Ligustri Lucidi Fructus as a traditional Chinese medicine: a review of its phytochemistry and pharmacology

Ligustri Lucidi Fructus (LLF) is the fruits of Ligustrum lucidum Ait. (Oleaceae). This review based on nearly 80 literary sources discusses the knowledge of chemistry and biological effects of this species. Several types of chemical constituents considered as the characteristic and active constituents from LLF were isolated including 40 triterpenoids, 48 iridoids, 10 flavones, 10 phenylethanoid glycosides and others. Various extracts and individual compounds derived from this species have been found to possess a variety of pharmacological effects, e.g. anti-tumour, hepatoprotective, immune regulating, antioxidative and anti-ageing effects, anti-inflammation and reducing hypercholesterolaemia effects and so on. The results of data analysis on the chemical, pharmacological characteristics of LLF support the view that this species has many therapeutic properties and indicate its potential as an effective herbal remedy. Finally, some suggestions for further research on chemical and pharmacological properties are given in this review. Theoretical basis was given for further exploiting and utilising LLF.     

Zanthoxylum Species: A Comprehensive Review of Traditional Uses,Phytochemistry, Pharmacological and Nutraceutical Applications

Zanthoxylum species (Syn. Fagara species) of the Rutaceae family are widely used in many countries as food and in trado-medicinal practice due to their wide geographical distribution and medicinal properties. Peer reviewed journal articles and ethnobotanical records that reported the traditional knowledge, phytoconstituents, biological activities and toxicological profiles of Z. species with a focus on metabolic and neuronal health were reviewed. It was observed that many of the plant species are used as food ingredients and in treating inflammation, pain, hypertension and brain diseases. Over 500 compounds have been isolated from Z. species, and the biological activities of both the plant extracts and their phytoconstituents, including their mechanisms of action, are discussed. The phytochemicals responsible for the biological activities of some of the species are yet to be identified. Similarly, biological activities of some isolated compounds remain unknown. Taken together, the Z. species extracts and compounds possess promising biological activities and should be further explored as potential sources of new nutraceuticals and drugs.     

Chemistry and Pharmacology of Cyperaceae Stilbenoids: A Review

Cyperaceae is a cosmopolitan plant family with approx. 5000 species distributed worldwide. Several members of this family are used in traditional medicines for the treatment of different diseases. In the last few decades, constituents with great chemical diversity were isolated from sedges, and a wide range of biological activities were detected either for crude extracts or for pure compounds. Among the isolated compounds, phenolic derivatives are the most important, especially stilbenoids, and flavonoids. To date, more than 60 stilbenoids were isolated from 28 Cyperaceae species. Pharmacological investigation of Cyperaceae stilbenoids revealed that several compounds possess promising activities; mainly antiproliferative, antibacterial, antioxidant and anthelmintic effects. Isolation, synthesis and pharmacological investigation of stilbenes are increasing constantly. As Cyperaceae species are very good sources of a wide variety of stilbenes, and several of them occur in large amount worldwide, they are worthy for phytochemical and pharmacological investigations. Moreover, stilbenes are important from chemotaxonomical point of view, and they play a key role in plant defense mechanisms as well. This review summarizes the stilbenoids isolated from sedges, and their biological activities.     

Chemical constituents and biological activities of the genus Linaria (Scrophulariaceae)

This is a review on 95 references dealing with the genus Linaria (Scrophularioideae-Antirrhineae tribe), a known genus of the Scrophulariaceae family, which comprises about 200 species mainly distributed in Europe, Asia and North Africa. The use of some Linaria species in folk medicine has attracted the attention for chemical and biological studies. This report is aimed to be a comprehensive overview on the isolated or identified known and often new metabolites from the 41 Linaria species so far cited. It is organised presenting first the phytochemical classes of alkaloids, polyphenols including flavonoids, the latter being quite diffused and mostly present as flavones, flavonols and their glycosides, and terpenoids including iridoids and steroids. Second, the results from biological investigation on plant extracts, pure natural products isolated from Linaria species and some synthetic derivatives are reported, with antitumour, anti-acetylcholinesterase, anti-inflammatory and analgesic, antioxidant and antibacterial activities.     

Phytotherapy Perspectives for Treating Fungal Infections,Migraine, Sebhorreic Dermatitis and Hyperpigmentations with the Plants of the Centaureinae Subtribe (Asteraceae)

Sesquiterpene lactones, coumarins, phytoecdysones and phenolic compounds are characteristic of the species from the subtribe Centaureinae (Asteraceae). Many of the compounds isolated from plants of the Centaureinae subtribe have strong pharmacological properties. It may be suggested that these compounds’ chemical structure might be an indicator of these pharmacological properties. The aim of the study was to describe recent studies in the field of phytotherapy, focusing on compounds isolated from chosen plants of Centaureinae and the possibilities of using them to treat antifungal infections, inhibit serotonin and ease symptoms of seborrhea dermatitis and hyperpigmentation. The results of these biological studies have shown that in the future, extracts from the above-mentioned plant material may be used as active substances in new safe and effective drugs.     

Phytochemicals from Polyalthia Species: Potential and Implication on Anti-Oxidant,Anti-Inflammatory,Anti-Cancer,and Chemoprevention Activities

Polyalthia belong to the Annonaceae family and are a type of evergreen tree distributed across many tropical and subtropical regions. Polyalthia species have been used long term as indigenous medicine to treat certain diseases, including fever, diabetes, infection, digestive disease, etc. Recent studies have demonstrated that not only crude extracts but also the isolated pure compounds exhibit various pharmacological activities, such as anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-tumor, anti-cancer, etc. It is known that the initiation of cancer usually takes several years and is related to unhealthy lifestyle, as well as dietary and environmental factors, such as stress, toxins and smoking. In fact, natural or synthetic substances have been used as cancer chemoprevention to delay, impede, or even stop cancer growing. This review is an attempt to collect current available phytochemicals from Polyalthia species, which exhibit anti-cancer potentials for chemoprevention purposes, providing directions for further research on the interesting agents and possible clinical applications.     

Biological activity of bicyclic and tricyclic diterpenoids from Salvia species of immediate pharmacological and pharmaceutical interest

Diterpenoids are a class of compounds that derive from the condensation of four isoprene units that leads to a wide variety of complex chemical structures, including acyclic bi-, tri-and tetra-cyclic compounds; in Salvia species, only bi-, tri-and tetra-cyclic compounds have been found. This review covers a wide range of biological activities and mode of action of diterpenoids isolated from Salvia species that might raise some pharmacological and pharmaceutical interest. We have produced a synoptic table where the biological activities of the main active principles are summarized. Our analysis emphasizes that diterpenoids from Salvia species continue to be a plant defence system since their antimicrobic activity. Experimental studies show that most of diterpenoids considered have cytotoxic and/or antiproliferative activity. Some of them have also cardiovascular and central effects. In a less extended manner, diterpenoids from Salvia species show gastrointestinal, urinary, antinflammatory, antidiabetic, ipolipidemic and antiaggregating effects. In the last decade, several clinical trials have been developed in order to investigate the real value of Salvia extracts treatment; results obtained are promising and confer scientific basis in the use of medicinal plants from folk medicine.     

Compilation of secondary metabolites from Bidens pilosa L

Bidens pilosa L. is a cosmopolitan annual herb, known for its traditional use in treating various diseases and thus much studied for the biological activity of its extracts, fractions and isolated compounds. Polyacetylenes and flavonoids, typical metabolite classes in the Bidens genus, predominate in the phytochemistry of B. pilosa. These classes of compounds have great taxonomic significance. In the Asteraceae family, the acetylene moiety is widely distributed in the Heliantheae tribe and some representatives, such as 1-phenylhepta-1,3,5-triyne, are noted for their biological activity and strong long-wave UV radiation absorbance. The flavonoids, specifically aurones and chalcones, have been reported as good sub-tribal level markers. Natural products from several other classes have also been isolated from different parts of B. pilosa. This review summarizes the available information on the 198 natural products isolated to date from B. pilosa.     

Iridoids from Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora and their hepatoprotective activities in vitro

Four new non-glycosidic iridoids, piscrocins D (1), E (2), F (6), and G (7), as well as two new iridoid glycosides, piscrosides A (8) and B (9), were isolated from the roots of Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora (Scrophulariaceae), together with seven known iridoids. The structures of the isolated compounds were established by means of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and chemical methods. The hepatoprotective activities of these compounds were evaluated by measuring their effects on CCl(4)-induced hepatocytes damage in vitro, and the structure-activity relationships were also discussed.     

Etude Des Spectres de Masse Des Constituants Amers Des Simarubacées

The bitter compounds isolated from the species Simaroubaceae represent a new family of degraded triterpenoids. Ailanthone, glaucarubolone and chaparrinone having a C₂₀ skeleton belong to this family and their structures were previously determined. Mass spectra of these compounds and some of their derivatives have now been studied in detail and the results obtained are discussed in this communication. The observed fragmentation pattern is characteristic of the structural features of this group of compounds.     

Important insights from the antimicrobial activity of Calotropis procera

Calotropis procera (family Apocynaceae) is a valuable medicinal plant as it contains many valuable phytochemicals such as glycosides (mostly cardenolides), flavonoids, triterpenes, alkaloids, steroids, saponins, proteins and enzymes. Multiparous biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, wound healing and wideranging antimicrobial activities of C. procera have been well investigated and reported. The main aim of this review was to present the encompassing information regarding antimicrobial activities of C. procera latex, different crude extracts and some isolated compounds which have been tested for antimicrobial property. Comprehensive data extracted from earlier as well as recently published original articles regarding antibacterial, antifungal, anti-protozoal and antiviral properties of C. procera were discussed and summarised in tabular forms. The compiled data comprised of plant parts, geographical origin, type of tested extracts/fractions, test model, used doses, tested microorganisms, obtained results and relevant references. In addition, the isolated antimicrobial pure compounds of C. procera are also discussed in a separate section. The analysis and information presented in this review identified the existing critical knowledge gaps in the research and also explored the future perspectives and further research opportunities of C. procera.     

Characterization of new phenolic compounds from leaves of Olea europaea L. by high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry

A set of minor constituents of Olea europaea L. leaves have been identified and characterized by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) and high-resolution measurements (HRMS). Most of them are modified hydroxytyrosol species conjugated to a hexose unit. When possible, the structures of the new phenolic compounds present in Olea europaea L. have been confirmed by matching their MS/MS spectra with those of authentic standards isolated from other plants of the oleaceae family. The knowledge of the presence of new phenolic species in Olea europaea L. could provide tools for a full understanding of the secondary metabolism of this plant in relation to the biosynthesis of the phenolic species.     

Cystoseira algae (Fucaceae): update on their chemical entities and biological activities

Cystoseira (Sargassaceae) is a genus of marine brown algae composed of about 40 species, which is distributed along the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. The biological potential of the Cystoseira genus has been investigated and several activities have been reported. Chemically, this genus contains a wide variety of secondary metabolites, such as terpenoids, steroids, phlorotannins and phenolic compounds. Additionally, other chemical components as, for instance, carbohydrates, triacylglycerols/fatty acids, pigments as well as vitamins have been identified in the studied species. Some of the isolated compounds were associated with the reported pharmacological properties, as for example antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxicity, anticancer, cholinesterase inhibition, anti-diabetic, activities but also antibacterial, antifungal and anti-parasitic activities. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the compounds isolated and identified after 1995 from the different species of Cystoseira, compiling more than 200 compounds isolated, together with their therapeutic potential.     

Phytochemistry of Daphne oleoides

Genus Daphne belongs to the Thymelaeaceae family and consists of 70 species. Its various species exist in Europe, Philippine Islands, temperate and subtropical Asia, North Africa, Australia and Pacific. In Pakistan, Daphne is represented by three species. Our focused Daphne oleoides is widely found in diverse climatic conditions from northern cold to central hot regions which creates a rich diversity and novelty in biosynthetic levels of its chemical constituents and hence is a great opportunity. Daphne oeloides is a proven rich source of a variety of unique and interesting nature-made skeletons with a wide range of therapeutic properties. D. oleoides possesses effective therapeutic properties, therefore, has been used in herbal medicines and is still being used to treat various diseases. The modern research by various groups, including ourselves, has resulted in the isolation of a number of natural molecules including some novel tris- and bis- coumarins, daphnane diterpenoids and lignoids. Therefore, due to novelty and richness of the nature-made molecules, and their therapeutic potential combined with our significant work on D. oleoides, this report covers chemical constituents isolated from D. oleoides. The pharmacological activities of the isolated compounds and use of this species in folk medicine have also been reviewed.     

Analysis of flavonoid glycosides with potential medicinal properties on Bauhinia uruguayensis and Bauhinia forficata subspecies pruinosa.

Several Bauhinia species are widely used in Southern South America in the treatment of infections, pain and several diseases including diabetes. Flavonoid compounds based on quercetin and kaempferol glycoside derivatives are believed to be responsible for their therapeutic properties. To investigate this, we have studied two native species from Argentina: B. uruguayensis (BU) and B. forficata subsp. pruinosa (BF). We have analyzed the major polyphenol components in hydro-methanolic extracts of leaves, by high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Chromatographic analysis yielded five main compounds in BF, corresponding to rutinosides and rhamnosides derivatives of kaempferol and quercetin, which are considered chemotaxonomic markers and responsible for antioxidant activity. The presence of kaempferitrin, an antidiabetic agent, has been confirmed. In extracts of BU, four major compounds were identified as rhamnosides and galloyl derivates from quercetin and kaempferol. One of these compounds, quercitrin-3-rhamnoside may confer anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties to BU extracts.     

LC‐PDA‐ESI‐MSn analysis of phenolic and iridoid compounds from Globularia spp.

Plants produce a great number of metabolites with potentially useful biological activities. Species from the genus Globularia (Plantaginaceae) are known as sources of different phenolic and iridoid compounds. Globularia alypum L. is a medicinal plant used as a healing agent in many Mediterranean countries. Similarities in phytochemical composition are often observed for related species. For Globularia spp., such findings were mostly based on identification of several isolated compounds from distinct species. To our knowledge, this is the first study that enables simultaneous comparison of phytochemical profiles from several members of the genus Globularia. Liquid chromatography‐photodiode array detection‐electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry was used for the analysis of methanolic extracts of aerial parts obtained from four Globularia species (G. alypum, G. punctata, G. cordifolia and G. meridionalis). In total, 85 compounds were identified or tentatively identified based on comparison of their retention time, UV and MSⁿ (up to MS⁴) spectra to those of standard compounds and/or to literature data. Among these, high relative amounts of bioactive molecules such as globularin, globularifolin, asperuloside and verbascoside (acteoside) were found. Apart from providing new insights into the phytochemistry and chemotaxonomy of selected Globularia species, results of this study complement existing MS/MS spectral data and could enable easier mass spectrometric profiling of certain bioactive compounds such as iridoids and phenylethanoids in related plant species, genera and families. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Review of the Traditional Uses,Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Activities of Rhoicissus Species (Vitaceae)

Species within the genus Rhoicissus (Vitaceae) are commonly used in South African traditional medicine. The current review discusses the occurrence, distribution, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties of Rhoicissus species covering the period 1981–2020. The data reported were systematically collected, read, and analysed from scientific electronic databases including Scopus, Scifinder, Pubmed, and Google Scholar. Reported evidence indicates that species in this genus are used for the treatment of gastrointestinal complaints, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and infertility, as well as to tone the uterus during pregnancy and to facilitate delivery. Pharmacological studies have further shown that members of the Rhoicissus genus display antidiabetic, uterotonic, ascaricidal, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. They are linked to the presence of bioactive compounds isolated from the genus. Hence, Rhoicissus species can potentially be an alternative therapeutic strategy to treat diseases and develop safer and more potent drugs to combat diseases. Plant species of this genus have valuable medicinal benefits due to their significant pharmacological potential. However, scientific investigation and information of the therapeutic potential of Rhoicissus remain limited as most of the species in the genus have not been fully exploited. Therefore, there is a need for further investigations to exploit the therapeutic potential of the genus Rhoicissus. Future studies should evaluate the phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological activities, as well as the mode of action, of Rhoicissus crude extracts and secondary compounds isolated from the species.     

Antibacterial and antifungal screening of Centaurium pulchellum crude extracts and main secoiridoid compounds

The main principles of C. pulchellum (Sw.) Druce, secoiridoid glycosides, have been studied as potent bioactive compounds. Here we scored their content in extracts of ten populations of this species. Antibacterial and antifungal assays of the extracts and pure secoiridoid glycosides were performed against eight bacterial strains and five fungal species. Methanol extracts from both aerial parts and roots exhibited excellent antibacterial (0.05-0.2 mg mL(-1)) and very good antifungal (0.1-2 mg mL(-1)) activity. Pure secoiridoid glycosides isolated from these extracts demonstrated very strong antibacterial (0.01-0.04 mg mL(-1)) and especially antifungal (0.001-0.1 mg mL(-1)) activity.     

Constituents of Cissus quadrangularis

Two new iridoids 6-O-[2,3-dimethoxy]-trans-cinnamoyl catalpol (1) and 6-O-meta-methoxy-benzoyl catalpol (2) along with a known iridoid picroside 1 (3), two stilbenes quadrangularin A (4) and pallidol (5), quercitin (6), quercitrin (7), beta-sitosterol (8) and beta-sitosterol glycoside (9) were isolated from Cissus quadrangularis Linn. The compounds 3 and 7 are first reported from this plant. The structures were elucidated by analysis of their spectroscopic data and by direct comparison with literature. This is the first reported occurrence of iridoids in C. quadrangularis.