Active Ingredients Of Plants Research Articles

Investigation of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of cannabis in cosmeceuticals

Biotechnology, as an interdisciplinary scientific field, is crucial in identifying the valuable active ingredients of plants. Their application extends beyond medical and pharmaceutical formulations to encompass cosmetics, in which these natural substances play a significant role. This article aimed to investigate the potential advantages of integrating cannabis-derived compounds into skincare cosmetic formulations. Their therapeutic efficacy on diverse dermatoses was emphasised. The diverse applications of cannabinoids and terpenes in cosmetic formulations were also examined. Scientific report analysis confirms the beneficial effects of cannabis-derived compounds, including cannabidiol and seed oil, in enhancing skin health and addressing inflammation and dermatological issues. The potential of cannabis-derived compounds in creating novel and effective cosmeceutical products was emphasised.

Screening the active ingredients of plants via molecular docking technology and evaluating their ability to reduce skin photoaging.

The active ingredients of plants were screened by molecular docking technology and the result were verified. According to the verification results of molecular docking, the five active ingredients were combined in equal proportions to form a compound drug. In the HaCaT photoaging model, the effects of the compound drug on antioxidant and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors of the NF-κB and MAPK pathways were studied via SOD and MDA kits, DCFH-DA fluorescent probes and ELISA. In the skin photoaging model, the effects of the compound drug on antioxidants and the SASP factors of the NF-κB and MAPK pathways were studied via SOD, MDA, and CAT kits and ELISA. The results revealed that the compound drug increased SOD activity, decreased the MDA content and intracellular ROS, inhibited IL-6 in the NF-κB pathway, and inhibited MMP-1 and collagen I in the MAPK pathway. The results of HE, Masson and Victoria blue skin staining revealed that the compound drug inhibited abnormal thickening of the epidermis, abnormal breaking and accumulation of collagen fibers and elastic fibers, and maintained their orderly arrangement. Moreover, the results revealed that the compound drug increased SOD, CAT and collagen I, and reduced the MDA content, the SASP factors IL-6 and TNF-α of the NF-κB pathway, and the SASP factors MMP-1 of the MAPK pathway. The above results indicate that the active ingredients of the compound drug screened by molecular docking have the potential to reduce skin photoaging.

Natural, Organic Cosmetics and New trends. Development of a Natural Toothpaste against plaque

Cosmetic products whose ingredients and especially the active agents have a natural origin, are characterized as natural. Natural cosmetics may have plant (extracts, essential oils, active plant ingredients, etc.) animal, marine or mineral ingredients with the least and safest possible processing. In the present study, a toothpaste with ingredients of natural origin was developed. Research was conducted on the most suitable natural flavoring, natural sweetener. The physico-chemical stability, microbiological stability and the main organoleptic characteristics, such as texture, viscosity and taste, which are the main factors for the choice and acceptance of these products by consumers, were studied. Additionally, the efficacy of various natural antimicrobial agents, in terms of protection against microbial plaque, was studied using in vitro methods and compared with a synthetic-«conventional» commercial toothpaste and a placebo sample.

Selected Plants as Sources of Natural and Active Ingredients for Cosmetics of the Future

A clear trend of replacing synthetic cosmetic ingredients with natural ones can be observed in modern cosmetology. This entails the need to search for bioactive ingredients in the natural environment, especially in plants. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of dermatological, cosmetic, and pharmacological properties of highly potent plants, namely Acmella oleracea (A. oleracea), Centella asiatica (C. asiatica), Psoralea corylifolia (P. corylifolia), Plantago lanceolata L. (P. lanceolata L.), and Solidago virgaurea L. (S. virgaurea L.). Biological activity and phytochemical constituents are presented for all plants, but special attention is paid to ingredients of particular value to the cosmetics industry. The advantages of spilanthol and bakuchiol as a replacement for the popular botulinum toxin and retinol are discussed. Natural habitats, ethnomedical importance, cultivation area, as well as extraction methods of active plant ingredients are presented in detail. A wide spectrum of biological activity indicates the enormous potential of the presented plants in formulating new cosmetic and dermatological preparations.

Methyl Jasmonate Modulates Feeding Behaviors and Hypothalamic Expression of the Orexin 1 Receptor in Rats.

Active plant ingredients have been successfully used in modern medicine to control appetite and energy hemostasis. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of the phytohormone methyl jasmonate (MJ) on food-related behaviors in rats. Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into different groups (7 rats) and infused intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) with MJ vehicle (DMSO) or MJ (2.5, 5 and 10 μg/rat). Then, the individual rats were placed in an automated open field-like apparatus to assess a 12-h food-related activity in light and dark times. After behavioral tests, immunofluorescence staining of the orexin 1 receptor (Orx1R) was studied in the hypothalamus of rats. MJ (2.5, 5, and 10 μg/rat) administration significantly decreased food intake in the light and dark phases compared with the control group. Moreover, all the MJ-treated groups exhibited a decrease in visits to food containers at the light and dark times (p < 0.001). In addition, rats infused with MJ at 5 μg and 10 μg spent less time in the ports of food containers in the light and dark phases in comparison with control rats. Time in zone-related to food and locomotor activity was significantly decreased in the MJ (5 μg) groups during the light time and in all MJ-injected groups in the dark time. Moreover, hypothalamic expression of Orx1R in rats treated with MJ (5 μg) was significantly lower as compared to the control group. Overall, the results indicated the potential of MJ to modulate feeding-related behavior and Orx1R expression in the hypothalamus of rats.

The improvement of kinsenoside in wild-imitated cultivation Anoectochilus roxburghii associated with endophytic community

Due to the low content of active ingredients and poor efficacy in herbal medicine in modern large-scale planting conditions, a growing number of methods for improving the content of active ingredients have been studied, such as improving planting techniques, developing and applying microbial engineering bacteria. In recent years, most studies have focused on improving the quality of Anoectochilus roxburghii through conventional farming methods. However, the role of endophytes in improving the quality of herbal medicine was often ignored. Although some studies have shown that microorganisms can regulate Anoectochilus roxburghii growth, there are still few studies on their regulation of plant active ingredients in plants. In this study, endophytic community and active ingredient content under the three culture patterns were examined through amplicon sequencing and high performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detector, and the correlation between the abundance of endophytes and kinsenoside content was analyzed. The results indicated a significant alteration in the diversity and network complexity of endophytic community within Anoectochilus roxburghii under the three culture conditions. After being cultivated in a wild-imitated environment for 3 months, the microbial composition of wild-imitated cultivated Anoectochilus roxburghii differentiated and converged toward that of wild-tending planted Anoectochilus roxburghii. Correlation analyses showed that the diversity of bacterial community has a significant positive relationship with the content of kinsenoside, and Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia is the key taxa affecting kinsenoside content. In addition, acetylacetyl-CoA reductase, a key enzyme for the synthesis of kinsenoside, was significantly enriched in wild-imitated cultivated and wild tending cultivated Anoectochilus roxburghii. The study proposed that the medicinal quality of wild-imitated cultivated and wild tending cultivated Anoectochilus roxburghii, with high content of kinsenoside, which is likely attributed to the Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia and acetylacetyl-CoA. This study provides a basis for the improvement and sustainable utilization of Anoectochilus roxburghii resources.

Safety profile of herbal medicines submitted for marketing authorization in Tanzania: a cross-sectional retrospective study

BackgroundThe popular use of herbal medicines necessitates national regulatory authorities to have efficient mechanisms for the control of these products including marketing authorization (MA) and safety follow-up. Herbal medicines like conventional medicines require assessment of efficacy, safety and quality information before MA can be granted. However, the complete proof of safety is mainly based on the history of the long-term traditional use. Herbal medicines can cause adverse reactions due to various factors and thus require clinical trials to ensure their safety. Herbal medicines treatment practices involve combinations of different plants to achieve the desired effect while multiple herbal components have been known to cause herbal–herbal toxicity and interactions due to variety of complex active ingredients in plants. Compliance with regulatory requirements on herbal medicines has been shown to be difficult for manufacturers since different countries have different regulatory requirements with wide variations which results in the MA of very few herbal medicines. Limited studies on dossiers of marketing authorization of herbal medicines have been performed in other countries, with no studies in African regulatory system settings. The aim of this study is to determine the type of safety documentation that is submitted on herbal medicines application dossiers to support MA in Tanzania.MethodsA cross-sectional retrospective study of herbal medicines dossiers submitted at the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority from 2009 to 2020 was conducted.ResultsAs many as 75% of the herbal products applications were combination products made by more than one herbal substance or plant. Out of 84 dossiers subjected to analysis the majority did not provide evidence of preclinical (55%) and clinical safety data (68%). Evidence of safety data in humans was mostly from the literature (70%) and not manufacturers’ clinical studies. Quality parameters with safety implications were not included in 48% and 23% of the active herbal substance and finished product specifications, respectively.ConclusionAnalysis of the herbal medicine dossiers submitted showed major deficiencies of safety data to support MA. Manufactures need to provide evidence to support the safety of their products for evidence-based regulatory decisions and to avoid multiple reviews of the applications.

The mechanisms of action of mitochondrial targeting agents in cancer: inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation and inducing apoptosis.

The tumor microenvironment affects the structure and metabolic function of mitochondria in tumor cells. This process involves changes in metabolic activity, an increase in the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tumor cells compared to normal cells, the production of more intracellular free radicals, and the activation of oxidative pathways. From a practical perspective, it is advantageous to develop drugs that target mitochondria for the treatment of malignant tumors. Such drugs can enhance the selectivity of treatments for specific cell groups, minimize toxic effects on normal tissues, and improve combinational treatments. Mitochondrial targeting agents typically rely on small molecule medications (such as synthetic small molecules agents, active ingredients of plants, mitochondrial inhibitors or autophagy inhibitors, and others), modified mitochondrial delivery system agents (such as lipophilic cation modification or combining other molecules to form targeted mitochondrial agents), and a few mitochondrial complex inhibitors. This article will review these compounds in three main areas: oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), changes in ROS levels, and endogenous oxidative and apoptotic processes.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance active ingredients of medicinal plants: a quantitative analysis

Medicinal plants are invaluable resources for mankind and play a crucial role in combating diseases. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widely recognized for enhancing the production of medicinal active ingredients in medicinal plants. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the quantitative effects of AMF on the accumulation of medicinal active ingredients. Here we conducted a comprehensive global analysis using 233 paired observations to investigate the impact of AMF inoculation on the accumulation of medicinal active ingredients. This study revealed that AMF inoculation significantly increased the contents of medicinal active ingredients by 27%, with a particularly notable enhancement observed in flavonoids (68%) and terpenoids (53%). Furthermore, the response of medicinal active ingredients in belowground organs (32%) to AMF was more pronounced than that in aboveground organs (18%). Notably, the AMF genus Rhizophagus exhibited the strongest effect in improving the contents of medicinal active ingredients, resulting in an increase of over 50% in both aboveground and belowground organs. Additionally, the promotion of medicinal active ingredients by AMF was attributed to improvements in physiological factors, such as chlorophyll, stomatal conductance and net photosynthetic rate. Collectively, this research substantially advanced our comprehension of the pivotal role of AMF in improving the medicinal active ingredients of plants and provided valuable insights into the potential mechanisms driving these enhancements.

Effects of Natural Substances on Lowering Uric Acid

Uric acid (UA) metabolism, which includes uric acid production controlled by purine metabolism and uric acid excretion controlled by the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys, is the primary way to maintain the concentration of uric acid in the body. Abnormal functionalizing of the metabolism may cause hyperuricemia, gout, kidney injury, and other diseases. Over the last decade, numerous studies have been conducted on the effect of natural products, including active ingredients of medicinal plants, natural compounds, plant and fungal extracts, traditional herbal formulations, microbial products, alkaloids, etc., on the downward regulation of uric acid for treating uric acid related diseases. Based on the potential sources from 2018 to 2022, 16 studies were reviewed and considered relevant to the topic. This paper is a preliminary summary of the effects of active ingredients of plants, the extracts of plants, and traditional herbal formulations on regulating uric acid levels.

Dual-mode optical chemodosimeter for detecting copper ions in the environment, food, and living organisms with smartphone

Techniques for the detection and quantification of active ingredients in plants and foods are of global interest in the field of smart agriculture. The amount of copper ions (Cu2+) in the environment is closely related to water quality, food safety, and biological health. However, the drawbacks of the current copper ions detection techniques include difficult operation and inconvenient field analysis. Due to the reliable analytical parameters, dual-mode optical analysis has become increasingly interesting and popular. Therefore, in this study, a dual-mode optical copper ions detection method was constructed based on a fluorescent chemodosimeter RH-HP. The reaction-based recognition process improves its specificity for copper ion recognition and can be utilized to determine the concentration of copper ions in water samples, agricultural products, cells, and zebrafish. It is worth noting that the analysis and photo function of the smartphone is used to establish the relationship between the change of color RGB values and copper ions concentration. This work offers an economical, portable tool for the in-situ detection of copper ions, demonstrating its potential application for monitoring plant growth processes in future smart agriculture, and provides a reference for the establishment of in-situ portable detection methods for other important substances.

Traditional Chinese medicine residues promote the growth and quality of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge by improving soil health under continuous monoculture.

Continuous monoculture of crops has resulted in reduced yields and quality, as well as soil deterioration. Although traditional Chinese medicine residues (TCMRs) are known to promote plant growth and soil health, few studies have investigated their effectiveness in continuous monoculture soils. Here, we studied the impact of chemical fertilizers (CF) and four TCMRs with antibacterial activities on the growth of S. miltiorrhiza (a widely used medicinal plant in China), accumulation of active ingredients in plants, and soil health under continuous monoculture conditions. Compared with no fertilizer (CK) and CF, fermented Sophora flavescens radix residue (SFRf) and fermented and unfermented Moutan cortex residue (MCRf and MCRu, respectively) resulted in a reduction of the disease index of root rot, while CF did not. The CF and four TCMR treatments increased the accumulation of nitrogen (N) (42.8-124.6% and 17.0-101.7%), phosphorous (P) (19.8-74.7% and 8.3-27.4%), and potassium (K) (104.1-212.0% and 9.3-51.8%) in shoots and roots compared to CK. The differences in nutrient accumulation between the CF and TCMR treatments were statistically insignificant, excepted for the N accumulation in the roots. All fertilization treatments increased plant biomass compared to CK, with increases of 25.57-89.86% and 2.62-35.28% in shoots and roots, respectively. The SFRf treatment exhibited the most significant enhancement in both shoot and root biomass. CF significantly reduced the accumulation of seven active ingredients in roots by 23.90-78.95% compared to CK, whereas each TCMR increased accumulation of certain active ingredients. The TCMR treatments effectively improved the health of deteriorated soil by enhancing soil physicochemical properties, restoring the balance of the microbial community, recruiting beneficial bacteria, and reducing the relative abundance of the pathogen Fusarium. The SFRf treatment exhibited superior performance in improving soil health than other treatments. Overall, the TCMRs outperformed CF in restoring soil health and promoting the yield and quality of S. miltiorrhiza. These findings offer guidance for improving the health of continuous cropping soil and recycling TCMRs.

Antioxidants in Traditional Mexican Medicine and Their Applications as Antitumor Treatments.

Traditional medicine in Latin America and mainly in Mexico represents an essential alternative for treating different diseases. The use of plants as medicine is the product of a rich cultural tradition of the indigenous peoples, in which a great variety of species are used for the treatment of gastrointestinal, respiratory, and mental diseases and some other sicknesses; the therapeutic efficacy that they possess is due to the properties that derive from the active ingredients of plants principally antioxidants, such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, terpenes, and tannins. An antioxidant is a substance that, at low concentrations, delays or prevents substrate oxidation through the exchange of electrons. Different methods are used to determine the antioxidant activity and the most commonly used are described in the review. Cancer is a disease in which some cells multiply uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body, a process known as metastasis. These cells can lead to the formation of tumors, which are lumps of tissue that can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). Generally, the treatment of this disease consists of surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy, which have side effects that decrease the quality of life of patients, so new treatments, focusing on natural resources such as plants, can be developed. This review aims to gather scientific evidence on the antioxidant compounds present in plants used in traditional Mexican medicine, specifically as antitumor treatment in the most common cancer types worldwide (e.g., breast, liver, and colorectal cancer).

Effect of Inoculum Size and Age, and Sucrose Concentration on Cell Growth to Promote Metabolites Production in Cultured Taraxacum officinale (Weber) Cells.

Pentacyclic triterpenes, including lupeol, α- amyrin, and β-amyrin, present a large range of biological activities including anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and gastroprotective properties. The phytochemistry of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) tissues has been widely described. Plant biotechnology offers an alternative for secondary metabolite production and several active plant ingredients are already synthesized through in vitro cultures. This study aimed to establish a suitable protocol for cell growth and to determine the accumulation of α-amyrin and lupeol in cell suspension cultures of T. officinale under different culture conditions. To this end, inoculum density (0.2% to 8% (w/v)), inoculum age (2- to 10-week-old), and carbon source concentration (1%, 2.3%, 3.2%, and 5.5% (w/v)) were investigated. Hypocotyl explants of T. officinale were used for callus induction. Age, size, and sucrose concentrations were statistically significant in cell growth (fresh and dry weight), cell quality (aggregation, differentiation, viability), and triterpenes yield. The best conditions for establishing a suspension culture were achieved by using a 6-week-old callus at 4% (w/v) and 1% (w/v) of sucrose concentration. Results indicate that 0.04 (±0.02) α-amyrin and 0.03 (±0.01) mg/g lupeol can be obtained in suspension culture under these starting conditions at the 8th week of culture. The results of the present study provide a backdrop for future studies in which an elicitor could be incorporated to increase the large-scale production of α-amyrin and lupeol from T. officinale.

The potential of selected plant extracts in anti-acne skincare formulations

Consumer awareness and the desire to reach for cosmetics with natural ingredients are still growing. The active ingredients of plants can reduce acne lesions and skin redness accompanying them. Specialised cosmetic formulations should support Anti-acne products containing therapeutic agents, reducing visible skin inflammation. These products should act simultaneously, ensuring proper skincare due to the content of plant metabolites exhibiting desired biological activity. In this study, the application of a selected plant extract in cosmetic preparations for acne skincare containing selected plant extracts was prepared: Arnica montana flower, Sambucus nigra and Rosmarinus officinalis leaf, Saponaria officinalis root, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice and Silybum marianum seed oil and then their effects were compared. The extracts were applied as active ingredients in face cream, serum and micellar solution forulations. The physicochemical properties (pH value, stability, dispersed phase particle size and type of emulsion) were evaluated; moreover, rheological tests of the samples were carried out, and the skin cleansing ability of the micellar solution was examined. In addition, all the formulations were subject to various tests, which allowed for the evaluation of their organoleptic properties. It was noticed that the used plant raw materials affect the care of the skin with acne tendencies. Both extracts (Arnica montana flower extract and Sambucus nigra extract) were used in the same concentrations in the cosmetics so that differences in results were easy to compare. Importantly, during the consumer tests, the probants discontinued usage of other anti-acne agents normally applied, which allowed for an objective assessment of the effect of the tested extracts on the acne skin. The formulations tested were proven to be effective cosmetics supporting anti-acne therapy.

Antioxidant, Whitening, Antiwrinkle, and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Ajuga spectabilis Nakai Extract.

Since ancient times, plants have been a good source of natural antioxidants. Plants remove active oxygen through antioxidants and contain various active ingredients. These active ingredients of plants are used to alleviate skin aging and chronic diseases. Ajuga spectabilis Nakai (AS) is a perennial plant, is endemic to Korea, and has the characteristics of alpine plants. The aim of this study was to assure the possibility of using AS as a functional natural and cosmetic material. For this, we carried out biologically activated material characteristic evaluations about antioxidant, wrinkle reduction, and anti-inflammatory effects using AS extract. To carry out this experiment, we extracted AS extract from AS water extract (AS-W) and AS 70% ethanol extract (AS-E). AS-E showed the highest DPPH activity and tyrosinase inhibitory activity. After, the measurement of metalloprotease (MMP)-1 inhibition effect showed the AS-W and AS-E activation at the concentration of 100 µg/mL. In addition, at the same concentration, from the result of the measurement of the biosynthesis quantity of pro-collagen type-1 we knew that its excellent effect appeared in AS-E (CCD-986sk). The inhibition of NO production in AS-W and AS-E was confirmed in LPS-induced mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. On cell viability, it was judged that AS-E had no toxicity because it showed a high cell viability at a high concentration, and it was used for the anti-inflammatory activity. Inhibition of NO production worked only in AS-E; inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and IL-6 were suppressed in a concentration-dependent manner in AS-E. AS is believed to be used as a natural cosmetic material because it has been proven to have antioxidant, whitening, wrinkle-improving, and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, the results indicate that AS extract can play an important role as a functional natural material and a cosmetic material for whitening, wrinkle reduction, and anti-inflammatory effect.

Insight of Ethnomedicines in Dentistry: A Brief Review.

Ethnomedicines in the literature compare the therapeutic efficacy of various herbs based on active ingredients of plants and animals. The application of phytomedicines in the field of dentistry is uncommon. The main objective of this article is to access the efficacy of ethnomedicines and newly evolving treatment modalities in reducing post-op complications following dentoalveolar surgeries. Inclusion criteria were selected according to the population, intervention, control, and outcomes (PICO) format. Case reports, case series, retrospective studies, and studies with inappropriate reporting of outcomes were all excluded. An electronic search of English literature in PubMed was performed using the keywords Ethnomedicine, Anti-inflammatory, Analgesics, Therapeutic herbs, Herbal mouthwashes, Third molar surgery. A total of 25 articles were selected, of which three were on herbal mouthwashes and 22 were on anti-inflammatory effect. All the articles were regarding the therapeutic effect of the herbs. The present paper studies various traditionally used therapeutic herbs, their benefits, and shortcomings with their application in dentistry. This study has shown the different herbal alternatives to conventionally used drugs in relation to third molar.

Can Berberine Serve as a New Therapy for Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson'sdisease (PD)is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by dopaminergic neurodegeneration and deposition of alpha-synuclein. Mechanisms associated with PD etiology include oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy, and abnormalities in neurotransmission, to name a few. Drugs used to treat PD have shown significant limitations in their efficacy. Therefore, recent focus has been placed on the potential of active plant ingredients as alternative, complementary, and efficient treatments. Berberine is an isoquinolinealkaloid that has shown promise as a pharmacological treatment in PD, given its ability to modulate several molecular pathway associated with the disease. Here, we review contemporary knowledge supporting the need to further characterize berberine as a potential treatment for PD.

Medical Cannabis Activity Against Inflammation: Active Compounds and Modes of Action.

Inflammation often develops from acute, chronic, or auto-inflammatory disorders that can lead to compromised organ function. Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) has been used to treat inflammation for millennia, but its use in modern medicine is hampered by a lack of scientific knowledge. Previous studies report that cannabis extracts and inflorescence inhibit inflammatory responses in vitro and in pre-clinical and clinical trials. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a modulator of immune system activity, and dysregulation of this system is involved in various chronic inflammations. This system includes cannabinoid receptor types 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2), arachidonic acid-derived endocannabinoids, and enzymes involved in endocannabinoid metabolism. Cannabis produces a large number of phytocannabinoids and numerous other biomolecules such as terpenes and flavonoids. In multiple experimental models, both in vitro and in vivo, several phytocannabinoids, including Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG), exhibit activity against inflammation. These phytocannabinoids may bind to ECS and/or other receptors and ameliorate various inflammatory-related diseases by activating several signaling pathways. Synergy between phytocannabinoids, as well as between phytocannabinoids and terpenes, has been demonstrated. Cannabis activity can be improved by selecting the most active plant ingredients (API) while eliminating parts of the whole extract. Moreover, in the future cannabis components might be combined with pharmaceutical drugs to reduce inflammation.

Significance of miRNA in enhancement of flavonoid biosynthesis.

Flavonoid metabolism shows very strong plasticity in plant development and coping with the changing environment. Flavonoid biosynthesis is regulated by many metabolic pathways, including transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional control, post-translational regulationand epigenetic regulation. miRNA is a form of endogenous noncoding single-strand small molecule RNA that primarily regulates the expression of target genes horizontally after transcription through splicing and translational suppression. It also plays an important role in regulating plant growth and development, secondary metabolism and biotic and abiotic stress. miRNA can regulate the formation of flavonoids by acting on structural genes or indirectly by using an MBW transcription complex comprising MYB-bHLH-WD40. This study summarizes the biosynthesis and mechanisms of miRNA, and provides a summary of the mechanisms of miRNAs involved in production of flavonoids, in order to elucidate the biosynthesis pathway and complex regulatory network of plant flavonoids. We aim to provide new insights into improving the content of flavonoid active ingredients in plants.