Chemical Constituents Isolated fromBletilla striataand Their Inhibitory Effects on Nitric Oxide Production in RAW 264.7 Cells

Harzianic acids and oxazolidinone from the endophytic fungus Ilyonectria sp. and their cytotoxicity activity

Four undescribed compounds including three harzianic acids (1, 3 and 4) and one oxazolidinone (2), along with three known ones (5-7) were isolated from the solid fermented product of endophytic fungus Ilyonectria sp., their structures were elucidated as 1-amino-harzianic acid (1), ilyonectria-oxazolidinone (2),10'-nor- isoharzianic acid (3), isohomoharzianic acid (4), harzianic acid (5), isoharzianic acid (6), homoharzianic acid (7) by means of detailed chemical evidences and spectroscopic data analysis. All the compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity against SMMC-7721 human cancer cell lines by MTS assay. Among the seven tested compounds, 1-amino-harzianic acid (1) demonstrated well cytotoxic activity against SMMC-7721 with IC50 value of 26.84 μM. The results of molecular docking indicated that compound exhibited moderate anti-tumor activity may through binding to apoptosis related proteins.

Antimicrobial Activity of Stilbenes from Bletilla striata against Cutibacterium acnes and Its Effect on Cell Membrane

The abnormal proliferation of Cutibacterium acnes is the main cause of acne vulgaris. Natural antibacterial plant extracts have gained great interest due to the efficacy and safety of their use in skin care products. Bletilla striata is a common externally used traditional Chinese medicine, and several of its isolated stilbenes were reported to exhibit good antibacterial activity. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of stilbenes from B. striata (BSS) against C. acnes and its potential effect on cell membrane were elucidated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), bacterial growth curve, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, membrane potential (MP), and the expression of genes related to fatty acid biosynthesis in the cell membrane. In addition, the morphological changes in C. acnes by BSS were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Experimentally, we verified that BSS possessed significant antibacterial activity against C. acnes, with an MIC and MBC of 15.62 μg/mL and 62.5 μg/mL, respectively. The growth curve indicated that BSS at 2 MIC, MIC, 1/2 MIC, and 1/4 MIC concentrations inhibited the growth of C. acnes. TEM images demonstrated that BSS at an MIC concentration disrupted the morphological structure and cell membrane in C. acnes. Furthermore, the BSS at the 2 MIC, MIC, and 1/2 MIC concentrations caused a decrease in the intracellular ATP levels and the depolarization of the cell membrane as well as BSS at an MIC concentration inhibited the expression of fatty acid biosynthesis-associated genes. In conclusion, BSS could exert good antimicrobial activity by interfering with cell membrane in C. acnes, which have the potential to be developed as a natural antiacne additive.

Flavored Food Additives on the Leaves of Piper betle L.: A Human Health Perspective

Natural products and traditional ethnomedicines are of great effect in therapeutics. Such types of medicine have been practiced in certain areas of the world to treat different health conditions. This pilot investigation aims to review the cumulative health effect of addendums used in betel quid such as areca nut, lime, and tobacco-associated betel quid chewing and without tobacco-associated chewing. This review shows that betel leaf extract and its essential oil could inhibit growth of microbes and damage different gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as well as various fungus species. Some studies concluded that the combination of Piper leaves essential oil with antibiotics have potential effect on oral microorganisms. Long-term consumption of betel quid with tobacco is known to cause cancer, chromosomal aberrations, and pharynx tumors. However, consumption of betel leaf without tobacco has health benefits because of ethnomedicinal properties. Its essential is oil utilized as raw material for perfumes and mouth fresheners manufacturing. Scientific researches on this plant revealed that it possesses many beneficial activities to be used for developing novel drugs. However, compounds of betel leaves have beneficial natural antioxidant. Chewing and intake of leaves have effect on moving parts of salivary gland which is the main step of digestion. Its components also act as heartbeat regulators in relaxing the blood vessels to reduce hypertension. So this review discussed the natural compounds of betel leaves which is used as traditional medicine to further develop drug discovery.

Comprehensive evaluation of Bletilla striata and its substitutes by combining phenotypic characteristic, chemical composition, and anti-melanogenic activity

Bletilla striata is a precious traditional Chinese medical herb with a wide range of applications in pharmacological and cosmetic fields. Because of the shortage of resources, Bletilla ochracea and Bletilla formosanare are also used as the substitutes. To distinguish the differences and homologies, the typical morphologic and microscopic characteristics of them were compared, and a UPLC fingerprint analysis coupled with chemometric methods were developed for characterization and quality evaluation of Bletillae Rhizoma. Gastrodin, protocatechuic acid, gymnoside V, blestrianol A, coelonin, gymnosides Ⅸ and batatasin II were identified as the potential chemical markers for comprehensive quality evaluation by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). The anti-melanogenic activities of the three species were also compared for the first time in vivo using the zebrafish model, the results suggested that B. striata and its two substitutes had obvious anti-melanogenic activities, and they were not-toxic at depigmenting doses. Molecular docking studies revealed batatasin III, blestrianol A, coelonin, and gastrodin were possible multitarget compounds associated with melanogenesis suppression, which are important for their potential future medical application.

The medicinal uses of the genus Bletilla in traditional Chinese medicine: A phytochemical and pharmacological review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Different orchids are important in traditional medicine, and species belonging to the genus Bletilla are important. Bletilla species have been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for the treatment of several health disorders, such as gastrointestinal disorders, peptic ulcer, lung disorders, and traumatic bleeding etc. AIM OF THIS REVIEW: This review aims to provide a systematic overview and objective analysis of Bletilla species and to find the probable relationship between their traditional use, chemical constituents, and pharmacological activities, while assessing their therapeutic potential in treatment of different human diseases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant literatures on Bletilla species have been collected using the keywords "Bletilla", "phytochemistry", and "pharmacology" in scientific databases, such as "PubMed", "Scifinder", "The Plant List", "Elsevier", "China Knowledge Resource Integrated databases (CNKI)", "Google Scholar", "Baidu Scholar", and other literature sources, etc. RESULTS: This review indicates the isolation and identification of over 261 compounds from this genus, till December 2020. These chemical isolates belong to the stilbenes (bibenzyls and phenanthrenes), flavonoids, triterpenoids, steroids, simple phenolics, and glucosyloxybenzyl 2-isobutylmalates classes of compounds. These compounds have been reported to be characteristically distributed in Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Rchb. f. (BS), Bletilla ochracea Schltr. (BO), and Bletilla formosana (Hayata) Schltr. (BF). The crude extracts and pure compounds derived from the three Bletilla species have reportedly exhibited a wide spectrum of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological effects, such as hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-microbial activities. As a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Bletilla species or preparations containing Bletilla species have been used for the treatment of epistaxis, gastrointestinal bleeding, cough and hemoptysis, gastric and duodenal ulcer, and traumatic injuries. Thus, Bletilla species have proven potential both in traditional uses and scientific studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Pharmacological studies have validated the use of Bletilla species in the traditional medicine, especially hemorrhagic diseases. Polysaccharides and stilbenes are the major bioactive chemical constituents of Bletilla genus according to the literatures. However, the mechanism of action of these molecules is yet to be studied. In addition, a detailed comparative analysis of the phytochemistry and biological activities of the three Bletilla species (BS, BO and BF) is highly recommended for understanding their ethnopharmacological uses and applications in clinics. Clinical toxicity tests on BS have been found to be negative, but it can't be used with Aconitum carmichaeli in traditional uses. Furthermore, not many reports are present in the literature regarding the conservation of Bletilla species.

Bougainvillea glabra (choisy): A comprehensive review on botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicity

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Bougainvillea glabra (Choisy). (Family: Nyctinaginacea) is a valuable ornamental plant with culinary uses and also utilized in traditional medicine for treating common ailments. It is traditionally employed against several diseases such as diarrhoea, hypotension, intestinal disorders, stomachache, nausea, inflammation-related ailments, and in pain management. Though widely validated via in vitro and in vivo models, to date no endeavour has been made to compile in a single review the traditional, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of B. glabra.

AIMS

To provide an up-to-date, authoritative review with respect to the traditional uses, chemical composition, in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties, and toxicological estimations accomplished either utilizing the crude extracts or, wherever applicable, the bioactive compounds isolated from B. glabra. Besides, a critical evaluation of the published literature has been undertaken with regards to the current biochemical and toxicological data.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Key databases per se, Ovid, Pubmed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google scholar amongst others were probed for a systematic search using keywords to retrieve relevant publications on this plant. A total of 52 articles were included for the review depending on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

RESULTS

The studies conducted on either crude extracts, solvent fractions or isolated pure compounds from B. glabra had reported a varied range of biological effects comprising antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. Phytochemical analysis of different parts of B. glabra unveiled 105 phytochemicals, belonging to phenolic, flavonoid, betacyanin, terpenoid, glycoside and essential oils classes of secondary metabolites.

CONCLUSION

Most of the pharmacological activities of crude extracts from this plant have been reported. A very few studies have reported the isolation of compounds responsible for observed biological potential of this plant. Moreover, the toxicity studies of this plant still need to be explored comprehensively to ensure its safety parameters. Additional investigations are recommended to transmute the ethnopharmacological claims of this plant species in folklore medicines into scientific rationale-based information.

Phenanthrene, 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene and bibenzyl enantiomers from Bletilla striata with their antineuroinflammatory and cytotoxic activities

Thirteen undescribed phenanthrene and bibenzyl derivatives, named blestanols A-M, including one pair of biphenanthrene enantiomers, two bis 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene ethers, five pairs of 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene/bibenzyl atropisomers, one racemic 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene/bibenzyl dimer, one 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenebibenzyl ether, two pairs of bibenzyl derivatives, and one stilbene, together with 12 known analogues were isolated from the tubers of Bletilla striata. The structures were elucidated via spectroscopic data analysis. 15 compounds were purified to yield enantiomers (a, b) via chiral-phase HPLC, and their configurations were determined by optical rotation values and the comparison of the experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) curves. Blestanols K-L possessed a cycloheptene moiety, which is rarely observed in bibenzyl derivatives. A putative biosynthetic pathway for the identified components is deduced. Among these compounds, 14 compounds showed inhibition of NO production, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 5.0 to 19.0 μM. Eight compounds displayed selective cytotoxic activities against HCT-116, HepG2, BGC-823, A549 or U251 cancer cell lines, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 1.4 to 8.3 μM. In addition, their structure-activity relationships are discussed briefly.

Chemical Constituents, Pharmacologic Properties, and Clinical Applications of Bletilla striata

Bletilla striata is a plant from the Orchidaceae family that has been employed as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for thousands of years in China. Here, we briefly review the published studies of the last 30 years that were related to chemical constituents, pharmacologic activities, and clinical applications of B. striata. Approximately 158 compounds have been extracted from B. striata tubers with clarified molecular structures that were classified as glucosides, bibenzyls, phenanthrenes, quinones, biphenanthrenes, dihydrophenanthrenes, anthocyanins, steroids, triterpenoids, and phenolic acids. These chemicals support the pharmacological properties of hemostasis and wound healing, and also exhibit anti-oxidation, anti-cancer, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial activities. Additionally, various clinical trials conducted on B. striata have demonstrated its marked activities as an embolizing and mucosa-protective agent, and its application for use in novel biomaterials, quality control, and toxicology. It also has been widely used as a constituent of many preparations in TCM formulations, but because there are insufficient studies on its clinical properties, its efficacy and safety cannot be established from a scientific point of view. We hope that this review will provide reference for further research and development of this unique plant.