Search

Pyrolae herba is the dried whole plant of Pyrola calliantha H. Andres or Pyrola decorata H. Andres (Pyrolaceae). Pyrolae herba has a long history of medicinal use in China. In ancient times, it was often used to treat pain in tendons and bones, swollen sore, cough, expectoration, bleeding, and other diseases. and was commonly used in ancient times to treat pain in the tendons and bones, swollen sore, cough, expectoration, bleeding and other diseases. This paper summarizes the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control and toxicology of Pyrolae herba , with a view to providing reference for further development and research. The relevant information on Pyrolae herba was collected from the scientific databases including PubMed, CNKI, ScienceDirect, Wiley, Springer, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China and Flora Republicae Popularis Sinicae, etc. At present, more than 70 compounds have been identified from Pyrolae herba , including flavonoids, phenolic glycosides, quinones, terpenoids, volatile oils and other compounds. Pharmacological studies have shown that Pyrolae herba has a variety of pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, reducing blood lipids, protective on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular, promoting osteoblast proliferation, and so on. It is used clinically in modern times to treat rheumatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, bone hyperplasia, sciatica, cervical spondylosis, lumbar spondylosis, acute and chronic bronchitis, mammary gland hyperplasia, tumor, hypertension, coronary heart disease and bleeding diseases. Pyrolae herba is rich in chemical constituents, diverse in pharmacological activities and abundant in resources, which is widely used in clinics from traditional to modern. However, there is a lack of research on the relationship between chemical constituents and pharmacodynamics of Pyrolae herba. In addition, the existing clinical applications suggest that Pyrolae herba has a certain therapeutic potential in the treatment of hemorrhagic diseases, but there is a lack of information on experimental studies. It is worthwhile to further investigate the Pyrolae herba in depth in the hope of making discoveries and breakthroughs. [Display omitted] • Systematically sorted out the clinical application of Pyrolae herba. • Put forward a promising research direction for Pyrolae herba. • The hemostatic effect of Pyrolae herba has been widely used in clinical medicine in traditional Chinese medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galla chinensis (GC), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has a wide range of pharmacological properties which have been widely used for more than 1400 years. Based on shape, GC is divided into two groups: jiaobei and dubei. It is a bitter, sour, cold and astringent substance which is usually used for treating diarrhea, constipation, bleeding, cough, vomiting, sweating, hemorrhoids, and anal and uterine prolapse. It is distributed in Japan, North Korea, and all parts of China. This study was aimed at carrying out a comprehensive overview of the current status of research on Galla chinensis (GC) for better understanding of it characteristics, while providing a clear direction for future studies. It has aroused the interest of researchers, leading to development of medicinal value, expansion of its application, and provision of wider and more effective drug choices. This study was focused on the traditional uses, botany, chemical composition, pharmacology and toxicology of GC. Finally, the study focused on possible future research directions for GC. A comprehensive analysis was done based on academic papers, pharmaceutical monographs, ancient medicinal works, and drug standards of China. This review used Galla and Galla chinensis as keywords for retrieval of information on GC from online databases such as PubMed, Elsevier, CNKI, Web of Science, Google Scholar, SCI hub, and Baidu academic. It was found that the chemical constituents of GC included tannins, phenolic acid, amino acids and fatty acid, with polyphenol compounds (especially tannins and gallic acid) as the distinct components. In vitro and in vivo studies revealed that GC exerted numerous biological effects such as anti-caries, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, and antioxidant effects. The therapeutic effect of GC was attributed mainly to the biological properties of its bioactive components. GC is an important TCM which has potential benefit in the treatment of a variety of diseases. However, the relationship amongst the structure and biological activity of GC and its components, mechanism of action, toxicity, pharmacokinetics and target organs need to be further studied. Quality control and quality assurance programs for GC need to be further developed. There is need to study the dynamics associated with the accumulation of chemical compounds in GC as well as the original plants and aphid that form GC. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Khaya grandifoliola is a well-known tree species in Africa with a conservation status of 'vulnerable' due to its overexploitation by the wood industry. Several studies have recorded numerous ethnobotanical uses of this plant, as well as the scientific validation of the efficacy of extracts from different plant parts used for the treatment of various ailments. However, this useful information is scattered throughout the literature and thus there is no opportunity to identify the existing knowledge gaps. This review aims to highlight the medicinal importance of Khaya grandifoliola including its known phytochemistry, biological activities and toxicology, to encourage a refocused conservation strategy since all current efforts are geared towards maintaining its continuous supply to the wood industry. Articles on K. grandifoliola were sourced from online databases such as Google Scholar, Medicine, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, SciFinder and other science journal websites up to May 2020. The search was conducted using various combinations of keywords such as biotechnological uses, biological activity, ethnobotany, ethnomedicine, indigenous uses, pharmacological activity, phytochemistry, proximate composition, toxicity, and traditional uses of K. grandifoliola. All downloaded articles were screened to determine their relevance to the scope of the review and the selected papers were included. The review revealed a host of ethnomedicinal uses such as anticancer, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-sickling, anti-ulcerogenic, and hepatoprotective, many of which are supported by scientific data. More importantly, toxicity tests revealed that many of the extracts are safe at various therapeutic doses. Important knowledge gaps that should be explored include phytochemical characterization and validation of some ethnobotanical claims on the folkloric usage of the plant. Notwithstanding the importance of K. grandifoliola in the wood industry, this review reveals that its use as a medicine is equally important. Its medicinal uses are also well supported with scientific studies as well as favourable toxicological studies though some scientific knowledge gaps require further studies. [Display omitted] • A compilation of the many ethnobotanical uses of K. grandifoliola is presented. • Uses include an array of medicinal uses including treatment of malaria. • Several studies have shown scientific validation to support traditional uses. • There are records of numerous chemical constituents isolated from the plant. • Literature revealed the non-toxicity of the extracts at various therapeutic dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]