Traditional uses, chemical diversity and biological activities of Panax L. (Araliaceae): A review

Integrated metabolome and transcriptome analysis reveals the regulatory mechanism of low nitrogen-driven biosynthesis of saponins and flavonoids in Panax notoginseng

BACKGROUND

Nitrogen (N) is an important macronutrient involved in the biosynthesis of primary and secondary metabolites in plants. However, the metabolic regulatory mechanism of low-N-induced triterpenoid saponin and flavonoid accumulation in rhizomatous medicinal Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen remains unclear.

METHODS

To explore the potential regulatory mechanism and metabolic basis controlling the response of P. notoginseng to N deficiency, the transcriptome and metabolome were analysed in the roots.

RESULTS

The N content was significantly reduced in roots of N0-treated P. notoginseng (0 kg·N·667 m-2). The C/N ratio was enhanced in the N-deficient P. notoginseng. N deficiency promotes the accumulation of amino acids (L-proline, L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-norleucine, L-arginine, and L-citrulline) and sugar (arabinose, xylose, glucose, fructose, and mannose), thus providing precursor metabolites for the biosynthesis of flavonoids and triterpenoid saponins. Downregulation of key structural genes (PAL, PAL3, ACC1, CHS2, PPO, CHI3, F3H, DFR, and FGT), in particular with the key genes of F3H, involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway possibly induced the decrease in flavonoid content with increased N supply. Notoginsenoside R1, ginsenoside Re, Rg1, Rd, F1, R1 + Rg1 + Rb1 and total triterpenoid saponins were enhanced in the N0 groups than in the N15 (15 kg·N·667 m-2) plants. Higher phosphoenolpyruvate (an intermediate of glycolyticwith pathway metabolism) and serine (an intermediate of photorespiration) levels induced by N deficiency possibly promote saponin biosynthesis through mevalonic acid (MVA) and methylerythritol (MEP) pathways. Genes (MVD2, HMGS, HMGR1, HMGR2, DXR, and HMGR1) encoding the primary enzymes HMGS, HMGR, DXR, and MVD in the MVA and MEP pathways were significantly upregulated in the N0-treated P. notoginseng. The saponin biosynthesis genes DDS, DDS, CYP716A52, CYP716A47, UGT74AE2, and FPS were upregulated in the N-deficient plants. Upregulation of genes involved in saponin biosynthesis promotes the accumulation of triterpenoid saponins in the N0-grown P. notoginseng.

CONCLUSIONS

N deficiency enhances primary metabolisms, such as amino acids and sugar accumulation, laying the foundation for the synthesis of flavonoids and triterpenoid saponins in P. notoginseng. F3H, DDS, FPS, HMGR, HMGS and UGT74AE2 can be considered as candidates for functional characterisation of the N-regulated accumulation of triterpenoid saponins and flavonoids in future.

Saponins as therapeutic candidates for atherosclerosis

Drug development for atherosclerosis, the underlying pathological state of ischemic cardiovascular diseases, has posed a longstanding challenge. Saponins, classified as steroid or triterpenoid glycosides, have shown promising therapeutic potential in the treatment of atherosclerosis. Through an exhaustive examination of scientific literature spanning from May 2013 to May 2023, we identified 82 references evaluating 37 types of saponins in terms of their prospective impacts on atherosclerosis. These studies suggest that saponins have the potential to ameliorate atherosclerosis by regulating lipid metabolism, inhibiting inflammation, suppressing apoptosis, reducing oxidative stress, and modulating smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, as well as regulating gut microbiota, autophagy, endothelial senescence, and angiogenesis. Notably, ginsenosides exhibit significant potential and manifest essential pharmacological attributes, including lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-oxidative stress effects. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the pharmacological attributes of saponins in atherosclerosis, with particular emphasis on their role in the regulation of lipid metabolism regulation and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, saponins may warrant further investigation as a potential therapy for atherosclerosis. However, due to various reasons such as low oral bioavailability, the clinical application of saponins in the treatment of atherosclerosis still needs further exploration.

Suspension cell cultures of Panax vietnamensis as a biotechnological source of ginsenosides: growth, cytology, and ginsenoside profile assessment

Introduction

Panax vietnamensis is a valuable medicinal plant and a source of a broad spectrum of biologically active ginsenosides of different structural groups. Overexploitation and low adaptability to planation cultivation have made this species vulnerable to human pressure and prompted the development of cell cultivation in vitro as a sustainable alternative to harvesting wild plants for their bioactive components. Despite high interest in biotechnological production, little is known about the main factors affecting cell growth and ginsenoside biosynthesis of this species under in vitro conditions. In this study, the potential of cell cultures of P. vietnamensis as a biotechnological source of ginsenosides was was assessed.

Methods

Six suspension cell lines that were developed from different sections of a single rhizome through a multi-step culture optimization process and maintained for over 3 years on media with different mineral salt base and varying contents of auxins and cytokinins. These cell lines were evaluated for productivity parameters and cytological characteristics. Ginsenoside profiles were assessed using a combination of the reversed-phase ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-Orbitrap-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Orbitrap-MS/MS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-time of flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-TOF-MS).

Results

All lines demonstrated good growth with a specific growth rate of 0.1-0.2 day-1, economic coefficient of 0.31-0.70, productivity on dry weight (DW) of 0.30-0.83 gDW (L·day)-1, and maximum biomass accumulation varying from 10 to 22 gDW L-1. Ginsenosides of the protopanaxadiol (Rb1, Rb2/Rb3, malonyl-Rb1, and malonyl-Rb2/Rb3), oleanolic acid (R0 and chikusetsusaponin IV), and ocotillol (vinaginsenoside R1) groups and their isomers were identified in cell biomass extracts. Chikusetsusaponin IV was identified in P. vietnamensis cell culture for the first time.

Discussion

These results suggest that suspension cell cultures of Vietnamese ginseng have a high potential for the biotechnological production of biomass containing ginsenosides, particularly of the oleanolic acid and ocotillol groups.

Comprehensive Investigation of Ginsenosides in the Steamed Panax quinquefolius with Different Processing Conditions Using LC-MS

Panax quinquefolius (PQ) has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and functional food. Ginsenosides are the important functional components of PQ. The ginsenosides' diversity is deeply affected by the processing conditions. The ginsenosides in the steamed PQ have been not well-characterized yet because of the complexity of their structure. In the study, the comprehensive investigation of ginsenosides was performed on the steamed PQ with different steaming times and temperatures by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. Based on the molecular weight, retention time and characterized fragment ions, 175 ginsenosides were unambiguously identified or tentatively characterized, including 45 protopanaxatriol type, 49 protopanaxadiol type, 19 octillol type, 6 oleanolic acid type ginsenosides, and 56 other ginsenosides. Ten new ginsenosides and three new aglycones were discovered in the steamed PQ samples through searching the database of CAS SciFindern. Principal component analysis showed the significant influence on the chemical components of PQ through different processing conditions. The steaming temperature was found to promote the transformation of ginsenosides more than the steaming time. The protoginsenosides were found to transform into the rare ginsenosides by elimination reactions. The malonyl ginsenosides were degraded into acetyl ginsenosides, and then degraded into neutral ginsenosides. The sugar chain experienced degradation, with position changes and configuration inversions. Furthermore, 20 (S/R)-ginsenoside Rh1, Rh2, Rg2, and Rh12 were found to transform from the S-configuration to the R-configuration significantly. This study could present a comprehensive ginsenosides profile of PQ with different steaming conditions, and provide technical support for the development and utilization of PQ.

A Review on Bioactive Compounds, Ethnomedicinal Importance and Pharmacological Activities of Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd

Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd. is a traditional leafy vegetable used by tribal communities for ethnomedicinal and ethnoculinary preparations. This article reviews the current knowledge of its multiple uses, including pharmacological activities and nutritional composition. The literature survey shows that it has been traditionally useful in the treatment of several diseases, such as anaemia, diabetes, measles, and ulcers and the preparation of various traditional foods. Analysis of the literature on its phytochemicals shows its richness in bioactive compounds. Further, research also shows that this plant has antidiabetic, antiobesity, antitumor, antiulcer, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective activities besides anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Nutrient analysis of the plant reveals the presence of Ca, Zn, Fe, vitamins C and E, dietary fibre and protein in considerable quantities. The results of the pharmacological studies on the antidiabetic, antiulcer and anti-anaemic activities provide support in favour of its ethnomedicinal uses. The presence of bioactive compounds and pharmacological activities show the usefulness of this plant as a functional food.

Geographical origin traceability of mulberry leaves using stable hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon isotope ratios

Geographical discrimination of mulberry leaves is very important for their efficacy and quality as a traditional Chinese medicine. Stable hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon isotope ratios were measured in 292 mulberry leaves collected at 2 growth stages in 2 seasons from 8 regions of China. A stepwise linear discriminant analysis (LDA) approach were proposed to combine with stable isotope technology to tracing the origin of mulberry leaves. The results showed that leaves sampled in autumn were extremely depleted in 2H and 18O and slightly enriched in 13C compared with leaves sampled in summer, correlated with the effect of season, transpiration and photorespiration on stable isotopes. δ2H and δ18O of the leaves were enriched during the growth process. The overall discrimination accuracy of the autumn tender model was 81%, demonstrating that analysis of δ2H, δ18O, and δ13C is a promising technique for tracing the geographical origin of mulberry leaves, although season, growth stage and number of samples affect the accuracy of discrimination.

Exploring the known chemical space of the plant kingdom: insights into taxonomic patterns, knowledge gaps, and bioactive regions

Plants are one of the primary sources of natural products for drug development. However, despite centuries of research, only a limited region of the phytochemical space has been studied. To understand the scope of what is explored versus unexplored in the phytochemical space, we begin by reconstructing the known chemical space of the plant kingdom, mapping the distribution of secondary metabolites, chemical classes, and plants traditionally used for medicinal purposes (i.e., medicinal plants) across various levels of the taxonomy. We identify hotspot taxonomic clades occupied by a large proportion of medicinal plants and characterized secondary metabolites, as well as clades requiring further characterization with regard to their chemical composition. In a complementary analysis, we build a chemotaxonomy which has a high level of concordance with the taxonomy at the genus level, highlighting the close relationship between chemical profiles and evolutionary relationships within the plant kingdom. Next, we delve into regions of the phytochemical space with known bioactivity that have been used in modern drug discovery. While we find that the vast majority of approved drugs from phytochemicals are derived from known medicinal plants, we also show that medicinal and non-medicinal plants do not occupy distinct regions of the known phytochemical landscape and their phytochemicals exhibit properties similar to bioactive compounds. Moreover, we also reveal that only a few thousand phytochemicals have been screened for bioactivity and that there are hundreds of known bioactive compounds present in both medicinal and non-medicinal plants, suggesting that non-medicinal plants also have potential therapeutic applications. Overall, these results support the hypothesis that there are many plants with medicinal properties awaiting discovery.

Integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis in mice reveals the mechanism by which ginseng stem-leaf saponins enhance mucosal immunity induced by a porcine epidemic diarrhea virus vaccination

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a main cause of severe enteric disease in piglets, leading to millions of dollars lost annually in the global pig industry. Parenteral vaccination is limited in generating sufficient mucosal immunity, which is crucial for early defense against PEDV. Here, we orally administered ginseng stem-leaf saponins (GSLS) to mice before parenteral vaccination and found that GSLS significantly enhanced the phagocytosis of dendritic cells, promoted the activities of CD4+ T cells and increased PEDV-specific IgA antibodies in the intestinal mucosa. Transcriptomic results showed that the altered genes following GSLS treatment were mostly related to the immune response and metabolism. In addition, integrated analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome revealed that the mechanism by which GSLS enhances mucosal immunity may be associated with progesterone-related pathways. Further studies are needed to explore the detailed molecular mechanisms.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms of Lipophilic Fractions from Polyscias fruticosa Leaves Based on Network Pharmacology, In Silico, and In Vitro Approaches

Polyscias fruticosa leaf (PFL) has been used in food and traditional medicine for the treatment of rheumatism, ischemia, and neuralgia. However, the lipophilic components of PFL and their biological properties remain unknown. This study, integrating network pharmacology analysis with in silico and in vitro approaches, aimed to elucidate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities of lipophilic extracts from PFL. A total of 71 lipophilic compounds were identified in PFL using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses showed that key active compounds, mainly phytosterols and sesquiterpenes, were responsible for regulating core target genes, such as PTGS2, TLR4, NFE2L2, PRKCD, KEAP1, NFKB1, NR1l2, PTGS1, AR, and CYP3A4, which were mostly enriched in oxidative stress and inflammation-related pathways. Furthermore, lipophilic extracts from PFL offered powerful antioxidant capacities, as evident in our cell-free antioxidant assays. These extracts also provided a protection against oxidative stress by inducing the expression of catalase and heme oxygenase-1 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, lipophilic fractions from PFL showed anti-inflammatory potential in downregulating the level of pro-inflammatory factors in LPS-treated macrophages. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights into the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of lipophilic extracts from PFL, which can be used as a fundamental basis for developing nutraceuticals and functional foods.

Characterization of ginsenosides from Panax japonicus var. major (Zhu-Zi-Shen) based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry imaging

BACKGROUND

Panax japonicus var. major (PJM) belongs to the well-known ginseng species used in west China for hundreds of years, which has the effects of lung tonifying and yin nourishing, and exerts the analgesic, antitussive, and hemostatic activities. Compared with the other Panax species, the chemical composition and the spatial tissue distribution of the bioactive ginsenosides in PJM have seldom been investigated.

METHODS

Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/QTOF-MS) and desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI) were integrated for the systematic characterization and spatial tissue distribution studies of ginsenosides in the rhizome of PJM. Considering the great difficulty in exposing the minor saponins, apart from the conventional Auto MS/MS (M1), two different precursor ions list-including data-dependent acquisition (PIL-DDA) approaches, involving the direct input of an in-house library containing 579 known ginsenosides (M2) and the inclusion of the target precursors screened from the MS1 data by mass defect filtering (M3), were developed. The in situ spatial distribution of various ginsenosides in PJM was profiled based on DESI-MSI with a mass range of m/z 100-1500 in the negative ion mode, with the imaging data processed by the High Definition Imaging (HDI) software.

RESULTS

Under the optimized condition, 272 ginsenosides were identified or tentatively characterized, and 138 thereof were possibly not ever reported from the Panax genus. They were composed by 75 oleanolic acid type, 22 protopanaxadiol type, 52 protopanaxatriol type, 16 octillol type, 19 malonylated, 35 C-17 side-chain varied, and 53 others. In addition, the DESI-MSI experiment unveiled the differentiated distribution of saponins, but the main location in the cork layer and phloem of the rhizome. The abundance of the oleanolic acid ginsenosides was high in the rhizome slice of PJM, which was consistent with the results obtained by UHPLC/QTOF-MS.

CONCLUSION

Comprehensive characterization of the ginsenosides in the rhizome of PJM was achieved, with a large amount of unknown structures unveiled primarily. We, for the first time, reported the spatial tissue distribution of different subtypes of ginsenosides in the rhizome slice of PJM. These results can benefit the quality control and further development of PJM and the other ginseng species.

Mitochondrial dysfunction in heart diseases: Potential therapeutic effects of Panax ginseng

Heart diseases have a high incidence and mortality rate, and seriously affect people's quality of life. Mitochondria provide energy for the heart to function properly. The process of various heart diseases is closely related to mitochondrial dysfunction. Panax ginseng (P. ginseng), as a traditional Chinese medicine, is widely used to treat various cardiovascular diseases. Many studies have confirmed that P. ginseng and ginsenosides can regulate and improve mitochondrial dysfunction. Therefore, the role of mitochondria in various heart diseases and the protective effect of P. ginseng on heart diseases by regulating mitochondrial function were reviewed in this paper, aiming to gain new understanding of the mechanisms, and promote the clinical application of P. ginseng.

Application of UPLC-Triple TOF-MS/MS metabolomics strategy to reveal the dynamic changes of triterpenoid saponins during the decocting process of Asian ginseng and American ginseng

Triterpenoid saponins are the main bioactive components contributed to the nutritional value of ginseng, and different process conditions will affect their content and quality. To study the holistic characterization and dynamic changes of triterpenoid saponins in Asian ginseng (ASG) and American ginseng (AMG) during soaking and decoction, a UPLC-Triple TOF-MS/MS-based metabolomics strategy was used to characterize and discover differential saponin markers. In total, 739 triterpenoid saponins (including 225 potential new saponins) were identified from ASG and AMG in untargeted metabolomics. Based on PCA and OPLS-DA, 51 and 48 saponin markers were screened from soaked and decocted ASG and AMG, respectively. Additionally, targeted metabolomics analysis and HCA of 22 ginsenoside markers suggested that decoction of ASG and AMG for 2 h to 4 h could significantly increase the contents of rare ginsenosides (G), such as G-Rg₃, G-Rg₅, G-F₄. This study provides a scientific insight that high boiling combined with simmering enriches ASG and AMG extracts with rich rare ginsenosides that are more beneficial to human health.

Advances in the biosynthesis and metabolic engineering of rare ginsenosides

Rare ginsenosides are the deglycosylated secondary metabolic derivatives of major ginsenosides, and they are more readily absorbed into the bloodstream and function as active substances. The traditional preparation methods hindered the potential application of these effective components. The continuous elucidation of ginsenoside biosynthesis pathways has rendered the production of rare ginsenosides using synthetic biology techniques effective for their large-scale production. Previously, only the progress in the biosynthesis and biotechnological production of major ginsenosides was highlighted. In this review, we summarized the recent advances in the identification of key enzymes involved in the biosynthetic pathways of rare ginsenosides, especially the glycosyltransferases (GTs). Then the construction of microbial chassis for the production of rare ginsenosides, mainly in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was presented. In the future, discovery of more GTs and improving their catalytic efficiencies are essential for the metabolic engineering of rare ginsenosides. This review will give more clues and be helpful for the characterization of the biosynthesis and metabolic engineering of rare ginsenosides. KEY POINTS: • The key enzymes involved in the biosynthetic pathways of rare ginsenosides are summarized. • The recent progress in metabolic engineering of rare ginsenosides is presented. • The discovery of glycosyltransferases is essential for the microbial production of rare ginsenosides in the future.

Discovery of Small-Molecule Antagonists of Orexin 1/2 Receptors from Traditional Chinese Medicinal Plants with a Hypnotic Effect

Insomnia is an important public health problem. The currently available treatments for insomnia can cause some adverse effects. Orexin receptors 1 (OX₁R) and 2 (OX₂R) are burgeoning targets for insomnia treatment. It is an effective approach to screening OX₁R and OX₂R antagonists from traditional Chinese medicine, which contains abundant and diverse chemical components. This study established an in-home ligand library of small-molecule compounds from medicinal plants with a definite hypnotic effect, as described in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Molecular docking was applied to virtually screen potential orexin receptor antagonists using molecular operating environment software, and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology was used to detect the binding affinity between potential active compounds and orexin receptors. Finally, the results of virtual screening and SPR analysis were verified through in vitro assays. We successfully screened one potential lead compound (neferine) as an orexin receptor antagonist from the in-home ligand library, which contained more than 1000 compounds. The screened compound was validated as a potential agent for insomnia treatment through comprehensive biological assays. This research enabled the discovery of a potential small-molecule antagonist of orexin receptors for the treatment of insomnia, providing a novel screening approach for the detection of potential candidate compounds for corresponding targets.

Untargeted Metabolomic Analysis and Chemometrics to Identify Potential Marker Compounds for the Chemical Differentiation of Panax ginseng, P. quinquefolius, P. notoginseng, P. japonicus, and P. japonicus var. major

The Panax L. genus is well-known for many positive physiological effects on humans, with major species including P. ginseng, P. quinquefolius, P. notoginseng, P. japonicus, and P. japonicus var. major, the first three of which are globally popular. The combination of UPLC-QTOF-MS and chemometrics were developed to profile "identification markers" enabling their differentiation. The establishment of reliable biomarkers that embody the intrinsic metabolites differentiating species within the same genus is a key in the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. In this work, the metabolomic differences among these five species were shown, which is critical to ensure their appropriate use. Consequently, 49 compounds were characterized, including 38 identified robust biomarkers, which were mainly composed of saponins and contained small amounts of amino acids and fatty acids. VIP (projection variable importance) was used to identify these five kinds of ginseng. In conclusion, by illustrating the similarities and differences between the five species of ginseng with the use of an integrated strategy of combining UPLC-QTOF-MS and multivariate analysis, we provided a more efficient and more intelligent manner for explaining how the species differ and how their secondary metabolites affect this difference. The most important biomarkers that distinguished the five species included Notoginsenoside-R₁, Majonoside R₁, Vinaginsenoside R₁₄, Ginsenoside-Rf, and Ginsenoside-Rd.

Enhanced profiling and quantification of ginsenosides from mountain-cultivated ginseng and comparison with garden-cultivated ginseng

Panax ginseng can be generally divided into mountain-cultivated ginseng (MCG) and garden-cultivated ginseng (GCG). The market price of MCG is significantly higher than that of GCG. However, the chemical compositions of MCG and the differences from GCG remained unclear. In this study, an integrated strategy combing an offline two-dimensional liquid chromatography separation, LTQ-orbitrap dual mode acquisition, and Q-trap full quantification/quasi-quantification was proposed to explore and compare the chemical compositions of MCG. Consequently, 559 ginsenosides were characterized, among which 437 ginsenosides were in-depth characterized with α-chain and β-chain annotated. Subsequently, enhanced quantification of 213 ginsenosides was conducted in 57 batches of MCG and GCG. Ginsenosides were found more abundant in MCG than GCG. In addition, 25-year-old MCG could be distinctly differentiated from 15/20-year-old MCG. This strategy facilitated the enhanced profiling and comparison of ginsenosides, improved the quality control tactics of MCG and provided a reference approach for other ginseng related products.

Panax ginseng against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury: A review of preclinical evidence and potential mechanisms

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (P. ginseng) is effective in the prevention and treatment of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. The mechanism by which P. ginseng exerts cardioprotective effects is complex. P. ginseng contains many pharmacologically active ingredients, such as molecular glycosides, polyphenols, and polysaccharides. P. ginseng and each of its active components can potentially act against myocardial I/R injury. Myocardial I/R was originally a treatment for myocardial ischemia, but it also induced irreversible damage, including oxygen-containing free radicals, calcium overload, energy metabolism disorder, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, microvascular injury, autophagy, and apoptosis.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to clarify the protective effects of P. ginseng and its active ingredients against myocardial I/R injury, so as to provide experimental evidence and new insights for the research and application of P. ginseng in the field of myocardial I/R injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This review was based on a search of PubMed, NCBI, Embase, and Web of Science databases from their inception to February 21, 2022, using terms such as "ginseng," "ginsenosides," and "myocardial reperfusion injury." In this review, we first summarized the active ingredients of P. ginseng, including ginsenosides, ginseng polysaccharides, and phytosterols, as well as the pathophysiological mechanisms of myocardial I/R injury. Importantly, preclinical models with myocardial I/R injury and potential mechanisms of these active ingredients of P. ginseng for the prevention and treatment of myocardial disorders were generally summarized.

RESULTS

P. ginseng and its active components can regulate oxidative stress related proteins, inflammatory cytokines, and apoptosis factors, while protecting the myocardium and preventing myocardial I/R injury. Therefore, P. ginseng can play a role in the prevention and treatment of myocardial I/R injury.

CONCLUSIONS

P. ginseng has a certain curative effect on myocardial I/R injury. It can prevent and treat myocardial I/R injury in several ways. When ginseng exerts its effects, should be based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine and with the help of modern medicine; the clinical efficacy of P. ginseng in preventing and treating myocardial I/R injury can be improved.

Ginseng as a Key Immune Response Modulator in Chinese Medicine: From Antipandemic History to COVID-19 Management

The cytokine storm plays an indispensable role in the severe and critical illness and death of the COVID-19 vulnerable population. Thus, suppressing the cytokine storm is of great significance. Ginseng is a traditional Chinese herb originally used for improving physiological conditions and ameliorating disease. Common throughout the history of ancient Chinese medicine is utilizing ginseng as a major ingredient to successfully fight various pandemics, and the most famous decoction is Renshen Baidu powder. In recent years, ginseng has been observed to provide preventive and therapeutic benefits in the treatment of various conditions by suppressing hyper-inflammation, inhibiting virus intrusion, and balancing the host's immunity. This paper summarizes the ancient Chinese medicine books' recordings of, the clinical practice of, and the laboratory exploration of ginseng for the treatment of pandemics and COVID-19. Ginseng and its active ingredients were found to downregulate inflammatory cytokines, upregulate anti-inflammatory cytokines, stimulate the secretion of the antiviral cytokine IFN-[Formula: see text], prevent viral entry and replication, and improve viral clearance. Furthermore, ginseng modulates both natural and acquired immunity during viral infection. Collectively, we propose that ginseng can act as a key immune response modulator against the cytokine storm of COVID-19. This paper may provide a new approach to discover specific medications using ginseng to combat COVID-19.

From single- to multi-omics: future research trends in medicinal plants

Medicinal plants are the main source of natural metabolites with specialised pharmacological activities and have been widely examined by plant researchers. Numerous omics studies of medicinal plants have been performed to identify molecular markers of species and functional genes controlling key biological traits, as well as to understand biosynthetic pathways of bioactive metabolites and the regulatory mechanisms of environmental responses. Omics technologies have been widely applied to medicinal plants, including as taxonomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, genomics, pangenomics, epigenomics and mutagenomics. However, because of the complex biological regulation network, single omics usually fail to explain the specific biological phenomena. In recent years, reports of integrated multi-omics studies of medicinal plants have increased. Until now, there have few assessments of recent developments and upcoming trends in omics studies of medicinal plants. We highlight recent developments in omics research of medicinal plants, summarise the typical bioinformatics resources available for analysing omics datasets, and discuss related future directions and challenges. This information facilitates further studies of medicinal plants, refinement of current approaches and leads to new ideas.

An Overview of Antitumour Activity of Polysaccharides

Cancer incidence and mortality are rapidly increasing worldwide; therefore, effective therapies are required in the current scenario of increasing cancer cases. Polysaccharides are a family of natural polymers that hold unique physicochemical and biological properties, and they have become the focus of current antitumour drug research owing to their significant antitumour effects. In addition to the direct antitumour activity of some natural polysaccharides, their structures offer versatility in synthesizing multifunctional nanocomposites, which could be chemically modified to achieve high stability and bioavailability for delivering therapeutics into tumor tissues. This review aims to highlight recent advances in natural polysaccharides and polysaccharide-based nanomedicines for cancer therapy.

Ginsenosides Rg1 and CK Control Temozolomide Resistance in Glioblastoma Cells by Modulating Cholesterol Efflux and Lipid Raft Distribution

Background

Cholesterol efflux and lipid raft redistribution contribute to attenuating temozolomide resistance of glioblastoma. Ginsenosides are demonstrated to modify cholesterol metabolism and lipid raft distribution, and the brain distribution and central nervous effects of whose isoforms Rb1, Rg1, Rg3, and CK have been identified. This study aimed to reveal the role of Rb1, Rg1, Rg3, and CK in the drug resistance of glioblastoma.

Methods

The effects of ginsenosides on cholesterol metabolism in temozolomide-resistant U251 glioblastoma cells were evaluated by cholesterol content and efflux assay, confocal laser, qRT-PCR, and Western blot. The roles of cholesterol and ginsenosides in temozolomide resistance were studied by CCK-8, flow cytometry, and Western blot, and the mechanism of ginsenosides attenuating resistance was confirmed by inhibitors.

Results

Cholesterol protected the survival of resistant U251 cells from temozolomide stress and upregulated multidrug resistance protein (MDR)1, which localizes in lipid rafts. Resistant cells tended to store cholesterol intracellularly, with limited cholesterol efflux and LXRα expression to maintain the distribution of lipid rafts. Ginsenosides Rb1, Rg1, Rg3, and CK reduced intracellular cholesterol and promoted cholesterol efflux in resistant cells, causing lipid rafts to accumulate in specific regions of the membrane. Rg1 and CK also upregulated LXRα expression and increased the cytotoxicity of temozolomide in the presence of cholesterol. We further found that cholesterol efflux induction, lipid raft redistribution, and temozolomide sensitization by Rg1 and CK were induced by stimulating LXRα.

Conclusions

Ginsenosides Rg1 and CK controlled temozolomide resistance in glioblastoma cells by regulating cholesterol metabolism, which are potential synergists for temozolomide therapy.

Extraction, purification, structure, modification, and biological activity of traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides: A review

Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM), as the unique natural resource, are rich in polysaccharides, polyphenols, proteins, amino acid, fats, vitamins, and other components. Hence, TCM have high medical and nutritional values. Polysaccharides are one of the most important active components in TCM. Growing reports have indicated that TCM polysaccharides (TCMPs) have various biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-aging, immunomodulatory, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and other activities. Hence, the research progresses and future prospects of TCMPs must be systematically reviewed to promote their better understanding. The aim of this review is to provide comprehensive and systematic recombinant information on the extraction, purification, structure, chemical modification, biological activities, and potential mechanism of TCMPs to support their therapeutic effects and health functions. The findings provide new valuable insights and theoretical basis for future research and development of TCMPs.

Integrating Enhanced Profiling and Chemometrics to Unveil the Potential Markers for Differentiating among the Leaves of Panax ginseng, P. quinquefolius, and P. notoginseng by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Ion Mobility-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

The leaves of Panax species (e.g., Panax ginseng-PGL, P. quinquefolius-PQL, and P. notoginseng-PNL) can serve as a source for healthcare products. Comprehensive characterization and unveiling of the metabolomic difference among PGL, PQL, and PNL are critical to ensure their correct use. For this purpose, enhanced profiling and chemometrics were integrated to probe into the ginsenoside markers for PGL/PQL/PNL by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/ion mobility-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/IM-QTOF-MS). A hybrid scan approach (HDMS^E-HDDDA) was established achieving the dimension-enhanced metabolic profiling, with 342 saponins identified or tentatively characterized from PGL/PQL/PNL. Multivariate statistical analysis (33 batches of leaf samples) could unveil 42 marker saponins, and the characteristic ginsenosides diagnostic for differentiating among PGL/PQL/PNL were primarily established. Compared with the single DDA or DIA, the HDMS^E-HDDDA hybrid scan approach could balance between the metabolome coverage and spectral reliability, leading to high-definition MS spectra and the additional collision-cross section (CCS) useful to differentiate isomers.

An off-line three-dimensional liquid chromatography/Q-Orbitrap mass spectrometry approach enabling the discovery of 1561 potentially unknown ginsenosides from the flower buds of Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius and Panax notoginseng

To comprehensively elucidate the herbal metabolites is crucial in natural products research to discover new lead compounds. Ginsenosides are an important class of bioactive components from the Panax plants exerting the significant tonifying effects. However, to identify new ginsenosides by the conventional strategies trends to be more and more difficult because of the large spans of acid-base property (the neutral and acidic saponins), molecular mass (400-1400 Da), and rather low content. Herein, an off-line multidimensional chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry approach was presented: ion exchange chromatography (IEC) as the first dimension of separation, hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) in the second dimension, and reversed-phase chromatography (RPC) for the third dimension which was hyphenated to a Q Exactive Q-Orbitrap mass spectrometer. By applying to the flower buds of P. ginseng (PGF), P. quinquefolius (PQF), and P. notoginseng (PNF), IEC using a PhenoSphere^TM SAX column could fractionate the total extracts into the neutral (unretained) and acidic (retained) fractions, while HILIC (an XBridge Amide column) and RPC (BEH Shield RP18 column) achieved the hydrophilic interaction and hydrophobic interaction separations, respectively. Q-Orbitrap mass spectrometry offered rich structural information and complementary resolution to the co-eluting components, particular to those minor ones by including precursor ion lists in data-dependent acquisition. We could characterize 803 ginsenosides from PGF, 795 from PQF, and 833 from PNF, and 1561 thereof are potentially unknown. These results can indicate the great potential of this multidimensional approach in the ultra-deep characterization of complex herbal samples supporting the efficient discovery of potentially novel natural compounds.

Evaluation of Ecological Suitability and Quality Suitability of Panax notoginseng Under Multi-Regionalization Modeling Theory

Panax notoginseng is an important medicinal plant in China, but there are some limitations in the ecological suitability study, such as incomplete investigation of species distribution, single regionalization modeling, and lack of collaborative evaluation of ecological suitability, and quality suitability. In this study, the maximum entropy model was used to analyze the ecological suitability of P. notoginseng under current and future climates. The multi-source chemical information of samples was collected to evaluate the uniformity between quality and ecology. The results showed that the current suitable habitat was mainly in southwest China. In the future climate scenarios, the high suitable habitat will be severely degraded. Modeling based on different regionalization could predict larger suitable habitat areas. The samples in the high suitable habitat had both quality suitability and ecological suitability, and the accumulation of chemical components had different responses to different environmental factors. Two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy combined with deep learning could achieve rapid identification of samples from different suitable habitats. In conclusion, global warming is not conducive to the distribution and spread of P. notoginseng. The high suitable habitat was conducive to the cultivation of high-quality medicinal materials. Actual regionalization modeling had more guiding significance for the selection of suitable habitats in a small area. The multi-regionalization modeling theory proposed in this study could provide a new perspective for the ecological suitability study of similar medicinal plants. The results provided a reference for the introduction and cultivation, and lay the foundation for the scientific and standardized production of high-quality P. notoginseng.

Identification of metabolites in plasma related to different biological activities of Panax ginseng and American ginseng

RATIONALE

Panax ginseng (PG) and American ginseng (AMG) are both medicinal plants of the Panax genus in the Acanthopanax family. Although PG and AMG have similar components of ginsenosides, there are many differences of their bioactivities. In this study, the biochemical mechanisms of different bioactivities of PG and AMG were explored by researching the differential metabolites in plasma after administration of each of PG and AMG.

METHODS

In order to explore the material basis of differential bioactivities, two groups of mice were administrated orally with PG and AMG, and the method of metabolomics was used to identify the differential metabolites in plasma. Then network pharmacology was used based on the differential metabolites. Afterward, the metabolite-target-pathway network of PG and AMG was constructed; thus the pathways related to different bioactivities were analyzed.

RESULTS

Through principal component analysis and orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis, there were 10 differential metabolites identified in the PG group and 8 differential metabolites identified in the AMG group. Based on network pharmacology, the differential metabolites were classified and related to differential bioactivities of PG and AMG. In the PG group, there were 6 metabolites related to aphrodisiac effect and exciting the nervous system, and 5 metabolites associated with raised blood pressure. In the AMG group, 5 metabolites were classified as having the effect of inhibiting the nervous system, and 6 metabolites were related to antihypertensive effect.

CONCLUSIONS

This study explored the material basis of the differential biological activities between PG and AMG, which is significant for the research of PG and AMG use and to promote human health.

Differences in the chemical composition of Panax ginseng roots infected with red rust

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ginseng rusty root (GRR) is a commonly occurring disease that affects the continuous farming and economic value of mountain cultivated ginseng (MCG). Previous studies have demonstrated a generally smaller level of total ginsenoside in GRR tissue, but differences in individual ginsenosides or changes between rusty and healthy MCG with a higher age have not been investigated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This research aimed to identify differences in the chemical components in the roots of rusty compared with healthy MCG harvested at 20-years of age.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Differences between rusty and healthy MCG roots in individual ginsenosides were evaluated using a non-targeted metabonomic-based ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) technique. Chemical markers and the principal constituents were then quantified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Furthermore, total ginsenosides, total polysaccharides, and the elemental composition were evaluated separately using spectrophotometry and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES).

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the levels of total ginsenosides or total polysaccharides between the rusty and healthy groups. However, the concentrations of pivotal individual ginsenosides, including ginsenoside Rc, ginsenoside Ro, and ginsenoside Rd were significantly lower in the rusty group. In addition, concentrations of Fe and Al were higher in the rusty group compared with the healthy group.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that GRR affects the synthesis of ginsenosides of 20-year-old MCG, which further establishes reference data and the basis for exploration of the mechanisms causing metabolic changes in ginseng resulting from GRR.

Some Common Medicinal Plants with Antidiabetic Activity, Known and Available in Europe (A Mini-Review)

Diabetes is a metabolic disease that affected 9.3% of adults worldwide in 2019. Its co-occurrence is suspected to increase mortality from COVID-19. The treatment of diabetes is mainly based on the long-term use of pharmacological agents, often expensive and causing unpleasant side effects. There is an alarming increase in the number of pharmaceuticals taken in Europe. The aim of this paper is to concisely collect information concerning the few antidiabetic or hypoglycaemic raw plant materials that are present in the consciousness of Europeans and relatively easily accessible to them on the market and sometimes even grown on European plantations. The following raw materials are discussed in this mini-review: Morus alba L., Cinnamomum zeylanicum J.Presl, Trigonella foenum-graecum L., Phaseolus vulgaris L., Zingiber officinale Rosc., and Panax ginseng C.A.Meyer in terms of scientifically tested antidiabetic activity and the presence of characteristic biologically active compounds and their specific properties, including antioxidant properties. The characteristics of these raw materials are based on in vitro as well as in vivo studies: on animals and in clinical studies. In addition, for each plant, the possibility to use certain morphological elements in the light of EFSA legislation is given.

PanaxGDB: A Comprehensive Platform for Panax

The genus Panax is a valuable natural medicinal source used worldwide that contains high levels of triterpenoid saponins with extensive pharmacological activities. In past decades, molecular biotechnology and breeding techniques have been respectively used to generate omics data and information on cultivars primarily from Panax ginseng (ginseng), Panax quinquefolium (American ginseng), and Panax notoginseng (Sanqi) to biosynthesize valuable saponins, improve product quality, and conduct cost-controlled cultivation. Although much data have been produced, there are concerns that redundant data might be generated and that relatively scattered data might be overlooked. Therefore, many scientists desire a reliable, comprehensive omics database of the Panax genus that could save time and promote integrated analysis. Therefore, to provide all-inclusive, reliable, and valuable information on the Panax genus, PanaxGDB, an open comprehensive database that integrates data on omics and information on varieties, was established. The database contains information on nearly 600 compounds from 12 Panax species, draft genomic sequences with annotations and gene expression levels, single nucleotide polymorphisms, genome-wide association analysis based on agronomic traits, globally collected germplasm information, summaries, omics data of the Panax genus, and online versatile analytic tools. The Panax genus database will be updated when new data are released to continue serving as a central portal to boost research on the biology and functions of Panax. PanaxGDB is available at: http://panaxGDB.ynau.edu.cn.

Physicochemical, Digestive, and Sensory Properties of Panax Notoginseng Saponins Encapsulated by Polymerized Whey Protein

Panax Notoginseng Saponins (PNS) may be beneficial to human health due to their bioactive function. The application of PNS in functional foods was limited due to the bitter taste and low oral bioavailability. PNS were encapsulated by polymerized whey protein (PWP) nanoparticles. The physicochemical, digestive, and sensory properties of the nanoparticles were investigated. Results showed that the nanoparticles had a particle size of 55 nm, the zeta potential of -28 mV, and high PNS encapsulation efficiency (92.94%) when the mass ratio of PNS to PWP was 1:30. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) results revealed that PNS were successfully encapsulated by PWP. The mainly intermolecular forces between PNS and PWP were hydrogen bonding and electrostatic attraction confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Results of simulated gastrointestinal digestion indicated that the PNS-PWP (1:30) nanoparticles had smaller average particle size (36 nm) after treatment with gastric fluids and increased particle size (75 nm) after treatment with intestinal fluids. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) micrographs reflected that the nanoparticles had irregular spherical structures. The encapsulated PNS exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) decreased bitterness compared to the non-encapsulated PNS confirmed by the electronic tongue. The results indicated that encapsulation of PNS with PWP could facilitate their application in functional foods.

A comprehensive review on the phytochemistry, pharmacokinetics, and antidiabetic effect of Ginseng

BACKGROUND

Radix Ginseng, one of the well-known medicinal herbs, has been used in the management of diabetes and its complications for more than 1000 years.

PURPOSE

The aim of this review is devoted to summarize the phytochemistry and pharmacokinetics of Ginseng, and provide evidence for the antidiabetic effects of Ginseng and its ingredients as well as the underlying mechanisms involved.

METHODS

For the purpose of this review, the following databases were consulted: the PubMed Database (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (http://www.cnki.net), National Science and Technology Library (http://www.nstl.gov.cn/), Wanfang Data (http://www.wanfangdata.com.cn/) and the Web of Science Database (http://apps.webofknowledge.com/).

RESULTS

Ginseng exhibits glucose-lowering effects in different diabetic animal models. In addition, Ginseng may prevent the development of diabetic complications, including liver, pancreas, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, nephropathy, cardiomyopathy, retinopathy, atherosclerosis and others. The main ingredients of Ginseng include ginsenosides and polysaccharides. The underlying mechanisms whereby this herb exerts antidiabetic activities may be attributed to the regulation of multiple signaling pathways, including IRS1/PI3K/AKT, LKB1/AMPK/FoxO1, AGEs/RAGE, MAPK/ERK, NF-κB, PPARδ/STAT3, cAMP/PKA/CERB and HIF-1α/VEGF, etc. The pharmacokinetic profiles of ginsenosides provide valuable information on therapeutic efficacy of Ginseng in diabetes. Although Ginseng is well-tolerated, dietary consumption of this herb should follow the doctors' advice.

CONCLUSION

Ginseng may offer an alternative strategy in protection against diabetes and its complications through the regulations of the multi-targets via various signaling pathways. Efforts to understand the underlying mechanisms with strictly-controlled animal models, combined with well-designed clinical trials and pharmacokinetic evaluation, will be important subjects of the further investigations and weigh in translational value of this herb in diabetes management.

Identification of tyrosine kinase inhibitors from Panax bipinnatifidus and Panax pseudoginseng for RTK-HER2 and VEGFR2 receptors, by in silico approach

Breast and stomach cancer is reported as a leading cause for human mortality across the world. The overexpression of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) proteins, namely the human epidermal growth factor receptor2 (HER2) and the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor2 (VEGFR2), is reported to be responsible for development and metastasis of breast and stomach cancer. Although several synthetic tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) as drug candidates targeting RTK-HER2 and VEGFR2 are currently available in the market, these are expensive with the reported side effects. This confers an opportunity for development of alternative novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for RTK-HER2 and VEGFR2 receptors from the botanical sources. In the present study, we characterized 47 bioactive phytocompounds from the methanol extracts of the rhizomes of Asiatic traditional medicinal herbs-Panax bipinnatifidus and Panax pseudoginseng, of Indian Himalayan landraces using HPLC, GC-MS and high-sensitivity LC-MS tools. We performed molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation analysis using Schrödinger suite 2020-3 to confirm the TKI phytocompounds showing the best binding affinity towards RTK-HER2 and VEGFR2 receptors. The results of molecular docking studies confirmed that the phytocompound (ligand) luteolin 7-O-glucoside (IHP15) showed the highest binding affinity towards receptor HER2 (PDB ID: 3PP0) with docking score and Glide g score (G-Score) of - 13.272, while chlorogenic acid (IHP12) showed the highest binding affinity towards receptor VEGFR2 (PDB ID: 4AGC) with docking score and Glide g score (G-Score) of - 10.673. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analysis carried out for 100 ns has confirmed strong binding interaction between the ligand and receptor complex [luteolin 7-O-glucoside (IHP15) and HER2 (PDB ID: 3PP0)] and is found to be stabilized within 40 to 100 ns of MD simulation, whereas ligand-receptor complex [chlorogenic acid (IPH12) and VEGFR2 (PDB ID: 4AGC)] also showed strong binding interaction and is found to be stabilized within 18-30 ns but slightly deviated during 100 ns of MD simulation. In silico ADME-Tox study using SwissADME revealed that the ligands luteolin 7-O-glucoside (IHP15) and chlorogenic acid (IHP12) have passed majority parameters of the common drug discovery rules. The present study has confirmed luteolin 7-O-glucoside (IHP15) and chlorogenic acid (IHP12) as potential tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) which were found to inhibit RTKs-HER2 and VEGFR2 receptor proteins, and thus paving the way for development of alternative potential TKIs (drug molecules) for treatment of HER2- and VEGFR2-positive breast and stomach cancer.

Comparisons of Isolation Methods, Structural Features, and Bioactivities of the Polysaccharides from Three Common Panax Species: A Review of Recent Progress

Panax spp. (Araliaceae family) are widely used medicinal plants and they mainly include Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Panax quinquefolium L. (American ginseng), and Panax notoginseng (notoginseng). Polysaccharides are the main active ingredients in these plants and have demonstrated diverse pharmacological functions, but comparisons of isolation methods, structural features, and bioactivities of these polysaccharides have not yet been reported. This review summarizes recent advances associated with 112 polysaccharides from ginseng, 25 polysaccharides from American ginseng, and 36 polysaccharides from notoginseng and it compares the differences in extraction, purification, structural features, and bioactivities. Most studies focus on ginseng polysaccharides and comparisons are typically made with the polysaccharides from American ginseng and notoginseng. For the extraction, purification, and structural analysis, the processes are similar for the polysaccharides from the three Panax species. Previous studies determined that 55 polysaccharides from ginseng, 18 polysaccharides from American ginseng, and 9 polysaccharides from notoginseng exhibited anti-tumor activity, immunoregulatory effects, anti-oxidant activity, and other pharmacological functions, which are mediated by multiple signaling pathways, including mitogen-activated protein kinase, nuclear factor kappa B, or redox balance pathways. This review can provide new insights into the similarities and differences among the polysaccharides from the three Panax species, which can facilitate and guide further studies to explore the medicinal properties of the Araliaceae family used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Panabipinoside A and panabipinoside B, two new oleanane triterpenoid saponins from the roots of Panax bipinnatifidus with nitric oxide inhibitory activity

Panax bipinnatifidus belongs to the ginseng genus and it is used in traditional Vietnamese and Chinese medicine. Phytochemical studies of the roots of this plant led to the isolation of two new oleanane triterpenoid saponins, panabipinoside A and panabipinoside B, and three known compounds, ginsennoside Ro, 3- O- β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)- β-glucuronopyranosyl oleanolic acid, and spinasaponin A 28- O-glucoside. Their structures are established by extensive spectroscopic analysis (IR, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance) and by comparison of the spectral data with those reported in the literature. The anti-inflammatory activity of the isolated compounds is evaluated by their inhibition of nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Compounds 2–5 showed inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production with IC50 values of 0.62 ± 0.09, 0.21 ± 0.04, 0.30 ± 0.03, and 0.45 ± 0.05 µg/mL, respectively, compared to value of 8.08 ± 0.09 µg/mL for the positive control compound, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine.

A link between chemical structure and biological activity in triterpenoids

BACKGROUND

Plants with triterpenoid compounds in nature have various biological activities and are reported in many scientific works of literature. Triterpenoids are compounds that draw the attention of scientists because of their wide source, wide variety, high medicinal value, and anti-tumor properties. However, a lack of approach to understand their chemical structures has limited the fundamental comprehension of these compounds in cancer cell therapy.

OBJECTIVE

To seek anti-cancer activity of the structures of triterpenoid compounds and their derivatives, we summarized a number of plants and their derivatives that are a source of potential novel therapeutic anti-cancer agents.

METHODS

This work focuses on relevant 1036 patents and references that detail the structure of organic compounds and derivatives for the treatment of tumors.

RESULT

Compared to tetracyclic triterpenoid, pentacyclic triterpenoid has contributed more to improve the autophagic signaling pathways of cancer cells.

CONCLUSION

The heterogenous skeleton structure of triterpenoids impaired the programmed cell death signaling pathway in various cancers.

Medicinal Plants to Strengthen Immunity during a Pandemic

The development of new effective anti-coronavirus drugs and therapies is important, but it requires significant human, financial and, most importantly, time expenditures. The current pandemic is neither the first nor the last. Humanity has already accumulated considerable survival experience. We cannot do without prevention and epidemiological protection measures. This study reviews medicinal plants that grow in Northeast Asia and whose antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory characteristics are already known, also in the framework of the prevention and treatment of pneumonia of various etiologies. The need for a comprehensive approach to maintaining immunodefences, including functional foods and positive emotions, is emphasized. In the period of pandemics, it is important to research various areas that allow to us accumulate a critical mass of information and cope with the next global disease.

Pharmacology of Herbal Sexual Enhancers: A Review of Psychiatric and Neurological Adverse Effects

Sexual enhancers increase sexual potency, sexual pleasure, or libido. Substances increasing libido alter the concentrations of specific neurotransmitters or sex hormones in the central nervous system. Interestingly, the same pathways are involved in the mechanisms underlying many psychiatric and neurological disorders, and adverse reactions associated with the use of aphrodisiacs are strongly expected. However, sexual enhancers of plant origin have gained popularity over recent years, as natural substances are often regarded as a safer alternative to modern medications and are easily acquired without prescription. We reviewed the psychiatric and neurological adverse effects associated with the consumption of herbal aphrodisiacs Areca catechu L., Argemone Mexicana L., Citrus aurantium L., Eurycoma longifolia Jack., Lepidium meyenii Walp., Mitragyna speciosa Korth., Panax ginseng C. A. Mey, Panax quinquefolius L., Pausinystalia johimbe (K. Schum.) Pierre ex Beille, Piper methysticum G. Forst., Ptychopetalum olacoides Benth., Sceletium tortuosum (L.) N. E. Brown, Turnera diffusa Willd. ex. Schult., Voacanga africana Stapf ex Scott-Elliot, and Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. A literature search was conducted on the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases with the aim of identifying all the relevant articles published on the issue up to June 2020. Most of the selected sexual enhancers appeared to be safe at therapeutic doses, although mild to severe adverse effects may occur in cases of overdosing or self-medication with unstandardized products. Drug interactions are more concerning, considering that herbal aphrodisiacs are likely used together with other plant extracts and/or pharmaceuticals. However, few data are available on the side effects of several plants included in this review, and more clinical studies with controlled administrations should be conducted to address this issue.

Traditional uses, chemical components and pharmacological activities of the genus Ganoderma P. Karst.: a review

In recent years, some natural products isolated from the fungi of the genus Ganoderma have been found to have anti-tumor, liver protection, anti-inflammatory, immune regulation, anti-oxidation, anti-viral, anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects. This review summarizes the research progress of some promising natural products and their pharmacological activities. The triterpenoids, meroterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, steroids, alkaloids and polysaccharides isolated from Ganoderma lucidum and other species of Ganoderma were reviewed, including their corresponding chemical structures and biological activities. In particular, the triterpenes, polysaccharides and meroterpenoids of Ganoderma show a wide range of biological activities. Among them, the hydroxyl groups on the C-3, C-24 and C-25 positions of the lanostane triterpenes compound were the necessary active groups for the anti-HIV-1 virus. Previous study showed that lanostane triterpenes can inhibit human immunodeficiency virus-1 protease with an IC₅₀ value of 20–40 μM, which has potential anti-HIV-1 activity. Polysaccharides can promote the production of TNF α and IFN-γ by macrophages and spleen cells in mice, and further inhibit or kill tumor cells. Some meroterpenoids contain oxygen-containing heterocycles, and they have significant antioxidant activity. In addition, Ganoderma has been used as a medicine to treat diseases for more than 2000 years, and we also reviewed its traditional uses.

In recent years, some natural products isolated from the fungus of the genus Ganoderma have been found to have anti-tumor, liver protection, anti-inflammatory, immune regulation, anti-oxidation, anti-viral, anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects.