Cistanche deserticola polysaccharide inhibits OVX-induced bone loss in mice and RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis

Advance in Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma. polysaccharides: Isolation, structural characterization, bioactivities and application: A review

Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma (CD), is mainly distributed in the regions of China (Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Gansu), Mongolia, Iran and India. Cistanche deserticola polysaccharide (CDPs), as one of the main components and a crucial bioactive substance of CD, has a variety of pharmacological activities, including immunomodulatory, anti-aging, anti-oxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-osteoporotic, anti-inflammatory, intestinal flora regulatory effects. Many polysaccharides have been successfully obtained in the last three decades from CD. However, there is currently no comprehensive review available concerning CDPs. Considering the importance of CDPs for biological study and drug discovery, the present review aims to systematically summarize the recent major studies on extraction and purification methods of polysaccharides from CD, as well as the characterization of their chemical structure, biological activity, structure-activity relationship, and the application of CDPs in pharmaceutical field. Meanwhile, the shortcomings of CDPs research are further discussed in detail, and new valuable insights for future CDPs research as therapeutic agents and functional foods are proposed.

Chemical composition, pharmacological effects, and parasitic mechanisms of Cistanche deserticola: An update

BACKGROUND

C. deserticola, a highly esteemed medicinal herb in China, commonly referred to as "desert ginseng", has been renowned for its unique pharmacological properties in clinical use for countless centuries. Despite its long-standing reputation, our current comprehension of its active components and pharmacological effects remains shallow and incomplete. Moreover, the unclear mechanism underlying its pharmacological actions hinders the advancement and utilization of novel drug formulations derived from C. deserticola. Furthermore, as a unique parasitic plant, the current research on its parasitic mechanisms is limited, hampering efforts to enhance both its medicinal composition and overall yields.

PURPOSE

The objective of this review is to meticulously assess, condense, and evaluate the salient aspects pertaining to the chemical composition, pharmacological impacts, and parasitic mechanisms of C. deserticola. Furthermore, the aim is to furnish valuable references that can inform and guide future research endeavors and developmental activities related to C. deserticola.

METHODS

This review adheres to the rigorous standards outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A thorough examination and analysis of pertinent research findings, published up to February 6, 2024, has been conducted. Databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Science Direct were exhaustively searched using targeted keywords and operators to delve into the chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, and parasitic mechanisms exhibited by C. deserticola.

RESULTS

The review comprehensively summarizes the advancements in research regarding the chemical composition, pharmacological impacts, and toxicological safety of C. deserticola. It delves into the parasitic mechanisms of C. deserticola from three distinct angles: seed germination, haustorium induction, and recognition of signal substances. Furthermore, the review pinpoints pertinent issues and offers insightful recommendations for future exploration and research pertaining to C. deserticola.

CONCLUSION

In recent years, C. deserticola has garnered considerable attention due to its distinctive pharmacological properties. This comprehensive review aims to establish a scientific foundation for the development of potential novel drugs and the enhancement of both the quantity and quality of C. deserticola. It accomplishes this by meticulously analyzing and evaluating the latest research findings pertaining to its chemical composition, pharmacological impacts, and parasitic mechanisms.

Cistanche deserticola improves ovariectomized-induced osteoporosis mainly by regulating lipid metabolism: Insights from serum metabolomics using UPLC/Q-TOF-MS

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cistanche deserticola (C. deserticola) is an edible and traditional medicine widely used in China, which has been confirmed to be effective in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP). Despite its proven efficacy, the exact role of C. deserticola in bone metabolism and its underlying mechanism has remained unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this research, we employed an in vivo model utilizing ovariectomized (OVX) rats to characterize the anti-osteoporotic activity and metabolic mechanism of the ethanol extract of C. deserticola (CHE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into five groups including sham operation group, model group, 0.1 g/kg estradiol valerate (EV) group as the positive control, low (0.6 g/kg) and high (1.2 g/kg) dosage CHE groups. Biochemical parameter analyses and histopathological experiments were conducted to assess the pharmacodynamic effects. Metabolomic analysis was conducted on serum samples to examine the metabolic profiles, identify potential biomarkers, and elucidate the metabolic pathways associated with CHE in OVX rats.

RESULTS

CHE treatment demonstrated significant anti-osteoporosis activity by regulating serum biochemical markers of bone turnover, improving cancellous bone structure, and reversing the decrease in bone mineral density. Furthermore, the clinical equivalent dose group (CHL) achieved superior overall outcomes. The main interventions of CHE on OVX rats involved the modulation of several key pathways, including steroid hormone biosynthesis, arachidonic acid metabolism, tyrosine and tryptophan metabolism, biotin metabolism, regulation of TRP channels by inflammatory mediators, primary bile acid biosynthesis, regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes, and bile secretion. 23 potential efficacy-related biomarkers within the metabolic network were identified. Among them, long-chain unsaturated fatty acids (eg. DHA and docosapentaenoic acid), steroid hormones, amino acids and carbohydrates were strongly correlated with bone resorption and formation markers. Additionally, it was observed four pathways (nucleotide, carbon, amino acid, and lipid metabolism) were implicated in the effects of CHE.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that CHE improves bone loss in PMOP mainly through regulating lipid metabolism pathways, which provides an evidence base for CHE treatment of PMOP.

Studies on Cistanches Herba: A Bibliometric Analysis

As a famous tonic herb, Cistanches Herba is known for its broad medicinal functions, especially its hormone balancing, anti-aging, anti-dementia, anti-tumor, anti-oxidative, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective effects. This study aims to provide a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of studies on Cistanche and to identify research hotspots and frontier topics on the genus. Based on the metrological analysis software CiteSpace, 443 Cistanche related papers were quantitatively reviewed. The results indicate that 330 institutions from 46 countries have publications in this field. China was the leading country in terms of research importance and number of publication (335 articles). In the past decades, studies on Cistanche have mainly focused on its rich active substances and pharmacological effects. Although the research trend shows that Cistanche has grown from an endangered species to an important industrial plant, its breeding and cultivation continue to be important areas for research. In the future, the application of Cistanche species as functional foods may be a new research trend. In addition, active collaborations among researchers, institutions, and countries are expected.

A pair of novel phenylethanol glycosides from Cistanche tubulosa (Schenk) Wight

A pair of differential epimers with opposite C-7 configurations, crenatosides A and B (1 and 2), and 10 known phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs) (3-12) were obtained from the succulent stem of Cistanche tubulosa. The structures were elucidated based on extensive spectral data (UV, IR, 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESIMS), which are first reported natural products with unique glycoside structures. After acid hydrolysis, the configuration of the sugar was determined by comparing it with the normative sugar by HPLC. The absolute configurations of both compounds were determined by ECD spectrum analysis. All the obtained compounds were examined for their inhibitory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in mouse microglial cells (BV-2 cells), and compounds 1 and 2 showed potent inhibition on NO production with IC₅₀ values of 5.62 μM and 6.30 μM, respectively.