Ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of Chinese Salvia species: A review

Isoprenylated Flavonoids as Cav3.1 Low Voltage-Gated Ca2+ Channel Inhibitors from Salvia digitaloides

Saldigones A-C (1, 3, 4), three new isoprenylated flavonoids with diverse flavanone, pterocarpan, and isoflavanone architectures, were characterized from the roots of Salvia digitaloides, together with a known isoprenylated flavanone (2). Notably, it's the first report of isoprenylated flavonoids from Salvia species. The structures of these isolates were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis. All of the compounds were evaluated for their activities on Cav3.1 low voltage-gated Ca2+ channel (LVGCC), of which 2 strongly and dose-dependently inhibited Cav3.1 peak current.

Regioisomers Salviprolin A and B, Unprecedented Rosmarinic Acid Conjugated Dinorditerpenoids from Salvia przewalskii Maxim

Salvia przewalskii Maxim is a perennial plant from the genus Salvia (family Lamiaceae). The roots of S. przewalskii were long used as a traditional herb to treat blood circulation related illnesses in China. As part of our continuing interest in polycyclic natural products from medicinal plants, two unprecedented adducts comprised of a dinor-diterpenoid and a 9'-nor-rosmarinic acid derivative, linked by a 1,4-benzodioxane motif (1 and 2), were isolated from the roots of S. przewalskii. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic approaches including 1D, 2D NMR, and HRFABMS. Their cytotoxic activities against five human tumor cell lines were evaluated.

Cytokinin-Based Tissue Cultures for Stable Medicinal Plant Production: Regeneration and Phytochemical Profiling of Salvia bulleyana Shoots

Salvia bulleyana is a rare Chinese medicinal plant that due to the presence of polyphenols lowers the risk of some chronic diseases especially those related to the cardiovascular system. The present study examines the organogenic competence of various combinations and concentrations of plant growth regulators to develop an efficient protocol for in vitro regeneration of S. bulleyana via leaf explants, maintaining the high production of active constituents. The purpose of the study was also to assess the possibilities of using a cytokinin-based regeneration to effectively produce therapeutic compounds. The adventitious shoot formation was observed through direct organogenesis on media with purine derivatives (meta-topolin, mT and benzylaminopurine, BAP), and through indirect organogenesis on media with urea derivatives (tidiazuron, TDZ and forchlorfenuron, CPPU). The highest regeneration frequency (95%) with 5.2 shoots per explant was obtained on leaves cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 0.1 mg/L naphthalene-1-acetic acid (NAA) and 2 mg/L BAP. Following inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) marker-based profiling, the obtained organogenic shoot lines revealed a similar banding pattern to the mother line, with total variability of 4.2–13.7%, indicating high level of genetic stability. The similar genetic profile of the studied lines translated into similar growth parameters. Moreover, HPLC analysis revealed no qualitative differences in the profile of bioactive metabolites; also, the total polyphenol content was similar for different lines, with the exception of the shoots obtained in the presence of CPPU that produced higher level of bioactive compounds. This is the first report of an effective and rapid in vitro organogenesis protocol for S. bulleyana, which can be efficiently employed for obtaining stable cultures rich in bioactive metabolites.

Increased phenylpropanoids production in UV-B irradiated Salvia verticillata as a consequence of altered genes expression in young leaves

Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation as an environmental potential elicitor induces the synthesis of plant secondary metabolites. The effects of UV-B radiation on photosynthetic pigments and dry weight, biochemical and molecular features of old and young leaves of Salvia verticillata were investigated. Plants were exposed to 10.97 kJ m^-2 day^-1 of biologically effective UV-B radiation for up to 10 days. The sampling process was performed in four steps: 1, 5, 10, and 13 days (recovery time) after the start of irradiation. As a result of plant investment in primary and secondary metabolism, the production of phenolic compounds increased, while chlorophyll levels and leaf dry weight (%) declined. Under long-term UV-B exposure, young leaves exhibited the most significant reduction in chlorophyll a and b content and leaf dry weight. The highest level of total phenol (1.34-fold) and flavonoid concentration (2-fold) relative to the control was observed on the 5th day and recovery time, respectively. Young leaves demonstrated the highest amount of phenolic acids in recovery time. Young leaves on the 5th day of the experiment exerted the highest level of antioxidant activity when compared to the control. A positive correlation was observed between antioxidant activity and the amount of phenolic compounds. Regarding the expression of phenylpropanoid pathway genes, UV-B enhanced the expression of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, tyrosine aminotransferase, and rosmarinic acid synthase with the highest level in young leaves on the 10th day. Overall, young leaves of S. verticillata indicated higher sensitivity to UV-B radiation and developed more tangible reactions to such radiation.

Tanshinone IIA alleviates vitiligo by suppressing AKT mediated CD8+ T cells activation in a mouse model

Tanshinone IIA has been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects, while it is not clear whether Tanshinone IIA has protective role in vitiligo. Premelanosome (PMEL) CD8⁺ T cells were adoptive transferred into Krt14- Kitl* mice with Kit ligand (KITL) over-expressed, to construct the vitiligo model. Pdk1^fl/fl and Stat3^fl/fl mice were crossed with Cd8^cre mice to establish Pdk1^TKO and Stat3^TKO mice. Tanshinone IIA (200 μg) was intravenous injected to treat vitiligo in mice every 3 days. The accumulation of macrophages and CD8⁺ T cells in the ear skin was assayed by flow cytometry. Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were induced and stimulated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and IL-4. It was found that Tanshinone IIA alleviated the development of vitiligo, impaired PMEL CD8⁺ T cells accumulation in the ear skin, and inhibited LPS-induced TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β expression and secretion in BMDMs, which could also inhibit IL-4-induced Arg-1 and Mrc-1 expression in BMDMs. In addition, Tanshinone IIA could inhibit the proliferation and cytotoxic function of CD8⁺ T cells indicated by the expression of Perforin, Granzymeb, and IFN-γ. Furthermore, Tanshinone IIA treated Pdk1^TKO mice, not Stat3^TKO mice, showed impaired PMEL CD8⁺ T cells accumulation in the ear skin. In summary, Tanshinone IIA alleviates vitiligo development with impaired CD8⁺ T cells accumulation and activation of Pdk1-Akt pathway.

Recent Advances in the Synthetic Biology of Natural Drugs

Natural drugs have been transformed and optimized during the long process of evolution. These compounds play a very important role in the protection of human health and treatment of human diseases. Sustainable approaches to the generation of raw materials for pharmaceutical products have been extensively investigated in drug research and development because chemical synthesis is costly and generates pollution. The present review provides an overview of the recent advances in the synthetic biology of natural drugs. Particular attention is paid to the investigations of drugs that may be mass-produced by the pharmaceutical industry after optimization of the corresponding synthetic systems. The present review describes the reconstruction and optimization of biosynthetic pathways for nine drugs, including seven drugs from plant sources and two drugs from microbial sources, suggesting a new strategy for the large-scale preparation of some rare natural plant metabolites and highly bioactive microbial compounds. Some of the suggested synthetic methods remain in a preliminary exploration stage; however, a number of these methods demonstrated considerable application potential. The authors also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the application of synthetic biology and various expression systems for heterologous expression of natural drugs. Thus, the present review provides a useful perspective for researchers attempting to use synthetic biology to produce natural drugs.

Exploration of the Modulatory Property Mechanism of ELeng Capsule in the Treatment of Endometriosis Using Transcriptomics Combined With Systems Network Pharmacology

Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease and causes severe chronic pelvic pain and infertility. Growing evidence showed that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays an active role in the treatment of endometriosis. ELeng Capsule (ELC) is a Chinese medicine formula used for the treatment of endometriosis for several years. However, the mechanisms of ELC have not been fully characterized. In this study, network pharmacology and mRNA transcriptome analysis were used to study various therapeutic targets in ELC. As a result, 40 compounds are identified, and 75 targets overlapped with endometriosis-related proteins. The mechanism of ELC for the treatment of endometriosis is based on the function modules of inducing apoptosis, inhibiting angiogenesis, and regulating immunity mainly through signaling molecules and interaction (neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction), immune system-associated pathways (toll-like receptor signaling pathway), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling, and MAPK signaling pathway based on network pharmacology. In addition, based on RNA-sequence analysis, we found that the mechanism of ELC was predominantly associated with the regulation of the function modules of actin and cytoskeleton, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), focal adhesion, and immunity-associated pathways. In conclusion, ELC exerted beneficial effects on endometriosis, and the potential mechanism could be realized through functional modules, such as inducing apoptosis and regulating angiogenesis, cytoskeleton, and EMT. This work not only provides insights into the therapeutic mechanism of TCM for treating endometriosis but also offers an efficient way for drug discovery and development from herbal medicine.

Phytochemical composition, antisnake venom and antibacterial activities of ethanolic extract of Aegiphila integrifolia (Jacq) Moldenke leaves

Snakebites are considered a major neglected tropical disease, resulting in around 100,000 deaths per year. The recommended treatment by the WHO is serotherapy, which has limited effectiveness against the toxins involved in local tissue damage. In some countries, patients use plants from folk medicines as antivenoms. Aegiphila species are common plants from the Brazilian Amazon and are used to treat snakebites. In this study, leaves from Aegiphila integrifolia (Jacq) Moldenke were collected from Roraima state, Brazil and its ethanolic extract was evaluated through in vitro and in vivo experiments to verify their antiophidic activity against Bothrops atrox crude venom. The isolated compounds from A. integrifolia were analyzed and the chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of infrared, ultraviolet, mass, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectrometry data. Among the described compounds, lupeol (7), betulinic acid (1), β-sitosterol (6), stigmasterol (5), mannitol (4), and the flavonoids, pectolinarigenin (2) and hispidulin (3), were identified. The ethanolic extract and flavonoids (2 and 3) partially inhibited the proteolytic, phospholipase A2 and hyaluronidase activities of B. atrox venom, and the skin hemorrhage induced by this venom in mice. Antimicrobial activity against different bacteria was evaluated and the extract partially inhibited bacterial growth. Thus, taken together, A. integrifolia ethanolic extract has promising use as an antiophidic and antimicrobial.

Dihydrotanshinone Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Suppressing the JAK2/STAT3 Pathway

Liver cancer is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer death. Most (75–85%) primary liver cancers occurring worldwide are hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The development of resistance and other drug related side effects are the prime reasons for the failure of treatment. Therefore, developing high-efficacy and low-toxicity natural anticancer agents is greatly needed in the treatment of HCC. Dihydrotanshinone (DHTS) is widely used for promoting blood circulation and antitumor. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of DHTS-induced apoptosis of HCC, both in vitro and in vivo. We found that DHTS inhibited the growth of several HCC cells (HCCLM3, SMMC7721, Hep3B and HepG2). DHTS induced the apoptosis of SMMC7721 cells. Immunofluorescence results have showed that DHTS decreased STAT3 nuclear translocation. Moreover, Western blot results have demonstrated that DHTS suppressed the activation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. In addition, xenograft results have showed that DHTS suppressed tumor growth of SMMC7721 cells in vivo by inhibiting the p-STAT3. Thus, we demonstrated that DHTS could inhibit HCC by suppressing the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. DHTS has potential to be a chemotherapeutic agent in HCC and merits further clinical investigation.

Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) on the Global Market: What Are the Implications for Products' Quality?

Background: Danshen (Radix et rhizoma Salviae miltiorrhizae; Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Lamiaceae) is commonly used in Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea with markets in America and Europe growing substantially. It is included in multiple pharmacopeias and salvianolic acid B and tanshinone IIA are used as quality markers. However, on the markets, substitutes and different processing methods often are a concern. a concern regarding patients’ safety and expected outcomes.

Aims: This study aims at understanding the quality of Danshen-derived products on the market, and the relationship between the chemistry, biological activity and the processing and storage methods.

Methods: For heavy metal analysis, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry was used. High performance thin-layer chromatography and proton nuclear magnetic resonance coupled with principal component analysis were used to understand the variation of metabolite composition. MTT assay and LPS induced NO production assay were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity effect and anti-inflammatory activity, respectively.

Result and Discussion: Six out of sixty samples exceed the limits of cadmium according to the Chinese or United States Pharmacopoeia. Arsenic, lead and copper contents are all below pharmacopoeial thresholds. With more complex processing procedure, the risk of heavy metal contamination increases, especially with arsenic and cadmium. The metabolite compositions show a variability linked to processing and storage methods. Authenticated samples and Vietnamese primary samples contain higher salvianolic acid B, and their chemical compositions are more consistent compared to Chinese online store samples. Overall, a significant chemical variation can be observed in Danshen products directly linked to processing and storage method. In the MTT assay, fourteen samples show cytotoxicity while seven samples increase the proliferation of RAW264.7. In the LPS induced NO production of RAW 264.7, only seven samples show significant inhibitory effects.

Conclusion: This is the first interdisciplinary investigation focusing on understanding the current market and the quality of Danshen. The quality of Danshen products on the high street are inferior to the authenticated samples. The results of the bioassays selected is not useful to differentiate the quality and composition according to the current definition in the pharmacopoeias. Overall, this approach highlights the tremendous variability of the products linked to processing and the need for more systematic and stringent quality assurance.

Neo-clerodane diterpenic influence in the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of Salvia circinnata Cav

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Mexico is considered an ancestral center of diversity of Salvia species, however many of them lack scientific information. Salvia circinnata Cav. (syn. Salvia amarissima Ortega) is an endemic species used in traditional medicine to treat disorders attributed to a cold state like anxiety in the central nervous system, as well as gastrointestinal ailments and pain relief.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To give preclinical evidence about the pharmacological properties of this species by investigating its antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects, the chemical nature of at least one metabolite, and a possible mechanism of action and adverse effects, using different experimental models of pain.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Different crude extracts of Salvia circinnata Cav. aerial parts were prepared using increasing polarity and evaluated in the formalin test in mice. This screening allowed to select and evaluate an ethyl acetate extract (EtOAc), as the most bioactive extract, and a metabolite. Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities were confirmed using the plantar test and carrageenan-induced edema. The antinociceptive effects of the extracts were compared to that observed with morphine (1 mg/kg), tramadol (20 mg/kg) or indomethacin (20 mg/kg) as reference drugs. Participation of opioids and TRPV1 receptors was investigated, as well as acute toxicity and adverse effects of sedation and gastric damage.

RESULTS

EtOAc (0.1-10 mg/kg) of S. circinnata Cav. showed a dose-dependent and significant antinociceptive activity, associated in part with the presence of a neo-clerodane glycoside amarisolide A (0.01-1 mg/kg), in the neurogenic and inflammatory phases of the formalin test. Central action of both treatments was corroborated in the plantar test, whereas anti-inflammatory effects were confirmed with the extract (1 and 10 mg/kg) and amarisolide A (1 mg/kg) in the carrageenan-induced edema test. An opioid mechanism in both treatments, and the TRPV1 receptor modulation in the extract were involved. No acute toxicity and adverse effects were noticed with the extract and pure compound in comparison to the reference drugs.

CONCLUSION

These results provide preclinical evidence of the ethnopharmacological antinociceptive S. circinnata Cav. properties, in which the neo-clerodane diterpene glycoside amarisolide A was partially responsible involving the participation of the opioid receptors, while TRPV1 receptor modulation was implicated in the anti-inflammatory activity may be because of the presence of other constituents. This information supports the use of this species in folk medicine for pain therapy.

Preventive but nontherapeutic effect of danshensu on hypoxic pulmonary hypertension

OBJECTIVES

Danshensu is a traditional Chinese medicine that is used for treatment of cardiovascular diseases. We previously demonstrated its preventive effect against early-stage hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) in a rat model. To determine whether danshensu treatment might be useful for patients with chronic HPH, we examined its therapeutic effect in rats with prolonged HPH.

METHODS

Adult Sprague-Dawley rats received danshensu (80, 160, and 320 mg/kg) during or after hypoxia exposure to assess preventive and therapeutic effects, respectively. Right ventricle systolic pressure (RVSP), right ventricle hypertrophy index (RVHI), and mean left carotid artery pressure (mCAP) were measured in each group. Western blotting was used to assess transforming growth factor (TGF)-β expression levels in rats and cultured cells exposed to hypoxia.

RESULTS

Preventive danshensu treatment significantly reduced the elevation of RVSP and RVHI in rats exposed to hypoxia, whereas therapeutic danshensu treatment did not; mCAP did not change in any treatment group. The increased expression levels of TGF-β induced by hypoxia were inhibited by preventive danshensu treatment, but not by therapeutic danshensu treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Although danshensu treatment could prevent HPH, it had no obvious therapeutic effect after development of HPH. Therefore, danshensu might be suitable for clinical treatment of early-stage HPH.

Polyoxygenated sesquiterpenoids from Salvia castanea and their potential anti-Alzheime's disease bioactivities

Salvia castanea (Family Labiatae), a perennial fragrant herb with castaneous flowers, is mainly distributed in areas with an altitude of 2500-3750 m. The roots of this plant were used as a tea drink by local residents to strengthen physical health. The aim of present study was to acquire secondary metabolites of the ethanol extract obtained from the whole plant of S. castanea and to evaluate their potential anti-Alzheimer's disease. Six new sesquiterpene lactones, salcastanins A-F (1-6), together with three known guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids nubiol (7), nubdienolide (8), and nubenolide (9), were separated from the whole plant of S. castanea. The structures of these compounds were determined by HRESIMS and NMR experiments. The absolute configurations of 1-6 were ascertained by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) experiments. The humanized Caenorhabditis elegans AD pathological model was used to evaluate anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) activities of 1-9. The results showed the compounds 1-3 and 7 significantly delayed AD-like symptoms of worm paralysis phenotype, which could be used as novel anti-AD candidates.

Preparation, evaluation, and in vitro release of chitosan-alginate tanshinone self-microemulsifying sustained-release microcapsules

OBJECTIVE

In this study we explore the method to prepare tanshinone self-microemulsifying sustained-release microcapsules using tanshinone self-microemulsion as the core material, and chitosan and alginate as capsule materials.

METHODS

The optimal preparation technology of chitosan-alginate tanshinone self-microemulsifying sustained-release microcapsules was determined by using the orthogonal design experiment and single-factor analysis. The drug loading and entrapment rate were used as evaluation indexes to assess the quality of the drug, and the in vitro release rate was used to evaluate the drug release performance.

RESULTS

The best technology of chitosan-alginate tanshinone self-microemulsifying sustained-release microcapsules is as follows: the concentration of alginate is 1.5%, the ratio of tanshinone self-microemulsion volume to alginate volume to chitosan mass is 1:1:0.5 (ml: ml: g), and the best concentration of calcium chloride is 2.0%. To prepare the microcapsules using this technology, the drug loading will be 0.046%, the entrapment rate will be 80.23%, and the 24-hour in vitro cumulative release rate will be 97.4%.

CONCLUSION

The release of the microcapsules conforms to the Higuchi equation and the first-order drug release model and has a good sustained-release performance.

Phytochemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Aerial and Underground Parts of Salvia bulleyana Diels. Plants

Plants have been used for medical purposes since ancient times. However, a detailed analysis of their biological properties and their associated active compounds is needed to justify their therapeutic use in modern medicine. The aim of the study was to identify and quantify the phenolics present in hydromethanolic extracts of the roots and shoots of the Chinese Salvia species, Salvia bulleyana. The qualitative and quantitative analyses were carried out by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry detection (UHPLC-PDA-ESI-MS), and high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array (HPLC-PDA) detection. The extracts of S. bulleyana were also screened for their antioxidant activity using ferric ion (Fe³⁺) reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), diammonium 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) cation (ABTS), superoxide radical anion (O₂•–), and inhibition of lipid peroxidation assays. The S. bulleyana extracts were found to contain 38 substances, of which 36 were phenols, with a total level of 14.4 mg/g DW (dry weight) in shoots, and 23.1 mg/g DW in roots. Twenty-eight phenols were polyphenolic acids or their derivatives, the most abundant in shoots being rosmarinic acid, and in roots, salvianolic acid K followed by rosmarinic acid. The other major phenolic acids were caffeic acid, caffeoyl-threonic acids, isomers of lithospermic acid, salvianolic acid F, salvianolic acid B, and yunnaneic acid E. In addition to polyphenolic acids, nine flavonoids were detected in the shoot extract. While both extracts showed significant antioxidant activity, the shoot extract, containing both polyphenolic acids and flavonoids, demonstrated a slightly greater antioxidant potential in some of the anti-radical tests than the roots. However, the root extract proved to be slightly more effective in the lipid peroxidation inhibition test. Thus, S. bulleyana was demonstrated as a promising source of antioxidants, and worthy of further more detailed studies.

Plant Pharmacophylogeny: Review and Future Directions

Medicinal plants have provided numerous medicinal active ingredients for thousands of years and these ingredients have been used in Chinese medicine (CM) and traditional pharmacologies worldwide. Recently, the exploitation and utilisation of medicinal plant resources has increased significantly. The results of the studies have led to the identification of many active components, such as steroidal alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, and glycosides, in various medicinal plants with different evolutionary levels. Moreover, research on the chemical classification, molecular phylogeny, and pharmacological activity of medicinal plants is increasing in popularity. Pharmacophylogeny is an interdisciplinary topic that studies the correlation between plant phylogeny, chemical composition, and curative effects (pharmacological activity and the traditional curative effect) of medicinal plants. In addition, it provides the basic tools to enable research and development of CM resources. This literature review, based on the genetic relationship between phytogroup and species, highlights the formation process, research content, applications, and future directions of pharmacophylogeny.

Transcriptomic analysis reveals the GRAS family genes respond to gibberellin in Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy roots

BACKGROUND

Salvia miltiorrhiza is one of the most important traditional Chinese medicinal plants with high medicinal value. Gibberellins are growth-promoting phytohormones that regulate numerous growth and developmental processes in plants. However, their role on the secondary metabolism regulation has not been investigated.

RESULTS

In this study, we found that gibberellic acid (GA) can promote hairy roots growth and increase the contents of tanshinones and phenolic acids. Transcriptomic sequencing revealed that many genes involved in the secondary metabolism pathway were the GA-responsive. After further analysis of GA signaling pathway genes, which their expression profiles have significantly changed, it was found that the GRAS transcription factor family had a significant response to GA. We identified 35 SmGRAS genes in S. miltiorrhiza, which can be divided into 10 subfamilies. Thereafter, members of the same subfamily showed similar conserved motifs and gene structures, suggesting possible conserved functions.

CONCLUSIONS

Most SmGRAS genes were significantly responsive to GA, indicating that they may play an important role in the GA signaling pathway, also participating in the GA regulation of root growth and secondary metabolism in S. miltiorrhiza.

Antioxidant Supplementation in the Treatment of Neurotoxicity Induced by Platinum-Based Chemotherapeutics-A Review

Cancer represents one of the most pernicious public health problems with a high mortality rate among patients worldwide. Chemotherapy is one of the major therapeutic approaches for the treatment of various malignancies. Platinum-based drugs (cisplatin, oxaliplatin, carboplatin, etc.) are highly effective chemotherapeutic drugs used for the treatment of several types of malignancies, but their application and dosage are limited by their toxic effects on various systems, including neurotoxicity. Simultaneously, researchers have tried to improve the survival rate and quality of life of cancer patients and decrease the toxicity of platinum-containing drugs by combining them with non-chemotherapy-based drugs, dietary supplements and/or antioxidants. Additionally, recent studies have shown that the root cause for the many side effects of platinum chemotherapeutics involves the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in naive cells. Therefore, suppression of ROS generation and their inactivation with antioxidants represents an appropriate approach for platinum drug-induced toxicities. The aim of this paper is to present an updated review of the protective effects of different antioxidant agents (vitamins, dietary antioxidants and supplements, medicaments, medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds) against the neurotoxicity induced by platinum-based chemotherapeutics. This review highlights the high potential of plant antioxidants as adjuvant strategies in chemotherapy with platinum drugs.

A novel salvianolic acid A analog with resveratrol structure and its antioxidant activities in vitro and in vivo

E-DRS is a novel salvianolic acid A (SAA) analog, which was synthesized from resveratrol (RES) and methyldopate. Its structure is similar to that of SAA, but the 3',4'-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene group and the ester structure in SAA were replaced by the RES structure and an amine group, respectively. E-DRS scavenged free oxygen radicals effectively, including superoxide anion (ascorbic acid > E-DRS > SAA ≥ rutin > RES) and DPPH radical (rutin > E-DRS ≥ ascorbic acid > SAA > RES), and exhibited powerful total antioxidant capacity (ascorbic acid > E-DRS > SAA ≥ rutin > RES) in vitro. Furthermore, oral administration of E-DRS dose-dependently and significantly decreased CCl₄ -induced oxidative stress in mice as indicated by the decreased content of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA). In addition, oral administration of E-DRS also increased the content of nonenzymatic antioxidant glutathione (GSH) and the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the liver of mice. All these results demonstrated that E-DRS had good antioxidant activities both in vitro and in vivo, and could be a potential antioxidant agent after further optimization and evaluation.

Antitumor Activity of Ethanolic Extract from Thymbra Spicata L. aerial Parts: Effects on Cell Viability and Proliferation, Apoptosis Induction, STAT3, and NF-kB Signaling

Thyme-like plants including Thymbra spicata L. are widely used as food and folk medicinal remedies in the Mediterranean area. This study aimed to explore the in vitro antitumor potential of polyphenol-enriched extracts from aerial parts of T. spicata. The ethanolic extract significantly inhibited proliferation of different human tumor cell lines, without significant effects on non-neoplastic cells. A deeper investigation of the molecular mechanism sustaining the in vitro antitumor activity of the extract was carried on the human breast cancer cells MCF-7 in comparison with the normal breast cells MCF-10A. The effects on MCF-7 cells were associated with the following: (i) production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and release of nitric oxide; (ii) apoptosis induction; and (iii) reduction in STAT3 and NF-kB phosphorylation. The ethanolic extract from T. spicata leaves might represent a novel therapeutic tool in combination with conventional chemotherapy to reduce the adverse side effects and drug resistance.

Research progress in use of traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of spinal cord injury

BACKGROUND

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious central nervous system disorder caused by trauma that has gradually become a major challenge in clinical medical research. As an important branch of worldwide medical research, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is rapidly moving towards a path of reform and innovation. Therefore, this paper systematically reviews research related to existing TCM treatments for SCI, with the aims of identifying deficits and shortcomings within the field, and proposing feasible alternative prospects.

METHODS

All data and conclusions in this paper were obtained from articles published by peers in relevant fields. PubMed, SciFinder, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and CNKI databases were searched for relevant articles. Results regarding TCM for SCI were identified and retrieved, then manually classified and selected for inclusion in this review.

RESULTS

The literature search identified a total of 652 articles regarding TCM for SCI. Twenty-eight treatments (16 active ingredients, nine herbs, and three compound prescriptions) were selected from these articles; the treatments have been used for the prevention and treatment of SCI. In general, these treatments involved antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and/or antiapoptotic effects of TCM compounds.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper showed that TCM treatments can serve as promising auxiliary therapies for functional recovery of patients with SCI. These findings will contribute to the development of diversified treatments for SCI.

Hydroglycerolic Solvent and Ultrasonication Pretreatment: A Green Blend for High-Efficiency Extraction of Salvia fruticosa Polyphenols

Salvia fruticosa Miller, also known as Cretan or Greek sage, is a medicinal plant with significant biological properties, which are largely ascribed to its polyphenolic composition, but there is to-date a scarcity of green and sustainable processes for efficient polyphenol extraction from this plant. The objective of this study was the implementation of an extraction process that would combine a green solvent based on glycerol, a biodiesel industry by-product, and ultrasonication pretreatment. Ultrasonication for 40 min followed by stirred-tank extraction was shown to provide significantly higher total polyphenol yield than mere stirred-tank extraction, while kinetics indicated 50 °C as the most favorable temperature, with the yield being 92 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per g dry mass. Comparison of this method with a previously developed one that used methyl β-cyclodextrin revealed that the extracts obtained had similar antioxidant activity, and yield in major polyphenols including luteolin 7-O-glucuronide and rosmarinic acid was virtually equal. The current process is proposed as a sustainable and effective methodology for the generation of polyphenol-enriched extracts from S. fruticosa, which could be used as effective food antioxidants/antimicrobials and/or cosmetic constituents.

Secondary Metabolites from Plants Possessing Inhibitory Properties against Beta-Amyloid Aggregation as Revealed by Thioflavin-T Assay and Correlations with Investigations on Transgenic Mouse Models of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder for which there is a continuous search of drugs able to reduce or stop the cognitive decline. Beta-amyloid peptides are composed of 40 and 42 amino acids and are considered a major cause of neuronal toxicity. They are prone to aggregation, yielding oligomers and fibrils through the inter-molecular binding between the amino acid sequences (17-42) of multiple amyloid-beta molecules. Additionally, amyloid deposition causes cerebral amyloid angiopathy. The present study aims to identify, in the existing literature, natural plant derived products possessing inhibitory properties against aggregation. The studies searched proved the anti-aggregating effects by the thioflavin T assay and through behavioral, biochemical, and histological analysis carried out upon administration of natural chemical compounds to transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. According to our present study results, fifteen secondary metabolites from plants were identified which presented both evidence coming from the thioflavin T assay and transgenic mouse models developing Alzheimer's disease and six additional metabolites were mentioned due to their inhibitory effects against fibrillogenesis. Among them, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, luteolin, myricetin, and silibinin were proven to lower the aggregation to less than 40%.

High-Performance Green Extraction of Polyphenolic Antioxidants from Salvia fruticosa Using Cyclodextrins: Optimization, Kinetics, and Composition

S. fruticosa, collectively known as Cretan sage, is a medicinal plant to which a number of bioactivities have been attributed. In spite of its importance in nutrition and pharmacy, reports on the extraction of major polyphenols using sustainable processes are particularly limited. In this study, three common cyclodextrins, namely, methyl β-cyclodextrin (m-β-CD), hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD), and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), were tested as green boosters of aqueous extraction of polyphenols from aerial parts of S. fruticosa. To examine simultaneously important extraction parameters, including the concentration of cyclodextrins (CCD), pH, and liquid-to-solid ratio (RL/S), a Box–Behnken design was chosen, with three central points. Temperature effects on the extraction yield were also considered, by carrying out kinetics. The results showed that m-β-CD was the most effective extraction booster, providing total polyphenols yields that amounted to 98.39 mg gallic acid equivalents g−1 dry mass. The kinetic assay demonstrated that extraction was highly effective at 80 °C, increasing significantly polyphenol yield, as well as the ferric-reducing power and antiradical activity of the extracts. It was also proven that extraction with m-β-CD was the least energy-demanding process. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry examination revealed that m-β-CD might possess higher affinity for luteolin 7-O-glucuronide extraction, but β-CD for rosmarinic acid extraction.

Antioxidant Properties and Protective Effects of Some Species of the Annonaceae, Lamiaceae, and Geraniaceae Families against Neuronal Damage Induced by Excitotoxicity and Cerebral Ischemia

This study aimed to compare the antioxidant activities of extracts obtained from three plant families and evaluate their therapeutic effect on strokes. Ethanol extracts were obtained from either the leaf or the aerial parts of plants of the families Annonaceae (Annona cherimola, A. diversifolia, A. muricata, A. purpurea, and A. reticulata), Lamiaceae (Salvia amaríssima and S. polystachya), and Geraniaceae (Geranium niveum and G. mexicanum). Extracts were analyzed in terms of hydroxyl radical (OH•), peroxyl radical (ROO•), and superoxide anion (O2•-). The efficiency of the extracts to prevent neuronal death induced by excitotoxicity was tested with the tetrazolium assay, the O2•- scavenging capacity was evaluated with the dihydroethidium dye, and the protective effect of the extracts with the highest antioxidant activity was tested on a stroke experimental model. The extracts' IC50 values (μg/mL) of scavenging varied from 98.9 to 155.04, 4.5 to 102.4, and 20.2 to 118.97 for OH•, ROO•, and O2•-, respectively. In the excitotoxicity model, Annonaceae extracts were highly cytotoxic while Lamiaceae and Geraniaceae reduced intracellular O2•- production and protect neurons against oxidative stress. Salvia polystachya reduced cerebral damage, as well as improved survival and behavior after ischemia. Our results encouraged the use of plant extracts as natural antioxidants to minimize neuronal injury following stroke.

Modular Characteristics and Mechanism of Action of Herbs for Endometriosis Treatment in Chinese Medicine: A Data Mining and Network Pharmacology-Based Identification

Endometriosis is a common benign disease in women of reproductive age. It has been defined as a disorder characterized by inflammation, compromised immunity, hormone dependence, and neuroangiogenesis. Unfortunately, the mechanisms of endometriosis have not yet been fully elucidated, and available treatment methods are currently limited. The discovery of new therapeutic drugs and improvements in existing treatment schemes remain the focus of research initiatives. Chinese medicine can improve the symptoms associated with endometriosis. Many Chinese herbal medicines could exert antiendometriosis effects via comprehensive interactions with multiple targets. However, these interactions have not been defined. This study used association rule mining and systems pharmacology to discover a method by which potential antiendometriosis herbs can be investigated. We analyzed various combinations and mechanisms of action of medicinal herbs to establish molecular networks showing interactions with multiple targets. The results showed that endometriosis treatment in Chinese medicine is mainly based on methods of supplementation with blood-activating herbs and strengthening qi. Furthermore, we used network pharmacology to analyze the main herbs that facilitate the decoding of multiscale mechanisms of the herbal compounds. We found that Chinese medicine could affect the development of endometriosis by regulating inflammation, immunity, angiogenesis, and other clusters of processes identified by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. The antiendometriosis effect of Chinese medicine occurs mainly through nervous system–associated pathways, such as the serotonergic synapse, the neurotrophin signaling pathway, and dopaminergic synapse, among others, to reduce pain. Chinese medicine could also regulate VEGF signaling, toll-like reporter signaling, NF-κB signaling, MAPK signaling, PI3K-Akt signaling, and the HIF-1 signaling pathway, among others. Synergies often exist in herb pairs and herbal prescriptions. In conclusion, we identified some important targets, target pairs, and regulatory networks, using bioinformatics and data mining. The combination of data mining and network pharmacology may offer an efficient method for drug discovery and development from herbal medicines.

LYW-6, a novel cryptotanshinone derived STAT3 targeting inhibitor, suppresses colorectal cancer growth and metastasis

The constitutive activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3) is associated with aggressive development and metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC), but STAT3-targeting drugs remain elusive in clinic. Here, structure-based strategy was used to remodel the natural compound cryptotanshinone into a more effective STAT3 inhibitor LYW-6. Using the Biolayer Interferometry assay, we observed that LYW-6 exhibited specific interactions with STAT3(KD = 6.6 ± 0.7 μM). Western blot analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) showed that LYW-6 inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT3 tyrosine 705 (Tyr-705) and had slight effects on STAT1 and STAT5 phosphorylation. Western blot analysis on the upstream kinases of STAT3 confirmed that the inhibitory mechanism on p-STAT3 was independent of upstream kinases. Further investigation demonstrated that LYW-6 downregulated the expression of downstream oncogenes to inhibit cell viability, cell cycle development, and potently increased cell apoptosis in human CRC cells. The invasion and metastasis linked signaling was also blocked by LYW-6 treatment. LYW-6 was found to reduce the metastasis foci in lung on tail-lung metastasis models. In addition, it was observed that LYW-6 markedly diminished STAT3 phosphorylation in tumor tissue and significantly inhibited tumor growth on xenograft models. Tumor development on chemically-induced colorectal cancer model also significantly inhibited by LYW-6 treatment. These findings provided adequate evidence that STAT3 inhibitor LYW-6 might be a potential candidate agent for CRC treatment.

Therapeutic potential of IKK-β inhibitors from natural phenolics for inflammation in cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular disease (CVDs) is a chronic disease with the highest morbidity and mortality in the world. Previous studies have suggested that preventing inflammation serves an efficient role in protection against cardiovascular diseases. Modulation of IKK-β activity can be used to treat and control CVDs associated with chronic inflammation, which targets the phosphorylation of IκB following the release of the RelA complex, and then translocates to the nucleus, eventually triggering the transcription of several genes that induce chemokines, cytokines, and adhesion molecules. Most importantly, the IκB kinase (IKK) complex is involved in transcriptional activation by phosphorylating the inhibitory molecule IkBα, enabling activation of NF-κB. Phenolic compounds possess cardioprotective potential that may be related to modulating inflammatory responses involved in CVDs. The SystemsDock analysis was used to explore whether 38 active compounds inhibit IKK-β activity based on literature. Docking results showed that the top docking score of three chemical compounds were icariin, salvianolic acid B, and plantainoside D in all compounds. Icariin, salvianolic acid B, and plantainoside D are the most promising IKKβ inhibitors. These phytochemicals could be helpful to find the lead compounds on designing and developing novel cardioprotective agents.

A review of traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary malignant intracranial tumor. Due to its high morbidity, high mortality, high recurrence rate, and low cure rate, it has brought great difficulty for treatment. Although the current treatment is multimodal, including surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, it does not significantly improve survival time. The dismal prognosis and inevitable recurrence as well as resistance to chemoradiotherapy may be related to its highly cellular heterogeneity and multiple subclonal populations. Traditional Chinese medicine has its own unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of it. A comprehensive literature search of anti-glioblastoma active ingredients and derivatives from traditional Chinese medicine was carried out in literature published in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science Cochrane library, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP database. Hence, this article systematically reviews experimental research progress of some traditional Chinese medicine in treatment of glioblastoma from two aspects: strengthening vital qi and eliminating pathogenic qi. Among, strengthening vital qi medicine includes panax ginseng, licorice, lycium barbarum, angelica sinensis; eliminating pathogenic medicine includes salvia miltiorrhiza bunge, scutellaria baicalensis, coptis rhizoma, thunder god vine, and sophora flavescens. We found that the same active ingredient can act on different signaling pathways, such as ginsenoside Rg3 inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis via the AKT, MEK signal pathway. Hence, this multi-target, multi-level pathway may bring on a new dawn for the treatment of glioblastoma.

The hepatoprotective effects of Salvia plebeia R. Br. extract in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Salvia plebeia R. Br. is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb that has been widely used for the treatment of many inflammatory diseases such as hepatitis. However, the underlying molecular mechanism about the hepatoprotective effects of S. plebeia remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated the antioxidant activities and anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol extracts of S. plebeia (SPEE) in the zebrafish model. Firstly, we determined the chemical compositions of SPEE and identified three major constituents by using GC-MS analysis. After that, SPEE exhibited significantly antioxidant properties in the LPS-induced zebrafish embryos, and the enzyme activities of ROS, CAT and SOD were obviously inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Secondly, SPEE greatly reduced fat vacuoles (HE staining), lipid accumulation (Oil O staining) and hepatocyte fibrosis (Gemori staining) in the thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatocyte injury of adult zebrafish. Meanwhile, the NO contents and lipid metabolism-related genes were substantially down-regulated after SPEE exposure. Thirdly, we used RNA-Seq analysis to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after SPEE exposure in adult zebrafish liver. The results showed that 1289 DEGs including 558 up-regulated and 731 down-regulated were identified between the TAA + SPEE and TAA groups. KEGG pathway and GO functional analysis revealed that steroid biosynthesis, oxidation-reduction and innate immunity were significantly enriched. Mechanistically, SPEE can considerably reduce the cell apoptosis of hepatocytes and promote the translocation of Nrf2 protein from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in TAA-induced zebrafish. Moreover, SPEE can modulate various inflammatory cytokines and immune genes both in the control and H₂O₂-stimulated conditions. The pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and TNF-α was markedly up-regulated but the anti-inflammatory cytokines such as TGF-β was greatly down-regulated after SPEE treatment. In addition, some key genes in the TLR signaling were also activated in the H₂O₂-stimulated conditions. In summary, our results suggested that SPEE had an important role in the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in zebrafish in the near future. Some of the components identified in this study may be served as potential sources of new hepatoprotective compounds for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Tanshinone IIA ameliorates the bleomycin-induced endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition via the Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway in a murine model of systemic sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune inflammatory and vascular disorder leading to progressive tissue fibrosis. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is a phytochemical extracted from the Chinese herb Salvia miltiorrhiza that exhibits diverse activities. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the potential impact of Tan IIA on the skin fibrosis-related endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) and investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms. EndoMT-related indexes including morphological characteristics, functional changes, histological parameters, expression levels of extracellular matrix associated genes, and changes in the expression of related biomarkers in dermal fibrosis were assessed. Tan IIA had a strong anti-fibrotic effect through amelioration of skin thickness and collagen deposition. Moreover, Tan IIA partially reversed bleomycin-induced EndoMT both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, Tan IIA mitigated the diminution of tube formation in endothelial cells induced by bleomycin. Furthermore, mechanistically, the activation of the Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway was found to be involved in bleomycin-treated SSc mouse model, which was alleviated by Tan IIA. In summary, these data suggest that Tan IIA alleviates SSc-related dermal fibrosis and EndoMT and that the Akt/mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway is involved in this regulation, thus supporting the potential of Tan IIA as a disease-modifying candidate agent for treating the vascular damage of SSc.

Danshen Improves Survival of Patients With Breast Cancer and Dihydroisotanshinone I Induces Ferroptosis and Apoptosis of Breast Cancer Cells

Danshen (salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge) is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. However, it is definite clinical effort and mechanism on breast cancer is unclear. In our study, we used the real-world database to investigate in vivo protective effort of danshen in the breast cancer patients through using population-based data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). In vitro, human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells) were used to investigate the effect and the underlying mechanism through XTT assay, flow cytometry, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity assay, GSH (reduced glutathione)/GSSG (oxidized glutathione), malondialdehyde (MDA), and western blot analysis. The in vivo effect was investigated through a xenograft nude mouse model. We found that dihydroisotanshinone I (DT), a pure compound present in danshen, can inhibit the growth of breast carcinoma cells, including MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, DT induced apoptosis and ferroptosis in these breast cancer cells. DT also repressed the protein expression of GPX4 (Glutathione peroxidase 4). For in vivo study, DT treatment also significantly inhibited the final tumor volume without adverse effects in a xenograft nude mouse model. In conclusion, danshen has protective efforts in breast cancer patients, which could be attributed to DT through inducing apoptosis and ferroptosis of breast cancer cells.

Cryptotanshinone and tanshinone IIA from Salvia milthorrhiza Bunge (Danshen) as a new class of potential pancreatic lipase inhibitors

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge extract was investigated for the first time for its inhibitory activity against pancreatic lipase (PL), an important enzyme involved in the digestion of dietary fats. It showed a concentration-dependent activity with an IC₅₀ value of 3.54 ± 0.22 mg/mL. Two compounds, cryptotanshinone and tanshinone IIA (the major lipophilic constituents of S. miltiorrhiza), have been selected as potential ligands of PL. Cryptotanshinone showed a higher lipase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 6.86 ± 0.43 µM) compared to the parent tanshinone IIA. Molecular docking studies were undertaken to establish whether a direct interaction of the principal constituents of the S. miltiorrhiza extract with the human pancreatic lipase could be evoked. All these findings provided new insights into the understanding of the interactions between natural constituents of S. miltiorrhiza extract and PL, also suggesting that cryptotanshinone could be used as lead compound for the development of efficacious PL inhibitors.

In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Salvia sagittata Ethanolic Extract on Primary Cultures of Porcine Aortic Endothelial Cells

The aim of the present research was to study the effects of an ethanolic extract of Salvia sagittata Ruiz & Pav (SSEE), an endemic Ecuadorian plant traditionally used to treat inflammation and different intestinal affections, on primary cultures of porcine aortic endothelial cells (pAECs). pAECs were cultured in the presence of different concentrations (1-200 μg/mL) of SSEE for 24 h, and cytotoxicity was evaluated by the MTT assay. SSEE did not negatively affect cellular viability at any concentration tested. Cell cycle was analyzed and no significant change was observed. Then, the anti-inflammatory effects of SSEE on pAECs were analyzed using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as the inflammatory stimulus. Different markers involved in the inflammatory process, such as cytokines and protective molecules, were evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot. SSEE showed the ability to restore pAEC physiological conditions reducing interleukin-6 and increasing Heme Oxygenase-1 protein levels. The phytochemical composition of SSEE was also evaluated via HPLC-DAD and spectrophotometric assays. The presence of different phenolic acids and flavonoids was revealed, with rosmarinic acid as the most abundant component. SSEE possesses an interesting antioxidant activity, as assessed through both the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. In conclusion, results suggest that SSEE is endowed with an in vitro anti-inflammatory effect. This represents the initial step in finding a possible scientific support for the traditional therapeutic use of this plant.

Tanshinones, Critical Pharmacological Components in Salvia miltiorrhiza

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, a member of the Lamiaceae family, is valued in traditional Chinese Medicine. Its dried root (named Danshen) has been used for hundreds of years, primarily for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Tanshinones are the main active ingredients in S. miltiorrhiza and exhibit significant pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity, cardiovascular effects, and antitumor activity. Danshen dripping pill of Tianshili is an effective drug widely used in the clinical treatment of cardiovascular diseases. With the increasing demand for clinical drugs, the traditional method for extracting and separating tanshinones from medicinal plants is insufficient. Therefore, in combination with synthetic biological methods and strategies, it is necessary to analyze the biosynthetic pathway of tanshinones and construct high-yield functional bacteria to obtain tanshinones. Moreover, the biosynthesis of tanshinones has been studied for more than two decades but remains to be completely elucidated. This review will systematically present the composition, extraction and separation, pharmacological activities and biosynthesis of tanshinones from S. miltiorrhiza, with the intent to provide references for studies on other terpenoid bioactive components of traditional Chinese medicines and to provide new research strategies for the sustainable development of traditional Chinese medicine resources.

Qualitative analysis of the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Salvia yunnanensis based on NIR, UHPLC and LC-MS-MS

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) was applied to discriminate the roots of salvia miltiorhiza Bunge (Danshen for short) and Salvia yunnanensis C. H. Wright (Zidanshen for short) by means of principal component analysis (PCA), improved and simplified K nearest neighbors (IS-KNN). Furthermore, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatographic (UHPLC) coupled with photodiode-array detector was developed for building fingerprints of lipophilic components of Danshen and Zidanshen, respectively. Basing on NIR information, both PCA and IS-KNN method classified the two kinds of Chinese medical herbs with 100% accuracy. The chromatographic fingerprints of the lipophilic components of Danshen and Zidanshen have 10 and 12 common peaks, respectively. Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (LC-MS-MS) was applied to identify these peaks. Among these, three small peaks in the fingerprints of Zidanshen are not found in Danshen, one of which was identified as α-lapachone, and the other two compounds were not yet identified; a small peak after tanshinone IIA in the fingerprints of Danshen was not found in Zidanshen, which was identified as miltirone. The two herbs have 10 common lipophilic components. The similarity between the two reference chromatograms of Zidanshen and Danshen is 0.902, but the mean similaritie between Zidanshen (or Danshen) fingerprints and its own reference chromatogram is 0.973 (or 0.976). The contents of main lipophilic components are significantly lower in Zidanshen than in Danshen (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The results indicate that the two Chinese medical materials are not only different in NIR spectra, but also different in species and quantities of lipophilic components. NIR spectra analysis can identify Danshen and Zidanshen rapidly and accurately. UHPLC coupled with MS analysis demonstrates the detail differences between the two herbs both in species and contents of their lipophilic components.

Biosynthesis, Chemistry, and Pharmacology of Polyphenols from Chinese Salvia Species: A Review

Salvia species find widespread application in food and pharmaceutical products owing to their large polyphenol content. The main polyphenols in Chinese Salvia species are phenolic acids and flavonoids, which exhibit anti-oxygenation, anti-ischemia-reperfusion injury, anti-thrombosis, anti-tumour, and other therapeutic effects. However, there are few peer-reviewed studies on polyphenols in Chinese Salvia species, especially flavonoids. This review is a systematic, comprehensive collation of available information on the biosynthesis, chemistry, and pharmacology of Chinese Salvia species. We believe that our study makes a significant contribution to the literature because this review provides a detailed literary resource on the currently available information on various polyphenolic components of Chinese Salvia species, including their bioactivities and structures. In addition, the study provides information that would encourage further investigation of this plant material as a natural resource with potential for a broad range of applications in various industries, such as the food and pharmaceutical industries.