Phytochemistry Reviews最新文献

Tadehagi triquetrum (L.) H. Ohashi (TT) belongs to the family Fabaceae. Tadehagi triquetrum is an important traditional herbal medicine used in Asian countries, especially in India and China. In India, tribal healers use it to treat respiratory infections particularly in Chamoli District, Uttarakhand. The present review summarizes the phytochemical and pharmacological progress on Tadehagi triquetrum from January 1979 to August 2025 by highlighting its traditional applications, which provides inspiration as well as suggestions for improving further research on Tadehagi triquetrum. The information about Tadehagi triquetrum in the present manuscript have been collected from several scientific data- bases including Taylor & Francis, Elsevier, Degrutyer, Bentham Science, Web of Science, Science Direct, Wiley, ACS, Springer, PubMed, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Baidu Scholar, and Google Scholar publications followed by literature available in India on the Traditional Indian System of AYUSH/NMPB. A total 40 compounds have been isolated and reported on Tadehagi triquetrum based on the literature miming. Important traditional uses and pharmacological studies have exhibited diversified bioactivities of Tadehagi triquetrum extracts and their metabolites, including pulmonary and respiratory infection, anti-asthmatic activity, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-microbial, insecticidal, anti-hepatitis B virus, etc. Tadehagi triquetrum numerous medicinal applications of a well-known traditional medicine with a long history have been validated by contemporary pharmacological studies. Additional research on the mechanism of action, pharmacodynamics, and structure–function relationships of single compounds or bioactive constituents of Tadehagi triquetrum is also required. As an important traditional medicine with a long history, Tadehagi triquetrum has various medicinal uses and some of them have been supported by modern pharmacological researches. Further detailed studies on the action mechanisms, pharmacodynamics and structure–function relationships of single compounds or active constituents from Tadehagi triquetrum are also required. It may be carried out in the future for drug discovery and development.

Ferns have increasingly attracted attention as underexplored sources of structurally diverse secondary metabolites with ecological and pharmacological significance. Species of the genus Dicranopteris have long been used in traditional medicine for their health-promoting properties; however, their phytochemical diversity, pharmacological activities, and ecological functions have not yet been comprehensively summarized. In this review, we systematically summarized and critically evaluated studies published between 1980 and 2025, based on literature retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and other scientific databases. To date, a total of 87 secondary metabolites have been reported from Dicranopteris species and are classified herein into four major structural categories—flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics (excluding flavonoids), and others—according to their core skeletal frameworks. Many of these compounds exhibit notable pharmacological activities, including antinociceptive, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antiviral, gastroprotective, antibacterial, and allelopathic effects, as has been demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo studies. In addition to their medicinal relevance, Dicranopteris species also display important ecological functions, such as rare-earth element enrichment and allelopathic interactions that influence plant community dynamics. By integrating phytochemical, pharmacological, and ecological evidence, this review highlights the multifaceted value of Dicranopteris and provides a systematic foundation for future research and potential applications in natural product chemistry, drug discovery, functional products, and ecological management.

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Bacterial dysbiosis is a recognized risk of inappropriate antimicrobial treatment of infectious diarrhoea, and its link to gastrointestinal carcinogenesis is increasingly discussed. (Iso)quinolines are plant alkaloids that serve as scaffolds for several antibiotic and anticancer drugs due to their broad biological activities. Moreover, some studies suggest they may have a minimal or non-disruptive impact on the indigenous gut microbiota. Present review evaluates the previously described bioactive properties of 258 plant (iso)quinolines against intestinal diarrheagenic/probiotic bacteria and/or cancer/normal cells in vitro (e.g., minimum inhibitory concentrations, half maximal inhibitory concentrations), based on which it performs structure–activity relationship analyses for each of the involved structural type. Furthermore, it analyses how the abundance of the most active alkaloids in plants relates to their ethnopharmacological importance and traditional use. The results showed that (iso)quinolines of benzophenanthridine, indolo(iso)quinoline, and furoquinoline structures exhibit strong antibacterial and anticancer potential against multiple intestinal targets, whereas specific structural features of Amaryllidaceae isoquinolines, simple quinolines, and protoberberines appear to enhance selectivity by exerting lower effects on normal cells and/or probiotic bacteria. The chemotaxonomic assessment identified several plant genera within Rutaceae, Papaveraceae and other mainly Ranunculales families as important natural sources of these compounds, many of which are traditionally used in treating gastrointestinal disorders. Future research should include (iso)quinolines with identified structural features in broader in vitro assays, advanced microbiota models, in vivo systems, toxicological studies, and detailed phytochemical analyses of their plant sources to better clarify their safety and therapeutic relevance.

The epigenome, representing the comprehensive landscape of epigenetic modifications within an organism, plays a pivotal role alongside the genome in regulating development, cellular function, and disease susceptibility. Among these modifications, DNA methylation is a central and dynamic mechanism that regulates gene expression without altering the underlying genetic sequence. Increasing evidence highlights the significant influence of dietary bioactive compounds, such as resveratrol, catechins, quercetin, vitamins, and amino acids on epigenetic regulation. Through the intervention of DNA methylation, bioactive substances are involved in the regulation of immunity, lipid metabolism, antioxidant damage, and anti-tumor, which represents a new mechanism by which bioactive substances play various functions. This review explores the epigenetic properties of dietary active substances and emphasizes their role in mediating DNA methylation providing deeper insights into their mechanisms of action and potential health benefits.

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Cancer remains a significant cause of mortality, accounting for one in every six deaths. Despite advancements, cancer continues to pose a formidable challenge as a fatal and incurable disease. Various intricate signaling pathways and mechanisms orchestrate the demise of cancer cells, encompassing apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, cuproptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and PANoptosis. Encouragingly, research has demonstrated that these distinct forms of regulated cell death can be triggered by a range of natural products. This comprehensive review delves into the diverse programmed cell death pathways in cancer cells, shedding light on their molecular and biochemical mechanisms. Furthermore, the review explores how natural products hold promise in the development of more precise and less toxic therapeutic approaches for cancer treatment.

Phytolaccae Radix (P. Radix) is a traditional Chinese medicine derived from the roots of Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. and Phytolacca americana L. It was first recorded in the Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica and has important medicinal value. In recent years, research on P. Radix has been gradually deepened. The characteristic chemical component of P. Radix is triterpenoid saponins. In addition, there are flavonoids, phenolic acids, sterols, volatile oils, polysaccharides, amino acids, and other components in it. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that P. Radix has diuretic, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties. Because P. Radix contains a variety of small molecule active compounds, it is widely used in the clinical treatment of edema, nephritis, hepatitis, psoriasis, and other diseases. P. Radix has outstanding therapeutic effects in clinical use, but due to the toxicity of triterpenoid saponins to the liver, kidneys, and nerves, it needs to be processed before it can be widely used in clinical practice. Of note, pharmacokinetic studies have shown that P. Radix prepared with vinegar has reduced toxicity and shows excellent efficacy. In this paper, we reviewed the ethnopharmacology, active ingredients, modern pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics of P. Radix, expecting to promote its clinical application and further research.

Hippophae rhamnoides L., commonly known as sea buckthorn (SBT), is recognized for its high medicinal and nutritional value. Traditionally used in systems like Ayurveda, SBT has been extensively studied for its active principles, which provide a wide range of pharmacological properties. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the phytochemistry, ethnobotany, pharmacological activities, nutritional, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications of H. rhamnoides, while highlighting its significance in functional foods, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics. A systematic literature search was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, using various keywords used including Hippophae rhamnoides, sea buckthorn, ethnobotany of sea buckthorn, phytochemistry of sea buckthorn, pharmacological activities of sea buckthorn, and industrial applications of sea buckthorn. Studies were screened for relevance to the plant’s bioactive compounds, pharmacological effects, and commercial potential. SBT is rich in active constituents such as vitamin C, carotenoids, polyphenols, sterols, and essential fatty acids. SBT has demonstrated to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, anti-diabetic, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-ulcer, radioprotective, anti-stress, adaptogenic, and wound-healing activities. The plant is widely utilized in functional food formulations, cosmetics, beverages, nutraceuticals, and animal feed. Hippophae rhamnoides exhibits significant promise as a multifunctional plant with wide-ranging applications in medicine, nutrition, and industry. SBT acts as a diverse bioactive composition, and evidence-based pharmacological activities make it a promising candidate for future therapeutic innovations and broad commercial applications.

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Breast cancer is the most diagnosed female tumor in the world, and its management and treatment are important challenges for clinicians. Many risk factors are associated with the onset and progression of this disease, and, among these, a balanced and healthy diet plays a crucial role. In recent years, the attention of the scientific community has been focused on the health effects of dietary bioactive compounds, with well-known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, as an important tool to prevent many common human diseases, including cancer. In this context, garlic, a widely cultivated and consumed spice, is a rich source of natural compounds, mainly organosulfur compounds, phenolics, saponins, and polysaccharides, whose biological activities are closely associated with its beneficial effects on human health. This perspective study aims to present published data on the effects of garlic in breast cancer, highlighting the molecular mechanisms involved and suggesting the research prospects.

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Among the xanthophylls, lutein is the second most important carotenoid in the world in terms of its application, ubiquity, and bioavailability. Being a yellowish-orange lipophilic water-insoluble crystalline solid, lutein is chemically recognised as (3R, 3′R, 6′R)-β, ε-carotene-3,3′-diol. It is a derivative of α-carotene, featuring two hydroxyl groups on its terminal rings. Naturally, lutein is biosynthesized through the mevalonate pathway, which occurs in the plastids of photosynthetic organisms. Lutein is dominantly found in petals of colorful flowers, egg yolks, and green leafy vegetables. Globally, marigold (Tagetes sp.) is the known source for commercial lutein extraction and production. Recently, microalgal protists have also garnered attention as lucrative alternatives to higher lutein production. Colloquially nicknamed the “eye vitamin” due to its unquestionable properties in preserving and improving eye health, lutein as a nutraceutical has many other industrial, pharmacological, and economic uses due to its antioxidative, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anticancerous, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and wound healing properties. Apart from health-related applications, lutein also finds uses in food and dyeing industries as a nutritive food colorant and dye. Industrially, lutein is extracted through extraction techniques such as high-speed counter-current chromatography supercritical fluid extraction, enzyme-based extraction, and solvent-based extraction. Although, investigations have enabled the development of eco-friendly green wayouts of lutein production such as ultrasound-assisted extraction, microemulsion technique, microwave-assisted method, transgenics and omics approaches, and hydroponics along with response surface methodology to improvise the extraction process. Hence, the current review discusses the importance of lutein in terms of its chemistry, biosynthesis, applications, and production technologies in light of the above points.