Protective effect of notoginsenoside and tanshinone IIA on inflammation-related colorectal cancer mice and the inhibition effect on COX-2 expression

Phytochemical and pharmacological studies on Solanum lyratum: a review

Solanum lyratum is one of the temperate plants, broadly distributed in Korea, China, Japan, India, and South-East Asia and well-documented in those oriental ethnic medicine systems for curing cancers, jaundice, edema, gonorrhea, cholecystitis, phlogosis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. This review systematically summarized the research progress on S. lyratum respecting the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology to increase people's in-depth understanding of this plant, by data retrieval in a series of online or off-line electronic databases as far as we can reach. Steroidal saponins and alkaloids, terpenoids, nitrogenous compounds, and flavonoid compounds are the main chemical constituents in S. lyratum. Among them, steroidal alkaloids and saponins are the major active ingredients ever found in S. lyratum, exerting activities of anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, anti-microbial, anti-allergy, and anti-oxidation in vivo or in vitro. As a result, S. lyratum has been frequently prescribed for the abovementioned therapeutic purposes, and there are substantial traditional and modern shreds of evidence of its use.

Evaluation of the potential role of diethylstilbestrol on the induction of endometriosis in a rat model - An alternative approach

Endometriosis is known to be a gynaecological condition characterised by persistent inflammation and abnormal development of endometrial stroma and glands. Researchers require a rodent model to analyse the disease environment. Animal models are the best option for investigating the etiology and effective treatment of debilitating illnesses in women since rodents, like humans, menstruate. In order to develop the model system, diethylstilbestrol (DES) was examined for its ability to induce endometriosis in rats by investigating its effect on the estrus cycle, hormones, and key markers. The results demonstrated that animals given DES had an erratic estrus cycle and aberrant hormone levels. Histomorphology revealed the development of an endometriosis environment with degenerative epithelium and enlarged glandular cells after DES induction. The higher levels of estrogen, progesterone, and MCP-1 were shown in the endometriosis induced animals. Endometriosis-induced groups had decreased levels of HOXA10 and HOXA11 and increased levels of VEGF and COX-2. Finally, the DES demonstrated endometriosis induction efficacy, implying that it might be a viable replacement for endometriosis induction.

Cyclocarya paliurus (Batalin) Iljinskaja: Botany, Ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cyclocarya paliurus (Batalin) Iljinskaja (C. paliurus) also known as Sweet tea tree, Money tree, Money willow, green money plum, mountain willow and shanhua tree, is a native rare monocotyledonous plant in Southern China. It possesses numerous traditional benefits, including clearing heat, detoxification, producing saliva, slake thirst, anti-inflammatory, insecticidal, dispelling wind and relieving itching. It is also effective in preventing and treating diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, dizziness and swelling and pain, as well as reducing cholesterol, and modulating the functions of the immune system. The stem, leaves and bark of this plant are all medicinal parts, but the leaves have the highest research value.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This article summarized the plant's botanical description, distribution, ethnopharmacology, phytochemical profiles and pharmacological for the first time, to provide possible directions for future development and research in brief.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The literature for this current manuscript was obtained from reports published from 1992 to May 2021 in diverse databases such as the China Knowledge Resource Integrated databases (CNKI), SciFinder, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, Elsevier and Pub-Med. The domestic and foreign references published about C. paliurus over recent years were collected, analyzed and summarized.

RESULTS

The botanical characteristics of the fruits of C. paliurus are unique in having a central nutlet surrounded by a circular wing to distinguish the living genera of Juglandaceae. In traditional medicine, C. paliurus leaves are used by the local people of Southern China to make tea to prevent diabetes. More than 210 compounds have been isolated from C. paliurus. Among them, the characteristic 3,4-seco-dammaranes accounted for the most. Other compounds include dammarane tetracyclic triterpenoids, various pentacyclic triterpenoids, flavonoids, isosclerones, phenolic derivatives and polysaccharides. The plant extracts and compounds have been reported to exert various pharmacological activities, such as anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-cancer, cytotoxic, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and anti-microbial activities.

CONCLUSIONS

Comprehensive literature analysis shows that C. paliurus extract and its compounds have a variety of biological activities for the treatment of various diseases. The current modern pharmacology research is mostly related to the records of ethnic pharmacology, mainly in vitro research, relatively few in vivo research. Therefore, future studies should focus on this aspect. In addition, we also would like to recommend further research should concentrate on toxicity studies and quality control of C. paliurus to fill the study gap, as well as to provide theoretical support for the further development of the potential functions and clinical applications of the plant.