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Intestinal mucositis (IM) is a common adverse effect of chemotherapy, limiting its clinical application. Codonopsis pilosula-derived CP-A (an inulin-type fructan) is an edible Chinese medicine with anti-inflammatory and gastrointestinal protective effects, which may be useful for treating IM. Here, we explored CP-A’s role in ameliorating IM induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and investigated the underlying mechanism using in vitro experiments and rat models. Western blotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) analyses were used to assess protein expression related to the extracellular-regulated protein kinases (ERK)/myosin light chain kinase (MLCK)/myosin light chain 2 (MLC2) signaling pathway and tight junction proteins. Inflammatory factors were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was employed for cecum content analysis. The results indicated that CP-A restored body weight and food intake and reversed histopathological changes in IM rats. Further, abnormal MLCK activation induced by 5-FU was attenuated by CP-A via the ERK/MLCK/MLC2 pathway. CP-A treatment improved tight junction protein levels and reduced inflammatory factor expression. Moreover, CP-A intervention regulated the intestinal microbiota community structure, increasing the abundance of Lactobacillus and decreasing the abundance of Shigella. In conclusion, CP-A mitigates 5-FU-induced IM by inhibiting the ERK/MLCK/MLC2 pathway, reducing the expression of inflammatory factors, improving the intestinal mucosal barrier, and regulating the intestinal microbial community. This study highlights CP-A’s therapeutic potential in IM treatment and provides insights for future research.

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (S. miltiorrhiza), a perennial plant of the genus Salvia, is widely used in traditional folklore medicine. Previous chemical research on this plant contains diterpenoid quinones, phenolic acids, polysaccharides and other compounds. The pharmacological investigation of S. miltiorrhiza has shown that it has various pharmacological activities, such as cardiovascular system protection, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, liver protection, and neuroprotection activities. This research tends to give an overview of the main chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of S. miltiorrhiza, aiming to reveal its potential value and provide reference for its further development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viburnum awabuki (V. awabuki), belonging to the Viburnum genus, is an ideal tree species for landscaping. Phytochemical investigations of the V. awabuki have resulted in the isolation and identification of coumarins, lignans, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes and triterpenes. It has been reported that the extracts of V. awabuki have multiple pharmacological activities, including antitumor, anti-oxidant, plant growth inhibitory and neurite outgrowth-promoting activities. The research progress on the chemical constituents of V. awabuki and pharmacological activities were summarized in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clitoria ternatea L., belonging to the family Fabaceae and subfamily Papilonaceae, is an herbaceous perennial legume valued for its medicinal importance. Pharmacological investigations on this plant have shown it has a variety of medicinal properties, including antibacterial activities, antitumor activities, antioxidant activities, memory enhancing activities, wound healing activities, antipyretic activities and antiasthmatic activities. However, there are few studies on the chemical constituents of C. ternatea. The present research reviewed the chemical constituents and biological activities of C. ternatea to provide references for further research on this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fruit of Camptotheca acuminate is used as a traditional Chinese medicine. Eight compounds were isolated from the fruit of Camptotheca acuminate for the first time, including (+)-(S)-abscisic acid (1), blumenol A (2), (E)-3-hydroxymegastigm-7-en-9- one (3), (-)-(3R)-3,5-dimethyl-8-methoxy-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin (4), (-)-(3R)-8-methoxy-3-methyl-3,4-dihydro-1H-isochromen-1-one (5), neocnidilide (6), (35)-butylphthalide (7) and senkyunolide I (8). Their structures were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic methods, including HRESIMS and 1D NMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camptotheca acuminate belongs to Nyssaceae family and has been used as traditional Chinese medicine for several years. A number of compounds with anti-tumor activities have been isolated from C. acuminate. However, the targets of some compounds have not been determined. In this study, network pharmacology methods were used to analyze 74 compounds from C. acuminate and 49 target proteins of liver cancer. The results showed that the target with the largest number of directed edges was Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase (1d3g). The compound docked with 1d3g best was AL.23 (19-O-methyangustoline). The results of this study provide further insight into the role of network pharmacology as an effective tool to illuminate the research on liver cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viburnum suspensum Lindley, belonging to genus Viburnum of Caprifoliaceae family, is distributed in subtropical area of Japan. Phytochemical reports showed that the main chemical constituents of V. suspensum are irldold glycosldes, labdane-type diglucosides, vibsane-type diterpenoids and oleanane triterpenoids. These compounds were found to possess several biological activities and have attracted great attention of researchers worldwide. This study reviews the chemical constituents and biological activities of V. suspensum, aiming to provide insight for further research on this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daphne plants, belonging to Thymelaeaceae, have been used as traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Previous studies suggested that they exerted anti-tumor activities and reported a number of compounds with anti-tumor activities, isolated from the genus Daphne. However, the targets of these compounds have not been determined yet. In this study, network pharmacology was used to analyze 128 terpenoid compounds from the genus Daphne and 49 target proteins of liver cancer. The results suggested that the target with the most number of directed edges was 5yz0. The compound which docked with 5yz0 best is AR.DT.25 (acutilobin D), and the compounds with total docking score greater than 10 were almost all Daphnane diterpenoids. The network pharmacology results predicted that the 5yz0 protein was one of the potential targets of the terpenoids from the genus Daphne and then suggested several new targets and compounds for further liver cancer research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gentiana rhodantha Franch. ex Hemsl. (G. rhodantha) is a perennial herb distributed in southwest China, belonging to the Gentiana genus of Gentianaceae family. Previous research indicated that G. rhodantha contains flavonoids, anthraquinones, terpenes and other compounds, which possess the effects of antioxidant, antibacterial, and antitumor. Besides, its dry herb is used as antiphlogistic and antitussive remedy for the treatment of lung, liver, and gallbladder diseases. This review outlines the chemical constituents and biological activities of G. rhodantha, which will be useful for the further research on this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Euphorbia fischeriana (Langdudaji in Chinese), a common traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has been used to treat cancer. It is well known that liver cancer is one of the most common malignant cancers worldwide. In this study, molecular docking and network analysis were carried out to explore the anticancer mechanism of active constituents from E. fischeriana as an effective therapeutic approach to treat liver cancer. Multiple active compounds of E. fischeriana were docked with 48 protein targets related with liver cancer. The networks of compound-target and target-pathway were constructed through network pharmacology analysis, predicting the relationships of active ingredients, significant targets and the key pathways. Our results demonstrated that Linoleic acid glyceride (FO7), Phytol (FO5), 3,4,6-tri-O-galloyl-D-glucose (FTa10), 3,7,11-tridecylenic acid-4,8,12-trimethyl formate (FO11), Ingenol-20-myristinate (FD96) might target with proteins associated with liver cancer. Furthermore, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway might be the key pathways of the treatment of liver cancer. In addition, the interaction mode of these active components with nuclear receptor coactivator 2 (3up3) was analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piper longum Linn. is a native of the Indo-Malaya region, belongs to the family Piperaceae. It is a slender aromatic climber widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions. As a traditional ethnic drug, P. longum contains various chemical constituents such as alkaloids, volatile oil and lignans. The extract of P. longum has been reported to show various activities like antitumor, antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity. Hence, this paper is presented as a review centered on the main chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of P. longum, aiming at its further development and potential value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, is widely used in Chinese traditional medicine, belonging to Ailanthus genus of Simarubaceae family. Its rhizome and bark can be used as medicines for colds, bleeding, and gastric diseases. Researches have shown that the main chemical constituents of A. altissima are quassinoids, indole and β-carboline alkaloids, sterides, terpenoids, and other compounds. This article is going to make an overview of the chemical constituents, biological activities of A. altissima and this review will be useful to make a further research and development of this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stellera chamaejasme L., a traditional medicine in China, belongs to the Stellera genus of Thymelaeaceaen family. As a traditional Chinese herb, flavonoids, diterpenes, lignans and coumarins are the main chemical components isolated from this plant. And the extracts of S. chamaejasme have been reported with multiple pharmacological activities and good development prospects, which have drawn enormous attention. Hence, this review summarized the research progress on the chemical components and the pharmacological effects of S. chamaejasme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brucea javanica (L.) Merr, belonging to Simaroubaceae family, is one species of the genus Brucea. The seeds, roots, leaves, fruits, stems and twigs of this plant had been used as a folk medicine for the treatment of various types of diseases. It is reported that there are kinds of chemical components in B. javanica. The main chemical components of this plant include quassinoids, triterpenoids and alkaloids. In this review, we summarized the researches on the chemical components and listed the main compounds isolated from the B. javanica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Juglans mandshurica Maxim. is a fast growing deciduous tree that is widely distributed in China and Korea, belonging to Juglans genus of Juglandaceae family. The roots, stem barks, leaves and fruits of this plant had been used as a folk medicine for the treatment of cancer, gastritis, diarrhea and leucorrhoea. Phenols, naphthoquinones, naphthalenyl glucoside, tetralones, flavonoids, terpenoids, diarylheptanoids and galloyl glycosides were isolated from J. mandshurica. Researches demonstrated that the main chemical constituents of J. mandshurica have multiple activities and good development prospect. This paper is presented as a review centered on the main chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of J. mandshurica for the further research and development of this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tupistra chinensis Bak. is widely used as the common Chinese herbal medicine in the folk, belonging to Tupis genus of Liliaceae family. Usually its rhizome can be used as medicines for clearing heat and detoxification, as well as scattering silt convalescence and alleviating pain. Researchs have shown that the main chemical constituents of T. chinensis are saponins and flavonoids. It has multiple activities and good development prospect, which has been closely watched by researchers. This paper is presented as a review centered on the main chemical constituents pharmacological effects of T. chinensis, and it is useful to the further research and development of this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wikstroemiaindica (Linn.) C. A. Mey is the dried bark of the root of Wikstroemiaindica (L.), belonging to Wikstroemia genus of Thymelaeaceae family, is a widely used Chinese Herbal Medicine as a drug, for clearing heat and detoxication in southern China. Recently, Wikstroemiaindica has been proved to have potent anti-tumor activity, which has attracted numerous of attention. Hence, this report is presented as a review centered on its chemical constituents and anti-tumor activity, aiming at its further development and potential as anti-tumor agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]