It is estimated that 80% of the world population depends on traditional medicine for primary healthcare need. Trianthema portulacastrum Linn. (family: Aizoaceae) is a small perennial weed found in the Americas, Africa, India, and other regions of the world. This plant is used extensively in Indian traditional medicines and is also consumed as a vegetable throughout Asia for its perceived health benefits. Phytochemical analysis of T. portulacastrum reveals the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, and phenolic compounds. Emerging studies demonstrate that crude extracts as well as bioactive phytoconstituents of T. portulacastrum exhibit potent antioxidant, anti-infective, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activities. A growing number of in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate various biological and pharmacological activities, including prevention and amelioration of hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, infectious diseases and cancer. This review aims to present and analyze available literature to understand the full potential of T. portulacastrum in health promotion and disease prevention. Current limitations and future directions of research on this medicinal and dietary plant are also critically discussed.
Aizoaceae ; chemistry ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; India ; Nutritive Value ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Plants, Edible ; Plants, Medicinal

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of anti-progression activity of edible plants using urokinase as the biomarker.

METHODSBased on the assay of urokinase activity with peptide of Glu-Gly-Arg as the reaction substrate, extract of 25 fruits and 37 vegetables and water extract of tea were reacted against urokinase activity after Spectrozyme UK [carbobenzyl-1-gamma-Glu(alpha-t-BuO)-Gly-Arg-rho-nitroanilide. 2C2H5OH] was added and the residual urokinase activity was measured by the microplate photometer.

RESULTSAbout half of the fruit and vegetable samples showed urokinase inhibitory activity (UIA) at 20% or more and among them lemon, kiwi-fruit, peas, spinach and pumpkin showed effects over 80%, while garlic, radish, Japanese butterbur, garland chrysanthemum, celery, plum, pineapple and grape ranged between 50% and 79%. Average UIA of 51 kinds of tea was 83.2% and among them 28 kinds showed UIA over 90% and other 20 kinds of tea ranged from 70% to 89%. Green tea showed inhibitory effects on urokinase activity more powerful than black tea and Oolong tea. On the other hand, vegetable showed various UIA with different ways of processing. Comparing the effects of various solvents, garlic extracted with methanol, spinach with ethyl acetate, and pumpkin and radish with water showed highest UIA.

CONCLUSIONPopular fruits, vegetables and tea in daily life could inhibit urokinase activity and may be helpful in the prevention of malignant tumor formation.

Fruit ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plants, Edible ; chemistry ; Tea ; chemistry ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Vegetables ; chemistry

With the improvement of living standard,the theory of " medicine and food homology" has developed rapidly in the field of diet,medicine and health preservation. In recent years,many literatures have been reported on the active ingredients and pharmacological effects of medicinal and edible plants,but relatively few reports have been reported on their safety investigation. Therefore,to further evaluate the quality and safety of medicinal and edible plants,Astragali Radix,Codonopsis Radix and Laminariae Thallus were selected as our research objects in this study. Moreover,the pollution level and the potential health risk of heavy metals were deeply assessed in different types of medicinal and edible plants. Especially,the contents of chromium,copper,arsenic,cadmium,mercury and lead in these three herbs were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry( ICP-MS),and their health risk level was evaluated by target hazard coefficient method. The results showed that under the international heavy metal limit standard( ISO 18664-2015,GB 2762-2017),the over-standard rates were 25%,77% and 100% in 16 batches of Astragali Radix,26 batches of Codonopsis Radix and 9 batches of Laminariae Thallus,respectively. Besides,the values of target hazard quotients( THQ) for adults and children are 0. 028 244,0. 063 505 and 0. 014 485,0. 032 568 in Astragalus membranaceus and Codonopsis pilosula,respectively,which were higher than the standard values of 0. 02 and 0. 011 25. While,the total heavy metals THQ values for adults and children are 0. 023 734 and 0. 020 287 in Laminariae Thallus,which were much higher than the standard values of 0. 008 0 and 0. 007 5. However,the CR values of As,Cd and Pb in the three herbs were lower than 1×10~(-6). Above results indicated that those six harmful elements have certain health hazards to the exposed population,but there is no potential carcinogenic effect. It can be seen that,there were still presence of the pollution of harmful elements,and it is necessary to establish the reasonable limit standards and quality control methods of medicinal and edible plants in time.
Adult ; Astragalus propinquus ; Child ; Codonopsis/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Humans ; Laminaria/chemistry* ; Metals, Heavy/analysis* ; Plant Preparations/chemistry* ; Plants, Edible/chemistry* ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry* ; Risk Assessment

OBJECTIVETo investigate the purification process of total flavones and total tannins from Apocynum venetum leaves with macroreticular resin.

METHODThe static capacity absorption, dynamic absorption ratio and dynamic elution ratio of different types of macroreticular resins were studied and compared in order to find the best one among the eight macroreticular resins, and the technical process of the type of HPD-400 type macroreticular resin was studied in detail.

RESULTThe type of HPD-400 type macroreticular resin showed the best comprehensive absorption property with the following technological conditions: the current velocity was 1 BV x h(-1), the volume of distilled water was 2 BV, the eluting reagent was 60% ethanol, and the volume of 60% ethanol was 3 BV.

CONCLUSIONThe purity of total flavones and total tannins in the product is up to 80% after purified with HPD-400 macroreticular resin. Therefore, this purification process is feasible.

Apocynum ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavones ; analysis ; Plants, Edible ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Reference Books, Medical ; Tannins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo provide foundation for developing Gynostemma pentaphyllum with physic and edible use.

METHODTo plant the seven leaves with sweet taste of Enshi, Five leaves with honey taste of Enshi, Makino (picric taste) taste, in the same ecological environment in accordance with the require of mathematical statistics and give the same management, At the same time, sowing and reaping dry grass to do composition analysis;

RESULTThe ginseng total saponin, the total amino acid. VitE, VitB1, VitB2 of the two new variety are 33% and 34.3%, 11.8% and 4.7%, 76% and 45.8%, 46% and 76.1%, 41.2% and 25% higher than the raw variety of Gynostemma pentaphyllam Makino respectively. All of them achieve the remarkable standard. The total sugar of the two is 16.3% and 4.4% lower than the raw variety of G. pentaphyllum respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe two new variety is not only with the distinct flavor and good taste, but also has wider used domain More amount of utilization, Better medical treatment and health care than the raw variety of G. pentaphyllum. It is more worthful to develop in industry domain.

Amino Acids ; analysis ; Carbohydrates ; analysis ; Genetic Variation ; Ginsenosides ; analysis ; Gynostemma ; chemistry ; genetics ; Plants, Edible ; chemistry ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; genetics ; Riboflavin ; analysis ; Thiamine ; analysis ; Vitamin E ; analysis

Guided by TNF-α secretion inhibitory activity assay, four taraxastane-type triterpenoids, including two new ones, 22-oxo-20-taraxasten-3β, 30-diol (1) and 22α-hydroxy-20-taraxasten-30β, 30-triol (2), have been obtained from an active fraction of the petroleum ether-soluble extract of the the medicinal and edible plant Cirsium setosum. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data and CD data analysis. In the TNF-α secretion inhibitory activity assay, compounds 1 and 2 were active with the IC of 2.6 and 3.8 μmol·L, respectively. In addition, compounds 1 and 2 showed moderately selective cytotoxicity against the human ovarian cancer (A2780) and colon cancer (HCT-8) cell lines.
Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cirsium ; chemistry ; Ether ; chemistry ; Humans ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plants, Edible ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

The flower buds of Lonicera macranthoides (Shan Yin-Hua), represent an important traditional Chinese medicine and food ingredient. A phytochemical investigation of the 70% EtOH extract of the flower buds of L. macranthoides resulted in the isolation of 12 triterpenoids (1-12), including two new ursane-type nortriterpenes, 2α, 24-dihydroxy-23-nor-ursolic acid (1) and 2α, 4α-dihydroxy-23-nor-ursolic acid (2). Their structures were established by multiple spectroscopic methods and comparison with literature data. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited inhibitory effects on iNOS at the concentration of 30 μmol·L.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Plants, Edible ; chemistry ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: Scandix pecten-veneris L. is a less studied wild edible herb and is considered an extinct plant species in many parts of the world. This study was designed to evaluate its phytochemical composition and biological potential of S. pecten-veneris L. METHODS: Phytochemicals including alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins were determined in extracts of S. pecten-veneris. Antioxidant activity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), while reducing power was tested by ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Antimicrobial activity against seven bacterial and four fungal strains was evaluated using agar well diffusion assay. Enzymes inhibition study was performed for urease, phosphodiesterase-I, and catalase-II. RESULTS: S. pecten-veneris showed moderate antiradical activity and reducing potential of hydroxyl radicals to about 20% of the initial value. The antioxidant activity of various extracts of S. pecten-veneris showed a linear correlation with total phenolic contents in the order of water>n-butanol>chloroform>ethyl acetate>methanol extracts. S. pecten-veneris leaves showed the highest inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus while the highest antifungal activity was observed against Candida albicans. The plant extract was most potent against urease enzymes but showed moderate activity against phosphodiestrase-I and carbonic anhydrase-II. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate that in addition to its culinary uses, S. pecten-veneris has good medicinal potential and hence could be used for treating some specific health ailments.
Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology* ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Apiaceae/chemistry* ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology* ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors/pharmacology* ; Phytochemicals/analysis* ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Plants, Edible/chemistry* ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects* ; Urease/antagonists & inhibitors*

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of two kinds of cactus polysaccharide on erythrocyte immune function in S180 mice.

METHODClassical pharmaceutical method and test kit.

RESULTThe cactus polysaccharide increased the content of RBC-CaR, RFER, decreased the content of RFIR, raised the content of sialic acid. And the effect of median dose group of medical cactus polysaccharide and high dose group of edible cactus polysaccharide is very remarkable (P < 0.01) compared with model group.

CONCLUSIONThe cactus polysaccharide improved the erythrocyte function of tumor-mice, which may be one of anti-tumor mechanisms.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cactaceae ; chemistry ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Erythrocytes ; immunology ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid ; blood ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Opuntia ; chemistry ; Plants, Edible ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Receptors, Complement 3b ; metabolism ; Rosette Formation ; Sarcoma 180 ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo provide fundamental information for its exploiting. Aralia echinocaulis by the resource and identification study on.

METHODResource survey and various identification were carried out.

RESULTThe county level distribution and ecological environment of A. echinocaulis were initially observed. It mainly distributed in the mountainous areas of the Yangtze River basin and the south, and was usually used as folk drug. This study also displayed its morphological, microscopic and chemophysical identification features.

CONCLUSIONThe morphological features of original plant and crude drug, and the anatomical and chemophysical characteristics of A. echinocaulis are of identification value, and the species are also of greater development and utilization potentiality, but the resource does not support the sustainable utilization. Therefore, artificial propagation is apparently crucial to its exploitation.

Aralia ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; therapeutic use ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; Oleanolic Acid ; analysis ; Pharmacognosy ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Leaves ; cytology ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; cytology ; Plants, Edible ; anatomy & histology ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Stomach Ulcer ; drug therapy ; Triterpenes ; analysis