Flavonoid glucosides from the flowers of Trollius chinensis Bunge

A Comprehensive Research Review of Herbal Textual Research, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Traditional Uses, Clinical Application, Safety Evaluation, and Quality Control of Trollius chinensis Bunge

Trollius chinensis Bunge (TCB) is a perennial plant of the Ranunculaceae family with medicinal and edible values. It is widely distributed and commonly used in various regions, including Asia, Europe, and North America. The main chemical components of TCB include alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and volatile oil compounds. TCB is renowned for its anti-inflammatory, heat-clearing, detoxifying, and eyesight-improving properties. Its dried flowers are commonly used as a traditional Chinese medicine indicated for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections, chronic tonsillitis, pharyngitis, influenza, and bronchitis. Modern pharmacology has demonstrated the anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, and antioxidant effects of TCB. This study presents a comprehensive overview of various aspects of TCB, including herbal textual research, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, traditional uses, clinical application, and quality control, aiming to provide new ideas on the scientific application of TCB as well as the integration of modern research with traditional medicinal uses.

Trollius chinensis Bunge: A Comprehensive Review of Research on Botany, Materia Medica, Ethnopharmacological Use, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Quality Control

Trollius chinensis Bunge, a perennial herb belonging to the Ranunculaceae family, has been extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine. Documented in the Supplements to the Compendium of Materia Medica, its medicinal properties encompass a spectrum of applications, including heat clearance, detoxification, alleviation of oral/throat sores, earaches, eye pain, cold-induced fever, and vision improvement. Furthermore, T. chinensis is used in clinical settings to treat upper respiratory infections, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, esoenteritis, canker, bronchitis, etc. It is mainly used to treat inflammation, such as inflammation of the upper respiratory tract and nasal mucosa. This comprehensive review explores the evolving scientific understanding of T. chinensis, covering facets of botany, materia medica, ethnopharmacological use, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and quality control. In particular, the chemical constituents and pharmacological research are reviewed. Polyphenols, mainly flavonoids and phenolic acids, are highly abundant among T. chinensis and are responsible for antiviral, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities. The flower additionally harbors trace amounts of volatile oil, polysaccharides, and other bioactive compounds. The active ingredients of the flower have fewer side effects, and it is used in children because of its minimal side effects, which has great research potential. These findings validate the traditional uses of T. chinensis and lay the groundwork for further scientific exploration. The sources utilized in this study encompass Web of Science, Pubmed, CNKI site, classic monographs, Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Chinese Medicine Dictionary, and doctoral and master's theses.

Molecular and Structural Characterization of a Promiscuous C-Glycosyltransferase from Trollius chinensis

Herein, the catalytic promiscuity of TcCGT1, a new C-glycosyltransferase (CGT) from the medicinal plant Trollius chinensis is explored. TcCGT1 could efficiently and regio-specifically catalyze the 8-C-glycosylation of 36 flavones and other flavonoids and could also catalyze the O-glycosylation of diverse phenolics. The crystal structure of TcCGT1 in complex with uridine diphosphate was determined at 1.85 Å resolution. Molecular docking revealed a new model for the catalytic mechanism of TcCGT1, which is initiated by the spontaneous deprotonation of the substrate. The spacious binding pocket explains the substrate promiscuity, and the binding pose of the substrate determines C- or O-glycosylation activity. Site-directed mutagenesis at two residues (I94E and G284K) switched C- to O-glycosylation. TcCGT1 is the first plant CGT with a crystal structure and the first flavone 8-C-glycosyltransferase described. This provides a basis for designing efficient glycosylation biocatalysts.