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In veterinary medicine plant based medicine is achieving a huge importance worldwide. This research was subjected to rectify the hydrophilic Moringa Oleifera alcoholic leaves extract could improve the immune system in vaccinated and non-vaccinated broiler Hubbard chickens experimentally exposed to Newcastle disease (ND) virus. Seventy five chicks with age one day old were splitted randomly into five groups equally in distribution with fifteen chick in each group. Group I was untreated unvaccinated (control negative group) while group IV was infected group with NDV (control positive group). The experimental Groups II and V were given daily oral treatment of hydrophilic alcoholic leaves extract of M. oleifera at 200 mg/kg body weight until day 21 of age while groups III and V were ND vaccinated with La Sota strain of ND vaccines. The four groups (II, III, IV, V) were infected with ND virus velogenic strain (VNDV) on day 21. Following to infection, Monitoring of birds were done daily for clinical signs, postmortem examination, morbidity and mortality. Cellular, humeral immune response and phagocytic activity were evaluated and the data were statistically analyzed using (SPSS). Total and differential cell numbers as well as Haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titre increased in the extract treated and vaccinated group which give total protection against NDV much more than treated and unvaccinated group. As a result it could be recommended to use M. Olifera e xtract from the first day of rearing in Hubbard chicken with ND vaccination program as a prophylactic treatment in protection of birds against ND infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is the second cause of death after cardiovascular diseases. With due attention to rapid progress in the phytochemical study of plants, they are becoming popular because of their anticancer effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effective medicinal plants in the treatment of cancer and study their mechanism of action. In order to gather information the keywords “traditional medicine,” “plant compounds,” “medicinal plant,” “medicinal herb,” “toxicity,” “anticancer effect,” “cell line,” and “treatment” were searched in international databases such as ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Scopus and national databases such as Magiran, Sid, and Iranmedex, and a total of 228 articles were collected. In this phase, 49 nonrelevant articles were excluded. Enhancement P53 protein expression, reducing the expression of proteins P27, P21, NFκB expression and induction of apoptosis, inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway, and reduction of the level of acid phosphatase and lipid peroxidation are the most effective mechanisms of herbal plants that can inhibit cell cycle and proliferation. Common treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy can cause some complications. According to results of this study, herbal extracts have antioxidant compounds that can induce apoptosis and inhibit cell proliferation by the investigated mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aloe vera, as a traditional folk medicine plant, is used for its curative and therapeutic properties. In the current study, attempts were made to evaluate in vitro antimicrobial activity of A. vera gel against Escherichia coli strains isolated from patients with urinary tract infection. A total of 150 E. coli isolates were recovered from urine samples between July 2015 and September 2015. Extended-spectrum ²-lactamase (ESBL) screening in Escherichia coli isolates was on the basis of double disc synergy tests and combined disk diffusion test. Epsilometer test was performed to determine susceptibilities of E. coli isolates to 13 antimicrobial agents. Metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) production was detected by performing combined disc test. Also, the micro broth dilution method was used to determine the antimicrobial activity of A. vera gel against E. coli isolates.In the present study, out of 150 E. coli isolates, 110 (73.3%) were confirmed as ESBL. MBL screening, using phenotypic methods, indicated that 33 (22%) isolates were positive. The antibiogram revealed that 148 isolates (98.7%) were multi drug resistance E. coli strains. The coexistences of ESBL and MBL were found in 15 isolates (10%). All of ESBL and MBL E. coli strains were inhibited by ethanol extract of A. vera gel at minimum inhibitory concentration £200 µg/ml. More than half of the tested isolates (53.3%) were inhibited by concentrations that did not exceed 50 µg/ml for ethanol extract from A. vera gel.The results of the present study highlighted that A. vera gel, at various concentrations, could be used as an antibacterial agent for treatment and prevention of UTIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-made biopharmaceuticals have long been considered a promising technology for providing inexpensive and efficacious medicines for developing countries, as well as for combating pandemic infectious diseases and for use in personalized medicine. Plant virus expression vectors produce high levels of pharmaceutical proteins within a very short time period. Recently, plant viruses have been employed as nanoparticles for novel forms of cancer treatment. This review provides a glimpse into the development of plant virus expression systems both for pharmaceutical production as well as for immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the Chinese traditional medicine, plant of Agastache rugosa (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) Kuntze (A. rugosa) has been used to treat nausea, vomiting and dispel damp. However, currently, few reports about the chemical constituents, especially the non-volatile components of A. rugosa are available. Methods: Through separation with various column chromatographies to elucidate the chemical constituents of A. rugosa, the biological activities of the major constituents were investigated. The extracts and main constituents of A. rugosa were evaluated for their anticoagulant effects by assaying the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT) and fibrinogen (FIB) in vitro. Results: Seven known compounds (namely compounds 1-7) were isolated from the aerial parts of A. rugosa. They were identified as methyl hexadecanoate (1), β-sitosterol (2), acacetin (3), ursolic acid (4), apigenin (5), protocatechuic acid (6) and tilianin (7), respectively. Compounds 1 and 6 were isolated from the genus Agastache for the first time, and compound 4 was obtained from the plants for the first time. The results showed that the extract of A. rugosa had a significant procoagulant activity by shortening the time of PT (P < 0.001) and increasing FIB content (P < 0.001), as compared with Vitamin K1. While its major constituents acacetin and tilianin exhibited significant anticoagulant activities by prolonging the times of PT, APTT, TT and reducing FIB content (P < 0.001), as compared with blank control group. Conclusions: The total extract of A. rugosa possessed significant procoagulant activity, while its main components, acacetin and tilianin possessed significant anticoagulant activities. Further investigation should be pursued to find out the bioactivity components responsible for the procoagulant action of the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Careful characterization and standardization of the composition of plant-derived food supplements is essential to establish a cause-effect relationship between the intake of that product and its health effect. In this review we follow a specific grape seed extract containing monomeric and oligomeric flavan-3-ols from its creation by Jack Masquelier in 1947 towards a botanical remedy and nutraceutical with proven health benefits. The preparation's research history parallels the advancing insights in the fields of molecular biology, medicine, plant and nutritional sciences during the last 70 years. Analysis of the extract's flavanol composition emerged from unspecific colorimetric assays to precise high performance liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance fingerprinting techniques. The early recognition of the preparation's auspicious effects on the permeability of vascular capillaries directed research to unravel the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms. Recent clinical data revealed a multitude of favorable alterations in the vasculature upon an 8 weeks supplementation which summed up in a health benefit of the extract in healthy humans. Changes in gene expression of inflammatory pathways in the volunteers' leukocytes were suggested to be involved in this benefit. The historically grown scientific evidence for the preparation's health effects paves the way to further elucidate its metabolic fate and molecular action in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antibiotic resistance has become one of the major problems facing humanity. The need for new antimicrobials has been increased dramatically. Plants are considered as one of the most promising sources for new antimicrobials discovery. Despite relatively small area, Armenia has large diversity of flora with many endemic species. In Armenian folk medicine plant materials have been used to treat various microbial diseases since ancient times. The goal of our research was to evaluate antimicrobial efficiency of different parts of five wild plants species which are commonly used in Armenian traditional medicine. Methods: Plant crude extracts were obtained with maceration technique using five solvents separately: distilled water, methanol, chloroform, acetone, and hexane. Agar well diffusion assay was used for initial evaluation of antimicrobial properties of plant materials against five bacterial and two yeast strains. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of the most active plant parts were determined by broth microdilution method. Results: Crude extracts of all five tested plants expressed antimicrobial activity against at least four test strains at 500 µg ml-1 concentration. Minimum inhibitory and bactericidal/fungicidal concentrations of selected plant parts were determined. Crude acetone and hexane extracts of Hypericum alpestre and acetone extract of Sanguisorba officinalis inhibited the growth of P. aeruginosa even at 64 µg ml-1 concentration. Chloroform and acetone extracts of Sanguisorba officinalis exhibited cidal activity against P. aeruginosa till 256 µg ml-1. Acetone was the most effective solvent for solubilizing antimicrobial compounds for almost all tested plant materials. Conclusions: Thus, antimicrobial activity of some medicinal plants used in Armenian traditional medicine was evaluated. Some of the plants had rather low minimum bacteriostatic/bactericidal concentrations and therefore they have prospective for further more inclusive studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeted nucleases are powerful genomic tools to precisely change the target genome of living cells, controlling functional genes with high exactness. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) genome editing system has been identified as one of the most useful biological tools in genetic engineering that is taken from adaptive immune strategies for bacteria. In recent years, this system has made significant progress and it has been widely used in genome editing to create gene knock-ins, knock-outs, and point mutations. This paper summarizes the application of this system in various biological sciences, including medicine, plant science, and animal breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the fabrication of natural Chinese medicine polysaccharides hemostatic and their potential applications for hemostasis and wound healing. [Display omitted] • The Three-leaf Qing polysaccharide-based hemostatic was prepared by water abstraction and alcohol precipitation method. • The SYQ-S demonstrates instant water-triggered expansion, high absorption capacity, and platelet aggregation. • The SYQ-S can trigger intrinsic coagulation pathways. • The SYQ-S could be used for the treatment of bleeding in the irregular or deep wounds. • The sponges have great potential in the wound repair and regeneration. Hemostatic materials that allow fast and convenient hemostasis are urgently needed. However, obtaining an ideal hemostatic agent that exhibits biocompatibility, biodegradability, and hemostatic efficacy remains challenging. Recent studies demonstrate that morphological characteristics of hemostatic materials impact their efficacy. This study reports on the importance of morphological modification of traditional Chinese medicine plant polysaccharides. The hemostatic properties of Three-leaf Qing polysaccharides, optimized in particle (SYQ-P) and sponge (SYQ-S) forms, were investigated in vitro and in vivo. SYQ-S and SYQ-P exhibit excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility, thereby improving fibroblast cell proliferation. The hemostatic mechanism involves stable blood clot formation through intrinsic coagulation pathways. In a lethal mouse liver defect bleeding model, blood loss and clotting time were lower with polysaccharides use than with commercial hemostatic drugs. SYQ-S demonstrates instant water-triggered expansion and high absorption capacity, while the sponge-like morphological characteristics effectively improve blood component concentrations. With efficient hemostasis and excellent biocompatibility, SYQ-S dramatically accelerated wound healing in a full-thickness skin defect model in vivo. Thus, SYQ-S effectively promotes the formation of granulation tissue, collagen deposition, and angiogenesis, which ultimately accelerates wound healing. Our work highlights the design of natural Chinese medicine polysaccharides and presents a promising hemostatic agent for widespread clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rising resistance to antimicrobials, particularly in the case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), represents a formidable global health challenge. Consequently, it is imperative to develop new antimicrobial solutions. This study evaluated 68 Chinese medicinal plants renowned for their historical applications in treating infectious diseases. Methods: The antimicrobial efficacy of medicinal plants were evaluated by determining their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against MRSA. Safety profiles were assessed on human colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. Mechanistic insights were obtained through fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy (FM and TEM). Synergistic effects with vancomycin were investigated using the Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index (FICI). Results: Rheum palmatum L., Arctium lappa L. and Paeonia suffructicosaas Andr. have emerged as potential candidates with potent anti-MRSA properties, with an impressive low MIC of 7.8 µg/mL, comparable to the 2 µg/mL MIC of vancomycin served as the antibiotic control. Crucially, these candidates demonstrated significant safety profiles when evaluated on Caco-2 and HepG2 cells. Even at 16 times the MIC, the cell viability ranged from 83.3% to 95.7%, highlighting their potential safety. FM and TEM revealed a diverse array of actions against MRSA, such as disrupting the cell wall and membrane, interference with nucleoids, and inducing morphological alterations resembling pseudo-multicellular structures in MRSA. Additionally, the synergy between vancomycin and these three plant extracts was evident against MRSA (FICI < 0.5). Notably, aqueous extract of R. palmatum at 1/4 MIC significantly reduced the vancomycin MIC from 2 µg/mL to 0.03 µg/mL, making a remarkable 67-fold decrease. Conclusions: This study unveil new insights into the mechanistic actions and pleiotropic antibacterial effectiveness of these medicinal plants against resistant bacteria, providing robust evidence for their potential use as standalone or in conjunction with antibiotics, to effectively combat antimicrobial resistance, particularly against MRSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua (PCH), as an important economic crop, is used as raw industrial materials and traditional Chinese medicine. There are significant variations in the quality of PCH from different geographical origins. It can be due to the change of the endophytic fungi and soil microbial communities of PCH. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the composition and functional prediction of the main microbial communities in the rhizomes and soil of PCH and explore their impact on medicinal quality. High-throughput sequencing techniques targeting ITS and 16S rDNA were employed to compare the structure and biodiversity differences of endophytic fungi in the rhizomes and soil microbial communities of PCH from 12 different locations in Sichuan and Guangxi province. Heatmap analysis was used for comprehensive statistics and visualization of the richness of rhizome and soil microbial communities from all locations. Venn analysis was conducted to determine the total number of shared fungi between rhizomes and soil, and GraphPad Prism analysis was employed to predict and compare the microbial communities related to phenotypes at the genus level in Sichuan and Guangxi. Tax4Fun and Fungild were used for metabolic function prediction of microbial communities in the rhizomes and soil of PCH. The results revealed the identification of 19,387 bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) in the rhizomes and 37,990 bacterial ASVs in the soil, with 6,889 shared bacterial ASVs. In addition, 2,948 fungal ASVs were identified in the rhizomes and 8,868 in the soil, with 1,893 shared fungal ASVs. Microbial sequencing results indicated that the fungal communities between soil and rhizomes were mainly composed of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, while bacterial communities included Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidota, Gammatimonadota, and Firmicutes. Dominant bacterial groups such as Nitrospira, Acidibacter, and fungal groups including Mortierella, Ceratobasidium, and Fusarium were identified as potential contributors to the observed traits. In the top 15 microbial genera, both Sichuan and Guangxi contain 15 bacterial genera, but there are differences in their abundance. Guangxi has three unique fungal genera, including the genera Scleroderma, Russula, and Gliocladiopsis. On the other hand, Sichuan has the unique fungal genus Chamaeota. The correlation analysis between the microbiota and the chemical content from 12 different collecting spots was performed by GraphPad Prism. Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, Acidibacter, and Amycolatopsis show an inverse proportionality to total polysaccharides and saponins, while Enterobacter shows a direct proportionality to total polysaccharides and inverse proportionality to saponins. The metabolism pathways show a significant positive correlation with PCH polysaccharides and saponins. This study provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying the quality differences between the two major indigenous areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional Chinese Baijiu brewing process utilizes natural inoculation and open fermentation. The microbial composition and abundance in the microecology of Baijiu brewing often exhibit unstable characteristics, which directly results in fluctuations in Baijiu quality. The microbiota plays a crucial role in determining the quality of Baijiu. Analyzing the driving effect of technology and raw materials on microorganisms. Elucidating the source of core microorganisms and interactions between microorganisms, and finally utilizing single or multiple microorganisms to regulate and intensify the Baijiu fermentation process is an important way to achieve high efficiency and stability in the production of Baijiu. This paper provides a systematic review of the composition and sources of microbiota at different brewing stages. It also analyzes the relationship between raw materials, brewing processes, and brewing microbiota, as well as the steps involved in the implementation of brewing microbiota regulation strategies. In addition, this paper considers the feasibility of using Baijiu flavor as a guide for Baijiu brewing regulation by synthesizing the microbiota, and the challenges involved. This paper is a guide for flavor regulation and quality assurance of Baijiu and also suggests new research directions for regulatory strategies for other fermented foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pueraria montana is a species with important medicinal value and a complex genetic background. In this study, we sequenced and assembled the mitochondrial (mt) genomes of two varieties of P. montana. The mt genome lengths of P. montana var. thomsonii and P. montana var. montana were 457,390 bp and 456,731 bp, respectively. Both P. montana mitogenomes showed a multi-branched structure consisting of two circular molecules, with 56 genes annotated, comprising 33 protein-coding genes, 18 tRNA genes (trnC-GCA and trnM-CAU are multi-copy genes), and 3 rRNA genes. Then, 207 pairs of long repeats and 96 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were detected in the mt genomes of P. montana, and 484 potential RNA-editing sites were found across the 33 mitochondrial protein-coding genes of each variety. Additionally, a syntenic sequence analysis showed a high collinearity between the two mt genomes. This work is the first to analyze the mt genomes of P. montana. It can provide information that can be used to analyze the structure of mt genomes of higher plants and provide a foundation for future comparative genomic studies and evolutionary biology research in related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive cadmium (Cd) in rice is a global environmental problem. Therefore, reducing Cd content in rice is of great significance for ensuring food security and human health. A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of foliar application of citric acid (CA) on Cd absorption and transportation in rice under high Cd-contaminated soils (2.04 mg·kg−1). This study revealed that there was a negative correlation between Cd content in vegetative organs and CA content, and that foliar spraying of CA (1 mM and 5 mM) significantly increased CA content and reduced Cd content in vegetative organs. The Cd reduction effect of 5 mM CA was better than that of 1 mM, and 5 mM CA reduced Cd content in grains and spikes by 52% and 37%, respectively. CA significantly increased Mn content in vegetative organs and increased Ca/Mn ratios in spikes, flag leaves, and roots. CA significantly reduced soluble Cd content in vegetative organs and promoted the transformation of Cd into insoluble Cd, thus inhibiting the transport of Cd from vegetative organs to grains. The foliar field application of 1 mM and 5 mM CA could inhibit Cd absorption and transportation by reducing Cd bioactivity and increasing the antagonistic of essential elements in rice vegetative organs. These results provide technical support and a theoretical basis for solving the problem of excessive Cd in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The medicinal value of medicinal plants lies in some bioactive constituents that produce a definite physiological action on the human body. Heliotropium verdcourtii is a deciduous shrub or small tree traditionally used in the treatment of various diseases including fever, dry cough, measles, convulsions, epilepsy, diarrhea, and other ailments. The chemical constituents of the roots of the plant were not investigated to date. The aim of the study was to investigate the phytochemicals present in the roots of Heliotropium verdcourtii. The freshly collected root of the plant was chopped and air dried under shade. The dried and finely grounded plant root was extracted through maceration with n-hexane, chloroform/methanol (v/v 1:1), and methanol successively. The extracts were subjected to qualitative phytochemical tests for screening the classes of secondary metabolites present in the plant. Compound isolation of the chloroform/methanol (v/v 1:1) extract was performed through silica gel chromatographic separation. The structures of all isolated compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods as well as comparison with previous reports in the literature. The yields of n-hexane, chloroform/methanol (v/v 1:1), and methanol extracts were 2.2 g (0.4%), 25 g (5.0%), and 19.8 g (4.0%), respectively. The qualitative phytochemical test of the extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, saponins, glycosides and alkaloids. Silica gel chromatographic separation afforded a mixture of three isomeric triterpenoids identified as α-amyrin, β-amyrin, and bauerenol. To the best of our knowledge these bioactive compounds were isolated from the root of this plant, for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the complete telomere-to-telomere genome assembly of Oldenlandia diffusa which renowned in traditional Chinese medicine, comprising 16 chromosomes and spanning 499.7 Mb. The assembly showcases 28 telomeres and minimal gaps, with a total of only five. Repeat sequences constitute 46.41% of the genome, and 49,701 potential protein-coding genes have been predicted. Compared with O. corymbosa , O. diffusa exhibits chromosome duplication and fusion events, diverging 20.34 million years ago. Additionally, a total of 11 clusters of terpene synthase have been identified. The comprehensive genome sequence, gene catalog, and terpene synthase clusters of O. diffusa detailed in this study will significantly contribute to advancing research in this species' genetic, genomic, and pharmacological aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer, the most prevalentmalignant tumor among women globally, is significantly influenced by the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which plays a crucial role in its initiation and progression. While conventional chemotherapy, the standard clinical treatment, suffers from significant drawbacks like severe side effects, high toxicity, and limited prognostic efficacy, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides a promising alternative. TCM employs a multi-targeted therapeutic approach, which results in fewer side effects and offers a high potential for effective treatment. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the therapeutic impacts of TCM on various subtypes of breast cancer, focusing on its interaction with the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Additionally, it explores the effectiveness of both monomeric and compound forms of TCM in the management of breast cancer. We also discuss the potential of establishing biomarkers for breast cancer treatment based on key proteins within the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Our aim is to offer new insights into the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and to contribute to the standardization of TCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The current review aims to outline and summarize the latest research on aflatoxin, with research studies describing natural, herbal and chemical compound applications in animal (pig) models and in vitro cellular studies. Aflatoxin, a carcinogenic toxin metabolite, is produced by Aspergillus flavus in humid environments, posing a threat to human health and crop production. The current treatment involves the prevention of exposure to aflatoxin and counteracting its harmful toxic effects, enabling survival and research studies on an antidote for aflatoxin. Objectives: To summarize current research prospects and to outline the influence of aflatoxin on animal forage in farm production, food and crop processing. The research application of remedies to treat aflatoxin is undergoing development to pinpoint biochemical pathways responsible for aflatoxin effects transmission and actions of treatment. Significance: To underline the environmental stress of aflatoxin on meat and dairy products; to describe clinical syndromes associated with aflatoxicosis on human health that are counteracted with proposed treatment and preventive interventions. To understand how to improve the health of farm animals with feed conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Thalictrum fargesii is a medicinal plant belonging to the genus Thalictrum of the Ranunculaceae family and has been used in herbal medicine in the Himalayan regions of China and India. This species is taxonomically challenging because of its morphological similarities to other species within the genus. Thus, herbal drugs from this species are frequently adulterated, substituted, or mixed with other species, thereby endangering consumer safety. Methods: The present study aimed to sequence and assemble the entire chloroplast (cp) genome of T. fargesii using the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform to better understand the genomic architecture, gene composition, and phylogenetic relationships within the Thalictrum. Results and discussion: The cp genome was 155,929 bp long and contained large single-copy (85,395 bp) and small single-copy (17,576 bp) regions that were segregated by a pair of inverted repeat regions (26,479 bp) to form a quadripartite structure. The cp genome contains 133 genes, including 88 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Additionally, this genome contains 64 codons that encode 20 amino acids, the most preferred of which are alanine and leucine. We identified 68 SSRs, 27 long repeats, and 242 high-confidence C-to-U RNA-editing sites in the cp genome. Moreover, we discovered seven divergent hotspot regions in the cp genome of T. fargesii, among which ndhD-psaC and rpl16-rps3 may be useful for developing molecular markers for identifying ethnodrug species and their contaminants. A comparative study with eight other species in the genus revealed that pafI and rps19 had highly variable sites in the cp genome of T. fargesii. Additionally, two special features, (i) the shortest length of the ycf1 gene at the IRA-SSC boundary and (ii) the distance between the rps19 fragment and trnH at the IRA-LSC junction, distinguish the cp genome of T. fargesii from those of other species within the genus. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis revealed that T. fargesii was closely related to T. tenue and T. petaloidium. Conclusion: Considering all these lines of evidence, our findings offer crucial molecular and evolutionary information that could play a significant role in further species identification, evolution, and phylogenetic studies on T. fargesii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myocardial ischemia is the leading cause of health loss from cardiovascular disease worldwide. Myocardial ischemia and hypoxia during exercise trigger the risk of sudden exercise death which, in severe cases, will further lead to myocardial infarction. The Nrf2 transcription factor is an important antioxidant regulator that is extensively engaged in biological processes such as oxidative stress, inflammatory response, apoptosis, and mitochondrial malfunction. It has a significant role in the prevention and treatment of several cardiovascular illnesses, since it can control not only the expression of several antioxidant genes, but also the target genes of associated pathological processes. Therefore, targeting Nrf2 will have great potential in the treatment of myocardial ischemic injury. Natural products are widely used to treat myocardial ischemic diseases because of their few side effects. A large number of studies have shown that the Nrf2 transcription factor can be used as an important way for natural products to alleviate myocardial ischemia. However, the specific role and related mechanism of Nrf2 in mediating natural products in the treatment of myocardial ischemia is still unclear. Therefore, this review combs the key role and possible mechanism of Nrf2 in myocardial ischemic injury, and emphatically summarizes the significant role of natural products in treating myocardial ischemic symptoms, thus providing a broad foundation for clinical transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objectives: American foulbrood (AFB), caused by the highly virulent, spore-forming bacterium Paenibacillus larvae, poses a significant threat to honey bee brood. The widespread use of antibiotics not only fails to effectively combat the disease but also raises concerns regarding honey safety. The current computational study was attempted to identify a novel therapeutic drug target against P. larvae, a causative agent of American foulbrood disease in honey bee. Methods: We investigated effective novel drug targets through a comprehensive in silico pan-proteome and hierarchal subtractive sequence analysis. In total, 14 strains of P. larvae genomes were used to identify core genes. Subsequently, the core proteome was systematically narrowed down to a single protein predicted as the potential drug target. Alphafold software was then employed to predict the 3D structure of the potential drug target. Structural docking was carried out between a library of phytochemicals derived from traditional Chinese flora (n > 36,000) and the potential receptor using Autodock tool 1.5.6. Finally, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation study was conducted using GROMACS to assess the stability of the best-docked ligand. Results: Proteome mining led to the identification of Ketoacyl-ACP synthase III as a highly promising therapeutic target, making it a prime candidate for inhibitor screening. The subsequent virtual screening and MD simulation analyses further affirmed the selection of ZINC95910054 as a potent inhibitor, with the lowest binding energy. This finding presents significant promise in the battle against P. larvae. Conclusions: Computer aided drug design provides a novel approach for managing American foulbrood in honey bee populations, potentially mitigating its detrimental effects on both bee colonies and the honey industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus infections are prevalent in healthcare and community environments. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus is catalogued as a superbug of high priority among the pathogens. This Gram-positive coccus can form biofilms and produce toxins, leading to persistent infection and antibiotic resistance. Limited effective antibiotics have encouraged the development of innovative strategies, with a particular emphasis on resistance mechanisms and/or virulence factors. Medicinal aromatic plants have emerged as promising alternative sources. This study investigated the antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and antihemolysis properties of three different chemotypes of Lippia origanoides essential oil (EO) against susceptible and drug-resistant S. aureus strains. The chemical composition of the EO was analyzed using GC-MS, revealing high monoterpene concentrations, with carvacrol and thymol as the major components in two of the chemotypes. The third chemotype consisted mainly of the sesquiterpene β-caryophyllene. The MIC values for the two monoterpene chemotypes ranged from 62.5 to 500 µg/mL for all strains, whereas the sesquiterpene chemotype showed activity against seven strains at concentrations of 125–500 µg/mL, which is the first report of its anti-S. aureus activity. The phenolic chemotypes inhibited biofilm formation in seven S. aureus strains, whereas the sesquiterpene chemotype only inhibited biofilm formation in four strains. In addition, phenolic chemotypes displayed antihemolysis activity, with IC50 values ranging from 58.9 ± 3.8 to 128.3 ± 9.2 µg/mL. Our study highlights the importance of L. origanoides EO from the Yucatan Peninsula, which has the potential for the development of anti-S. aureus agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cat's whiskers plant is an ornamental plant used as a medicinal plant. The part of the cat's whiskers plant used is leaves. Accessions and harvest intervals are essential for increasing optimal yields to plant biomass growth and results. This study aims to determine the effect of differences in accession, intervals, and interactions between accession differences and intervals on the growth and production of a cat's whiskers biomass. The design used in this study is a complete group design of being randomized with two treatment factors. The first factor has two treatment levels: white flowering accessions (A1) and purple flowering accessions (A2). The second factor is a harvest interval with four treatment levels, namely a 1-week harvest interval (P1), two weeks (P2), three weeks (P3), and six weeks (P4). The results showed that accession treatment significantly affected the number of books, number of branches, flowering ages, leaf fresh weight, leaf dry weight, and leaf simplicia yields. Harvest interval treatment significantly affects the height of the shoots, number of shoots, number of branches, number of leaves, flowering ages, leaf fresh weight, stem fresh weight, flower fresh weight, leaf dry weight, stem dry weight, flower dry weight, and leaf simplicia yield. Accession interactions with harvest intervals significantly affect the height of the shoots, number of shoots, number of branches, number of leaves, flower fresh weight, stem dry weight, and leaf simplicia yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Artemisia campestris L. (AC) leaves are widely recognized for their importance in traditional medicine. Despite the considerable amount of research conducted on this plant overworld, the chemical composition and the biological activity of the leaves grown in Tunisia remains poorly investigated. In this study of AC, a successive extraction method was employed (hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol) to investigate its bioactive constituents by LC-MS analysis, and their antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities. Results: Data analysis revealed diverse compound profiles in AC extracts. Methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts exhibited higher polyphenolic content and antioxidant activities, while Hexane showed superior phytosterol extraction. Ethyl acetate extract displayed potent antibacterial activity against multi-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Additionally, all extracts demonstrated, for the first time, robust antifungal efficacy against Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger. Cytotoxicity assays revealed the significant impact of methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts on metastatic breast cancer and multiple myeloma, examined for the first time in our study. Moreover, further analysis on multiple myeloma cells highlighted that the ethyl acetate extract induced apoptotic and necrotic cell death and resulted in an S phase cell cycle blockage, underscoring its therapeutic potential. Conclusions: This investigation uncovers novel findings in Tunisian AC, notably the identification of lupeol, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol. The study sheds light on the promising role of AC extracts in therapeutic interventions and underscores the need for continued research to harness its full potential in medicine and pharmaceutical development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pleopeltis crassinervata is a fern documented in ethnobotanical records for its use in Mexican traditional medicine to treat gastric disorders and mouth ulcers. Consequently, conducting biological and pharmacological assays is crucial to validate the therapeutic efficacy of this plant within the context of traditional medicine. In the present study, we investigated the biological activity of extracts and fractions obtained from P. crassinervata organs against bacteria (Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, Shigella flexneri, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli) and Trichomonas vaginalis using in vitro models. The precipitate fraction obtained from the frond methanolic extract showed significant antibacterial activity (minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC] 120 µg/mL) against the Staphylococcus aureus strain and was effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The hexane fraction also obtained from frond methanolic extract, showed a trichomonacidal effect with an IC50 of 82.8 μg/mL and a low cytotoxic effect. Hsf6 exhibited the highest activity against T. vaginalis, and the GC-MS analysis revealed that the predominant compound was 16-pregnenolone. The remaining identified compounds were primarily terpene-type compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Small extracellular vesicles (SEVs) are known to have an impact on the physiological conditions of target cells, are a critical component of cell-to-cell communication, and have been implicated in a variety of diseases. Although it has been proposed that edible plant-derived nanoparticles have an effect on communication with mammalian cells, the influence of these nanoparticles on cancer cell development has yet to be explored. Materials and methods: In order to characterize small extracellular vesicles obtained from garlic, specific SEV surface markers, antibodies, and size detections were identified using scanning electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis. Human hepatoma (Hep3B), human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y), human pancreatic adenocarcinoma (Panc-1a), human glioblastoma (U87), prostate cancer (PC-3), and human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVEC) cell lines were treated with garlic SEVs to examine their anticancer properties. Results: Annexin V FITC/PI staining for apoptosis, mRNA, and protein expression levels via RT-PCR and ELISA indicated that garlic SEVs triggered apoptosis by activating the intrinsic pathway. Our findings support the idea that SEVs produced from garlic may trigger apoptotic cell death in cancer cells while having no effect on healthy cells. Conclusion: It was discovered that plant SEVs had anti-cancer effects by activating caspase-mediated apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MetaDb is a database that provides comprehensive information on the biosynthesis and regulation of natural products from medicinal plants. It integrates data from various sources and includes information on genes, transcription factors, compounds, and metabolic pathways. The database offers a user-friendly interface with search and browsing functionalities, as well as access to bioinformatics analysis tools. MetaDb aims to facilitate research on the synthesis and regulation of natural products in medicinal plants and will be continuously updated and expanded in the future. [Extracted from the article]

Osteoporosis characterized by decreased bone density and mass, is a systemic bone disease with the destruction of microstructure and increase in fragility. Osteoporosis is attributed to multiple causes, including aging, inflammation, diabetes mellitus, and other factors induced by the adverse effects of medications. Without treatment, osteoporosis will further progress and bring great trouble to human life. Due to the various causes, the treatment of osteoporosis is mainly aimed at improving bone metabolism, inhibiting bone resorption, and promoting bone formation. Although the currently approved drugs can reduce the risk of fragility fractures in individuals, a single drug has limitations in terms of safety and effectiveness. By contrast, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), a characteristic discipline in China, including syndrome differentiation, Chinese medicine prescription, and active ingredients, shows unique advantages in the treatment of osteoporosis and has received attention all over the world. Therefore, this review summarized the pathogenic factors, pathogenesis, therapy limitations, and advantages of TCM, aiming at providing new ideas for the prevention and treatment of OP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lymphoma incidence rate is on the rise, with invasive forms particularly prone to relapse following conventional treatment, posing a significant threat to human life and wellbeing. Numerous studies have shown that traditional Chinese botanical drug medicine offers promising therapeutic benefits for various malignancies, with previous experimental findings indicating that Celastrus orbiculatus extract effectively combats digestive tract tumors. However, its impact on lymphoma remains unexplored. This study aims to investigate the impact and underlying mechanisms of COE on the proliferation and apoptosis of Burkitt lymphoma cells. We diluted COE in RPMI-1640 medium to create various working concentrations and introduced it to human Burkitt lymphoma Raji and Ramos cells. To evaluate cell viability, we used the CCK-8 assay, and we observed morphological changes using HE staining. We also conducted Annexin V-PI and JC-1 staining experiments to assess apoptosis. By combining the cell cycle experiment with the EDU assay, we gained insights into the effects of COE on DNA replication in lymphoma cells. Using Western blotting, we detected alterations in apoptosis-related proteins. In vivo experiments revealed that following COE intervention, tumor volume decreased, survival time was prolonged, spleen size reduced, and the expression of tumor apoptosisrelated proteins changed. Our findings indicate that COE effectively inhibits lymphoma cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis by regulating these apoptosis-related proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the utilization of tamarind seeds as a potential and sustainable ingredient in green cosmetics has gained significant interest. These seeds, previously considered by-products in various food industries, are now being recognized for their interesting value and wide range of bioactive compounds. This study aimed to deeply examine the potential biological activities and underlying molecular mechanisms of tamarind seed jellose (TJ), a natural polysaccharide derived from Tamarindus indica seeds, for various cosmetic applications. Tyrosinase, a key regulator of melanin synthesis and skin color, was the main focus of this study. Through a series of in vitro experiments on skin fibroblasts and B16 melanoma cells, the cytotoxicity, antioxidant activity, and melanogenesis inhibitory potential of tamarind seed jellose were evaluated. Notably, the results revealed that TJ had no obvious cytotoxic effects on skin fibroblast cells at any tested concentrations, ranging from 0 to 10 mg/mL. Interestingly, tamarind seed jellose effectively reduced melanin synthesis by inhibiting tyrosinase expression in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, TJ exhibited a promising antioxidant activity. Collectively, these findings highlight that TJ has the potential to serve as a safe and multi-functional ingredient for green cosmetic applications, offering the potential opportunity to repurpose waste for the beauty industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic synovitis of the affected joints. Total glucosides of paeony (TGP) capsules have been widely used clinically for the treatment of RA with good efficacy and safety. However, its effect on inflammatory cytokines remains unclear. Objectives: This study aimed to summarize the effect of TGP on the expression level of serum inflammatory cytokines in RA animal models and its potential mechanisms. Methods: Six databases were searched up to 14 August 2023, relevant animal experiment studies were screened, data were extracted, and the SYRCLE animal experiment bias risk assessment tool was used for risk assessment. Results: A total of 24 studies were included, including 581 animals. Results showed that compared with the model control group, TGP decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and PGE2 and increased the levels of TGF-β1 after 1-2 weeks of intervention, decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-2, IL-17, IL-17a, IL-21, VEGF, IFN-γ and PGE2 and increased the levels of IL-10 and IL-4 after 3-4 weeks of intervention, decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17a and increased the level of IL-10 after 8 weeks of intervention. There was no significant difference in the effects of TGP on the levels of IL-10, IL-17, and IFN-γ after 1-2 weeks of intervention and IL-1 and TGF-β1 after 3-4 weeks of intervention. Conclusion: In summary, based on the existing studies, this study found that compared with the control group of the RA animal model, TGP can reduce the levels of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and increase the levels of serum anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10, exerting an anti-inflammatory effect by regulating and improving the levels of inflammatory cytokines, and thus alleviating the disease. Given the low quality of the included studies and the lack of sufficient evidence, more high-quality studies are still needed to validate the results of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal plants are common in our environment and have been useful in traditional medicine. The present study was conducted to evaluate the mineral content, the phytochemical, and antimicrobial properties of Carica papaya seed extracts on clinical isolates. The C. papaya seeds were sourced from fruits sellers from the Ekosodin community in Ovia North East Local Government, Benin City, Edo State. The seeds were air-dried for 14 days. The extract was obtained by maceration using distilled water and ethanol as solvents. The results of the mineral composition for both aqueous and ethanolic extracts indicated that sodium, potassium, calcium, zinc, copper, phosphorus, nitrogen, chromium, and iron were present. The phytochemical screening for both aqueous and ethanolic extracts indicated the presence of compounds such as saponins, phenolics, alkaloids, and flavonoids. The antimicrobial assay revealed that C. papaya seed extracts had good antimicrobial properties with a minimum inhibition of 100 mg/mL observed in Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacillus subtilis for the aqueous extract, 1.04 mg/ml S. epidermidis and B. subtilis , and 2.08 mg/ml Candida spp. for the ethanol extract. The minimum bactericidal concentration of the ethanol extract in this study was 4.16 mg/ml for S. epidermidis and 8.33 mg/ml for B. subtilis , and the minimum fungicidal concentration was 8.33 mg/ml for Candida spp. The results from this study indicated that C. papaya seeds possess sufficient mineral components and phytochemical components, indicating their potential use as supplementary antimicrobial agents and essential nutrients for both humans and animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils. is a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, great differences exist in the content of active secondary metabolites in various parts of S. sphenanthera. Do microorganisms critically influence the accumulation of active components in different parts of S. sphenanthera? Methods: In this study, 16S/ITS amplicon sequencing analysis was applied to unravel microbial communities in rhizospheric soil and different parts of wild S. sphenanthera. At the same time, the active secondary metabolites in different parts were detected, and the correlation between the secondary metabolites and microorganisms was analyzed. Results: The major components identified in the essential oils were sesquiterpene and oxygenated sesquiterpenes. The contents of essential oil components in fruit were much higher than that in stem and leaf, and the dominant essential oil components were different in these parts. The dominant components of the three parts were γ-muurolene, δ-cadinol, and trans farnesol (stem); α-cadinol and neoisolongifolene-8-ol (leaf); isosapathulenol, α-santalol, cedrenol, and longiverbenone (fruit). The microbial amplicon sequences were taxonomically grouped into eight (bacteria) and seven (fungi) different phyla. Community diversity and composition analyses showed that different parts of S. sphenanthera had similar and unique microbial communities, and functional prediction analysis showed that the main functions of microorganisms were related to metabolism. Moreover, the accumulation of secondary metabolites in S. sphenanthera was closely related to the microbial community composition, especially bacteria. In endophytic bacteria, Staphylococcus and Hypomicrobium had negative effects on five secondary metabolites, among which γ-muurolene and trans farnesol were the dominant components in the stem. That is, the dominant components in stems were greatly affected by microorganisms. Our results provided a new opportunity to further understand the effects of microorganisms on the active secondary metabolites and provided a basis for further research on the sustainable utilization of S. sphenanthera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the seventeenth of a series of miscellaneous contributions, by various authors, where hitherto unpublished data relevant to both the Med-Checklist and the Euro+Med (or Sisyphus) projects are presented. This instalment deals with the families Aizoaceae, Anacardiaceae, Asparagaceae, Bignoniaceae, Boraginaceae, Cannabaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Casuarinaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Compositae, Crassulaceae, Cyperaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Gentianaceae, Gramineae, Iridaceae, Labiatae, Leguminosae, Malvaceae, Myrtaceae, Oleaceae, Onagraceae, Orobanchaceae, Oxalidaceae, Papaveraceae, Portulacaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, Rubiaceae, Sapindaceae, Sapotaceae, Solanaceae, Typhaceae, Violaceae and Vitaceae. It includes new country and area records and taxonomic and distributional considerations for taxa in Acer, Ampelopsis, Argania, Blackstonia, Buglossoides, Carduus, Carex, Casuarina, Celtis, Chenopodium, Clematis, Eleusine, Elytrigia, Eucalyptus, Euphorbia, Euphrasia, Fraxinus, Galium, Hibiscus, Hieracium, Iris, Koelreuteria, Lathyrus, Loeflingia, Ludwigia, Malus, Melampyrum, Mesembryanthemum, Muscari, Orobanche, Oxalis, Papaver, Physalis, Podranea, Portulaca, Pseudodictamnus, Pulmonaria, Ranunculus, Schinus, Sedum, Stachys, Typha, Viola and Vitis, and a new combination in Pseudodictamnus. Citation For the whole article: Raab-Straube E. von & Raus Th. (ed.) 2024: Euro+Med-Checklist Notulae, 17. – Willdenowia 54: 5–45. https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.54.54101 For a single contribution (example): Fos S., Laguna E., Smith G. F. & Verloove F. 2024: Mesembryanthemum haeckelianum A. Berger. – Pp. 7–8 in: Raab-Straube E. von & Raus Th. (ed.), Euro+Med-Checklist Notulae, 17. – Willdenowia 54: 5–45. https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.54.54101 Version of record first published online on 19 February 2024 ahead of inclusion in April 2024 issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer stands as a prominent global cause of death. One of the key reasons why clinical tumor chemotherapy fails is multidrug resistance (MDR). In recent decades, accumulated studies have shown how Natural Product-Derived Compounds can reverse tumor MDR. Discovering novel potential modulators to reduce tumor MDR by Natural Product-Derived Compounds has become a popular research area across the globe. Numerous studies mainly focus on natural products including flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, polyphenols and coumarins for their MDR modulatory activity. Natural products reverse MDR by regulating signaling pathways or the relevant expressed protein or gene. Here we perform a deep review of the previous achievements, recent advances in the development of natural products as a treatment for MDR. This review aims to provide some insights for the study of multidrug resistance of natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review contains the results of Polish (Central Europe) ethnomedical studies that describe the treatment of urinary tract diseases with wild and cultivated plants. The study includes only the plants that are used to treat the urinary tract, excluding prostate diseases. A review of the literature was carried out to verify the pharmacological use of the plants mentioned in the interviews. Based on this, the study reviews the pharmacological activities of all the recorded species and indicates their most important chemical compounds. Fifty-three species (belonging to 30 families) were selected for the study. The Compositae (eight species), Rosaceae (six species), and Apiaceae (six species) are the most common families used in the treatment of urinary diseases in Polish folk medicine. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have confirmed that many of these plant species have beneficial properties, such as diuretic, antihyperuricemic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activity, or the prevention of urinary stone formation. These effects are exerted through different mechanisms, for example, through the activation of bradykinin B2 receptors, inhibition of xanthine oxidase, or inhibition of Na+-K+ pump. Many plants used in folk medicine are rich in phytochemicals with proven effectiveness against urinary tract diseases, such as rutin, arbutin, or triterpene saponins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Actinidia macrosperma, a traditional medicinal plant within the Actinidia genus, remains relatively understudied. This study aimed to sequence the mitogenome of A. macrosperma, determining its assembly, informational content, and developmental expression. The results revealed that the mitogenome of A. macrosperma is circular, spanning 752,501 bp with a GC content of 46.16%. It comprises 63 unique genes, including 39 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 23 tRNA genes, and three rRNA genes. Moreover, the mitogenome was found to contain 63 SSRs, predominantly mono-nucleotides, as well as 25 tandem repeats and 650 pairs of dispersed repeats, each with lengths equal to or greater than 60, mainly comprising forward repeats and palindromic repeats. Moreover, 53 homologous fragments were identified between the mitogenome and chloroplast genome (cp-genome), with the longest segment measuring 4296 bp. This study represents the initial report on the mitogenome of the A. macrosperma, providing crucial genetic materials for phylogenetic research within the Actinidia genus and promoting the exploitation of species genetic resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Serra da Estrela Natural Park (NPSE) in Portugal stands out as a well-preserved region abundant in medicinal plants, particularly known for their pharmaceutical applications in diabetes prevention and treatment. This comprehensive review explores these plants' botanical diversity, traditional uses, pharmacological applications, and chemical composition. The NPSE boast a rich diversity with 138 medicinal plants across 55 families identified as traditionally and pharmacologically used against diabetes globally. Notably, the Asteraceae and Lamiaceae families are prevalent in antidiabetic applications. In vitro studies have revealed their significant inhibition of carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes, and certain plant co-products regulate genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and insulin secretion. In vivo trials have demonstrated antidiabetic effects, including glycaemia regulation, insulin secretion, antioxidant activity, and lipid profile modulation. Medicinal plants in NPSE exhibit various activities beyond antidiabetic, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-cancer, and more. Chemical analyses have identified over fifty compounds like phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and polysaccharides responsible for their efficacy against diabetes. These findings underscore the potential of NPSE medicinal plants as antidiabetic candidates, urging further research to develop effective plant-based antidiabetic drugs, beverages, and supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesona chinensis, in Thai called Chao Kuay and in Chinese Hsian-tsao, belongs to the Lamiaceae family. This herbal plant grows widely in Southern China, Taiwan (China), Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. The Mesona plant is used to make functional products such as drinks and soft textured sweet treats, and also traditional medicine, to treat heat stroke, high blood pressure, heart attack, high blood sugar, hepatic diseases, colon diseases, inflammatory conditions, and to alleviate myalgia. The proximate composition of M. chinensis is a mixture of protein, fat, fiber, ash, and minerals. The main biological compounds in M. chinensis extracts are polysaccharides, terpenoids, flavonoids, and polyphenols, with wide-ranging pharmacological properties including antioxidant, antidiabetic, antilipidemic, carcinoma-inhibitory, renal-protective, antihypertensive, DNA damage-protective, and anti-inflammatory effects. This review investigated the proximate composition, polysaccharide type, and pharmacological properties of M. chinensis extracts. Phytochemical properties enhance the actions of the gut microbiota and improve health benefits. This review assessed the functional and medicinal activities of M. chinensis extracts. Future studies should further elucidate the in vitro/in vivo mechanisms of this plant extract and its impact on gut health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein metabolism in animals is perhaps the most informative indicator of anthropogenic environmental pollution, because it provides an opportunity to characterize metabolic processes in the body. They are of the utmost importance for the structure and function of all cells, tissues and organs. Proteins reflect the state of the organism, as well as those changes that occur in it under the influence of internal and external factors. We studied the dynamics of changes in indicators in protein metabolism in cows depending on the season of the year and the location of a farm. The research was carried out in two farms of the Lviv region: the Danylo Halytskyj LLC, near the State Mining and Chemical Enterprise “Sirka”, and FE “Lelyk” of Zhovkva district, in spring, summer, autumn and winter periods of keeping. The object of research was the blood of 20 cows of Ukrainian Black-Spotted breed. According to the results of the research, a reduction in total protein, relative to the physiological norm of 0.45 g/l. in spring, and by 0.64 g/l in the summer, dysproteinemia, a high level of gamma globulin fraction (50.30%) in cows from the Danylo Halytskyj farm, located in the zone of influence of the State Chemical Medicine Plant “Sirka”. In animals FE Lelyk, located in the conventionally clean zone, this indicator was significantly higher, and was 76.14 g/l in spring, and 78.17 g/l in summer, and also in animals of this farm dysproteinemia was not observed. In the autumn, at the end of the summer grazing period of the keeping, the index of total protein tended to decrease in the animals of the Danylo Halytsky's Ltd., and in winter it was normalized and invested in the limits of the physiological norm. Albumin fraction of protein in this group of animals, throughout the search period, had a tendency to increase. In the cows of the FE “Lelyk”, the indices of protein metabolism were within the limits of the physiological norm in all periods of research, with the inherent fluctuations in the season of the year. The obtained results due to the content of total protein and protein fractions in the plasma of blood of cows kept in territories with different ecological status indicate that the effect of the activity of the State Chemical Medicine Plant “Sirka” is sufficiently strong on the organism of animals.

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is one of the effective components of Chinese medicine plant such as honeysuckle and Eucommia ulmoides. CGA can inhibits various cancer types, but its effectivity against tongue cancer remains unknown.In the present study, we utilized patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models in conjunction with hydrogel-embedded drug sensitivity tests (HDST) to demonstrate the inhibitory effects of CGA on tongue cancer tissues in both in vivo and ex vivo experimental paradigms. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis and TUNEL staining revealed that CGA downregulated the expression of CD31 and Ki-67, while concurrently promoting apoptosis. Furthermore, the involvement of the EGFR-AKT-MMP9 signaling cascade in the tumor-suppressive effects of CGA was confirmed using network pharmacology analysis and immunofluorescent validation techniques.Overall, our findings indicate that CGA robustly inhibits tongue cancer in cellular and organismal models. The EGFR-AKT-MMP9 axis plays a highly significant role in mediating this bioactivity, thereby positioning CGA as a promising candidate for further investigation in oncology. The multifaceted therapeutic potential of CGA, as evidenced by its ability to disrupt angiogenesis, suppress cell proliferation, and induce apoptosis, underscores its value as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of tongue cancer.

Orchids are one of the largest and globally distributed plant families. Indonesia has the most types of orchids, estimated around 20% from the total species across the world. Mainly orchids used as an ornamental plant. This research aimed to elucidate another potential of orchids as possibly for herbal medicine plant. The potential of orchids as herbal medicine has been known for a long time, but there is lack of well-documented research. The research method used in this research is exploration on predetermined research sites that were conducted in Mount Tilu, West Java on 2022. Observation data of orchids were collected on the sites and the analysis was carried out in a qualitative descriptive approach by describing the data from the research results and comparisons were made through a literature review. Based on the research results, we found about 31 species from 28 genera consisting of 24 epiphytic orchids and 7 terrestrial orchids in the Mount Tilu Kuningan area, West Java. There are 4 endemic species categorised in Java; Chilochista javanica, Crepidium koordesii, Crepidium junghuhnii, and Taeniophyllum biocellatum.