Medicinal Food Plants Research Articles

Unlocking the biochemical and computational parameters of Ceropegia foetida: A scientific approach for functional bioactive compounds from a medicinal food plant

Investigating the therapeutic potentials of medicinal plants remains pivotal in the discovery of novel bioactive compounds for food and pharmaceutical applications. This research delves into the phytochemical composition and biological activities of Ceropegia foetida's methanol extract, employing comprehensive UHPLC-MS for secondary metabolites profiling. The study quantifies the extract's substantial phenolic (76.12 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (21.58 mg QE/g) contents, revealing a promising correlation with robust antioxidant activities, as evidenced by notable ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC assay outcomes. Furthermore, the extract demonstrates significant inhibitory effects on key enzymes implicated in neurodegenerative disorders and diabetes, including acetylcholinesterase (3.56 mg GALAE/g), butyrylcholinesterase (2.91 mg GALAE/g), and tyrosinase (128.31 mg KAE/g). UHPLC-MS analysis confirms the presence of 39 distinct phytochemicals across six primary categories, affirming the extract's complex bioactive profile. In complement to experimental assays, computational analyses via molecular docking simulations provided insights into the interaction mechanisms of identified phytochemicals with the target enzymes. These simulations revealed a substantial binding affinity of the plant's constituents towards enzymes compared to standard inhibitors, highlighting the compounds responsible for C. foetida's bioactivity. Such computational insights, alongside empirical data, suggest that C. foetida merits further exploration as a natural source of therapeutic agents. Overall, the efficacious enzyme inhibition, coupled with the identified phytochemical diversity, underscores the potential of C. foetida as a valuable natural resource for developing nutraceuticals and therapeutic agents. These findings support the further investigation of C. foetida for its applicability in enhancing health and treating chronic conditions.

Diallyl trisulfide alleviates dextran sulphate sodium-induced colitis in mice by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation via ROS/Trx-1 pathway.

Diallyl trisulfide (DATS), a sulphur-containing compound isolated from the medicinal food plant garlic, has been previously reported to attenuate experimental colitis induced by either dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) or 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) in mice; however, the underlying mechanism remains to be identified. In this study, we deciphered the key mechanism by which DATS alleviates ulcerative colitis (UC). We showed that oral administration of DATS for 10 consecutive days greatly restrained the infiltration of macrophages and the pathological changes in colonic tissues of mice with DSS-induced colitis. DATS treatment notably dampened the content of IL-1β and IL-18 and suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation in colon. Mechanistically, DATS effectively diminished the generation of ROS in macrophages. The suppressive effect of DATS on the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and downregulation of IL-18 and IL-1β levels was blunted by xanthine oxidase. Further studies revealed that DATS inhibited NF-κB pathway activation by suppressing the expression of Trx-1, thereby inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Trx-1 overexpression and interference in macrophages promoted and diminished NLRP3 inflammasome activation, respectively. In summary, garlic and its main active ingredient DATS have potentials to prevent and treat UC, and DATS functions by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation via Trx-1/ROS pathway.

An ethnobotanical study of medicinal and wild food plants in Kırşehir (Türkiye)

This study compiles information regarding the use of certain plants found in Kırşehir and its surrounding regions in the Central Anatolia Region in folk medicine and other ethnobotanical characteristics. A total of 180 people participated in this study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the participants. As a result of the study, demographic characteristics of the participants, types of medicinal plant used by the people of the region, preparation techniques, usage patterns and frequency were determined. Local people benefit from 80 plants belonging to 28 families. The most commonly encountered medicinal plant family was Asteraceae (22 taxa). Twenty-two disease categories were identified in which traditional medicinal plants were used. Local people frequently use medicinal plants for the treatment of various diseases. These include dermatologic ailments (ICF 0.87), hematology issues (ICF 0.98), high cholesterol (ICF 0.98), gastrointestinal problems (ICF 0.88). Medicinal plants are also employed for treating cancer (ICF 0.95), hand tremors (ICF 1.00), cataracts (ICF 1.00), and gonorrhea (ICF 1.00), and kidney stones (ICF 1.00). The highest UV was found for Mentha arvensis and M. pulegium. This research is important in terms of transferring traditional knowledge to future generations. Moreover, the findings obtained should be investigated in fields such as pharmacology and phytotherapy.

Unrivalled Insight into Possible Biopharmaceutical Application of Justicia vahlii Roth. (Acanthaceae): Chemodiversity, In Vitro Bioactivities, and Computational Analysis.

Justicia vahliiRoth. is an important wild medicinal food plant traditionally used for treating inflammation and various common ailments. This study investigated the chemical composition, antioxidant, enzyme inhibition and toxicity profiles of n-hexane (nHEJv) and chloroform (CEJv) extracts of J. vahlii. Moreover, the effect of the extracts was evaluated on CCl4 induced liver injury. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were present in both extracts in significant amount. The UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and GC-MS profiling of CEJv tentatively identified several important phytocompounds. The CEJv extract was comparatively more active for antioxidant activity and α-amylase inhibition, whereas the nHEJv extract presented higher inhibition potential against urease, tyrosinase, and α-glucosidase enzymes. Similarly, the in-silicostudy of four major compounds, i. e., 1-acetoxypinoresinol, 3-hydroxysebacic acid, nortrachelogenin, and viscidulin-III have shown a good docking score against the clinically significant enzymes. The acute oral toxicity and brine shrimp lethality assaysrevealed the extracts as non-toxic. The CCl4 treated animals showed a geared depletion of various antioxidant enzymes which were significantly reversed with the treatment of the extracts. Overall, the study's findings revealed J. vahliiwith antioxidant mediated hepatoprotective and enzyme inhibition potential and warrant further research on isolation of the bioactive compounds.

Germination of chief fire seeds cockscomb cultivar under saline stress conditions induced by sodium chloride

Cockscomb plant, Chief fire cultivar, is used as an ornamental, medicinal and non-conventional food plant (NCFP) and is cultivated from the north to the center-west of Brazil; however, these areas suffer from adverse environmental factors such as salinity stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate the seed germination performance and vigor of Celosia cristata L. var. Chief Fire seedlings exposed to salinity during the germination phase. To carry out the work, C. cristata seeds were sown in gerboxes conditioned to increasing doses of sodium chloride (NaCl), obtained by dissolving the salt in distilled water, obtaining electrical conductivities of 2.0; 4.0; 6.0 and 8.0 dS.m-1, constituting the treatments. An additional group was treated only with distilled water and was used as a control for the experiment. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, with a total of five treatments and four replicates of 25 seeds. The parameters assessed were: first germination count, germination, germination speed index (GVI), mean germination time (MGT), length of aerial part and primary root. The data was submitted to analysis of variance and the means were compared using the Scott-Knott test at 5% significance. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the conditions of salt stress induced by NaCl were not harmful to the germination of C. cristata, presenting itself as a species tolerant to water salinity during seed germination, since the variables analyzed showed no signs of deleterious effects as the salt concentration was increased.

Integrative approach to the biochemical, and toxicological fingerprinting of Polygonum glabrum.: A computational and experimental synergy for a medicinal food plant

In this work, the biological and chemical fingerprints of methanol and DCM extracts from an important Polygonum species (Polygonum glabrum) was investigated. The biological fingerprint was assessed for its antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, and cytotoxic effects. For the chemical characterization, total bioactive components, and individual secondary metabolites were determined using photometric, HPLC-PDA polyphenolic quantification, and UHPLC-MS methods. The main identified compounds were belonging to flavonoid and phenolic classes of phytochemicals. Methanol extracts contained the highest total phenolic (54.66 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoid (27.85 mg GAE/g extract) content. The results of antioxidant assays showed that methanol extract displayed higher antioxidant (for DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC) activity compared to the DCM extract (which was most active for metal chelation assay). For the enzyme inhibition activity, the DCM extract was found to be active against cholinesterases, while the methanol extract exhibited the higher inhibition potential for tyrosinase, amylase, and glucosidase enzymes. Generally, the methanol extract exhibited higher biological activities which might be correlated with higher levels of the bioactive components. Moreover, three flavonoids (citrusin B, robinetin 3-rutinoside, and demethyltexasin) were selected for molecular docking studies against the tested enzymes. Furthermore, the utilization of Swiss ADME, pkCSM, and DFT computational analysis has enhanced our comprehension of the pharmacokinetic characteristics and electronic factors of the identified phytochemicals, hence advancing the possibility for drug discovery. To conclude, the results suggest that the P. glabrum extracts could be further studied as a potential candidate for developing new phyto-pharmaceuticals and functional ingredients.

Study on medicinal food plants in the Gaoligongshan Biosphere Reserve, the richest biocultural diversity center in China

BackgroundTraditional knowledge associated with medicinal food plants (MFPs) plays a vital role in fighting hidden hunger and safeguarding the health of local people. MFPs resources are abundant in the Gaoligongshan area, a biosphere reserve with the richest biocultural diversity in China. Local people of different linguistic groups also have rich traditional botanical knowledge. However, there are still few comprehensive and systematic studies on MFPs there.MethodsEthnobotanical investigation including market survey, semi-structured interviews, free listing and key informant interviews was conducted in the Gaoligongshan area, Western Yunnan, Southwest China. A total of 13 local farmers’ markets were selected and information about medicinal food plants, including food categories, medicinal and edible parts, modes of consumption, medicinal effects, and distribution were collected. The relative occurrence frequency (RFO) and cultural food significance index (CFSI) were calculated to identify the culturally significant MFPs.ResultsA total of 184 species of MFPs, belonging to 83 families, were collected in the Gaoligongshan area, including vegetables (77), medicinal diets (26), fruits (25), spices (18), herbal tea (13), tea substitutes (11), substitutes for staple food (8), nuts (5), oils and fats (4), and dye material (1). The most frequently used families were Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Apiaceae, with 11, 10, and 9 species, respectively. The most frequently used plant parts were the stems, followed by fruits and leaves. Based on the evaluation results of the CFSI and RFO indices, 18 species of MFPs with magnificent local cultural importance have been screened out, such as Houttuynia cordata, Eryngium foetidum, Sechium edule, Centella asiatica and Pseudocydonia sinensis.ConclusionThese findings have guiding significance for conservation of traditional knowledge associated with MFPs and facilitation of scientific utilization of MFPs to meet local people’s needs for a healthy life.

UPLC-Q-TOF-MS profiling of Viola stocksii Boiss. and evaluation of aphrodisiac potential and risk factors associated with erectile dysfunction

Ethnopharmacological relevanceViola stocksii Boiss. locally known as makhni or makhanr booti, is an important medicinal food plant with multiple therapeutic applications, including erectile dysfunction (ED). It is mixed with butter and used for boosting energy and sexual health in the subcontinent. Aims of the studyThis study was designed to evaluate the chemical composition, aphrodisiac potential and effect of V. stocksii on the risk factors associated with ED. MethodologyThe hydroethanolic extract of V. stocksii (HEEVS) was prepared through the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) technique. The chemical composition was evaluated using preliminary phytochemical screening and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis. Metals and minerals analysis was performed by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The aphrodisiac activity of HEEVS was evaluated using an in vivo aphrodisiac model established in male albino rats and the effect on various sexual parameters such as mount, intromission, ejaculation frequencies and mount, intromission, ejaculation latencies, postejaculatory interval, penile reflexes and serum hormone concentration were analyzed. The effect of HEEVS on various risk factors associated with ED, including prostate cancer (PC), bacterial infections, diabetes and obesity, was evaluated using various in vitro assays. Moreover, four compounds were selected from the UPLC-Q-TOF-MS profile and evaluated for in silico computational analysis against phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) for possible interaction. FindingsThe phytochemical screening revealed the presence of various secondary metabolites in HEEVS, while 58 compounds were tentatively identified in the UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis. Various important minerals and metals such as zinc, calcium, cadmium and magnesium were detected in the atomic absorption spectrometry analysis. The in vivo aphrodisiac evaluation showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the mount, intromission and ejaculation frequencies and a decrease in the mount, intromission latencies and post-ejaculatory intervals at a dose of 300 mg/kg. A marked (p < 0.05) increase was observed in the concentration of serum testosterone and luteinizing hormones in HEEVS treated animals with a significant increase in total penile reflexes. The extract displayed significant anti-prostate cancer activity and a potential antibacterial spectrum against E. coli and S. aureus, with MIC50 values of 215.72 μg/mL and 139.05 μg/mL, respectively. Similarly, HEEVS was found active towards pancreatic lipase (67.34 ± 1.03%), α-glucosidase (3.87 ± 0.54 mmol ACAE/g d.w.) and α-amylase (6.98 ± 1.63 mmol ACAE/g d.w.). The in silico docking study presented a potential interaction between the selected compounds and residues of the active site of PDE-5. ConclusionThis report highlights the aphrodisiac potential of V. stocksii and provides experimental support for its traditional use in ED with an attenuative effect on the risk factors associated with ED. Moreover, the chemical composition displayed the presence of functional phytoconstituents and minerals in HEEVS and paves the way for the isolation of compounds with potent aphrodisiac activity.

Being exposed to Acmella oleracea-based insecticide extract reduces mobility and mating success in Prostephanus truncatus, the major pest of maize in storages

The evaluation of sublethal effects of botanical insecticides is a key tool to develop new strategies in pest management programs, since they potentially affect insect physiology and behavior. Acmella oleracea (L.) R.K. Jansen (Asteraceae) is a medicinal food plant widely used on an industrial level and with recognized efficacy against various arthropod pests and vectors. In this study, the sublethal effects of an A. oleracea hexane extract (HE) on the mobility, mating, and behavior of Prostephanus truncatus were investigated. The concentrations that killed 10, 30 and 50% of the exposed adults were 7.01, 19.5, and 39.5 mg/mL, respectively. The walking behavioral traits, i.e., duration and number of stops, and upside down (i.e., the time spent by the beetle on its back), were significantly higher in the adults exposed to LC30 than LC10 and control ones. The highest velocity was recorded for control beetles (21.5 mm/s), followed by LC10- (20.7 mm/s) and LC30-treated ones (21.2 mm/s). Concerning lateralization, P. truncatus males were right biased during the mating sequence. Sublethal concentrations negatively affected the mating success of LC10- and LC30-exposed males in comparison with control ones. Overall, our findings outlined that the exposure of P. truncatus adults to A. oleracea HE LC10 and LC30 deeply affected their walking and mating behavior, a fact that should be considered further when optimizing pest management tactics in storages.

Protective effect of chemically characterized extract of Viola stocksii Boiss. against breast cancer and vincristine induced neuropathic pain by alleviation of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers

Viola stocksii Boiss. is an important medicinal food plant. The powdered form of the species is mixed with butter and used as energy booster in subcontinent. The ethnomedicinal applications of the species include erectile dysfunction, inflammation and fever. In this study, the hydroethanolic extract of V. stocksii (HEEVS) was evaluated for its chemical composition, cytotoxicity, antineuropathic and antioxidant potential. The HPLC-PDA analysis revealed the presence of a total of 13 polyphenols, and 13 compounds were tentatively identified in the GC-MS profiling. The extract showed significant activity against the breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-23 and MCF-7) in MTT assay. The in vivo toxicity assessment revealed the biocompatibility of the extract with LD50 > 2000 mg/kg in mice. HEEVS significantly reduced the number of acetic acid induced abdominal writhings at 200 mg/kg. The extract reduced the vincristine induced neuropathic pain (VCINP) by increasing paw withdrawal threshold (g) and tail withdrawal latency time (s) significantly (p < 0.001) at 150 and 200 mg/kg. A marked (p < 0.001) alleviation observed in the levels of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in sciatic nerve tissues of the animals. The enzyme inhibition and antioxidant assays unveiled the activity of HEEVS against cyclooxygenase COX-I and COX-II and free radical scavenging potential. The in-silico analysis revealed the potential interaction of the selected compounds with COX-I and COX-II. This report suggests that V. stocksii is a biocompatible source with abundant of polyphenols and encourages the use of the species as food and therapeutic alternative for addressing chemotherapy induced neuropathy.

Highly Effective Extraction of Gigantol from Dendrobium officinale Using the Ultrasonic-assisted Dry Grinding

Background Dendrobium officinale is a valuable medicinal food plant in China, and its component gigantol has various biological activities. However, due to the low extraction rate of gigantol, its application in the functional food industry is limited. This research aimed to explore an effective gigantol extraction method. Results Ultrasonic-assisted dry grinding extraction of gigantol from D. officinale almost reached completion after 15 min. The extraction rate of gigantol reached 65%, which was higher than that of the conventional heating refluxing method of extraction. Most cells were broken, and particle size was approximately 410 nm when D. officinale was ground for 15 min. Conclusion The results indicated that ultrasonic-assisted dry grinding is a highly effective gigantol extraction method that is valuable for the efficient use and low-cost extraction of gigantol from the medicinal food plant D. officinale. Furthermore, this method will be beneficial for the future application of gigantol in the functional food industry.

Purification, characterization and bioactivities of a 4-O-methylglucuronoxylan from Aralia echinocaulis

The discovery of active constituents from food plants is an important area of research in pharmaceutical sciences. Aralia echinocaulis is a medicinal food plant that is mainly used to prevent or treat rheumatoid arthritis in China. This paper reported the isolation, purification and bioactivity of a polysaccharide (HSM-1-1) from A. echinocaulis. Its structural features were analyzed according to the molecular weight distribution, monosaccharide composition, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. The results indicated that HSM-1-1 was a new 4-O-methylglucuronoxylan mainly composed of xylan and 4-O-methyl glucuronic acid with the molecular weight of 1.6 × 104 Da. Furthermore, the antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities of HSM-1-1 in vitro were investigated, and the results showed that HSM-1-1 had potent proliferation inhibition activity on colon cancer cell SW480 with an inhibition rate of 17.57 ± 1.03 % at a concentration of 600 μg/mL, as measured via MTS methods. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a polysaccharide structure obtained from A. echinocaulis and its bioactivities, and its potential as an adjuvant natural product with antitumor effects is shown.

Utilization of Yard Land to Support Food Security in Kandai Satu Village

Food security will continue to be a food problem in most countries in the world. This is because along with the increasing population, purchasing power and global climate dynamics also increase. Various kinds of efforts have been made to build food security both within the family and the wider community, one of which is by utilizing yards. The purpose of this community service program is for the community to be able to use their yards with productive plants for family food availability, increase family income, and medicine, and also effort to increase food security. Various social, cultural, and economic problems are still encountered in every program of utilizing community yards, including the not yet optimal use of yards, still part-time and not yet market-oriented, as well as a lack of assistance from officials who have not been adequate and evenly distributed. Therefore, careful planning and cross-sectoral support are needed in optimizing the use of yards so that they can contribute to supporting food security. Kandai Satu Sub-District is an area that has an average of yards belonging to the moderate to large yards group so that the utilization of yards can be done by combining various types of productive plants, including a combination of medicinal plants, fruits, vegetable plants, food plants, and other local plants. adapted to the size of the yard. Therefore, careful planning and cross-sectoral support are needed in optimizing the use of yards so that they can contribute to supporting food security. Kandai Satu Sub-District is an area that has an average of yards belonging to the moderate to large yards group so that the utilization of yards can be done by combining various types of productive plants, including a combination of medicinal plants, fruits, vegetable plants, food plants, and other local plants. adapted to the size of the yard. Therefore, careful planning and cross-sectoral support are needed in optimizing the use of yards so that they can contribute to supporting food security. Kandai Satu Sub-District is an area that has an average of yards belonging to the moderate to large yards group so that the utilization of yards can be done by combining various types of productive plants, including a combination of medicinal plants, fruits, vegetable plants, food plants, and other local plants. adapted to the size of the yard.

Morphological Variation of Cultivated and Weedy Types in Perilla Crop Collected from South Korea

Background: Perilla (Perilla frutescens L.) has been widely cultivated and used for medicinal use, aromatic, functional food, and ornamental plant in South Korea. To understand the morphological variation in the cultivated and weedy types of Perilla (CWTP) collected from South Korea, 52 accessions collected from different areas were evlauated using one quantitative and 10 qualitative characteristics.BRMethods and Results: Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed using the NTSYS-pc V2.1 program to detect the differences among the accessions of the CWTP. Multivariate analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel Statistical Analysis System. The cultivated P. frutescens var. frutescens and two weedy types of Perilla crop were accurately distinguished based on he 11 morphological characteristics, paricularly seed related traits, used in the study. PCA results showed that, most morphological characteristics such as weight per 100 seeds (QN1), color of leaf adaxial side (QL1), color of leaf abaxial side (QL2), stem color (QL4), flower color (QL5), seed size (QL9), and seed hardness (QL10) provided a significant contribution in the positive or negative direction on the first axis. These characteristics are considered useful for distinguishing between accessions of the CWTP collected from South Korea.BRConclusions: The accessions of weedy P. frutescens var. frutescens are located between the accessions of cultivated P. frutescens var. frutescens and the those of weedy P. frutescens var. crispa on the first axis. Although the cultivated and weedy types of P. frutescens var. frutescens and the two weedy types of P. frutescens var. frutescens and P. frutescens var. crispa cannot be completely distinguished, the results provide useful information for future studies on the identification and classification of CWTP germplasm accessions collected from different areas in South Korea.

Identification of a secondary Q-marker in high-quality ecotypes of Carthamus tinctorius L. and exploration of the target preference.

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) has the efficacy for promoting blood circulation and preventing cardiovascular and Alzheimer's diseases and is thus a valuable medicinal and functional food plant. However, how to evaluate high-quality safflower is still a problem. To differentiate intraspecies ecotypes and illustrate the mechanisms of differential metabolites of C. tinctorius from different regions, this study combined the widely targeted metabolome, weighted network pharmacology, and molecular docking to filter bioactive compounds and predict the target preference. The results indicated that kaempferol is suitable as a secondary Q-marker to differentiate intraspecies ecotypes. In secondary metabolites, the average content of kaempferol and its derivates in C. tinctorius from Sichuan is three times that of other areas, which have the potential for the targeted medicine of CA2 and TNF. In volatile metabolites, isoaromadendrene epoxide has the potential as a specifically targeted medicine of RXRA. The change of the target preference could be the reason for the difference in drug efficacy among different varieties of C. tinctorius. It is reasonable that Sichuan was recognized as a high-quality ecotype producing region of C. tinctorius in China, which promotes blood circulation and removes blood stasis. This study provides an innovative method to differentiate intraspecies ecotypes and explore their target preference.

A comprehensive review on the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicity of Anagallis arvensis (L).: A wild edible medicinal food plant

Medicinal plants, since times immemorial, have been used in virtually all cultures for therapeutic purposes. Anagallis arvensis (L.) is a well-known medicinal plant traditionally utilized for a varied range of disorders including wound healing, lung problems, kidney stones, urinary tract infections, gout, and rheumatic conditions. This review is an attempt to summarize and comprehend the fragmented information until now published in the literature on the biochemical and toxicological perspective of A. arvensis. The literature was searched electronically from PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Science Direct, Ovid MEDLINE and Google Scholar. It was found that ethnomedical uses of A. arvensis plant and parts have been recorded throughout the world, where it has been used against a panoply of diseases. Phytochemical search has led to the identification of flavonoids, terpenoids, triterpenoid glycosides, phytosterols as main classes of secondary metabolites with a few other classes. A wide spectrum of in vivo and in vitro pharmacological activities have been reported from fresh plant material and its crude extracts and/or fractions. However there is currently a dearth of structure-activity studies of the isolated compounds and mechanistic studies from this species. The plant has also been reported for in vivo toxicity. It is clear from this review thatA. arvensis, though traditionally used by various cultures harbour a plethora of bioactive compounds exhibiting multifarious biological effects that could be exploited as biopharmaceuticals. Nonetheless, additional research work and structure-activity studies arekey prerequisite to transmute the empirical claims on the utilization of A. arvenisis in folklore medicines and a food plant into scientific shreds of evidence.

Non-clinical safety evaluation of salvianolic acid A: acute, 4-week intravenous toxicities and genotoxicity evaluations

BackgroundToxicological problem associated with herbal medicine is a significant public health problem. Hence, it is necessary to elaborate on the safety of herbal medicine. Salvianolic acid A (SAA) is a major active compound isolated from Danshen, a popular herbal drug and medicinal food plant in China. The aim of the present study was to explore the toxicological profile of SAA.MethodsThe acute toxicity studies were performed in mice and Beagle dogs with single administration with SAA. A 4-week subchronic toxicity was test in dogs. SAA was intravenously administered at doses of 20, 80 and 300 mg/kg. Clinical observation, laboratory testing and necropsy and histopathological examination were performed. The genotoxic potential of SAA was evaluated by 2 types of genotoxicity tests: a reverse mutation test in bacteria and bone marrow micronucleus test in mice.ResultsIn acute toxicities, the LD50 of SAA is 1161.2 mg/kg in mice. The minimum lethal dose (MLD) and maximal non-lethal dose (MNLD) of SAA were 682 mg/kg and 455 mg/kg in dogs, respectively. The approximate lethal dose range was 455–682 mg/kg. In the study of 4-week repeated-dose toxicity in dogs, focal necrosis in liver and renal tubular epithelial cell, the decrease in relative thymus weight, as well as abnormal changes in biochemical parameters, were observed in SAA 80 or 300 mg/kg group. The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of SAA was 20 mg/kg. Thymus, liver and kidneys were the toxic targets. These toxic effects were transient and reversible. These results indicated that it should note examination of liver and kidney function during the administration of SAA in clinic. Furthermore, SAA had no mutagenic effect at any tested doses.ConclusionThese results provide new toxicological information of SAA for its clinical application and functional food consumption.

Impact of polystyrene microplastics with combined contamination of norfloxacin and sulfadiazine on Chrysanthemum coronarium L.

Antibiotics and microplastics including nanoplastics are emerging contaminants which have become global environmental issues. The application of antibiotics along with microplastics in soil and their entrance in food chain may pose a major threat to human health. The single and combined exposure of polystyrene microplastic (MPS), norfloxacin (NF) and sulfadiazine (SFD) on Chrysanthemum coronarium L. a medicinal food crop, were investigated. Accumulation of nutrient element contents (Fe, Mn, Mg, Zn, K) differentially responded to the single or combined treatments compared to the control. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis indicated that MPS, NF and SFD accumulated in roots, shoots, and leaves and affected their ultrastructure. Compared with that of the single contamination, the co-contamination of microplastics and antibiotics had a greater effect on leaf metabolites due to combination of multiple abiotic stresses. MPS, NF and SFD accumulated from roots and transported to shoots and leaves which ultimately impacts plant metabolites and, nutritional value. They subsequently impact agricultural sustainability and food safety of medicinal food plants. This investigation suggests the possible ecological risks of microplastics to medicinal food plants, especially in co-exposure with organic pollutants like antibiotics and help to reveal potential mechanisms of phytotoxicity of different antibiotics with polyethylene microplastic.

New mechanistic insights on Justicia vahlii Roth: UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and GC–MS based metabolomics, in-vivo, in-silico toxicological, antioxidant based anti-inflammatory and enzyme inhibition evaluation

Justicia vahlii Roth. (acanthaceae) is an important medicinal food plant used in pain relief and topical inflammation. The present study aimed to evaluate phytochemical composition, toxicity, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and enzyme inhibition potential of n-butanol extract of J. vahlii (BEJv). The extract prepared through maceration was found rich in total phenolic contents (TPC) 196.08 ± 6.01 mg of Gallic acid equivalent (mg GAE/g DE) and total flavonoid contents (TFC) 59.08 ± 1.32 mg of Rutin equivalent (mg RE/g DE). The UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis of BEJv showed tentative identification of 87 compounds and 19 compounds were detected in GC–MS analysis. The HPLC-PDA quantification showed the presence of 14 polyphenols amongst which kaempferol (3.45 ± 0.21 µg/ mL DE) and ferulic acid (2.31 ± 1.30 µg/ mL DE) were found in highest quantity. The acute oral toxicity study revealed the safety and biocompatibility of the extract up to 3000 mg/kg in mice. There was no effect of BEJv on human normal liver cells (HL 7702) and very low cytotoxic effect on liver cancer cells (HepG2) and breast cancer cells (MCF-7). In anti-inflammatory evaluation, the BEJv treated groups showed significant inhibition (p < 0.001) of late phase carrageenan induced paw edema at 400 mg/kg and increased the levels of oxidative stress markers; catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) while decreased the inflammatory markers; interleukin-1beta (IL-β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in paw tissue of mice. BEJv displayed highest results in Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay 97. 21 ± 2.34 mg TE (trolox equivalent)/g DE, and highest activity 3.32 ± 0.31 mmol ACAE (acarbose equivalent)/g D.E against α-glucosidase. Docking study showed good docking score by the tested compounds against the various clinically significant enzymes. Conclusively the current study unveiled J. vahlii as novel non-toxic source with good antioxidant-mediated anti-inflammatory potential which strongly back the traditional use of the species in pain and inflammation.

Molecular mechanism of Ginkgo biloba in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus combined with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental evaluations.

Ginkgo biloba has gained increasing attention owing to its remarkable effects against cardiovascular disease. However, the role of G. biloba in hepatic lipid metabolism disorders in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) combined with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated. Here, the effective ingredients and mechanisms of action of G. biloba in T2DM combined with NAFLD were investigated via an integrated strategy of network pharmacology and molecular docking. Thirty-four core targets for the alleviation of T2DM combined with NAFLD were identified and retrieved from multiple open-source databases, after validating the ameliorative effect of G. biloba on lipid accumulation in vitro. The targets IL6, IL1B, VEGFA, PTGS2, and CCL2, among others, with high network association values, were screened using Cytoscape. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis showed that 34 compounds derived from G. biloba may exert therapeutic effects via response to molecule of bacterial origin, cellular response to lipid, and response to the hormone. In addition, the AGE-RAGE and IL-17 signaling pathways were predicted to be most significantly affected. Meanwhile, the outcomes of the molecular docking experiment showed that the most effective ingredients in G. biloba showed a strong binding affinity to the potential target active sites. Findings from further in vitro experiments confirmed that G. biloba treatment decreased the level of IL6, IL1B, and VEGFA protein. In conclusion, our findings provided novel insights into the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of G. biloba in T2DM combined with NAFLD. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: As a medicinal food plant, G. biloba has been shown to exert benefits in cardiovascular diseases. However, the pharmacological material basis and complex mechanism of action in G. biloba in T2DM combined with NAFLD remain unknown. Here, the mechanism by which G. biloba could ameliorate T2DM combined with NAFLD was investigated, and the potential target and molecular mechanism were explored, through a comprehensive strategy combining network pharmacology and molecular docking. Our findings indicate that G. biloba exerts synergistic effects in treating T2DM combined with NAFLD through multi-ingredients, multi-targets, and multi-pathways; the findings also elucidate the nutritional and therapeutic potential of G. biloba in preventing and treating T2DM combined with NAFLD and provides robust evidence for its clinical application.