Chemical constituents and bioactivity of Formosan lauraceous plants

Genus Monanthotaxis: a review on distribution, ethnomedicinal uses and phytochemistry

This article reviews the geographical distribution, ethnomedicinal applications, and phytochemistry of the genus Monanthotaxis Baill, tribe Uvariae of the family Annonaceae. The reviewed works of literature were collected from various electronic databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, The International Plant Names Index (IPNI), and Research Gate. During this review, ninety-eight species of the genus Monanthotaxis were found to be widely distributed in tropical Africa. Some of those species are used in folkloric medicine by various communities to manage diseases and disease conditions such as fever, vomiting, headache, stomach-ache, malaria, helminthiasis, and hysteria. In the past 44 years (1979 to 2023), one hundred and nineteen secondary metabolites with different biomedical potentials have been reported from this genus. The reported compounds are categorised into flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, polyoxygenated cyclohexane, and cyclohexene derivatives, benzyl derivatives, cinnamic acid derivatives, and stilbenoids. Most of the reported compounds showed an array of bioactivities corroborating the use of some members of the genus in folkloric medicine.

Gastroprotective effects of Machilus zuihoensis Hayata bark against acidic ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in mice

Background and aim

In traditional medicine, Machilus zuihoensis Hayata bark (MZ) is used in combination with other medicines to treat gastric cancer, gastric ulcer (GU), and liver and cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to evaluate the gastroprotective effects and possible mechanism(s) of MZ powder against acidic ethanol (AE)-induced GU and its toxicity in mice.

Experimental procedure

The gastroprotective effect of MZ powder was analyzed by orally administering MZ for 14 consecutive days before AE-inducing GU. Ulcer index (UI) and protection percentage were calculated, hematoxylin and eosin staining and periodic acid-Schiff staining were performed, and gastric mucus weights were measured. The antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms, and possible signaling pathway(s) were studied.

Results and conclusion

Pretreatment with MZ (100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly decreased 10 μL/g AE-induced mucosal hemorrhage, edema, inflammation, and UI, resulted in protection percentages of 88.9% and 93.4%, respectively. MZ pretreatment reduced AE-induced oxidative stress by decreasing malondialdehyde level and restoring superoxide dismutase activity. MZ pretreatment demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects by reducing both serum and gastric tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β levels. Furthermore, MZ pretreatment exhibited anti-apoptotic effect by decreasing Bcl-2 associated X protein/B-cell lymphoma 2 ratio. The gastroprotective mechanisms of MZ involved inactivations of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Otherwise, 200 mg/kg MZ didn't induce liver or kidney toxicity. In conclusion, MZ protects AE-induced GU through mucus secreting, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms, and inhibitions of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Aromatic and Aliphatic Apiuronides from the Bark of Cinnamomum cassia

Cinnamomum cassia Presl (Cinnamon) has been widely cultivated in the tropical or subtropical areas, such as Yunnan, Fujian, Guandong, and Hainan in China, as well as India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. Four new glycosides bearing apiuronic acid (1, 4, 6, and 7) and their sodium or potassium salts (2, 3, and 5), together with 31 known compounds, were isolated from a hot water extract of the bark of C. cassia via repeated chromatography. The structures of the new compounds (1-7) were determined by NMR, IR, MS, and ICP-AES data and by acid hydrolysis and sugar analysis. This is the first report of the presence of apiuronic acid glycosides. Some of the isolates were evaluated for their analgesic effects on a neuropathic pain animal model induced by paclitaxel. Cinnzeylanol (8), cinnacaside (9), kelampayoside A (10), and syringaresinol (11) showed analgesic effects against paclitaxel-induced cold allodynia.

Chemical Constituent of β-Glucuronidase Inhibitors from the Root of Neolitsea acuminatissima

Neolitsea acuminatissima (Lauraceae) is an endemic plant in Taiwan. One new carboline alkaloid, demethoxydaibucarboline A (1), two new eudesmanolide-type sesquiterpenes, methyl-neolitacumone A (2), neolitacumone E (3), and twelve known compounds (4-15) were isolated from the root of Neolitsea acuminatissima. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Glucuronidation represents a major metabolism process of detoxification for carcinogens in the liver. However, intestinal bacterial β-Glucuronidase (βG) has been considered pivotal to colorectal carcinogenesis. To develop specific bacterial-βG inhibitors with no effect on human βG, methanolic extract of roots of N. acuminatissima was selected to evaluate their anti-βG activity. Among the isolates, demethoxydaibucarboline A (1) and quercetin (8) showed a strong bacterial βG inhibitory effect with an inhibition ratio of about 80%. Methylneolitacumone A (2) and epicatechin (10) exhibited a moderate or weak inhibitory effect and the enzyme activity was less than 45% and 74%, respectively. These four compounds specifically inhibit bacterial βG but not human βG. Thus, they are expected to be used for the purpose of reducing chemotherapy-induced diarrhea (CID). The results suggest that the constituents of N. acuminatissima have the potential to be used as CID relief candidates. However, further investigation is required to determine their mechanisms of action.

Phytochemical Investigation and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of the Leaves of Machilus japonica var. kusanoi

In a series of anti-inflammatory screenings of lauraceous plants, the methanolic extract of the leaves of Machilus japonica var. kusanoi (Hayata) J.C. Liao showed potent inhibition on both superoxide anion generation and elastase release in human neutrophils. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the leaves of M. japonica var. kusanoi led to the isolation of twenty compounds, including six new butanolides, machinolides A–F (1–6), and fourteen known compounds (7–20). Their structures were characterized by 1D and 2D NMR, UV, IR, CD, and MS data. The absolute configuration of the new compounds were unambiguously confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses (1, 2, and 3) and Mosher’s method (4, 5, and 6). In addition, lignans, (+)-eudesmin (11), (+)-methylpiperitol (12), (+)-pinoresinol (13), and (+)-galbelgin (16) exhibited inhibitory effects on N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine/cytochalasin B (fMLP/CB)-induced superoxide anion generation in human neutrophils with IC₅₀ values of 8.71 ± 0.74 μM, 2.23 ± 0.92 μM, 6.81 ± 1.07 μM, and 7.15 ± 2.26 μM, respectively. The results revealed the anti-inflammatory potentials of Formosan Machilus japonica var. kusanoi.

Anti-Inflammatory and Antibacterial Activity Constituents from the Stem of Cinnamomum validinerve

One new dibenzocycloheptene, validinol (1), and one butanolide firstly isolated from the natural source, validinolide (2), together with 17 known compounds were isolated from the stem of Cinnamomum validinerve. Among the isolates, lincomolide A (3), secosubamolide (7), and cinnamtannin B1 (19) exhibited potent inhibition on both superoxide anion generation (IC₅₀ values of 2.98 ± 0.3 µM, 4.37 ± 0.38 µM, and 2.20 ± 0.3 µM, respectively) and elastase release (IC₅₀ values of 3.96 ± 0.31 µM, 3.04 ± 0.23 µM, and 4.64 ± 0.71 µM, respectively) by human neutrophils. In addition, isophilippinolide A (6), secosubamolide (7), and cinnamtannin B1 (19) showed bacteriostatic effects against Propionibacterium acnes in in vitro study, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values at 16 μg/mL, 16 μg/mL, and 500 μg/mL, respectively. Further investigations using the in vivo ear P. acnes infection model showed that the intraperitoneal administration of the major component cinnamtannin B1 (19) reduced immune cell infiltration and pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 at the infection sites. The results demonstrated the potential of cinnamtannin B1 (19) for acne therapy. In summary, these results demonstrated the anti-inflammatory potentials of Formosan C. validinerve during bacterial infections.

Pharmacological properties and their medicinal uses of Cinnamomum: a review

OBJECTIVES

Cinnamomum (Family Lauraceae) is traditionally used for flavouring food and in pharmaceutical preparations against various ailments. Detailed literature on the ethnobotanical and pharmacological properties of Cinnamomum is segregated and not present in well-documented form. In the present review, we have been trying to gather its detailed medicinal as well as pharmacological properties. The ethnobotanical and pharmacological properties of Cinnamomum were collected by searching several scientific databases, that is PubMed, Elsevier, Google Scholar, Science Direct and Scopus.

KEY FINDINGS

The plant extracts have been reported to possess astringent, warming stimulant, carminative, blood purifier, digestive, antiseptic, antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties and also help to reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels. A wide range of phytochemical compounds including aldehydes, acetate, alcohol, terpinenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, coumarins, phenols, saponins, tannins, carboxylic acid, hydrocarbons, camphene, spathulenol, fatty acids, actinodaphnine, butanolides, lignans, steroids, propenoids and kaempferol glycosides are found in various parts of plant.

SUMMARY

This review provides detailed information about history, traditional uses, phytochemistry and clinical impacts of cinnamon as a spice and medicine. So we recommend further study on the clinical, medicinal, purification and identification of the most effective antibacterial activity of cinnamon to cure various infectious diseases.

Two new diprenylated flavanones from Derris laxiflora Benth

Phytochemical reinvestigation on the whole plants of Derris laxiflora Benth. afforded two new diprenylated flavanones, derriflavanones B and C (1-2), together with thirty-two known compounds, including sixteen flavonoids (3-18), eleven aromatic compounds (19-29), and five chlorophylls (30-34). All known compounds were first isolated from this plant. The structures of these compounds were determined by analysis of the NMR spectroscopy, mass data, IR spectra, UV spectra, optical rotation and by comparison with literature data.

Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Activity of Majoranolide from Mezilaurus crassiramea on HL-60 Leukemia Cells

Majoranolide, a butanolide isolated from the nonpolar fraction of an ethanol extract of Mezilaurus crassiramea (Lauraceae) fruits, is being reported for the first time in this genus and the third time in plants. Structurally identified from 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS data, majoranolide proved cytotoxic against cancer cells—MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 (breast), HT-29 (colon), PC-3 (prostate), 786-0 (renal), and HL-60 (leukemia)—inhibiting growth in HL-60 cells (GI₅₀ = 0.21 μM) and exhibiting higher selectivity for this line than for nonneoplastic NIH/3T3 murine fibroblasts. Effects on the cell cycle, caspase-3 activation, and plasma membrane integrity were evaluated by flow cytometry. Expression of genes related to apoptotic pathways (BAX, BCL2, BIRC5, and CASP8) was investigated using RT-qPCR. At 50 μM, majoranolide induced cell cycle arrest at G1 in 24 h increased the sub-G1 population in 48 h and increased caspase-3 activation in a time-dependent manner. The compound upregulated BAX and CASP8 transcription (proapoptotic genes) and downregulated BIRC5 (antiapoptotic). Loss of plasma membrane integrity in 30% of cells occurred at 48 h, but not at 24 h, characterizing gradual, programmed death. The results suggest that majoranolide cytotoxicity involves apoptosis induction in HL-60 cells, although other mechanisms may contribute to this cell death.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Taiwanese Neolitsea Species on Th1 and Th2 Functionality

Neolitsea species, medicinal plants belonging to Lauraceae, contain rich alkaloids, steroids, sesquiterpenoids, and triterpenoids which possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory bioactivities. However, species differences in the immunomodulatory effects and evidence pertaining to the effects of Neolitsea species on adaptive immunity are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory properties of ten Taiwanese Neolitsea plants on T helper (Th) cell functionality, especially Th1 and Th2. Most of the 29 crude extracts of Neolitsea were not toxic to splenocytes, except N. buisanensis roots. N. aciculata and N. villosa leaf extracts possessed differential immunomodulatory effects on Th1/Th2 balance. N. aciculata var. variabillima and N. hiiranensis leaf extracts attenuated both Th1 and Th2 cytokines while N. konishii dramatically suppressed IFN-γ production. As N. aciculata var. variabillima and N. konishii leaf extracts significantly attenuated Th1 functionality, we further evaluated their effects on CD4 cells under CD3/CD28 stimulation. N. aciculata var. variabillima significantly suppressed IFN-γ, IL-10, and IL-17, demonstrating the broad suppressive effects on T helper cells; N. konishii significantly suppressed IFN-γ and IL-10 production, while the production of IL-17 was not altered. Collectively, these data demonstrated that leaf extracts of Taiwanese Neolitsea species contain phytochemicals with potentials to be developed as selective immunomodulators.

Anti-inflammatory effect of cinnamaldehyde and linalool from the leaf essential oil of Cinnamomum osmophloeum Kanehira in endotoxin-induced mice

Cinnamomum osmophloeum Kanehira is a Taiwan native plant that belongs to genus Cinnamomum and is also known as pseudocinnamomum or indigenous cinnamon. Its leaf is traditionally used by local people in cooking and as folk therapy. We previously demonstrated the chemical composition and anti-inflammatory effect of leaf essential oil of Cinnamomum osmophloeum Kanehira of linalool chemotype in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and on endotoxin-injected mice. The aim of the present study is to evaluate whether cinnamaldehyde and linalool the active anti-inflammatory compounds in leaf essential oil of Cinnamomum osmophloeum Kanehira. Before the injection of endotoxin, C57BL/6 mice of the experimental groups were administered cinnamaldehyde (0.45 or 0.9 mg/kg body weight) or linalool (2.6 or 5.2 mg/kg body weight), mice of the positive control group were administered the leaf essential oil (13 mg/kg body weight), and mice of the negative group were administered vehicle (corn oil, 4 mL/kg body weight) by gavage every other day for two weeks. All mice received endotoxin (i.p. 10 mg/mL/kg body weight) the next day after the final administration and were killed 12 h after the injection. Normal control mice were pretreated with vehicle followed by the injection with saline. None of the treatment found to affect body weight or food or water intake of mice before the injection of endotoxin. Cinnamaldehyde and linalool were found significantly reversed endotoxin-induced body weight loss and lymphoid organ enlargement compared with vehicle (P < 0.05). Both compounds also significantly lowered endotoxin-induced levels of peripheral nitrate/nitrite, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, and High-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB-1), and levels of nitrate/nitrite, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) (P < 0.05). Endotoxin-induced expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), Myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88), myeloid differentiation protein 2 (MD2), Nod-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-recruitment domain (ASC), and caspase-1 in spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) were inhibited by all tested doses of cinnamaldehyde and linalool (P < 0.05). Subsequently, the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and the activity of caspase-1 in spleen and MLNs were also suppressed by these two compounds (P < 0.05). In addition, cinnamaldehyde and linalool at the dose equivalent to their corresponding content in the tested dose of the leaf essential oil, which was 0.9 mg/kg and 5.2 mg/kg, respectively, showed similar or slightly less inhibitory activity for most of these inflammatory parameters compared with that of the leaf essential oil. Our data confirmed the potential use of leaf essential oil of Cinnamomum osmophloeum Kanehira as an anti-inflammatory natural product and provide evidence for cinnamaldehyde and linalool as two potent agents for prophylactic use in health problems associated with inflammations that being attributed to over-activated TLR4 and/or NLRP3 signaling pathways.