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Ahmadi F. Phytochemistry, Mechanisms, and Preclinical Studies of Echinacea Extracts in Modulating Immune Responses to Bacterial and Viral Infections: A Comprehensive Review. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:947. [PMID: 39452214 PMCID: PMC11504277 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13100947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2024] [Revised: 10/05/2024] [Accepted: 10/05/2024] [Indexed: 10/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Echinacea species, particularly Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, and Echinacea pallida, are renowned for their immunomodulatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. OBJECTIVES This review explores the mechanisms by which echinacea herbal extracts modulate immune responses, focusing on their effects on both innate and adaptive immunity in bacterial and viral infections. RESULTS Key bioactive compounds, such as alkamides, caffeic acid derivatives, flavonoids, and polysaccharides, contribute to these effects. These compounds enhance immune cell activity, including macrophages and natural killer cells, stimulating cytokine production and phagocytosis. The antibacterial activity of echinacea against respiratory pathogens (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Legionella pneumophila) and skin pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Propionibacterium acnes) is reviewed, as well as its antiviral efficacy against viruses like herpes simplex, influenza, and rhinovirus. Echinacea's potential as a complementary treatment alongside conventional antibiotics and antivirals is discussed, particularly in the context of antibiotic resistance and emerging viral threats. CONCLUSIONS Challenges associated with variability in phytochemical content and the need for standardized extraction processes are also addressed. This review provides a comprehensive overview of echinacea's therapeutic potential and outlines future directions for research, including clinical trials and dosage optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Ahmadi
- UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, Australia;
- Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7001, Australia
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Al-Jamal H, Idriss S, Roufayel R, Abi Khattar Z, Fajloun Z, Sabatier JM. Treating COVID-19 with Medicinal Plants: Is It Even Conceivable? A Comprehensive Review. Viruses 2024; 16:320. [PMID: 38543686 PMCID: PMC10974729 DOI: 10.3390/v16030320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
In 2020, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) challenged the world with a global outbreak that led to millions of deaths worldwide. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the symptomatic manifestation of this virus, which can range from flu-like symptoms to utter clinical complications and even death. Since there was no clear medicine that could tackle this infection or lower its complications with minimal adverse effects on the patients' health, the world health organization (WHO) developed awareness programs to lower the infection rate and limit the fast spread of this virus. Although vaccines have been developed as preventative tools, people still prefer going back to traditional herbal medicine, which provides remarkable health benefits that can either prevent the viral infection or limit the progression of severe symptoms through different mechanistic pathways with relatively insignificant side effects. This comprehensive review provides scientific evidence elucidating the effect of 10 different plants against SARS-CoV-2, paving the way for further studies to reconsider plant-based extracts, rich in bioactive compounds, into more advanced clinical assessments in order to identify their impact on patients suffering from COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadi Al-Jamal
- Faculty of Public Health 3, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1100, Lebanon;
| | - Sara Idriss
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology (LBA3B), Azm Center for Research in Biotechnology and Its Applications, EDST, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon;
| | - Rabih Roufayel
- College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila 54200, Kuwait;
| | - Ziad Abi Khattar
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Kalhat, Tripoli P.O. Box 100, Lebanon;
| | - Ziad Fajloun
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology (LBA3B), Azm Center for Research in Biotechnology and Its Applications, EDST, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon;
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences 3, Campus Michel Slayman Ras Maska, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1352, Lebanon
| | - Jean-Marc Sabatier
- INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, 13385 Marseille, France
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Wang X, Chen J, Chan Y, Li S, Li M, Lin F, Mehmood K, Idrees A, Lin R, Su Y, Wang C, Shi D. Effect of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench and its extracts on the immunization outcome of avian influenza vaccine in broilers. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 319:117306. [PMID: 37839770 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench (EP) is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant with immunomodulatory effects. However, the immunomodulatory effects of EP on broilers after vaccination are still unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim is to study the effect of EP and Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench extracts(EE) on avian influenza virus (AIV) immunity, and further explore the potential mechanism of immune regulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Broilers were fed with feed additives containing 2% EP or 0.5% EE, and vaccinated against avian influenza. The samples were collected on the 7th, 21st, and 35th day after vaccination, and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated. Blood antibody titer, jejunal sIgA content, tight junction protein, gene and protein expression of TLR4-MAPK signaling pathway were also detected. RESULTS The results showed that vaccination could cause immune stress, weight loss, increase sIgA content, and up-regulate the expression of tight junction proteins, including zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), Occludin, and Claudin-1, as well as the genes of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), activator protein 1 (AP-1) protein gene expression on TLR4-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, and the protein expression of MyD88, extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). EP and EE could increase the body weight of broilers, further improve antibody titers, decrease FCR, increase sIgA levels, up-regulate the expression of tight junction proteins, including ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1, as well as the genes of TLR4, MyD88, TRAF6, and AP-1 and the protein expression of MyD88, ERK, and JNK in the TLR4-MAPK signaling pathway. CONCLUSION In conclusion, EP and EE can increase the broiler's production performance and improve vaccine immune effect through the TLR4-MAPK signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Jiaxin Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Nanomedicine Center, The GBA National Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation, 136 Kaiyuan Avenue, Guangzhou, 510700, China.
| | - Yanzi Chan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Sihan Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Menglin Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Fei Lin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Khalid Mehmood
- Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan.
| | - Asif Idrees
- KBCMA, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Narowal, Pakistan.
| | - Renzhao Lin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Yalin Su
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Chunkai Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Dayou Shi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
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Xu R, Kuang M, Li N. Phytochemistry and pharmacology of plants in the genus Chaenomeles. Arch Pharm Res 2023; 46:825-854. [PMID: 38062238 DOI: 10.1007/s12272-023-01475-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Chaenomeles plants belong to the Rosaceae family and include five species, Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai, Chaenomeles sinensis (Thouin) Koehne, Chaenomeles japonica (Thunb.) Lindl, Chaenomeles cathayensis (Hemsl.) Schneid and Chaenomeles thibetica Yu. Chaenomeles plants are found and cultivated in nearly every country worldwide. China serves as both the origin and distribution hub for the plants in the Chaenomeles genus, and all Chaenomeles species except for C. japonica are indigenous to China. Chaenomeles spp. is a type of edible medicinal plant that has been traditionally used in China to treat various ailments, such as rheumatism, cholera, dysentery, enteritis, beriberi, and scurvy. A variety of chemical constituents have been extracted from this genus, including terpenoids, phenolics, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids and their derivatives, benzoic acid derivatives, biphenyls, oxylipins, and alkaloids. The biological activity of some of these constituents has already been evaluated. Pharmacological investigations have demonstrated that the plants in the genus Chaenomeles exhibit anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, gastrointestinal protective, antitumor, immunomodulatory, antibacterial, antiviral, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and other pharmacological activities. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date summary of the available information on the genus Chaenomeles to serve as a valuable reference for further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoling Xu
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Bioactivity of Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Mengting Kuang
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Bioactivity of Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Ning Li
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Bioactivity of Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
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Ali Khan M, El-Kersh DM, Islam MS, Ara Khan S, Kamli H, Sarkar C, Bhuia MS, Islam T, Chandra Shill M, Gobe GC, Sönmez Gürer E, Setzer WN, Sharifi-Rad J, Torequl Islam M. Mikania micrantha Kunth: An Ethnopharmacological Treasure Trove of Therapeutic Potential. Chem Biodivers 2023; 20:e202300392. [PMID: 37715705 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202300392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Mikania micrantha is utilized as a therapeutic for the treatment of various human ailments including insect bites, rashes and itches of skin, chicken pox, healing of sores and wounds, colds and fever, nausea, jaundice, rheumatism, and respiratory ailments. This study aimed at summarizing the traditional uses, phytochemical profile, and biological activities of M. micrantha based on obtainable information screened from different databases. An up-to-date search was performed on M. micrantha in PubMed, Science Direct, clinicaltrials.gov, and Google Scholar databases with specific keywords. No language restrictions were imposed. Published articles, theses, seminar/conference papers, abstracts, and books on ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacological evidence were considered. Based on the inclusion criteria, this study includes 53 published records from the above-mentioned databases. The results suggest that fresh leaves and whole plant are frequently used in folk medicine. The plant contains more than 150 different phytochemicals under the following groups: essential oils, phenolics and flavonoids, terpenes, terpene lactones, glycosides, and sulfated flavonoids. It contains carbohydrates and micronutrients including vitamins and major and trace minerals. M. micrantha possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-dermatophytic, anti-protozoal, anthelmintic, cytotoxic, anxiolytic, anti-diabetic, lipid-lowering and antidiabetic, spasmolytic, memory-enhancing, wound-healing, anti-aging, and thrombolytic activities. No clinical studies have been reported to date. M. micrantha might be one of the potential sources of phytotherapeutic compounds against diverse ailments in humans. Studies are required to confirm its safety profile in experimental animals prior to initiating clinical trials. Moreover, adequate investigation is also crucial to clarify exact mechanism of action for each biological effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muahmmad Ali Khan
- Department of Pharmacy, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj, 8100, Bangladesh
| | - Dina M El-Kersh
- Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt (BUE), 11837, is missing, Egypt
| | - Md Shafiqul Islam
- Department of Pharmacy, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj, 8100, Bangladesh
| | - Shams Ara Khan
- Department of Pharmacy, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj, 8100, Bangladesh
| | - Hossam Kamli
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, 61421, Saudi Arabia
| | - Chandan Sarkar
- Department of Pharmacy, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj, 8100, Bangladesh
| | - Md Shimul Bhuia
- Department of Pharmacy, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj, 8100, Bangladesh
| | - Tawhida Islam
- Department of Pharmacy, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj, 8100, Bangladesh
| | - Manik Chandra Shill
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Glenda C Gobe
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia
| | - Eda Sönmez Gürer
- Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, Sivas, Turkey
| | - William N Setzer
- Aromatic Plant Research Center, 230 N 1200 E, Suite 102, Lehi, UT, 84043, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL, 35899, USA
| | | | - Muhammad Torequl Islam
- Department of Pharmacy, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj, 8100, Bangladesh
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A Cistus incanus Extract Blocks Psychological Stress Signaling and Reduces Neurogenic Inflammation and Signs of Aging in Skin, as Shown in In-Vitro Models and a Randomized Clinical Trial. COSMETICS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/cosmetics10010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychological stress exerts its effects mainly through the release of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), which activates inflammatory pathways in skin (inter alia), resulting in redness, extracellular matrix degradation, loss of skin elasticity and firmness, and the appearance of wrinkles—namely, accelerated skin aging. In order to propose a solution to this neurogenic aging phenomenon, we report here on studies using a myricitrin-rich extract of Cistus incanus, a Mediterranean shrub used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory and other diseases. These studies include a CRH receptor (CRH-R1) blocking assay; in vitro inflammatory cytokine reduction under CRH stimulation, and ex vivo NF-kB inhibition; and a double-blind clinical trial performed on highly stressed panelists, evaluating skin inflammation and wrinkling (active formulation vs. placebo control, applied split-face following a computer-generated randomization scheme; 36 subjects recruited and randomized, 30 analyzed; no adverse effects recorded; EMA/INFARMED registration #118505, internally funded). The results show that this extract can effectively block the CRH-R1 receptor, preventing NF-κB activation and the production of related pro-inflammatory cytokines. In a clinical setting, this same extract delivered significant anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects. Taken together, these results demonstrate the value of this extract as a cosmetic active to counter neurogenic inflammation and skin aging.
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Marat N, Danowska-Oziewicz M, Narwojsz A. Chaenomeles Species-Characteristics of Plant, Fruit and Processed Products: A Review. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:3036. [PMID: 36432767 PMCID: PMC9698592 DOI: 10.3390/plants11223036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This literature review deals with the characteristics of Chaenomeles species and the physicochemical properties of Chaenomeles fruits. These fruits belong to a group with a low content of monosaccharides and a favorable ratio of fructose to glucose. They exhibit a low pH value and sour taste; therefore, they are not eaten in a raw form. They have a high concentration of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, vitamin C, organic acids, dietary fiber and pectins. The physicochemical properties of processed Chaenomeles fruits, i.e., freeze-dried, juices, syrups, candied fruit, jam, powder and chips, are presented in the manuscript. Also mentioned are the seeds and their use in the production of oil and seed gum. Of the products described in the paper, seed oil deserves greater attention, as it is characterized by a high content of unsaturated fatty acids, mainly oleic and linoleic, and low susceptibility to oxidation.
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