Liying Tang

Towards a better understanding of medicinal uses of Carthamus tinctorius L. in traditional Chinese medicine: a phytochemical and pharmacological review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCEnCarthamus tinctorius L. (Compositae), a widely used traditional Chinese medicine, was known as Hong hua (Chinese: ), safflower. Safflower with a wide spectrum of pharmacological effects has been used to treat dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain and mass, trauma and pain of joints, etc. The present paper reviews the advancements in investigation of botany and ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of safflower. Finally, the possible tendency and perspective for future investigation of this plant are discussed, too.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnThe information on safflower was collected via piles of resources including classic books about Chinese herbal medicine, and scientific databases including Pubmed, Google Scholar, ACS, Web of science, CNKI and others.nnnRESULTSnOver 104 compounds from this plant have been isolated and identified, and quinochalcones and flavonoids are considered as the characteristic and active constituents of safflower. Safflower with its active compounds possesses wide-reaching biological activities, including dilating coronary artery, improving myocardial ischemia, modulating immune system, anticoagulation and antithrombosis, antioxidation, antiaging, antihypoxia, antifatigue, antiinflammation, anti-hepatic fibrosis, antitumor, analgesia, etc.nnnCONCLUSIONSnAs an important traditional Chinese medicine, it is important to investigate the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of this plant based on modern realization of diseases pathophysiology. More bioactive components should be identified using bioactivity-guided isolation strategies, and the possible mechanism of action as well as potential synergistic or antagonistic effects of multi-component mixtures derived from safflower need to be evaluated integrating pharmacological, pharmacokinetic, bioavailability-centered and physiological approaches. Further studies on safflower can lead to the development of new drugs and therapeutics for various diseases, and how to utilize it better should be paid more attention to.

Traditional uses, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCEnPanax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine known as Sanqi or Tianqi in China. This plant, which is distributed primarily in the southwest of China, has wide-ranging pharmacological effects and can be used to treat cardiovascular diseases, pain, inflammation and trauma as well as internal and external bleeding due to injury.nnnAIMS OF THE REVIEWnThis paper provides up-to-date information on investigations of this plant, including its botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology. The possible uses and perspectives for future investigation of this plant are also discussed.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnThe relevant information on Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen was collected from numerous resources, including classic books about Chinese herbal medicine, and scientific databases, including Pubmed, SciFinder, ACS, Ebsco, Elsevier, Taylor, Wiley and CNKI.nnnRESULTSnMore than 200 chemical compounds have been isolated from Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen, including saponins, flavonoids and cyclopeptides. The plant has pharmacological effects on the cardiovascular system, immune system as well as anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic, haemostatic and anti-tumour activities, etc.nnnCONCLUSIONSnPanax notoginseng is a valuable traditional Chinese medical herb with multiple pharmacological effects. This review summarizes the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of P. notoginseng, and presents the constituents and their corresponding chemical structures found in P. notoginseng comprehensively for the first time. Future research into its phytochemistry of bio-active components should be performed by using bioactivity-guided isolation strategies. Further work on elucidation of the structure-function relationship among saponins, understanding of multi-target network pharmacology of P. notoginseng, as well as developing its new clinical usage and comprehensive utilize will enhance the therapeutic potentials of P. notoginseng.

A review on phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of the processed lateral root of Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCEnThe processed lateral root of Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux (Ranunculaceae), an extensively used traditional Chinese medicine, is known as Fuzi in China (Chinese: ), bushi in Japan, Kyeong-Po Buja in Korea, Chinese aconite, monkshood or Chinese wolfsbane. It has been used to treat shock resulting from acute myocardial infarction, low blood pressure, coronary heart disease, chronic heart failure, etc.nnnAIM OF THE REVIEWnThe present paper aims to provide an up-to-date review at the advancements of the investigations on the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacological effect and toxicity of Fuzi. Besides, the possible tendency and perspective for future research of this plant are discussed, as well.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnAll available information on Fuzi was collected via electronic search (using Elsevier, PubMed, ACS, CNKI, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, and Web of Science), books and classic works about Chinese herb.nnnRESULTSn122 chemical constituents, among which C19-diterpenoid alkaloids and C20-diterpenoid alkaloids are the predominant groups, have been isolated and identified from Fuzi. Fuzi with its active compounds is possessed of wide-reaching biological activities, including effects on cardiovascular system, anti-inflammation and analgesic action, anti-tumor activity, effect on the immune system, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects, anti-aging effect, effect of protecting kidney and effect on energy metabolism.nnnCONCLUSIONSnNearly all of compounds were found from the roots of the plant, so further phytochemical studies should focus more on the other parts of the plant, such as the leaves, flowers or stems. Besides, a majority of the pharmacological studies were carried out using crude and poorly characterized extracts. Thus, more bioactive components particularly cardiotonic and analgesic compounds should be identified through bioactivity-guided isolation strategies. Moreover, investigations on how to develop Fuzi׳s new clinical usage on the basis of its pharmacological effects are in requirement.

Chemometric analyses for the characterization of raw and processed seeds of Descurainia sophia (L.) based on HPLC fingerprints

The seeds of Descurainia sophia (L.) (short for DSS below), with a long history of medicinal utilization in China, have attracted the attention of many Chinese medicine practitioners for the potent efficacy. In the present study, the raw and processed DSS were differentiated by several chemometrics methods based on HPLC fingerprints. Moreover, peaks which were mainly responsible for the differentiation between raw and roasted DSS were found. Therefore, the method of the chromatographic fingerprints combined with multivariate statistical analysis was effective and reasonable in orientating chemical constituents which were mainly responsible for the differentiation between raw and roasted materials, thus shedding light on illustrating the processing mechanism. Whats more, this method can also be applied in the identification of authenticity.

Four new glycosides from the seeds of Cassia obtusifolia

Abstract Four new glycosides, including one anthraquinone glycoside ( 1 ), one naphthalene glycoside ( 2 ), and two naphthopyrone glycosides ( 3 – 4 ), with 10 known compounds ( 5 – 14 ) were isolated from the seeds of Cassia obtusifolia L. The new structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis and chemical transformations.

Five new anthraquinones from the seed of Cassia obtusifolia

A phytochemical investigation on the seeds of Cassia obtusifolia led to the isolation of five new anthraquinones, including one aglycon and four glycosides. The structures were elucidated by analysis of extensive spectroscopic data and the results of acid hydrolysis. All these isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory effects against α-glucosidase, and 1 showed potent activity with IC50 value of 185xa0±xa015xa0µM.

Steroidal glycosides from the underground parts of Dracaena thalioides and their cytotoxic activity

Six spirostanol glycosides (1-6) and 12 known compounds (7-18) were isolated from the underground parts of Dracaena thalioides (Agavaceae). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis, including 2D NMR spectroscopic data, and chemical transformations. The isolated compounds were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against HL-60 human leukemia cells. Compounds 1, 3-6, and 8-18 showed cytotoxicity against HL-60 cells, of which 10, a bisdesmosidic spirostanol derivative, showed potent cytotoxicity against HL-60 cells with an IC50 value of 0.38μM and induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells.

Discrimination of Semen cassiae from two related species based on the multivariate analysis of high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprints.

A simple and efficient high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprint method was developed to discriminate Semen cassiae from two related species: Cassia obtusifolia L. (CO) and Cassia tora L. (CT), the seeds of which are abbreviated as COS and CTS, respectively. 22 major bioactive ingredients in 42 samples (20 COS and 22 CTS) collected from different provinces of China were identified. The statistical methods included similarity analysis and partial least-squares discriminant analysis. The pattern analysis method was specific and could be readily used for the comprehensive evaluation of Semen cassiae samples. Therefore, high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprint in combination with pattern analysis provided a simple and reliable method for discriminating between COS and CTS.

Phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of Vaccaria hispanica (Miller) Rauschert: a review

Vaccaria hispanica is utilized medicinally both in China and Turkey. Phytochemical screenings demonstrated that the phytochemical diversity of V. hispanica at least includes 63 distinct metabolites, embracing triterpenoid saponins, cyclic peptides, flavonoids and others. The pharmacological studies confirmed that the crude extracts or purified compounds from the plant showed galactopoietic activity, antitumor activity, effect on the blood and vessel, antioxidant activity, ameliorative effect on osteopenia and others. The present paper is aimed to provide a critical analysis of data from scientific evaluations and aimed to find out the linkage of the medicinal uses to the scientific studies. Simultaneously, the possible future direction and perspective for investigations are discussed, as well.

Trichosanthis Fructus: botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCEnTrichosanthis Fructus (ripe fruits of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. and Trichosanthes rosthornii Harms) is an essential traditional Chinese medicine to treat thoracic obstruction, angina, cardiac failure, myocardial infarction, pulmonary heart disease, some cerebral ischaemic diseases, etc. The present report reviews the advancements in research on the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Trichosanthis Fructus. Finally, perspectives on future research and its possible directions are discussed.nnnAIM OF THE STUDYnThis review provides up-to-date information about the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity and quality control of Trichosanthis Fructus and discusses the perspectives on future research and possible directions of this traditional Chinese Medicine and its origin plants.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnThe information on Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. and Trichosanthes rosthornii Harms was collected from published scientific materials, including books; monographs on medicinal plants; pharmacopoeia and electronic databases such as SCI finder, PubMed, Web of Science, ACS, Science Direct, Wiley, Springer, Taylor, CNKI and Google Scholar.nnnRESULTSnApproximately 162 compounds, including terpenoids, phytosterols, flavonoids, nitrogenous compounds and lignans, have been isolated and identified from Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. and Trichosanthes rosthornii Harms. Numerous studies have shown that the extracts and compounds isolated from these two plants exhibit pharmacological activities, including protection against myocardial ischaemia, calcium antagonist, endothelial cell protection, anti-hypoxic, anti-platelet aggregation, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antioxidant.nnnCONCLUSIONSnTrichosanthis Fructus is an essential traditional Chinese medicine with pharmacological activities that mainly affect the cardiovascular system. This review summarises its botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology. Future research is needed to clarify the different uses of the seeds, pericarps and fruits. Quality control of investigations of the fruits should be improved, and the potential uses of the flesh, leaves and twigs should be further explored.