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Frontiers in Plant Pharmacology: The Role of Medicinal Plants in Health Systems

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2022) | Viewed by 12849

Special Issue Editor

Department of Medicinal Plant Resources, Andong National University, Andong, Korea
Interests: Natural plants; Natural product; Plant pharmacology; Functional agents; Anti-cancer; Anti-obesity; Immune-enhancing activity; Anti-inflammatory activity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural plants have long played a vital role in health systems, and they are used to treat various acute and chronic conditions with minimal or no toxic effects. Natural plants are often used as a natural remedy to cure various health problems, including tuberculosis, cancer, diabetes mellitus, heart diseases, wound healing, asthma, pharyngitis, and hypertension. Plants rich in bioactive phytomedicine compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and polyphenols have been used to cure illnesses thanks to their various pharmacological properties. This Special Issue aims to provide evidence from around the world, by calling for original and review articles that address the molecular mechanisms supporting the biological effects of natural plant extracts or plant-derived single compounds on human diseases such as cancer, inflammation, and obesity. Importantly, the exact active ingredient of plant extract must be reported in the submitted research manuscript, since papers describing effects of mixed extraction from plants will not be accepted.

Dr. Jin Boo Jeong
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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Keywords

  • Natural plants
  • Pharmacology activity
  • Molecular mechanisms
  • Human diseases

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 2057 KiB  
Article
Quercetin 3-O-Galactoside Isolated from Limonium tetragonum Inhibits Melanogenesis by Regulating PKA/MITF Signaling and ERK Activation
by Fatih Karadeniz, Jung Hwan Oh, Youngwan Seo, Jiho Yang, Hyunjung Lee and Chang-Suk Kong
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 3064; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043064 - 04 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1484
Abstract
Quercetin 3-O-galactoside (Q3G) is a common dietary flavanol that has been shown to possess several bioactivities, including anti-melanogenesis. However, how Q3G exerts its anti-melanogenic effect has not been studied. The current study, therefore aimed to investigate the anti-melanogenesis potential of Q3G [...] Read more.
Quercetin 3-O-galactoside (Q3G) is a common dietary flavanol that has been shown to possess several bioactivities, including anti-melanogenesis. However, how Q3G exerts its anti-melanogenic effect has not been studied. The current study, therefore aimed to investigate the anti-melanogenesis potential of Q3G and elucidate the underlying action mechanism in α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-induced hyperpigmentation model of B16F10 murine melanoma cells. Results showed that α-MSH stimulation significantly increased tyrosinase (TYR) and melanin production, which were significantly downregulated by Q3G treatment. The treatment with Q3G suppressed the transcriptional and protein expressions of melanogenesis-related enzymes TYR, tyrosinase related protein-1 (TRP-1), and TRP-2, along with the melanogenic transcription factor microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) in B16F10 cells. It was shown that Q3G downregulated MITF expression and suppressed its transcriptional activity by inhibiting the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA)-mediated activation of CREB and GSK3β. In addition, MAPK-regulated MITF activation signaling was also involved in the inhibition of melanin production by Q3G. The results suggest that the anti-melanogenic properties of Q3G rationalize further studies in vivo to confirm its action mechanism and consequent utilization as a cosmetic ingredient against hyperpigmentation. Full article
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19 pages, 6441 KiB  
Article
Silibinin Suppresses the Hyperlipidemic Effects of the ALK-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Lorlatinib in Hepatic Cells
by Sara Verdura, José Antonio Encinar, Salvador Fernández-Arroyo, Jorge Joven, Elisabet Cuyàs, Joaquim Bosch-Barrera and Javier A. Menendez
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(17), 9986; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23179986 - 01 Sep 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2495
Abstract
The third-generation anaplastic lymphoma tyrosine kinase inhibitor (ALK-TKI) lorlatinib has a unique side effect profile that includes hypercholesteremia and hypertriglyceridemia in >80% of lung cancer patients. Here, we tested the hypothesis that lorlatinib might directly promote the accumulation of cholesterol and/or triglycerides in [...] Read more.
The third-generation anaplastic lymphoma tyrosine kinase inhibitor (ALK-TKI) lorlatinib has a unique side effect profile that includes hypercholesteremia and hypertriglyceridemia in >80% of lung cancer patients. Here, we tested the hypothesis that lorlatinib might directly promote the accumulation of cholesterol and/or triglycerides in human hepatic cells. We investigated the capacity of the hepatoprotectant silibinin to modify the lipid-modifying activity of lorlatinib. To predict clinically relevant drug–drug interactions if silibinin were used to clinically manage lorlatinib-induced hyperlipidemic effects in hepatic cells, we also explored the capacity of silibinin to interact with and block CYP3A4 activity using in silico computational descriptions and in vitro biochemical assays. A semi-targeted ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography accurate mass quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS)-based lipidomic approach revealed that short-term treatment of hepatic cells with lorlatinib promotes the accumulation of numerous molecular species of cholesteryl esters and triglycerides. Silibinin treatment significantly protected the steady-state lipidome of hepatocytes against the hyperlipidemic actions of lorlatinib. Lipid staining confirmed the ability of lorlatinib to promote neutral lipid overload in hepatocytes upon long-term exposure, which was prevented by co-treatment with silibinin. Computational analyses and cell-free biochemical assays predicted a weak to moderate inhibitory activity of clinically relevant concentrations of silibinin against CYP3A4 when compared with recommended (rosuvastatin) and non-recommended (simvastatin) statins for lorlatinib-associated dyslipidemia. The elevated plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels in lorlatinib-treated lung cancer patients might involve primary alterations in the hepatic accumulation of lipid intermediates. Silibinin could be clinically explored to reduce the undesirable hyperlipidemic activity of lorlatinib in lung cancer patients. Full article
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15 pages, 1451 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Chemical Constituents of Eranthis longistipitata (Ranunculaceae): Coumarins and Furochromones
by Andrey S. Erst, Alexander A. Chernonosov, Natalia V. Petrova, Maxim S. Kulikovskiy, Svetlana Yu. Maltseva, Wei Wang and Vera A. Kostikova
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(1), 406; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23010406 - 30 Dec 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2590
Abstract
Aqueous-ethanol extracts (70%) from the leaves of Eranthis longistipitata Regel. (Ranunculaceae Juss.)—collected from natural populations of Kyrgyzstan—were studied by liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). There was no variation of the metabolic profiles among plants that were collected from different populations. More [...] Read more.
Aqueous-ethanol extracts (70%) from the leaves of Eranthis longistipitata Regel. (Ranunculaceae Juss.)—collected from natural populations of Kyrgyzstan—were studied by liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). There was no variation of the metabolic profiles among plants that were collected from different populations. More than 160 compounds were found in the leaves, of which 72 were identified to the class level and 58 to the individual-compound level. The class of flavonoids proved to be the most widely represented (19 compounds), including six aglycones [quercetin, kaempferol, aromadendrin, 6-methoxytaxifolin, phloretin, and (+)-catechin] and mono- and diglycosides (the other 13 compounds). In the analyzed samples of E. longistipitata, 14 fatty acid–related compounds were identified, but coumarins and furochromones that were found in E. longistipitata were the most interesting result; furochromones khelloside, khellin, visnagin, and cimifugin were found in E. longistipitata for the first time. Coumarins 5,7-dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin, scoparone, fraxetin, and luvangetin and furochromones methoxsalen, 5-O-methylvisammioside, and visamminol-3′-O-glucoside were detected for the first time in the genus Eranthis Salisb. For all the above compounds, the structural formulas are given. Furthermore, detailed information (with structural formulas) is provided on the diversity of chromones and furochromones in other representatives of Eranthis. The presence of chromones in plants of the genus Eranthis confirms its closeness to the genus Actaea L. because chromones are synthesized by normal physiological processes only in these members of the Ranunculaceae family. Full article
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Review

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32 pages, 1497 KiB  
Review
Corydalis saxicola Bunting: A Review of Its Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Clinical Applications
by Feng Qin, Yao Chen, Fan-Fan Wang, Shao-Qing Tang and Yi-Lin Fang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(2), 1626; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24021626 - 13 Jan 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1897
Abstract
Corydalis saxicola Bunting (CSB), whose common name in Chinese is Yanhuanglian, is a herb in the family Papaveraceae. When applied in traditional Chinese medicine, it is used to treat various diseases including hepatitis, abdominal pain, and bleeding haemorrhoids. In addition, Corydalis saxicola Bunting [...] Read more.
Corydalis saxicola Bunting (CSB), whose common name in Chinese is Yanhuanglian, is a herb in the family Papaveraceae. When applied in traditional Chinese medicine, it is used to treat various diseases including hepatitis, abdominal pain, and bleeding haemorrhoids. In addition, Corydalis saxicola Bunting injection (CSBI) is widely used against acute and chronic hepatitis. This review aims to provide up-to-date information on the botanical distribution, description, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical applications of CSB. A comprehensive review was implemented on studies about CSB from several scientific databases, such as SciFinder, Elsevier, Springer, ACS Publications, Baidu Scholar, CNKI, and Wanfang Data. Phytochemical studies showed that 81 chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from CSB, most of which are alkaloids. This situation indicates that these alkaloids would be the main bioactive substances and that they have antitumour, liver protective, antiviral, and antibacterial pharmacological activities. CSBI can not only treat hepatitis and liver cancer but can also be used in combination with other drugs. However, the relationships between the traditional uses and modern pharmacological actions, the action mechanisms, quality standards, and the material basis need to be implemented in the future. Moreover, the pharmacokinetics of CSBI in vivo and the toxicology should be further investigated. Full article
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36 pages, 3148 KiB  
Review
Phytoconstituents and Bioactivity of Plants of the Genus Spiraea L. (Rosaceae): A Review
by Vera A. Kostikova and Natalia V. Petrova
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(20), 11163; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222011163 - 16 Oct 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3307
Abstract
The genus Spiraea L. belongs to the Rosaceae Juss. family and includes more than 100 species distributed in the temperate zone and subtropical zone of the Northern Hemisphere at the center of species diversity in East Asia. Representatives of the genus are known [...] Read more.
The genus Spiraea L. belongs to the Rosaceae Juss. family and includes more than 100 species distributed in the temperate zone and subtropical zone of the Northern Hemisphere at the center of species diversity in East Asia. Representatives of the genus are known as ornamental plants with many forms and varieties, are widely used in conventional medicine, and have a high resource potential. This review provides information on the diversity of phenolic compounds (flavonoids, phenolcarboxylic acids, and lignans), terpenoids, alkaloids, steroids, and other classes of secondary metabolites in the species of Spiraea worldwide. The article also presents little-known and hard-to-find data published in Russian concerning Spiraea phytochemistry. The biological activities of extracts and their fractions and of individual compounds having different types of biological activity (e.g., antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal) are discussed. Data about biotechnological research on representatives of the genus Spiraea are presented too. The analysis of the literature showed that further chemical and pharmacological studies on Spiraea plants are quite promising. Full article
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