Rhus coriaria L., a new candidate for controlling metabolic syndrome: a systematic review

The effect of sumac on cardiovascular risk factors in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Clinical evidence suggests the beneficial effects of sumac on cardiovascular risk factors. However, these results are controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to determine the effect of sumac supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in adults. The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were searched from inception to 30 December 2023 to identify RCTs that were published in English. Data were presented as weighted mean difference (WMD) and associated 95 % confidence interval (CI). The quality of the included trials was measured using the Cochrane Collaboration's modified risk of bias tool. A pooled analysis of 16 trials showed that sumac consumption led to a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose (WMD: -6.03 mg/dl; 95 % CI: -9.67 to -2.39), hemoglobin A1c (WMD: -0.45 %; 95 % CI: -0.59 to -0.31), triglycerides (WMD: -9.07 mg/dL; 95 % CI: -16.19 to -1.94), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD: -5.58 mg/dL; 95 % CI: -11.27 to -0.12), BMI (WMD: -0.22 kg/m2; 95 % CI: -0.38 to -0.05), weight (WMD: -0.85 kg; 95 % CI: -1.44 to -0.27), waist circumference (WMD: -0.54 cm; 95 % CI: -0.92 to -0.15), and diastolic blood pressure (WMD: -2.72 mmHg; 95 % CI: -4.16 to -1.29). High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level also increased significantly (WMD: 3.69 mg/dL; 95 % CI: 1.81-5.57). The overall results support possible protective and therapeutic effects of sumac on cardiovascular risk factors in adults. Additional prospective studies are suggested using longer intervention periods and higher supplementation doses to confirm these results.

Assessment of In Vitro Airway Smooth Muscle Relaxant Activity of Rhus coriaria L. Fruit Ethanolic Extract and Its Possible Mechanisms

Rhus coriaria L. (Anacardiaceae), also known as Sumac, is commonly used as a spice, flavoring agent, and as a traditional medicinal herb. This includes also the traditional use for treating asthma, catarrh, and common colds. The accumulating evidence supports its cardioprotective, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, anticancer, gastroprotective, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, and respiratory effects. However, there are no previous studies that have shown its effects and mechanism in the airway smooth muscle tone, and therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the in vitro pharmacological action of R. coriaria L. extract (RCE) on the rat isolated tracheal and bronchial preparations by exploring its relaxant activity and mechanism of action. The direct relaxant effect of RCE (0.1-0.7 mg/mL) was tested in the rat bronchi and trachea rings precontracted by carbachol (CCh). In addition, the pretreatment with RCE (1 mg/mL) was tested on the bronchial and tracheal reactivity induced by CCh, potassium chloride (KCl), or CaCl2. In addition, the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin and the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), respectively, were used for exploring the mechanisms of RCE-induced relaxation and reduction of reactivity. Our findings demonstrated that RCE induced a concentration-dependent relaxation and a significant reduction of reactivity, significantly reduced with either indomethacin or L-NAME. In addition, RCE decreased the responsiveness to KCl and affected the extracellular Ca2+-induced contraction in the tissues with added CCh or KCl in Ca2+-free Krebs-Henseleit solution. In summary, we have shown that RCE displayed relaxant activities in the in vitro airway smooth muscles, and the possible mechanisms seems to involve the prostaglandin, nitric oxide, and Ca2+ pathways. Taken together, our findings indicate the potential role of RCE in the treatment of respiratory diseases with limited airflow, or obstructive respiratory diseases, and could justify its traditional use in the respiratory diseases.

The Nutraceutical Properties of Rhus coriaria Linn: Potential Application on Human Health and Aging Biomedicine

Rhus coriaria Linn is a little plant growing in the Mediterranean basin, including Sicily, where it is known as Sicilian Sumac. Since antiquity, it has been used as a medicinal herb, considering its pharmacological properties and its recognized anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. Multiple studies have highlighted that the beneficial properties of Sumac extracts depend on the abundance of phytochemicals such as polyphenols, fatty acids, minerals, and fibers. Despite its wide use as a spice, the literature on Sumac effects on humans’ health and aging is still scarce. Considering its great nutraceutical potential, Sumac could be used to treat age-related diseases such as those in which the inflammatory process plays a crucial role in manifestation and progression. Thus, Sumac could be an interesting new insight in the biomedical field, especially in aging biomedicine.

The Nutraceutical Properties of Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) against Gastritis: Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Activities in Gastric Epithelial Cells Infected with H. pylori

Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) is a spice and medicinal herb traditionally used in the Mediterranean region and the Middle East. Since we previously demonstrated Sumac biological activity in a model of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-induced skin inflammation, the present work is aimed at further demonstrating a potential role in inflammatory disorders, focusing on gastritis. For this purpose, different polar extracts (water-W, ethanol-water-EW, ethanol-E, ethanol macerated-Em, acetone-Ac, ethylacetate-EtA) were investigated in gastric epithelial cells (GES-1) challenged by TNF-α or H. pylori infection. The ethanolic extracts (E, EW, Em) showed the major phenolic contents, correlating with lower half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) on the release of interleukin-8 (IL-8, <15 μg/mL) and interleukin-6 (IL-6, <20 μg/mL) induced by TNF-α. Similarly, they inhibited IL-8 release (IC50s < 70 μg/mL) during Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and exhibited a direct antibacterial activity at comparable concentrations (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 100 μg/mL). The phenolic content and the bioactivity of EW were maintained after simulated gastric digestion and were associated with nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) impairment, considered the main putative anti-inflammatory mechanism. On the contrary, an anti-urease activity was excluded. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the potential role of Sumac as a nutraceutical useful in H. pylori-related gastritis.