Lancea tibetica as the Tibetan herb: A review of its phytochemistry and pharmacology

This review, based on nearly 25 literary sources, discusses the chemical nature and biological effects of the whole plant of Lancea tibetica Hook. f. et Thoms (Scrophulariaceae). Several types of chemical constituents have been isolated from Lancea tibetica (LT) including 34 phenolpropanoids (16 lignans, 5 neolignans, 5 nonanones, 4 phenylpropanoid glycosides, and 4 propanediols), 9 flavones, 6 triterpenoids, and 11 amino acids. Various extracts and individual compounds derived from this species have been determined to possess a variety of pharmacological effects, such as anti-tumour and antioxidant functions. The results of data analysis on the chemical and pharmacological characteristics of LT support the view that this plant has many therapeutic properties, suggesting its potential as an effective herbal remedy. Finally, suggestions for further avenues of research on the chemical and pharmacological properties of LT and ways in which to further exploit LT are presented in this review.     

Chemistry and pharmacology of Rhaponticum carthamoides: A review

Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin is a perennial herb, commonly known as a maral root or Russian leuzea, which has been used for centuries in eastern parts of Russia for its marked medicinal properties. This review based on 117 literary sources, with many of them being originally published in non-English languages (mainly in Russian), discusses the current knowledge of traditional uses, chemistry, biological effects and toxicity of this species. Several different classes of compounds were previously isolated from various parts of R. carthamoides of which the main groups are steroids, particularly ecdysteroids, and phenolics (flavonoids and phenolic acids) accompanied with polyacetylenes, sesquiterpene lactones, triterpenoid glycosides and terpenes (essential oil). A comprehensive account of the chemical constituents is given in this review (figures of 120 structures are shown). Various types of preparations, extracts and individual compounds derived from this species have been found to possess a broad spectrum of pharmacological effects on several organs such as the brain, blood, cardiovascular and nervous systems as well as on different biochemical processes and physiological functions including proteosynthesis, work capacity, reproduction, and sexual function. Moreover, the extracts and preparations from the plant, which are hopefully safe, exhibited various additional biological effects e.g. antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anticancerogenic, antimicrobial, antiparasitic and insect antifeedant or repellent activities. The results of data analysis on the chemical, pharmacological and toxicological characteristics of R. carthamoides support the view that this species has beneficial therapeutic properties and indicate its potential as an effective adaptogenic herbal remedy. Finally, some suggestions for further research on chemical and pharmacological properties are given in this review.     

Lithium salts — Simple but magic

For many decades pharmacological drugs based on lithium salts have been successfully used in psychiatry to treat bipolar disorder, and they remain the “gold standard” of pharmacological therapy of patients with this disease. At the same time, over recent years in experiments in vitro and in vivo a plethora of evidence has accumulated on a positive effect of lithium ions in other areas including their neuro-, cardio-, and nephroprotective properties, regulation of stem cells functions, regulation of inflammation, and others. Numerous studies have shown that the effect of lithium ions involves several mechanisms; however, one of its main targets in the implementation of most of the effects is glycogen synthase kinase 3β, a key enzyme in various pathological and protective signaling pathways in cells. However, one of the main limitations of the use of lithium salts in clinics is their narrow therapeutic window, and the risk of toxic side effects. This review presents the diversity of effects of lithium ions on the organism emphasizing their potential clinical applications with minimal undesirable side effects. In the end, we present a schematic “Lithiometer”, comparing the range of Li⁺ concentrations that might be used for the treatment of acute pathologies with possible toxic effects of Li⁺.     

Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) roxb. (Bahera) in health and disease: A systematic and comprehensive review

BackgroundTerminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. is one of the oldest medicinal herbs of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well as South-East Asia. Its medicinal utility has been described in the different traditional medicinal systems, such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and traditional Chinese medicine.PurposeThe present study is aimed at providing a comprehensive overview on the traditional medicinal use, major phytoconstituents, biological and pharmacological activities and related mechanisms of actions and clinical studies of T. bellirica. Another objective is to describe current limitations and future direction of T. bellirica-related research.MethodsPubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and EBOSCO host databases were selected to explore literature published between 1980 and 2020 (till March). Keywords used in various combinations comprised of Terminalia bellirica, phytoconstituents, health effects, pharmacological activities, molecular targets, in vitro, in vivo, clinical studies, and disease prevention.ResultsA broad spectrum in vitro and in vivo studies suggested various biological and pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, renoprotective, antidiabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anticancer activities. Diverse bioactivities of T. bellirica have been ascribed to the presence of many bioactive phytochemicals, such as glucoside, tannins, gallic acid, corilagin, ellagic acid, ethyl gallate, galloyl glucose, chebulagic acid, and arjunolic acid.ConclusionPreclinical and clinical studies have suggested that T. bellirica plant and its phytoconstituents have immense potential for prevention and treatment of various diseases. Additional in vivo studies and clinical trials are warranted to realize the complete medicinal attributes of this plant.     

Novel PDE4 Inhibitors Derived from Chinese Medicine Forsythia

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a crucial intracellular second messenger molecule that converts extracellular molecules to intracellular signal transduction pathways generating cell- and stimulus-specific effects. Importantly, specific phosphodiesterase (PDE) subtypes control the amplitude and duration of cAMP-induced physiological processes and are therefore a prominent pharmacological target currently used in a variety of fields. Here we tested the extracts from traditional Chinese medicine, Forsythia suspense seeds, which have been used for more than 2000 years to relieve respiratory symptoms. Using structural-functional analysis we found its major lignin, Forsynthin, acted as an immunosuppressant by inhibiting PDE4 in inflammatory and immune cell. Moreover, several novel, selective small molecule derivatives of Forsythin were tested in vitro and in murine models of viral and bacterial pneumonia, sepsis and cytokine-driven systemic inflammation. Thus, pharmacological targeting of PDE4 may be a promising strategy for immune-related disorders characterized by amplified host inflammatory response.     

Multiple mechanisms involved in the large-spectrum therapeutic potential of cannabidiol in psychiatric disorders

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a major phytocannabinoid present in the Cannabis sativa plant. It lacks the psychotomimetic and other psychotropic effects that the main plant compound Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) being able, on the contrary, to antagonize these effects. This property, together with its safety profile, was an initial stimulus for the investigation of CBD pharmacological properties. It is now clear that CBD has therapeutic potential over a wide range of non-psychiatric and psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression and psychosis. Although the pharmacological effects of CBD in different biological systems have been extensively investigated by in vitro studies, the mechanisms responsible for its therapeutic potential are still not clear. Here, we review recent in vivo studies indicating that these mechanisms are not unitary but rather depend on the behavioural response being measured. Acute anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects seem to rely mainly on facilitation of 5-HT1A-mediated neurotransmission in key brain areas related to defensive responses, including the dorsal periaqueductal grey, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and medial prefrontal cortex. Other effects, such as anti-compulsive, increased extinction and impaired reconsolidation of aversive memories, and facilitation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis could depend on potentiation of anandamide-mediated neurotransmission. Finally, activation of TRPV1 channels may help us to explain the antipsychotic effect and the bell-shaped dose-response curves commonly observed with CBD. Considering its safety profile and wide range of therapeutic potential, however, further studies are needed to investigate the involvement of other possible mechanisms (e.g. inhibition of adenosine uptake, inverse agonism at CB2 receptor, CB1 receptor antagonism, GPR55 antagonism, PPARγ receptors agonism, intracellular (Ca²⁺) increase, etc.), on CBD behavioural effects.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Withania somnifera</Emphasis> (Linn.) Dunal: a review of chemical and pharmacological diversity

Withania somnifera Dunal, is a commonly used herb in Indian Ayurvedic medicine system. Due to its pharmacological value and an inexhaustible source of novel biologically active compounds, it has been a great interest for researchers. The plant is known to possess anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antistress, antioxidant, immunomodulatory and hemopoetic properties. Various withanolides, steroidal lactones, have been isolated from W. somnifera and were known to have high therapeutic value. Based on the differences in the substitution patterns of withanolides the species has been classified into various chemotypes. So far, three different chemotypes have been identified, which have been further classified into ecotypes based on the contents of withanolides. Present review summarizes the phytochemical variability and pharmacological advances reported in literature.     

Syringa microphylla Diels: A comprehensive review of its phytochemical,pharmacological, pharmacokinetic,and toxicological characteristics and an investigation into its potential health benefits

BackgroundSyringa microphylla Diels is a plant in the family Syringa Linn. For hundreds of years, its flowers and leaves have been used as a folk medicine for the treatment of cough, inflammation, colds, sore throat, acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, early liver cirrhosis, fatty liver, and oesophageal cancer.PurposeFor the first time, we have comprehensively reviewed information on Syringa microphylla Diels that is not included in the Pharmacopoeia, clarified the pharmacological mechanisms of Syringa microphylla Diels and its active ingredients from a molecular biology perspective, compiled in vivo and in vitro animal experimental data and clinical data, and summarized the toxicology and pharmacokinetics of Syringa microphylla Diels. The progress in toxicology research is expected to provide a theoretical basis for the development of new drugs from Syringa microphylla Diels, a natural source of compounds that are potentially beneficial to human health.MethodsThe PubMed, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Web of Science, SciFinder Scholar and Thomson Reuters databases were utilized to conduct a comprehensive search of published literature as of July 2021 to find original literature related to Syringa microphylla Diels and its active ingredients.ResultsTo date, 72 compounds have been isolated and identified from Syringa microphylla Diels, and oleuropein, verbascoside, isoacteoside, echinacoside, forsythoside B, and eleutheroside B are the main active components. These compounds have antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects, and their safety and effectiveness have been demonstrated in long-term traditional applications. Molecular pharmacology experiments have indicated that the active ingredients of Syringa microphylla Diels exert their pharmacological effects in various ways, primarily by reducing oxidative stress damage via Nrf2/ARE pathway regulation, regulating inflammatory factors and inducing apoptosis through the MAPK and NF-κB pathways.ConclusionThis comprehensive review of Syringa microphylla Diels provides new insights into the correlations among molecular mechanisms, the importance of toxicology and pharmacokinetics, and potential ways to address the limitations of current research. As Syringa microphylla Diels is a natural low-toxicity botanical medicine, it is worthy of development and utilization and is an excellent choice for treating various diseases.     

Freeze-drying of live oral streptomycin-dependent mutant Shigella vaccines: survival of streptomycin-dependent Shigella flexneri 2a after freeze-drying

Although the relatively successful freeze-drying of streptomycin-dependent mutant Shigella vaccines has been reported previously, further studies have been undertaken for the following reasons: (1) To improve the survival rate of the vaccine strains after freeze-drying. (2) To see whether monosodium glutamate can be eliminated as a stabilizer as it is reported to produce pharmacological effects in man.     

Review on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saussurea laniceps</Emphasis>, a potent medicinal plant known as “snow lotus”: botany,phytochemistry and bioactivities

Saussurea laniceps (Compositae), commonly known as “cotton-headed snow lotus”, is the most effective “snow lotus” used in both Tibetan and Chinese folk medicine. It performs outstandingly in treating rheumatoid arthritis, which mainly is credited for its anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive efficacy, as explained by modern pharmacological studies. Extracts of the herb, including umbelliferone and scopoletin, exert such effects in various in vivo and in vitro studies. Besides the two chemicals above, more than 100 organic compounds have been found in S. laniceps, and 58 of them are presented here in molecular structure, including cynaropicrin, mokko lactone, apigenin, acacetin, and luteolin, all contributing to different bioactivities, such as analgesic, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-microbial and anticancer effects. We provide a natural product library of S. laniceps, giving inspirations for structure modification and bioactivity-oriented screening, enabling sustainable use of this valuable plant. The ethnomedical applications and pharmacological discoveries are compared and crosslinked, revealing modern evidence for traditional usages. Despite that S. laniceps is a representative “snow lotus” herb, its material medica records and clinical applications are complicated; there is considerable confusion with the different snow lotuses in the academic community and on the market. This review also aims at clearing such confusion, and improving quality assessment and control of the herb. To better utilize the valuable plant, further comparison among the chemical constitutions, pharmacological activities and therapeutic mechanisms of different snow lotuses are needed.     

Corosolic acid and its structural analogs: A systematic review of their biological activities and underlying mechanism of action

BackgroundThe corosolic acid (CA), also known as plant insulin, is a pentacyclic triterpenoid extracted from plants such as Lagerstroemia speciosa. It has been shown to have anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects. Its structural analogs ursolic acid (UA), oleanolic acid (OA), maslinic acid (MA), asiatic acid (AA) and betulinic acid (BA) display similar individual pharmacological activities to those of CA. However, there is no systematic review documenting pharmacological activities of CA and its structural analogues. This study aims to fill this gap in literature.PurposeThis systematic review aims to summarize the medical applications of CA and its analogues.MethodsA systematic review summarizes and compares the extraction techniques, pharmacokinetic parameters, and pharmacological effects of CA and its structural analogs. Hypoglycemic effect is one of the key inclusion criteria for searching Web of Science, PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases up to October 2020 without language restrictions. ‘corosolic acid’, ‘ursolic acid’, ‘oleanolic acid’, ‘maslinic acid’, ‘asiatic acid’, ‘betulinic acid’, ‘extraction’, ‘pharmacokinetic’, ‘pharmacological’ were used to extract relevant literature. The PRISMA guidelines were followed.ResultsAt the end of the searching process, 140 articles were selected for the systematic review. Information of CA and five of its structural analogs including UA, OA, MA, AA and BA were included in this review. CA and its structural analogs are pentacyclic triterpenes extracted from plants and they have low solubilities in water due to their rigid scaffold and hydrophobic properties. The introduction of water-soluble groups such as sugar or amino groups could increase the solubility of CA and its structural analogs. Their biological activities and underlying mechanism of action are reviewed and compared.ConclusionCA and its structural analogs UA, OA, MA, AA and BA are demonstrated to show activities in lowering blood sugar, anti-inflammation and anti-tumor. Their oral absorption and bioavailability can be improved through structural modification and formulation design. CA and its structural analogs are promising natural product-based lead compounds for further development and mechanistic studies.     

Analogs of penfluridol as chemotherapeutic agents with reduced central nervous system activity

Several recent reports have highlighted the feasibility of the use of penfluridol, a well-known antipsychotic agent, as a chemotherapeutic agent. In vivo experiments have confirmed the cytotoxic activity of penfluridol in triple-negative breast cancer model, lung cancer model, and further studies have been proposed to assess its anticancer activity and viability for the treatment of glioblastomas. However, penfluridol anticancer activity was observed at a dosage significantly higher than that administered in antipsychotic therapy, thus raising the concern for the potential onset of CNS side effects in patients undergoing intensive pharmacological treatment. In this study, we evaluate the potential CNS toxicity of penfluridol side by side with a set of analogs.     

Ethnobotany,ethnopharmacology and toxicity of Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae): A review

Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) is a multiple purpose plant with potential for biodiesel production and medicinal uses. It has been used for treatment of a wide spectrum of ailments related to skin, cancer, digestive, respiratory and infectious diseases. This review aims to provide an up-to-date survey of information available on botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicity of J. curcas. Establishing a scientific basis that explains its ethnopharmacological uses in order to facilitate and guide future research. The review covers literature available from 1960 to 2012 collected from scientific journals, books and electronic searches such as Google scholar, Web of Science and ScienceDirect. Ethnomedicinal uses of J. curcas have been reported from many countries in Africa, Asia, South America and the Middle East for almost 100 different types of ailments. The phytochemical studies have shown the presence of many secondary metabolites including diterpeniods, sesquiterpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, lignans, coumarins and cyclic peptides. Crude extracts and isolated compounds from J. curcas show a wide range of pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, antidiabetic, anticoagulant, hepatoprotective, analgesic and abortifacient effects. J. curcas has been a widely used source of medicine for decades in many cultures. The present review reveals that J. curcas is a valuable source of medicinally important molecules and provides convincing support for its future use in modern medicine.     

Development of a Bifunctional Andrographolide-Based Chemical Probe for Pharmacological Study

Andrographolide (ANDRO) is a lactone diterpenoid compound present in the medicinal plant Andrographis paniculata which is clinically applied for multiple human diseases in Asia and Europe. The pharmacological activities of andrographolide have been widely demonstrated, including anti-inflammation, anti-cancer and hepatoprotection. However, the pharmacological mechanism of andrographolide remains unclear. Therefore, further characterization on the kinetics and molecular targets of andrographolide is essential. In this study, we described the synthesis and characterization of a novel fluorescent andrographolide derivative (ANDRO-NBD). ANDRO-NBD exhibited a comparable anti-cancer spectrum to andrographolide: ANDRO-NBD was cytotoxic to various types of cancer cells and suppressed the migration activity of melanoma cells; ANDRO-NBD treatment induced the cleavage of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) and the downregulation of its client oncoproteins, v-Src and Bcr-abl. Notably, ANDRO-NBD showed superior inhibitory effects to andrographolide in all anticancer assays we have performed. In addition, ANDRO-NBD was further used as a fluorescent probe to investigate the uptake kinetics, cellular distribution and molecular targets of andrographolide. Our data revealed that ANDRO-NBD entered cells rapidly and its fluorescent signal could be detected in nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria, and lysosome. Moreover, we demonstrated that ANDRO-NBD was covalently bound to several putative target proteins of andrographolide, including NF-κB and hnRNPK. In summary, we developed a fluorescent andrographolide probe with comparable bioactivity to andrographolide, which serves as a powerful tool to explore the pharmacological mechanism of andrographolide.     

Clinical applications of tumour necrosis factor

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is a polypeptide hormone produced in vivo by activated macrophages and lymphocytes. TNF has diverse effects in vivo and has a physiological role as an immune modulator, as a mediator of the immune response, both through activation of neutrophils and eosinophils, and also affects the vascular endothelium. TNF also has antiviral activity and causes alterations in lipid metabolism. In disease states excessive production of TNF may have adverse affects. TNF has been implicated as a mediator of endotoxic shock, inflammatory joint disease, immune deficiency states, allograft rejection, and in the cachexia associated with malignant disease and some parasitic infections. When used in pharmacological doses, TNF is cytotoxic to many malignant cells in vitro and in vivo. The mechanisms underlying cytotoxicity are not fully elucidated but involve both a direct toxic effect to the cell and an indirect effect on tumour vasculature. Cytotoxicity is not universal and TNF may act as a differentiating agent or growth factor for some haematological cell types. So far the clinical application of TNF has been as a treatment for cancer in Phase I and II trials in patients with advanced disease and its efficacy here is still unproven. TNF may have potential for clinical application in combination therapy for cancer. There is experimental evidence for its interaction with other biological agents and cytotoxic drugs. The use of specific antibodies to inhibit production of TNF, or other agents to antagonise the toxic effects of TNF may have clinical relevance in counteracting septic shock and the clinical manifestations of TNF in inflammatory and neoplastic disease.     

The small molecule Retro-1 enhances the pharmacological actions of antisense and splice switching oligonucleotides

The attainment of strong pharmacological effects with oligonucleotides is hampered by inefficient access of these molecules to their sites of action in the cytosol or nucleus. Attempts to address this problem with lipid or polymeric delivery systems have been only partially successful. Here, we describe a novel alternative approach involving the use of a non-toxic small molecule to enhance the pharmacological effects of oligonucleotides. The compound Retro-1 was discovered in a screen for small molecules that reduce the actions of bacterial toxins and has been shown to block the retrograde trafficking pathway. We demonstrate that Retro-1 can also substantially enhance the effectiveness of antisense and splice switching oligonucleotides in cell culture. This effect occurs at the level of intracellular trafficking or processing and is correlated with increased oligonucleotide accumulation in the nucleus but does not involve the perturbation of lysosomal compartments. We also show that Retro-1 can alter the effectiveness of splice switching oligonucleotides in the in vivo setting. These observations indicate that it is possible to enhance the pharmacological actions of oligonucleotides using non-toxic and non-lysosomotropic small molecule adjuncts.     

Revealing the reviving secret of the white dead nettle (Lamium album L.)

Lamium album, commonly known as white dead nettle or non-stinging nettle is a flowering herbaceous plant, native throughout Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. From ancient times this plant has been endowed with revival, curative and culinary virtues. In the past, in the traditional and folk medicine white dead nettle has been used mainly for its anti-inflammatory, astringent and anti-septic activity. Nowadays significant amount of knowledge on the efficacy of extracts and raw material of L. album is accumulated and a number of health-related beneficial activities have been scientifically proven. In vitro analyses conducted in various model systems have demonstrated antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, cytoprotective, wound healing and other important pharmacological effects. The present review summarizes the recent information on the phytochemical features of this pharmacologically important species. The findings on the chemical composition, biological activities and the pharmacological properties underlying the revival secret of white dead nettle are described and discussed in the view of potential applications for treatment of human diseases. Trends for further research are outlined.     

Botany,traditional uses,phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of Saussurea costus – An endangered plant from Himalaya- A review

Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch. Syn. Saussurea lappa C.B. Clarke belongs to family Asteraceae and is a critically endangered plant that is monetarily very vital as a therapeutic herb of North - West Himalaya. Saussurea costus has been traditionally used to treat a variety of ailments in different indigenous health systems viz., carminative, expectorant, antiarthritic, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, anodyne and vermifuge without any noticeable adverse effects. Textbooks on ethnobotany, peer-reviewed academic publications, unpublished materials, and research repositories were used to collect the widespread review of literature on Saussurea costus. The scientific names were authenticated by using Kew Botanical Garden, International Plant Name Index and Plant List databases. Costunolide, dihydrocostunolide, sesquiterpene lactones and cynaropicrin have been identified as major phytoconstituents of Saussurea costus with great potency to develop as a drug candidate. Different pharmacological experiments convincingly confirmed the potential of Saussurea costus with anticancer, anti-ulcer, hepatoprotective activities, etc. providing support to the various traditional uses associated with Saussurea costus. Saussurea costus will be a preferable alternative for novel drug discovery due to its notable pharmacological properties. Although the existing information to far indicates the security and possibly efficacy of Saussurea costus, bioactive ingredients, physiological mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, accessibility, and the impact on human health are not fully understood. The present review piles up the up-to-date and widespread information on botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Saussurea costus, to assess its therapeutic potential, with a focus on in vitro, biomedical, and histopathological experiments.     

A review on pharmacological activities and synergistic effect of quercetin with small molecule agents

BackgroundQuercetin is a natural flavonoid, which widely exists in nature, such as tea, coffee, apples, and onions. Numerous studies have showed that quercetin has multiple biological activities such as anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging. Hence, quercetin has a significant therapeutic effect on cancers, obesity, diabetes, and other diseases. In the past decades, a large number of studies have shown that quercetin combined with other agents can significantly improve the overall therapeutic effect, compared to single use.PurposeThis work reviews the pharmacological activities of quercetin and its derivatives. In addition, this work also summarizes both in vivo and in vitro experimental evidence for the synergistic effect of quercetin against cancers and metabolic diseases.MethodsAn extensive systematic search for pharmacological activities and synergistic effect of quercetin was performed considering all the relevant literatures published until August 2021 through the databases including NCBI PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The relevant literatures were extracted from the databases with following keyword combinations: "pharmacological activities" OR "biological activities" OR "synergistic effect" OR "combined" OR "combination" AND "quercetin" as well as free-text words.ResultsQuercetin and its derivatives possess multiple pharmacological activities including anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cardiovascular, anti-aging, and neuroprotective activities. In addition, the synergistic effect of quercetin with small molecule agents against cancers and metabolic diseases has also been confirmed.ConclusionQuercetin cooperates with agents to improve the therapeutic effect by regulating signal molecules and blocking cell cycle. Synergistic therapy can reduce the dose of agents and avoid the possible toxic and side effects in the treatment process. Although quercetin treatment has some potential side effects, it is safe under the expected use conditions. Hence, quercetin has application value and potential strength as a clinical drug. Furthermore, quercetin, as the main effective therapeutic ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine, may effectively treat and prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).     

An overview on traditional uses and pharmacological profile of Acorus calamus Linn. (Sweet flag) and other Acorus species

Acorus calamus (Sweet flag) has a long history of use and has numerous traditional and ethnomedicinal applications. Since ancient times, it has been used in various systems of medicines such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Chinese medicine, etc. for the treatment of various aliments like nervous disorders, appetite loss, bronchitis, chest pain, colic, cramps, diarrhea, digestive disorders, flatulence, gas, indigestion, rheumatism, sedative, cough, fever, bronchitis, inflammation, depression, tumors, hemorrhoids, skin diseases, numbness, general debility and vascular disorders. Various therapeutic potentials of this plant have been attributed to its rhizome. A number of active constituents from leaves, rhizomes and essential oils of A. calamus have been isolated and characterized. Of the constituents, alpha and beta-asarone are the predominant bioactive components. Various pharmacological activities of A. calamus rhizome such as sedative, CNS depressant, anticonvulsant, antispasmodic, cardiovascular, hypolipidemic, immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, cryoprotective, antioxidant, antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, anticancer and antidiabetic has been reported. Genotoxicity and mutagenecity of beta and alpha-asarone is reported, which limits their use at high dosage. Though A. calamus has been used since ancient times, many of its uses are yet to be scientifically validated. In the present review an attempt has been made to explore traditional uses and pharmacological properties of A. calamus.