Phytochemistry, pharmacological activities and uses of traditional medicinal plant Kaempferia galanga L. - An overview

Six new phenylpropanoids from Kaempferia galanga L. and their anti-inflammatory activity

Kaempferia galanga L. is an aromatic medicinal plant belonging to the Zingiberaceae family. Its rhizome has been widely used as traditional Chinese medicine and a flavor spice for a long time. In this study, six previously undescribed phenylpropanoids, including four [2+2]-cycloaddition-derived cyclobutane natural products (1-4), and two phenylpropanoids (5-6) were isolated from the rhizomes of K. galanga L. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, NMR calculation, and ECD spectra calculation. These cyclobutane derivatives were isolated from K. galanga for the first time. Furthermore, compounds 1-6 were evaluated for the potential inhibitory activities on NO production and NF-κB nuclear translocation in LPS-triggered RAW 264.7 macrophages. The results showed that the isolated compounds have a moderate anti-inflammatory activity measured on their potency to inhibit NO production and the expression of iNOS and COX-2. Additionally, compound 2 effectively suppressed NF-κB nuclear translocation at a concentration of 40 μM.

Therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of digestive inflammatory cancer transformation: Portulaca oleracea L. as a promising drug

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for centuries to treat various types of inflammation and tumors of the digestive system. Portulaca oleracea L. (POL), has been used in TCM for thousands of years. The chemical composition of POL is variable and includes flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids and organic acids and other classes of natural compounds. Many of these compounds exhibit powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer-transforming effects in the digestive system.

AIM OF STUDY

In this review, we focus on the potential therapeutic role of POL in NASH, gastritis and colitis and their associated cancers, with a focus on the pharmacological properties and potential mechanisms of action of the main natural active compounds in POL.

METHODS

The information and data on Portulaca oleracea L. and its main active ingredients were collated from various resources like ethnobotanical textbooks and literature databases such as CNKI, VIP (Chinese literature), PubMed, Science Direct, Elsevier and Google Scholar (English literatures), Wiley, Springer, Tailor and Francis, Scopus, Inflibnet.

RESULTS

Kaempferol, luteolin, myricetin, quercetin, genistein, EPA, DHA, and melatonin were found to improve NASH and NASH-HCC, while kaempferol, apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin played a therapeutic role in gastritis and gastric cancer. Apigenin, luteolin, myricetin, quercetin, genistein, lupeol, vitamin C and melatonin were found to have therapeutic effects in the treatment of colitis and its associated cancers. The discovery of the beneficial effects of these natural active compounds in POL supports the idea that POL could be a promising novel candidate for the treatment and prevention of inflammation-related cancers of the digestive system.

CONCLUSION

The discovery of the beneficial effects of these natural active compounds in POL supports the idea that POL could be a promising novel candidate for the treatment and prevention of inflammation-related cancers of the digestive system. However, clinical data describing the mode of action of the naturally active compounds of POL are still lacking. In addition, pharmacokinetic data for POL compounds, such as changes in drug dose and absorption rates, cannot be extrapolated from animal models and need to be measured in patients in clinical trials. On the one hand, a systematic meta-analysis of the existing publications on TCM containing POL still needs to be carried out. On the other hand, studies on the hepatic and renal toxicity of POL are also needed. Additionally, well-designed preclinical and clinical studies to validate the therapeutic effects of TCM need to be performed, thus hopefully providing a basis for the validation of the clinical benefits of POL.

Diarylheptanoids with neuroprotective effects from Alpinia officinarum rhizomes

Forty-three diarylheptanoids were isolated from Alpinia officinarum rhizomes among them eight ones (1-6) were undescribed compounds whose structures were identified by UV, IR, HRESIMS, and NMR. The neuroprotective effects of these diarylheptanoids were evaluated on H2O2-damaged SH-SY5Y cells. Compounds 7, 10, 12, 20, 22, 25, 28, 33, 35, 37, and 42 presented significant neuroprotective effects than that of the positive control (EGCG) at the concentrations of 5, 10 or 20 μM. Compounds 10, 22, 25, and 33 significantly reduced the ROS levels and inhibited the generations of MDA and NO in oxidative injured cells to display neuroprotective effects. This study lay the foundation for the application of Alpinia officinarum rhizomes.

Kaempferol attenuates particle-induced osteogenic impairment by regulating ER stress via the IRE1α-XBP1s pathway

Periprosthetic osteolysis and subsequent aseptic loosening are the primary causes of failure following total joint arthroplasty. Wear particle-induced osteogenic impairment is recognized as an important contributing factor in the development of osteolysis, with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress emerging as a pivotal underlying mechanism. Hence, searching for potential therapeutic targets and agents capable of modulating ER stress in osteoblasts is crucial for preventing aseptic loosening. Kaempferol (KAE), a natural flavonol compound, has shown promising osteoprotective effects and anti-ER stress properties in diverse diseases. However, the influence of KAE on ER stress-mediated osteogenic impairment induced by wear particles remains unclear. In this study, we observed that KAE effectively relieved TiAl6V4 particles-induced osteolysis by improving osteogenesis in a mouse calvarial model. Furthermore, we demonstrated that KAE could attenuate ER stress-mediated apoptosis in osteoblasts exposed to TiAl6V4 particles, both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, our results revealed that KAE mitigated ER stress-mediated apoptosis by upregulating the IRE1α-XBP1s pathway while concurrently partially inhibiting the IRE1α-regulated RIDD and JNK activation. Collectively, our findings suggest that KAE is a prospective therapeutic agent for treating wear particle-induced osteolysis and highlight the IRE1α-XBP1s pathway as a potential therapeutic target for preventing aseptic loosening.

Protective effects of an alcoholic extract of Kaempferia galanga L. rhizome on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The rhizome of Kaempferia galanga L., a medicinal and edible Plant, was widely distributed in many Asian and African counties. It has been traditionally used to treat gastroenteritis, hypertension, rheumatism and asthma. However, there is a lack of modern pharmacology studies regarding its anti-gastric ulcer activity.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The objective of this study is to investigate the protective effects of an extract from K. galanga L. rhizome (Kge) and its active components kaempferol and luteolin on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The kge was prepared by ultrasonic-assisted extraction, and the contents of kaempferol and luteolin were determined by HPLC. The mice were randomly divided into seven groups: blank control (0.5 % CMC-Na; 0.1 mL/10 g), untreatment (0.5 % CMC-Na; 0.1 mL/10 g), Kge (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg), kaempferol (100 mg/kg) and luteolin (100 mg/kg) groups. The mice were treated intragastrically once daily for 7 days. At 1 h post the last administration, the mice in all groups except the blank control group were intragastrically administrated with anhydrous alcohol (0.1 mL/10 g) once to induce gastric ulcer. Then, fasting was continued for 1 h, followed by sample collection for evaluation by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay.

RESULTS

The contents of kaempferol and luteolin in Kge were determined as 3713 μg/g and 2510 μg/g, respectively. Alcohol induced severely damages with edema, inflammatory cell infiltration and bleeding, and the ulcer index was 17.63 %. After pre-treatment with Kge (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg), kaempferol and luteolin, the pathological lesions were obviously alleviated and ulcer indices were reduced to 13.42 %, 11.65 %, 6.54 %, 3.58 % and 3.85 %, respectively. In untreated group, the contents of Ca2+, myeloperoxidase, malondialdehyde, NO, cyclic adenosine monophosphate and histamine were significantly increased, while the contents of hexosamine, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and prostaglandin E2 were significantly decreased; the transcriptional levels of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, calcitonin gene related peptide, substance P, M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, histamine H2 receptor, cholecystokinin 2 receptor and H+/K+ ATPase were significantly increased when compared with the blank control group. After pre-treatment, all of these changes were alleviated, even returned to normal levels. Kge exhibited anti-gastric ulcer activity and the high dose of Kge (400 mg/kg) exhibited comparable activity to that of kaempferol and luteolin.

CONCLUSION

The study showed that K. galanga L., kaempferol, and luteolin have protective effects against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers. This is achieved by regulating the mucosal barrier, oxidative stress, and gastric regulatory mediators, as well as inhibiting the TRPV1 signaling pathway and gastric acid secretion, ultimately reducing the gastric ulcer index.

Anti-inflammatory and wound healing effects of mouth gel containing kaempulchraol K from Kaempferia galanga rhizomes

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Kaempferia galanga L. is one of the important medicinal plants and has been used in Thailand for treating inflammation and wound.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of the compound from K. galanga on wound healing and anti-inflammatory activities and develop a new product in gel form to maximize the benefits of this plant.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

The mouth gel containing kaempulchraol K (KG2) was prepared by using 1.5% carbopol 934 as a gelling agent. Formulations of mouth gel containing KG2 at 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% w/w were evaluated for color, smell, pH values, viscosity, and separation. Also, the chemical and biological stabilities of mouth gel containing KG2 were evaluated by heating-cooling test. The anti-inflammatory activity was tested against RAW 264.7 cells nitric oxide (NO) production and wound healing assay was performed using human gingival fibroblasts (HGF).

RESULTS

Compound KG2 exhibited anti-NO production with an IC50 value of 66.8 μM and the wound healing activity of compound KG2 showed cell viability in the range of 90.9-111.4%. In addition, compound KG2 at a concentration of 3 μM induced the highest proportion of cell migration on day 3 at 90.2 ± 2.4%. The mouth gel containing KG2 both before and after the heating-cooling test exhibited good consistency, with pH values in the range of 6.64-6.71 (before) and 6.63-6.68 (after). Meanwhile, the viscosity was 81,700-96,700 cP (before) and 78,300-93,300 cP (after). For the chemical stability test of the active ingredient of mouth gel, the compound showed good stability after mixing with the gel base. The mouth gel exhibited anti-inflammation with IC50 values > 1000 μg/ml both before and after accelerating conditions. The wound healing activity of mouth gel containing KG2 (0.50% w/w) showed the highest % cell viability at 128.6% (before) and 123.8% (after). For cell migration, the result suggested that the mouth gel containing KG2 at 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% w/w (3 μg/ml) on day 3 enhanced cell migration higher than that of the positive controls both before (85.0-96.8%) and after (and 84.4-94.3%) the accelerating conditions.

CONCLUSION

The present study shows that mouth gel containing 0.50% KG2 is the most appropriate with good physical, chemical, and biological stabilities and might be one of the alternative sources for treatment of mouth ulcers (oral stomatitis) derived from aphthous ulcers, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy treatments.

Synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymer with a methacrylate derivative monomer for the isolation of ethyl p-methoxycinnamate as an active compound from Kaempferia galanga L. extracts

Kaempferia galanga rhizome is traditionally used as a treatment for various diseases. Ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EPMC), which constitutes up to 31.77% of the total essential oil, is the main/marker compound. EPMC is responsible for various pharmacological activities of Kaempferia galanga rhizome. According to the existing research, the isolation yield of EPMC is still meager, namely 0.50-2.50%; thus, a new EPMC isolation method is needed to produce better results. In this study, after determining the association constant and obtaining the Jobs plot between methacrylate derivative monomers and EPMC, a molecularly imprinted polymer for solid phase extraction (MI-SPE) was synthesized through bulk polymerization with EPMC as a template, methacrylic acid as a monomer, TRIM/EDGMA as a crosslinker in a ratio of 1 : 4 : 20 (MIP1) or 1 : 7 : 20 (MIP2). BPO was used as an initiator and n-hexane was used as a porogen. The synthesis of the NIP was also conducted using the same ratio but without the template. The MIPs were then characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) measurements, and their analytical performance was evaluated through adsorption capacity and selectivity. The results indicate that MIP2 exhibits better analytical performance with an adsorption capacity value of 0.0813 mg g-1. The selectivity of MIP2 was tested using EPMC analog compounds, namely ethyl cinnamic (EC), cinnamaldehyde (CD), and kaempferol (KF), with imprinting factor (IF) values of 17.436, 1.539, and 0.06, respectively. Lastly, MIP2 was applied to the SPE cartridge for the isolation of EPMC from Kaempferia galanga rhizome extract, and showed a percentage recovery of 82.40% for the ethanol extract, 68.05% for the ethyl acetate extract, and 65.27% for the n-hexane extract. MI-SPE 2 gives high purity results for the ethanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane extracts, with purities of 97.00%, 97.63%, and 99.59%, respectively. These results indicate that the MI-SPE technique shows great potential as a new method for isolating EPMCs with high yield and purity.

Effect of Kencur (Kaempferia galanga L.) Ethanolic Extract Treatment on Cerebral Caspase-3 Expression in Traumatic Brain Injury Rat Models

Background

Traumatic brain injury is one of the most common forms of trauma and causes significant morbidity and mortality. Kencur (Kaempferia galanga L.) ethanolic extract is known to contain substances that could theoretically inhibit unfavourable cellular processes, including oxidative stress and inflammation. This research aimed to study Kencur's anti-apoptosis activity through the inhibition of caspase-3.

Methods

This is a true experimental post-test-only group design study, using male Wistar rats (Ratus novergicus) with weight-drop-induced traumatic brain injury. The subjects in this study were divided into four groups: two Control groups (Groups A and B) and two Therapy groups (Groups C and D). Groups C and D differed in the dose of Kencur ethanolic extract administered (600 mg/kgBW/day and 1,200 mg/kgBW/day, respectively). The Therapy groups were then subdivided into those receiving therapy for 24 h (C-24 and D-24) and those receiving therapy for 48 h (C-48 and D-48). Caspase-3 expression in brain tissue was evaluated at the end of the therapy using immunohistochemistry. All groups were subjected to a Kruskal-Wallis comparison test and the investigation continued with a Mann-Whitney U test to compare the two groups.

Results

In traumatic brain injury rat models treated with Kaempferia galanga L. ethanolic extract at doses of 1,200 mg/kgBW/day within 48 h of therapy (D-48) compared to those who were not treated, there was a significant change in the cerebral expression of caspase-3 (P = 0.016). There was also a significant difference between the two doses of intervention (C-24 at 600 mg/kgBW/day and D-48 at 1,200 mg/kgBW/day; P = 0.016).

Conclusion

With a minimum of 48 h of treatment split into two doses, Kencur (Kaempferia galanga L.) ethanolic extract can decrease caspase-3 expression in rats with traumatic brain injury.

Induction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis by Dendropanax morbifera Leveille Leaf Extract via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway

Liver cancer is prevalent worldwide and associated with a high mortality rate. Therefore, developing novel drugs derived from natural products to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy is urgently needed. In this study, the inhibitory effect of Dendropanax morbifera Leveille extract (DME) on growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and its underlying mechanisms were investigated. DME suppressed the growth, migration, and invasion of SK-Hep1 human HCC cells. It also reduced the expression of the G0/G1 phase regulator proteins cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4, cyclin D, CDK2, and cyclin E, thereby inducing G0/G1 arrest. Moreover, DME treatment reduced the expression of antiapoptotic proteins, including caspase-9, caspase-3, PARP, and Bcl-2 and increased the expression of the proapoptotic protein, Bax. DME also increased reactive oxygen species production and reduced the cellular uptake of rhodamine 123. DME treatment increased the levels of p-p38 and p-FOXO3a in a dose-dependent manner and decreased those of p-PI3K, p-AKT, p-mTOR, and p-p70 in SK-Hep1 cells. In addition, combined treatment with DME and LY294002, an AKT inhibitor, significantly reduced p-AKT levels. In summary, these results show that the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is involved in DME-mediated inhibition of proliferation, migration, and invasiveness, and induction of apoptosis of HCC cells.

Preparation of Self-microemulsion Solids of Kaempferia galanga (L.) Volatile Oil and Its Effect on Rats with Gastric Ulcer

Kaempferia galanga volatile oil (KVO), the main effective component of the medicinal plant Kaempferia galanga L., possesses a variety of pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-angiogenic activities and has therapeutic potential for gastric ulcer (GU). However, poor solubility as well as instability limits the clinical application of KVO. In this study, K. galanga volatile oil self-microemulsion solids (KVO-SSMEDDS) were prepared to improve its bioavailability and stability, and the therapeutic effects were evaluated in a rat model with GU. The ratio of oil phase, emulsifier, and co-emulsifier in the KVO-SMEDDS prescription were optimized by plotting the pseudo-ternary phase diagram with the star point design-response surface method. Based on the optimal prescription, self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) was prepared as solid particles (S-SMEDDS). The prepared KVO-SSMEDDS had a rounded and non-adhesive appearance, formed an O/W emulsion after dissolution in water, and had a uniform particle size distribution with good stability and solubility. It was administered to GU model animals, and the results showed that a certain dose of KVO-SSMEDDS solution could increase the content of gastric mucosal protective factors PGE2, TGF-α, and EGF in gastric tissues and serum, and the expression of inflammatory factors IL-8 and TNF-α was downregulated. Meanwhile, the expression of the NF-κB/COX-2 pathway proteins was inhibited. In conclusion, the prepared KVO-SSMEDDS has good dispersion, solubility, and stability and has a therapeutic effect on rats with GU.

Natural products modulate NLRP3 in ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a clinically common, progressive, devastating, chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine that is recurrent and difficult to treat. Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) is a protein complex composed of multiple proteins whose formation activates cysteine aspartate protease-1 (caspase-1) to induce the maturation and secretion of inflammatory mediators such as interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18, promoting the development of inflammatory responses. Recent studies have shown that NLRP3 is associated with UC susceptibility, and that it maintains a stable intestinal environment by responding to a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms. The mainstay of treatment for UC is to control inflammation and relieve symptoms. Despite a certain curative effect, there are problems such as easy recurrence after drug withdrawal and many side effects associated with long-term medication. NLRP3 serves as a core link in the inflammatory response. If the relationship between NLRP3 and gut microbes and inflammation-associated factors can be analyzed concerning its related inflammatory signaling pathways, its expression status as well as specific mechanism in the course of IBD can be elucidated and further considered for clinical diagnosis and treatment of IBD, it is expected that the development of lead compounds targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome can be developed for the treatment of IBD. Research into the prevention and treatment of UC, which has become a hotbed of research in recent years, has shown that natural products are rich in therapeutic means, and multi-targets, with fewer adverse effects. Natural products have shown promise in treating UC in numerous basic and clinical trials over the past few years. This paper describes the regulatory role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in UC and the mechanism of recent natural products targeting NLRP3 against UC, which provides a reference for the clinical treatment of this disease.

Structural characterization and stability of glycated bovine serum albumin-kaempferol nanocomplexes

Kaempferol (Kae), a flavonoid is endowed with various functions. However, due to its poor water solubility and stability, its application in the food and pharmaceutical fields remains elusive. Emerging reports have emphasized the importance of bovine serum albumin (BSA), and glycosylated BSA (GBSA) prepared in the nature deep eutectic solvent system as drug delivery system carriers. In our study, ultraviolet and fluorescence spectra revealed the higher interactions of BSA and GBSA with Kae. Through analysis of Z-average diameter, zeta-potential, polydispersity index (PDI), encapsulation efficiency (EE), loading capacity (LC) of BSA-Kae nanocomplexes (NPs) and GBSA-Kae NPs, GBSA-Kae NPs showed a higher absolute value of zeta-potential and lower PDI, while its EE and LC were also higher. Structural characterization and stability analysis revealed that GBSA-Kae NPs had more stable properties. This study laid the theoretical foundation for improving the solubility and stability of Kae during its delivery and transport.

Earliest curry in Southeast Asia and the global spice trade 2000 years ago

The global spice trade has played an essential role in world history. However, because of poor preservation conditions, archaeobotanical remains of spices have been limited in archaeological contexts until now. This study reports evidence for spice processing from the archaeological site of Oc Eo in southern Vietnam, an entrepôt of the state of Funan that was occupied during the early centuries CE. Analysis of plant microremains recovered from the surfaces of Oc Eo grinding stone tools thought to be of South Asian origin has identified culinary spices that include turmeric, ginger, fingerroot, sand ginger, galangal, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon. These spices are indispensable ingredients used in the making of curry in South Asia today. We suggest that South Asian migrants or visitors introduced this culinary tradition into Southeast Asia during the period of early trade contact via the Indian Ocean, commencing about 2000 years ago.

Methanolic fraction of Cassia fistula L. bark exhibits potential to combat oxidative stress and possess antiproliferative activity

Cassia fistula L. is well known for its traditional medicinal properties as an anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antifungal, antibacterial, antimutagenic, and wound healing agent. The aim of the present study was to determine antioxidant, genoprotective, and cytotoxic potential of different fractions of C. fistula bark including hexane (CaMH), chloroform (CaMC), ethyl acetate (CaME), and methanol (CaMM). Among all the fractions studied, CaMM exhibited maximal radical scavenging activity in antioxidant DPPH assay, Superoxide anion radical scavenging assay and nitric oxide radical scavenging assay displayed an IC₅₀ value of 18.95, 29.41, and 13.38 µg/ml, respectively. CaMM fraction possessed the highest phenolic (130.37 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight of extract) and flavonoid (36.96 mg rutin equivalent/g dry weight of fraction) content. Data demonstrated significant positive correlation between polyphenol levels and radical scavenging activity. Single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet assay) exhibited genoprotective potential of C. fistula bark fractions against DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in human lymphocytes. CaMM fraction displayed highest protective ability against H₂O₂ induced-toxicity as evidenced by significant decrease in % tail DNA content from 30 to 7% at highest concentration (200 µg/ml). CaMM was found to be rich in catechin, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, and kaempferol. The phenolic content and antioxidant ability of the fractions was markedly negatively correlated with H₂O₂- induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes. Cytotoxic potential was evaluated against dermal epidermoid carcinoma (A431), pancreatic (MIA PaCa-2) and brain glioblastoma (LN-18) cancer cell lines using MTT assay. Results showed that C. fistula bark fractions possessed highest toxicity against the skin carcinoma cells. CaMM fraction reduced over 50% cell growth at the concentration of 76.72 µg/ml in A431 cells. These findings suggest that fractions of C. fistula bark exhibit potential to be considered as therapeutic agents in various carcinomas.

Isopimarane-type diterpenoids from the rhizomes of Kaempferia galanga L. and their biological activities

Fourteen isopimarane diterpenoids (1-14) were isolated from the rhizomes of Kaempferia galanga, including four new compounds (1-4). The isolated secondary metabolites were identified through analysis of spectroscopic (1 D and 2 D NMR) and mass spectrometric data, together with X-ray diffraction studies. Compounds 4-5, 7-11, and 13 showed strong antimalarial activities, with IC₅₀ values in the range of 1.46-3.99 μg/mL. Moreover, compounds 4, 5, 8, and 12 showed cytotoxicity against KB cell line with IC₅₀ values in the range of 6.13-38.2 μg/mL, while compounds 4, 5, and 12 showed cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cell line with IC₅₀ values in the range of 11.75-47.4 μg/mL. Eventually, the isolated compounds were screened against six bacterial strains and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, demonstrating weak to moderate activities.

Kaempferol as a therapeutic agent in Alzheimer's disease: Evidence from preclinical studies

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia and seriously affects human life and health. Kaempferol (KMP) is a common flavonoid, that is mainly derived from the rhizomes of Kaempferol galanga L. and is widely found in various fruits and vegetables. Previous studies have suggested that KMP has multiple pharmacological activities. However, the anti-AD mechanism of KMP has not been elucidated.

METHODS

This systematic review aims to summarize the existing preclinical experiments on KMP, further confirm the therapeutic effect of KMP in an AD model, and summarize the possible mechanism by which KMP exerts anti-AD effects. Electronic databases, including PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Baidu Academic, and Wanfang, were searched using the keywords of 'Kaempferol,' 'KMP,' 'pharmacology,' and 'Alzheimer's disease'.

RESULTS

We evaluated the reliability of the 12 included studies, and the results showed that the anti-AD mechanism of KMP was reliable and that the prospect of KMP in the treatment of cognitive impairment was promising. We comprehensively assessed the neuroprotective effects of KMP in in vivo and in vitro models of AD. These studies shown that KMP ameliorated AD through several mechanisms, including its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-acetylcholinesterase effects.

CONCLUSION

KMP may exert anti-AD effects through various mechanisms and is a potential drug with broad prospects for the treatment of AD.

OSADHI - An online structural and analytics based database for herbs of India

The current study aims to develop a PAN India database of medicinal plants along with their phytochemicals and geographical availability. The database consists of 6959 unique medicinal plants belonging to 348 families which are available across 28 states and 8 union territories of India. The database sources the information on four different sections - traditional knowledge, geographical indications, phytochemicals, and chemoinformatics. The traditional knowledge reports the plant taxonomy with their vernacular names. A total of 27,440 unique phytochemicals associated with these plants were curated from various sources in this study. However, due to the non-availability of general information like IUPAC names, InChI key, etc. from reliable sources, only 22,314 phytochemicals have been currently reported in the database. Various analyses have been performed for the phytochemicals which include analysis of physicochemical and ADMET properties calculated from open-source web servers using in-house python scripts. The phytochemical data set has also been classified based on the class, superclass, and pathways respectively using NPClassifier, a deep learning framework. Additionally, the antiviral potency of the phytochemicals was also predicted using two machine learning models - Random Forest and XGBoost. The database aims to provide accurate and exhaustive data of the traditional practice of medicinal plants in India in a single platform integrating and analyzing the rich customary practices and facilitating the development and identification of plant-based therapeutics for a variety of diseases. The database can be accessed at https://neist.res.in/osadhi/.

Current Understanding of the Molecular Basis of Spices for the Development of Potential Antimicrobial Medicine

Antimicrobial resistance increases day by day around the world. To overcome this situation new antimicrobial agents are needed. Spices such as clove, ginger, coriander, garlic, and turmeric have the potential to fight resistant microbes. Due to their therapeutic properties, medicinal herbs and spices have been utilized as herbal medicines since antiquity. They are important sources of organic antibacterial substances that are employed in treating infectious disorders caused by pathogens such as bacteria. The main focus of the study is the bioactivity of the active ingredients present in different kinds of naturally available spices. We conducted a thorough search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Research Gate for this review. We have read many kinds of available literature, and in this paper, we conclude that many different kinds of naturally available spices perform some form of bioactivity. After reading several papers, we found that some spices have good antimicrobial and antifungal properties, which may help in controlling the emerging antimicrobial resistance and improving human health. Spices have many phytochemicals, which show good antimicrobial and antifungal effects. This review of the literature concludes that the natural bioactivate compounds present in spices can be used as a drug to overcome antimicrobial resistance in human beings.

Novel ethyl p-methoxy cinnamate rich Kaempferia galanga (L.) essential oil and its pharmacological applications: special emphasis on anticholinesterase, anti-tyrosinase, α-amylase inhibitory, and genotoxic efficiencies

Background

Kaempferia galanga (L.) is one of the prospective therapeutic plants with an aromatic rhizome, and belongs to the Zingiberaceae family. This herb is commonly used by local practitioners in traditional Asian medicine.

Methods

In the present investigation, the novel Kaempferia galanga rhizome essential oil rich in ethyl p-methoxy cinnamate (EMCKG) was evaluated using GC/MS for chemical composition analysis. EMCKG was analyzed for its possible antimicrobial, neurodegenerative inhibitory, acetylcholinesterase, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities as well as for the genotoxic effects using the standard methodologies. ANOVA and post hoc was performed to test the statistical significance of the study.

Results

GC/MS analysis identified ethyl p-methoxy cinnamate as the major component of EMCKG essential oil with an area percentage of 66.39%. The EMCKG exhibited moderate (DPPH assay IC₅₀ = 15.64 ± 0.263 µg/mL; ABTS assay IC₅₀ = 16.93 ± 0.228 µg/mL) antioxidant activity than standard ascorbic acid (DPPH assay IC₅₀ = 21.24 ± 0.413 µg/mL; ABTS assay IC₅₀ = 21.156 ± 0.345 µg/mL). Similarly, EMCKG showed comparable activity in albumin denaturation (IC₅₀ = 2.93 ± 0.59 µg/mL) and protease inhibitor assay (IC₅₀ = 17.143 ± 0.506 µg/mL) to that of standard sodium diclofenac (IC₅₀ = 23.87 ± 0.729 µg/mL and IC₅₀ = 19.18 ± 0.271 µg/mL, respectively). The EMCKG exhibited a dose-dependent antimicrobial activity pattern with the highest inhibitory activity at 500 µg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus and considerable anticholinesterase activities (IC₅₀ = 21.94 ± 0.109 µg/mL) compared to the standard galanthamine (IC₅₀ = 27.18 ± 0.511 µg/mL). EMCKG also showed strong anti-diabetic activity (IC₅₀ = 18.503 ± 0.480 µg/mL) and anti-tyrosinase activity (IC₅₀ = 14.756 ± 0.325 µg/mL) as compared to the standards used (acarbose IC₅₀ = 20.39 ± 0.231 µg/mL and kojic acid IC₅₀ = 17.73 ± 0.192 µg/mL) in the study. Genotoxicity analysis of EMCKG revealed that at 1 µg/mL concentration has no toxic effects in mitosis of Allium cepa roots (Mitotic Index MI = 13.56% and chromosomal aberration CA = 07.60%). The ANOVA confirmed that except for the anticholinesterase activity, there is insignificant difference for essential oil and standards used for all the other bioactivities thus confirming their interchangeable applicability.

Conclusions

Current research provides the basis for the fact that besides being a rich source of ethyl p-methoxycinnamate, EMCKG has the potential for future formulation and development of an inexpensive skin-care agent and for the preparation of anti-diabetic drugs.

The industrially important genus Kaempferia: An ethnopharmacological review

Kaempferia, a genus of the family Zingiberaceae, is widely distributed with more than 50 species which are mostly found throughout Southeast Asia. These plants have important ethnobotanical significance as many species are used in Ayurvedic and other traditional medicine preparations. This genus has received a lot of scholarly attention recently as a result of the numerous health advantages it possesses. In this review, we have compiled the scientific information regarding the relevance, distribution, industrial applications, phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, tissue culture and conservation initiative of the Kaempferia genus along with the commercial realities and limitations of the research as well as missing industrial linkages followed by an exploration of some of the likely future promising clinical potential. The current review provides a richer and deeper understanding of Kaempferia, which can be applied in areas like phytopharmacology, molecular research, and industrial biology. The knowledge from this study can be further implemented for the establishment of new conservation strategies.

The antihyperglycemic effect of pulsed electric field-extracted polysaccharide of Kaempferia elegans officinale on streptozotocin induced diabetic mice

Kaempferia elegans polysaccharide (KEP) was extracted using a high-voltage pulsed electric field-assisted hot water method. Its physicochemical properties, in vitro activity and hypoglycemic effect was investigated. Experiments were undertaken with diabetic mice models and the potential mechanism of KEP to improve blood glucose levels was unveiled through measurements of relevant indicators in the serum and liver of the mice. Results showed that KEP is mainly composed of glucose, rhamnose, arabinose, and galactose. It has certain DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging ability and good α-glucosidase inhibitory ability, indicating that KEP has the potential to improve blood glucose levels in diabetes patients. The experimental results of KEP treatment on mice showed that KEP could control the continuous increase of fasting blood glucose levels. The potential mechanisms behind this blood glucose level control composes of (1) increasing the glucokinase and C peptide levels and decreasing Glucose-6-phosphatase content for improving key enzyme activity in the glucose metabolism pathway. This promotes the consumption of blood glucose during glycolysis, thereby inhibiting the production of endogenous glucose in gluconeogenesis pathway; (2) reducing triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and increasing high density lipoprotein cholesterol content, for regulating blood lipid indicators to normal levels; and (3) by improving the activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase for further improving the antioxidant defense system in the body to reduce blood glucose.

Characterization and antimicrobial activity of spice extract-loaded algal microcomposites based on the microemulsion technique

In recent years, with the increase in knowledge and awareness, people's efforts to return to nature have increased in the field of medical science and cosmetics industry. Spices, sumac and coriander, grown and frequently used in Turkey, have different bioactive effects. Microalgae are preferred in the treatment of skin problems. The aim of this study was to synthesize algae microcomposites that were effective against bacterial infections, prepared based on microemulsion technique and loaded with spice extract. Microemulsion formulations were prepared by the titration method. Aqueous and ethanolic extractions of sumac/coriander were carried out using the ultrasonic-assisted extraction method. Twenty-four different algal microcomposites loaded with extracts were synthesized. The disk diffusion method was used to determine the antimicrobial activity. The DPPH free radical scavenging activities, the total phenolic content (TPSC), and the characteristics (FT-IR) of the microcomposites were investigated. In addition, the chemical contents of extracts were determined by the GC-MS method. Aqueous extracts of both sumac and coriander were highly effective against Escherichia coli (ES DII). The highest antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (F6 III) was obtained with M9 (microcomposite containing ethanolic extract of sumac) and M15 (microcomposite containing aqueous extract of coriander). The highest TPSC value (6.025 mg GAE/gr) was detected in the aqueous extract of coriander. The DPPH radical scavenging activities of coriander extracts were lower than those of sumac extracts. It has been determined that the spices contain organic (propanoic, butanoic, malic and benzoic) acids and fatty (palmitic, oleic and myristic) acids. According to the results of FT-IR spectroscopy, microcomposites prepared with sumac and coriander extracts were successfully synthesized. The synthesized algae-based microcomposites have properties that could be in the green-labeled bio-based category.

Mitigative capacity of Kaempferia galanga L. and kaempferol on heterocyclic amines and advanced glycation end products in roasted beef patties and related mechanistic analysis by density functional theory

The capacity of Kaempferia galanga L. (KG) and kaempferol to mitigate the formation of free and bound heterocyclic amines (HAs) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in roast beef patties was explored. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and density functional theory (DFT) were used to reveal the possible mechanisms involved in quenching the free radicals. KG (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%) and kaempferol (0.005%, 0.010%, 0.015%) reduced HAs and AGEs in a dose-dependent manner. Alkyl free radical, HOO·, and ¹O₂ were critical to the formation of HAs, and ¹O₂ was pivotal to AGEs. They were quenched by KG and kaempferol in a dose-dependent manner. DFT indicated that the 3-OH group of kaempferol was most pivotal and quenched the HOO· mainly via H-atom transfer. The active carbonyl intermediates phenylacetaldehyde, glyoxal, and methylglyoxal can also be reduced by KG and kaempferol in a dose-dependent manner, which may be result from the quenching of free radicals.

Diterpenoids and p-methoxycinnamic acid diol esters from Kaempferia saraburiensis Picheans. (Zingiberaceae): Structural assignment of saraburol and their biological activities

Five undescribed compounds, including three diterpenoids namely, saraburol, saraburanes A and B, and two p-methoxycinnamic acid monoterpene diol esters, named E/Z-saraburinic esters, together with ten known oxygenated isopimarane diterpenoids, were isolated from the whole plant of Kaempferia saraburiensis Picheans. Among these compounds, saraburol possesses an unusual 6/9/6 tricyclic ring system bearing a 1,3-dioxonane-4-one scaffold, which is rarely found in natural products. The structure of isolated compounds was elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including HRESIMS, FTIR, 1D and 2D-NMR, and by comparison with published data, and their absolute configurations were determined by comparison of experimental with calculated ECD spectra and hydrolysis reaction. Using gauge-independent atomic orbital (GIAO) NMR shift calculations coupled with DP4+ probability analyses, biogenetic considerations, and optical rotation allowed for the complete characterization of saraburol. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for saraburol and saraburane A was proposed. The cytotoxicity result indicated that E-saraburinic ester exhibited the most potent activity with an IC₅₀ value of 12.0 μM against MOLT-3 cells with a selectivity index of 12.5. Saraburane B exhibited the most potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria strain Staphylococcus epidermidis with MIC (MBC) value of 25 (50) μg/mL.

Zingiberaceae plants/curcumin consumption and multiple health outcomes: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials in humans

This umbrella review is to recapitulate and grade the available evidence of associations between consumption of Zingiberaceae plants/curcumin (Cur) and multiple health-related outcomes. This study included 161 meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials in 76 articles with 67 unique health outcomes. Data on heterogeneity and publication bias are considered to assess the quality of evidence. Based on the different impact of Zingiberaceae plants/Cur on human health, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Zingiberaceae plants/Cur can mainly improve metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and some chronic inflammatory diseases, likewise, obviously relief the pain of osteoarthritis and related diseases. Ginger supplements have been shown to improve vomiting during pregnancy and to relieve nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy and surgery. The surgery is any type of surgery, including laparoscopic surgery, gynecological surgery and mixed surgery. Beneficial associations were found with Cur intervention in gastrointestinal, neurological and oral diseases. Zingiberaceae plants/Cur are generally safe and favorable for multiple health outcomes in humans. High-quality research is further needed to prove the observed associations.

Wound healing properties of pharmaceutical gel containing isopimarane diterpene isolated from Kaempferia galanga L

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Kaempferia galanga L. rhizomes have been widely used in Thailand as medicine for treating inflammation and wound. A number of bioactive compounds have been isolated from the rhizomes of K. galanga and these compounds exhibited various pharmacological activities.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The objective of this study is to investigate the wound healing properties of gel containing 6β-acetoxysandaracopimaradiene-1α, 9α-diol (KG6), a compound from K. galanga.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

KG6 gel formulations were prepared using 1.0% carbopol 940 as gelling agent. Three KG6 gel formulations (0.10, 0.25, 0.50% w/w) were subjected to heating-cooling test to determine their physical, chemical and biological stabilities. The wound healing properties of KG6 gel formulations were performed using RAW264.7 cells for anti-inflammatory effect, while their impact on cell proliferation and migration, collagen content and H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress was examined using human dermal fibroblasts (HDF).

RESULTS

The pH, viscosity and general appearance after the heating-cooling test of the three prepared gels were stable in the acceptable range of gel formulation for skin. Gel containing 0.25% KG6 showed better chemical stability than other formulations. The 0.25% KG6 gel significantly increased cell viability (102.8%) and produced the highest HDF cell migration (91.9%) which was greater than that of Aloe vera gel (96.2, 78.4%, respectively). This gel exhibited anti-inflammatory activity via suppressing nitric oxide release and improved the viability of HDF cells against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress. The 0.25% KG6 gels also increased collagen content in HDF cells.

CONCLUSION

The gel formulation consisting of 0.25% KG6 with 1.0% of carbopol 940 was found to be a promising pharmaceutical gel for wound treatments due to marked wound healing properties.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Wound Healing Effect of Kaempferia galanga L. Rhizome on the Chemical-Induced Oral Mucosal Ulcer in Wistar Rats

Introduction

Kaempferia galanga L. (K. galanga; local name kencur, Zingiberaceae) is a plant commonly used as a kitchen spice, and empirically it is often used for medicinal purposes. This plant has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory role, but no research has been found on its effect on oral mucosal ulcer. This study aimed to investigate anti-inflammatory activity and wound healing effect of the ethanol extract of K. galanga L. rhizome (EEKG) on the chemical-induced oral mucosal ulcer in Wistar rats.

Methods

In this study, 35 rats were divided into 7 groups (normal, negative, triamcinolone acetonide, and 4 EEKG groups). Acetic acid 70% was used as the oral mucosal ulcer inducer. Parameters observed were macroscopic and microscopic histopathological examinations.

Results

The results revealed that dose of 0.5% of the EEKG was effective in increasing the percent recovery of ulcer area and inflammation sign scores. Meanwhile, doses of 0.5–2% of EEKG were effective in reducing the histopathological score. Interestingly, topical EEKG in our study was more effective compared with triamcinolone acetonide (the conventional therapy for oral mucosal ulceration).

Discussion

The EEKG has been confirmed its anti-inflammatory activity by accelerating the healing process on the chemical-induced oral mucosal ulcer in Wistar rats, based on the percent recovery of the ulcer area, the percent recovery of the inflammation sign score, and the histopathology score.

Conclusion

Taken together, K. galanga L. is very potential to be developed as a prospective phytopharmaceutical for the treatment of oral mucosal ulceration in human after clinical trials.

Ethyl P-Methoxycinnamate: An Active Anti-Metastasis Agent and Chemosensitizer Targeting NFκB from Kaempferia galanga for Melanoma Cells

The most common type of skin cancer is melanoma. While significant advances in chemotherapy have occurred in a few instances, only marginal progress has been made in treating metastatic melanoma. Natural medicine has traditionally been used to treat various illnesses, including cancer. The purpose of this study was to identify the active compound in Kaempferia galanga, which could be used to treat melanoma as an anti-metastasis and chemosensitizer agent. The active compound in K. galanga was isolated and identified using chromatography and spectroscopy techniques, and given six compounds. Inhibitory activity on NFκB activation and cell viability was determined using reporter assay methods. Among the isolated compounds, ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EPMC) demonstrated potent NFκB inhibitory activity against melanoma cell B16F10- NFκB Luc2 with an IC50 of 88.7 μM. Further investigation was conducted by evaluating the anti-metastasis effect of EPMC in vitro by using wound-healing assays, invasion tests, and molecular mechanism assays using Western blotting. NFκB has been implicated in tumorigenesis through the PI3K/Akt/NFκB pathway. The results of this study indicated that EPMCs act as inhibitors of p38 and thereby Akt phosphorylation inhibitors at serine 473, inhibiting NFκB-dependent transcription. Further analysis with paclitaxel demonstrated that the combinations could sensitize to apoptosis in response to well-known chemotherapy agents. Additional studies were conducted using the human melanoma cancer cell line SK-Mel 28. Along with the induction of apoptosis, we observed an increase in p-γH2AX expression (a molecular marker for double strand breaks in DNA damage) in response to treatment with paclitaxel and EPMC. The result showed EPMC to be a potential, viable adjuvant for improving the clinical efficacy of anti-metastatic and cancer chemotherapy.

Derivatives of Cinnamic Acid Esters and Terpenic Diversity in Volatiles of Thirty-Six Sand Ginger (Kaempferia galanga L.) Accessions of Eastern India Revealing Quality Chemovars

The essential oil of Kaempferia galanga L. commonly known as sand ginger has increased its demand in national and international market for decades. Cinnamic acid esters like ethyl-p-methoxy cinnamate (EPMC) and ethyl cinnamate (EC) are major constituents in its essential oil. In spite of the high demand for the plant as raw material, identification of quality chemovars having high essential oil (EO) yield and constituents is still at an infant stage. With this in mind, we have evaluated the EO yield of 36 accessions from three provinces of Eastern India, which varied within a range of 0.41 ± 0.01 to 2.63 ± 0.03 v/w. Further, a total of 65 compounds were detected by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with area percentages varying from 76.16 to 97.3%. EPMC was found to be the major component in 14 accessions with area percentages varying from 10.7% to 41.1%, whereas other 22 accessions showed EC as the major constituent, varying from 16% to 29.1%. Further, a diversity study among accessions was performed by agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) and principal component analysis (PCA) analysis based on the abundance of identified constituents, which categorized all 36 accessions into three clusters. Thus, the present study helps to identify quality chemovar K.g16 and K.g14 with respect to oil yield and constituents, respectively, which could be used to guide commercial cultivation and further improvement of the taxa.

Evaluation of Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities of Selected Medicinal Plants of Himalayas, Pakistan

Medicinal plants are known for their diverse use in the traditional medicine of the Himalayan region of Pakistan. The present study is designed to investigate the anticancer and antimicrobial activities of Prunus cornuta and Quercus semicarpifolia. The anticancer activity was performed using cancerous human cell lines (HepG2, Caco-2, A549, MDA-MB-231, and NCI-H1437 carcinoma cells), while the antimicrobial activity was conducted with the agar-well diffusion method. Furthermore, toxicity studies were performed on alveolar and renal primary epithelial cells. Initially, different extracts were prepared by maceration techniques using n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and methanol. The preliminary phytochemical screening showed the presence of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, and quinones. The chloroform extract of P. cornuta (PCC) exhibited significant inhibitory activity against Acinetobacter baumannii (16 mm) and Salmonella enterica (14.5 mm). The A. baumannii and S. enterica strains appeared highly susceptible to n-hexane extract of P. cornuta (PCN) with an antibacterial effect of 15 mm and 15.5 mm, respectively. The results also showed that the methanolic extracts of Quercus semecarpifolia (QSM) exhibited considerable antibacterial inhibitory activity in A. baumannii (18 mm), Escherichia coli (15 mm). The QSN and QSE extracts also showed good inhibition in A. baumannii with a 16 mm zone of inhibition. The Rhizopus oryzae strain has shown remarkable mycelial inhibition by PCM and QSN with 16 mm and 21 mm inhibition, respectively. Furthermore, the extracts of P. cornuta and Q. semicarpifolia exhibited prominent growth inhibition of breast (MDA-MB-231) and lung (A549) carcinoma cells with 19-30% and 22-39% cell viabilities, respectively. The gut cell line survival was also significantly inhibited by Q. semicarpifolia (24-34%). The findings of this study provide valuable information for the future development of new antibacterial and anticancer medicinal agents from P. cornuta and Q. semicarpifolia extracts.

Extract, fractions, and ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate isolate from Kaempferia galanga Elicit anti-inflammatory activity by limiting leukotriene B4 (LTB4) production

Background and aim

Kaempferia galanga, also known as aromatic Ginger (kencur) in Indonesia, has been widely explored and shows potential as an anti-inflammatory agent. However, there has been limited research to show a possible mechanism by which aromatic ginger inhibits lipoxygenase (LOX). Therefore, this study aims to determine the anti-inflammatory activity of aromatic ginger by comparing extract, fractions, and ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate (EPMC) isolate, as well as possible LOX inhibition activity, by reducing the production of leukotriene B4 (LTB4).

Experimental procedure

Two animal models were used, namely, the carrageenan-induced granuloma air pouch model and the pleurisy model. The test substance was administered 1 h before carrageenan induction, which was performed orally for each animal model. The number of leukocytes and the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, leukotriene B4 (LTB4) levels, and histology were observed. GC-MS and LC-MS were used for analysis of the chemical compounds in the test samples.

Results and conclusion

The results of GC-MS analysis showed that aromatic ginger rhizome extract and fractions were dominated by ethyl-trans-p-methoxycinnamate, with the highest level found in the extract. K. galanga showed significant anti-inflammatory activity compared to the control (p < 0.01) in both the granuloma air pouch and pleurisy models. The results of examining the LTB4 concentration showed comparable activity between K. galanga extract, fractions and EMPC isolate, these results were not better than those of zileuton. Overall, this study shows that aromatic ginger extract, fractions and EPMC isolate have anti-inflammatory properties and have the potential to inhibit LOX, thereby reducing LTB4 levels.

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Comparison of extract, fraction and isolate of Kamperia galanga anti-inflammation activity.

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Anti-inflammatory activity of Kaempferia galanga in pleurisy model.

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Extract, fraction and isolate of Kamperia galanga as LOX inhibitor.

Kaempferia galanga L.: Progresses in Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology and Ethnomedicinal Uses

K. galanga is an aromatic medicinal herb. It is locally to India and distributed in China, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. K. galanga is a Traditional Chinese Herb Medicine (TCHM), which has been applied to treat cold, dry cough, toothaches, rheumatism, hypertension and so on. In addition, it has been used widely as spices since its highly aromas. The aim of this review is to compile and update the current progresses of ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of K. galanga. All the data on K. galanga were based on different classical literary works, multiple electronic databases including SciFinder, Web of Science, PubMed, etc. The results showed that ninety-seven compounds have been identified from rhizome of K. galanga, including terpenoids, phenolics, cyclic dipeptides, flavonoids, diarylheptanoids, fatty acids and esters. Modern pharmacology studies revealed that extracts or secondary metabolites of the herb possessed anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-tumorous, anti-bacterial, and anti-angiogenesis effects, which were closely related to its abundant ethnomedicinal uses. In conclusion, although previous research works have provided various information of K. galanga, more in-depth studies are still necessary to systemically evaluate phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, toxicity and quality control of this herb.

An overview on plants cannabinoids endorsed with cardiovascular effects

Nowadays cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the major causes for the reduction of the quality of life. The endocannabinoid system is an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders due to its involvement in vasomotor control, cardiac contractility, blood pressure and vascular inflammation. Alteration in cannabinoid signalling can be often related to cardiotoxicity, circulatory shock, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Plants have been the major sources of medicines until modern eras in which researchers are experiencing a rediscovery of natural compounds as novel therapeutics. One of the most versatile plant is Cannabis sativa L., containing phytocannabinoids that may play a role in the treatment of CVDs. The aim of this review is to collect and investigate several less studied plants rich in cannabinoid-like active compounds able to interact with cannabinoid system; these plants may play a pivotal role in the treatment of disorders related to the cardiovascular system.

Kaempferol Alleviates Murine Experimental Colitis by Restoring Gut Microbiota and Inhibiting the LPS-TLR4-NF-κB Axis

Intestinal microbiota dysbiosis is an established characteristic of ulcerative colitis (UC). Regulating the gut microbiota is an attractive alternative UC treatment strategy, considering the potential adverse effects of synthetic drugs used to treat UC. Kaempferol (Kae) is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant flavonoid derived from a variety of medicinal plants. In this study, we determined the efficacy and mechanism of action of Kae as an anti-UC agent in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice. DSS challenge in a mouse model of UC led to weight loss, diarrhea accompanied by mucous and blood, histological abnormalities, and shortening of the colon, all of which were significantly alleviated by pretreatment with Kae. In addition, intestinal permeability was shown to improve using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran administration. DSS-induced destruction of the intestinal barrier was also significantly prevented by Kae administration via increases in the levels of ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1. Furthermore, Kae pretreatment decreased the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α and downregulated transcription of an array of inflammatory signaling molecules, while it increased IL-10 mRNA expression. Notably, Kae reshaped the intestinal microbiome by elevating the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio; increasing the linear discriminant analysis scores of beneficial bacteria, such as Prevotellaceae and Ruminococcaceae; and reducing the richness of Proteobacteria in DSS-challenged mice. There was also an evident shift in the profile of fecal metabolites in the Kae treatment group. Serum LPS levels and downstream TLR4-NF-κB signaling were downregulated by Kae supplementation. Moreover, fecal microbiota transplantation from Kae-treated mice to the DSS-induced mice confirmed the effects of Kae on modulating the gut microbiota to alleviate UC. Therefore, Kae may exert protective effects against colitis mice through regulating the gut microbiota and TLR4-related signaling pathways. This study demonstrates the anti-UC effects of Kae and its potential therapeutic mechanisms, and offers novel insights into the prevention of inflammatory diseases using natural products.

Medicinal importance of Kaempferia galanga L. (Zingiberaceae): A comprehensive review

Kaempferia galanga included in the Zingiberaceae family is one of the potential medicinal plants with aromatic rhizome. In traditional medicine in Asian countries, this plant is widely used by local practitioners. This plant is widely cultivated in most Southeast Asian countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. Ethyl-para-methoxycinnamate and ethyl-cinnamate are found as the main compounds in hexane, dichloromethane, and methanol extracts of K. galanga. This plant is traditionally used as an expectorant, stimulant, diuretic, carminative, and antipyretic remedy. In addition, K. galanga is used for treatment of diabetes, hypertension, cough, asthma, joint fractures, rheumatism, urticaria, vertigo, and intestinal injuries. Therefore, this study aimed to give a sneak peek view on galangal’s ethnobotany, toxicology, pharmacology, and phytochemistry.

Kaempferol attenuates streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy by downregulating TRAF6 expression: The role of TRAF6 in diabetic nephropathy

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Kaempferia rhizome is a famous traditional herbal medical in tropical and subtropical areas. Kaempferol (KPF) is one of the main bioactive compounds in Kaempferia rhizome, with anti-oxidant/anti-inflammatory effects demonstrated in various disease models, including cancers, obesity and diabetes.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). TRAF6 functions as a signal transducer in toll-like receptor 4 and NF-κB pro-inflammatory signaling pathway. We aimed at investigate whether KPF is able to mitigate inflammatory responses by regulating TRAF6 in DN.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

C57BL/6 mice were injected with streptozotocin to induce type 1 DN. NRK-52E, a tubular epithelial cell line, was used for in vitro analysis. TRAF6 was knockdown using siRNA in vitro and AAV2/2-shRNA in vivo. The anti-DN and inflammatory effects of KPF or knockdown of TRAF6 were evaluated by investigating renal filtration index, pathological changes of kidney tissue. Proinflammatory cytokine levels were detected using ELISA. NF-κB pathway and protein levels of related pathways were detected through Western blot.

RESULTS

KPF significantly reduced renal inflammation, fibrosis, and kidney dysfunction in diabetic mice. These effects were associated with a downregulation of TRAF6 in diabetic mouse kidneys, indicating the potential role of TRAF6. Knockdown of TRAF6 in mice through AAV2-shTRAF6 confirmed the importance of TRAF6 in DN. In vitro, treatment of KPF in NRK-52E cells attenuated high glucose (HG)-induced inflammatory and fibrogenic responses, associated with downregulated TRAF6 expression. The conclusion was further confirmed in NRK-52E cells by knocking down the expression and by overexpression of TRAF6.

CONCLUSION

Our findings provide direct evidence that TRAF6 mediates diabetes-induced inflammation leading to renal dysfunction. We also show that KPF is a potential therapeutic agent to reduce inflammatory responses in DN. Also, TRAF6 may represent an interesting target to combat DN.

Immunomodulatory and Antioxidant Activities of Select Indonesian Vegetables, Herbs, and Spices on Human Lymphocytes

Edible plants have attracted increasing attention as functional foods as they are rich in bioactive compounds with health benefits, including antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities. However, scientific evidence of these health effects is limited. This study is aimed at determining antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities of 25 select vegetables, herbs, and spices commonly consumed in Indonesia. Phytochemical profiles were determined by measuring total flavonoid content and ¹H-NMR. Human blood lymphocyte cells were used to probe the immunomodulatory potency and treated with the methanol extract of these vegetables, herbs, and spices. The results showed the enhanced propensity for all tested plant extracts to stimulate lymphocyte proliferation, except Pandanus amaryllifolius. Etlingera elatior, Ocimum xcitriodorum, Kaempferia galanga, and Apium graveolens had the highest lymphocyte cell proliferation stimulation index (SI) at concentrations of 41.67, 16.67, 4.17, and 2.5 mg/mL culture, respectively (SI 2.21 ± 0.05, 2.62 ± 0.12, 3 ± 0.05, and 2.64 ± 0.07, respectively). The NMR spectra of these four most potent plants showed low peaks in the aromatic/phenolic area and several other peaks indicating the presence of terpenoid, steroid, amino acid, and sugar compounds. The results demonstrate the immunomodulatory potential of all vegetables, herbs, and spices, except P. amaryllifolius, although this potential did not necessarily correlate with flavonoid content and antioxidant activity. Nevertheless, this research showed promising health effect, particularly immunomodulation, of the various local plants. Further elaboration on the specific immunomodulatory activity will be interesting.

Gmelina arborea- an indigenous timber species of India with high medicinal value: A review on its pharmacology, pharmacognosy and phytochemistry

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Gmelina arborea Roxb.ex Smith, a fast-growing deciduous tree belongs to the family Lamiaceae, and is an important plantation species in many tropical areas around the world. The species is naturally distributed in semi-deciduous forests in tropical/subtropical regions of South East Asia. The tree is also an important medicinal plant in the Indian Systems of Medicine. The whole plant is used in medicine. It is astringent, bitter, digestive, cardiotonic, diuretic, laxative and pulmonary and nervine tonic. It improves digestion, memory, helps overcome giddiness and is useful in burning sensation, fever, thirst, emaciation, heart diseases, nervous disorders and piles. The roots are acrid, bitter-sweet in taste, stomachic, tonic, laxative, galactagogue and antihelmintic. The flowers are sweet, refrigerant, bitter, astringent and acrid, and are used in treating leprosy and skin diseases. The fruits are acrid, sour, sweet, refrigerant, bitter, astringent, aphrodisiac, trichogenous, alterant and tonic. Fruits are edible and also used for promoting hair growth and in treating anaemia, leprosy, ulcers, constipation, leucorrhoea and colitis. The leaves are a good fodder also. The major bioactive compounds extracted from different parts of G. arborea are arboreal, verbascoside, tyrosol, iridoids, phenylpropanoid glycoside, premnazole, martynoside, iridoid glycosides, balanophonin, gmelinol, isoarboreol apigenin, umbelliferone etc. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This review provides an insight into the medicinal aspects of G. arborea. It provides the latest information on phytochemistry, pharmacological activities and traditional uses of G.arborea.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Information on G. arborea was gathered from various sources like textbooks, literature, databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Wiley, Springer, Taylor and Francis, Scopus, Inflibnet, Sci-Finder and Google Scholar.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine phytochemicals which include lignans, acylated iridoid glycosides, acylated rhamnopyranoses, flavonoids, flavones, flavone glycosides have been isolated. Many of them have been characterized for their pharmacological activity. Several researchers have identified bioactive phytochemicals like luteolin, iridoid alkaloids from the leaves, hentriacontanol and lignans such as arboreol, isoarboreol, arborone, gmelanone, gummadiol from the heartwood, flavon glycosides in roots. The extracts are reported to have wound-healing and antidiarrheal properties. Various studies demonstrated that G.arborea and its constituents possess several pharmacological activities like anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, analgesic, anti-nociceptive, anticancer and wound healing activities.

CONCLUSION

G. arborea is a valuable medicinal plant used traditionally in the Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM - Ayurveda and Unani) to treat a wide variety of ailments. These phytochemicals are highly bioactive and exhibit various pharmacological activities. However, pharmacological activities of many compounds which have been identified, are yet to be understood.

Interesterification of Egg-Yolk Phosphatidylcholine with p-Methoxycinnamic Acid Catalyzed by Immobilized Lipase B from Candida Antarctica

The p-methoxycinnamic acid (p-MCA) is one of the most popular phenylpropanoids, the beneficial impact of which on the human health is well documented in the literature. This compound has shown many valuable activities including anticancer, antidiabetic, and neuro- and hepatoprotective. However, its practical application is limited by its low bioavailability resulting from rapid metabolism in the human body. The latest strategy, aimed at overcoming these limitations, is based on the production of more stability in systemic circulation bioconjugates with phospholipids. Therefore, the aim of this research was to develop the biotechnological method for the synthesis of phospholipid derivatives of p-methoxycinnamic acid, which can play a role of new nutraceuticals. We developed and optimized enzymatic interesterification of phosphatidylcholine (PC) with ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (Ep-MCA). Novozym 435 and a binary solvent system of toluene/chloroform 9:1 (v/v) were found to be the effective biocatalyst and reaction medium for the synthesis of structured p-MCA phospholipids, respectively. The effects of the other reaction parameters, such as substrate molar ratio, enzyme dosage, and reaction time, on the degree of incorporation of p-MCA into PC were evaluated by use of an experimental factorial design method. The results showed that substrate molar ratio and biocatalyst load have significant effects on the synthesis of p-methoxycinnamoylated phospholipids. The optimum conditions were: Reaction time of three days, 30% (w/w) of Novozym 435, and 1/10 substrate molar ratio PC/Ep-MCA. Under these parameters, p-methoxycinnamoylated lysophosphatidylcholine (p-MCA-LPC) and p-methoxycinnamoylated phosphatidylcholine (p-MCA-PC) were obtained in isolated yields of 32% and 3% (w/w), respectively.