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Valuable Sources of Bioactive Natural Products from Plants

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A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 October 2023) | Viewed by 32827

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Reneta Gevrenova

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Guest Editor

Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University-Sofia, 2 Dunav Str., Sofia, Bulgaria
Interests: pharmacognosy; phytochemistry; pharmaceutical botany; natural products; saponins; phenolic compounds; flavonoids; HPLC and LC-MS strategies in specialized natural product elucidation; metabolite profiling; antioxidants; synergism between natural products and drugs
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Dimitrina Zheleva-Dimitrova

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Guest Editor

Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University-Sofia, 2 Dunav Str., Sofia, Bulgaria
Interests: phytochemistry; pharmacognosy; pharmaceutical botany; natural products; phenolic compounds; sesquiterpene lactones; HPLC and LC-MS strategies in specialized natural product elucidation; acetylholinesterase inhibitors; enzyme inhibitory activity; antioxidants; obesity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Vessela Balabanova

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Guest Editor

Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University-Sofia, 2 Dunav Str, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Interests: medicinal plants; cultivation; plant conservation; plant metabolimics; antioxidant activity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Medicinal plants are a valuable source of new bioactive compounds and promising molecular entities for use in drug development. In the last decade, a variety of analytical methodologies have been used to emphasize plants’ potential as a source of compounds with functional and medicinal relevance. On the other hand, there is an increasingly high demand for safety medicinal products with increased functionality and improved characteristics, necessitating intensive research in the field of specialized (secondary) plant metabolites. Medicinal and aromatic plants are used worldwide in folk medicine; the phytochemical community has thus turned its focus to the medicinal value of traditional knowledge.

Plant-derived specialized metabolites are of particular interest as both the chemical and biological characterization of medicinal plants is greatly important. Presently, numerous research groups are focusing on the study and characterization of herbal extracts to identify a variety of plant metabolites and their potential to exert protective effects on biological systems. With the development of modern metabolite profiling methods and metabolomics, a holistic survey of natural extracts and valuable information on their chemical composition has become feasible.

This Special Issue of Plants will highlight the exploration of medicinal plants used in different regions of the world as valuable sources of bioactive compounds.

Dr. Reneta Gevrenova
Dr. Dimitrina Zheleva-Dimitrova
Dr. Vessela Balabanova
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

medicinal plants
bioactive compounds
secondary metabolites
phytochemistry
metabolite profiling
ethnobotany
phytopharmacology

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1174 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study of the Chemical Composition of Rosa beggeriana Schrenk’s Fruits and Leaves

by Aigerim Aituarova, Galiya E. Zhusupova, Aizhan Zhussupova and Samir A. Ross

Plants 2023, 12(18), 3297; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12183297 - 18 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1060

Abstract

Rosa species are widely used in folk medicine in different countries of Asia and Europe, but not all species are studied in-depth. For instance, Rosa beggeriana Schrenk, a plant which grows in Central Asia, Iran, and some parts of China, is little described in articles. Column and thin-layer chromatography methods were used to isolate biologically active substances. From a study of fruits and leaves of Rosa beggeriana Schrenk, a large number of compounds were identified, seven of which were isolated: 3β,23-dihydroxyurs-12-ene (1), β-sitosterol (2), betulin (3), (+)-catechin (4), lupeol (5), ethyl linoleate (6), and ethyl linolenoate (7). Their structures were elucidated by ¹H, DEPT and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and GC-MS (gas chromatography–mass spectrometry). The study also identified the structures of organic compounds, including volatile esters and acids. Consequently, comprehensive data were acquired concerning the chemical constitution of said botanical specimen. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Valuable Sources of Bioactive Natural Products from Plants)

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19 pages, 5800 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Flowers and Inflorescences of Selected Medicinal Plants as a Source of Triterpenoids and Phytosterols

by Pauline Edorh Tossa, Morgan Belorgey, Soyol Dashbaldan, Cezary Pączkowski and Anna Szakiel

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1838; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091838 - 29 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1424 | Correction

Abstract

Steroids and triterpenoids are compounds valued for their various biological and pharmacological properties; however, their content in medicinal and edible plants is often understudied. Flowers have been consumed since the ancient times as a part of traditional cuisine and as alternative medicines. Currently, the interest in medicinal and edible flowers is growing since contemporary consumers are incessantly seeking innovative natural sources of bioactive compounds. The aim of this report was the GC-MS (gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry) analysis of steroid and triterpenoid content in flowers, inflorescences and leaves of several plants (Berberis vulgaris L., Crataegus laevigata (Poir.) DC., Pulsatilla vulgaris Mill., Rosa rugosa Thunb., Sambucus nigra L. and Vinca minor L.), applied in herbal medicine in various forms, including isolated flowers (Flos), inflorescences (Inflorescentia) or aerial parts (Herba, i.e., combined flowers, leaves and stems). The most abundant source of triterpenoids was V. minor flowers (6.3 mg/g d.w.), whereas the steroids were prevailing in P. vulgaris flowers (1.8 and 1.1 mg/g). The profiles of triterpenoid acids and neutral triterpenoids in C. laevigata and S. nigra inflorescences were particularly diverse, involving compounds belonging to lupane-, oleanane- and ursane-type skeletons. The obtained results revealed that some flowers can constitute an abundant source of phytosterols and bioactive triterpenoids, valuable for utilization in functional foods, dietary supplements and cosmetic products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Valuable Sources of Bioactive Natural Products from Plants)

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17 pages, 2978 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Efficacy and Mechanism of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Essential Oil against Shewanella putrefaciens

by Chi Zhang, Yao Xie, Weiqiang Qiu, Jun Mei and Jing Xie

Plants 2023, 12(8), 1720; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12081720 - 20 Apr 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2189

Abstract

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has unique medicinal value and can be used to treat colds and cold-related diseases. The chemical composition and antibacterial activity of ginger essential oil (GEO) against Shewanella putrefaciens were determined in the present study. Zingiberene, α-curcumene, and zingerone were the main active compounds of GEO. GEO displayed significant antibacterial activity against S. putrefaciens, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 2.0 and 4.0 μL/mL, respectively. Changes in intracellular ATP content, nucleic acid and protein structure, exopolysaccharides (EPS) content, and extracellular protease production indicated that GEO disrupted the membrane integrity of S. putrescens. At the same time, changes in biofilm metabolic activity content and the growth curve of biofilm showed that GEO could destroy the biofilm. Both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) observations confirmed that GEO destroyed the cell membrane and lead to the leakage of the constituents. The above results indicate that GEO entered the cells via contact with bacterial membranes, and then inhibited the growth of S. putrefaciens and its biofilms by increasing membrane permeability and inhibiting various virulence factors such as EPS. The findings showed that GEO could destroy the structure of cell membrane and biofilm of tested S. putrefaciens, indicating its potential as a natural food preservative. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Valuable Sources of Bioactive Natural Products from Plants)

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14 pages, 979 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Seasonal Effects on Phenolic Contents and In Vitro Health-Promoting Bioactivities of Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)

by Nattira On-nom, Sirinapa Thangsiri, Woorawee Inthachat, Piya Temviriyanukul, Yuraporn Sahasakul, Chaowanee Chupeerach, Kanchana Pruesapan, Piyapat Trisonthi, Dalad Siriwan and Uthaiwan Suttisansanee

Plants 2023, 12(7), 1441; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12071441 - 24 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2489

Abstract

Sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is a commercial product in Asian countries. Almost all parts of the lotus plant are consumed as food or used as traditional medicine due to their high contents of secondary metabolites such as phenolics and alkaloids. However, agricultural management of the sacred lotus occurs during the rainy season, and the plant enters a resting stage during the dry season. Thus, seasonal variation (beginning, middle and end of the rainy season) was investigated for total phenolic contents (TPCs), antioxidant capacities and inhibitions of the key enzymes relevant to chronic diseases including Alzheimer’s disease (β-secretase, acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase), hypertension (angiotensin-converting enzyme), obesity (lipase) and diabetes (α-glucosidase) of different sacred lotus parts (seed embryo, petal, stamen, old leaf, leaf stalk and flower stalk). Results indicated that an aqueous extract of stamen in all harvesting seasons exhibited potentially high TPCs, which led to high antioxidant activities and most enzyme inhibitions (up to 53.7-fold higher) than the others collected in the same harvesting period. The phenolic content and biochemical activities in stamen harvested at the beginning of the rainy season were up to 4-fold higher than during other harvesting periods. This information benefits the agricultural management of sacred lotus and supports consumption of different sacred lotus parts for health promotion. Results can be used as an initial database for future product development from different sacred lotus parts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Valuable Sources of Bioactive Natural Products from Plants)

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22 pages, 1907 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metabolite profiling and bioactivity of Cicerbita alpina (L.) Wallr. (Asteraceae, Cichorieae)

by Dimitrina Zheleva-Dimitrova, Alexandra Petrova, Gokhan Zengin, Kouadio Ibrahime Sinan, Vessela Balabanova, Olivier Joubert, Christian Zidorn, Yulian Voynikov, Rumyana Simeonova and Reneta Gevrenova

Plants 2023, 12(5), 1009; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12051009 - 23 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1661

Abstract

Cicerbita alpina (L.) Wallr. is a perennial herbaceous plant in the tribe Cichorieae (Lactuceae), Asteraceae family, distributed in the mountainous regions in Europe. In this study, we focused on the metabolite profiling and the bioactivity of C. alpina leaves and flowering heads methanol-aqueous extracts. The antioxidant activity of extracts, as well as inhibitory potential towards selected enzymes, involving in several human diseases, including metabolic syndrome (α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and lipase), Alzheimer’s disease, (cholinesterases: AChE, BchE), hyperpigmentation (tyrosinase), and cytotoxicity were assessed. The workflow comprised ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography—high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS). UHPLC-HRMS analysis revealed more than 100 secondary metabolites, including acylquinic, acyltartaric acids, flavonoids, bitter sesquiterpene lactones (STLs), such as lactucin, dihydrolactucin, their derivatives, and coumarins. Leaves showed a stronger antioxidant activity compared to flowering heads, as well as lipase (4.75 ± 0.21 mg OE/g), AchE (1.98 ± 0.02 mg GALAE/g), BchE (0.74 ± 0.06 mg GALAE/g), and tyrosinase (49.87 ± 3.19 mg KAE/g) inhibitory potential. Flowering heads showed the highest activity against α-glucosidase (1.05 ± 0.17 mmol ACAE/g) and α-amylase (0.47 ± 0.03). The obtained results highlighted C. alpina as a rich source of acylquinic, acyltartaric acids, flavonoids, and STLs with significant bioactivity, and therefore the taxon could be considered as a potential candidate for the development of health-promoting applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Valuable Sources of Bioactive Natural Products from Plants)

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10 pages, 1589 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Evaluation of Pretreatments and Extraction Conditions on the Antifungal and Antioxidant Effects of Garlic (Allium sativum) Peel Extracts

by David Fernando Carreón-Delgado, Itzel Yoali Hernández-Montesinos, Karla Nallely Rivera-Hernández, María del Sugeyrol Villa-Ramírez, Carlos Enrique Ochoa-Velasco and Carolina Ramírez-López

Plants 2023, 12(1), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12010217 - 3 Jan 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3032

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pretreatments and extraction conditions on the antioxidant and antifungal characteristics of garlic peel extracts. The effect of pretreatments (fermentation and steam cooking) on the yield, antifungal (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Botrytis cinerea), and antioxidant (total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity) properties of garlic peel extracts were evaluated. A selected pretreatment was applied to evaluate the extraction conditions (solvent, solvent concentration, temperature, and time) on the antifungal activity of garlic peel extracts. At last, garlic peel extracts obtained under specific conditions was applied to papaya and strawberry fruits as preventive and curative treatments against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Botrytis cinerea, respectively. Steam cooking pretreatment significantly increased the antifungal and antioxidant capacities of garlic peel extracts compared to the fermentation process. Garlic peel extracts obtained with methanol (60%) for 18 h (25 °C) showed the highest antifungal activity against both microorganisms assessed (57.57% and 75.76% for B. cinerea and C. gloeosporioides, respectively,) on in vitro assays. Moreover, in vivo results indicated that preventive treatment significantly reduced rot disease in papaya (88.95%) and strawberry (54.13%) fruits. Although more studies about the antifungal mechanisms of garlic peel extracts are needed, these results indicated that garlic peel extracts could be used as an antifungal agent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Valuable Sources of Bioactive Natural Products from Plants)

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22 pages, 1448 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

An In-Depth Study of Metabolite Profile and Biological Potential of Tanacetum balsamita L. (Costmary)

by Reneta Gevrenova, Gokhan Zengin, Kouadio Ibrahime Sinan, Dimitrina Zheleva-Dimitrova, Vessela Balabanova, Maxime Kolmayer, Yulian Voynikov and Olivier Joubert

Plants 2023, 12(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12010022 - 20 Dec 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 1581

Abstract

Asteraceae species Tanacetum balsamita L. (costmary) is renowned for its traditional usage as an aromatic, carminative and tonic plant. This work aimed at in-depth study of the phytochemical and in vitro biological profilings of methanol–aqueous extracts from the costmary leaves, flower heads and roots. An UHPLC-HRMS analysis revealed more than 100 secondary metabolites including 24 acylquinic acids, 43 flavonoid glycosides, aglycones and methoxylated derivatives together with 15 phenolic acids glycosides. For the first time, 91 compounds are reported in the costmary. The flower heads extract possessing the highest content of total phenolics and flavonoids, actively scavenged DPPH (84.54 ± 3.35 mgTE/g) and ABTS radicals (96.35 ± 2.22 mgTE/g), and showed the highest reducing potential (151.20 and 93.22 mg TE/g for CUPRAC and FRAP, respectively). The leaves extract exhibited the highest inhibition towards acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase (2.11 and 2.43 mg GALAE/g, respectively) and tyrosinase (54.65 mg KAE/g). The root extract inhibited α-glucosidase (0.71 ± 0.07 mmol ACAE/g), α-amylase (0.43 ± 0.02 mmol ACAE/g) and lipase (8.15 ± 1.00 mg OE/g). At a concentration >2 µg/mL, a significant dose dependent reduction of cell viability towards THP-1 monocyte leukemic cells was observed. Costmary could be recommended for raw material production with antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Valuable Sources of Bioactive Natural Products from Plants)

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Review

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33 pages, 4547 KiB

Open AccessReview

Genus Amorphophallus: A Comprehensive Overview on Phytochemistry, Ethnomedicinal Uses, and Pharmacological Activities

by Fahadul Islam, Rafiuddin Khan Labib, Mehrukh Zehravi, Mashia Subha Lami, Rajib Das, Laliteshwar Pratap Singh, Jithendar Reddy Mandhadi, P. Balan, Jishan Khan, Sharuk L. Khan, Firzan Nainu, Mohamed H. Nafady, Safia Obaidur Rab, Talha Bin Emran and Polrat Wilairatana

Plants 2023, 12(23), 3945; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12233945 - 23 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2005

Abstract

The genus Amorphophallus belongs to the family Araceae. Plants belonging to this genus are available worldwide and have been used in traditional medicines since ancient times, mainly in Ayurveda and Unani medical practices. Amorphophallus species are an abundant source of polyphenolic compounds; these are accountable for their pharmacological properties, such as their analgesic, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, antiobesity, and immunomodulatory effects, as well as their ability to prevent gastrointestinal disturbance and reduce blood glucose. Moreover, Amorphophallus species contain numerous other classes of chemical compounds, such as alkaloids, steroids, fats and fixed oils, tannins, proteins, and carbohydrates, each of which contributes to the pharmacological effects for the treatment of acute rheumatism, tumors, lung swelling, asthma, vomiting, abdominal pain, and so on. Additionally, Amorphophallus species have been employed in numerous herbal formulations and pharmaceutical applications. There has been no extensive review conducted on the Amorphophallus genus as of yet, despite the fact that several experimental studies are being published regularly discussing these plants’ pharmacological properties. So, this review discusses in detail the pharmacological properties of Amorphophallus species. We also discuss phytochemical constituents in the Amorphophallus species and their ethnomedicinal uses and toxicological profiles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Valuable Sources of Bioactive Natural Products from Plants)

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19 pages, 949 KiB

Open AccessReview

Cardioprotective Properties of Kaempferol: A Review

by Yusof Kamisah, Juriyati Jalil, Nurhanan Murni Yunos and Satirah Zainalabidin

Plants 2023, 12(11), 2096; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12112096 - 24 May 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1959

Abstract

Cardiac diseases, such as myocardial infarction and heart failure, have become a major clinical problem globally. The accumulating data demonstrate that bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have favorable effects on clinical problems. Kaempferol is a flavonoid found in various plants; it has demonstrated cardioprotective properties in numerous cardiac injury models. This review aims to collate updated information regarding the effects of kaempferol on cardiac injury. Kaempferol improves cardiac function by alleviating myocardial apoptosis, fibrosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation while preserving mitochondrial function and calcium homeostasis. However, the mechanisms of action of its cardioprotective properties remain unclear; therefore, elucidating its action could provide insight into directions for future studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Valuable Sources of Bioactive Natural Products from Plants)

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38 pages, 7459 KiB

Open AccessReview

Nootropic Herbs, Shrubs, and Trees as Potential Cognitive Enhancers

by Matěj Malík and Pavel Tlustoš

Plants 2023, 12(6), 1364; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12061364 - 18 Mar 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 8199

Abstract

Plant-based nootropics are a diverse group of natural drugs that can improve cognitive abilities through various physiological mechanisms, especially in cases where these functions are weakened or impaired. In many cases, the nootropics enhance erythrocyte plasticity and inhibit aggregation, which improves the blood’s rheological properties and increases its flow to the brain. Many of these formulations possess antioxidant activity that protects brain tissue from neurotoxicity and improves the brain’s oxygen supply. They can induce the synthesis of neuronal proteins, nucleic acids, and phospholipids for constructing and repairing neurohormonal membranes. These natural compounds can potentially be present in a great variety of herbs, shrubs, and even some trees and vines. The plant species reviewed here were selected based on the availability of verifiable experimental data and clinical trials investigating potential nootropic effects. Original research articles, relevant animal studies, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and clinical trials were included in this review. Selected representatives of this heterogeneous group included Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst., Centella asiatica (L.) Urban, Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim., Ginkgo biloba L., Lepidium meyenii Walp., Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Paullinia cupana Kunth, Rhodiola rosea L., Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., and Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. The species are depicted and described, together with their active components and nootropic effects, and evidence of their efficacy is presented. The study provides brief descriptions of the representative species, their occurrence, history, and the chemical composition of the principle medicinal compounds, with uses, indications, experimental treatments, dosages, possible side effects, and contraindications. Most plant nootropics must be taken at optimal doses for extended periods before measurable improvement occurs, but they are generally very well tolerated. Their psychoactive properties are not produced by a single molecule but by a synergistic combination of several compounds. The available data suggest that including extracts from these plants in medicinal products to treat cognitive disorders can have substantial potential therapeutic benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Valuable Sources of Bioactive Natural Products from Plants)

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21 pages, 2211 KiB

Open AccessReview

Traditional Knowledge, Phytochemistry, and Biological Properties of Vachellia tortilis

by Douae Taha, Souad El Hajjaji, Yassine Mourabit, Abdelhakim Bouyahya, Learn-Han Lee, Naoual El Menyiy, Aanniz Tarik, Taoufiq Benali, Hamza El Moudden, Monica Gallo, Naima Iba and Ilhame Bourais

Plants 2022, 11(23), 3348; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11233348 - 2 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1716

Abstract

Vachellia tortilis is a medicinal plant of the Fabaceae family, widely distributed in arid and semi-arid regions of North, East and Southern Africa, the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula. In traditional medicine. It’s commonly used to treat certain ailments, including diabetes, asthma, hepatitis and burns. Different scientific search databases were used to obtain data on V. tortilis, notably Google Scholar, Scopus, Wiley Online, Scifinder, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and PubMed. The knowledge of V. tortilis was organized based on ethnomedicinal use, phytochemistry, and pharmacological investigations. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of a variety of phytocompounds, including fatty acids, monosaccharides, flavonoids, chalcones, and alcohols. Essential oils and organic extracts prepared from V. tortilis showed several biological properties, specifically antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antioxidant, antiproliferative, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities are due to the disturbance of cellular membranes and ultra-structural changes triggered by V. tortilis phytochemicals. While physiological and molecular processes such as apoptosis induction, preventing cell proliferation, and inflammatory mediators are responsible for the anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, further investigations concerning pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics should be carried out to validate their clinical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Valuable Sources of Bioactive Natural Products from Plants)

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19 pages, 887 KiB

Open AccessReview

Phytochemistry, Biological and Pharmacological Activities of the Anacyclus pyrethrum (L.) Lag: A Systematic Review

by Hanane Elazzouzi, Kamal Fadili, Ali Cherrat, Smail Amalich, Nadia Zekri, Hannou Zerkani, Imane Tagnaout, Christophe Hano, Jose M. Lorenzo and Touria Zair

Plants 2022, 11(19), 2578; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11192578 - 30 Sep 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3684

Abstract

Anacyclus pyrethrum (L.) (Asteraceae) is an important annual medicinal herb and is widespread in Morocco and Algeria. Most of its parts are used in traditional medicine and the roots are the most important parts used. The present review gives an account of the updated information on its phytochemical and pharmacological properties. We have collected the essential characteristics and the different scientific data of the A. pyrethrum species, and reviewed its potential. It is seen from the literature that A. pyrethrum is a rich source of the phytochemical constituents such as alkaloids (pellitorin) and n-alkylamides. This species also contains pyrethrins, sesamin, traces of essential oils and a wide range of other chemical compounds. These active substances possess antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. The plant has an antidiabetic, insecticidal and immunostimulatory effect, as well as an aphrodisiac and antioxidant potentials, and various other important medicinal properties. Many traditional uses are also reported in previous research such as for rheumatism, sciatica, colds, neuralgia and paralysis. This species is considered to be a sialagogue, and used in the treatment of stomach ailments, diseases of inflammation of the mouth, against cysts in the genital tract and to relieve toothaches. Thus, further research must be carried out in order to establish any relationship between the traditional uses, phytochemistry and toxicity. Moreover, A. pyrethrum is quite promising as a medicinal agent, so further clinical trials should be performed to prove its efficacy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Valuable Sources of Bioactive Natural Products from Plants)

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