Abstract
Hippocampus is an important traditional marine Chinese medicinal resource that has been used to warm and tonify kidney yang in the clinic for a long time in China. Modern pharmacological studies show that its active ingredients display a wide range of pharmacological activities associated with the kidney, such as anti-inflammation, antioxidation, antitumor, and neuroprotective effects. Herein, we systematically summarize and analyze the research progress on the resource distribution, active ingredients, pharmacological activities, and clinical application of Hippocampus. First, the species and worldwide distribution of Hippocampus were assessed to clarify the existing resources, and the results showed that 44 species of Hippocampus have been found in 159 countries and regions worldwide. Then, based on the analysis of 16 kinds of active ingredients and extraction methods, the relationship between the ingredient extraction and pharmacological activities of Hippocampus was revealed. This review may provide a foundation for further research on the potential active ingredients and mechanisms of Hippocampus. In addition, the research status of traditional prescriptions containing Hippocampus was evaluated. The results implied that research on Hippocampus is still in its infancy, and the mechanism and material basis of its efficacy have not been clarified. This paper should provide directions for further studies on Hippocampus.
Highlights
The ocean is rich in biodiversity, and many organisms have evolved unique morphological and physiological characteristics to adapt to challenging environments (Conte et al, 2021)
The increasing demand for safe and effective medicines has led to increased attention on marine natural products
This review mainly focused on the ingredients, extraction methods, pharmacological activities, and traditional prescriptions containing different species of Hippocampus
Summary
The ocean is rich in biodiversity, and many organisms have evolved unique morphological and physiological characteristics to adapt to challenging environments (Conte et al, 2021). The content of glycine was the highest (83.98 mg/g) among the 15 types of amino acids in Hippocampus kuda Bleeker and Hippocampus trimaculatus Leach (Sun et al, 2020). Jia and Yao (1990) reported 22 types of amino acids in Hippocampus kuda Bleeker and Hippocampus japonicus Kaup, including taurine, a special amino acid with high medicinal value.
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