Plant-Derived Compounds and Extracts as Modulators of Plasmin Activity-A Review

Functionality of the fibrinolytic system is based on activity of its central enzyme, plasmin, responsible for the removal of fibrin clots. Besides the hemostasis, fibrinolytic proteins are also involved in many other physiological and pathological processes, including immune response, extracellular matrix degradation, cell migration, and tissue remodeling. Both the impaired and enhanced activity of fibrinolytic proteins may result in serious physiological consequences: prothrombotic state or excessive bleeding, respectively. However, current medicine offers very few options for treating fibrinolytic disorders, particularly in the case of plasmin inhibition. Although numerous attempts have been undertaken to identify natural or to develop engineered fibrinolytic system modulators, structural similarities within serine proteases of the hemostatic system and pleiotropic activity of fibrinolytic proteins constitute a serious problem in discovering anti- or profibrinolytic agents that could precisely affect the target molecules and reduce the risk of side effects. Therefore, this review aims to present a current knowledge of various classes of natural inhibitors and stimulators of the fibrinolytic system being well-defined low-molecular plant secondary metabolites or constituents of plant extracts as well as plant peptides. This work also discusses obstacles caused by low specificity of most of natural compounds and, hence, outlines recent trends in studies aimed at finding more efficient modulators of plasmin activity, including investigation of modifications of natural pharmacophore templates.

Basil polysaccharides: A review on extraction, bioactivities and pharmacological applications

Traditional Chinese Medicine has been widely used in China and is regarded as the most commonly used treatment. As a natural plant used in traditional Chinese Medicine, Basil has various functions associated with a number of its components. There are many compositions in basil including polysaccharides, naphtha, steroids, flavone, coumarins, vitamins, and so on. Among these, polysaccharides play a significant role in based therapeutics. The article summarizes that basil polysaccharides have a lot of biological activities and pharmacological applications, such as their antitumor activity, antioxidant activity, anti-aging activity, immunity enhancement effect, hypolipidemic and anti-atherosclerotic effects, antibacterial effect, treatment of diabetes mellitus, and so on. This review summarized the extraction method, purification method, compositions, pharmacological applications, molecular weight, biological activities, and prospects of basil polysaccharides, providing a basis for further study of basil and basil polysaccharides.

The potential effects of Ocimum basilicum on health: a review of pharmacological and toxicological studies

INTRODUCTION

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L., OB) is a plant world widely used as a spice and a typical ingredient of the healthy Mediterranean diet. In traditional medicine, OB is indicated for many maladies and conditions; OB-containing nutritional supplements are increasingly sold. Conversely, safety concerns have been raised about the promutagens and procarcinogens alkenylbenzenes contained in OB. Areas covered: A critical review of the current status of OB as a nutraceutical, the pharmacology of its bioactive components, the rationale for its indications, and its safety. Expert opinion: Due to the polyphenolic and flavonoidic content, OB can be considered as an important ingredient in healthy diets; OB preparations may be effective as chemopreventive agents or adjunctive therapy in the treatment of different clinical conditions. From a toxicological perspective, since the tumorigenic potential of alkenylbenzenes is counteracted by other OB constituents such as nevadensin, it can be concluded that OB consumption in food and preparations is safe. The only concern relates to OB essential oils: in this case, a concentration limit for alkenylbenzenes should be precautionary defined, and the use of plant chemotypes with no or low levels of these alkylbenzenes for the preparation of essential oils should be made compulsory.