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Jiang C, Chen Z, Liao W, Zhang R, Chen G, Ma L, Yu H. The Medicinal Species of the Lycium Genus (Goji Berries) in East Asia: A Review of Its Effect on Cell Signal Transduction Pathways. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1531. [PMID: 38891336 PMCID: PMC11174690 DOI: 10.3390/plants13111531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Natural plants contain numerous chemical compounds that are beneficial to human health. The berries from the Lycium genus are widely consumed and are highly nutritious. Moreover, their chemical constituents have attracted attention for their health-promoting properties. In East Asia, there are three varieties of the Lycium genus (Lycium barbarum L., Lycium chinense Miller, and L. ruthenicum Murray) that possess medicinal value and are commonly used for treating chronic diseases and improving metabolic disorders. These varieties are locally referred to as "red Goji berries" or "black Goji berries" due to their distinct colors, and they differ in their chemical compositions, primarily in terms of carotenoid and anthocyanin content. The pharmacological functions of these berries include anti-aging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-exercise fatigue effects. This review aims to analyze previous and recent studies on the active ingredients and pharmacological activities of these Lycium varieties, elucidating their signaling pathways and assessing their impact on the gut microbiota. Furthermore, the potential prospects for using these active ingredients in the treatment of COVID-19 are evaluated. This review explores the potential targets of these Lycium varieties in the treatment of relevant diseases, highlighting their potential value in drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Lijuan Ma
- Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau 999078, China; (C.J.); (Z.C.); (W.L.); (R.Z.); (G.C.)
| | - Haijie Yu
- Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau 999078, China; (C.J.); (Z.C.); (W.L.); (R.Z.); (G.C.)
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Liu L, Zhu F, Xin Y, Zhang L, Hu C, Xu Y, Zhang J, Liu L, Chen G. Real-world effects of Yishen Tongbi decoction for rheumatoid arthritis: protocol for a prospective, observational, multicenter cohort study with validation against double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1320578. [PMID: 38410132 PMCID: PMC10895057 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1320578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a globally challenging and refractory autoimmune disease, constituting a serious menace to human health. RA is characterized by recurrent pain and is difficult to resolve, necessitating prolonged medication for control. Yishen Tongbi decoction is a traditional Chinese herbal compound prescribed for treating RA. We have completed a 3-year RCT study that confirmed the clinical efficacy of Yishen Tongbi decoction for RA. Notably, we observed a faster clinical remission rate compared to MTX by week 4 of treatment. In our forthcoming study, we intend to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the efficacy and safety of Yishen Tongbi decoction in the real-world treatment of RA through a prospective study. Methods and analysis: This prospective, multicenter, real-world observational study will be conducted at two designated centers in China from October 2023 to August 2025. The study will include 324 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. One group will receive Yishen Tongbi decoction combined with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs). The other group will receive standard treatment. Standard treatment can be further divided into subgroups: csDMARDs, targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (tsDMARDs), and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). In each group, the number of tender joints, number of swollen joints, pain score, patient global assessment, physician global assessment, disease activity index (DAS28-ESR or DAS28-CRP), clinical disease activity index (cDAI), simplified disease activity index (sDAI) and relevant laboratory data will be compared. Clinical indicators and disease activity of the patients will be assessed at baseline, week 4 and week 12 after the initiation of treatment. The primary outcome will be the American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria (ACR20) attainment rate among patients at week 12 after treatment. Every adverse event will be reported. Ethics and dissemination: This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the first affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of traditional Chinese Medicine (NO.K-2023-009). The results of the study will be published in national and international peer-reviewed journals and at scientific conferences. The researchers will inform participants and other RA patients of the results through health education. Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn/index.html, identifier ChiCTR2300076073.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijuan Liu
- Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fangfang Zhu
- Department of Gynecology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yijun Xin
- First Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Shantou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shantou, China
| | - Congqi Hu
- Baiyun Hospital of The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanping Xu
- Baiyun Hospital of The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinming Zhang
- First Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lingjie Liu
- First Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guangxing Chen
- Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Baiyun Hospital of The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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Ciceoi R, Asanica A, Luchian V, Iordachescu M. Genomic Analysis of Romanian Lycium Genotypes: Exploring BODYGUARD Genes for Stress Resistance Breeding. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2130. [PMID: 38396806 PMCID: PMC10889844 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Goji berries, long valued in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Asian cuisine for their wide range of medicinal benefits, are now considered a 'superfruit' and functional food worldwide. Because of growing demand, Europe and North America are increasing their goji berry production, using goji berry varieties that are not originally from these regions. European breeding programs are focusing on producing Lycium varieties adapted to local conditions and market demands. By 2023, seven varieties of goji berries were successfully registered in Romania, developed using germplasm that originated from sources outside the country. A broader project focused on goji berry breeding was initiated in 2014 at USAMV Bucharest. In the present research, five cultivated and three wild L. barbarum genotypes were compared to analyse genetic variation at the whole genome level. In addition, a case study presents the differences in the genomic coding sequences of BODYGUARD (BDG) 3 and 4 genes from chromosomes 4, 8, and 9, which are involved in cuticle-related resistance. All three BDG genes show distinctive differences between the cultivated and wild-type genotypes at the SNP level. In the BDG 4 gene located on chromosome 8, 69% of SNPs differentiate the wild from the cultivated genotypes, while in BDG 3 on chromosome 4, 64% of SNPs could tell the difference between the wild and cultivated goji berry. The research also uncovered significant SNP and InDel differences between cultivated and wild genotypes, in the entire genome, providing crucial insights for goji berry breeders to support the development of goji berry cultivation in Romania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxana Ciceoi
- Research Center for Studies of Food Quality and Agricultural Products, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59, Mărăști Bd., 011464 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Adrian Asanica
- Faculty of Horticulture, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59, Mărăști Bd., 011464 Bucharest, Romania; (A.A.); (V.L.)
| | - Vasilica Luchian
- Faculty of Horticulture, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59, Mărăști Bd., 011464 Bucharest, Romania; (A.A.); (V.L.)
| | - Mihaela Iordachescu
- Research Center for Studies of Food Quality and Agricultural Products, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59, Mărăști Bd., 011464 Bucharest, Romania;
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Boo YC. Insights into How Plant-Derived Extracts and Compounds Can Help in the Prevention and Treatment of Keloid Disease: Established and Emerging Therapeutic Targets. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1235. [PMID: 38279232 PMCID: PMC10816582 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Keloid is a disease in which fibroblasts abnormally proliferate and synthesize excessive amounts of extracellular matrix, including collagen and fibronectin, during the healing process of skin wounds, causing larger scars that exceed the boundaries of the original wound. Currently, surgical excision, cryotherapy, radiation, laser treatment, photodynamic therapy, pressure therapy, silicone gel sheeting, and pharmacotherapy are used alone or in combinations to treat this disease, but the outcomes are usually unsatisfactory. The purpose of this review is to examine whether natural products can help treat keloid disease. I introduce well-established therapeutic targets for this disease and various other emerging therapeutic targets that have been proposed based on the phenotypic difference between keloid-derived fibroblasts (KFs) and normal epidermal fibroblasts (NFs). We then present recent studies on the biological effects of various plant-derived extracts and compounds on KFs and NFs. Associated ex vivo, in vivo, and clinical studies are also presented. Finally, we discuss the mechanisms of action of the plant-derived extracts and compounds, the pros and cons, and the future tasks for natural product-based therapy for keloid disease, as compared with existing other therapies. Extracts of Astragalus membranaceus, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Aneilema keisak, Galla Chinensis, Lycium chinense, Physalis angulate, Allium sepa, and Camellia sinensis appear to modulate cell proliferation, migration, and/or extracellular matrix (ECM) production in KFs, supporting their therapeutic potential. Various phenolic compounds, terpenoids, alkaloids, and other plant-derived compounds could modulate different cell signaling pathways associated with the pathogenesis of keloids. For now, many studies are limited to in vitro experiments; additional research and development are needed to proceed to clinical trials. Many emerging therapeutic targets could accelerate the discovery of plant-derived substances for the prevention and treatment of keloid disease. I hope that this review will bridge past, present, and future research on this subject and provide insight into new therapeutic targets and pharmaceuticals, aiming for effective keloid treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Chool Boo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea;
- BK21 Plus KNU Biomedical Convergence Program, Department of Biomedical Science, The Graduate School, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea
- Cell and Matrix Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea
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Chen H, Zhang WJ, Kong JB, Liu Y, Zhi YL, Cao YG, Du K, Xue GM, Li M, Zhao ZZ, Sun YJ, Feng WS, Xie ZS. Structurally Diverse Phenolic Amides from the Fruits of Lycium barbarum with Potent α-Glucosidase, Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitory, and PPAR-γ Agonistic Activities. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:11080-11093. [PMID: 37462007 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c01669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
A total of nine new phenolic amides (1-9), including four pairs of enantiomeric mixtures (3-5 and 8), along with ten known analogues (10-19) were identified from the fruits of Lycium barbarum using bioassay-guided chromatographic fractionation. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic and spectrometric analyses, chiral HPLC analyses, and quantum NMR, and electronic circular dichroism calculations. Compounds 5-7 are the first example of feruloyl tyramine dimers fused through a cyclobutane ring. The activity results indicated that compounds 1, 11, and 13-17 exhibited remarkable inhibition against α-glucosidase with IC50 of 1.11-33.53 μM, 5-150 times stronger than acarbose (IC50 = 169.78 μM). Meanwhile, compounds 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 13, and 14 exerted moderate agonistic activities for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR-γ), with EC50 values of 10.09-44.26 μM. Especially,compound 14 also presented inhibitory activity on dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPPIV), with an IC50 value of 47.13 μM. Furthermore, the banding manner of compounds 14 and 17 with the active site of α-glucosidase, DPPIV, and PPAR-γ was explored by employing molecular docking analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
- Co-Construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan & Education Ministry of P. R. China, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
| | - Wen-Jing Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
| | - Jiang-Bo Kong
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
| | - Yun Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
| | - Yan-Le Zhi
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
| | - Yan-Gang Cao
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
| | - Kun Du
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
| | - Gui-Min Xue
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
| | - Meng Li
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
| | - Zhen-Zhu Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
| | - Yan-Jun Sun
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
- Co-Construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan & Education Ministry of P. R. China, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
| | - Wei-Sheng Feng
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
- Co-Construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan & Education Ministry of P. R. China, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
| | - Zhi-Shen Xie
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
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