Ethnopharmacological investigations on Thalictrum plants in China

Thalictrum (Ranunculaceae) is an extremely abundant medicinal plant source. Due to their marked ethnopharmacological usages in folk medicine of China and the large number of potentially active chemical constituents, they may be a rich source for new chemicals for drug R&D. Here, an investigation on traditional functions and folk therapeutic uses of Thalictrum plants from China, as well as their main chemical constituents, was undertaken. It showed that 43 Thalictrum plants have long been used as folk medicine to treat many diseases in different races of China. In addition, the correlation between folk therapeutic effects and chemical constituents, and the modern pharmacological activities, are discussed as well as the prospect of isolation and development of new drugs from this genus of plants.     

Genome-based approaches to the authentication of medicinal plants

Medicinal plants are the source of a large number of essential drugs in Western medicine and are the basis of herbal medicine, which is not only the primary source of health care for most of the world's population living in developing countries but also enjoys growing popularity in developed countries. The increased demand for botanical products is met by an expanding industry and accompanied by calls for assurance of quality, efficacy and safety. Plants used as drugs, dietary supplements and herbal medicines are identified at the species level. Unequivocal identification is a critical step at the beginning of an extensive process of quality assurance and is of importance for the characterization of the genetic diversity, phylogeny and phylogeography as well as the protection of endangered species. DNA-based methods have been developed for the identification of medicinal plants. Nuclear and chloroplast DNA is amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and the reaction products are analyzed by gel electrophoresis, sequencing, or hybridization with species-specific probes. Genomic fingerprinting can differentiate between individuals, species and populations and is useful for the detection of the homogeneity of the samples and presence of adulterants. Although sequences from single chloroplast or nuclear genes have been useful for differentiation of species, phylogenetic studies often require consideration of DNA sequence data from more than one gene or genomic region. Phytochemical and genetic data are correlated but only the latter normally allow for differentiation at the species level. The generation of molecular "barcodes" of medicinal plants will be worth the concerted effort of the medicinal plant research community and contribute to the ongoing effort of defining barcodes for every species on earth.     

Active phytochemicals from Chinese herbs as therapeutic agents for the heart

Naturally occurring plant alkaloids, in particular those identified from herbal medicines, are finding therapeutic use. Heart diseases can be well managed with specific formulations of herbal medicines. The combined action of multiple constituents of herbal medicines works with therapeutic benefits in humans. The established formulations of Traditional Chinese medicines show efficacy in treatment of diseases. However, individual herbal principles seldom show pharmacological activity. Nevertheless, some of the active alkaloids and terpenoids from medicinal herbs have been identified. The pharmacological activities of these herbal compounds have been studied. These active constituents of herbal medicine are also used in nutrient supplements, but the modes of action of the active component remain sketchy. The present review describes the recent development of those active principles from herbal medicines as cardiovascular agents. The study will provide insights into herbal medicines for drug development for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.     

传统植物药和兰花的最新进展(英文)

The main objective of this paper is to review recent advances in plant drug research and developments in orchid study, in an attempt to provide useful references for plant drug studies. Plants have been used as medicine for millennia. Out of estimated 250 000 to 350 000 plant species identified so far, about 35000 are used worldwide for medicinal purposes. It has been confirmed by WHO that herbal medicines serve the health needs of about 80 percent of the world's population; especially for millions of people in the vast rural areas of developing countries.Meanwhile, consumers in developed countries are becoming disillusioned with modem healthcare and are seeking alternatives. The recent resurgence of plant remedies results from several factors: 1) the effectiveness of plant medicines; 2) the side effect of most modem drugs; and 3) the development of science and technology. It has been estimated that in the mid-1990s over 200 companies and research organizations worldwide are screening plant and animal c     

中药研究开发的挑战

本综述分析了中药现代研究与发展的挑战。中药是国际上医学、生物医学和制药机构作为一个有价值药用制剂的潜在来源。研究和发展中药,第一个挑战是评估疗效、药理特性、作用机理和有效成分;第二是要及时总结,并发展可靠的方法学,以提升中药研究的质量并通过提供适宜的评估方法,利于管理部门的法规制定及中药产品的注册;第三是研究药物代谢和药代动力学;第四是采用新的“组学”技术和工具应用于中药的研究开发及中药现代化过程。因此,需要运用现代方法去研究、开发和探索充满潜力的中草药资源,特别是药用植物。     

黄槿化学成分和药理活性研究进展

黄槿为《全国中草药汇编》收载的两种半红树植物之一,具有清热解毒的功效,在海南黎族聚集地区作为药物使用.有关黄槿的化学成分研究起始于20世纪60年代,至今从中分离得到了大量的三萜、黄酮、倍半萜和酰胺类化合物,其中木栓烷型三萜和高度氧化的倍半萜类成分是该药用植物的特征性成分.药理研究主要集中在抗炎、抗肿瘤和抗氧化活性.现就...     

50 years of medicinal plant research - every progress in methodology is a progress in science

Many scientific methods of analysis have been developed for the investigation of the constituents and biological activities of medicinal plants during the 50 years since the inaugural meeting of the Gesellschaft für Arzneipflanzenforschung (GA). The chromatographic (e. g., TLC, GLC, HPLC), spectroscopic (e. g., UV, IR, 1H- and 13C-NMR, MS), and biological (e. g., anticancer, anti-inflammatory, immunostimulant, antiprotozoal, CNS) techniques utilized for medicinal plant research are briefly reviewed. The contribution that advances in scientific methodology have made to our understanding of the actions of some herbal medicines (e. g., Echinacea, Ginkgo, St John's wort, Cannabis), as well as to ethnopharmacology and biotechnology, are briefly summarized. Plants have provided many medicinal drugs in the past and remain as a potential source of novel therapeutic agents. Despite all of the powerful analytical techniques available, the majority of plant species has not been investigated chemically or biologically in any great detail and even well known medicinal plants require further clinical study.     

Herbal medicine revisited: science looks anew at ancient Chinese pharmacology

There is now increasing evidence that significant advances have been made in herbal medicine during the past 20-25 years since the official policy of China was established that encouraged a blend of Western and Chinese traditional medicine. Scientific studies in China and the United States, as well as other countries, are directed at collecting and cataloguing a great variety of the herbs listed in the folk pharmacopias. 1 of the most significant single agents identified recently is isodamine, an alkaloid isolated from the solancea plant. Its formula, pharmacological action, and clinical effects are very similar to those of atropine. On the basis of experimental and clinical studies, Chinese scientists report that anisodamine is a better spasmolytic agent than atropine by virtue of its milder activity on the salivary glands, the pupils, and the central nervous system. Several herbal drugs have recently been developed and subjected to successful clinical trials. These drugs tend to be combinations of herbs. The Chinese have made progress recently in the treatment of burns with herbal medicine. 1 of the reasons given for past failures of Western investigators to identify the medicinal properties of Chinese medications is that the research usually began with the isolation of individual chemical compounds. New studies in the U.S. are focusing on single ingredients, entire herbal concoctions, and the use of herbal medicines in conjunction with Western drug products. Virtually every city in the U.S. with a sizable Chinese ethnic community has 1 or more herbal "pharmacies."     

Cultivation and breeding of Chinese medicinal plants in Germany

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is increasingly used in Germany and Europe. Due to the need for herbal drugs of consistent quality and reliable supply, methods for commercial field cultivation and post-harvest processing under south German conditions have been developed for selected plant species used in CHM since 1999. The project used an interdisciplinary approach covering all aspects from seed sourcing to medicinal application. This paper describes the outcome of the agricultural seed and field experiments, breeding program, botanical and chemical characterization of the experimental material, comparison of experimental and imported herbal material with respect to their pharmaceutical quality, transfer of production methods and plant material to specialized farmers, medicinal application and, finally, information for users along the chain of distribution about the benefits of the locally produced herbal material.     

卷柏属药用植物研究概况

目的综述卷柏属药用植物化学成分,药理活性及质量标准研究进展。方法查阅国内外相关文献42篇,进行归纳总结。结果与结论目前,已从该属植物中分离得到黄酮类、苯丙素类、生物碱类、有机酸类、甾醇、多糖、氨基酸、酚类等化学成分。其中主要为黄酮类化合物,其次是苯丙素类,生物碱类,有机酸类等化合物,具有抗肿瘤、抗氧化、降血糖、抗菌抗病毒、止血及护肝作用。在质量标准研究方面,照HPLC法(《中华人民共和国药典》2010年版一部附录VID),结合中药指纹图谱技术对卷柏质量进行测定。     

Ethnobotanical approaches of traditional medicine studies: some experiences from Asia

Ethnobotany, as a research field of science, has been widely used for the documentation of indigenous knowledge on the use of plants and for providing an inventory of useful plants from local flora in Asian countries. Plants that are used for traditional herbal medicine in different countries are an important part of these studies. However, in some countries in recent years, ethnobotanical studies have been used for the discovery of new drugs and new drug development. In general, experiences gained from ethnobotanical approaches of traditional medicinal studies in China and Himalayan countries have helped drug production and new drug development. At the same time, in many cases, over-harvesting, degradation of medical plants, and loss of traditional medical knowledge in local communities are common problems in these resource areas. Issues of indigenous knowledge, intellectual property rights, and uncontrolled transboundary trade in medicinal plants occur frequently in the region. This paper discusses ethnobotanical approaches of traditional medicinal studies, in reference to experiences from China and Himalayan countries, with an emphasis on the conservation of traditional medical knowledge and medical plant resources.     

Plants and plant products with potential antipsoriatic activity – a review

Context: Psoriasis vulgaris is a hyper proliferative, autoimmune skin disorder affecting 1–3% of the world’s population. The prescribed synthetic drugs for the treatment of psoriasis are associated with severe side effects, thus, researchers around the globe are searching for new, effective, and safer drugs from natural resources.

Objective: The present review has been prepared with an objective to compile exhaustive literature on pharmacological reports on antipsoriatic plants, plant products, and formulations. An attempt has been made to incorporate chemical constituents (with structures) isolated from different plants responsible for antipsoriatic activity and their possible mechanism of actions in this review.

Materials and methods: The review has been compiled using references from major databases like Chemical Abstracts, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Abstracts, PubMed, Scirus, Google scholar, Open J Gate, Scopus, Science Direct and Online Journals, and includes 127 references.

Results: A survey of literature revealed that extracts/fractions/isolates from 18 plants, 23 chemical constituents of plant origin and 40 plant-based formulations from various systems of medicine have been reported to possess antipsoriatic activity, and 37 antipsoriatic formulations containing plants have been patented.

Conclusion: Preliminary antipsoriatic activity studies have been carried out on crude extracts of traditionally used and medicinally promising plants. Such plants need to be explored properly with a view to isolate antipsoriatic constituents, and to evaluate their possible mode of actions so that these plant drugs could be exploited properly as potential antipsoriatic drugs.     

Using Chinese natural products for diabetes mellitus drug discovery and development

This paper provides a review of natural Chinese drug products, including phytochemic compounds, medicinal herbs and multi-component herbal formulae, that have been reported to possess hypoglycemic activity with mechanisms for antidiabetic action. Along with a great number of combination formulae, ～ 187 different Chinese medicinal herbs are clinically applied to treat diabetes mellitus and its complications in China, most of which have achieved reasonably good clinical outcomes. These valuable data and practical experience provide a promising opportunity for the discovery and development of drug candidates with good therapeutic efficacy and low toxicity. The concept of treating complex, multifactorial metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, using multi-component therapeutics, including single-herb formulae and combination herbal formulae, shall be regarded as a concerted pharmacologic intervention of multiple compounds interacting with multiple targets and possessing interdependent activities that are required for a synergistic or optimal effect. The conventional approach for the discovery and development of antidiabetic drug products from natural products involving a high-throughput, bioactivity guided drug screening of single compounds obtained from thousands of herbs has proven to be a costly and non-productive effort. Hence, an alternative way of developing new drug candidates, as suggested in this review, is to reduce and simplify a well-established combination herbal formula, along with the pharmacologic evaluation of a small group of phytochemic compounds, which are therapeutically effective as the original formula and have known chemical structures, compositions and mechanisms of action that are similar to chemical drugs.     

Natural products in therapy

A review is presented which shows the vegetable kingdom as an almost inexhaustible reservoir of potential drugs. Some historical aspects about the use of plants and their constituents in medicine are dealt with. A number of problems connected with the search for new prototype drugs of biological origin is reported as well as modern methods used in this promising research. Some examples are given concerning recent results of investigations of plants used in traditional and modern medicine in China. Special attention is paid to the present role of natural products in therapy: as biologically active compounds as such, as starting materials for (semi)synthetic drugs and, last but not least, as source of inspiration or as models for the synthesis of new drugs with better therapeutic, chemical or physical properties than the original compounds.     

Neem in human and plant disease therapy

As a therapeutic agent, neem is one of the most popular trees in traditional medicinal systems and is increasingly becoming important in herbal alternative therapy. The tree itself is considered a "village pharmacy" because of the well-established fact that every part of the tree has an application in curing human diseases. The tree has been a constant source of novel and structurally unique phytochemicals that can constitute the basis for the development of novel pharmaco-therapeutic agents against various human diseases. Being a prototype for the development of safer drugs and ecofriendly, pro-human health agrochemical agents against a vast variety of plant diseases, the tree always remains in the center of safe herbal drug and pesticide development in the service of mankind.     

Sustainable medicines and global health care

The global population has now exceeded 7 billion, and forests and other resources around the world are being irreversibly depleted for energy, food, shelter, material goods, and drugs to accommodate population needs. For most of the world's population, plants, based on many well-established systems of medicine, in either crude or extract form, represent the foundation of primary health care for the foreseeable future. Contemporary harvesting methods for medicinal plants are severely depleting these critical indigenous resources. However, maintaining and enhancing the availability of quality medicinal agents on a sustainable basis is an unappreciated public health care concept. To accomplish these goals for future health care, and restore the health of the Earth, a profound paradigm shift is necessary: ALL medicinal agents should be regarded as a sustainable commodity, irrespective of their source. Several approaches to enhancing the availability of safe and efficacious plant-based medicinal agents will be presented including integrated strategies to manifest the four pillars (information, botany, chemistry, and biology) for medicinal plant quality control. These integrated initiatives involve information systems, DNA barcoding, metabolomics, biotechnology, nanotechnology, in-field analysis of medicinal plants, and the application of new detection techniques for the development of medicinal plants with enhanced levels of safe and reproducible biological agents.     

Metabolomics in research of phytotherapeutics

Pharmaceutical and food industries are increasingly focused on the great potential of plant secondary metabolites or natural substances which can be used as therapeutics or model compounds for development of new drugs. The paper is devoted to the use of metabolomics, metabolic profiling and metabolic "fingerprint" for the identification of individual active phyto-substances in plant extracts, in profiling of unique groups of plant secondary metabolites that can be used to improve the classification of several species of medicinal plants as well as for a better characterization and quality control of medicinal extracts, tinctures and phytotherapeutic products prepared from these plants. Combined analytical methods and multivariate statistical analysis are used for metabolite identification. Using this approach, medicinal plants are evaluated not only on the basis of a limited number of pharmacologically important metabolites but also based on the fingerprints of minor metabolites and bioactive molecules.     

Recent advances in pharmacognosy research in China

• 1.1. Progress made in pharmacognostic research by Chinese investigators in the last decade is summarized herein.
• 2.2. This review covers studies on herbal properties, resources, identification, physicochemical evaluation, cultivation, breeding, tissue culture, collection, processing, preparation, active principles and pharmacological activities of traditional and herbal Chinese drugs.
• 3.3. As a result of these research activities errors in species identification were spotted, new drug resources were revealed, new taxa were discovered, crude drugs were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, optimal conditions for cultivation and breeding of plants and animals used as drugs were formulated, the quality of some drugs was controlled, the drug processing procedures and storage conditions were evaluated, and the chemistry and pharmacology of a number of crude drugs were elucidated.