Fitoterapia最新文献

{"title":"New oxygenated sesquiterpenes from Bontia daphnoides L. leaves and in vitro evaluation of its antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity","authors":"Amany A. Thabet ,&nbsp;Iriny M. Ayoub ,&nbsp;Fadia S. Youssef ,&nbsp;Eman Al Sayed ,&nbsp;Mohamed S. Elnaggar ,&nbsp;Saad Moghannem ,&nbsp;Michal Korinek ,&nbsp;Rainer Kalscheuer ,&nbsp;Abdel Nasser B. Singab","doi":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106743","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106743","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Bontia</em> is a monotypic genus containing <em>Bontia daphnoides</em> which is known as olive bush. It was used traditionally for the treatment of herpes, cough, colds, inflammation, ulcers and wounds. Therefore, in this study the anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities of the leaves extract and fractions were measured <em>in vitro</em>. Also phytochemical investigation of the non-polar fractions was done to identify the compounds responsible for activity. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by measuring the inhibition of superoxide anion generation and elastase release in fMLF/CB-induced human neutrophils. The antiviral activity was measured against Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and Hepatitis A virus (HAV<img>H10). The dichloromethane fraction showed the most potent anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting superoxide anion generation and elastase release with IC₅₀ 5.21and 6.72 μg/mL, respectively. It showed antiviral activity with EC₅₀ of 332 and 290 μg/mL for HSV-1 and HAV<img>H10, respectively. The total extract showed a promising antiviral activity with EC₅₀ of 214 and 190 μg/mL against HSV-1 and HAV<img>H10, respectively. Phytochemical investigation of the <em>n</em>-hexane fraction of <em>B. daphnoides</em> resulted in the isolation of three oxygenated sesquiterpenes; dehydroepingaione (<strong>1</strong>), 10,11-dehydromyoporone (<strong>2</strong>) and the newly isolated compound; 1,2,15 trihydro-1,15-dimethoxy-2, 3-dihydroxy-dehydrongaione (<strong>3</strong>). Phytochemical investigation of dichloromethane fraction resulted in the isolation of new epimeric isomers 1<em>R</em>/1<em>S</em>-1-methoxy-1-hydro-15-oxodehydrongaione (<strong>4</strong>) and (<strong>5</strong>). From the results, it was concluded that nonpolar fractions of <em>B. daphnoides</em> could exhibit anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities, probably owing to the major oxygenated sesquiterpenes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12147,"journal":{"name":"Fitoterapia","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 106743"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144689675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Combining transcriptomics and network pharmacology to reveal the mechanisms of QuZhuoHuaYu decoction ameliorating gouty arthritis","authors":"Haibo Tan ,&nbsp;Shan Zhang ,&nbsp;Ziyu Wang ,&nbsp;Zhihao Zhang ,&nbsp;Jianyong Zhang ,&nbsp;Ertao Jia","doi":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106744","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106744","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>QuZhuoHuaYu decoction (QZHY), a traditional Chinese medicine, has demonstrated a potential effect in gouty arthritis (GA) treatment, but its underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, a strategy of UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS, transcriptomics, and network pharmacology combined with experimental verification was conducted to explore the constituents and the potential mechanisms of QZHY. A total of 26 compounds were identified from QZHY. Furthermore, QZHY significantly reduced the swelling index and inflammatory cell infiltration, and restrained macrophage M1 polarization and NLRP3/IL-1β pathway in ankle joints of GA mice. According to network pharmacology and transcriptomic analysis, it found NF-κB, HIF-1, and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation pathways are the potential pathways for QZHY against GA. Experimental verification revealed that QZHY treatment inhibited NF-κB, HIF-1, and NET formation pathways in GA mice. In conclusion, QZHY ameliorates inflammation in GA mice, which may be associated with the inhibition of NLRP3, NF-κB, HIF-1, and NET formation pathways. It highlights a multi-target pharmacological mechanism of QZHY and provides a scientific basis for further study of QZHY on GA treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12147,"journal":{"name":"Fitoterapia","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 106744"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144679366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Screening Withania somnifera as biostimulant for crop plants and chemical profiling of its active fractions","authors":"Sarika Sharma ,&nbsp;Arti Shukla ,&nbsp;Kapil Dev ,&nbsp;Shachi Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106741","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106741","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Studies have highlighted that <em>Withania somnifera</em> contain endogenous molecules, with varying biological activities. In light of this, the current experiment aimed the plant growth-promoting potential of <em>Withania somnifera</em> leaf extract (<em>Ws</em>LE) through seed priming. Twenty crop plants were tested to assess the bio-stimulatory effects of <em>Ws</em>LE. The selected morphological features for evaluation included germination percentage, plant length and fresh biomass while the biochemical parameters assessed were total polyphenolic, protein, and flavonoid content, enzymatic activities: peroxidase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase and antioxidant activities. The results demonstrated that <em>Ws</em>LE enhanced the evaluated parameters though the bio-stimulant effects varied across the crop species. Certain crop plants, such as, <em>T. foenum-graceum, V. radiata and S.bicolor</em> showed particularly strong responses, exhibiting marked improvements in plant growth and biochemical traits. To better understand the variability in response, Principal component analysis was conducted to categorize the crop plants according to the influence of different <em>Ws</em>LE dilutions. Chromatographic profiling and identification of bioactive compounds in <em>Ws</em>LE were performed using HPLC and UHPLC/HRMS. The analytical characterization revealed that the presence of 26 withanolides, 5 phytohormones and 26 other bioactive phytoconstituents. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that 27- hydroxywithanone and withaferin A exhibited the highest abundance among all identified compounds, suggesting potential role as the primary bioactive constituent. The comprehensive chemical characterization indicated that these major bioactive compounds likely serve as key modulators of physiological and biochemical pathways.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12147,"journal":{"name":"Fitoterapia","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 106741"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144689677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"LC-MS-qTOF analysis and biological evaluation of Chrozophora tinctoria extracts: A novel attempt at integrating in vitro and in silico approaches","authors":"Milena Terzic ,&nbsp;Abdullahi Ibrahim Uba ,&nbsp;Mehmet Veysi Cetiz ,&nbsp;Ismail Senkardes ,&nbsp;Ismail Koyuncu ,&nbsp;Ozgur Yuksekdag ,&nbsp;Alina Kalyniukova ,&nbsp;Halbay Turumtay ,&nbsp;Gokhan Zengin","doi":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106740","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106740","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This manuscript investigates the phytochemical composition and biological potential of <em>Chrozophora tinctoria</em> extracts obtained with solvents of different polarities (ethyl acetate, ethanol, 70 % ethanol, and water). Comprehensive in vitro analyses revealed that ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts had the highest levels of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, which corresponded with strong antioxidant activity and significant inhibitory effects on key enzymes such as acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and tyrosinase. Cytotoxicity tests on several human cell lines showed that the plant species tested did not exhibit cytotoxic activity. LC-MS-qTOF analysis identified bioactive components, with apigenin emerging as one of the most interesting compounds. An integrated in silico approach involving network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations revealed strong and stable interactions between apigenin and therapeutic targets involved in neurodegenerative and metabolic processes. These findings could serve as an outline for future studies on the medicinal plant's potential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12147,"journal":{"name":"Fitoterapia","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 106740"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144685577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Casticin: A natural flavonoid with promising pharmacological and biological activities","authors":"Shehroz Abbas ,&nbsp;Muhammad Shahbaz ,&nbsp;Amjad Ali ,&nbsp;Saqlain Irshad ,&nbsp;Salman Ahmad ,&nbsp;Jaya Seelan Sathiya Seelan ,&nbsp;Christophe Wiart ,&nbsp;Praneetha Palasuberniam ,&nbsp;Nazirah Mustaffa","doi":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106746","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106746","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Casticin, a flavonoid extracted from diverse botanical sources, has garnered substantial scientific interest due to its remarkable pharmacological properties and significant therapeutic potential. This review provides an extensive evaluation of casticin's biological activities, emphasizing its broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects, including antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal. Its anticancer potential is demonstrated by its ability to suppress tumour proliferation, induce apoptosis, and regulate oncogenic pathways. Casticin also exhibits significant antidiabetic properties through enhanced glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, along immunomodulatory capacities that modulate cytokine expression and immune cell function. Additional properties include its antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory effects, and wound-healing potential, characterized by enhanced tissue regeneration and angiogenic. Moreover, the review highlights casticins organ-protective potential, <em>i.e.</em>, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, pulmonary, and testicular cytoprotection. The molecular mechanisms underlying these pleiotropic effects have been discussed, particularly its ability to modulate critical signaling pathways and gene expression dynamics. Casticin's bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, and synergistic potential with other therapeutics further support its promise as a multi-targeted natural compound. This review underscores casticins broad pharmacological spectrum and encourages future research into its clinical applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12147,"journal":{"name":"Fitoterapia","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 106746"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144689673","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Linalool in chronic diseases: A comprehensive review of its pharmacological potential and delivery aspects","authors":"Ashis Kumar Goswami ,&nbsp;Anupam Sarma ,&nbsp;Sahabuddin Ahmed ,&nbsp;Bhrigu Kumar Das","doi":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106754","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106754","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chronic diseases rank among the leading causes of death worldwide. Plant-derived phytochemicals are known to exert a wide range of health benefits, and linalool, a noncyclic monoterpenoid found in commonly used culinary herbs and spices, has demonstrated diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and anti-cancer effects. Plants synthesize linalool <em>via</em> the mevalonate pathway and the 2-<em>C</em>-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate pathway. It undergoes a metabolic transformation in the mammalian system upon ingestion, resulting in bioactive metabolites. Therefore, this review aims to comprehensively explore the biosynthesis of linalool, its metabolism, pharmacological mechanisms, and drug delivery approaches related to linalool in the context of chronic disease management. A detailed literature search was conducted using the PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science databases up to March 2025. A total of 259 articles relevant to linalool's biosynthesis, therapeutic effects, molecular mechanisms, and pharmacokinetics were included. The review summarizes current knowledge on linalool's biosynthesis, its biological activities across a spectrum of chronic diseases, and the molecular mechanisms involved, such as modulation of dopamine levels, tyrosine hydroxylase activity, oxidative stress pathways, and expression of inflammatory enzymes like cyclooxygenase (COX). Furthermore, the review highlights innovative delivery systems, including nanocarriers, that have been developed to enhance the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of linalool. Given its multitargeted pharmacological profile, linalool is a promising candidate for managing chronic diseases. However, further preclinical and clinical investigations are necessary to validate its therapeutic potential and optimize delivery strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12147,"journal":{"name":"Fitoterapia","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 106754"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144685576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determination of selected isoquinoline alkaloids from Corydalis species extracts by liquid chromatography and their in vitro and in silico cholinesterases inhibition and in vitro and in vivo cytotoxic activity against human melanoma cells","authors":"Tomasz Tuzimski ,&nbsp;Anna Petruczynik ,&nbsp;Tomasz Plech ,&nbsp;Mateusz Sugajski ,&nbsp;Adrianna Frydrysiak-Brzozowska ,&nbsp;Małgorzata Szultka-Młyńska ,&nbsp;Daria Janiszewska ,&nbsp;Barbara Wasilewska ,&nbsp;Bogusław Buszewski","doi":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106750","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106750","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Neurodegenerative diseases and cancers represent a significant global health burden, and should be effectively addressed with better therapeutic strategies. Therefore, new therapeutic agents are needed for the management of these diseases. The aim of the present study is to determine the <em>in vitro</em> cholinesterase inhibitory effects of extracts obtained from selected <em>Corydali</em>s species. Investigated alkaloid standards and most of the investigated plant extracts exhibited significant anti-cholinesterases activity. The kinetic results indicated that canadine competitively inhibited acetylcholinesterase, while butyrylcholinesterase was inhibited <em>via</em> a mixed mode. Protopine also exhibited mixed-type inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. The aim of the study was also to determine the cytotoxic activity of the tested extracts towards human melanoma cells lines (A375 and SK-MEL-3). All investigated extracts exhibited higher activity against SK-MEL-3 cells than the anticancer drug etoposide. The most cytotoxic extract was obtained from the rhizome of <em>Corydalis solida</em> with IC₅₀ = 11.3 μg/mL. The cytotoxic properties of the extract were also investigated in <em>in vivo</em> experiments using the <em>Danio rerio</em> larvae xenograft model. The obtained results confirmed a significant effect of the <em>Corydalis solida</em> rhizome extract on the number of cancer cells in a living organism. The activity of the extract in <em>in vivo</em> investigations was significantly higher than that of etoposide. Our results demonstrate that extracts obtained from <em>Corydalis</em> species, especially the <em>Corydalis solida</em> rhizome extract, can be recommended for further experiments in order to confirm the possibility of their application in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and, especially, human melanoma.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12147,"journal":{"name":"Fitoterapia","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 106750"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144689674","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pharmacological evaluation and formulation design of lavender volatile oil cream for the treatment of chronic prostatitis: Mechanistic insights into therapeutic efficacy","authors":"Jinhui Wang ,&nbsp;Taotao Li ,&nbsp;Xiaoxiao Ge ,&nbsp;Chao Chen ,&nbsp;Qin Chen ,&nbsp;Shihao Zhang ,&nbsp;Mengmeng Wang ,&nbsp;Mei Liu ,&nbsp;Zihao Niu ,&nbsp;Huanxian Shi ,&nbsp;Yundong Xie ,&nbsp;Yajun Shi ,&nbsp;Junbo Zou ,&nbsp;Dongyan Guo ,&nbsp;Jing Sun ,&nbsp;Xiaofei Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106747","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106747","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study optimized the formulation of lavender volatile oil cream (LVOC) through single factor experiments and response surface methodology, and investigated the effects of emulsifiers, oil phase components, and moisturizers on the physical properties of the cream. The optimized formula contains 2.00 % lavender volatile oil, 6.00 % liquid paraffin, 7.57 % octadecanol, 10.00 % Vaseline, 4.89 % glycerol, and 1.34 % sodium dodecyl sulfate. The resulting cream has a uniform texture, good stability, and stable active ingredient content. Physical and chemical property analysis shows that the cream has a suitable particle size (680.40 nm) and low polydispersity coefficient (PDI) (0.15), a pH (5.97) that meets the standards for skin application, and excellent mechanical stability in rheological properties. In addition, retention experiments have confirmed that LVOC can significantly reduce the loss of volatile oil (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.01). In the chronic prostatitis (CP) rat model, LVOC significantly reduced the inflammatory response by downregulating the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT), phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa B p65 subunit (p-p65), and phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (p-PI3K) proteins. Molecular docking analysis further revealed that the main active ingredients of LVOC, such as linalool and linalool acetate, may exert therapeutic effects through the PI3K-AKT/Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. This study provides a scientific basis for the development of LVOC formulations and verifies its potential application value in CP treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12147,"journal":{"name":"Fitoterapia","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 106747"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144689676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Methanolic extract of Korean Red ginseng attenuates NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion-induced cognitive impairment: A comparative study","authors":"Chiyeon Lim ,&nbsp;Jung-Hoon Kim ,&nbsp;Sehyun Lim ,&nbsp;Myungseok Seo ,&nbsp;Suin Cho","doi":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106734","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106734","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Korean ginseng is classified into White or Red ginseng based on its processing methods. Traditional Korean medicine recognizes the differing effects and medicinal properties between White or Red ginseng. This study aimed to compare the effects and mechanisms of action of methanolic extracts of White ginseng and Red ginseng (WG and RG, respectively) in a vascular dementia (VaD) mouse model. Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) was induced in mice by placing microcoils around the carotid arteries. RG and WG were orally administered to observe their effects on cognitive decline. Brain tissue was examined for inflammatory responses using immunofluorescence staining. RNA sequencing was performed to analyze changes in gene expression and protein interactions due to reduced blood flow. Mice with CCH showed cognitive decline involving the activation of microglia and astrocytes related to brain inflammation and increased expression of inflammation-related proteins. Administration of RG significantly reduced inflammation and cognitive decline, showing stronger anti-inflammatory activity than WG. RG was predicted to regulate a broad range of genes and proteins involved in brain inflammation. This study confirmed that RG can inhibit cognitive decline caused by ischemia, suggesting its potential effectiveness in improving VaD symptoms. Additionally, RG exhibited more diverse and potent activities than WG.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12147,"journal":{"name":"Fitoterapia","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 106734"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144662062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the hepatoprotective efficacy of Cortex Fraxini from the perspective of interplay between antibacterial molecule and the gut microbiota","authors":"Miaomiao Zhang ,&nbsp;Lei Zhao ,&nbsp;Jiahui Xia ,&nbsp;Xuexue Zhu ,&nbsp;Jiawen Liu ,&nbsp;Lang Sun ,&nbsp;Jian Zhang ,&nbsp;Duxin Li","doi":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106737","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106737","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of <em>Cortex Fraxini</em> (CF), focusing on the interaction between its antibacterial constituents and gut microbiota. In vitro fermentation of CF extract with rat fecal bacteria led to changes in the content of four typical coumarins (fraxin, fraxetin, esculin, and esculetin) and produced a metabolite (labeled as mCoumarin). Fraxetin exhibited potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities, whereas mCoumarin, despite its milder direct effects, notably increased the prebiotic index and promoted the growth of beneficial bacteria, such as <em>Lactobacillus</em>. In vivo experiments using a CCl₄-induced liver injury mouse model demonstrated that mCoumarin significantly improved liver function, as evidenced by reduced levels of serum AST, ALT, TBIL and MDA, and increased levels of antioxidant enzymes SOD and GSH-PX. Additionally, mCoumarin decreased the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α, indicating a reduction in liver inflammation. Analysis of the gut microbiota revealed that mCoumarin maintained the relative abundance of several beneficial bacteria, suggesting a crucial role in preserving the gut microbial balance. This study revealed that mCoumarin, the terminal metabolite of CF coumarin, is a promising candidate for hepatoprotection, potentially through its ability to modulate the gut microbiota and gut-liver axis. This study advances our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the hepatoprotective effects of CF and underscores the potential of targeting the gut microbiota in the development of novel therapeutic strategies for liver diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12147,"journal":{"name":"Fitoterapia","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 106737"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144667511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}