HPLC-DAD-MS3 fingerprints of phenolics of selected Polygonum taxa and their chemometric analysis.

Many Polygonaceae taxa such as Bistorta officinalis, Persicaria amphibia, Persicaria hydropiper, Persicaria lapathifolia, Persicaria maculosa, Persicaria mitis, Polygonum aviculare occur naturally in the entire territory of Poland and are also common in other European countries. Many of these species are also utilised as medicinal plants. In this manuscript we establish the phytochemical profiles of selected taxa from the Polygonaceae focusing on phenolics. Additionally, we try to find chemophenetic markers for the species investigated. Compounds were detected and characterised based on HPLC-DAD-MS data, quantified, and furtherly analysed using multivariate analyses. Chemophenetic markers were identified also considering previous literature.

Pharmacological effects (gastrointestinal, respiratory and vascular) of Calligonum polygonoides: Animal model based studies.

The aim of this study was to analyze gastrointestinal, respiratory and vascular pharmacological effects of 70% hydro-alcoholic extract of Calligonum polygonoides (Cp. Cr) in animal models. All the procedures were carried-out as per previous literature with slight modification where necessary. It was found that Cp. Cr affected significant relaxation of spontaneous and K+ (80 mM) induced contractions. The results showed a corresponding shift of calcium concentration response curves. Similarly Cp. Cr showed relaxant effect on trachea in carbachol (Cch) induced tracheal contractions. Moreover, contractions induced by phenylephrine (1µM) in quarantine rabbit aortic preparations causes Cp. Cr induced relaxation of aortal contractions. Verapamil was used as a standard calcium channel blocker. The findings of this study suggested vasodilator, bronchodilator and spasmolytic effects of Cp. Cr.

Microencapsulation of Phenolic Extract from Sea Grape (Coccoloba uvifera L.) with Antimutagenic Activity.

This study aimed to microencapsulate the sea grape ethanolic extract by the spray drying process, characterizing the obtained powder, and evaluating its antimutagenicity activity. Microparticles showed a mean size of 6.28 µm and a spherical shape with a smooth surface. The powder had a low moisture content (4.02±0.92 %) and water activity (0.27±0.01), and high solubility (76±3.60 %). Moreover, hygroscopicity (14.75±2.63 g/100 g of powder) and bulk density (0.63±0.03 g/cm3 ) values suggested that this powder can be easily handled at a pilot or industrial scale. In addition, microencapsulation protected the extract against oxidation by ultraviolet light, improved its thermal stability, and its antimutagenicity activity was similar to fresh sea grape extract. In conclusion, the microencapsulation with maltodextrin by spray drying technique is an alternative to protect bioactive compounds from sea grapes against environmental conditions, maintaining their antimutagenic activity.

Recent advances in the therapeutic potential of emodin for human health.

Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone) is a bioactive compound, a natural anthraquinone aglycone, present mainly in herbaceous species of the families Fabaceae, Polygonaceae and Rhamnaceae, with a physiological role in protection against abiotic stress in vegetative tissues. Emodin is mainly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat sore throats, carbuncles, sores, blood stasis, and damp-heat jaundice. Pharmacological research in the last decade has revealed other potential therapeutic applications such as anticancer, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. The present study aimed to summarize recent studies on bioavailability, preclinical pharmacological effects with evidence of molecular mechanisms, clinical trials and clinical pitfalls, respectively the therapeutic limitations of emodin. For this purpose, extensive searches were performed using the PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Google scholar, TRIP database, Springer link, Wiley and SciFinder databases as a search engines. The in vitro and in vivo studies included in this updated review highlighted the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms of emodin. Because its bioavailability is low, there are limitations in clinical therapeutic use. In conclusion, for an increase in pharmacotherapeutic efficacy, future studies with carrier molecules to the target, thus opening up new therapeutic perspectives.

Plastome comparison and phylogenomics of Fagopyrum (Polygonaceae): insights into sequence differences between Fagopyrum and its related taxa.

BACKGROUND: Fagopyrum (Polygonaceae) is a small plant lineage comprised of more than fifteen economically and medicinally important species. However, the phylogenetic relationships of the genus are not well explored, and the characteristics of Fagopyrum chloroplast genomes (plastomes) remain poorly understood so far. It restricts the comprehension of species diversity in Fagopyrum. Therefore, a comparative plastome analysis and comprehensive phylogenomic analyses are required to reveal the taxonomic relationship among species of Fagopyrum. RESULTS: In the current study, 12 plastomes were sequenced and assembled from eight species and two varieties of Fagopyrum. In the comparative analysis and phylogenetic analysis, eight previously published plastomes of Fagopyrum were also included. A total of 49 plastomes of other genera in Polygonaceae were retrieved from GenBank and used for comparative analysis with Fagopyrum. The variation of the Fagopyrum plastomes is mainly reflected in the size and boundaries of inverted repeat/single copy (IR/SC) regions. Fagopyrum is a relatively basal taxon in the phylogenomic framework of Polygonaceae comprising a relatively smaller plastome size (158,768-159,985 bp) than another genus of Polygonaceae (158,851-170,232 bp). A few genera of Polygonaceae have nested distribution of the IR/SC boundary variations. Although most species of Fagopyrum show the same IRb/SC boundary with species of Polygonaceae, only a few species show different IRa/SC boundaries. The phylogenomic analyses of Fagopyrum supported the cymosum and urophyllum groups and resolved the systematic position of subclades within the urophyllum group. Moreover, the repeat sequence types and numbers were found different between groups of Fagopyrum. The plastome sequence identity showed significant differences between intra-group and inter-group. CONCLUSIONS: The deletions of intergenic regions cause a short length of Fagopyrum plastomes, which may be the main reason for plastome size diversity in Polygonaceae species. The phylogenomic reconstruction combined with the characteristics comparison of plastomes supports grouping within Fagopyrum. The outcome of these genome resources may facilitate the taxonomy, germplasm resources identification as well as plant breeding of Fagopyrum.

Plastid and mitochondrial phylogenomics reveal correlated substitution rate variation in Koenigia (Polygonoideae, Polygonaceae) and a reduced plastome for Koenigia delicatula including loss of all ndh genes.

Koenigia, a genus proposed by Linnaeus, has a contentious taxonomic history. In particular, relationships among species and the circumscription of the genus relative to Aconogonon remain uncertain. To explore phylogenetic relationships of Koenigia with other members of tribe Persicarieae and to establish the timing of major evolutionary diversification events, genome skimming of organellar sequences was used to assemble plastomes and mitochondrial genes from 15 individuals representing 13 species. Most Persicarieae plastomes exhibit a conserved structure and content relative to other flowering plants. However, Koenigia delicatula has lost functional copies of all ndh genes and the intron from atpF. In addition, the rpl32 gene was relocated in the K. delicatula plastome, which likely occurred via overlapping inversions or differential expansion and contraction of the inverted repeat. The highly supported but conflicting relationships between plastome and mitochondrial trees and among gene trees complicates the circumscription of Koenigia, which could be caused by rapid diversification within a short period. Moreover, the plastome and mitochondrial trees revealed correlated variation in substitution rates among Persicarieae species, suggesting a shared underlying mechanism promoting evolutionary rate variation in both organellar genomes. The divergence of dwarf K. delicatula from other Koenigia species may be associated with the well-known Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 or Early Eocene Climatic Optimum event, while diversification of the core-Koenigia clade associates with the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum and the uplift of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas.

The complete chloroplast genome of Persicaria perfoliata and comparative analysis with four medicinal plants of Polygonaceae.

Polygonaceae is a large family of medicinal herbs that includes many species used as traditional Chinese medicine, such as Per sicaria per foliata. Here, we sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of P. per foliata using Illumina sequencing technology with the purpose of providing a method to facilitate accurate identification. After being annotated, the complete chloroplast genome of P. per foliata was compared with those of Fagopyrum tataricum, Per sicaria chinensis, Fagopyrum dibotrys, and Fallopia multiflora. The complete chloroplast genome of P. per foliata is 160 730 bp in length, containing a small single-copy region of 12 927 bp, a large single-copy region of 85 433 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat regions of 62 370 bp. A total of 131 genes were annotated, including 8 rRNA genes, 34 tRNA genes, and 84 protein-coding genes. Forty-two simple sequence repeats and 55 repeat sequences were identified. Mutational hotspot analyses indicated that five genes (matK, ndhF, ccsA, cemA, and rpl20) could be selected as candidates for molecular markers. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis showed that all the Polygonaceae species formed a monophyletic clade, and P. per foliata showed the closest relationship with P. chinense. The study provides valuable molecular information to accurately identify P. per foliata and assist in its development and application.

Molecular evidence for natural hybridization between Rumex crispus and R. obtusifolius (Polygonaceae) in Korea.

Interspecific hybridization has been suggested to occur frequently in Rumex (Polygonaceae). Several hypothesized combinations of parental species of hybrids based on their intermediate morphology have been suggested in the genus, but few of them have been phylogenetically tested. We analyzed nuclear and chloroplast DNA sequence data of a putative natural hybrid between Rumex crispus and Rumex obtusifolius from Korea to confirm its hybrid status and to determine the maternal parent. Analysis of the nuclear DNA pgiC region revealed that R. crispus and R. obtusifolius have contributed to the nuclear genome of the putative hybrids. The haplotype distribution pattern inferred from the combined sequence data set of five chloroplast DNA regions (matK, rbcL-accD IGS, trnK-rps16 IGS, ycf6-psbM IGS and psbA-trnH IGS) indicated bidirectional hybridization events between R. crispus and R. obtusifolius. This paper provides the first molecular evidence for interspecific hybridization between R. crispus and R. obtusifolius. In addition, our findings strongly suggested that Korean populations of Rumex japonicus have a hybrid origin, and R. crispus may represent one of the parental taxa.

Know your enemy: Application of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy to invasive species control.

Extreme weather and globalisation leave our climate vulnerable to invasion by alien species, which have negative impacts on the economy, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Rapid and accurate identification is key to the control of invasive alien species. However, visually similar species hinder conservation efforts, for example hybrids within the Japanese Knotweed complex.We applied the novel method of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy combined with chemometrics (mathematics applied to chemical data) to historic herbarium samples, taking 1580 spectra in total. Samples included five species from within the interbreeding Japanese Knotweed complex (including three varieties of Japanese Knotweed), six hybrids and five species from the wider Polygonaceae family. Spectral data from herbarium specimens were analysed with several chemometric techniques: support vector machines (SVM) for differentiation between plant types, supported by ploidy levels; principal component analysis loadings and spectral biomarkers to explore differences between the highly invasive Reynoutria japonica var. japonica and its non-invasive counterpart Reynoutria japonica var. compacta; hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) to investigate the relationship between plants within the Polygonaceae family, of the Fallopia, Reynoutria, Rumex and Fagopyrum genera.ATR-FTIR spectroscopy coupled with SVM successfully differentiated between plant type, leaf surface and geographical location, even in herbarium samples of varying age. Differences between Reynoutria japonica var. japonica and Reynoutria japonica var. compacta included the presence of two polysaccharides, glucomannan and xyloglucan, at higher concentrations in Reynoutria japonica var. japonica than Reynoutria japonica var. compacta. HCA analysis indicated that potential genetic linkages are sometimes masked by environmental factors; an effect that can either be reduced or encouraged by altering the input parameters. Entering the absorbance values for key wavenumbers, previously highlighted by principal component analysis loadings, favours linkages in the resultant HCA dendrogram corresponding to expected genetic relationships, whilst environmental associations are encouraged using the spectral fingerprint region.The ability to distinguish between closely related interbreeding species and hybrids, based on their spectral signature, raises the possibility of using this approach for determining the origin of Japanese knotweed infestations in legal cases where the clonal nature of plants currently makes this difficult and for the targeted control of species and hybrids. These techniques also provide a new method for supporting biogeographical studies.

Indigo Pulverata Levis (Chung-Dae, Persicaria tinctoria) Alleviates Atopic Dermatitis-like Inflammatory Responses In Vivo and In Vitro.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with a type 2 T helper cell (Th2) immune response. The IndigoPulverata Levis extract (CHD) is used in traditional Southeast Asian medicine; however, its beneficial effects on AD remain uninvestigated. Therefore, we investigated the therapeutic effects of CHD in 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced BALB/c mice and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α- and interferon gamma (IFN)-γ-stimulated HaCaT cells. We evaluated immune cell infiltration, skin thickness, and the serum IgE and TNF-α levels in DNCB-induced AD mice. Moreover, we measured the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in the mice dorsal skin. We also studied the effect of CHD on the translocation of NF-κB p65 and inflammatory chemokines in HaCaT cells. Our in vivo results revealed that CHD reduced the dermis and epidermis thicknesses and inhibited immune cell infiltration. Furthermore, it suppressed the proinflammatory cytokine expression and MAPK and NF-κB phosphorylations in the skin tissue and decreased serum IgE and TNF-α levels. In vitro results indicated that CHD downregulated inflammatory chemokines and blocked NF-κB p65 translocation. Thus, we deduced that CHD is a potential drug candidate for AD treatment.

HPLC-DAD phenolics analysis, α-glucosidase, α-amylase inhibitory, molecular docking and nutritional profiles of Persicaria hydropiper L.

BACKGROUND: Natural phenolic compounds and Phenolics-rich medicinal plants are also of great interest in the management of diabetes. The current study was aimed to analyze phenolics in P. hydropiepr L extracts via HPLC-DAD analysis and assess their anti-diabetic potentials using in-vitro and in-silico approaches. METHODS: Plant crude methanolic extract (Ph.Cme) was evaluated for the presence of phenolic compounds using HPLC-DAD analysis. Subsequently, samples including crude (Ph.Cr), hexane (Ph.Hex), chloroform (Ph.Chf), ethyl acetate (Ph.EtAc), butanol (Ph.Bt), aqueous (Ph.Aq) and saponins (Ph.Sp) were tested for α-glucsidase and α-amylase inhibitory potentials and identified compounds were docked against these target enzymes using Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) software. Fractions were also analyzed for the nutritional contents and acute toxicity was performed in animals. RESULTS: In HPLC-DAD analysis of Ph.Cme, 24 compounds were indentfied and quantified. Among these, Kaemferol-3-(p-coumaroyl-diglucoside)-7-glucoside (275.4 mg g- 1), p-Coumaroylhexose-4-hexoside (96.5 mg g- 1), Quercetin-3-glucoronide (76.0 mg g- 1), 4-Caffeoylquinic acid (58.1 mg g- 1), Quercetin (57.9 mg g- 1), 5,7,3'-Trihydroxy-3,6,4',5'-tetramethoxyflavone (55.5 mg g- 1), 5-Feruloylquinic acid (45.8 mg g- 1), Cyanidin-3-glucoside (26.8 mg g- 1), Delphinidin-3-glucoside (24 mg g- 1), Quercetin-3-hexoside (20.7 mg g- 1) were highly abundant compounds. In α-glucosidase inhibition assay, Ph.Sp were most effective with IC50 value of 100 µg mL-1. Likewise in α-amylase inhibition assay, Ph.Chf, Ph.Sp and Ph.Cme were most potent fractions displayed IC50 values of 90, 100 and 200 µg mL-1 respectively. Docking with the α-glucosidase enzyme revealed top ranked conformations for majority of the compounds with Kaemferol-3-(p-coumaroyl-diglucoside)-7-glucoside as the most active compound with docking score of - 19.80899, forming 14 hydrogen bonds, two pi-H and two pi-pi linkages with the Tyr 71, Phe 158, Phe 177, Gln 181, Arg 212, Asp 214, Glu 276, Phe 300, Val 303, Tyr 344, Asp 349, Gln 350, Arg 439, and Asp 408 residues of the enzyme. Likewise, docking with α-amylase revealed that most of the compounds are well accommodated in the active site residues (Trp 59, Tyr 62, Thr 163, Leu 165, Arg 195, Asp 197, Glu 240, Asp 300, His 305, Asp 356) of the enzyme and Cyanidin-3-rutinoside displayed most active compound with docking score of - 15.03757. CONCLUSIONS: Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of highly valuable phenolic compounds, which might be responsible for the anti-diabetic potentials of the plant samples.

Toxicological assessment of a bioactive extract from Triplaris gardneriana Wedd. seeds using alternative models.

The Triplaris gardneriana Wedd. seeds extract has great therapeutic potential due to numerous biological activities such as antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, which are associated with phenolic content. Although this herbal preparation has shown many benefits, recently their toxicity profile has begun to be explored. In this present study, the toxic effects of T. gardneriana seeds ethanolic extract (EETg) on biological systems of different taxonomical groups and levels of complexity (from cell culture to lower vertebrates) were assessed, through a variety of viability and toxicological assays. It was found that EETg did not impair the Saccharomyces cerevisiae growth at the highest tested concentration (200 µg/mL), and no toxicant evidence was observed in Aedes aegypti larvae or in Drosophila melanogaster adult stage. Contrarily, the extract reduced the viability of undifferentiated Caco-2 cells (250 µg/mL, 40% of viable cells), but did not affect differentiated ones. The embryotoxicity in Danio rerio model showed a LC50 of 7.41 mg/L (95% confidence interval, 4.78 - 11.49 mg/L). EETg did not show signs of toxicity in the majority of the models used, but lethality and malformations in zebrafish embryos occurred. Further analyses are needed to better understand the selective toxicity mechanism of EETg on zebrafish, as well as whether the toxic effects happen in higher vertebrates.

Rapid Screening Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors from Polygoni Vivipari Rhizoma by Multi-Step Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion, Ultrafiltration and HPLC.

Polygoni Vivipari Rhizoma (PVR), the dried root of Polygonum viviparum, has been used as herbal medicine in China for a long time. In the present study, a new method based on multi-step matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD), ultrafiltration and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for screening alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs) from PVR was proposed. First, three different PVR extractions were prepared by multi-step MSPD with 15% methanol, 60% methanol and 100% methanol. Second, the alpha-glucosidase inhibition tests for the three extracts were carried out, and the 60% methanol extraction showed the best activity. Then, the AGIs screening experiment was performed with ultrafiltration and HPLC analysis using the 60% methanol extraction. Seven binding components (quercetin-3-O-vicianoside, quercetin 3-O-neohesperidoside, rutin, hyperoside, quercetin 3-O-glucuronide, luteolin-7-O-neohesperidoside, kaempferol 3-glucuronide) were found. These seven components were further validated as the AGIs by molecular docking analysis. The developed method was a rapid and efficient tool for screening AGIs from PVR, which provided scientific data for the bioactive components study of PVR.

An Update on Phytochemicals and Pharmacological Activities of the Genus Persicaria and Polygonum.

The discovery of new pharmaceutical identities, particularly anti-infective agents, represents an urgent need due to the increase in immunocompromised patients and the ineffectiveness/toxicity of the drugs currently used. The scientific community has recognized in the last decades the importance of the plant kingdom as a huge source of novel molecules which could act against different type of infections or illness. However, the great diversity of plant species makes it difficult to select them with probabilities of success, adding to the fact that existing information is difficult to find, it is atomized or disordered. Persicaria and Polygonum constitute two of the main representatives of the Polygonaceae family, which have been extensively used in traditional medicine worldwide. Important and structurally diverse bioactive compounds have been isolated from these genera of wild plants; among them, sesquiterpenes and flavonoids should be remarked. In this article, we firstly mention all the species reported with pharmacological use and their geographical distribution. Moreover, a number of tables which summarize an update detailing the type of natural product (extract or isolated compound), applied doses, displayed bioassays and the results obtained for the main bioactivities of these genera cited in the literature during the past 40 years. Antimicrobial, antioxidant, analgesic and anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, anticancer, antiviral, antiparasitic, anti-diabetic, antipyretic, hepatoprotective, diuretic, gastroprotective and neuropharmacological activities were explored and reviewed in this work, concluding that both genera could be the source for upcoming molecules to treat different human diseases.

Persicaria strigosa (R.Br.) Nakai: a natural anthelmintic?

Persicaria strigosa (R.Br.) Nakai. (Family Polygonaceae) is an important plant of Assam, having several ethnobotanical uses. Tribal communities consume leaf extracts to cure helminth infection. The present study investigated the antioxidant, phytochemicals, and anthelmintic activity of P. strigosa. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were estimated following standard methods. Antioxidant properties were analyzed by TAC, FRAP, DPPH, ABTS, and TBARS assays. Anthelmintic activity of plant was investigated in Paramphistomum sp. treated with 5 mg/mL, and paralysis and death times were recorded. The most potent solvent extract was performed GC-MS analysis to identify the phytocompounds. Plant extract-treated parasites were further analyzed for biochemical changes. Additionally, molecular docking was performed to study the binding affinities between phytocompounds and enzymes. P. strigosa showed rich phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant properties. Ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts showed more powerful antioxidant properties than other extracts. In vitro anthelmintic study found ethyl acetate and diethyl ether the most active extracts. Treated parasites showed a significant decrease in enzyme activity. The highest inhibition was observed in AchE, followed by MDH, LDH, ALP, and ACP. GC-MS study identified 12 probable compounds from the ethyl acetate extract of P. strigosa. Molecular docking showed the strongest binding affinity between the phytocompounds and AchE enzyme (- 7.6 kcal/mol). Overall, compounds C6, C7, and C12 showed better binding affinity compared to other compounds. The in vitro helminth bioassays and biochemical analysis suggest Persicaria strigosa a possible anthelmintic agent. However, isolation and characterization of bioactive compound(s) may promise new drug candidates for helminth infections.

Screening of antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibition activities of spicy vegetables in Vietnam and application of Persicaria odorata leaf extract to preservative white leg shrimp (Litopenaus vannamei).

In this study, we aimed to exploit natural extracts from the spicy vegetables, which are rich in phenolic compounds as an initial treatment step in the cold storage process for shrimp. Firstly, 40 extracts from 10 types of spicy vegetables in Vietnam were prepared and tested for their bioactivities. Among samples, the extract from Persicaria Odorata leaves (E-4) exhibited the highest potential of scavenging DPPH free radical (IC50 of 7.54 µg.mL-1) and decreasing tyrosinase activity with the inhibition percentage of 54.2 % at the concentration of 100 mg/mL. Twenty-two out of a total of 36 chemical compounds in the E-4 extract identified using HPLC-MS technique were phenolic compounds, in which four compounds (morin, quercetin, fisetin, astragalin) are flavonoids. Shrimp (Litopenaus vannamei) samples were treated with the E-4 extract having lower gray values, lipid peroxidation values, and microbiological counts than those of the control samples after 7 days of storage at 2 oC. These results show the potential of using the natural extract as a safe and effective alternative for commercial chemical-derived preservatives in the shrimp storage process.

Genus Triplaris (Polygonaceae): A review on traditional medicinal use, phytochemistry and biological activities.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The genus Triplaris (Polygonaceae) comprises approximately 25 species distributed throughout South and Central America. Some species have been used in folk medicine, mainly, to treat malaria, leishmaniasis, diarrheia, dysenteria, pain and inflammation. AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this review is to provide information on the traditional uses, phytochemistry and known biological activities of Triplaris, an important genus for South America research groups on medicinal plants, in order to explore its therapeutic potential to direct future research in the search for new bioactive molecules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The available information on the genus Triplaris was gathered from scientific databases (LILACS, Pubmed, SciELO, Science Direct, Scopus, CAPES Periodicals Portal and Theses and Dissertations Catalog) before March 2020 using the keyword "Triplaris". Works related to traditional uses, phytochemistry and biological activities of plants were included in this review. RESULTS: Most of the studies involving Triplaris were conducted by research groups located in Brazil, Peru e Bolivia. Probably, because the genus has been used in folk medicine only by these countries. Regarding the annual evolution of the publications, a larger number of articles published in 2010 were observed. Flavonols represent the main classe of secondary metabolites from Triplaris. In terms of the pharmacological investigations, T. americana and T. gardneriana are considered the most studied species, with extensive promising biological activities. The pharmacological activities can be attributed to bioactive phytochemicals. CONCLUSIONS: All findings indicate that Triplaris is an important genus of the Polygonaceae family. However, considering its chemical and pharmacological importance, the studies developed with Triplaris species are still limited, representing an opportunity to investigate new bioactive molecules and extracts. The review shows that little pre-clinical or in vivo research is available to prove the ethnopharmacological records in the genre. Therefore, this review encourages further studies on Triplaris in the search for a wide range of therapeutic products.

Ethnobotanical Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Different Rheum Species (Polygonaceae): A Review.

Today, there is an increased tendency to use herbal remedies. Rhubarb refers to several species of the genus Rheum L. in the Polygonaceae family. This species-rich genus is mainly distributed in Asian countries. Several medicinal effects have been attributed to the Rheum spp. in the traditional and modern medicine such as healing lungs, liver, kidney, womb and bladder diseases, cancer, diabetes, insect bites, relapsing fevers, diarrhea and constipation. Various in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies have investigated the therapeutic effect of extracts, fractions and pure compounds isolated from different species of this genus. Considering the positive findings, several pharmaceutical formulations containing rhubarb extract like capsules, drops, mouthwashes and different topical formulations are now present in the market. However, there are other traditional therapeutic effects of rhubarb that have not been studied yet and it is of great importance to perform confirmatory experiments or clinical investigations. The current review summarizes general information regarding botany, phytochemistry, ethnobotany and pharmacological aspects of Rheum spp. It is hoped that the present review could motivate subsequent research on the other medicinal properties of these plants that have been neglected until today.

In Silico Validation, Fabrication and Evaluation of Nano-Liposomes of Bistorta amplexicaulis Extract for Improved Anticancer Activity Against Hepatoma Cell Line (HepG2).

BACKGROUND: Bistorta amplexicaulis of the genus Polygonum (Polygonaceae) has been reported for its antioxidant and anticancer activities. However, the low cellular uptake of the compounds in its extract limits its therapeutic application. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed at developing a nanoliposomal carrier system for B. amplexicaulis extracts for improved cellular uptake, thus resulting in enhanced anticancer activity. METHODS: Ultra Pressure Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) was used to identify major compounds in the plant extract. Nanoliposomes (NLs) were prepared by employing a thin-film rehydration method using DPPC, PEG2000DSPE and cholesterol, followed by characterization through several parameters. In vitro screening was performed against breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and Hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG-2) using MTT-assay. Raw extract and nanoliposomes were tested on Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC). Moreover, molecular docking was performed to validate the data obtained through wet lab. RESULTS: The UHPLC method identified gallic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and catechin as the major compounds in the extract. The NLs with a size ranging between 140-155 nm, zeta potential -16.9 to -19.8 mV and good polydispersity index of < 0.1 were prepared, with a high encapsulation efficiency of 81%. The MTT assay showed significantly (p > 0.05) high uptake and cytotoxicity of NLs as compared to the plant extract. Moreover, reduced toxicity against HUVEC cells was observed as compared to the extract. Also, the docking of identified compounds suggested a favorable interaction with the SH2 domain of both STAT3 and STAT5. CONCLUSION: Overall, the results suggest NLs as a potential platform that could be developed for the improved intracellular delivery of plant extract, thus increasing the therapeutic outcomes.

Review on Pharmacological and Phytochemical Prospects of Traditional Medicinal Plant: Persicaria hydropiper (Smartweed).

Persicaria hydropiper (L.) Delarbre (family Polygonacea), commonly known as Polygonum hydropiper, is a popular medicinal plant used in traditional medicine. The plant is indigenous to the tropical northern hemisphere and temperate zone, including China, Bangladesh, India, and Japan. The plant is used in folk medicine for numerous ailments such as hemorrhoids, antifertility, diarrhea, and dyspepsia. Its medicinal usage in Unani, Ayurveda, Siddha, and other traditional medicine is well-recognized. So far, a wide range of active phytochemicals of this plant has been identified, such as flavonoids, sulphated flavonoids, terpenoids, anthraquinones, steroids, coumarin, simple phenolics, and others. Pharmacological data reported in the literature suggest that various parts of P. hydropiper exhibit antimicrobial, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antidepressant, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, anticancer, and antifertility effects. The present review aims to compile the coherently document research on the phytochemical, pharmacological, and biological activities of P. hydropiper from different parts of the globe.