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Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench: Biological and Pharmacological Properties. A Review

by Cristina Burlou-Nagy, Florin Bănică, Tünde Jurca, Laura Grațiela Vicaș, Eleonora Marian, Mariana Eugenia Muresan, Ildikó Bácskay, Rita Kiss, Pálma Fehér and Annamaria Pallag

Plants 2022, 11(9), 1244; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11091244 - 5 May 2022

Cited by 100 | Viewed by 19841

Abstract

Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench (EP)is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant, commonly known as purple coneflower and it belongs to the Asteraceae family. The Echinacea genus is originally from North America, in the United States, and its species are widely distributed throughout. There are nine different species of Echinacea, but only three of them are used as medicinal plants with wide therapeutic uses: Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench, Echinacea pallida (Nutt.) Nutt. and Echinacea angustifolia DC. Several significant groups of bioactive compounds with pharmacological activities have been isolated from Echinacea species. Numerous beneficial effects have been demonstrated about these compounds. The immunomodulatory effect was initially demonstrated, but over time other effects have also been highlighted. The present review gives a comprehensive summary of the chemical constituents, bioactive compounds, biological effects and therapeutical uses of purple coneflower. Research shows that such a well-known and recognized species needs to be further studied to obtain efficient products with a guarantee of the safety. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Review Papers in Phytochemistry)

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21 pages, 829 KB

Open AccessReview

The Mediterranean Diet as a Source of Bioactive Molecules with Cannabinomimetic Activity in Prevention and Therapy Strategy

by Riccardo Vago, Francesco Fiorio, Francesco Trevisani, Andrea Salonia, Francesco Montorsi and Arianna Bettiga

Nutrients 2022, 14(3), 468; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14030468 - 21 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3516

Abstract

The endocannabinoid system is a complex lipid signaling network that has evolved to be a key regulator of pro-homeostatic pathways for the organism. Its involvement in numerous processes has rendered it a very suitable target for pharmacological studies regarding metabolic syndrome, obesity and other lifestyle-related diseases. Cannabinomimetic molecules have been found in a large variety of foods, most of which are normally present in the Mediterranean diet. The majority of these compounds belong to the terpene and polyphenol classes. While it is known that they do not necessarily act directly on the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, their ability to regulate their expression levels has already been shown in some disease-related models, as well as their ability to modulate the activity of other components of the system. In this review, evidence was gathered to support the idea that phytocannabinoid dietary intake may indeed be a viable strategy for disease prevention and may be helpful in maintaining the health status. In an era where personalized nutrition is becoming more and more a reality, having new therapeutic targets could become an important resource. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Nutritional Epidemiology)

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10 pages, 1156 KB

Open AccessCommentary

Epidermal Endocannabinoid System (EES) and its Cosmetic Application

by Sekyoo Jeong, Min Seok Kim, Sin Hee Lee and Byeong Deog Park

Cosmetics 2019, 6(2), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics6020033 - 16 May 2019

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 12958

Abstract

Recently, cannabis, or its major constituent cannabidiol (CBD), has emerged as an attractive cosmetic ingredient. Initiated as a basic investigation of the physiological roles of cannabinoid receptors and their endogenous ligands, endocannabinoids’ diverse potential benefits have been proposed for using cannabinoid receptor modulating compounds in skin health. Improvement in skin barrier functions, alleviating inflammatory responses, and the relief of itching sensations are some commonly expected therapeutic benefits, which have been supported by many in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies. While hemp seed oils or hemp extracts might be used for the cosmetic formulation, the potential for contamination with a psychoactive cannabinoid, such as 9-THC, should be carefully checked. Instead of using hemp-derived ingredients, the use of cannabinomimetics, synthetic ligands on cannabinoid receptors, or entourage compounds (which modulate intracellular synthesis and the degradation of endocannabinoids), have been tried. In this review, a brief introduction of the epidermal endocannabinoid system (EES) and its physiological roles will be followed by a review of the cosmetic and dermatologic application of cannabinomimetics and entourage compounds. The practical application of newly developed endocannabinomimetics will be discussed as well. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Skin Barrier Function)

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