Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill

Comprehensive review of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans from the Schisandra genus: anticancer potential, mechanistic insights and future prospects in oncology

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. The search for novel and effective anticancer agents has been a significant area of research. Dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans (DBCLS), derived from the Schisandra genus plants like: S. chinensis, S. sphenanthera, S. henryi, S. rubriflora, S. grandiflora, S. propinqua, and S. glabra, have been traditionally used in various medicinal systems and are known for their myriad health benefits, including anticancer properties. This comprehensive review aimed to collate and critically analyse the recent literature on the anticancer properties of DBCLS, focusing on their mechanistic approaches against different cancer types. An exhaustive literature search was performed using databases like PubMed/MedLine, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, TRIP database and Google Scholar from 1980 to 2023. Peer-reviewed articles that elucidated the mechanistic approach of these lignans on cancer cell lines, in vivo models and preliminary clinical studies were included. Studies were assessed for their experimental designs, cancer types studied, and the mechanistic insights provided. The studies demonstrate that the anticancer effects of DBCLS compounds are primarily driven by their ability to trigger apoptosis, arrest the cell cycle, induce oxidative stress, modulate autophagy, and disrupt essential signaling pathways, notably MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and NF-κB. Additionally, these lignans have been shown to amplify the impact of traditional chemotherapy treatments, suggesting their potential role as supportive adjuncts in cancer therapy. Notably, several studies also emphasise their capacity to target cancer stem cells and mitigate multi-drug resistance specifically. DBCLS from the Schisandra genus have showcased significant potential as anticancer agents. Their multi-targeted mechanistic approach makes them promising candidates for further research, potentially leading to developing of new therapeutic strategies in cancer management.

Inhibitors of human bitter taste receptors from the five-flavour berry, Schisandra chinensis

The human bitter taste 2 receptor member 16 (TAS2R16) is one of 25 class A G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and responds to a variety of molecules responsible for the bitter taste sensation perceived in humans. TAS2R16 can be activated by β-glucopyranosides, and its activation can be inhibited by probenecid, a synthetic drug compound used to treat gout. In this study we describe naturally derived compounds which can inhibit the activation of TAS2R16 by salicin in vitro. These compounds belong to the lignan class derived from the fruit of Schisandra chinensis, which is commonly known as the five-flavour berry. We further tested other analogs with this lignan scaffold, found their differential inhibitory activities towards TAS2R16 in vitro, and sought to rationalize the activity using molecular docking of these lignans on a computationally modelled structure of TAS2R16. Selected lignans with inhibitory activity against other TAS2Rs reveal sub-millimolar inhibitory activity towards TAS2R10, TAS2R14, and TAS2R43 in cell-based assays. These compounds with demonstrated in vitro inhibition of bitter taste receptors may serve as tool compounds to investigate the molecular mechanisms of hTAS2Rs biology in gustatory and non-gustatory tissues.

Potential toxicity of Schisandra chinensis to water environment: acute toxicity tests with water crustaceans

Fruits of Schisandra chinensis, an East Asian liana plant, are currently more and more used to produce nutrient supplements that positively affect human health due to the content of various secondary metabolites. On the other hand, these substances because of their bioactivity can cause possible allelopathic or toxic effects concerning other organisms (algae, plants, animals). But the ecotoxicological properties of S. chinensis outside its area of origin have yet to be sufficiently verified. Two crustaceans, Daphnia magna and Thamnocephalus platyurus, were selected as model aquatic organisms to test the potential impact of S. chinensis active compounds on the aquatic environment. Crude water extract from S. chinensis fruits, simulating the natural leakage of active substances in water, was tested in treatments from 0.0045 to 45 mg/L (according to the content of schisandrin as the dominating lignan). Effective concentration (EC50) causing 50% lethal effect for D. magna was established to 0.0448 mg/L after 24 h and 0.0152 mg/L after 48 h. EC50 for T. platyurus reached 0.4572 mg/L after 24 h, i.e. more than ten times higher than for D. magna. This study showed that the potential environmentally relevant concentrations of S. chinensis bioactive compounds could represent a severe risk to aquatic ecosystems.

Chromatographic and Biological Screening of Chosen Species of Schisandraceae Family: Schisandra chinensis, S. rubriflora, S. sphenanthera, S. henryi and Kadsura japonica

HPLC and TLC profiling was carried out for leaf and fruit extracts of five Schisandraceae species: Schisandra chinensis, S. rubriflora, S. spehenanthera, S. henryi and Kadsura japonica. HPLC measurements confirmed presence of lignans and phenolic compounds in fruits and leaves of all tested species. The most abundant in lignans was S. chinensis fruit extract in which 15 compounds were detected (e. g.: schisandrol A, schisanhenol, γ-schisandrin, gomisin N). The effect-directed detection, i. e., TLC-direct bioautography against Bacillus subtilis, showed exceptionally high activity for S. chinensis and S. rubriflora fruit extracts. On the other hand, TLC-DB enzyme tests (α-glucosidase, lipase, tyrosinase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition assays) showed that all fruit and leaf extracts have ability to inhibit the above-mentioned enzymes (except for the K. japonica fruit). The leaf extracts showed much stronger antioxidant activity than the fruit ones, which were assessed and compared using both TLC-direct bioautography and spectrophotometric measurements based on ABTS, DPPH and FRAP tests.

Nootropic Herbs, Shrubs, and Trees as Potential Cognitive Enhancers

Plant-based nootropics are a diverse group of natural drugs that can improve cognitive abilities through various physiological mechanisms, especially in cases where these functions are weakened or impaired. In many cases, the nootropics enhance erythrocyte plasticity and inhibit aggregation, which improves the blood's rheological properties and increases its flow to the brain. Many of these formulations possess antioxidant activity that protects brain tissue from neurotoxicity and improves the brain's oxygen supply. They can induce the synthesis of neuronal proteins, nucleic acids, and phospholipids for constructing and repairing neurohormonal membranes. These natural compounds can potentially be present in a great variety of herbs, shrubs, and even some trees and vines. The plant species reviewed here were selected based on the availability of verifiable experimental data and clinical trials investigating potential nootropic effects. Original research articles, relevant animal studies, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and clinical trials were included in this review. Selected representatives of this heterogeneous group included Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst., Centella asiatica (L.) Urban, Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim., Ginkgo biloba L., Lepidium meyenii Walp., Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Paullinia cupana Kunth, Rhodiola rosea L., Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., and Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. The species are depicted and described, together with their active components and nootropic effects, and evidence of their efficacy is presented. The study provides brief descriptions of the representative species, their occurrence, history, and the chemical composition of the principle medicinal compounds, with uses, indications, experimental treatments, dosages, possible side effects, and contraindications. Most plant nootropics must be taken at optimal doses for extended periods before measurable improvement occurs, but they are generally very well tolerated. Their psychoactive properties are not produced by a single molecule but by a synergistic combination of several compounds. The available data suggest that including extracts from these plants in medicinal products to treat cognitive disorders can have substantial potential therapeutic benefits.

Screening of Q-markers for the wine-steamed Schisandra chinensis decoction pieces in improving allergic asthma

BACKGROUND

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) posits that Chinese medicinal materials can only be clinically used after being processed and prepared into decoction pieces. Schisandra Chinensis Fructus (derived from the dried and mature fruits of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill.) has been used as a traditional antiasthmatic, kidney strengthening, and hepatoprotective agent for 2000 years. The results of previous research show that decoction pieces of wine-steamed Schisandra chinensis (WSC) are more effective than raw decoction pieces of Schisandra chinensis (RSC) for treating cough and asthma. Steaming with wine was demonstrated to promote the dissolution of ingredients. However, the relationship between the changes in the components of the decoction pieces of WSC and the therapeutic effect remains unclear.

METHODS

The efficacies of decoctions of RSC and WSC were compared using allergic asthma rats. The potential bioactive components in the serum of the WSC treatment group and the changes in the chemical composition of the RSC decoction pieces before and after wine steaming were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC H-CLASS XEVO TQD) to speculate quality markers (Q-markers) related to the efficacy of WSC, which were subsequently verified based on a zebrafish inflammation model.

RESULTS

Steaming RSC decoction pieces with wine was found to promote improvement of allergic asthma. Reverse tracing of 22 components detected in the serum of the high dose group of WSC (WSC-H) resulted in 12 ingredients being finally designated as potential effective components. Among these ingredients, 5 components, Schisandrin, Schisandrol B, Schisandrin A, Schisandrin B, and Gomisin D, had higher dissolution rates than RSC after steaming with wine. Validation by an inflammatory zebrafish model showed that these 5 ingredients had a dose-dependent effect and were therefore Q-markers for WSC in the treatment of allergic asthma.

CONCLUSION

In this study, changes in the components of decoction pieces of RSC and WSC and Q-markers related to WSC efficacy were identified, providing valuable information for expanding the application of WSC and establishing a specific quality standard for WSC.

Bioactive compounds from Schisandra chinensis - Risk for aquatic plants?

Schisandra chinensis is a potential plant for production of nutrient supplements due to adaptogens content. The dominant bioactive substance, lignan schisandrin, has positive effects on human health, but it can cause possible allelopathic effects in relation to other plants. S. chinensis is not native to European ecosystems, and its ecotoxicological properties have not been verified yet. Lemna minor was selected as a model aquatic plant to test its potential impact on the aquatic environment. Crude water extract from S. chinensis fruits, simulating the natural soaking of active substances in a surface water body, was used in treatments from 0.045 to 45 mg/L (according to the content of schisandrin as the dominating lignan). During seven days of cultivation, the growth (number of plants, leaf area, fresh weight) and photosynthetic activity of L. minor fronds were assessed. In low treatments (0.045 and 0.09 mg/L), the extract of S. chinensis did not cause any changes in duckweed growth parameters or photosynthetic performance. Higher treatments (0.45 and 0.9 mg/L) caused significant limitations in plants' number, total leaf area, and fresh weight. The photosynthetic parameters (basal chlorophyll fluorescence, quantum yields) were affected only by 0.9 mg/L. The highest treatment, 45 mg/L, exhibited extreme toxicity to duckweed plants causing their death during the first five days of cultivation. Schisandrin and other bioactive substances extractable from S. chinensis fruits can negatively impact water biota in the case of massive contamination of surface water.

Stimulation of Lignan Production in Schisandra rubriflora In Vitro Cultures by Elicitation

The study investigated the effect of elicitation with: chitosan (CH) (200 mg/L), yeast extract (YeE) (3000 mg/L), ethephon (ETH) (25 µM/L), and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) (50 µM/L), on lignan accumulation in agitated and bioreactor (Plantform temporary immersion systems) microshoot cultures of female (F) and male (M) Schisandra rubriflora Rehd. et Wils. (Schisandraceae) lines. The elicitors were supplemented on the 10th day of culture. Biomasses were collected at 24 h and 48 h, and 4, 6, and 8 days after the addition of each elicitor. The 24 compounds from the dibenzocyclooctadiene, aryltetralin, dibenzylbutane, and tetrahydrofuran lignans and neolignans were determined qualitatively and quantitatively in biomass extracts using the UHPLC–MS/MS method. The highest total contents [mg/100 g DW] of lignans were: for CH-95.00 (F, day 6) and 323.30 (M, 48 h); for YeE 104.30 (F, day 8) and 353.17 (M, day 4); for ETH 124.50 (F, 48 h) and 334.90 (M, day 4); and for MeJA 89.70 (F, 48 h) and 368.50 (M, 24 h). In the biomass extracts of M cultures grown in bioreactors, the highest total lignan content was obtained after MeJA elicitation (153.20 mg/100 g DW). The maximum total lignan contents in the biomass extracts from agitated and bioreactor cultures were 3.29 and 1.13 times higher, respectively, than in the extracts from the non-elicited cultures. The poor understanding of the chemical composition and the lack of studies in the field of plant biotechnology of S. rubriflora emphasize the innovativeness of the research.

Analysis of Floral Organ Development and Sex Determination in Schisandra chinensis by Scanning Electron Microscopy and RNA-Sequencing

S. chinensis is a typical monoecious plant, and the number and development of female flowers determines the yield of S. chinensis. Due to a lack of genetic information, the molecular mechanism of sex differentiation in S. chinensis remains unclear. In this study, the combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to understand the way of sex differentiation of S. chinensis and to mine the related genes of sex determination. The result shows the development of male and female S. chinensis flowers was completed at the same time, the unisexual S. chinensis flowers did not undergo a transition stage between sexes, and sex may have been determined at an early stage in flower development. The results of the gene function analysis of the plant hormone signaling pathway and sucrose metabolism pathway suggest that auxin and JA could be the key hormones for sex differentiation in S. chinensis, and sucrose may promote pollen maturation at the later stage of male flower development. Two AGAMOUS (GAG) genes, 10 AGAMOUS-like MADS-box (AGLs) genes, and the MYB, NAC, WRKY, bHLH, and Trihelix transcription factor families may play important roles in sex determination in S. chinensis. Taken together, the present findings provide valuable genetic information on flower development and sex determination in S. chinensis.

Identification, Molecular Cloning, and Functional Characterization of a Coniferyl Alcohol Acyltransferase Involved in the Biosynthesis of Dibenzocyclooctadiene Lignans in Schisandra chinensis

Schisandra chinensis owes its therapeutic efficacy to the dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans, which are limited to the Schisandraceae family and whose biosynthetic pathway has not been elucidated. Coniferyl alcohol is the synthetic precursor of various types of lignans and can be acetylated to form coniferyl acetate by coniferyl alcohol acyltransferase (CFAT), which belongs to the BAHD acyltransferase family. This catalytic reaction is important because it is the first committed step of the hypothetical biosynthetic pathway in which coniferyl alcohol gives rise to dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans. However, the gene encoding CFAT in S. chinensis has not been identified. In this study, firstly we identified 37 ScBAHD genes from the transcriptome datasets of S. chinensis. According to bioinformatics, phylogenetic, and expression profile analyses, 1 BAHD gene, named ScBAHD1, was cloned from S. chinensis. The heterologous expression in Escherichia coli and in vitro activity assays revealed that the recombinant enzyme of ScBAHD1 exhibits acetyltransferase activity with coniferyl alcohol and some other alcohol substrates by using acetyl-CoA as the acetyl donor, which indicates ScBAHD1 functions as ScCFAT. Subcellular localization analysis showed that ScCFAT is mainly located in the cytoplasm. In addition, we generated a three-dimensional (3D) structure of ScCFAT by homology modeling and explored the conformational interaction between protein and ligands by molecular docking simulations. Overall, this study identified the first enzyme with catalytic activity from the Schisandraceae family and laid foundations for future investigations to complete the biosynthetic pathway of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans.

Schisandra rubriflora Fruit and Leaves as Promising New Materials of High Biological Potential: Lignan Profiling and Effect-Directed Analysis

The effect-directed detection (EDD) of Schisandra rubriflora fruit and leaves extracts was performed to assess their pharmacological properties. The EDD comprised TLC-direct bioautography against Bacillus subtilis, a DPPH assay, as well as α-glucosidase, lipase, tyrosinase, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition assays. The leaf extracts showed stronger antioxidant activity than the fruit extract as well as inhibition of tyrosinase and lipase. The fruit extract was found to be extremely active against B. subtilis and to inhibit α-glucosidase and AChE slightly more than the leaf extracts. UHPLC-MS/MS analysis was carried out for the bioactive fractions and pointed to the possible anti-dementia properties of the dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans found in the upper TLC fractions. Gomisin N (518 mg/100 g DW), schisanhenol (454 mg/100 g DW), gomisin G (197 mg/100 g DW), schisandrin A (167 mg/100 g DW), and gomisin O (150 mg/100 g DW) were the quantitatively dominant compounds in the fruit extract. In total, twenty-one lignans were found in the bioactive fractions.

A comprehensive review of ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. and Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Schisandra chinensis (called bei-wuweizi in Chinese, S. chinensis) and Schisandra sphenanthera (called nan-wuweizi in Chinese, S. sphenanthera) are two highly similar plants in the Magnoliaceae family. Their dried ripe fruits are commonly used as traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of coughs, palpitation, spermatorrhea, and insomnia. They also are traditionally used as tonics in Russia, Japan, and Korea.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera are similar in appearance, traditional applications, ingredient compositions, and therapeutic effects. This review, therefore, aims to provide a systematic insight into the botanical background, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, quality control, and toxicology of S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera, and to explore and present the similarities and differences between S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comprehensive literature search regarding S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera was collected by using electronic databases including PubMed, SciFinder, Science Direct, Web of Science, CNKI, and the online ethnobotanical database.

RESULTS

In the 2020 Edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia (ChP), there were 100 prescriptions containing S. chinensis, while only 11 contained S. sphenanthera. Totally, 306 and 238 compounds have been isolated and identified from S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera, respectively. Among these compounds, lignans, triterpenoids, essential oils, phenolic acid, flavonoids, phytosterols are the major composition. Through investigation of pharmacological activities, S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera have similar therapeutic effects including hepatoprotection, neuroprotection, cardioprotection, anticancer, antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and hypoglycemic effect. Besides, S. chinensis turns out to have more effects including reproductive regulation and immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antitussive and antiasthmatic, anti-fatigue, antiarthritic, and bone remodeling effects. Both S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera have inhibitory effects on CYP3A and P-gp, which can mediate metabolism or efflux of substrates, and therefore interact with many drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera have great similarities. Dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans are regarded to contribute to most of the bioactivities. Schisandrin A-C, schisandrol A-B, and schisantherin A, existing in both S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera but differing in the amount, are the main active components, which may contribute to the similarities and differences. Study corresponding to the traditional use is needed to reveal the deep connotation of the use of S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera as traditional Chinese medicine. In addition, a joint study of S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera can better show the difference between them, which can provide a reference for clinical application. It is worth mentioning that the inhibition of S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera on CYP3A and P-gp may lead to undesirable drug-drug interactions.

Analysis of Cytochrome c Expression on Liver Histology of Hepatitis Rats after Administration of Tin and Olive Leaf Ethanol Extract

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Hepatitis is a liver illness caused by a viral infection, autoimmune conditions or the use of certain medicines. In molecular hepatitis treatment, cytochrome c can be used as a potential predictor of the severity of liver impairment. In Asia, particularly in Indonesia, antioxidant-rich plants include <i>Ficus</i> <i>carica</i> and <i>Olea europaea.</i> This study aimed to see what impact cytochrome c in hepatitis after these two botanicals were administered. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Rats were grouped as follows: Normal rats with no additions or herbs (G₀), the physiological solution group (G₁), the intravenous administration of the quercetin-copper (II) (G₂), Olive leaf extract or OLE (300 mg kg¹ b.wt.) (G₃) and Tin leaf extract or TLE (100 mg kg¹ b.wt.) (G₄). For an animal model of hepatitis, the rats were given thioacetamide 280 mg kg¹ b.wt., 8 days later. The rats were dissected and blood and liver samples were collected for enzyme and immunohistochemistry examination. <b>Results:</b> Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and cytochrome c expression levels differed significantly (p<0.05) across treatment groups in rat's models of hepatitis. Hepatocytes first displayed symptoms of lipid degradation, inflammatory and necrosis cells. When administered quercetin and the two herbs, necrosis and inflammatory cells were reduced, demonstrating that OLE and TLE can enhance liver histology and lower cytochrome c expression in a mouse model of hepatitis. <b>Conclusion:</b> Administration of Olive leaf extract (OLE) and Tin leaf extract (TLE) can improve liver histology in hepatitis model rats while decreasing cytochrome c expression, which is a mechanism for hepatocyte cell death.

Experimental Studies of the Effect of Schisandrachinensis Extract on the State of Adaptive Capabilities of Rats under Chronic and General Exposure to Cold

Currently, there is an objective need to create fortified food products that allow not only to provide the body with energy, but also to replenish the deficiency of essential nutrients. A generalization of the information published by Rospotrebnadzor and the Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences indicates a deficiency in the diet of Russians of vitamins C, group B and β-carotene and minerals, including calcium and iron, regardless of the season of the year. The identified deviations lead to a violation of the immune status, a decrease in the body’s resistance to infections, and other unfavorable environmental factors, leading to an increase in the level of morbidity and a decrease in working capacity. The main unfavorable climatic factor that the population of the Far Eastern region has to face is low freezing temperatures. Adaptation to cold exposure is a complex process that requires a long period and may be accompanied by functional disorders and morphological changes in body tissues. In connection with the above, the problem of increasing the adaptive capabilities of a person to unfavorable environmental factors by means of correcting daily nutrition, providing the body with essential macro- and micronutrients, which is important in the prevention of possible diseases, is of particular importance. This study is aimed at assessing the effect of Schisandrachinensis extract on the adaptive capacity of rats in conditions of chronic and general cold. It was found that the extracts obtained from the fruits of Schisandra chinensis are characterized by a high content of biologically active substances. In experiments with determining the duration of running on the treadmill, a distinct act-protective effect was observed with the introduction of Schisandra chinensis extracts at a dose of 150 mg/day, against the background of reduced resistance to physical activity due to cold exposure. It was found that exposure to cold significantly reduced the swimming resistance of rats on all days of the study. The introduction of Schisandra chinensis extract into the diet led to an increase in resistance to fatigue and an increase in the duration of swimming on all days of the experiment. Conclusions: in this experimental model, a gradually increasing effect of increasing the physical performance of rats was demonstrated with prolonged (28 days) intake of the developed drinks, which coincides with the literature data on a number of other adaptogens and indicates the presence of cumulative properties of biologically active substances of Schisandra extract.

Gomisin L1, a Lignan Isolated from Schisandra Berries, Induces Apoptosis by Regulating NADPH Oxidase in Human Ovarian Cancer Cells

The fruits of Schisandra chinensis (Schisandra berries) are used as health food supplements and popular food ingredients in East Asia. Lignans, major and characteristic polyphenol compounds of Schisandra berries, possess various biological activities, including hepatoprotective and anticancer effects. However, the biological activities of gomisin L1, a lignan isolated from Schisandra berries, are less to be investigated. In this study, the antitumor activity of gomisin L1 and its underlying molecular mechanism in human ovarian cancer cells were investigated. Gomisin L1 exhibited potent cytotoxic activity against A2780 and SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that the growth inhibitory effects of gomisin L1 were mediated by the induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, gomisin L1 induced an increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine significantly negated gomisin L1-induced cell death. Moreover, inhibition of NADPH oxidase (NOX) using an inhibitor and siRNA attenuated gomisin L1-induced death of, and ROS production in, human ovarian cancer cells. Taken together, these data indicate that the lignan gomisin L1 from Schisandra berries induces apoptotic cell death by regulating intracellular ROS production via NOX.

Plant Adaptogens-History and Future Perspectives

Adaptogens are synthetic compounds (bromantane, levamisole, aphobazole, bemethyl, etc.) or plant extracts that have the ability to enhance the body’s stability against physical loads without increasing oxygen consumption. Extracts from Panax ginseng, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Rhaponticum carthamoides, Rhodiola rosea, and Schisandra chinensis are considered to be naturally occurring adaptogens and, in particular, plant adaptogens. The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of plant adaptogens in the past and now, as well as to outline the prospects of their future applications. The use of natural adaptogens by humans has a rich history—they are used in recovery from illness, physical weakness, memory impairment, and other conditions. About 50 years ago, plant adaptogens were first used in professional sports due to their high potential to increase the body’s resistance to stress and to improve physical endurance. Although now many people take plant adaptogens, the clinical trials on human are limited. The data from the meta-analysis showed that plant adaptogens could provide a number of benefits in the treatment of chronic fatigue, cognitive impairment, and immune protection. In the future, there is great potential to register medicinal products that contain plant adaptogens for therapeutic purposes.

Candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of lignan in Schisandra chinensis fruit based on transcriptome and metabolomes analysis

Schisandra chinensis Turcz. (Baill.) is a plant species with fruits that have been well known in Far Eastern medicine for a long time. It has traditionally been used as a stimulating and fortifying agent in cases of physical exhaustion and to inhibit fatigue. The major bioactive compounds found in S. chinensis are lignans with a dibenzocyclooctadiene skeleton, but little is known about their biosynthesis in plants. S. chinensis is the ideal medicinal plant for studying the biosynthesis of lignans, especially the dibenzocyclooctadiene skeleton. Genomic information for this important herbal plant is unavailable. To better understand the lignan biosynthesis pathway, we generated transcriptome sequences from the fruit during ripening and performed de novo sequence assembly, yielding 136 843 unique transcripts with N50 of 1778 bp. Putative functions could be assigned to 41 824 transcripts (51.57%) based on BLAST searches against annotation databases including GO (Gene ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes). Furthermore, 22 candidate cytochrome P450 genes and 15 candidate dirigent proteins genes that were most likely involved in the lignan biosynthesis pathway were discovered based on transcriptome sequencing of S. chinensis. The genomic data obtained from S. chinensis, especially the identification of putative genes involved in the lignan biosynthesis pathway, will facilitate our understanding of lignan biosynthesis at the molecular level. The lignan metabolite profiles were analyzed by metabolomes, the accumulation patterns of 30 metabolites involved in the lignan pathway were studied. Co-expression network of lignan contents and transcriptional changes showed 355 strong correlations (correlation coefficient, R² > 0.9) between 21 compounds and 153 transcripts. Furthermore, the comprehensive analysis and characterization of the genes involved in lignan pathways and the metabolite profiles of lignans are expected to provide better insight regarding the diversity of the chemical composition, synthetic characteristics, and regulatory mechanisms of this medical herb.

The Use of Chinese Yang/Qi-Invigorating Tonic Botanical Drugs/Herbal Formulations in Ameliorating Chronic Kidney Disease by Enhancing Mitochondrial Function

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated as a key factor in the development of CKD. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, many Chinese Yang/Qi-invigorating botanical drugs/herbal formulations have been shown to produce promising outcomes in the clinical management of CKD. Experimental studies have indicated that the health-promoting action of Yang/Qi invigoration in TCM is related to the up-regulation of mitochondrial energy generation and antioxidant status. Objective: In this review, we aim to test whether Chinese Yang/Qi-invigorating tonic botanical drugs/herbal formulations can provide medical benefits in CKD and its complications. And we also explore the possible involvement of mitochondrial-associated signaling pathway underlying the beneficial effects of Yang/Qi invigoration in TCM. Methods: A systematic search of "PubMed", "China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI)" and "Google Scholar" was carried out to collect all the available articles in English or Chinese related to Chinese Yang/Qi-invigorating tonic botanical drugs/herbal formulations and their effects on mitochondrial function and chronic kidney disease. Result and Discussion: The relationship between the progression of CKD and mitochondrial function is discussed. The effects of Chinese Yang/Qi-invigorating tonic botanical drugs/herbal formulations and their active ingredients, including phytosterols/triterpenes, flavonoids, and dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans, on CKD and related alterations in mitochondrial signaling pathways are also presented in this review. In the future, exploration of the possible beneficial effects and clinical studies of more Yang- and Qi-invigorating botanical drugs/herbal formulations in the prevention and/or/treatment of CKD and the molecular mechanisms relating to the enhancement of mitochondrial functions warrants further investigation. Conclusion: Given the critical role of mitochondrial function in safeguarding renal functional integrity, the enhancement of mitochondrial energy metabolism and antioxidant status in kidney tissue is likely involved in renal protection. Future studies on the biochemical and chemical basis underlying the effects of Chinese Yang/Qi-invigorating tonic botanical drugs/herbal formulations from a mitochondrial perspective will hopefully provide novel insights into the rational development of new drugs for the prevention and/or treatment of CKD.

Antioxidant Effects of Schisandra chinensis Fruits and Their Active Constituents

Schisandra chinensis Turcz. (Baill.) fruits, their extracts, and bioactive compounds are used in alternative medicine as adaptogens and ergogens protecting against numerous neurological, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, liver, and skin disorders. S. chinensis fruit extracts and their active compounds are potent antioxidants and mitoprotectors exerting anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anticancer, and anti-aging effects. S. chinensis polyphenolic compounds-flavonoids, phenolic acids and the major constituents dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans are responsible for the S. chinensis antioxidant activities. This review will focus on the direct and indirect antioxidant effects of S. chinensis fruit extract and its bioactive compounds in the cells during normal and pathological conditions.

Effects of Deacidification on Composition of Schisandra chinensis Ethanolic Extract and Studies on Acute Toxicity in Mice

Schisandra chinensis Fructus (SCF), a well-known traditional medicinal material, is a rich source of dibenzocyclooctene type lignans and polyphenols, which are important ingredients in SCF and show various activities. SCF also contains about 18% organic acids, mainly citric acid, which makes the fruit and extract taste extremely sour and limited its application in beverages or food industries. In the present study, a chemical deacidification method was applied to defatted and non-defatted ethanol extract of SCF, and the effects on organic acid, lignans, and phenolic compounds were evaluated. Free radical scavenging activity and acute toxicity in mice before and after deacidification were also compared. Our results demonstrated that chemical deacidification significantly decreased the contents of organic acid and lignan compounds and markedly improves the safety of the ethanol extract of SCF, which will facilitate the comprehensive utilization of SCF extract in food and beverage industries.

Characterization of the Omija (Schisandra chinensis) Extract and Its Effects on the Bovine Sperm Vitality and Oxidative Profile during In Vitro Storage

Schisandra chinensis is a woody vine native to China, Korea, and Russia, which has been used as a traditional herbal remedy to treat male infertility. As very little information is available concerning its effects on ejaculated spermatozoa, the aim of this study was to investigate the chemical, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of the S. chinensis berry (Omija) extract followed by an assessment of its in vitro effects on bovine sperm function and oxidative balance. Phytochemical components of the Omija extract were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The content of polyphenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids was assessed by spectrophotometric protocols. Antioxidant characteristics of the Omija extract were determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and molybdenum-reducing antioxidant power (MRAP) assays. The disc diffusion method and determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration were applied to study the antibacterial properties of Schisandra. Thirty semen samples were exposed to different concentrations of Omija (1, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 75 µg/mL) for 0, 2, and 24 h. Sperm motility, mitochondrial activity, and superoxide and reactive oxygen species production, as well as total antioxidant capacity and oxidative damage to proteins and lipids were determined. Our data reveal that the Omija extract, particularly at a concentration range within 5-50 µg/mL, exhibited dose-dependent motion-promoting and metabolism-enhancing properties, accompanied by significant antioxidant effects. We may conclude that the biomolecules present in the Omija extract such as schisandrins and phenolic molecules offer protection to critical sperm structures against oxidative insults and/or possible bacterial contamination, leading to a higher preservation of mammalian sperm viability and functional activity.

The Role of Adaptogens in Prophylaxis and Treatment of Viral Respiratory Infections

The aim of our review is to demonstrate the potential of herbal preparations, specifically adaptogens for prevention and treatment of respiratory infections, as well as convalescence, specifically through supporting a challenged immune system, increasing resistance to viral infection, inhibiting severe inflammatory progression, and driving effective recovery. The evidence from pre-clinical and clinical studies with Andrographis paniculata, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Glycyrrhiza spp., Panax spp., Rhodiola rosea, Schisandra chinensis, Withania somnifera, their combination products and melatonin suggests that adaptogens can be useful in prophylaxis and treatment of viral infections at all stages of progression of inflammation as well as in aiding recovery of the organism by (i) modulating innate and adaptive immunity, (ii) anti-inflammatory activity, (iii) detoxification and repair of oxidative stress-induced damage in compromised cells, (iv) direct antiviral effects of inhibiting viral docking or replication, and (v) improving quality of life during convalescence.

Electrochemical Determination of Titratable Acidity for the Discrimination of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus and Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus

A simple electrochemical procedure has been developed for determining the titratable acidity in Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus (SCF) and Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus (SSF) by means of reduction of quinone in the presence of acid compounds. To measure a voltammogram, a test solution was prepared by mixing a water extract from SCF or SSF and an electrolyte cocktail containing 3,5-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone and NaCl. The quantitative results of titratable acidity in the SCF and SSF samples by the present voltammetry were in good agreement with those by neutralization titration using 0.1 M NaOH (r2 = 0.980): y = 1.003x + 0.010, where the y- and x-axes were the titratable acidity obtained by the present voltammetry and the neutralization titration, respectively. Further, the titratable acidities in the SSF samples were significantly lower than those in the SCF samples (p < 0.01). From these findings, we show that the titratable acidity is useful as an indicator to discriminate between SCF and SSF. Moreover, a prototype of electrochemical portable sensor for on-site analysis has been provided to perform this procedure.

Dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans from the stems of Schisandra sphaerandra

Chemical investigation into the stems of the medicinal plant Schisandra sphaerandra led to the isolation and identification of a new dibenzocyclooctadiene lignan sphaerandrin A (1) and 11 known ones gomisin B (2), schirubrisin B (3), kadsuphilin B (4), schizandrin (5), benzoylgomisin Q (6), angeloylgomisin Q (7), gomisin G (8), schisanwilsonin O (9), isogomisin O (10), schisantherin D (11), and wuweizisu C (12). The structure of the new compound was elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic methods including 1 D/2D NMR, HRESIMS, and CD spectrometry. To the best of our knowledge, compounds 2 - 11 were obtained from this species for the first time. All the compounds were evaluated for the cytotoxic activity against the triple-negative breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and HCC-1937.

Rapid Mass Spectrometric Study of a Supercritical CO2-extract from Woody Liana Schisandra chinensis by HPLC-SPD-ESI-MS/MS

Woody liana Schisandra chinensis contains valuable lignans, which are phenylpropanoids with valuable biological activity. Among green and selective extraction methods, supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) was shown to be the method of choice for the recovery of these naturally occurring compounds. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) was the solvent with the flow rate (10−25 g/min) with 2% ethanol as co-solvent. In this piece of work operative parameters and working conditions were optimized by experimenting with different pressures (200–400 bars) and temperatures (40–60 °C). The extraction time varied from 60 to 120 min. HPLC-SPD-ESI -MS/MS techniques were applied to detect target analytes. Twenty-six different lignans were identified in the S. chinensis SC-CO₂ extracts.

Schisandra rubriflora Plant Material and In Vitro Microshoot Cultures as Rich Sources of Natural Phenolic Antioxidants

Schisandra rubriflora is a dioecious, underestimated medicinal plant species known from traditional Chinese medicine. The present study was aimed at characterising the polyphenolic profile composition and the related antioxidant capacity of S. rubriflora fruit, stem and leaf and in vitro microshoot culture extracts. Separate analyses of material from female and male specimens were carried out. This study was specifically aimed at detailed characterisation of the contribution of phenolic compounds to overall antioxidant activity using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector coupled to electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MS³) and a high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). Using UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MS³, twenty-seven phenolic compounds from among phenolic acids and flavonoids were identified. Concentrations of three phenolic acids (neochlorogenic, chlorogenic and cryptochlorogenic acids) and eight flavonoids (hyperoside, rutoside, isoquercitrin, guaijaverin, trifolin, quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin) were determined using HPLC-DAD using reference standards. The highest total phenolic content was confirmed for the stem and leaf extracts collected in spring. The contents of phenolic compounds of in vitro biomasses were comparable to that in the fruit extracts. The methanolic extracts from the studied plant materials were evaluated for their antioxidant properties using various in vitro assays, namely free radicals scavenging estimation using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) as well as QUick, Easy, New, CHEap, and Reproducible CUPRAC (QUENCHER-CUPRAC) assays. A close relationship between the content of polyphenolic compounds in S. rubriflora and their antioxidant potential has been documented.

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B Inhibitors: A Novel Therapeutic Strategy for the Management of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is one of the most common endocrine non-communicable metabolic disorders which is mainly caused either due to insufficient insulin or inefficient insulin or both together and is characterized by hyperglycemia. Diabetes emerged as a serious health issue in the industrialized and developing country especially in the Asian pacific region. Out of the two major categories of diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes is more prevalent, almost 90 to 95% cases, and the main cause of this is insulin resistance. The main cause of the progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus has been found to be insulin resistance. The type 2 diabetes mellitus may be managed by the change in lifestyle, physical activities, dietary modifications and medications. The major currently available management strategies are sulfonylureas, biguanides, thiazolidinediones, α-glucosidase inhibitors, dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors, and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist. Binding of insulin on the extracellular unit of insulin receptor sparks tyrosine kinase of the insulin receptor which induces autophosphorylation. The phosphorylation of the tyrosine is regulated by insulin and leptin molecules. Protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP1B) works as a negative governor for the insulin signalling pathways, as it dephosphorylates the tyrosine of the insulin receptor and suppresses the insulin signalling cascade. The compounds or molecules which inhibit the negative regulation of PTP1B can have an inductive effect on the insulin pathway and finally help in the management of diabetes mellitus. PTP1B could be an emerging therapeutic strategy for diabetes management. There are a number of clinical and basic research results which suggest that induced expression of PTP1B reduces insulin resistance. In this review, we briefly elaborate and explain the place of PTP1B and its significance in diabetes as well as a recent development in the PTP1B inhibitors as an antidiabetic therapy.

Effect directed analysis and TLC screening of Schisandra chinensis fruits

The fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Chinese magnolia vine), the medicinal plant well-known in Traditional Chinese Medicine, gains great popularity in the modern phytopharmacology. This phenomena is related to the wide and powerful healing properties, including supporting immune, nervous and digestive systems activity. S. chinensis is also known for its adaptogenic properties which can support the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Alzheimer's disease. The components of S. chinensis have been analyzed mostly using chromatography, including HPLC, GC and TLC. The last technique can be easily hyphenated with biological assays performed directly on a TLC plate that is using effect directed detection. TLC-direct bioautography (TLC-DB) for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and TLC-DB against Bacillus subtilis were performed, followed by micro-preparative separation of fractions which were subsequently subjected to LC-MS tentative identification. Additionally, screening analysis was done using both biological detection and derivatization reagents (e.g. PMA, thymol, NP-PEG). Both TLC screening and effect-directed analysis (TLC-DB followed by MS analysis) of S. chinensis fruit revealed components with biological activity, especially antibacterials (e.g. citric acid) and inhibitors of AChE (mainly dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans). AChE inhibition activities were confirmed by TLC-DB for nine standards that is: 6-O-benzoylgomisin, deoxyschisandrin, gomisin A, gomisin G, schisandrin, schisandrin C, schisanhenol, schisantherin A and schisantherin B. These lignans were further identified by LC-ESI-MS in the isolated fraction revealing AChE inhibition. Moreover three other lignans: γ-schisandrin, schisandrin B and gomisin J were tentatively identified by LC-ESI-MS.

Chemical constituents from Schisandra sphenanthera and their cytotoxic activity

Extensive phytochemical investigation of Schisandra sphenanthera leaves resulted in the isolation of six highly oxygenated nortriterpenoids (1-6) and five lignans (7-11) including a new pre-schisanartane-type, schisandrathera A (1), a new dibenzocyclooctadiene glycoside, schisandrathera B (7) and two new lignans, schisandrathera C (8) and schisandrathera D (9). Their chemical structures including absolute configurations were determined extensively by means of HR-ESI-MS, NMR, and ECD spectra. In addition, all isolated compounds were tested for cytotoxic activity against PC3 (prostate cancer) and MCF7 (breast cancer) cell lines. Among these compounds, schirubrisin B (3) showed strong cytotoxic effect on both PC3 and MCF7 cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 3.21 ± 0.68, 13.30 ± 0.68 μM, respectively, whereas ten remaining compounds were found to be less effective in the investigated models.

Phenolic acid and flavonoid production in agar, agitated and bioreactor-grown microshoot cultures of Schisandra chinensis cv. Sadova No. 1 - a valuable medicinal plant

In vitro cultures and raw materials (fruits and leaves) of the valuable medicinal plant species - Schisandra chinensis cultivar Sadova No. 1 (SchS) - were evaluated for the production of two groups of phenolic compounds, phenolic acids and flavonoids, and their antioxidant potential. A series of experiments was conducted, aimed at optimizing culture conditions for maximum growth and phenolic production in SchS microshoots. Different concentrations of plant growth regulators (6-benzyladenine - BA and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid - NAA, from 0 to 3 mg/l) in Murashige-Skoog (MS) medium were tested in several cultivation systems (agar, agitated, bioreactor) over various growth periods (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 days). Furthermore, an elicitation experiment was conducted in which the bioreactor-grown microshoots were exposed to yeast extract. HPLC-DAD analyses confirmed the presence of eight phenolic acids - chlorogenic, cryptochlorogenic, gallic, neochlorogenic, protocatechuic, salicylic, syringic and vanillic, and two flavonoids: kaempferol and quercitrin, in the in vitro biomasses. The highest total phenolic acid (357.93 mg/100 g DW) and flavonoid (105.07 mg/100 g DW) contents were obtained in agar culture extracts cultivated for 30 days on MS medium containing 2 mg/l BA and 0.5 mg/l NAA and for 50 days on MS medium containing 0.1 mg/l BA and 2 mg/l NAA, respectively. These amounts were 1.59- and 5.95-fold lower than in parent plant leaf extracts (569.66 mg/100 g DW), and 4.30- and 1.25-fold higher than in fruit extracts (83.17 mg/100 g DW), respectively. Microshoots grown in a Plantform bioreactor also proved to be a good source of phenolic compounds, however, the elicitor treatment had no noticeable effect on their accumulation. Antioxidant capacity assessed by the Folin-Ciocalteu, FRAP, DPPH and CUPRAC assays revealed significantly higher potential in extracts from in vitro biomass and leaves of the parent plant, as compared to the parent plant fruit extracts.

Determination of Schisandrin A and Schisandrin B in Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparation Huganpian Tablet by RP-HPLC

A reverse phase (RP)-HPLC method for separation and determination of Schisandrin A and Schisandrin B was presented, using a C18 Bondclone column, with methanol-water (v/v = 68 : 32) as mobile phase at a flow-rate of 1.00 mL·min^-1, and UV detection at 220 nm. The tested parameters included mobile phase composition and UV detection wavelength. Good linearities were observed within concentration ranges of Schisandrin A 0.008-4.8 mg·L^-1 (r = 0.9996), and Schisandrin B 0.005-3.1 mg·L^-1 (r = 0.9994), respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) (S/N = 3) were 0.005 mg·L^-1 Schisandrin A and 0.002 mg·L^-1 Schisandrin B, respectively. The method was applied to determine the 2 compounds in a traditional Chinese medicine preparation for treatment of hepatic diseases, Huganpian tablet. To eliminate matrix effect, Oasis hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) solid-phase extraction (SPE) was used to purify the ultra-sonicately extracted solution of the drug sample. Combined with the HLB SPE purification procedure, the HPLC method gave satisfactory results for quantitation of Schisandrin A and Schisandrin B in 3 types of Huganpian tablet samples, with spiking recoveries ca. 98% (relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) ≤ 3.5%) (n = 5).

Zao Ren An Shen capsule for chronic insomnia: Study protocol for a randomized, placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Zao Ren An Shen (ZRAS), a Chinese Herbal Medicine product, has been proposed as an alternative to recommended treatments for chronic insomnia. There is a lack of strong evidence supporting this proposition.

AIMS

To assess the efficacy and safety of ZRAS capsule for chronic insomnia compared to placebo.

METHODS

A parallel-group, double-blind, randomized-controlled trial will be performed in Western Sydney University, Australia. After a 1-week placebo run-in, adults with chronic insomnia (n = 90) will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either ZRAS capsule or placebo for 4 weeks. Insomnia severity (Insomnia Severity Scale score), sleep parameters (measured with the Consensus Sleep Diary and actigraphy), fatigue levels (Fatigue Severity Scale score), psychological status (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale score), quality of life (Assessment of Quality of Life score), and adverse events will be assessed at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment and at a 1-month follow-up.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

We hypothesize that ZRAS capsule will improve insomnia severity, sleep parameters, fatigue levels, psychological status, and quality of life better than placebo at mid-treatment, post-treatment, and follow-up. We also hypothesize that the number of adverse events provoked by ZRAS capsule will be similar to placebo at these time-points.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australia New-Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (Registration number ACTRN12619000140156).

Systematically Characterize the Anti-Alzheimer's Disease Mechanism of Lignans from S. chinensis based on In-Vivo Ingredient Analysis and Target-Network Pharmacology Strategy by UHPLC⁻Q-TOF-MS

Lignans from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill can ameliorate cognitive impairment in animals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the metabolism of absorbed ingredients and the potential targets of the lignans from S. chinensis in animals with AD have not been systematically investigated. Therefore, for the first time, we performed an in-vivo ingredient analysis and implemented a target-network pharmacology strategy to assess the effects of lignans from S. chinensis in rats with AD. Ten absorbed prototype constituents and 39 metabolites were identified or tentatively characterized in the plasma of dosed rats with AD using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Based on the results of analysis of the effective constituents in vivo, the potential therapeutic mechanism of the effective constituents in the rats with AD was investigated using a target-network pharmacology approach and independent experimental validation. The results showed that the treatment effects of lignans from S. chinensis on cognitive impairment might involve the regulation of amyloid precursor protein metabolism, neurofibrillary tangles, neurotransmitter metabolism, inflammatory response, and antioxidant system. Overall, we identified the effective components of lignans in S. chinensis that can improve the cognitive impairment induced by AD and proposed potential therapeutic metabolic pathways. The results might serve as the basis for a fundamental strategy to explore effective therapeutic drugs to treat AD.

Assessment of Human Skin Gene Expression by Different Blends of Plant Extracts with Implications to Periorbital Skin Aging

Since the skin is the major protective barrier of the body, it is affected by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Environmental influences such as ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, pollution or dry/cold air are involved in the generation of radical oxygen species (ROS) and impact skin aging and dermal health. Assessment of human skin gene expression and other biomarkers including epigenetic factors are used to evaluate the biological/molecular activities of key compounds in cosmetic formulas. The objective of this study was to quantify human gene expression when epidermal full-thickness skin equivalents were exposed to: (a) a mixture of betaine, pentylene glycol, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Rhodiola rosea root extract (BlendE) for antioxidant, skin barrier function and oxidative stress (with hydrogen peroxide challenge); and (b) a mixture of Narcissus tazetta bulb extract and Schisandra chinensis fruit extract (BlendIP) for various biomarkers and microRNA analysis. For BlendE, several antioxidants, protective oxidative stress biomarkers and many skin barrier function parameters were significantly increased. When BlendE was evaluated, the negative impact of the hydrogen peroxide was significantly reduced for the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP 3 and MMP 12), the skin aging and oxidative stress biomarkers, namely FBN2, ANXA1 and HGF. When BlendIP was tested for cell proliferation and dermal structural components to enhance the integrity of the skin around the eyes: 8 growth factors, 7 signaling, 7 structural/barrier function and 7 oxidative stress biomarkers were significantly increased. Finally, when BlendIP was tested via real-time RT-PCR for microRNA expression: miR-146a, miR-22, miR155, miR16 and miR21 were all significantly increased over control levels. Therefore, human skin gene expression studies are important tools to assess active ingredient compounds such as plant extract blends to advance dermal hypotheses toward validating cosmetic formulations with botanical molecules.

Schizandrin A enhances chemosensitivity of colon carcinoma cells to 5-fluorouracil through up-regulation of miR-195

Nowadays 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based adjuvant chemotherapy is widely used for treating colon carcinoma. However, 5-FU resistance in the treatment of colon carcinoma has become more common and thereby new therapeutic strategies and new adjuvant drugs still need to be explored. Two 5-FU-resistant colon cancer cell lines, HCT116 and SW480, were used to investigate the effects of Schizandrin A (SchA), 5-FU, or their combination on cell viability and apoptosis. Besides, the role of miR-195 was studied to further clarify the specific function of SchA. CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry analysis were conducted to determine cell viability and apoptosis, respectively. miR-195 expression was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Cell apoptosis-related proteins and factors of PI3K/AKT and NF-κB pathways were analyzed by Western blot. Cell viability assay showed that SchA treatment at non-toxic dosages caused a marked enhancement of 5-FU-induced cytotoxicity. Moreover, we explored that miR-195 was up-regulated by SchA; and overexpression of miR-195 reduced cell viability and sensitized 5-FU-resistant HCT116 and SW480 cells to 5-FU. The promoting effect of SchA on 5-FU susceptibility can be partly abolished by miR-195 knockdown. Thus it was speculated that SchA might enhance cell chemosensitivity to 5-FU by up-regulating miR-195. Finally, we found that PI3K/AKT and NF-κB pathways were inhibited by high expression of miR-195 reduced by SchA. Our results suggested that SchA sensitized 5-FU-resistant colon carcinoma cells to 5-FU by up-regulating miR-195. SchA combined with 5-FU could be a promising strategy for the adjuvant chemotherapy of colon cancer.

Simultaneous UPLC-MS/MS determination of four components of Socheongryong-tang tablet in human plasma: Application to pharmacokinetic study

The purpose of this study was to develop a method for simultaneous analysis of schizandrin, ephedrine, paeoniflorin, and cinnamic acid as constituents of Socheongryong-tang tablet in human plasma using UPLC-MS/MS. These four components were separated using water containing 0.01% formic acid and methanol as a mobile phase by gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min with a HALO-C₁₈ column (2.1 mm × 100 mm, 2.7 μm particle size). Quantitation was performed on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer employing electrospray ionization technique operated in multiple reaction monitoring mode. Mass transitions were m/z 432.9 → 384.1 for schizandrin, 165.8 → 148.1 for ephedrine, 525.0 → 449.2 for paeoniflorin, 146.8 → 102.9 for cinnamic acid, and 340.0 → 324.0 for papaverine as internal standard. Liquid-liquid extraction and protein precipitation with ethyl acetate-methanol (1:2, v/v) were used to obtain these four components. Chromatograms showed high resolution, sensitivity, and selectivity without interference by plasma constituents. Calibration curves of schizandrin, ephedrine, paeoniflorin, and cinnamic acid in human plasma ranged from 0.02 to 8 ng/mL, 0.5 to 200 ng/mL, 0.2 to 80 ng/mL, and 1 to 400 ng/mL, respectively. Calibration curves of each analyte displayed excellent linearity, with correlation coefficients > 0.99. For all four components, both intra- and inter-day precisions (CV%) were <5.99%. The accuracy was 99.35-103.30% for schizandrin, 98.48-104.38% for ephedrine, 97.06-103.34% for paeoniflorin, and 99.97-104.36% for cinnamic acid. This analytical method developed in this study satisfied the criteria of international guidance. It could be successfully applied to pharmacokinetic studies of schizandrin, ephedrine, paeoniflorin, and cinnamic acid after oral administration of Socheongryong-tang tablet to humans.

Isolation, Structural Elucidation of Three New Triterpenoids from the Stems and Leaves of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz) Baill

Schisandra chinensis (Turcz) Baill. is sufficiently well known as a medicinal plant worldwide, which modern research shows has many pharmacological activities such as hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory effect, potent anti-HIV-1 activity, anti-tumor effect, and activity on the central nervous system. With considerable chemical investigation, three new triterpenoids (1–3), together with four known triterpenoids were isolated from the S. chinensis (Turcz) Baill. Their structures were elucidated by 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic analyses, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and high-resolution mass spectroscopy, which were identified as Schisanlactone I (1), Schinalactone D, (2), Schisanlactone J, (3) Kadsuphilactone B (4), Schisanlactone C (5), Schisphendilactone B (6), and Schinchinenlactone A (7). The cytotoxicity of those compounds (1–7) was tested against Hep-G2 cell lines, but no apparent antitumor activity was observed at 50 µg/mL using MTT method.

Cognitive enhancement of volatile oil from the stems of Schisandra chinensis Baill. in Alzheimer’s disease rats

The volatile oil (VO), extracted from the stems of Schisandra chinensis Baill. (SCS), was separated and identified by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry. The study was devised to investigate the effects of VO on oxidative stress and cognitive deficits induced by amyloid-β (Aβ(1-42)). Alzheimer’s disease (AD) models were established by injecting Aβ(1-42) into the rat hippocampus and the effects of learning and memory were observed by a Morris water maze test, immunohistological alterations, and correlative indicators covering nerve growth (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial-cell-derived trophic factor, and nerve growth factor), interleukin 1β, tumor necrosis factor, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and microglial CD11b in AD rats. And activities of SOD, MDA, and GSH-Px were ameliorated by VO. The neurotrophic factors GFAP and microglial CD11b were noticeably improved in histopathologic changes. These data suggested that VO from SCS had potential activities for the prevention and treatment of AD.

Escalation of liver malfunctioning: A step toward Herbal Awareness

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

About 2-5% of the world's population is suffering from liver toxicity including Pakistan with the second highest rate of hepatitis prevalence. Liver is a vital body organ which not only performs metabolic activities but also aids in detoxification, storage and digestion of food. Now a day's malnutrition, alcohol consumption and drug addiction are major causes of liver diseases throughout the world. In fact, there is no possible outcome to compensate liver malfunction for long term, and transplantation of liver is the only option left after the irretrievable injury of hepatic function. Subsequently, natural based therapeutic approaches are in the process of scrupulous testing as strong hepatoprotective mediator. In this regard plants are well thought hepatoprotective agents having multiple active components. In this review, based on species' pharmacology and safety we have compiled some plants which show strong hepatoprotective activity, main phytoconstituents with biological activities and few commercially used herbal formulations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ethnopharmacological information was gathered by an extensive literature survey like WHO monographs on selected herbal medicinal plants (Vol 1-Vol 4); Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy, Mills S and Bone K, Churchill Livingstone, London, UK; Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals, Wichtl M Medpharm Press, Stuttgart 3rd edn; Pharmacology and Applications of Chinese Materia Medica Vols 1 and 2, Chang H-M and But P P-H World Scientific, Singapore; British Herbal Compendium Vol. 2, Bradley P British Herbal Medicine Association, Bournemouth, UK; ESCOP Monographs 2nd edn. Thieme, Stuttgart, Germany; as well as by using electronic databases such as Pubchem, Chemspider, http://www.herbal-ahp.org; http://www.ahpa.org; http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2003/9241546271.pdf; http://www.escop.com, Pubmed, HubMed and Scopus.

RESULTS

Data for more about 29 plants have been accomplished for their bioactive constituent(s), biological activities and medicinal uses. Some of the plants have been identified as strong hepato-modulator. Such knowledge about traditional medicinal plants can be globally applied for safe and evidence based use in pharmacological applications.

CONCLUSION

With the rise in liver risks a meek struggle has been made to draw attention toward herbal therapy. Hepatoprotective constituents of said plants are expressed with chemical structures. However, for certain plants active constituents are not still isolated/purified but overall plant extract was found effective in providing protection against hepatic injury. As a future perspective, there is need to purify plant active constituents for ethnomedical rationale.

Phytochemical and biotechnological studies on Schisandra chinensis cultivar Sadova No. 1-a high utility medicinal plant

In the presented work, raw materials (fruits and leaves) and in vitro biomass of a highly productive Schisandra chinensis Sadova No. 1 cultivar (SchS) were evaluated for the production of therapeutically useful schisandra lignans (SL). In vitro cultures of SchS were initiated, followed by extensive optimization studies focused on maximizing secondary metabolite production, with the aim of establishing a sustainable source of SL. Different cultivation systems (agar, agitated, bioreactor), experiment times (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 days) and plant growth regulators (6-benzyladenine—BA and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid—NAA, from 0 to 3 mg/l) in Murashige-Skoog (MS) medium were tested. Moreover, an elicitation procedure was applied to bioreactor-grown microshoots in order to increase SL production. Validated HPLC-DAD protocol enabled to detect fourteen SL in the extracts from in vitro and in vivo materials. The main compounds in the in vitro cultures were as follows: schisandrin (max. 176.3 mg/100 g DW), angeloylgomisin Q (max. 85.1 mg/100 g DW), gomisin A (max. 71.4 mg/100 g DW) and angeloylgomisin H (max. 67.0 mg/100 g DW). The highest total SL content (490.3 mg/100 g DW) was obtained in extracts from the biomass of agar cultures cultivated for 30 days on the MS medium variant containing 3 mg/l BA and 1 mg/l NAA. This amount was 1.32 times lower than in fruit extracts (646.0 mg/100 g DW) and 2.04 times higher than in leaf extracts (240.7 mg/100 g DW). The study demonstrated that SchS is a rich source of SL, thus proving its value for medical, cosmetic and food industry.