obtain tar from endemic trees. In a process of dry distillation, the organic material, endemic trees in this case, is exposed to a high temperature with a restricted amount of oxygen. Eventually, it cracks the large molecules in the matter and turns it into tar. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This review article sheds light on tar production and the species that have been used in the process. Equal emphasis is placed on its uses, chemical composition, and toxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines have been used to review this article. The review is put together from various articles, theses, documents in "Science Direct", "Hal (Archive ouvert)", "Web of knowledge" without limitation date. RESULTS: It turns out that tar can be produced by 18 tree taxonomic families, notably Cupressaceae, Pinaceae, and Betulaceae. As for the production techniques, two methods are considered: Per ascensum and Per descensum, which can take different forms. The chemical composition of tar consists of acids, phenols, and aromatic hydrocarbons. The uses of tar have changed over time, while its toxicity is strongly related to its chemical composition. CONCLUSIONS: The different species used in tar production have been highlighted in this research review. Equal importance has been given to its methods of extraction, uses and its chemical components. We hope that future studies will focus more on these species used to produce tar in other biological activities.