Amomum villosum Lour.: An insight into ethnopharmacological, phytochemical, and pharmacological overview.

Amomum villosum Lour. is a widely esteemed species of medicinal plant on a global scale. Its medicinal properties have been documented as early as the Tang Dynasty, particularly the fruit, which holds significant medicinal and culinary value. This plant is extensively found in tropical and subtropical regions across Asia. It possesses the properties of warming the middle and dispelling cold, regulating Qi to invigorate the spleen, harmonizing the stomach to alleviate vomiting, and nourishing deficiencies. In recent years, A. villosum has garnered global attention for its remarkable biological activity. Currently, numerous bioactive compounds have been successfully isolated and identified, showcasing a diverse array of pharmacological activities and medicinal benefits. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the research advancements in the geographical distribution, botany, traditional applications, phytochemistry, pharmacological activity, quality control, clinical applications, and toxicology of A. villosum. Furthermore, a critical summary of the current research and future prospects of this plant is presented. Obtain information about A. villosum from ancient literature, doctoral and master's theses, and scholarly databases including Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), ScienceDirect, plant directories, and clinical reports. At present, about 500 compounds have been isolated and identified from various organs of A. villosum, including monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, diterpenoids, flavonoids, phenols, polysaccharides, and other components. Modern pharmacological studies have revealed that A. villosum exhibits exceptional biological activities in vitro and in vivo, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, liver protection, anti-tumor, hypoglycemic, anti-microbial, regulating gastrointestinal activity, immune regulation, regulating flora, anti-obesity, estrogen, and more. Some of these activities have found extensive application in clinical practice. A. villosum, as a well-established medicinal herb, holds significant therapeutic potential and is also valued for its culinary applications. Currently, the research on the active components or crude extracts of A. villosum and their potential mechanisms of action remains limited. Furthermore, certain pharmacological activities require further elucidation for a comprehensive understanding of its internal mechanisms. Moreover, it is strongly recommended to prioritize research on pharmacokinetics and toxicity studies. These efforts will facilitate a thorough exploration of the potential of A. villosum and establish a robust foundation for its potential clinical applications.

Feng L ，Wang Z ，Lei Z ，Zhang X ，Zhai B ，Sun J ，Guo D ，Wang D ，Luan F ，Zou J ，Shi Y ... -  《-》

A comprehensive review of the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control and other applications of Ligustici Rhizoma et Radix.

Liu Y ，Meng X ，Jin X ，Wang L ，Liu S ，Chen S ，Du K ，Li J ，Chang Y ... -  《-》

A review of the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and quality of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge.

The rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge., belonging to the family Liliaceae, are named 'Zhi-mu' according to traditional Chinese medicine theory. It is a medicinal plant that has long been used as a tonic agent in various ethnomedicinal systems in East Asia, especially in China, and also for treating arthralgia, hematochezia, tidal fever, night sweats, cough, dry mouth and tongue, hemoptysis, etc. THE ARM OF THE REVIEW: The review aims to provide a systematic overview of botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and quality control of Anemarrhena asphodeloides and to explore the future therapeutic potential and scientific potential of this plant. A comprehensive literature search was performed on Anemarrhena asphodeloides using scientific databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, CNKI, Elsevier, SpringerLink, ACS publications, ancient books, Doctoral and master's Theses. Collected data from different sources was comprehensively summarised for botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and quality control of Anemarrhena asphodeloides. A comprehensive analysis of the literature as mentioned above confirmed that the ethnomedical uses of Anemarrhena asphodeloides had a history of thousands of years in eastern Asian countries. Two hundred sixty-nine compounds have been identified from Anemarrhena asphodeloides, including steroidal saponins, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids, steroids, organic acids, polysaccharides, benzophenones and other ingredients. Studies have shown that the extracts and compounds from Anemarrhena asphodeloides have extensive pharmacological activities, such as nervous system activity, antitumour, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antiosteoporotic, antiallergic, antiplatelet aggregation, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-ageing, hair growth promoting, preventing cell damage, etc. Evaluating the quality and toxicity of Anemarrhena asphodeloides is essential to confirm its safe use in humans. Anemarrhena asphodeloides is widely used in traditional medicine and have diverse chemical constituents with obvious biological activities. Nevertheless, more studies should be carried out in animals and humans to evaluate the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in its biological activity and confirm its safe use.

Liu C ，Cong Z ，Wang S ，Zhang X ，Song H ，Xu T ，Kong H ，Gao P ，Liu X ... -  《-》

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 ... -  《-》

A review of the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of the Flos Inulae.

Plants of the genus Inula have long been used as an ethnomedicine in Asia, Europe, and North America for its high medicinal value and health benefits. Inula japonica Thunb. (I. japonica) and Inula britanica L. (I. britanica) are included in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition) as the traditional Chinese medicine Flos inulae (FI). In TCM, FI tastes bitter, pungent, and salt, with warm nature and has the functions of water removal, reduction in nausea, and prevention of vomiting and is often used for cold-related coughs, sputum, wheezing coughs, vomiting, belching and other related diseases. In addition, Inula japonica Thunb is used as a botanical medicine in Korea and Inula britannica L. is also used as a traditional plant medicine in Iran. This paper collects the relevant research literature (1970-2021) and provides a systematic summary of the botany, ethnopharmacology, processing, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, analytical methods and quality control of FI to explore its potential and expand its scope for better clinical application. Information on Inula japonica Thunb. and Inula britanica L. was collected from scientific databases (1970-2021), including Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, Springer, PubMed, CNKI and Wan Fang DATA. Information was also collected from classic books of Chinese herbal medicine and Ph.D. and M.Sc. theses. More than 200 chemical compounds have been isolated from Inula japonica Thunb. and Inula britanica L., including sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, volatile oils, triterpenoids, diterpenoid glycosides, monoterpenoids, polysaccharides, steroid and small molecule acids. Based on a wide variety of chemically active ingredients, FI has a wide range of pharmacological effects. Modern pharmacological research has proven that the pharmacological effects of FI include anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antioxidant, antiallergy, antidiabetic, blood lipid reduction, skin whitening, liver protection, anticonstipation, and antinociceptive effects. FI is a very important traditional Chinese herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory antitumor, antioxidant, antiallergy, antidiabetic and other pharmacological effects that can treat a variety of related diseases. This paper summarizes the botany, ethnopharmacology, processing, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, analytical methods, and quality control of FI. However, the research on the processing, toxicity and quality control of FI is currently too shallow, especially concerning the relationship between the changes in active components before and after processing and the changes in its pharmacological action, which remains unclear. There are few toxicity experiments conducted with FI, so it is impossible to evaluate the safety of FI objectively and impartially. There are also few studies on the material basis and doses of FI causing toxicity and side effects, and more in-depth and concrete researches should be carried out in the future regarding these aspects. Furthermore, to ensure effective and safe clinical medication, we should also pay attention to the mixed use of FI in various regions of China to control the quality of the FI plant.

Yang L ，Wang X ，Hou A ，Zhang J ，Wang S ，Man W ，Yu H ，Zheng S ，Wang Q ，Jiang H ，Kuang H ... -  《-》