A systematic review of the botany, traditional use, phytochemistry, analytical methods, pharmacological effects and pharmacokinetics of NOTOPTERYGII RHIZOMA ET RADIX.

NOTOPTERYGII RHIZOMA ET RADIX (NRR), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been utilized in China for millennia. Thriving in high-altitude regions with cold climates, wild NRR has been heavily exploited for its significant economic worth, particularly in the medical sector. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, analytical methods, quality control, processing methods, pharmacological effects, and pharmacokinetics of NRR. These findings offer valuable insights for future research endeavors and establish a solid groundwork for the judicious clinical utilization of NRR. The related information for NRR comes from scientific databases (such as Baidu Scholar, CNKI, Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, SciFinder Scholar, Chinese Herb Classics, Chinese Pharmacopoeia, PhD and MSC Dissertations, etc.). Currently, components isolated from NRR are identified as coumarins, volatile oils, organic acids, flavonoids, glycosides, polyacetylenes, and trace elements. Most compounds are analyzed using HPLC and GC techniques. NRR exhibits a broad spectrum of pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antitumor, antiviral, antibacterial, immunosuppressive activities, as well as promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, providing neuroprotection, and liver protection. The research on NRR in phytochemistry and pharmacology has made great progress, and some traditional uses have been proven by modern pharmacology. However, because the complex chemical composition of NRR has not been effectively related to its pharmacological action, its mechanism of action has not been clearly expounded. In this review, the processing methods of NRR are summarized, and the exploration of further strengthening the processing mechanism of NRR is put forward, which provides some theoretical help for the clinical application of NRR. Furthermore, the complex chemical composition of NRR makes quality control difficult, so we must study its quality control thoroughly. In order to better develop and utilize NRR, we should establish a reasonable, reliable, and accurate quality control standard, and focus on the relationship between its active components and pharmacodynamic indicators and the study of its mechanism of pharmacological effects.

Hu J ，Na Y ，Xue J ，Gao S ，Yang L ... -  《-》

Erratum: Eyestalk Ablation to Increase Ovarian Maturation in Mud Crabs.

《Jove-Journal of Visualized Experiments》

Rabdosia rubescens (Hemsl.) H. Hara: A potent anti-tumor herbal remedy - Botany, phytochemistry, and clinical applications and insights.

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine has unique advantages as anti-cancer drugs and adjuvant therapies. Rabdosia rubescens (Hemsl.) H. Hara (R. rubescens) is a traditional medicinal plant known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-angiogenic and antitumor properties. The antitumor activity of R. rubescens is widely recognized among the folk communities in Henan Province, China. This study reviews the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, anti-tumor active ingredients, mechanisms, and clinical applications of R. rubescens, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding for its use as an anti-cancer drug and adjuvant therapy. We systematically searched the literature in PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI using the following keywords: "Rabdosia rubescens", "Isodon rubescens", "traditional application", "anti-tumor", "phytochemistry", "anti-tumor active compounds", "oridonin" and "clinical application". The search covered publications from 1997 to 2024. Inclusion criteria included original studies or reviews focusing on the anti-tumor properties of R. rubescens or its active components. Exclusion criteria included studies related to non-R. rubescens applications. R. rubescens is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Lamiaceae, mainly found in central and southern China. Historically, it has been used to treat conditions such as sore throat, cough, and excess phlegm. The plant contains various compounds, including diterpenes, triterpenes, steroids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, essential oils, amino acids, alkaloids, and polysaccharides, with diterpenes, triterpenes, flavonoids, and phenolic acids being the most active. This review identifies 50 compounds with anti-tumor properties, comprising 34 diterpenes, 2 triterpenes, 7 flavonoids, and 7 phenolic acids. Notably, besides oridonin and ponicidin, the ent-kaurane diterpenoids (20S)-11β,14β,20-trihydroxy-7α,20-epoxy-ent-kaur-16-en15-one and (20S)-11β,14β-dihydroxy-20-ethoxy7α,20-epoxy-ent-kaur-16-en-15-one demonstrate significant anti-tumor activity, attributed to their carbonyl group at C-15, hydroxyl group at C-1, and OEt group at C-20. Mechanistically, R. rubescens combats tumors by blocking the tumor cell cycle, promoting apoptosis, inhibiting cell migration and angiogenesis, inducing ferroptosis, reversing drug resistance, and enhancing radiosensitivity in tumor cells. Clinically, R. rubescens is available in various forms, including tablets, drops, syrups, capsules, and lozenges, and is primarily used for tonsillitis, pharyngitis, and stomatitis. According to the 2020 edition of the Pharmacopoeia of China, R. rubescens tablets are recognized as an adjuvant therapy for cancer. Clinical studies indicate that R. rubescens syrup, tablets, and thermal therapy can enhance cancer patient survival rates and lower tumor recurrence rates. Given its traditional and modern uses, active anti-tumor components, and mechanisms, R. rubescens is a promising resource in traditional Chinese medicine for anti-tumor therapy. To realize its full potential, future research should explore additional active anti-tumor compounds beyond oridonin and ponicidin. For these key components, studies should focus on structural modifications to identify new active molecules and essential anti-tumor structures. Clinically, it is important to investigate how R. rubescens interacts with other Chinese herbs in anti-tumor formulations to enhance treatment efficacy and guide appropriate clinical use. Furthermore, future studies should undergo ethical review and include larger-scale randomized controlled trials to validate the efficacy of R. rubescens in treating tumors, thereby promoting its role as an anti-tumor traditional Chinese medicine.

Gao S ，Li J ，Wang W ，Wang Y ，Shan Y ，Tan H ... -  《-》

Abrus cantoniensis Hance: Ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacology of a promising traditional Chinese medicine.

Abrus cantoniensis Hance (ACH), known as Jigucao (Chinese: ) has been used in ethnopharmacology for a long history with therapeutic effects for clearing heat, soothing the liver, especially in treating acute and chronic hepatitis which was very effective. In southern China, such as Guangdong and Guangxi, people often use ACH in soup or herbal tea as dietetic therapy. This paper aims to review ACH's ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activity systematically, at the same time, we also hope to provide more research avenues between traditional uses and pharmacological properties. Through PubMed, Wan Fang Database, CNKI, Web of Science, EBSCO Database, and Google Scholar search for relevant literature in both Chinese and English, the keywords "Abrus cantoniensis, Abrus cantoniensis Hance, Jigucao, pharmacology, chemical constituents, clinical application, network pharmacology" were used alone or combination. Traditionally, ACH was believed to have the effect of soothing the liver, clearing heat, and detoxifying, often used to treat diseases of the liver and inflammation. Modern pharmacological research indicates that ACH has liver protection, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant, immunomodulation, anti-tumor effects and so on. Whether it was a single chemical compound or an extract from ACH, studies have found that it has abundant pharmacological activities, these were the fundamental sources of traditional uses, like liver protection and anti-inflammation. A systematic review found that modern phytochemistry and pharmacodynamic research reports on ACH are closely related to its traditional uses, especially its hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. Modern research has also further explored and expanded the effects of ACH, such as its anti-tumor effect. And all these efforts are gradually filling the gap between traditional uses and modern pharmacology. In general, the current research on the pharmacodynamic mechanism of ACH still needs further in-depth research, and the strategies adopted must also be further strengthened.

Zhang G ，Hao E ，Xiao J ，Yao C ，Wang Y ，Luo H ... -  《-》

Botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, edible uses, and quality control of Lablab semen Album: A systematic review.

Lablab Semen Album (lablab), the white and dried mature fruit of Lablab purpureus in the Lablab genus of the Fabaceae family, is a renowned traditional medicinal herb with a long history of use in China. In Chinese medicine, lablab is often combined with other drugs to treat conditions such as weak spleen and stomach, loss of appetite, loose stools, excessive leucorrhoea, summer dampness and diarrhea, chest tightness, and abdominal distension. Comprehensive information on lablab was gathered from databases including Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Springer, PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang, and ancient materia medica. Lablab, a member of the lentil family, thrives in warm and humid climates, and is distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Traditionally, lablab is used to treat various ailments, such as spleen and stomach weakness, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. Phytochemical analyses reveal that lablab is a rich source of triterpenoid saponins, glucosides, volatile components, polysaccharides, and amino acids. Lablab extracts exhibit diverse biological activities, including hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antitumoral, antiviral properties, and more. Besides its medicinal applications, lablab is extensively used in the food industry due to its high nutrient content. Additionally, the quality of lablab can be regulated by determining the levels of key chemical components pivotal to its medicinal effects, ensuring the herb's overall quality. Lablab is a promising medicinal and edible plant ingredient with diverse pharmacological effects, making it a valuable ingredient for food, pharmaceuticals, and animal husbandry. However, it has inherent toxicity if not properly prepared. Additionally, some traditional uses and pharmacological activities lack scientific validation due to incomplete methods, unclear results, and insufficient clinical data. Thus, further in vivo and in vitro studies on its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology, along with clinical efficacy evaluations, are needed to ensure lablab's safety and effectiveness. As an important traditional Chinese medicine, lablab deserves more attention.

Yao L ，Xia Z ，Tang P ，Deng J ，Hao E ，Du Z ，Jia F ，Wang X ，Li Z ，Fan L ，Hou X ... -  《-》