Bioactivity-guided isolation of anti-hepatitis B virus active sesquiterpenoids from the traditional Chinese medicine: Rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus

The discovery of a new potent FXR agonist based on natural product screening

FXR agonistic activity screening was conducted based on natural product resources containing 38 structurally diverse sesquiterpenoids isolated from Xylopia vielana. Among them, 34 undescribed sesquiterpenoids with 5 different skeleton types were first characterized by HRESIMS, NMR data, ECD calculations and X-ray crystallographic analysis. High-content screening for FXR agonistic activity of these compounds demonstrated that 13 compounds could activate FXR. Then molecular docking results suggested that hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions might contribute to the main interaction of active compounds with FXR. The preliminary structure-activity relationships (SARs) of those isolates were also discussed. The most potent compound 27 significantly elevated the transcriptional activity of the FXR target gene BSEP promoter (EC50 = 14.26 μM) by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Western blotting indicated that compound 27 activated the FXR-associated pathway, thereby upregulating SHP and BSEP expression, and downregulating CYP7A1 and NTCP expression. We further revealed that FXR was the target protein of compound 27 through diverse target validation methods, including CETSA, SIP, and DARTS under the intervention of temperature, organic reagents and protease. Pharmacological in vivo experiments showed that compound 27 effectively ameliorated α-naphthyl isothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced cholestasis in mice, as evidenced by the ameliorative histopathology of the liver and the decrease in biochemical markers: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), and total bile acid (TBA). This work showed a practical strategy for the discovery of new FXR agonists from natural products and provided potential insights for sesquiterpenoids as FXR agonist lead compounds.

Antiviral Activity of Natural Herbs and their Isolated BioactiveCompounds: A Review

Viruses are the cause of many human pathogenesis-related conditions. A serious hazard to public health has been created because of the increase in worldwide travel, fast urbanization, and infectious epidemics. At the same time, no preventative vaccines or antiviral treatments are currently available. Resources for developing new antiviral medications can be found in enhanced natural products and herbal medicines. These natural substances have aided the research on developing preventive vaccines and antiviral treatments. Based primarily on in vitro and in vivo searches, this review aims to explore the antiviral properties of plant extracts and some isolated plant natural products. Only a few antiviral medications have been given clinical approval, while numerous viruses continue to elude adequate immunization. Therefore, developing novel antiviral medicines is crucial, and natural substances make excellent sources for these new drugs. This review highlights various natural herbal drugs possessing antiviral properties.

Promising role of Vitamin D and plant metabolites against COVID-19: Clinical trials review

Vitamin D possesses immunomodulatory qualities and is protective against respiratory infections. Additionally, it strengthens adaptive and cellular immunity and boosts the expression of genes involved in oxidation. Experts suggested taking vitamin D supplements to avoid and treat viral infection and also COVID-19, on the other hand, since the beginning of time, the use of plants as medicines have been vital to human wellbeing. The WHO estimates that 80 % of people worldwide use plants or herbs for therapeutic purposes. Secondary metabolites from medicinal plants are thought to be useful in lowering infections from pathogenic microorganisms due to their ability to inhibit viral protein and enzyme activity by binding with them. As a result, this manuscript seeks to describe the role of vitamin D and probable plant metabolites that have antiviral activities and may be complementary to the alternative strategy against COVID-19 in a single manuscript through reviewing various case studies.

Potential medicinal plants to combat viral infections: A way forward to environmental biotechnology

The viral diseases encouraged scientific community to evaluate the natural antiviral bioactive components rather than protease inhibitors, harmful organic molecules or nucleic acid analogues. For this purpose, medicinal plants have been gaining tremendous importance in the field of attenuating the various kinds of infectious and non-infectious diseases. Most of the commonly used medicines contains the bioactive components/phytoconstituents that are generally extracted from medicinal plants. Moreover, the medicinal plants offer many advantages for the recovery applications of infectious disease especially in viral infections including HIV-1, HIV-2, Enterovirus, Japanese Encephalitis Virus, Hepatitis B virus, Herpes Virus, Respiratory syncytial virus, Chandipura virus and Influenza A/H1N1. Considering the lack of acceptable drug candidates and the growing antimicrobial resistance to existing drug molecules for many emerging viral diseases, medicinal plants may offer best platform to develop sustainable/efficient/economic alternatives against viral infections. In this regard, for exploring and analyzing large volume of scientific data, bibliometric analysis was done using VOS Viewer shedding light on the emerging areas in the field of medicinal plants and their antiviral activity. This review covers most of the plant species that have some novel bioactive compound like gnidicin, gniditrin, rutin, apigenin, quercetin, kaempferol, curcumin, tannin and oleuropin which showed high efficacy to inhibit the several disease causing virus and their mechanism of action in HIV, Covid-19, HBV and RSV were discussed. Moreover, it also delves the in-depth mechanism of medicinal with challenges and future prospective. Therefore, this work delves the key role of environment in the biological field.

Actinomycetes as Producers of Biologically Active Terpenoids: Current Trends and Patents

Terpenes and their derivatives (terpenoids and meroterpenoids, in particular) constitute the largest class of natural compounds, which have valuable biological activities and are promising therapeutic agents. The present review assesses the biosynthetic capabilities of actinomycetes to produce various terpene derivatives; reports the main methodological approaches to searching for new terpenes and their derivatives; identifies the most active terpene producers among actinomycetes; and describes the chemical diversity and biological properties of the obtained compounds. Among terpene derivatives isolated from actinomycetes, compounds with pronounced antifungal, antiviral, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and other effects were determined. Actinomycete-produced terpenoids and meroterpenoids with high antimicrobial activity are of interest as a source of novel antibiotics effective against drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria. Most of the discovered terpene derivatives are produced by the genus Streptomyces; however, recent publications have reported terpene biosynthesis by members of the genera Actinomadura, Allokutzneria, Amycolatopsis, Kitasatosporia, Micromonospora, Nocardiopsis, Salinispora, Verrucosispora, etc. It should be noted that the use of genetically modified actinomycetes is an effective tool for studying and regulating terpenes, as well as increasing productivity of terpene biosynthesis in comparison with native producers. The review includes research articles on terpene biosynthesis by Actinomycetes between 2000 and 2022, and a patent analysis in this area shows current trends and actual research directions in this field.

Identification of Chemical Constituents in Blumea balsamifera Using UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant Activities

Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC., a perennial herb in the Asteraceae family native to China and Southeast Asia, has a notable history of medicinal use due to its pharmacological properties. Using UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS techniques, we systematically investigated the chemical constituents of this plant. A total of 31 constituents were identified, of which 14 were flavonoid compounds. Significantly, 18 of these compounds were identified in B. balsamifera for the first time. Furthermore, the mass spectrometry fragmentation patterns of significant chemical constituents identified in B. balsamifera were analyzed, providing important insights into their structural characteristics. The in vitro antioxidative potential of the methanol extract of B. balsamifera was assessed using DPPH and ABTS free-radical-scavenging assays, total antioxidative capacity, and reducing power. The antioxidative activity exhibited a direct correlation with the mass concentration of the extract, with IC₅₀ values of 105.1 ± 0.503 μg/mL and 12.49 ± 0.341 μg/mL for DPPH and ABTS, respectively. For total antioxidant capacity, the absorbance was 0.454 ± 0.009 at 400 μg/mL. In addition, the reducing power was 1.099 ± 0.03 at 2000 μg/mL. This study affirms that UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS can effectively discern the chemical constituents in B. balsamifera, primarily its flavonoid compounds, and substantiates its antioxidative properties. This underscores its potential utility as a natural antioxidant in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics sectors. This research provides a valuable theoretical basis and reference value for the comprehensive development and utilization of B. balsamifera and expands our understanding of this medicinally valuable plant.

Phytochemistry, data mining, pharmacology, toxicology and the analytical methods of Cyperus rotundus L. (Cyperaceae): a comprehensive review

Cyperus rotundus L. has been widely used in the treatment and prevention of numerous diseases in traditional systems of medicine around the world, such as nervous, gastrointestinal systems diseases and inflammation. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), its rhizomes are frequently used to treat liver disease, stomach pain, breast tenderness, dysmenorrheal and menstrual irregularities. The review is conducted to summarize comprehensively the plant's vernacular names, distribution, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and analytical methods, along with the data mining for TCM prescriptions containing C. rotundus. Herein, 552 compounds isolated or identified from C. rotundus were systematically collated and classified, concerning monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, phenolics and phenolic glycosides, triterpenoids and steroids, diterpenoids, quinonoids, alkaloids, saccharides and others. Their pharmacological effects on the digestive system, nervous system, gynecological diseases, and other bioactivities like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, insect repellent, anti-microbial activity, etc. were summarized accordingly. Moreover, except for the data mining on the compatibility of C. rotundus in TCM, the separation, identification and analytical methods of C. rotundus compositions were also systematically summarized, and constituents of the essential oils from different regions were re-analyzed using multivariate statistical analysis. In addition, the toxicological study progresses on C. rotundus revealed the safety property of this herb. This review is designed to serve as a scientific basis and theoretical reference for further exploration into the clinical use and scientific research of C. rotundus.

Graphical Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary materials available at 10.1007/s11101-023-09870-3.

Study on the quality difference of Cyperus rotundus before and after vinegar processing based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry and molecular network combined with color parameters

Cyperus rotundus is the dry rhizome of the Cyperaceae plant Cyperus. Although there are two types of processed products in clinics, their quality differences are not clear, and the identification methods are more complex. In this study, the chemical composition of different processed products of Cyperus rotundus was characterized using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry and molecular network analysis, to identify the potential chemical markers and to establish a quick and simple color-based discrimination method. Among the 65 compounds analyzed, 12 showed significant differences. Observing the color, the surface brightness (L*) of Cyperus rotundus decreased after vinegar processing, while red (a*) and yellow (b*) values increased. These color values correlated significantly with chemical compositions. Finally, a color discriminant function was established and verified for raw Cyperus rotundus and vinegar-processing Cyperus rotundus. Based on this study, Cyperus rotundus' quality can be effectively controlled and provides a method for the comprehensive characterization of chemical components and chemical markers of other traditional Chinese medicine and processed products, as well as new ideas and methods in identification and quality evaluation.

Phytochemical composition, bioactive properties, and toxicological profile of Tetrapleura tetraptera

The use of medicinal plants has gained renewed wide popularity in Africa, Asia, and most parts of the world because of the decreasing efficacy of synthetic drugs. Thus, natural products serve as a potent source of alternative remedy. Tetrapleura tetraptera is a medicinal plant with cultural and traditional significance in West Africa. In addition to the plant being commonly used as a spice in the preparation of traditional spicy food for postpartum care it is also widely used to constitute herbal concoctions and decoctions for treatment of diseases. This review aimed to provide an up-to-date information on the ethnomedicinal uses, pharmacological activities and phytoconstituents of T. tetraptera. Preclinical studies regarding the plant's toxicity profile were also reviewed. For this updated review, literature search was done on PubMed, Science Direct, Wiley, and Google Scholar databases using the relevant keywords. The review used a total of 106 papers that met the inclusion criteria from January 1989 - February 2022 and summarised the bioactivities that have been reported for the rich phytoconstituents of T. tetraptera studied using various chemical methods. Considering the huge report, the review focused on the antimicrobial and antiinflammatory activities of the plant extracts and isolated compounds. Aridan, aridanin and several bioactive compounds of T. tetraptera have shown pharmacological activities though their mechanisms of action are yet to be fully understood. This study also highlighted the influence of plant parts and extraction solvents on its biological activities. It also presented data on the toxicological profile of the plant extracts using different models. From cultural uses to modern pharmacological research the bioactive compounds of T. tetraptera have proved effective in infectious disease management. We hope that this paper provided a robust summary of the biological activities and toxicological profile of T. tetraptera, thus calling for more research into the pharmacological and pharmacokinetic activities of natural products to help combat the growing threat of drug resistance and provide guidelines for their ethnomedicinal uses.

Production, Function, and Applications of the Sesquiterpenes Valencene and Nootkatone: a Comprehensive Review

Valencene and nootkatone, two sesquiterpenes, extracted from natural sources, have great market potential with diverse applications. This paper aims to comprehensively review the recent advances in valencene and nootkatone, including source, production, physicochemical and biological properties, safety and pharmacokinetics evaluation, potential uses, and their industrial applications as well as future research directions. Microbial biosynthesis offers a promising alternative approach for sustainable production of valencene and nootkatone. Both compounds exert various beneficial activities, including antimicrobial, insecticidal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective and other activities. However, most of the studies are performed in animals and in vitro, making it difficult to give a conclusive description about their health benefits and extend their application. Hence, more attention should be paid to in vivo and long-term clinical studies in the future. Moreover, valencene and nootkatone are considered safe for consumption and show great promise in the applications of food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, chemical, and agricultural industries.

Systematic review of ethnomedicine, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of Cyperi Rhizoma

Cyperi Rhizoma (CR) is the dry rhizome of Cyperus rotundus L., a Cyperaceae plant. It has a long history of clinical medication and is known as the “holy medicine” of gynecology. CR smells sweet and bitter. It has the effect of soothing the liver and relieving depression, regulating qi, regulating meridian and relieving pain. It can be used to treat liver qi stagnation, chest pain, spleen and stomach qi stagnation, hernia pain, irregular menstruation and other diseases. At present, the main chemical constituents isolated from CR are volatile oil, flavonoids and terpenes. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that CR has a wide range of pharmacological activities, including antidepressant, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic effects. In this paper, the botany, traditional application, phytochemistry, pharmacological effects, processing and other aspects of CR are reviewed. At the same time, the shortcomings of current research of CR are discussed in depth, and the possible solutions are put forward in order to find a breakthrough point for future research of CR.

Effects of Plant Metabolites on the Growth of COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease-19) Including Omicron Strain

According to recent reports out of India, a new strain of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) B1.1.529 Omicron virus has emerged. In comparison to the Wuhan (WHU) strain and the delta variant, this variant showed a far stronger effect on the angiotensin converting enzyme2 (ACE2) receptor. There are several medicinal compounds in plant metabolites, and their diverse chemical structures make them ideal for the treatment of serious illnesses. It's possible that some of these could be useful alternative pharmaceuticals, as well as a starting point for the repurposing of existing medications and new chemical discoveries. SARS-CoV-2 infection triggered a worldwide epidemic of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). There have been trials for different therapies for SARS-CoV-2 and so also there are recent announcements of extensive research into the development of viable medicines for this global health calamity. After a thorough examination of plant-derived treatments for COVID-19, investigators in the current study decided to focus on plant-derived secondary metabolites (PSMs). According to some researchers, new MDR (Multi-Drug Resistant) antibiotics may one day be developed due to the adaptability of secondary metabolites. Identifying plant metabolites that can treat a wide range of viral infections was one of the study's aims. Many natural medications that could be recommended for the treatment of COVID-19 were discovered as a result of this research, including remedies from plant families, viral candidates that are susceptible, antiviral assays, and mechanisms of therapeutic action. The findings of this study will inspire further research and speed up the development of new antiviral plant-based medications.

The association study of chemical compositions and their pharmacological effects of Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu), a potential traditional Chinese medicine for treating depression

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cyperi Rhizoma (CR) derives from the rhizome or tuber of Cyperus rotundus L. of Cyperaceae. It is an herbal medicine which has been widely used in different healthcare systems like in China, India, Iran, and Japan. In Chinese medicine, CR could promote the flow of Qi in the Liver and Sanjiao channels, regulate menstruation and alleviate pain. Clinically, CR is used for depression, flatulence, hypochondriac pain, and dysmenorrhea. Thus, it has a long history and significant curative effect for the treatment of various Qi stagnation symptoms.

AIM OF THIS REVIEW

This review focuses on explaining the major antidepressant mechanisms of CR, and assessing the shortcomings of existing work. Besides, clinical applications, pharmacological effects and their corresponding chemical compositions and quality control of CR have been researched.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The search terms "Cyperus rotundus L." was used to obtain the literatures from electronic databases such as Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The information provided in this review to illustrate material basis of CR were only limited to papers which reported on the chemical compositions and pharmacological effects simultaneously.

RESULT

The study showed that CR has significant application in Qi stagnation, like depressed liver, stomach, and bowel disorders, etc. in different countries or districts. Aqueous extract, EtOH extract, essential oil, total oligomeric flavonoids and five other extracts were effective constituents displaying pharmacological activities such as antibacterial, antioxidant, neuroprotective, antihemolytic, and anti-inflammatory effect. 41 kinds of specific components like α-cyperone, nootkatone exhibited corresponding pharmacological activities mentioned above. Different concentrations of ethanol extract, essential oil, decoction of CR and monomer composition like α-cyperone, rotunduside G had anti-depressant effects.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, we have provided scientific information and research developments on traditional uses, phytochemical compositions and corresponding pharmacological activities, and quality control status on CR. The antidepression effect and its corresponding chemical compositions were generalized separately. The pharmacological activities studies should be more focused on the reflection of traditional clinical values. CR could be a significant potential herbal medicine to develop antidepressant drugs with lower side effects.

Diverse Sesquiterpenoids from the Roots of Croton crassifolius and Their Inhibitory Effects on Ferroptosis

One new sesquiterpenoid, 10-epi-lochmolin F (1), together with 13 known sesquiterpenoids, was isolated from the roots of Croton crassifolius. The structures of these compounds were confirmed by UV, IR, MS, and NMR spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configuration of compound 1 was elucidated by analysis of X-ray crystallography. All the 14 isolated sesquiterpenoids were screened for their inhibitory effects on ferroptosis in HT-22 cells. Two compounds 4 and 7 showed certain inhibitory effects against RSL3-induced ferroptosis with EC₅₀ values of 10.8±2.3 μM and 15.5±0.5 μM, respectively. Here we firstly reported the sesquiterpenoids from C. crassifolius showing inhibitory effect on ferroptosis.

Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and antinociceptive activities of the hydroalcoholic extract of Rhynchospora nervosa (Vahl) Boeckeler (Cyperaceae)

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Rhynchospora nervosa (Vahl) Boeckeler (Cyperaceae), popularly known as "capim-estrela", is a native species widely distributed in Brazil. The whole plant has been used in local traditional medicine in the form of teas or syrups to treat inflammation, flu, nasal congestion, fever, swelling, and venereal disease. This is the first study to investigate the pharmacological properties of this species.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study aimed to evaluate the in vivo anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and antinociceptive potential of the lyophilized hydroalcoholic extract of R. nervosa in heterogenic Swiss mice. In addition to pharmacological studies, the total phenol and flavonoid contents of the extract were determined.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated through carrageenan-induced paw edema and peritonitis models. For the antinociceptive assay, the number of acetic acid-induced writhing responses in the animals was counted. Antipyretic activity was tested by yeast-induced pyrexia in mice and evaluated for 4 h. Nitric oxide (NO) concentration and leukocyte migration in the peritoneal fluid were quantified. The acute toxicity of the extract was also calculated. Quantitative analyses of total phenols and flavonoids in the extract were performed by spectrophotometric methods.

RESULTS

In short, the lyophilized hydroalcoholic extract of R. nervosa showed low acute toxicity in the preclinical tests (LD₅₀ = 3807 mg/kg). A significant anti-inflammatory effect was observed, with an average reduction of carrageenan-induced paw edema of 96.37%. Comparatively, indomethacin inhibited the development of the carrageenin paw edema by 97.52%. In the peritonitis test, a significant reduction in NO levels was recorded. A reduction in the number of white cells, notably monocytes, was also observed, confirming the anti-inflammatory effect. Writhing was reduced by 86.53%, which indicates antinociceptive activity. As for antipyretic activity, no positive effects of the extract were observed. The lyophilized hydroalcoholic extract of R. nervosa presented a high content of phenolic compounds (322.47 μg GAE/mg) and total flavonoids (440.50 μg QE/mg).

CONCLUSION

The lyophilized hydroalcoholic extract of R. nervosa showed significant in vivo anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity in mice. These preliminary findings support the indication of the use of this species in folk medicine in Brazil for the treatment of inflammation.

Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants Against COVID-19: An In Silico Analysis

Even after one and a half years since the outbreak of COVID-19, its complete and effective control is still far from being achieved despite vaccination drives, symptomatic management with available drugs, and wider lockdowns. This has inspired researchers to screen potential phytochemicals from medicinal plants against SARS-CoV-2, adopting a bio-informatics approach. The current study aimed to assess anti-viral activity of the phytochemicals derived from Ayurvedic medicinal plants against SARS-CoV-2 drug targets [3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) and RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp)] using validated in silico methods.3D Structures of 196 phytochemicals from three Ayurvedic plants were retrieved from PubChem and KNApSAcK databases and screened for Absorption Distribution Metabolism Excretion and Toxicity(ADMET) to predict drug-likeness. The phytochemicals were subjected to molecular docking and only three showed promise: Acetovanillonewith a binding affinity of −4.7Kcal/mol with RdRp and −4.1 Kcal/mol with 3CL pro; myrtenol with equivalent values of −4.3 Kcal/mol with RdRP and −3.2 Kcal/mol with 3CLpro; and nimbochalcin with equivalent values of −5.0Kcal/mol with RdRp and −4.9 Kcal/mol with 3CLpro. Molecular dynamics simulation (50ns) analysis was made of 3CLpro and RdRp using Autodock Vina 1.1.2 software and VMD software. After ADMET analysis, 78 phytochemicals were found suitable for molecular docking. Three, namely acetovanillone, myrtenol and nimbochalcin from Picrorhiza kurroa, Azadirachta indica and Cyperus rotundus,respectively,exhibited good binding affinity with 3CLproand RdRp of SARS-CoV-2. Interaction analysis, molecular dynamics simulations and MM-PBSA calculations were executed for two complexes, acetovanillone_RdRp and myrtenol_3CL pro.Acetovanillone_RdRpcomplex did not display any structural change after MD simulation as compared to myrtenol_3CL pro. The overall stability of acetovanillone_6NUR was 154.7 kJ/mol, and for myrtenol_1UJ1 90.5 kJ/mol. In silico analysis revealed that acetovanillone ( Picrorhiza kurroa) and myrtenol ( Cyperus rotundus) possess anti SARS-CoV-2 activity. Further studies are needed to validate their efficacy in biological models.

Review on the genus Brugmansia: Traditional usage, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The genus Brugmansia belongs to the Solanaceae family and contains approximately 7-8 species distributed in America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. The genus Brugmansia plants are used in the traditional medicine of different parts of the world for the treatment of inflammations, rheumatic arthritis, wounds, skin infections, headache, asthma, colic, aches, and so on.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review study that focuses on the phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, and traditional uses of Brugmansia species in order to understand the link between the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and modern therapeutic uses, and provide a scientific fundamental for further research in the phytochemical and pharmacological activities of their species.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The information reported in this study was retrieved from the scientific database such as ScienceDirect, PubMed, Springer, CNKI, Wiley, Google Scholar, and Baidu Scholar, up until May 2020. The key search word was "Brugmansia." Additionally, information was derived by search on the reference lists of included articles and Ph.D. dissertations.

RESULTS

As traditional uses, Brugmansia species are used against a wide range of diseases such as body pain, inflammatory conditions, skin infection, wound, and other diseases. Also, these species are used as a hallucinogen, protection from evil, and magical rituals. Phytochemical investigations have led to reporting approximately 189 chemical compounds in this genus. Among these components, tropane alkaloids, terpenes, and flavonoids are the most representative components of Brugmansia species. The plant extracts and chemical constituents of Brugmansia species exhibit a broad spectrum of biological and pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, antioxidant, antibacterial, antispasmodic, anti-asthmatic, antinociceptive, antiprotozoal activities, and so on.

CONCLUSION

This review summarized and analyzed the information of traditional uses, phytochemical, pharmacological activities, and toxicity of the genus Brugmansia plants, which show their species have interesting chemical constituents with different biological activities. The traditional uses of some species from this genus have been estimated by pharmacological activities, such as the anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antiasthma, antinociceptive, anti-addictive, and antiprotozoal activity. However, the traditional uses of many species have not been confirmed, also the secondary metabolites of the many species have not yet been determined and have never been pharmacologically estimated. Considerably more research is needed to assert the ethnopharmacological uses, determine the chemical constituents, toxicity, and pharmacological activities of the genus Brugmansia species. The present review will be helpful for further research in the phytochemistry and pharmacology of Brugmansia species.

Integrated serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacological analysis used to explore possible anti-rheumatoid arthritis mechanisms of the Shentong-Zhuyu decoction

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Shentong-Zhuyu decoction (STZYD) has been recognized by the Chinese National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a classic TCM formula. Use of STZYD has shown a satisfactory clinical therapeutic outcome for rheumatoid arthritis (RA); despite this, its bioactive chemical composition and relevant mechanism(s) of this action have not been clearly elucidated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To explore the bioactive chemical composition of STZYD used for RA treatment and its possible mechanism(s) of action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Serum pharmacochemistry mediated by the UPLC-Q-Exactive MS/MS method was employed to identify the absorbed phytochemical compounds in serum derived from STZYD, which were commonly considered as the potential bioactive compounds. And then, these components were used to construct a compound-target network for RA using a network pharmacology approach, to predict the possible biological targets of STZYD along with potential signaling pathways. Afterwards, we established a Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced RA rat model, and observed the anti-RA effect of STZYD by a series of indexes, including foot swelling, ankle diameter, arthritis score, morphological and radiographic analysis, serum inflammatory factors, and histopathological analysis of synovial tissues. Particularly, the predicted pathway by the combination of serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology was further validated using RT-qPCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemical analyses in animal experiment.

RESULTS

Totally, 38 compounds derived from STZYD have been identified by serum sample analysis. Based on it, 387 genes related to these identified compounds in STZYD and 3807 genes related to RA were collected by network pharmacology. Critically, KEGG analysis indicated that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was recommended as one of the main pathway related to anti-RA effect of STZYD. Experimentally, STZYD significantly alleviated CFA-induced arthritis without any visible side-effects. Compared to the RA model group without any treatment, the treatment of STZYD significantly reduced the expression of both mRNA and protein targets in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Furthermore, this result was also corroborated by immunohistochemistry analysis. All these studies could effectively corroborate the predicted result as above, suggested that the feasibility of this integrated strategy.

CONCLUSION

This study provided a useful strategy to identify bioactive compounds and the potential mechanisms for TCM formula by integrating serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology.

Phytochemicals from Plant Foods as Potential Source of Antiviral Agents: An Overview

To date, the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide include viral infections, such as Ebola, influenza virus, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and recently COVID-19 disease, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Currently, we can count on a narrow range of antiviral drugs, especially older generation ones like ribavirin and interferon which are effective against viruses in vitro but can often be ineffective in patients. In addition to these, we have antiviral agents for the treatment of herpes virus, influenza virus, HIV and hepatitis virus. Recently, drugs used in the past especially against ebolavirus, such as remdesivir and favipiravir, have been considered for the treatment of COVID-19 disease. However, even if these drugs represent important tools against viral diseases, they are certainly not sufficient to defend us from the multitude of viruses present in the environment. This represents a huge problem, especially considering the unprecedented global threat due to the advancement of COVID-19, which represents a potential risk to the health and life of millions of people. The demand, therefore, for new and effective antiviral drugs is very high. This review focuses on three fundamental points: (1) presents the main threats to human health, reviewing the most widespread viral diseases in the world, thus describing the scenario caused by the disease in question each time and evaluating the specific therapeutic remedies currently available. (2) It comprehensively describes main phytochemical classes, in particular from plant foods, with proven antiviral activities, the viruses potentially treated with the described phytochemicals. (3) Consideration of the various applications of drug delivery systems in order to improve the bioavailability of these compounds or extracts. A PRISMA flow diagram was used for the inclusion of the works. Taking into consideration the recent dramatic events caused by COVID-19 pandemic, the cry of alarm that denounces critical need for new antiviral drugs is extremely strong. For these reasons, a continuous systematic exploration of plant foods and their phytochemicals is necessary for the development of new antiviral agents capable of saving lives and improving their well-being.

HRESIMS-guided isolation of aspidosperma-scandine type bisindole alkaloids from Melodinus cochinchinensis and their anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities

The Melodinus species have been proved to be good resources of bisindole alkaloids. Six bisindole alkaloids were isolated from the leaves and stems of Melodinus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. guided by HRESIMS data analysis. Among them, melokhanines K-M, epi-scandomelonine, and epi-scandomeline possessed aspidosperma-scandine skeleton linked by a C-C bond while meloyine II had a scandine-scandine skeleton. The structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis of their HRESIMS and NMR data. Melokhanines K-M were undescribed compounds, while epi-scandomelonine, epi-scandomeline and meloyine II were known compounds, which were reported from Melodinus species for the first time. The anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities of the isolates were also evaluated in vitro. Melokhanine K and meloyine II showed potent inhibitory activity on the production of nitric oxide, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages, whereas epi-scandomelonine and epi-scandomeline exhibited certain cytotoxic activity against MOLT-4 cells with IC₅₀ values 5.2 and 1.5 μM, respectively.

Indian Medicinal Plants and Formulations and Their Potential Against COVID-19-Preclinical and Clinical Research

The cases of COVID-19 are still increasing day-by-day worldwide, even after a year of its first occurrence in Wuhan city of China. The spreading of SARS-CoV-2 infection is very fast and different from other SARS-CoV infections possibly due to structural differences in S proteins. The patients with severe diseases may die due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by systemic inflammatory reactions due to the excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by the immune effector cells. In India too, it is spreading very rapidly, although the case fatality rate is below 1.50% (https://www.statista.com), which is markedly less than in other countries, despite the dense population and minimal health infrastructure in rural areas. This may be due to the routine use of many immunomodulator medicinal plants and traditional AYUSH formulations by the Indian people. This communication reviews the AYUSH recommended formulations and their ingredients, routinely used medicinal plants and formulations by Indian population as well as other promising Indian medicinal plants, which can be tested against COVID-19. Special emphasis is placed on Indian medicinal plants reported for antiviral, immunomodulatory and anti-allergic/anti-inflammatory activities and they are categorized for prioritization in research on the basis of earlier reports. The traditional AYUSH medicines currently under clinical trials against COVID-19 are also discussed as well as furtherance of pre-clinical and clinical testing of the potential traditional medicines against COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2. The results of the clinical studies on AYUSH drugs will guide the policymakers from the AYUSH systems of medicines to maneuver their policies for public health, provide information to the global scientific community and could form a platform for collaborative studies at national and global levels. It is thereby suggested that promising AYUSH formulations and Indian medicinal plants must be investigated on a priority basis to solve the current crisis.

Natural products in Cyperus rotundus L. (Cyperaceae): an update of the chemistry and pharmacological activities

Cyperus rotundus L. (Nutgrass, family Cyperaceae) is a notorious weed which is widespread in temperate tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

anti-HCoV: A web resource to collect natural compounds against human coronaviruses

BACKGROUND

A novel coronavirus, the SARS-CoV2, was revealed to be the cause of COVID19, the pandemic disease that already provoked more than 555.324 deaths in the world (July 10, 2020). No vaccine treatment has been defined against SARS-CoV2 or other human coronaviruses (HCoVs), including those causing epidemic infections, neither appropriate strategies for prevention and care are yet officially suggested.

SCOPE AND APPROACH

We reviewed scientific literature on natural compounds that were defined as potentially effective against human coronaviruses. Our desk research identified non-chemically modified natural compounds that were shown (in vitro) and/or predicted (in silico) to act against one or more phases of human coronaviruses cell cycle.We selected all available information, merged and annotated the data to define a comprehensive list of natural compounds, describing their chemical classification, the source, the action, the specific target in the viral infection. Our aim was to collect possible compounds for prevention and care against human coronaviruses.

KEY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

The definition of appropriate interventions against viral diseases need a comprehensive view on the infection dynamics and on necessary treatments. Viral targeting compounds to be exploited in food sciences could be of relevant interest to this aim.We collected 174 natural compounds showing effects against human infecting coronaviruses, providing a curated annotation on actions and targets.The data are available in anti-HCoV, a web accessible resource to be exploited for testing and in vivo trials. The website is here launched to favour a community based cooperative effort to call for contribution and expand the collection. To be ready to fight.

Antiviral effect of phytochemicals from medicinal plants: Applications and drug delivery strategies

Viral infections affect three to five million patients annually. While commonly used antivirals often show limited efficacy and serious adverse effects, herbal extracts have been in use for medicinal purposes since ancient times and are known for their antiviral properties and more tolerable side effects. Thus, naturally based pharmacotherapy may be a proper alternative for treating viral diseases. With that in mind, various pharmaceutical formulations and delivery systems including micelles, nanoparticles, nanosuspensions, solid dispersions, microspheres and crystals, self-nanoemulsifying and self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS and SMEDDS) have been developed and used for antiviral delivery of natural products. These diverse technologies offer effective and reliable delivery of medicinal phytochemicals. Given the challenges and possibilities of antiviral treatment, this review provides the verified data on the medicinal plants and related herbal substances with antiviral activity, as well as applied strategies for the delivery of these plant extracts and biologically active phytochemicals. Graphical Abstract.

Plants Metabolites: Possibility of Natural Therapeutics Against the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19, a disease induced by SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2), has been the cause of a worldwide pandemic. Though extensive research works have been reported in recent days on the development of effective therapeutics against this global health crisis, there is still no approved therapy against SARS-CoV-2. In the present study, plant-synthesized secondary metabolites (PSMs) have been prioritized to make a review focusing on the efficacy of plant-originated therapeutics for the treatment of COVID-19. Plant metabolites are a source of countless medicinal compounds, while the diversity of multidimensional chemical structures has made them superior to treat serious diseases. Some have already been reported as promising alternative medicines and lead compounds for drug repurposing and discovery. The versatility of secondary metabolites may provide novel antibiotics to tackle MDR (Multi-Drug Resistant) microbes too. This review attempted to find out plant metabolites that have the therapeutic potential to treat a wide range of viral pathogens. The study includes the search of remedies belonging to plant families, susceptible viral candidates, antiviral assays, and the mode of therapeutic action; this attempt resulted in the collection of an enormous number of natural therapeutics that might be suggested for the treatment of COVID-19. About 219 plants from 83 families were found to have antiviral activity. Among them, 149 plants from 71 families were screened for the identification of the major plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) that might be effective for this pandemic. Our investigation revealed that the proposed plant metabolites can serve as potential anti- SARS-CoV-2 lead molecules for further optimization and drug development processes to combat COVID-19 and future pandemics caused by viruses. This review will stimulate further analysis by the scientific community and boost antiviral plant-based research followed by novel drug designing.

Sesquiterpenes from Cyperus rotundus and 4α,5α-oxidoeudesm-11-en-3-one as a potential selective estrogen receptor modulator

Estrogenic activity-oriented fractionation and purification of methanol extract from the rhizome of Cyperus rotundus, a well-known traditional herbal medicine, led to the isolation of six sesquiterpenes. 4α,5α-Oxidoeudesm-11-en-3-one (2) and cyper-11-ene-3,4-dione (3) together with four known sesquiterpenes, cyperotundone (1), caryophyllene α-oxide (4), α-cyperone (5), and isocyperol (6) were obtained from the hexane and dichloromethane fractions. Compounds 2 and 3 were newly isolated from natural resources in particular. To identify the possible use of isolated compounds as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT), estrogenic activity was evaluated by E-screen assay on MCF-7 BUS cells. Among the all isolated compounds from the rhizome of Cyperus rotundus, newly isolated from natural resource, 2 exhibited the most potent estrogenic activity. In an estrogen sensitive reporter gene assay, 2 significantly increased transcriptional activities. As a phytoestrogen, 2 was assessed by investigating dual action on ER-α and ER-β in competitive binding assay. It was found that 2 exerted higher binding affinity to ER-β than ER-α and it also showed both estrogenic and antiestrogenic effects depending on the E₂ concentration. Our results indicate that newly isolated from Cyperus rotundus, 2 has biphasic activities on estrogen receptors which could be useful as an alternative HRT.

Volatile component interaction effects on compatibility of Cyperi Rhizoma and Angelicae Sinensis Radix or Chuanxiong Rhizoma by UPLC-MS/MS and response surface analysis

Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu) combined with either Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui) or Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong) are herb pairs that are commonly used in clinical settings. To illustrate the herb-herb interactions that occur when extracts from these herbs are obtained together, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole electrospray tandem mass spectrometry and response surface analysis were used. Volatile components, α-cyperone, nootkatone, ligustilide, senkyunolide A and senkyunolide I, were accurately identified with high precision. When Xiangfu was combined with Danggui at a 1:1 ratio, or with Chuanxiong at a 1:1 or 2:1 ratio, the dissolution rates of α-cyperone and nootkatone from the herbs were greatly increased, compared to those obtained from Xiangfu extract alone. The dissolution rates of ligustilide, senkyunolide A and senkyunolide I from Danggui or Chuanxiong changed proportionally to changes in the ratios of Xiangfu with either Danggui or Chuanxiong. Response surface analysis results presented polynomial regression equations between the dissolution of tested compounds and the corresponding input variables, including compatibility proportions and solvent dosage. Based on the predicted results from response surface analysis, a combination of Xiangfu with Chuanxiong at a ratio of near 1:1, or with Danggui at 1:2, resulted in the maximum dissolution of five volatile components. Our established method could be applied to herb-herb interaction research, and the results may provide a scientific basis for the development of Cyperi Rhizoma-Chuanxiong Rhizoma, or Cyperi Rhizoma-Angelicae Sinensis Radix-based formulas and products.

The Progress of Anti-HBV Constituents from Medicinal Plants in China

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection causing acute and chronic hepatitis is a serious problem worldwide, whereas the current treatment methods are unsatisfactory. Traditional Chinese herbs that have long been used for medicinal purposes are fascinating sources for novel anti-HBV candidates. This paper summarizes the progress of anti-HBV constituents from diverse medicinal plants in China to provide information for searching new anti-HBV drugs from natural sources.

Iridal-type triterpenoids with anti-HBV activity from Iris confusa

Five new iridal-type triterpenoids, named as spirioiridoconfal A-C (1-3), isobelamcandal (4) and 17-hydroxyl-27-ene-iridal (5), along with one known compound (6) were isolated from the whole plant of Iris confusa. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 3 and 6 showed moderate activity against HBV DNA replication in vitro with the IC₅₀ value at 84.6 ± 24.9 (SI = 2.1) and 58.6 ± 6.1 (SI = 12.7) μM relatively.

Eudesmane-Type Sesquiterpene Glycosides from Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz

Eudesmane-type sesquiterpenes have been reported to exhibit varieties of biological activities. During the process of investigating this kind of natural product from the root bark of Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz., 13 eudesmane-type sesquiterpene glycosides including six new isolates, named as dictameudesmnosides A₁ (1), A₂ (2), B (3), C (4), D (5), and E (6), together with seven known ones (7-13), were obtained. Herein, their structures were determined by the analysis of physical data, spectroscopic analysis, and chemical methods. The existence of α-configuration glucose units in their structures (1-5, 8) is not very common in natural glycosidic components. Meanwhile, compounds 3-5, 7, and 9-13 displayed TG accumulation inhibitory effects on HepG2 cells.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, DNA Damage Protective, Cytotoxic and Antibacterial Activities of Cyperus rotundus Rhizomes Essential Oil against Foodborne Pathogens

Cyperus rotundus L. (Cyperaceae) is a medicinal herb traditionally used to treat various clinical conditions at home. In this study, chemical composition of Cyperus rotundus rhizomes essential oil, and in vitro antioxidant, DNA damage protective and cytotoxic activities as well as antibacterial activity against foodborne pathogens were investigated. Results showed that α-cyperone (38.46%), cyperene (12.84%) and α-selinene (11.66%) were the major components of the essential oil. The essential oil had an excellent antioxidant activity, the protective effect against DNA damage, and cytotoxic effects on the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell, as well as antibacterial activity against several foodborne pathogens. These biological activities were dose-dependent, increasing with higher dosage in a certain concentration range. The antibacterial effects of essential oil were greater against Gram-positive bacteria as compared to Gram-negative bacteria, and the antibacterial effects were significantly influenced by incubation time and concentration. These results may provide biological evidence for the practical application of the C. rotundus rhizomes essential oil in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Sesquiterpenoids from the Rhizomes of Homalomena occulta

Naturally occurring oplopanane sesquiterpenoids are rarely reported. A phytochemical investigation on the rhizomes of Homalomena occulta (Lours) has resulted in the discovery of six oplopanane sesquiterpenoids (1-6), including four new (1-4) and one 3,5-seco-oplopanane (6), together with three previously reported sesquiterpenoids (7-9). In addition three new oplopananes (2a-4a) were also obtained by chemical transformation. All structures of these sesquiterpenoids were established based on the comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, including NMR, MS, and IR, and comparing with the literatures.

Advance in studies on traditional Chinese medicines to treat infection with the hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as a type of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), is a sophisticated and time-honored form of healthcare in China. Many TCMs are widely used to treat hepatitis B and hepatitis C in countries like China, Japan, and South Korea. Since conventional clinical preparations like interferon-α cause obvious dose-dependent adverse reactions and drug resistance, TCMs and related bioactive compounds have garnered increasing attention from physicians and medical researchers. Thus far, a number of TCMs and compounds have been used to inhibit the hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) in vitro, in vivo, and even in clinical trials. The current review summarizes TCMs and related compounds that have been used to inhibit HBV or HCV. Most of these medicines are derived from herbs. HepG2.2.15 cells have been used to study HBV in vitro and Huh7.5 cells have been similarly used to study HCV. Ducks have been used to study the anti-HBV effect of new medication in vivo, but there are few animal models for anti-HCV research at the present time. Thus far, a number of preclinical studies have been conducted but few clinical trials have been conducted. In addition, a few chemically modified compounds have displayed greater efficacy than natural products. However, advances in TCM research are hampered by mechanisms of action of many bioactive compounds that have yet to be identified. In short, TCMs and related active compounds are a CAM that could be used to treat HBV and HCV infections.