Rhizoma phragmitis is a common Chinese herbal medicine whose effects are defined as 'clearing heat and fire, promoting fluid production to quench thirst, eliminating irritability, stopping vomiting, and disinhibiting urine'. During the Novel Coronavirus epidemic in 2020, the Weijing Decoction and Wuye Lugen Decoction, with Rhizoma phragmitis as the main herbal component, were included in The Pneumonia Treatment Protocol for Novel Coronavirus Infection (Trial Version 5) due to remarkable antiviral effects. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that Rhizoma phragmitis has antiviral, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and hypoglycemic functions, lowers blood lipids and protects the liver and kidney. This review aims to provide a systematic summary of the botany, traditional applications, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of Rhizoma phragmitis.
Humans ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Rhizome ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Antioxidants/therapeutic use* ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytochemicals/therapeutic use* ; Ethnopharmacology ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment

OBJECTIVE: Although the protective effects of Momordica charantia L. (MC) extract on chemical-induced testicular damage have been studied, the preventive effects of MC extract on functional proteins in the epididymis under chronic stress have never been reported. This study investigated the protective effects of MC fruit extract on protein secretion, especially tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins, in the epididymis of rats exposed to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS). METHODS: Total phenolic compounds (TPC), total flavonoid compounds (TFC) and antioxidant capacities of MC extract were measured. Adult male rats were divided into 4 groups: control group, CUS group, and 2 groups of CUS that received different doses of MC extract (40 or 80 mg/kg). In treated groups, rats were given MC daily, followed by induction of CUS (1 stressor was randomly applied from a battery of 9 potential stressors) for 60 consecutive days. Plasma corticosterone and testosterone levels were analyzed after the end of experiment. Expressions of heat-shock protein 70 (HSP-70) and tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins present in the fluid of the head and tail of the epididymis were quantified using Western blot. RESULTS: MC extract contained TPC of (19.005 ± 0.270) mg gallic acid equivalents and TFC of (0.306 ± 0.012) mg catechin equivalents per gram, and had 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl antioxidant capacity of (4.985 ± 0.086) mg trolox equivalents per gram, radical 50% inhibitory concentration of (2.011 ± 0.008) mg/mL and ferric reducing antioxidant power of (23.697 ± 0.819) µmol Fe(II) per gram. Testosterone level in the epididymis was significantly increased, while the corticosterone level was significantly improved in groups treated with MC extract, compared to the CUS animals. Particularly, an 80 mg/kg dose of MC extract prevented the impairments of HSP-70 and tyrosine-phosphorylated protein expressions in the luminal fluid of the epididymis of CUS rats. CONCLUSION MC fruit extract had antioxidant activities and improved the functional proteins secreted from the head and tail of the epididymis. It is possible to develop the MC fruit extract as a male fertility supplement for enhancing functional sperm maturation in stressed men.
Male ; Rats ; Animals ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Tyrosine/metabolism* ; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use* ; Corticosterone ; Seeds ; Testosterone ; Fruit/metabolism*

Polysaccharides, predominantly extracted from traditional Chinese medicinal herbs such as Lycium barbarum, Angelica sinensis, Astragalus membranaceus, Dendrobium officinale, Ganoderma lucidum, and Poria cocos, represent principal bioactive constituents extensively utilized in Chinese medicine. These compounds have demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory capabilities, especially anti-liver injury activities, while exhibiting minimal adverse effects. This review summarized recent studies to elucidate the hepatoprotective efficacy and underlying molecular mechanisms of these herbal polysaccharides. It underscored the role of these polysaccharides in regulating hepatic function, enhancing immunological responses, and improving antioxidant capacities, thus contributing to the attenuation of hepatocyte apoptosis and liver protection. Analyses of molecular pathways in these studies revealed the intricate and indispensable functions of traditional Chinese herbal polysaccharides in liver injury management. Therefore, this review provides a thorough examination of the hepatoprotective attributes and molecular mechanisms of these medicinal polysaccharides, thereby offering valuable insights for the advancement of polysaccharide-based therapeutic research and their potential clinical applications in liver disease treatment.
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Liver Diseases/drug therapy* ; Antioxidants ; Polysaccharides/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Increased generation of ROS causes the lipid oxidation of the membrane of spermatozoa, but antioxidant vitamins play an important role in reproduction and help clear away ROS and protect the sperm membrane from lipid oxidation. This review focused on the effect of antioxidant vitamins on male reproduction and in the treatment of male infertility.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Ascorbic Acid ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; adverse effects ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; Vitamin A ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Vitamin E ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

AIM: Stress is recognized to precipitate anxiety and related psychological problems characterized by a wide range of biochemical and behavioral changes. The present study was carried out to investigate the protective effects of melatonin and buspirone, and their combination, against six hours immobilization stress-induced, anxiety-like behavioral and oxidative damage in mice. METHOD: Male Laca mice were pre-treated with melatonin (2.5, 5 mg·kg(-1)), buspirone (5, 10 mg·kg(-1)), and their combination for consecutive five days. On the 6(th) day, animals were immobilized for six hours, and thereafter various behavioral tests were performed followed by biochemical tests. RESULTS: Immobilization stress significantly impaired body weight, locomotor activity, and caused anxiety-like behavior, along with increased oxidative damage. Pretreatment with melatonin and buspirone significantly improved the loss in body weight and locomotor activity, attenuated anxiety-like behavior (in both the mirror chamber and plus maze performance tasks), further restored the levels of brain total proteins, and caused antioxidant-like effects, as evidenced by reduced lipid peroxidation, nitrite concentration, and restoration of reduced glutathione and catalase activity, as compared to control animals. In addition, combination of melatonin (2.5, 5 mg·kg(-1)) with buspirone (5 mg·kg(-1)) significantly potentiated their protective effects, as compared to their effects individually. CONCLUSION The present study suggests that melatonin potentiates the beneficial effect of buspirone against immobilization stress-induced, anxiety-like behavioral and oxidative damage in mice possibly by involving a serotonergic mechanism.
Animals ; Anti-Anxiety Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Anxiety ; drug therapy ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Buspirone ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Immobilization ; psychology ; Male ; Melatonin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Stress, Psychological ; drug therapy

Inonotus obliquus has high nutritional and medicinal value, especially in treating malignant tumors, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and AIDS, attracting significant attention from scholars in recent years. In this paper, the biological characteristics, chemical composition and pharmacologic effects of Inonotus obliquus were summarized. And the applications in medicine and food were introduced. Future research on Inonotus obliquus was also discussed in order to make Inonotus obliquus obtain effective exploitation and satisfy people's demands.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Antioxidants ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Antiviral Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Basidiomycota ; chemistry ; Biomedical Research ; trends ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

This article explores the most recent evidence-based information on ethnomedicinal, phytochemical and pharmacological understanding of Hygrophila auriculata for the treatment of various diseases and health conditions. Various ethnomedicinal writings suggest the use of the plant or its parts for the treatment of jaundice, oedema, gastrointestinal ailments, diarrhoea, dysentery, urinogenital disorder, gall stones, urinary calculi, kidney stone, leucorrhoea, rheumatism, tuberculosis, anaemia, body pain, constipation, skin disease, and as an aphrodisiac. The plant has been reported to contain flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, ellagic acid, gallic acid and quercetin), alkaloids (asteracanthine and asteracanthicine), triterpenes (lupeol, lupenone, hentricontane and betulin), sterols (stigmasterol and asterol), minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, aliphatic esters and essential oils. Extracts and bioactive compounds from the plant have been found to possess antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antitermite, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective, central nervous system protective, antitumour, antidiabetic, anticataract, antioxidant, haematopoietic, diuretic, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antimotility, aphrodisiac, neuroprotection, anti-endotoxin and anti-urolithiatic activities. For this paper, we reviewed patents, clinical studies, analytical studies and marketed formulations from the earliest found examples from 1887 to the end of 2017.
Acanthaceae ; chemistry ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; Antioxidants ; Ethnopharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Traditional ; Phytochemicals ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Protective Agents

Contemporary pharmacological research has demonstrated that puerarin, the most important phytoestrogen extracted from Pueraria lobata(Willd.) Ohwi, has protecting functions on the cardiovascular system, nervous system, osteoporosis, liver injury, and inflammation in vivo and in vitro. Most of these research studies focused on inhibiting oxidative stress and apoptosis through regulating various bioactivators and signal pathways. Among these, superoxide dismutase (SOD), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and PI3K/Akt, MAPK, and NF-κB are of great importance. The data cited in this review were mainly obtained from articles listed in PubMed and Elsevier SDOL published from 1959 to 2013, and the search term used was "puerarin".
Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Liver Diseases ; prevention & control ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Phytoestrogens ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Pueraria ; chemistry

Cymbopogon citratus is a widely distributed perennial herb belonging to the Poaceae family and has been extensively consumed for its medicinal, cosmetic, and nutritional effects for centuries. A large number of reports have been published describing the pharmacological, biological, and therapeutic actions of this herb. In this review, we summarized the literatures on related studies (up to January, 2014) that highlighted the pharmacologic and biological effects of the major phytochemicals isolated from C. citratus extracts and its essential oil. The components of the essential oils found in C. citratus have a similar pharmacokinetic properties, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. They are quickly absorbed following oral, pulmonary, and dermal administration. Based on the published reports, it can also be inferred that, after absorption from the small intestine, some phytochemicals in C. citratus can undergo oxidation, glucuronidation, sulfation, and/or O-methylation. Excretion is through urine, feces and/or expired volatiles. The biotransformation reactions of C. citratus bioactive constituents are essential for its relatively safe consumption and therapeutic applications. The data available so far warrant further studies evaluating C. citratus pharmacokinetics. Reliable pharmacokinetic data in humans would be critical for a better understanding of the the systemic handling of C. citratus.
Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Obesity Agents ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Antioxidants ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Central Nervous System Agents ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Cymbopogon ; Ethnopharmacology ; Hematologic Agents ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mice ; Oils, Volatile ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Plant Oils ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats, Inbred F344 ; Urological Agents ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) is one of the hot spots of drugs extracted from plants recently; it protects brain from ischemia/reperfusion injuries. The mechanism of protective effects includes antioxidation, free radicals clearance, inhibiting the release of excitatory amino acid, anti-inflammation, inhibiting neural apoptosis and other biological effects.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control