Saffron is a natural compound that has been used for centuries in many parts of the world as a food colorant and additive. It was shown to have the ability to mitigate various disorders through its ...known anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Several studies have shown the effectiveness of saffron in the treatment of various chronic diseases like inflammatory bowel diseases, Alzheimer's, rheumatoid arthritis as well as common malignancies of the colon, stomach, lung, breast, and skin. Modern day drugs generally have unwanted side effects, which led to the current trend to use naturally occurring products with therapeutic properties. In the present review, the objective is to systematically analyze the wealth of information regarding the potential mechanisms of action and the medical use of saffron, the "golden spice", especially in digestive diseases. We summarized saffron influence on microbiome, molecular pathways, and inflammation in gastric, colon, liver cancers, and associated inflammations.
Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Hs, roselle; Malvaceae) has been used traditionally as a food, in herbal drinks, in hot and cold beverages, as a flavouring agent in the food industry and as a herbal ...medicine. In vitro and in vivo studies as well as some clinical trials provide some evidence mostly for phytochemically poorly characterised Hs extracts. Extracts showed antibacterial, anti-oxidant, nephro- and hepato-protective, renal/diuretic effect, effects on lipid metabolism (anti-cholesterol), anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive effects among others. This might be linked to strong antioxidant activities, inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase, inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzymes (ACE), and direct vaso-relaxant effect or calcium channel modulation. Phenolic acids (esp. protocatechuic acid), organic acid (hydroxycitric acid and hibiscus acid) and anthocyanins (delphinidin-3-sambubioside and cyanidin-3-sambubioside) are likely to contribute to the reported effects. More well designed controlled clinical trials are needed which use phytochemically characterised preparations. Hs has an excellent safety and tolerability record.
•There is limited data on the mechanisms of fucoidan transformation in the human body after oral administration.•Fucoidans have a great therapeutic potential, but with only preliminary ...pharmacokinetic studies.•Absorption study of fucoidan from Cladosiphon okamuranus demonstrated in Japanese volunteers.•Horizontal transfer of carbohydrate active enzymes from marine bacteria to Japanese guts microbiota.
Fucoidans are a group of homo-and hetero-polysaccharides, which necessarily contains residues of sulfated α-L-fucose. Fucoidans are found only in brown algae. These polysaccharides exhibit a wide spectrum of biological activity and have a great therapeutic potential. Enzymes capable of catalyzing the degradation of fucoidans are absent in the mammalian enzyme system. The question arises: is the transformation of fucoidan in mammals, particularly in human possible? Studies in vivo (in situ) and in vitro have demonstrated that high molecular weight fucoidans are absorbed across rat intestinal epithelial cells, accumulated by liver macrophages, and characterized by low levels in blood and urine. Using the example of the Okinawa Prefecture (Japan) residents, it was shown that Cladosiphon okamuranus alga is digested and the fucoidan contained in this alga is absorbed in the human body.
Okara, despite being a soybean processing by-product, still holds many nutrients. Thus, considerable attention has been recently paid to its reuse. In this study, solid-state fermentation was ...performed using Ganoderma lucidum and Lentinus edodes. Antioxidant activity and bioactive compound levels in G. lucidum-fermented okara (GLFO) and L. edodes-fermented okara (LEFO) were assayed. Antiosteoporosis bioactivity was evaluated using an animal model. The results demonstrated that solid-state fermentation significantly improved the antioxidant activity and bioactive compound levels. Furthermore, GLFO and LEFO increased trabecular bone volume, although only the GLFO-treated group exhibited significantly improved trabecular separation compared with the bilateral ovariectomy-treated control group. GLFO-related outcomes were superior to those of LEFO. The results demonstrate that okara products are effective for treating postmenopausal osteoporosis in humans.
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•Okara is highly valorized by solid-state fermentation of Ganoderma lucidum and Lentinus edodes.•Bioactivities and antioxidant activity of okara fermented products were evaluated.•Antiosteoporosis effect was found in okara fermented products superior than okara.•The fermented product could be effective for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in humans.
Based on their nutrient composition, soybeans and related foods have been considered to be nutritious and healthy for humans. Particularly, the biological activity and subsequent benefits of soy ...products may be associated with the presence of isoflavone in soybeans. As an alternative treatment for menopause-related symptoms, isoflavone has gained much popularity for postmenopausal women who have concerns related to undergoing hormone replacement therapy. However, current research has still not reached a consensus on the effects of isoflavone on humans. This overview is a summary of the current literature about the processing of soybeans and isoflavone types (daidzein, genistein, and S-equol) and supplements and their extraction and analysis as well as information about the utilization of isoflavones in soybeans. The processes of preparation (cleaning, drying, crushing and dehulling) and extraction of soybeans are implemented to produce refined soy oil, soy lecithin, free fatty acids, glycerol and soybean meal. The remaining components consist of inorganic constituents (minerals) and the minor components of biologically interesting small molecules. Regarding the preventive effects on diseases or cancers, a higher intake of isoflavones is associated with a moderately lower risk of developing coronary heart disease. It may also reduce the risks of breast and colorectal cancer as well as the incidence of breast cancer recurrence. Consumption of isoflavones or soy foods is associated with reduced risks of endometrial and bladder cancer. Regarding the therapeutic effects on menopausal syndrome or other diseases, isoflavones have been found to alleviate vasomotor syndromes even after considering placebo effects, reduce bone loss in the spine and ameliorate hypertension and in vitro glycemic control. They may also alleviate depressive symptoms during pregnancy. On the other hand, isoflavones have not shown definitive effects regarding improving cognition and urogenital symptoms. Because of lacking standardization in the study designs, such as the ingredients and doses of isoflavones and the durations and outcomes of trials, it currently remains difficult to draw overall conclusions for all aspects of isoflavones. These limitations warrant further investigations of isoflavone use for women's health.
Anthocyanins are potent antioxidants and may be chemoprotective. However, the structure-function relationships are not well understood. The objectives of this study were to compare the ...chemoprotective properties of anthocyanin-rich extracts (AREs) with variable anthocyanin profiles to understand the relationship between anthocyanin chemical structure and chemoprotective activity, measured as inhibition of colon cancer cell proliferation. Additionally, the chemoprotective interaction of anthocyanins and other phenolics was investigated. AREs with different anthocyanin profiles from purple corn, chokeberry, bilberry, purple carrot, grape, radish, and elderberry were tested for growth inhibition (GI50) using a human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT29) cell line. All AREs suppressed HT29 cell growth to various degrees as follows: purple corn (GI50 approximately 14 μg of cy-3-glu equiv/mL) > chokeberry and bilberry > purple carrot and grape > radish and elderberry (GI50 > 100 μg of cy-3-glu equiv/mL). Anthocyanins played a major role in AREs' chemoprotection and exerted an additive interaction with the other phenolics present. Statistical analyses suggested that anthocyanin chemical structure affected chemoprotection, with nonacylated monoglycosylated anthocyanins having greater inhibitory effect on HT-29 cell proliferation, whereas anthocyanins with pelargonidin, triglycoside, and/or acylation with cinnamic acid exerted the least effect. These findings should be considered for crop selection and the development of anthocyanin-rich functional foods.
Abrus precatorius L. (AP) is a folk medicine with a long-term medicinal history worldwide, which is extensively applied to various ailments, such as bronchitis, jaundice, hepatitis, contraception, ...tumor, abortion, malaria, etc. Meanwhile, its leaves are also served as tea in China, and its roots are employed as a substitute for Glycyrrhiza uralensis or as a raw material for the extraction of glycyrrhizin in India. Thus, AP is considered to be a plant with dual values of medicine and economy as well as its chemical composition and biological activity, which are of growing interest to the scientific community.
In the review, the traditional application, botany, chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, and toxicity are comprehensively and systematically summarized.
An extensive database retrieval was conducted to gather the specific information about AP from 1871 to 2022 using online bibliographic databases Web of Science, PubMed, SciFinder, Google Scholar, CNKI, and Baidu Scholar. The search terms comprise the keywords “Abrus precatorius”, “phytochemistry”, “pharmacological activity”, “toxicity” and “traditional application” as a combination.
To date, AP is traditionally used to treat various diseases, including sore throat, cough, bronchitis, jaundice, hepatitis, abdominal pain, contraception, tumor, abortion, malaria, and so on. More than 166 chemical compounds have been identified from AP, which primarily cover flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, steroids, alkaloids, organic acids, esters, proteins, polysaccharides, and so on. A wide range of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological functions of AP have been reported, such as antitumor, antimicrobial, insecticidal, antiprotozoal, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antifertility, antidiabetic, other pharmacological activities. The crushed seeds in powder or paste form were comparatively toxic to humans and animals by oral administration. Interestingly, the methanolic extracts were non-toxic to adult Wistar albino rats at various doses (200 and 400 mg/kg) daily.
The review focuses on the traditional application, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and toxicity of AP, which offers a valuable context for researchers on the current research status and a reference for further research and applications of this medicinal plant.
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•This review comprehensively and systematically summarized chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, and toxicity.•The antitumor activity and mechanisms of various extracts and compounds identified from Abrus precatorius were described.•Traditional applications of Abrus precatorius at home and abroad were reviewed.
Phlorotannins play a role in biological functions to protect the cells against UV and oxidative damage in brown algae. We hypothesized that these compounds can function as photo-protectors and ...antioxidants in skin care formulations. Two types of extracts (water (FV-WE) and 67%
/
ethanol (FV-EE)) from
were obtained with a phlorotannin content between 7-14% in dry extract. Exposure to sun light during growth was included as a factor on the phlorotannin content but did not influence the phlorotannin content. However, green colored
had lower total phenolic content (TPC) (FV-WE = 6.9 g GAE 100 g
dw, FV-EE = 7.8 g GAE 100 g
dw) compared to those with a yellow/brownish color (FV-WE = 10.4-13.7 g GAE 100 g
dw, FV-EE = 11.2-14.0 g GAE 100 g
dw). UVA and UVB photo protective capabilities of the extracts through different biological effective protection factors (BEPFs) were evaluated using in vitro methods; the Mansur method for sun protection factor (SPF) and calculation of effective solar absorption radiation (%ESAR) to determine SPF and UVA protection factor (UVA-PF) of the extract and in seaweed enriched lotion. The SPF was negligible, when evaluating FV-WE in lotion (10 and 20%
/
). Moreover, %ESAR of the FV-WE showed SPF and some UVA-PF, but not enough to give sufficient SPF in lotions (10%
/
). It was concluded that the concentration of UV protecting compounds in the extracts was too low to and that further fractionation and purification of phlorotannins is needed to increase the SPF.
Traditional knowledge about medicinal plants from a poorly studied region, the High Atlas in Morocco, is reported here for the first time; this permits consideration of efficacy and safety of current ...practises whilst highlighting species previously not known to have traditional medicinal use.
Our study aims to document local medicinal plant knowledge among Tashelhit speaking communities through ethnobotanical survey, identifying preferred species and new medicinal plant citations and illuminating the relationship between emic and etic ailment classifications.
Ethnobotanical data were collected using standard methods and with prior informed consent obtained before all interactions, data were characterized using descriptive indices and medicinal plants and healing strategies relevant to local livelihoods were identified.
151 vernacular names corresponding to 159 botanical species were found to be used to treat 36 folk ailments grouped in 14 biomedical use categories. Thirty-five (22%) are new medicinal plant records in Morocco, and 26 described as used for the first time anywhere. Fidelity levels (FL) revealed low specificity in plant use, particularly for the most commonly reported plants. Most plants are used in mixtures. Plant use is driven by local concepts of disease, including “hot” and “cold” classification and beliefs in supernatural forces.
Local medicinal plant knowledge is rich in the High Atlas, where local populations still rely on medicinal plants for healthcare. We found experimental evidence of safe and effective use of medicinal plants in the High Atlas; but we highlight the use of eight poisonous species.
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The aim of this paper was to summarize the results of our investigations on the
in vitro genotoxic as well as antigenotoxic effects of a great number of selected South African traditional medicinal ...plants.
Investigations of methanol and dichloromethane extracts of selected plants were conducted with the bacterial Ames, Umu-C and VITOTOX
® tests, and with the cytochalasin B micronucleus test and alkaline comet assay in human white blood cells.
A number of extracts were found to have genotoxic properties. Amongst the genotoxic plant extracts, especially methanol extracts of
Helichrysum simillimum DC. (Asteraceae) should be highlighted. On the other hand, some plant extracts also showed antimutagenic potential. Here
Bauhinia galpinii N.E.Br. (Fabaceae) and especially
Chlerodendrum myricoides (Hochst.) Vatke (=
Rotheca myricoides (Hochst.) Steane & Mabb.; Lamiaceae) appear to have antimutagenic properties.
The safe use of
Helichrysum similimum should be questioned and further investigations on its mutagenicity and overall biological properties should be encouraged. Antimutagenic properties of especially
Bauhinia galpinii and
Rotheca myricoides are considered of particular interest as it may be assumed that these antimutagenic natural substances are able to lower the cancer risk from everyday exposures to environmental mutagens as well as to mutagenic pharmaceuticals.
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