Hepatoprotective action mechanism and quantification of soyasaponin Bb in Abri Herba by HPLC and network pharmacology.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The herb of Abrus cantoniensis Hance (AC) is an important Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is also used as an herbal tea with hepatoprotective action. Soyasaponin Bb is one of the pharmacodynamic substances of AC for the herb's effective pharmacological activity. This study aims to investigate the anti-fibrotic and hepatoprotective activities of soyasaponin Bb in vivo and in vitro experiments, mechanism by network pharmacology and quantification by HPLC.

[Isolation and functional characterization of (iso)eugenol O-methyltransferase (IEMT) gene in Asarum sieboldii].

Methyleugenol is one of the main active constituents in the volatile oil of the traditional Chinese medicine Asari Radix et Rhizoma. It possesses various pharmacological effects such as analgesic, anesthetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. In biosynthesis, the initial precursor phenylalanine is finally converted into methyleugenol through a series of intermediate compounds including coniferyl acid, courmaryl acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid/ferulic-CoA, coniferyl aldehyde, conferyl alcohol, cnfiferyl acetate, and eugenol/isoeugenol, which are produced through catalysis of a large number of enzymes.

Simultaneous determination of abrine, hypaphorine, schaftoside and soyasaponin Bb in rat plasma by UPLC-MS/MS and its application to a pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of Abrus cantoniensis Hance extract.

A simple and sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was established and validated for the quantitative determination of abrine, hypaphorine, schaftoside and soyasaponin Bb in rat plasma. After preparation by protein precipitation with acetonitrile, the analytes and internal standard were separated on a Waters CORTECS T3 column using acetonitrile containing 0.1% formic acid and 0.

Regulation mechanism of plant response to heavy metal stress mediated by endophytic fungi.

Endophytic fungi exist widely in plants and play an important role in the growth and adaptation of plants. They could be used in phytoremediation techniques against heavy metal contaminated soil since beneficial microbial symbionts can endow plants with resistance to external heavy metal stresses. This review summarized the regulation mechanism of plant response to heavy metal stress mediated by endophytic fungi.

Genome-wide identification and characterisation of bHLH transcription factors in Artemisia annua.

Background: A. annua (also named Artemisia annua, sweet wormwood) is the main source of the anti-malarial drug artemisinin, which is synthesised and stored in its trichomes. Members of the basic Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) family of transcription factors (TFs) have been implicated in artemisinin biosynthesis in A.

A comparison review of Hehuan flowers and Hehuan bark on the traditional applications, phytochemistry and pharmacological effects.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Albizia julibrissin Durazz is a well-known medicinal plant with the Chinese name Hehuan []. Hehuan bark and Hehuan flowers have long been recognized as traditional Chinese herbal medicine for treating anxiety, melancholy, insomnia, bruises, pulmonary abscess, fractures, carbuncle, amnesia, acute conjunctivitis, blurred vision, neonatal tetanus and stroke for thousands of years. They are recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia separately with different properties.

Total saponins extracted from Abrus cantoniensis Hance suppress hepatitis B virus replication in vitro and in rAAV8-1.3HBV transfected mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Hepatitis B, an infectious disease caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), is still a serious problem affecting global public health. Abrus cantoniensis Hance (AC), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has been used as a folk medicine for treating hepatitis in China from ancient times. However, its active ingredients are still unclear.

Sesquiterpenoids from Vitex pierreana.

A new germacrane sesquiterpenoid with an epoxy moiety, pierreanin A (1), and a pair of unique cyclobutyl-containing sesquiterpenoid diastereoisomers, pierreanins B and C (2 and 3), were isolated from the branches and leaves of Vitex pierreana, together with 2 known analogues, identified as germacrone (4) and epiprocurcumenol (5). The structures of all isolates were evaluated by detailed analyses of NMR, IR, and MS data. The absolute configurations of 1-3 were determined by comparison of the experimental ECD spectra with reported data of analogues containing the same chromophore.

Integrated Transcript and Metabolite Profiles Reveal That CHI Plays an Important Role in Scutellarin Accumulation in Hairy Roots.

Scutellarin, a flavonoid 7-O-glucuronide, is an essential bioactive compound of (Vaniot) Hand.-Mazz. used for the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases.

Natural Flavonoids as Promising Analgesic Candidates: A Systematic Review.

Due to the chemical structural diversity and various analgesic mechanisms, an increasing number of studies indicated that some flavonoids from medicinal plants could be promising candidates for new natural analgesic drugs, which attract high interests of advanced users and academic researchers. The aim of this systematic review is to report flavonoids and its derivatives as new analgesic candidates based on the pharmacological evidences. Sixty-four papers were found concerning the potential analgesic activity of 46 flavonoids.

Traditional Chinese medicine formulas for the treatment of osteoporosis: Implication for antiosteoporotic drug discovery.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Osteoporosis is a chronic epidemic which can leads to enhanced bone fragility and consequent an increase in fracture risk. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas have a long history of use in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Antiosteoporotic TCM formulas have conspicuous advantage over single drugs.

New cytotoxic compounds of endophytic fungus Alternaria sp. isolated from Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent.

From the ethyl acetate extract of a culture of the endophytic fungus Alternaria species G7 in Broussonetia papyrifera, a new compound altertoxin IV (1) together with nine known compounds were isolated and identified by means of bioassay-guided fractionation. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic methods, among which the absolute configuration of compound 1, a new tetrahydroperylenone derivative, was determined by means of X-Ray Crystallographic analysis. The isolated compounds were subjected to cytotoxic activity against three human cancer cell lines (A549, MG-63, and SMMC-7721).

Deep Sequencing Reveals the Effect of MeJA on Scutellarin Biosynthesis in Erigeron breviscapus.

Background: Erigeron breviscapus, a well-known traditional Chinese medicinal herb, is broadly used in the treatment of cerebrovascular disease. Scutellarin, a kind of flavonoids, is considered as the material base of the pharmaceutical activities in E. breviscapus.

The genus Hippocampus--a review on traditional medicinal uses, chemical constituents and pharmacological properties.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Several species from the genus Hippocampus have been widely used as a traditional medicine or invigorant with long history in China. Five species of them have been recorded in Chinese pharmacopoeia with name Hippocampus (Chinese name Haima [symbol: see text]). The ethnopharmacologial history of this genus indicated that they possess anti-tumor, anti-aging, anti-fatigue, anti-prostatic hyperplasia activities and can be used for the treatment of tumor, aging, fatigue, thrombus, inflammatory, hypertension and impotence.

The quality of reports of randomized clinical trials on traditional Chinese medicine treatments: a systematic review of articles indexed in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database from 2005 to 2012.

Background: The Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials (CONSORT) are aimed to standardize clinical trial reporting. Our objective is to compare the quality of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) published in 2005-2009 and 2011-2012 according to the current CONSORT statements and Jadad scale.

Data Sources: Reports on RCTs of TCM in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database (CNKI database) for manuscripts published from 2005 to 2009 and 2011-2012.

New phenylpropanoid and other compounds from Illicium lanceolatum with inhibitory activities against LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Illicium lanceolatum is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating inflammatory diseases. Anti-inflammatory activities of I. lanceolatum stems and leaves were tested using ear edema models induced by dimethyl benzene in mice.

The ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological profile of the genus Pinellia.

The genus Pinellia (Araceae), consisting of nine species, is mainly distributed in Eastern Asia. In traditional medicine, some Pinellia species have long been used for the treatment of various ailments, such as cough, vomiting, inflammation, epilepsy, cervical cancer and traumatic injury. Pharmacological studies revealed that Pinellia species possess a wide range of biological activities including cytotoxic, anti-tumor, antiemetic, insecticidal, antitussive, antimicrobial and anticonvulsant activities.

Chemical constituents from an endophytic fungus Chaetomium globosum Z1.

A new ergosterol, 15beta-hydroxyl-(22E,24R)-ergosta-3, 5, 8, 22-tetraen-one (1), along with three known ergosterols, two known cytochalasins, and two known azapholines were isolated from Chaetomium globosum Z1. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods (HR-ESI-MS, 1D NMR, and 2D NMR). Compound 6 showed significant cytotoxic activity against A-549 and MG-63 cell lines with IC50 values of 6.

A new labdane diterpene from Vitex negundo.

Context: Vitex negundo Linn. (Verbenaceae) seeds are pepper substitute and occasionally used as a condiment for edible purposes. The seeds also find use for analgesia, sedation, rheumatism and joint inflammation in folk medicine.

The genus Broussonetia: a review of its phytochemistry and pharmacology.

Plants belonging to the genus Broussonetia (Moraceae), which grow naturally in Asian and Pacific countries, have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various conditions, particularly tinea, dysentery, hernia and oedema. Various parts of plants of this genus such as the fruits, bark, leaves, flowers and roots are used medicinally. According to Flora of China, the inner bark fibre is used in making paper, and the wood is used for furniture.

Chemical composition, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of essential oil from the roots of Illicium lanceolatum.

Illicium lanceolatum is a popular aromatic and medicinal plant in China. Essential oil from the roots of I. lanceolatum, obtained by hydrodistillation, was analysed by GC-MS.

Hepatotoxicity of kaurene glycosides from Xanthium strumarium L. fruits in mice.

The fruit of Xanthium strumarium L. (Cang-Er-Zi) is a traditional Chinese medicine that is used in curing nasal diseases and headache according to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. However, clinical utilization of Xanthium strumarium is relatively limited because of its toxicity.

Antifatigue activity of the liposoluble fraction from Acanthopanax senticosus.

The crude extract of Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) has been used extensively in Russia, China, Korea and Japan as an adaptogenic agent to fight against stress and fatigue. However, whether the liposoluble fraction possesses antifatigue activity or not is still unclear. A liposoluble fraction was administered orally to mice for 9 days.

Illicium verum: a review on its botany, traditional use, chemistry and pharmacology.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The fruit of Illicium verum Hook. f. (Chinese star anise) has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine and food industry with the actions of dispelling cold, regulating the flow of Qi and relieving pain.

Acanthopanax senticosus: review of botany, chemistry and pharmacology.

Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim) Harms (Araliaceae), also called Siberian Ginseng, Eleutherococcus senticosus, and Ciwujia in Chinese, is a widely used traditional Chinese herb that could invigorate qi, strengthen the spleen, and nourish kidney in the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine. With high medicinal value, Acanthopanax senticosus (AS, thereafter) is popularly used as an "adaptogen" like Panax ginseng.