A Review on the Traditional Applications, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology of the Genus Physochlaina G. Don.

Physochlaina is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Solanaceae and consists of 10 species distributed in various Asian countries. The species of the genus have been traditionally used to cure a variety of illnesses due to their highly valuable medicinal properties, including cancer, asthma, cough, weakness, stomachache, diarrhea, swelling, spasms, toothache, boils, ulcers, rheumatic pain, chronic bronchitis, gastric problems, abdominal pain, palpitation, and insomnia. The species have gained significant attention due to their remarkable ethnopharmacological and ethnomedicinal significance. The researchers have isolated so far 71 biologically active secondary metabolites from different Physochlaina species, which include flavonoids, alkaloids, coumarins, phenolic acids, iridoids, and sterols. These compounds exhibit diverse biological activities, such as antibacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and anticancer properties. The present review has been compiled with the intention of providing a comprehensive overview of the botany, distribution, traditional uses, phytochemical profile, and biological activities of the genus Physochlaina for future exploration of plant-based drugs and therapeutic approaches. The present review contributes to understanding the significant pharmacological potential of Physochlaina species and unraveling their chemical composition, highlighting their relevance in developing therapeutic agents. Till date, numerous pharmacological properties and isolated phytochemicals of Physochlaina species that support the species traditional and ethnobotanical history have been documented in a number of scientific publications. However, greater emphasis should be paid to in vivo investigations on various extracts and their phytoconstituents as well as mechanistic analysis to help drug developers better understand how to use Physochlaina species as significant therapeutic resources for herbal formulations using various techniques.

Combretum micranthum G. Don (Combretaceae): A Review on Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology.

Combretum micranthum (Combretaceae) is a medicinal plant widely known and used in Africa to treat a variety of conditions such as diabetes, fever, coughs, bronchitis, diarrhea, pain, malaria and liver disorders, among others. Due to its wide traditional use, in this review, published scientific reports on its composition and pharmacological properties were explored by conducting a literature search of databases. To date, 155 organic compounds including 34 flavonoids, 16 phenolic acids, 14 alkaloids, 15 fatty acids, 14 terpenoids/steroids, 24 amino acids, 8 carbohydrate substances and 30 other organic compounds have been identified from this plant. In addition to these organic compounds, 6 minerals (potassium nitrate, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron and zinc) have also been reported. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that these phytochemicals and plant extracts have a wide range of pharmacological potential, including antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antihypertensive, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective, anxiolytic, anti-cholinesterase and antidiarrheal activities. Additionally, no harmful effects have been revealed through studies. Thus, this study could constitute a valuable reference for the valorization of C. micranthum in the pharmaceutical industry.

A Review on Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Clinical Application of Tinospora sinensis (Lour.) Merr.

Tinospora sinensis (T. sinensis), whose Tibetan name is "Lezhe", as a traditional medicine, is widely distributed in China, India and Sri Lanka. It is used for the treatment of rheumatic arthralgia, sciatica, lumbar muscle strain and bruises. Research over the previous decades indicated that T. sinensis mainly contains terpenes, lignans, alkaloids, phenol glycosides and other chemical components. A wide range of pharmacologic activities such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, immunosuppressive, anti-aging, anti-radiation, anti-leishmania and liver protection have been reported. However, the scholar's research on the pharmacodynamic material basis of T. sinensis is relatively weak. Data regarding many aspects such as links between the traditional uses and bioactivities, pharmacokinetics, and quality control standard of active compositions is still limited and need more attention. This review reports a total of 241 compounds, the ethnopharmacology and clinical application of T. sinensis, covering the literature which were searched by multiple databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, CNKI and other literature sources from 1996 to date, with a view to provide a systematic and insightful reference and lays a foundation and inspiration for the application and further in-depth research of T. sinensis resources.

Clerodendrum Glandulosum Lindl.: A Review of Ethnopharmacology, Pharmacological Potentials, and their Mechanism of Action.

Clerodendrum glandulosum Lindl. is popularly known for its traditional herbal remedies and therapeutic properties among the people of Northeast Indian communities, as well as Chinese traditional medicine. For the myriad pharmacological properties, viz., anti-hypertensive, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective, planting this species in kitchen gardens is a common practice to treat various ailments, especially hypertension, diabetes, and other metabolic complications. Different phytochemicals, representing the diverse classes of secondary metabolites comprising physiological and phytopharmaceutical significance, have been reported from C. glandulosum. Compounds with terpenoids, steroids, and phenolics are in demand in the pharmaceutical industry. An overview of the mechanism of action of the prominent compounds has also been collated for future research on C. glandulosum-based therapeutics. Current information focuses on this important medicinal plant's ethnomedicinal use, phytochemistry, pharmacology, associated mechanisms, and toxicology. This review will help explore this potential medicinal plant, which can pave the path for its application in the pharmaceutical industry.

Traditional Uses, Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of the Toona sinensis Plant.

Toona sinensis (A. Juss.) Roem., which is widely distributed in China, is a homologous plant resource of medicine and food. The leaves, seeds, barks, buds and pericarps of T. sinensis can be used as medicine with traditional efficacy. Due to its extensive use in traditional medicine in the ancient world, the T. sinensis plant has significant development potential. In this review, 206 compounds, including triterpenoids (1-133), sesquiterpenoids (134-135), diterpenoids (136-142), sterols (143-147), phenols (148-167), flavonoids (168-186), phenylpropanoids (187-192) and others (193-206), are isolated from the T. sinensis plant. The mass spectrum cracking laws of representative compounds (64, 128, 129, 154-156, 175, 177, 179 and 183) are reviewed, which are conducive to the discovery of novel active substances. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that T. sinensis extracts and their compounds have antidiabetic, antidiabetic nephropathy, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, antiviral, antibacterial, immunopotentiation and other biological activities. The traditional uses, chemical constituents, compound cracking laws and pharmacological activities of different parts of T. sinensis are reviewed, laying the foundation for improving the development and utilization of its medicinal value.

Research Progress in Traditional Applications, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Safety Evaluation of Cynomorium songaricum.

Cynomorium songaricum Rupr. (CSR) belongs to the family Cynomoriaceae. It is a perennial succulent parasitic herb with a reddish-brown coloration, predominantly submerged in sand and lacking chlorophyll. Traditionally, it has been used in ethnic medicine to treat various diseases, such as gastric ulcers, indigestion, bowel movements, and improving sexual function. To comprehensively collect CSR data, extensive literature searches were conducted using medical, ecological, and scientific databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). This article summarizes and categorizes research on the uses, phytochemical characteristics, pharmacological activities, and toxicity of ethnic medicine, with the aim of establishing a solid foundation and proposing new avenues for exploring and developing potential applications of CSR. So far, a total of 98 compounds have been isolated and identified from CSR, including flavonoids, terpenes, steroids, and other compounds. It is worth noting that flavonoids and polysaccharides have significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, these compounds also show good application prospects in anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-fatigue, anti-diabetes, and other aspects. Although extensive progress has been made in the basic research of CSR, further research is still needed to enhance the understanding of its mechanism of action and explore more unknown compounds. Our review indicates that CSR has broad prospects and deserves further research.

Corydalis saxicola Bunting: A Review of Its Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Clinical Applications.

Corydalis saxicola Bunting (CSB), whose common name in Chinese is Yanhuanglian, is a herb in the family Papaveraceae. When applied in traditional Chinese medicine, it is used to treat various diseases including hepatitis, abdominal pain, and bleeding haemorrhoids. In addition, Corydalis saxicola Bunting injection (CSBI) is widely used against acute and chronic hepatitis. This review aims to provide up-to-date information on the botanical distribution, description, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical applications of CSB. A comprehensive review was implemented on studies about CSB from several scientific databases, such as SciFinder, Elsevier, Springer, ACS Publications, Baidu Scholar, CNKI, and Wanfang Data. Phytochemical studies showed that 81 chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from CSB, most of which are alkaloids. This situation indicates that these alkaloids would be the main bioactive substances and that they have antitumour, liver protective, antiviral, and antibacterial pharmacological activities. CSBI can not only treat hepatitis and liver cancer but can also be used in combination with other drugs. However, the relationships between the traditional uses and modern pharmacological actions, the action mechanisms, quality standards, and the material basis need to be implemented in the future. Moreover, the pharmacokinetics of CSBI in vivo and the toxicology should be further investigated.

Acorus tatarinowii Schott: A Review of Its Botany, Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology.

Acorus tatarinowii Schott (A. tatarinowii) is a natural medicinal plant. It plays an indispensable role in the treatment of diseases by the empirical medicine system and has achieved remarkable curative effects. A. tatarinowii is often used to treat various diseases, such as depression, epilepsy, fever, dizziness, heartache, stomachache, etc. More than 160 compounds of different structural types have been identified in A. tatarinowii, including phenylpropanoids, terpenoids, lignans, flavonoids, alkaloids, amides, and organic acids. These bioactive ingredients make A. tatarinowii remarkable for its pharmacological effects, including antidepressant, antiepileptic, anticonvulsant, antianxiety, neuroprotective, antifatigue, and antifungal effects, improving Alzheimer's disease, and so on. It is noteworthy that A. tatarinowii has been widely used in the treatment of brain diseases and nervous system diseases and has achieved satisfactory therapeutic effects. This review focused on the research publications of A. tatarinowii and aimed to summarize the advances in the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology, which will provide a reference for further studies and applications of A. tatarinowii.

Traditional Uses, Pharmacological Activities, and Phytochemical Analysis of Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex. A. DC (Ebenaceae): A Review.

Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex. A. DC is widely distributed throughout Africa and around the world. It is utilized ethnobotanically to treat fevers, wounds, malaria, diabetes mellitus, and other diseases. This review aims to provide an exhaustive overview of the traditional uses, pharmacology, and phytochemical analysis of D. mespiliformis, with the objective of identifying its therapeutic potential for further research. Scientific resources, including Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, Pub Med, and Scopus, were used to find pertinent data on D. mespiliformis. Secondary metabolites tentatively identified from this species were primarily terpenoids, naphthoquinones, phenolics, and coumarins. D. mespiliformis has been reported to demonstrate pharmacological activities, including antimicrobial, antiproliferative, antiparasitic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-hypersensitivity, and antidiabetic properties. The phytochemicals and extracts from D. mespiliformis have been reported to have some pharmacological effects in in vivo studies and were not toxic to the animal models that were utilized. The D. mespiliformis information reported in this review provides researchers with a comprehensive summary of the current research status of this medicinal plant and a guide for further investigation.

A Comprehensive Review of the Pharmacology, Chemistry, Traditional Uses and Quality Control of Star Anise (Illicium verum Hook. F.): An Aromatic Medicinal Plant.

Illicium verum Hook. F., also known as star anise, is one of the most important plants of the genus Anise in the family Magnoliaceae. I. verum not only has the functions of warming Yang, dispersing cold, regulating Qi and relieving pain but can also be used as a condiment to increase flavor as well as reconcile and remove fish smells. Currently, 201 chemical constituents have been identified from star anise; among these, star anise oil and shikimic acid are the two most widely used and studied chemical components in star anise, with the oil accounting for a large proportion of the total. This review integrates, classifies and updates studies related to the botany, pharmacology, phytochemistry, traditional and modern uses and quality control of star anise, with a special reference to its phytochemical composition and pharmacological activity. It will provide a reference for further research on this important medicinal plant. In addition, the broad applications and research profiles of star anise essential oil and shikimic acid are highlighted. Our review indicates that the research prospects regarding star anise are very broad and worthy of further investigation.

Ethnobotany, Biological Activities and Phytochemical Compounds of Some Species of the Genus Eryngium (Apiaceae), from the Central-Western Region of Mexico.

There are approximately 250 species of Eryngium L. distributed throughout the world, with North America and South America being centers of diversity on this continent. In the central-western region of Mexico there may be around 28 species of this genus. Some Eryngium species are cultivated as leafy vegetables, ornamental, and medicinal plants. In traditional medicine they are used to treat respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, among others. This review addresses the phytochemistry and biological activities, as well as traditional uses, distribution, and characteristics of the eight species of Eryngium reported as medicinal in the central-western region of Mexico: E. cymosum, E. longifolium, E. fluitans (or mexicanum), E. beecheyanum, E. carlinae, E. comosum, E. heterophyllum, and E. nasturtiifolium. The extracts of the different Eryngium spp. have shown biological activities such as hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, renoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant, among others. E. carlinae is the most studied species, and phytochemical analyses, performed mainly by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), have shown its content of terpenoids, fatty acids, organic acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, sterols, saccharides, polyalcohols, and aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. According to the results of this review on Eryngium spp., they constitute a relevant alternative as a source of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical, food, and other industries. However, there is a lot of research to be conducted regarding phytochemistry, biological activities, cultivation, and propagation, in those species with few or no reports.

The old world salsola as a source of valuable secondary metabolites endowed with diverse pharmacological activities: a review.

Salsola is an important genus in the plant kingdom with diverse traditional, industrial, and environmental applications. Salsola species are widely distributed in temperate regions and represent about 45% of desert plants. They are a rich source of diverse phytochemical classes, such as alkaloids, cardenolides, triterpenoids, coumarins, flavonoids, isoflavonoids, and phenolic acids. Salsola spp. were traditionally used as antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and immunostimulants. They attracted great interest from researchers as several pharmacological activities were reported, including analgesic, antipyretic, antioxidant, cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, contraceptive, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, and antimicrobial activities. Genus Salsola is one of the most notorious plant genera from the taxonomical point of view. Our study represents a comprehensive review of the previous phytochemical and biological research on the old world Salsola secies. It is designed to be a guide for future research on different plant species that still belong to this genus or have been transferred to other genera.

Pharmacological effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus on the neurological disorders.

Eleutherococcus senticosus is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine and edible remedies with effects on anti-fatigue, sleep improvement, and memory enhancement. Recently, the application of E. senticosus to neurological disorders has been a focus. However, its overall pharmacological effect on neural diseases and relevant mechanisms are needed in an in-depth summary. In this review, the traditional uses and the therapeutic effect of E. senticosus on the treatment of fatigue, depression, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and cerebral ischemia were summarized. In addition, the underlying mechanisms involved in the anti-oxidative damage, anti-inflammation, neurotransmitter modulation, improvement of neuronal growth, and anti-apoptosis were discussed. This review will accelerate the understanding of the neuroprotective effects brought from the E. senticosus, and impetus its development as a phytotherapy agent against neurological disorders.

Health-promoting and disease-mitigating potential of Verbascum thapsus L. (common mullein): A review.

Medicinal plants represent rich sources of traditional medicines and numerous currently used medicines are either directly or indirectly derived from plants. Verbascum thapsus L. (great mullein or common mullein), a medicinal herb indigenous to northern Africa, western and central Asia, and Europe, has been brought to the Americas and Australia. It has been used as a medicine for lung, skin and throat disorders and has a long history of therapeutic importance, particularly as an astringent and calming agent. Presently, the dried leaves, flowers, various plant extracts and flower oil are used in several formulations within Indian traditional medicine. An extract taken from the roots is useful in minimizing toothache, and it also relieves stiffness and seizures. V. thapsus contains a wide variety of phytoconstituents, such as flavonoids, iridoid, phenylethanoid and phenylpropanoid glycosides, saponins, as well as vitamin C and minerals. The most valuable constituents are coumarin and hesperidin, which possess healing properties. Emerging literature based on experimental studies on V. thapsus demonstrates various biological and pharmacological properties, including antiviral, antioxidant, analgesic, sedative, anti-inflammatory, hypnotic, antibacterial, antifungal, as well as anticancer activities. The present review provides an updated, comprehensive, and critical evaluation of various health-promoting and disease-mitigating properties of V. thapsus.

Structural Diversity of Complex Phloroglucinol Derivatives from Eucalyptus Species.

Several species of the genus Eucalyptus are used in many traditional medicine systems for the treatment of respiratory tract infections, colds, flu, sore throats, and bronchitis. The genus Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) is a well-known natural source of bioactive phloroglucinols. These polyphenolic compounds bear an aromatic phenyl ring with three hydroxy groups (1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene) which have been exhibiting a variety of biological activities such as antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. This review summarizes the literature published from 1997 until the end of 2021 and addresses the structure diversity of phloroglucinols isolated from Eucalyptus species and their biological activities. Phloroglucinol-terpene adducts are the main class of compounds that have been reported in this genus.

Botanical Description, Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology of the Genus Artabotrys: A Review.

Artabotrys is a genus of small trees in the family Annonaceae. This genus contained over 100 perennial medicinal plants available in the old world tropics. Artabotrys plants have a lengthy history of use in medicine for malaria, diarrhea, backache, and scrofula treatments, as well as some of which were used as tea-like beverages. About 90 reports were reviewed from inception to now, in which the decoctions of about 9 species were used in traditional folk medicines. With 234 isolated compounds, Artabotrys metabolites can be classified as alkaloids, terpenoids, sterols, flavonoids, polyoxygenated cyclohexenes, fatty acids, acetogenins, etc. Significantly, alkaloidal aporphines were separated and identified as the main isolates. Artabotrys plants are also rich in the essential oils. Especially, A. hexapetalus exerted a great role in perfumery industry. Artabotrys constituents possessed various pharmacological values, such as antioxidative, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and mosquito repellency, but cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities are the most striking features. In conclusion, Artabotrys plant extracts and their metabolites are of great socio-economic importance, thereby more and more phytochemical and pharmacological investigations are expected.

The Genus Cetraria s. str.-A Review of Its Botany, Phytochemistry, Traditional Uses and Pharmacology.

The genus Cetraria s. str. (Parmeliaceae family, Cetrarioid clade) consists of 15 species of mostly erect brown or greenish yellow fruticose or subfoliose thallus. These Cetraria species have a cosmopolitan distribution, being primarily located in the Northern Hemisphere, in North America and in the Eurasia area. Phytochemical analysis has demonstrated the presence of dibenzofuran derivatives (usnic acid), depsidones (fumarprotocetraric and protocetraric acids) and fatty acids (lichesterinic and protolichesterinic acids). The species of Cetraria, and more particularly Cetraria islandica, has been widely employed in folk medicine for the treatment of digestive and respiratory diseases as decoctions, tinctures, aqueous extract, and infusions. Moreover, Cetraria islandica has had an important nutritional and cosmetic value. These traditional uses have been validated in in vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies. Additionally, new therapeutic activities are being investigated, such as antioxidant, immunomodulatory, cytotoxic, genotoxic and antigenotoxic. Among all Cetraria species, the most investigated by far has been Cetraria islandica, followed by Cetraria pinastri and Cetraria aculeata. The aim of the current review is to update all the knowledge about the genus Cetraria covering aspects that include taxonomy and phylogeny, morphology and distribution, ecological and environmental interest, phytochemistry, traditional uses and pharmacological properties.

Phytochemical Constituents, Folk Medicinal Uses, and Biological Activities of Genus Angelica: A Review.

Genus Angelica is one of the widely distributed and well-known genera of family Umbelliferae. It is utilized mainly by Chinese and Korean populations especially in their folk medicine. Angelica comprises a lot of medicinally important phytoconstituents such as coumarins, furanocoumarins, flavonoids, essential oils, verbascosides, polysaccharides, etc. Members of this genus play important roles, namely antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-diabetic, skin-whitening, cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, and many others. This review draws attention to many species of genus Angelica with much focus on A. dahurica being one of the highly medicinally used species within this genus.

Phytoconstituents and Pharmacological Activities of Indian Camphorweed (Pluchea indica): A Multi-Potential Medicinal Plant of Nutritional and Ethnomedicinal Importance.

Pluchea indica (L.) Less. (Asteraceae) commonly known as Indian camphorweed, pluchea, or marsh fleabane has gained great importance in various traditional medicines for its nutritional and medicinal benefits. It is utilized to cure several illnesses such as lumbago, kidney stones, leucorrhea, inflammation, gangrenous and atonic ulcer, hemorrhoids, dysentery, eye diseases, itchy skin, acid stomach, dysuria, abdominal pain, scabies, fever, sore muscles, dysentery, diabetes, rheumatism, etc. The plant or its leaves in the form of tea are commonly used for treating diabetes and rheumatism. The plant is a rich source of calcium, vitamin C, dietary fiber, and ß-carotene. Various biomolecules have been isolated from P. indica, including thiophenes, terpenes, quinic acids, sterols, lignans, phenolics, and flavonoids. The current review reports detailed information about the phytoconstituents and pharmacological relevance of P. indica and the link to its traditional uses. The reported studies validated the efficacy and safety of P. indica, as well as supported its traditional uses for treating various ailments and promoting health and well-being. Thus, this could encourage the development of this plant into a healthy food supplement or medicine for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. However, further studies on the drug interactions, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and metabolism, as well as clinical trials, should be carried out.

Radix Asteris: Traditional Usage, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of An Important Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Radix Asteris (RA), also known as 'Zi Wan', is the dried root and rhizome of Aster tataricus L. f., which has been used to treat cough and asthma in many countries such as China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam. This article summarizes the available information on RA in ancient Chinese medicine books and modern research literature: its botanical properties, traditional uses, chemical composition, pharmacological activity, toxicity and quality control. Studies have shown that RA extracts contain terpenes, triterpenoid saponins, organic acids, peptides and flavonoids, and have various pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, and anti-depression. RA is considered to be a promising medicinal plant based on its traditional use, chemical constituents and pharmacological activities. However, there are few studies on its toxicity and the consistency of its components, which indicates the need for further in-depth studies on the toxicity and quality control of RA and its extracts.