Verification of the Field Productivity of Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) DC. Developed Through Optimized In Vitro Culture Method

A Review of the Potential Benefits of Herbal Medicines, Small Molecules of Natural Sources, and Supplements for Health Promotion in Lupus Conditions

The Latin word lupus, meaning wolf, was in the medical literature prior to the 1200s to describe skin lesions that devour flesh, and the resources available to physicians to help people were limited. The present text reviews the ethnobotanical and pharmacological aspects of medicinal plants and purified molecules from natural sources with efficacy against lupus conditions. Among these molecules are artemisinin and its derivatives, antroquinonol, baicalin, curcumin, emodin, mangiferin, salvianolic acid A, triptolide, the total glycosides of paeony (TGP), and other supplements such as fatty acids and vitamins. In addition, medicinal plants, herbal remedies, mushrooms, and fungi that have been investigated for their effects on different lupus conditions through clinical trials, in vivo, in vitro, or in silico studies are reviewed. A special emphasis was placed on clinical trials, active phytochemicals, and their mechanisms of action. This review can be helpful for researchers in designing new goal-oriented studies. It can also help practitioners gain insight into recent updates on supplements that might help patients suffering from lupus conditions.

Evaluation of Marker Compounds and Biological Activity of In Vitro Regenerated and Commercial Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) DC. Roots Subjected to Steam Processing

Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) DC., belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae, has been known since immemorial times as a prominent oriental drug in East Asia that can treat various ailments, such as kidney disorders, anemia, and diabetes. In order to be applied for medical purposes, R. glutinosa is commonly processed using steam to increase its efficacy and biological activity. The increasing demand for R. glutinosa in the traditional medicine industry encouraged many researchers to develop a fast, efficient, and high-quality production system using biotechnological approaches. This study aimed to compare the chemical and biological activities of in vitro regenerated R. glutinosa (PKR) and commercial R. glutinosa (PCR) samples subjected to steam processing. We assessed the effects of steam processing and the differences in R. glutinosa material on 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (5-HMF) content, total flavonoid and phenolic content, antioxidant activity, nitric oxide (NO) levels, and anti-inflammatory activity. PKR samples showed a significantly higher content of 5-HMF (0.15%) as compared to PCR samples (0.05%). Compared to unprocessed R. glutinosa (UPR) and PCR samples, PKR again showed the highest total phenolic and flavonoid content of 41.578 mg GAE/g and 17.208 mg RUE/g, respectively. Meanwhile, both processed R. glutinosa samples (PKR and PCR) showed a significantly higher DPPH antioxidant activity ((67.095 + 1.005)% and (61.579 + 0.907)%, respectively) than unprocessed R. glutinosa ((31.452 + 1.371)%). In addition, both PKR and PCR samples showed good anti-inflammatory activity by showing similar effects such as the inhibition of NO production and the suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Based on these results, PKR fulfilled the Chinese pharmacopeia standards, in terms of the amount of the marker compounds and showed a high level of bioactivity. Therefore, these findings are expected to be useful in verifying the efficacy of herbal medicines and the availability of suitable materials for medicinal use.

Verification of the Field Productivity and Bioequivalence of a Medicinal Plant (Polygonum multiflorum) Developed Using an In Vitro Culture Method

Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. is a perennial plant that belongs to Polygonaceae. Root tissues are the main plant parts used as medicinal herbs in Korean oriental medicine. The P. multiflorum tuber is well known for its medicinal properties in Korean oriental medicine, and it contains a number of useful substances (secondary metabolites of emodin, 2,3,5,4′-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-d-glucoside (TSG), etc.) that are increasing in demand, as several studies show that they have beneficial effects on the human body. In this study, the production volumes and useful material content differences between cultured P. multiflorum seedlings (culture seedlings: CSs), which had been grown using a tissue culture technique under optimized conditions, and existing varieties in circulation (seed seedlings: SSs) were determined using a long-term field test. The growth characteristics of the underground parts were investigated by harvesting the tuberous roots (medicinal parts) after 1 year, and the results showed that the fresh and dry weights of the CS tubers were higher than those of the SS tubers. However, the SS rootlets had higher fresh and dry weights than the CS rootlets. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry component analysis of the P. multiflorum tubers and a Fourier transform near-infrared spectrophotometer analysis of the roots were undertaken. The results showed that the levels of TSG, which is a medicinal substance produced by P. multiflorum, were higher in the CSs than in the SSs, but the differences were not significant. The CS results from this study will inform future studies on the mass production of P. multiflorum in the field because the medicinal area was greater in CSs than in SSs.