Evaluation of Paeonia emodi for its cardioprotective potentials: An investigative study towards possible mechanism

Phylogenetic analysis based on the ITS, matK and rbcL DNA barcodes and comparison of chemical contents of twelve Paeonia taxa in Türkiye

BACKGROUD

Twelve taxa of herbaceous Paeonia species were recorded in Türkiye. All definitions were performed morphologically and/or anatomically and there is no study based on DNA barcode sequences. Three barcode regions were sequenced to determine the phylogenetic relationships of Turkish Paeonia taxa. The chemical comparison of roots was also investigated.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The taxons were collected between May and June 2021 from nine cities. Leaf materials were used for DNA isolation and ITS, matK and rbcL regions were amplified and sequenced. There was no difference among taxa in terms of rbcL sequences. But the ITS and matK regions distinguished 12 taxa and structured them in two groups. ITS region distinguished P. peregrina, P. arietina, and P. tenuifolia from other taxa, while matK region distinguished P. arietina and P. witmanniana from other taxa. Both barcode sequences actually showed that the registration of P. mascula subsp. arasicola was actually 100% similar to P. arietina. ITS was the most polymorphic region (n = 54) followed by matK (n = 9). These sequences could successfully discriminate Paoenia species from each other and diploid P. tenuifolia. The methanolic root (100 gr) extracts were examined for total phenolic and flavonoid content, and antioxidant activities. Significant variation was found for polyphenolic content, and antioxidant properties (TPC from 204.23 to 2343.89 mg, TFC from 7.73 to 66.16 mg, and FRAP from 523.81 to 4338.62 mg). SC₅₀ values of ABTS and DPPH were ranged from 115.08 to 1115.52 μg/ml and 73.83 to 963.59 μg/ml, respectively.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that 11 of 12 taxa had differences in terms of ITS and matK sequences and these region must be used for the correct identification of Turkish Paeonia.

Novel spiro[chromanone-2,4'-piperidine]-4-one derivatives as potential inhibitors of fatty acid synthesis in pathogens: Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation

Bacterial survival depends on membrane lipid homeostasis that enables to regulate lipid composition to adapt and optimize their growth in diverse environments. Therefore, the development of inhibitors that interfere with the bacterial fatty acid synthesis process is considered to be a promising tactic. In this study, 58 novel spirochromanone derivatives were prepared and their structure-activity relationship (SAR) was investigated. The bioassay results showed that all most of the compounds showed excellent biological activities, exampled by compounds B₁₄, C₁, B₁₅, and B₁₃, which had outstanding inhibitory activities toward various pathogenic bacteria with EC₅₀ values of 0.78 μg/mL ∼3.48 μg/mL. Preliminary antibacterial behavior was studied by a series of biochemical assays including, but not limited to, fluorescence imaging patterns, GC-MS analysis, TEM images, and fluorescence titration experiments. Notably, compound B₁₄ decreased the lipid content of the cell membrane, and increased cell membrane permeability, thereby destroying the integrity of the bacterial cell membrane. Further qRT-PCR results indicated that compound B₁₄ interfered with the mRNA expression levels of fatty acid synthesis process-related genes including ACC, ACP, and Fab family genes. Herein, we highlight the promising bactericidal skeleton based on the spiro[chromanone-2,4'-piperidine]-4-one as a potential inhibitor of fatty acid synthesis.

A comprehensive review on traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle: current landscape and future perspectives

Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle is commonly known as Himalayan paeony has great importance as a food and medicine. The practice of Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle is very ancient and it is conventionally used for a wide range of illnesses in the folk system of medicine because of its wide beneficial phytochemical profile. The main purpose of the current review was the synthesis of recent data on botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and potential pharmacological mechanisms of action of Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle, thus offering new prospects for the development of new adjuvant natural therapies. Using scientific databases such as PubMed/MedLine, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Springer, and Wiley, a comprehensive literature search was performed for Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle. For searching, we used the next MeSH terms: "Biological Product/isolation and purification", "Biological Products/pharmacology", "Drug Discovery/methods", "Ethnopharmacology, Medicine", "Traditional/methods", "Paeonia/chemistry", "Plant Extracts/pharmacology", "Phytochemicals/chemistry", "Phytochemicals/pharmacology", "Plants, Medicinal". The results of the most recent studies were analyzed and the most important data were summarized in tables and figures. Phytochemical research of Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle has led to the isolation of triterpenes, monoterpenes, phenolic acids, fatty acids, organic compounds, steroids, free radicals and some other classes of primary metabolites. In addition, diverse pharmacological activities like antibacterial, antifungal, anticoagulant, airway relaxant lipoxygenase and beta-glucuronidase inhibiting activity, radical scavenging activity, phytotoxic and insecticidal activities have been reported for Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle. Different bioactive compounds of Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle has proven their therapeutic potential in modern pharmacological and biomedical research to cure numerous gastrointestinal and nervous disorders. In future, further in vitro and in vivo therapeutic studies are required to identify new mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics studies, and new pharmaceutical formulations for target transport and possible interaction with allopathic drugs. Also, new research regarding quality evaluation, toxicity and safety data in humans is needed.

Current Perspective and Mechanistic Insights on Bioactive Plant Secondary Metabolites for the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the most prevalent medical conditions of modern era and are one of the primary causes of adult mortality in both developing and developed countries. Conventional medications such as use of aspirin, beta-blockers, statins and angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitors involve use of drugs with many antagonistic effects. Hence, alternative therapies which are safe, effective, and relatively cheap are increasingly being investigated for the treatment and prevention of CVDs. The secondary metabolites of medicinal plants contain several bioactive compounds which have emerged as alternatives to toxic modern medicines. The detrimental effects of CVDs can be mitigated via the use of various bioactive phytochemicals such as catechin, isoflavones, quercetin etc. present in medicinal plants. Current review intends to accumulate previously published data over the years using online databases concerning herbal plant based secondary metabolites that can help in inhibition and treatment of CVDs. An in-depth review of various phytochemical constituents with therapeutic actions such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, vasorelaxant, anti-hypertensive and cardioprotective properties has been delineated. An attempt has been made to provide a probable mechanistic overview for the pertinent phytoconstituent which will help in achieving a better prognosis and effective treatment for CVDs.

Potential effects and relevant lead compounds of Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper seeds against bacterial infection, helminthiasis, thrombosis and neuropharmacological disorders

Multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, helminthiasis, thrombosis, anxiety and insomnia are some of the major global health concerns. Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper (VM) has been used traditionally to treat microbial infection, helminthic disorder, schizophrenia, memory loss, and blood circulatory problem. This research aims to discover antibacterial, anthelmintic, thrombolytic and neuropharmacological effects of the methanol extract of Vigna mungo seeds (MESVM), and also in-silico prediction of relevant lead compounds by molecular docking and ADME/T analysis. The crude extracts and subsequent fractions of MESVM were investigated for antibacterial activity by disc diffusion method, anthelmintic activity by paralysis and death test on earthworms, and thrombolytic activity by in vitro blood clot dissolution test. Open-field test and elevated plus maze test were performed for evaluating anxiolytic activity of the extracts. Using molecular docking, ligand poses of selected VM seeds’ phytoconstituents were predicted targeting tubulin, GlcN-6-P synthase, and human tissue plasminogen activator proteins for anthelmintic, antibacterial, and thrombolytic activity, respectively. In the antibacterial activity test, the MESVM at 10000 μg/mL concentration created highest and significant (P < 0.001) zone of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (15.42 mm) and Escherichia coli (12 mm) compared with tetracycline. The MESVM exhibited remarkable anthelmintic activity at 50 mg/mL concentration with 35.4 min paralysis time, 75.2 min death time and were closer to the durations of standard drug albendazole. No test extract showed anxiolytic activity. In thrombolytic activity test, all concentrations of MESVM produced clot lytic activity with high significance (P < 0.001) in comparison with the blank. In docking, 2′-hydroxygenistein, cyclokievitone hydrate, and aureol displayed maximum affinity to the target proteins for anthelmintic, antibacterial, and thrombolytic activity, respectively. This research revealed that the MESVM demonstrated potential anthelmintic, antibacterial and thrombolytic effects that confirmed the folkloric uses of VM and the found relevant lead compounds might be further optimized in future drug development.

Therapeutic Feasibility of the Natural Products in the Heart Complaints: An Overview

Heart pain is the most frequent complaint leading patients to seek medical help. Functional heart symptoms, especially chest pain, are prevalent and, according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), are described as "somatoform autonomous functional disorders of the cardiovascular system." The problem lies in the fact that pain does not always have a somatic background, that is, it may be related to crucial underlying heart disease. The population does not know how to differentiate somatic pain from significant ischemic symptoms, and based on the patient's complaints, traditional medicine ends up treating other underlying cardiac diseases. Many unsuccessful unconventional therapies have been proposed in recent years, including herbal medicines that seek to disrupt the disease's pathogenesis. The present review summarizes research carried out in the last 5 years on natural products' heart complaints, including myocardial ischemia, arrhythmia, and heart failure. Several herbal medicines may be used as a replacement or complementary treatment strategy. A total of 17 medicinal plants have shown promising results in preclinical studies. However, human clinical trials are scarce; only two have been presented. Generally, the data are bland, and many issues have been raised about herbal therapies' safety, efficacy, and mode of action. Besides, relevant clinical trials, future perspectives, and possible clinical applications are discussed.

Current Advances in the Use of Nanophytomedicine Therapies for Human Cardiovascular Diseases

Considering the high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the primary cause of death during the last several decades, it is necessary to develop proper strategies for the prevention and treatment of CVDs. Given the excessive side effects of current therapies, alternative therapeutic approaches like medicinal plants and natural products are preferred. Lower toxicity, chemical diversity, cost-effectiveness, and proven therapeutic potentials make natural products superior compared to other products. Nanoformulation methods improve the solubility, bioavailability, circulation time, surface area-to-volume ratio, systemic adverse side effects, and drug delivery efficiency of these medications. This study intended to review the functionality of the most recent nanoformulated medicinal plants and/or natural products against various cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and myocardial infarction. Literature review revealed that curcumin, quercetin, and resveratrol were the most applied natural products, respectively. Combination therapy, conjugation, or fabrication of nanoparticles and nanocarriers improved the applications and therapeutic efficacy of herbal- or natural-based nanoformulations. In the context of CVDs prevention and/or treatment, available data suggest that natural-based nanoformulations are considerably efficient, alone or in blend with other herbal/synthetic medicines. However, clinical trials are mandatory to elucidate the safety, cardioprotective effect, and mechanism of actions of nanophytomedicines.

Genus Paeonia: A comprehensive review on traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, clinical application, and toxicology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Paeonia, which comprises approximately 52 shrubs or herbaceous perennials around the world, is the only genus of the Paeoniaceae and is pervasively distributed in Asia, southern Europe, and North America. Many species of the genus Paeonia have been used for centuries in ethnomedical medical systems.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The present study aims to summarize the traditional uses, clinical applications, and toxicology of the genus Paeonia, to critically evaluate the state-of-the-art phytochemical and pharmacological studies of this genus published between 2011 and 2020, and to suggest directions for further in-depth research on Paeonia medicinal resources.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Popular and widely used databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were searched using the various search strings; from these searches, a number of citations related to the traditional uses, phytochemistry, biological activities, clinical application, and toxicology of the genus Paeonia were retrieved.

RESULTS

The use of 21 species, 2 subspecies, and 7 varieties of the genus Paeonia as traditional herbal remedies has been reported, and many ethnomedicinal uses, such as the treatment of hematemesis, blood stasis, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, epilepsy, spasms, and gastritis, have been recorded. The roots and root bark are the most frequently reported parts of the plants used in medicinal applications. In phytochemical investigations, 451 compounds have been isolated from Paeonia plants to date, which contains monoterpenoid glucosides, flavonoids, tannins, stilbenes, triterpenoids and steroids, and phenols. Studies of their pharmacological activities have revealed the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumour, antibacterial, antiviral, cardiovascular protective, and neuroprotective properties of the genus Paeonia. In particular, some bioactive extracts and compounds (total glucosides of peony (TGP), paeonol, and paeoniflorin) have been used as therapeutic drugs or tested in clinical trials. In addition to the "incompatibility" of the combined use of "shaoyao" and Veratrum nigrum L. roots in traditional Chinese medicine theory, Paeonia was considered to have no obvious toxicity based on the available toxicological tests.

CONCLUSION

A large number of phytochemical and pharmacological reports have indicated that Paeonia is an important medicinal herb resource, and some of its traditional uses including the treatment of inflammation and cardiovascular diseases and its use as a neuroprotective agent, have been partially confirmed through modern pharmacological studies. Monoterpenoid glucosides are the main active constituents. Although many compounds have been isolated from Paeonia plants, the biological activities of only a few of these compounds (paeoniflorin, paeonol, and TGP) have been extensively investigated. Some paeoniflorin structural analogues and resveratrol oligomers have been preliminarily studied. With the exception of several species (P. suffruticosa, P. ostii, P. lactiflora, and P. emodi) that are commonly used in folk medicine, many medicinal species within the genus do not receive adequate attention. Conducting phytochemical and pharmacological experiments on these species can provide new clues that may lead to the discovery of medicinal resources. It is necessary to identify the effective phytoconstituents of crude extracts of Paeonia that displayed pharmacological activities by bioactivity-guided isolation. In addition, comprehensive plant quality control, and toxicology and pharmacokinetic studies are needed in the future studies.