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•Camellia oleifera possess bioactive components known for their health benefits.•The major nutraceuticals in Camellia oleifera are unsaturated fatty acids, oil fat, oleic acids, ...minerals, and vitamins.•Triterpenoid saponins have numerous health effects on varied diseases.•In vivo anticancer studies are vital in addressing Camellia oleifera bioactivities.•Potential uses of Camellia oleifera in food and non-food product development are suggested.
Camellia oleifera Abel, known as edible-oil tree, is a subtropical evergreen shrub or small tree and distributed in China and South-East Asian countries with high nutritional and medicinal values. Approximately 249 ingredients have been isolated and structurally identified from different parts of C. oleifera. Among them, triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids, polyphenols, and polysaccharides are major bioactive constituents. Pharmacological studies revealed that this plant of homology of medicine and food and its extracts or compounds possess extensive beneficial health properties both in vivo and in vitro. However, C. oleifera seed cakes, as a by-product after squeezing the oil in C. oleifera seed, have not been fully considered as potential functional food ingredients to exploit foods with promising health benefits. This paper presents a comprehensive and systematic overview about the nutritional and phytochemical compositions, pharmacological properties, and industrial applications of C. oleifera, which will provide the latest information for further exploitation and applications of C. oleifera in functional food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.
Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. (Family Eucommiaceae), also known as Dù-zhòng (Chinese: ▪), Tuchong (in Japanese), is the sole species of the genus Eucommia. The leaf, stem, and bark as well as staminate ...flower of Eucommia ulmoides have been traditionally used to cure many diseases in China, Japan, Korea, among others. The aim of this review is to comprehensively outline the botanical description, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, biological activities, and toxicology of Eucommia ulmoides and to discuss possible trends for further study of Eucommia ulmoides.
Information on Eucommia ulmoides was gathered via the internet (using Pub Med, Elsevier, Baidu Scholar, Google Scholar, Medline Plus, ACS, CNKI, and Web of Science) and from books in local libraries.
One-hundred twelve compounds of Eucommia ulmoides, including the main active constituents, lignans and iridoids, have been isolated and identified. In vitro and in vivo studies indicated that monomer compounds and extracts from Eucommia ulmoides possess wide-ranging pharmacological actions, especially in treating hypertension, hyperlipemia, diabetes, obesity, sexual dysfunction, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, aging, lupus-like syndrome, and immunoregulation.
Eucommia ulmoides has been used as a source of traditional medicine and as a beneficial health food. Phytochemical and pharmacological studies of Eucommia ulmoides have received much interest, and extracts and active compounds continue to be isolated and proven to exert various effects. Further toxicity and clinical studies are warranted to establish more detailed data on crude extracts and pure compounds, enabling more convenient preparations for patients. Therefore, this review on the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, biological activities, and toxicity of Eucommia ulmoides will provide helpful data for further studies as well as the commercial exploitation of this traditional medicine.
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•H. erinaceus is a well-known edible and medicinal higher fungi.•Submerged culture is a good strategy to increase the biosynthesis of H. erinaceus polysaccharides.•Most of H. erinaceus ...polysaccharides are heteropolysaccharides.•Bioactivities of H. erinaceus polysaccharides are the subject of many recent studies.•H. erinaceus polysaccharides have wide prospects of industrial application.
Hericium erinaceus (Bull.) Pers., also known as Yamabushitake, Houtou and Lion’s Mane, is capable of fortifying the spleen and nourishing the stomach, tranquilizing the mind, and fighting cancer. Over the past decade, it has been demonstrated that H. erinaceus polysaccharides possess various promising bioactivities, including antitumor and immunomodulation, anti-gastric ulcer, neuroprotection and neuroregeneration, anti-oxidation and hepatoprotection, anti-hyperlipidemia, anti-hyperglycemia, anti-fatigue and anti-aging. The purpose of the present review is to provide systematically reorganized information on extraction and purification, structure characteristics, biological activities, and industrial applications of H. erinaceus polysaccharides to support their therapeutic potentials and sanitarian functions.
Passiflora edulis
, also known as passion fruit, is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of the world and becomes popular because of balanced nutrition and health benefits. Currently, ...more than 110 phytochemical constituents have been found and identified from the different plant parts of
P. edulis
in which flavonoids and triterpenoids held the biggest share. Various extracts, fruit juice and isolated compounds showed a wide range of health effects and biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, anti-tumor, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic activities, and so forth. Daily consumption of passion fruit at common doses is non-toxic and safe.
P. edulis
has great potential development and the vast future application for this economically important crop worldwide, and it is in great demand as a fresh product or a formula for food, health care products or medicines. This mini-review aims to provide systematically reorganized information on physiochemical features, nutritional benefits, biological activities, toxicity, and potential applications of leaves, stems, fruits, and peels of
P. edulis
.
Achyranthes L. (Amaranthaceae), also known as Chaff Flower and Niuxi/牛膝, mainly includes two famous medicinal species namely A. bidentata and A. aspera. A. bidentata has been widely used as ...blood-activating and stasis-resolving medicine for the treatment of various diseases including amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, lumbago, gonalgia, paraplegia, edema, stranguria, headache, dizziness, odontalgia, oral ulcer, hematemesis, and epistaxis. A. aspera has been widely used to treat various diseases, including gynecological disorder, asthma, ophthalmia, odontalgia, haemorrhoids, and abdominal tumor, and has been applied to difficult labour, wound healing, insect and snake bites.
This review aims to provide systematically reorganized information on distributions, botanical characteristics, ethnopharmacology, chemical constituents, qualitative and quantitative analysis, pharmacological activities, and toxicity of Achyranthes species to support their therapeutic potential.
The relevant information on Achyranthes species was gathered from worldwide accepted scientific databases via electronic search (Google Scholar, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, ACS Publications, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, SciFinder, CNKI). Information was also obtained from International Plant Names Index, Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Chinese herbal classic books, PhD and MSc dissertations, etc.
A comprehensive analysis of literatures obtained through the above- mentioned sources confirms that the ethnomedicinal uses of Achyranthes species are mainly recorded in China, India, Korea, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Philippines, etc. Phytochemical investigations revealed that the major bioactive substances of Achyranthes plants are polysaccharides, polypeptides, triterpenoid saponins, and ketosteroids. Achyranthes plants have been shown to not only act on immune system, nervous system, bone metabolism, and reproduction, but also possess a wide range of biological activities, including blood-activating, anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, anti-arthritis, anti-oxidation, anti-aging, wound healing, etc. Toxicity studies indicated that A. bidentata and A. aspera seem non-toxic at the common therapeutic doses.
A. bidentata and A. aspera are very promising to be fully utilized in the development of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products. There are, however, needs for further in-depth studies to confirm some ethnomedicinal uses of Achyranthes plants and to elucidate the scientific connotation of the widely documented property of conducting drug downward of A. bidentata. In addition, other widespread Achyranthes species like A. japonica and A. rubrofusca ought to be studied. Likewise, systematic comparative studies of the chemical constituents of medicinal Achyranthes plants resources with the same local name are also needed. Furthermore, not only should the investigations on the structure-activity relationship of the main bioactive compounds triterpenoid saponins and ketosteroids be carried out, but the pathways of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion ought to be clarified. Last but not least, there is also a need to evaluate the long-term chronic toxicity and acute toxicity in vivo of the main bioactive compounds.
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Epimedium (Berberidaceae), also known as Rowdy Lamb Herb, Barrenwort. Bishop's Hat, Fair Wings, Horny Goat Weed, Xianlinpi, and Yangheye or Yin Yang Huo (Chinese: ▪), is a genus of about 52 species ...of herbaceous flowering plants. It is a famous botanical supplement widely used as a tonic, aphrodisiac and antirheumatic in China, Japan and Korea for more than 2000 years. Review on the ethno-pharmacological, phytochemical, and pharmacological literatures indicated extracts and monomer compounds from Epimedium have great potential to cure sexual dysfunction osteoporosis, etc.
Epimedium (Berberidaceae), is a genus of about 52 species in the family Berberidaceae, which also known as Rowdy Lamb Herb, Xianlinpi, Barrenwort, Bishop's Hat, Fairy Wings, Horny Goat Weed, and Yangheye or Yin Yang Huo (Chinese: ▪). Many plants have been proven to possess efficacy on sexual dysfunction and osteoporosis in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The paper reviews the ethnopharmacology, the biological activities and the correlated chemical compounds of Epimedium species. More than 260 compounds have been isolated; among them prenyl-flavonoids are the major constituents and also important chemotaxonomic markers. Modern pharmacology studies and clinical practice demonstrated that Epimedium and its active compounds possess wide pharmacological actions, especially in strengthening yang, hormone regulation, anti-osteoporosis, immunological function modulation, anti-oxidation and anti-tumor, anti-aging, anti-atherosclerosis and anti-depressant activities. Currently, effective monomeric compounds or active parts have been screened for pharmacological activity from Epimedium in vivo and in vitro.
Solanum nigrum
Linn., is a common edible medicinal herb of the Solanaceae family which is native to Southeast Asia and is now widely distributed in temperate to tropical regions of Europe, Asia, and ...America. Traditionally, it has been used to treat various cancers, acute nephritis, urethritis, leucorrhea, sore throat, toothache, dermatitis, eczema, carbuncles, and furuncles. Up to now, 188 chemical constituents have been identified from
S. nigrum
. Among them, steroidal saponins, alkaloids, phenols, and polysaccharides are the major bioactive constituents. Investigations of pharmacological activities of
S. nigrum
revealed that this edible medicinal herb exhibits a wide range of therapeutic potential, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and neuroprotective activities both
in vivo
and
in vitro
. This article presents a comprehensive and systematic overview of the botanical, traditional uses, phytochemical compositions, pharmacological properties, clinical trials, and toxicity of
S. nigrum
to provide the latest information for further exploitation and applications of
S. nigrum
in functional foods and medicines.
Scutellaria (
HUANG QIN) (Lamiaceae), which includes about
350 species commonly known as skullcaps, is widespread in Europe, the United States and East Asia. Some species are taken to clear away the ...heat-evil and expel superficial evils in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The present paper reviews the ethnopharmacology, the biological activities and the correlated chemical compounds of
Scutellaria species. More than
295 compounds have been isolated, among them flavonoids and diterpenes. Studies show that
Scutellaria and its active principles possess wide pharmacological actions, such as antitumor, anti-angiogenesis, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, antibacterial and antiviral activities. Currently, effective monomeric compounds or active parts have been screened for pharmacological activity from Scutellaria
in vivo and
in vitro. Increasing data supports application and exploitation for new drug development.
Scutellaria (Lamiaceae) includes about
350 species commonly known as skullcaps, it is widespread in Europe, the United States and East Asia. Some species have been widely used as local medicine for thousands years. Review on the ethnopharmacological, phytochemical, and pharmacological literatures indicated extracts and monomer compounds from
Scutellaria have great potential to cure cancer, hepatitis, HIV-1, etc.
Actinidia chinensis
Planch. (
A. chinensis
), commonly known as Chinese kiwifruit, is a China native fruit, which becomes increasingly popular due to attractive economic, nutritional, and health ...benefits properties. The whole plant including fruits, leaves, vines, and roots of
A. chinensis
are used mainly as food or additive in food products and as folk medicine in China. It is a good source of triterpenoids, polyphenols, vitamin C, carbohydrate, amino acid, and minerals. These constituents render the
A. chinensis
with a wide range of pharmacological properties including antitumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, hypolipemic, antidiabetic, and cardiovascular protective activities, suggesting that it may possibly be value in the prevention and treatment of pathologies associated to cancer, oxidative stress, and aging. This minireview provides a brief knowledge about the recent advances in chemistry, biological activities, utilization, and storage of Chinese kiwifruit. Future research directions on how to better use of this crop are suggested.
is a medicinal and food plant, often eaten as a wild vegetable in ancient China, and has been widely used for decades to treat sore throats, tonsillitis, colds and headaches, bronchitis, chronic ...hepatitis, joint rheumatism, snake and insect bites, and various cancers. This comprehensive and systematic review of the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical composition, pharmacological activity, quality control and toxicology of
provides updated information for the further development and application in the fields of functional foods and new drugs research. To date, a total of 324 substances have been isolated and identified from the plant, including terpenoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, alkaloids, amino acids, and volatile oils. Among these substances, diterpenoids are the most important and abundant bioactive components. In the past decades pharmacological studies have shown that
has significant biological activities, especially in the modulation of antitumor and multidrug resistance. However, most of these studies have been conducted
. In-depth
studies on the quality control of its crude extracts and active ingredients, as well as on metabolite identification are still very limited. Therefore, more well-designed preclinical and clinical studies are needed to confirm the reported therapeutic potential of
.
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