A Systematic Review of the Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacokinetics of Matrine

Multiple Myeloma Inhibitory Activity of Plant Natural Products

A literature search on plant natural products with antimyeloma activity until the end of 2020 resulted in 92 compounds with effects on at least one human myeloma cell line. Compounds were divided in different compound classes and both their structure-activity-relationships as well as eventual correlations with the pathways described for Multiple Myeloma were discussed. Each of the major compound classes in this review (alkaloids, phenolics, terpenes) revealed interesting candidates, such as dioncophyllines, a group of naphtylisoquinoline alkaloids, which showed pronounced and selective induction of apoptosis when substituted in position 7 of the isoquinoline moiety. Interestingly, out of the phenolic compound class, two of the most noteworthy constituents belong to the relatively small subclass of xanthones, rendering this group a good starting point for possible further drug development. The class of terpenoids also provides noteworthy constituents, such as the highly oxygenated diterpenoid oridonin, which exhibited antiproliferative effects equal to those of bortezomib on RPMI8226 cells. Moreover, triterpenoids containing a lactone ring and/or quinone-like substructures, e.g., bruceantin, whitaferin A, withanolide F, celastrol, and pristimerin, displayed remarkable activity, with the latter two compounds acting as inhibitors of both NF-κB and proteasome chymotrypsin-like activity.

Current Overviews on COVID-19 Management Strategies

The coronavirus pandemic has hit the world lately and caused acute respiratory syndrome in humans. The causative agent of the disease was soon brought to focus by scientists as SARS-CoV-2 and later called a novel coronavirus by the general public. Due to the severity and rapid spread of the disease, WHO classifies the COVID-19 pandemic as the 6th public health emergency even after taking efforts like worldwide quarantine and restrictions. Since only symptomatic treatment is available, the best way to control the spread of the virus is by taking preventive measures. Various types of antigen/antibody detection kits and diagnostic methods are available for the diagnosis of COVID-19 patients. In recent years, various phytochemicals and repurposing drugs are showing a broad range of anti-viral activities with different modes of action have been identified. Repurposing drugs such as arbidol, hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, lopinavir, favipiravir, remdesivir, hexamethylene amiloride, and dexamethasone, tocilizumab, interferon-β, neutralizing antibodies exhibit in vitro anti-coronaviral properties by inhibiting multiple processes in the virus life cycle. Various research groups are involved in drug trials and vaccine development. Plant-based anti-viral compounds such as baicalin, calanolides, curcumin, oxymatrine, matrine, and resveratrol exhibit different modes of action against a wide range of positive/negative sense-RNA/DNA virus, and future researches need to be conducted to ascertain their role, use in managing SARS-CoV-2. Thus, this article is an attempt to review the current understanding of COVID-19 acute respiratory disease and summarize its clinical features with their prospective control and various aspects of the therapeutic approach.

Clinical research on traditional Chinese medicine treatment for bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common disease among women of reproductive age, with a serious impact on their daily life and health. At present, the most common treatment for BV is to take antibiotics, which results in good short-term treatment effects, but poor long-term effects. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to treat BV for over a millennium, with little risk of triggering drug resistance and adverse effects. Based on syndrome differentiation, there are three oral TCM treatment strategies for BV, including invigorating spleen, clearing dampness and heat, and nourishing kidney. The oral TCM prescriptions, such as Yi Huang decoction, Longdan Xiegan decoction, Zhibai Dihaung decoction, and so on are commonly used. Topical TCM treatment is also popular in China. According to the research results of pharmacological effects of active TCM ingredients, the most potential mechanisms of TCM for BV treatment are immune-enhancement effects, antibacterial activity, and estrogen-liked effects. Nonetheless, the multi-constituent of herbs may result in possible disadvantages to BV treatment, and the pharmacological mechanisms of TCM need further study. Here, we provide an overview of TCM compounds and their preparations used for BV, based on the pathogenesis and the potential therapeutic mechanisms, therefore providing a reference for further studies.

Matrine: A review of its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicity, clinical application and preparation researches

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

"Dogel ebs" was known as Sophora flavescens Ait., which has been widely utilized in the clinical practice of traditional Chinese Mongolian herbal medicine for thousands of years. Shen Nong's Materia Medica (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing in Chinese pinyin) recorded that it is bitter in taste and cold in nature with the effect of clearing heat and eliminating dampness, insecticide, diuresis. Due to its extensive application in the fields of ethnopharmacological utilization, the pharmaceutical researches of Sophora flavescens Ait.s keeps deepening. Modern pharmacological studies have exhibited that matrine, which is rich in this traditional herbal medicine, mediates its main biological properties.

AIMS OF THE REVIEW

This review aimed at summarizing the latest and comprehensive information of matrine on the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicity, clinical application and preparation researches to explore the therapeutic potential of this natural ingredient. In addition, outlooks and perspective for possible future researches that related are also discussed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Related information concerning matrine was gathered from the internet database of Google scholar, Pubmed, ResearchGate, Web of Science and Wiley Online Library with the keywords including "matrine", "pharmacology", "toxicology" and "pharmacokinetics", "clinical application", etc. RESULTS: Based on literatures, matrine has a variety of pharmacological effects, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, detoxification and so on. Nevertheless, there are still some doubts about it due to the toxicity and questionable bioavailability that does exist.

CONCLUSIONS

Future researches directions probably include elucidate the mechanism of its toxicity and accurately tracing the in vivo behavior of its drug delivery system. Without doubt, integration of toxicity and efficiency and structure modification based on it are also pivotal methods to enhance pharmacological activity and bioavailability.