Journal of ethnopharmacology最新文献

{"title":"Assessment of Skin Safety and Anti-Pollution Activity of Clitoria ternatea L. (Butterfly Pea) Flower Extract.","authors":"Hsuan Fu, Chun-Yin Yang, Pamela Berilyn So, Chia-Hung Yen, Tzu-Hui Wu, Feng-Lin Yen","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120739","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2025.120739","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Ethnopharmacological relevance: </strong>Clitoria ternatea L. (Fabaceae), commonly known as butterfly pea, has a well-established role in Ayurvedic and Southeast Asian traditional medicine. While its internal uses-for enhancing memory and reducing inflammation-are well documented, its external applications for treating skin irritations, wounds, and inflammation are less scientifically substantiated, despite historical use in India, Thailand, and Indonesia.</p><p><strong>Aim of the study: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the dermal safety and anti-pollution efficacy of Clitoria ternatea flower (CTF) extracts prepared via traditional water digestion (CTFW) and ultrasound-assisted ethanol extraction (CTFE).</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>In vitro safety assessments were conducted using OECD-validated methods, including Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA), ARE-Nrf2 luciferase assay, MTT cytotoxicity, and phototoxicity assays. Dermal absorption was analyzed using a Franz diffusion cell, followed by calculation of systemic exposure dose (SED) and margin of safety (MoS). Anti-pollution efficacy was evaluated via intracellular ROS inhibition and western blot analysis of particulate matter (PM)-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in HaCaT keratinocytes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Both extracts were non-sensitizing and showed favorable dermal safety without systemic exposure. Although CTFE exhibited phototoxicity at high concentrations, CTFW demonstrated superior ROS-scavenging activity and significantly inhibited PM-induced inflammatory and aging-related proteins. MoS estimation, based on in vitro percutaneous absorption data, further suggested a favorable safety margin for both extracts in topical application.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings support the ethnopharmacological use of Clitoria ternatea for skin-related conditions and highlight its promise as a bioactive cosmetic ingredient. CTFW, in particular, offers enhanced anti-pollution efficacy and a stronger safety profile.</p>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"120739"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145354975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacological potential of the genus Diospyros.","authors":"Aimé G Fankam, Vaderament-A Nchiozem-Ngnitedema, Armel J Seukep, Gabin T M Bitchagno, Victor Kuete","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120763","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2025.120763","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Ethnopharmacological relevance: </strong>Diospyros species are deeply rooted in the cultural traditions of various communities across the globe. Their fruits and timber are among the most widely used natural resources from the genus, serving both ornamental and medicinal purposes. Traditionally, they have been employed to treat a range of health conditions, including leprosy, skin disorders, eye infections, cough, fever, diarrhoea, dysentery, malaria, and other ailments.</p><p><strong>Aim of the review: </strong>This review aims to provide an updated overview of the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacological potential of Diospyros species.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The analysis was conducted using more than 500 scientific documents, including research articles, reviews, and patents, sourced from reputable databases such as SciFinder, Reaxys, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, using the keyword \"Diospyros\" along with filters such as \"natural products,\" \"antimicrobial,\" \"cytotoxic,\" \"antidiabetic,\" \"analgesic,\" \"anti-inflammatory,\" and \"biological evaluation.\" The literature review covers reports on Diospyros species published up to January 2025.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Since the last major phytochemical review of the genus in 1998, approximately 350 additional compounds have been described. These include simple naphthalenes, naphthoquinones, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, coumarins, and lignans. All plant organs have also been the subject of biological activities that stretch to antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, hepatoprotective, analgesic, neuroprotective, antipyretic, and cardioprotective actions. Among these, naphthoquinones, flavonoids, and triterpenes emerged as the most biologically active classes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Interest in Diospyros has surged in recent years, largely due to scientific validation of many of its traditional medicinal uses. The pharmacological profile of the Diospyros genus is both broad and deep, with its most outstanding promise lying in the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer, primarily driven by its unique and largely isolated naphthoquinone derivatives. The challenge and opportunity for future research lie in leveraging modern scientific approaches to understand the synergies within extracts, refine the active compounds for better selectivity and safety, and fully explore neglected areas like antiviral activity. Moreover, the isolation of bioactive alkaloids, the underrepresented phytochemicals from the Diospyros genus, should be envisaged.</p>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"120763"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145354942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Compounds and Monomeric Active Ingredients of Resolving Phlegm and Removing Stasis Therapy (RPST) for the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Comprehensive Review.","authors":"Yantao Li, Huiting Peng, Shuting Zhou, Hongyu Li, Yue An, Nuoyi Ruan, Zhe Sun, Sisi Wang, Yang Cao","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120770","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2025.120770","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Ethnopharmacological relevance: </strong>Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common pathological type of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 85%. Modern medical treatments are confronted with challenges such as drug resistance and poor patient tolerance. As a treasure of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in China, characterized by multi-component, multi-target and multi-channel, TCM shows direct anti-tumor effects and enhances immune function. Syndrome differentiation and treatment is an important core idea of TCM. In the TCM theoretical system, the occurrence and development of lung cancer are closely related to \"phlegm\" and \"blood stasis\". Therefore, Resolving Phlegm and Removing Stasis Therapy (RPST) has shown significant value in clinical application and mechanism research.</p><p><strong>Aim of the review: </strong>We aim to summarize the progress of RPST in treating NSCLC. We not only analyze its clinical efficacy in TCM. but also summarize the mechanism of the active components of this method, providing the potential therapeutic strategies for NSCLC.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>All the literature information in this review was collected from relevant articles in the scientific databases PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI from 2010 to 2025.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This review elaborates on the effects of compound TCM and their active components of RPST on NSCLC from the perspectives of clinical research and mechanism research respectively. We systematically summarized 11 modified prescriptions derived from ancient classic formulas, whose safety and efficacy have been confirmed through years of clinical practice. In addition, we systematically summarized 24 clinical studies in total and found that the application of TCM compounds for RPST can effectively reduce tumor size, enhance therapeutic efficacy, and alleviate TCM-related symptoms. Meanwhile, this review sorted out 26 single herbs that have been used since ancient times and possess anti-lung cancer effects. Studies on their active ingredients revealed that their anti-tumor mechanisms involve multi-pathway and multi-target effects, such as inducing apoptosis of lung cancer cells, inhibiting cell viability, invasion, and migration, and reversing drug resistance, etc. CONCLUSION: RPST compounds and their active ingredients have exhibited remarkable anti-cancer effects, particularly in suppressing the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer. A growing body of research has underscored its potential clinical significance in lung cancer treatment, providing robust evidence for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"120770"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145354967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cistanche attenuates acute kidney injury by inhibiting ferroptosis through the disruption of Keap1-Nrf2 interaction.","authors":"Jiayue Xian, Siyi Wang, Jiankun Wang, Yiwen Cao, Shengliang Yuan, Jiuyao Zhou, Yuan Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120768","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2025.120768","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Ethnopharmacological relevance: </strong>Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent regulated cell death, critically contributes to acute kidney injury (AKI) progression. Emerging evidence suggests ferroptosis inhibition as a therapeutic strategy against AKI. Cistanche (Cis), a kidney-tonifying herb in traditional Chinese medicine, exhibits antioxidant activity via nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation. However, the precise molecular mechanism underlying cistanche-mediated Nrf2 activation remains undefined, and its nephroprotective potential in AKI is incompletely characterized.</p><p><strong>Aim of the study: </strong>To investigate the renoprotective effects of cistanche against AKI and elucidate its mechanism through the Keap1-Nrf2-ferroptosis axis.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>An ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI)-induced AKI mouse model and a hypoxia-reoxygenation-induced mRTEC cell model were constructed to evaluate the protective effects of cistanche. First, cistanche (2.055, 4.110 and 8.220 g/kg), and saline were administered for 6 days. On the 5th day, the mice were anesthetized and then bilateral renal artery clamping was performed for 45 min. Mice in the sham-operated group underwent the same operation but no arterial clamping was performed. Until 24 h after the IRI procedure, all mice were anesthetized, then blood samples and kidney tissue were collected. Subsequently, Nrf2 knockout mRTEC cells were used to verify whether Nrf2 mediated the nephroprotective effects of cistanche. Furthermore, the effect of cistanche on Keap1-Nrf2 protein-protein interaction (PPI) in the kidney of IRI mice was verified by CO-IP assay. Finally, UPLC-Q-TOF/MS technique and molecular docking were utilized to analyze the potential pharmacological components of cistanche.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In vivo, cistanche treatment improved renal function in IRI mice, as shown by decreased serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), inflammatory factors, and renal injury markers (NGAL, KIM-1), along with ameliorated ferroptosis-related abnormalities. In vitro, cistanche suppressed ferroptosis in hypoxia-reoxygenation-induced HK2 cells by activating Nrf2, an effect that was significantly diminished upon Nrf2 silencing in mRTEC cells. Mechanistically, cistanche facilitated Nrf2 nuclear translocation and inhibited ferroptosis, likely by disrupting the Keap1-Nrf2 protein-protein interaction. Furthermore, UPLC-Q/TOF-MS analysis identified key bioactive components in cistanche that may contribute to its anti-ferroptosis effects.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Overall, cistanche functions as a putative Keap1-Nrf2 PPI inhibitor primarily through its phenylethanoid glycosides. By disrupting Keap1-Nrf2 binding, it activates Nrf2 signaling, suppresses ferroptosis, and confers protection against AKI, positioning it as a promising therapeutic candidate.</p>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"120768"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145354939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Excoecaria agallocha L.: Bridging ethnopharmacology and therapeutic promises of a healing mangrove","authors":"Fahmida Tasnim Richi ,&nbsp;Safaet Alam ,&nbsp;Firoj Ahmed ,&nbsp;A.S.M. Monjur Al Hossain","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120762","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120762","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Ethnopharmacological relevance&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em&gt;Excoecaria agallocha&lt;/em&gt; L., popularly known as ‘Blind-your-eye mangrove’ or ‘Milky-mangrove’, is a substantial mangrove species abundantly distributed around the coastal areas of the tropical and temperate zones of Asia, East Africa, Australia, and the Pacific regions. Several preparations from this plant have been used to treat numerous health disorders, both in preventive and curative measures, from ancient times, including epilepsy, ulcer, toothache, wound, leprosy, conjunctivitis, paralysis, dermatitis, mosquito-borne disease etc., which makes this plant a great candidate for further extensive research.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Aim of review&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The key objective of this review is to assemble a comprehensive index of global distribution, morphological characteristics, ethnopharmacology, pharmacological activities of different solvent extracts and bioactive constituents of &lt;em&gt;E. agallocha&lt;/em&gt; with the evaluation of remaining and the latest published literatures, which may guide in prospective research studies for the effective implementation of this plant extract and its isolated constituents in medical aspects. Thus, this compilation will be very helpful to the researchers for further botanical and phytochemical studies leading to future novel drug discovery and in the validation and implementation of the already established bioactivities.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Materials &amp; methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Bibliographic resources, including Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, SCOPUS, and others, were thoroughly searched in order to get relevant material for this review on &lt;em&gt;Excoecaria agallocha.&lt;/em&gt; Synonyms, taxonomy, and worldwide distribution data were obtained from websites such as GBIF and the India Biodiversity Portal. Furthermore, chemical structures were produced using ChemBio Draw Ultra 14.0, and the IUPAC names of the secondary metabolites that were found were verified using PubChem.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Comprehensive phytochemical studies on various parts of &lt;em&gt;E. agallocha&lt;/em&gt; have identified at least 235 phytoconstituents across diverse structural classes, including alkaloid, diterpenoids, flavonoids, organic fatty acids, phenolic acids, sterols, tannins, triterpenoids, and other miscellaneous compounds. &lt;em&gt;Excoecaria agallocha&lt;/em&gt; L. also exhibits various prominent pharmacological and bioactivities like antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticancer, anti-diabetic, anti-convulsant, anti-ulcer, anti-collagenase, non-specific immunity, sedative, anti-histamine release, anti-elastase, and hedgehog signaling inhibiting properties evident from several &lt;em&gt;in vitro&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;in vivo&lt;/em&gt; research.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em&gt;Excoecaria agallocha&lt;/em&gt; L. exhibits a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, as inferred from thorough &lt;em&gt;in vitro&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;in vivo&lt;/em&gt; studies. Its phytochemical diversity mirrors its enorm","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"356 ","pages":"Article 120762"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145335188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Polygalae Radix extracts show anti-Parkinson's disease effects and reduce depression-like symptoms by modulating energy metabolism.","authors":"Shouqing Jiao, Siyu Liu, Ruidie Shi, Huijun Kang, Yanao Liu, Jinfeng Yan, Rostyslav Stoika, Attila Sik, Xiuna Ji, Meng Jin","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120759","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120759","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Ethnopharmacological relevance: </strong>Lately, herbs have evolved into promising therapeutic modalities for preventing and treating Parkinson's disease (PD). Polygalae Radix, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has long been utilized in TCM practice for its effects of opening orifices, dislodging phlegm, detoxifying, reducing swelling and calm the heart and mind. PD is a highly prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, with depression being one of its cardinal clinical manifestations. Roughly 40-50 % of people with PD may experience depression. However, drugs that can alleviate depressive symptoms in PD patients may exacerbate motor symptoms of PD. Therefore, therapeutic agents with low toxicity that are capable of ameliorating PD and its comorbid depressive symptoms represent a current research priority.</p><p><strong>Aim of the study: </strong>Our study investigates the relieving effects and underlying mechanisms of Polygalae Radix extracts (PRE) on PD and its associated depressive symptoms.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>1-methyl-4-phenyl-1-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) was used to induce PD and its depressive symptoms in zebrafish. Alterations in dopamine (DA) neurons and cerebral vessels were visualized using transgenic zebrafish. The concentrations of DA were quantified by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Thigmotaxis tests and light-dark preference tests were utilized to investigate the depressive symptoms in PD zebrafish model. Glucose levels were measured to reflect the effect of PRE on glycolysis. In addition, multi-omics were used to reveal the underlying mechanism.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>PRE reduced Parkinsonian symptoms, including DA neurons and cerebral vasculature deficits, movement disorders, decreased responsiveness, and aberrant expression of PD-associated genes in zebrafish larvae. PRE also restored DA levels and abnormal expression of dat and autophagy-related genes in adult zebrafish PD models. Furthermore, it also alleviated depressive symptoms in this model. It improved the exploratory abilities of both larval and adult zebrafish in thigmotaxis behavior analyses and the light/dark preference tests, along with reversed the abnormal expression of genes related to depression. Transcriptomics and real-time qPCR revealed that PRE reduced glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and Tricarboxylic Acid (TCA) cycle disorders, which was further verified by metabolomics.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>PRE alleviated PD and depression-like symptoms, possibly by down-regulating pck1 expression, inducing normalization of glucose levels, thereby modulating glycolysis and TCA cycle related to energy metabolism.</p>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"120759"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145336972","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The main active component Kaji-ichigoside F1 of the ethnic medicine Rosa roxburghii Tratt prevents acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury by modulating microbial metabolism","authors":"Jinlong Liu ,&nbsp;Xingbo Bian ,&nbsp;Xuefeng Bian,&nbsp;Jiahui Zhang,&nbsp;Zhengxin Li,&nbsp;Hanyang Liu,&nbsp;Jinying Wu,&nbsp;Xin Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120767","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120767","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Ethnopharmacological relevance</h3><div>Kaji-ichigoside F1 (KF1), the main active component of the Guizhou ethnic medicinal material <em>Rosa roxburghii</em> Tratt, is widely used in China due to its anti-inflammatory properties. However, the protective effects of KF1 against drug-induced liver injury and its potential mechanisms are not yet understood.</div></div><div><h3>Aim of the study</h3><div>We aimed to investigate the effects of KF1 on acute liver injury (ALI) and explore its underlying mechanisms, particularly its role in modulating the gut microbiota to inhibit ALI development.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>KF1 was prepared via 80 % ethanol extraction, silica gel column chromatography, and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Mouse models of ALI were established using acetaminophen (APAP) treatment, with or without KF1 (5 and 10 mg/kg). 16S rRNA gene sequencing, metabolomics, and transcriptomics approaches were employed to explore the inhibitory effect of KF1 on ALI. Additionally, the role of the gut microbiota was investigated through antibiotic treatment and fecal microbiota transplantation experiments.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Treatment with KF1 significantly altered the gut microbiota composition, notably increasing the abundance of the probiotic <em>Akkermansia muciniphila</em> (<em>A. muciniphila</em>). Furthermore, <em>A. muciniphila</em> enhanced the levels of beneficial metabolites, including inosine. Notably, inosine significantly suppressed inflammatory factors and improved APAP-induced ALI. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that inosine inhibited key signaling pathways, including MAPK, PI3K-AKT, JAK-STAT3, IL-17, TNF, and cytokine–cytokine receptor interactions. Importantly, the preventive effect of KF1 is dependent on microbial mechanisms.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>KF1 protects against ALI by modulating the gut microbiota and associated metabolites, thereby promoting a more favorable state and inhibiting pro-inflammatory pathways.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"356 ","pages":"Article 120767"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145334834","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ginseng as promising natural medicine against infectious diseases: Therapeutic targets and potential mechanisms.","authors":"Yuemeng Song, Shanshan Zhang, Ruyue Wang, Yanan Zhang, Yuhan Zhang, Hongqiang Lin, Fang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120764","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120764","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Ethnopharmacological relevance: </strong>C.A. Meyer (ginseng) has been esteemed for centuries in traditional Chinese, Korean, and indigenous medicine as a vital tonic and therapeutic agent for enhancing resilience and treating infectious diseases. Historically, used for respiratory or skin infections, gastrointestinal disorders, etc. These applications align with modern evidence supporting its broad-spectrum anti-infective activity. Ginsenosides, the principal bioactive constituents, have been shown to exert targeted effects against diverse infectious pathogens. This review integrates ethnomedical insights with contemporary pharmacology, highlighting ginseng's translational potential in combating antimicrobial resistance and emerging infectious diseases.</p><p><strong>Aim of the study: </strong>This review aims to elucidate the therapeutic targets and molecular mechanisms of ginsenosides' anti-infective activities and critically evaluates their translational potential in addressing emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Elsevier, and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) using keywords such as \"ginsenosides\", \"anti-infective\", \"antiviral\", \"antibacterial\", and \"immunomodulation\". Relevant studies published in English and Chinese were systematically screened, extracted, and analyzed to elucidate the mechanisms and clinical potential of ginsenosides in combating infectious diseases.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ginsenosides exhibit anti-infective effects through three major mechanisms: (i) direct inhibition of viral entry and replication; (ii) immunomodulatory activity via activation of macrophages, T cells, and dendritic cells; and (iii) suppression of pro-inflammatory pathways, particularly NF-κB and MAPK signaling. They also demonstrate synergistic effects with conventional therapies against key pathogens such as influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2. Additional benefits include modulation of the gut microbiota and enhancement of host immune responses, underscoring their multifaceted therapeutic profile.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Ginsenosides represent promising natural anti-infective agents with broad-spectrum activity. This review highlights their mechanistic basis and clinical potential, supporting their development as novel therapeutics in the fight against infectious diseases, including the urgent threat of antimicrobial resistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"120764"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145345483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Extract of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix-Cnidii Fructus couplet medicines Alleviates Candida albicans-Induced Vulvovaginal Candidiasis by Activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway-Mediated Autophagy in Vaginal Epithelial Cells.","authors":"Gaoxiang Shi, Haitao Zhang, Cangcang Zhang, Changzhong Wang, Daqiang Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120766","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2025.120766","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Ethnopharmacological relevance: </strong>The combination of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (Ku Shen) and Cnidii Fructus (She Chuang Zi) has been widely documented in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulations, demonstrating notable antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties.</p><p><strong>Aim of the study: </strong>This study aims to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and mechanistic of the extract of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix-Cnidii Fructus couplet medicines (ESCC) against vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) induced by Candida albicans.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A murine model of VVC was established to evaluate vaginal fungal burden and inflammatory cytokine levels, while autophagy-related protein expression and RNA transcriptional profiles were systematically analyzed. A431 cells were used to assess autophagy responses after infection with C. albicans SC5314. Immunofluorescence, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and Western blotting (WB) were utilized to quantify autophagy-related protein expression and transcriptional activity in both murine tissues and A431 cells. Network pharmacology analysis was conducted to predict potential therapeutic targets, followed by in vitro validation of key protein expression levels in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In vivo, 120 mg/kg ESCC treatment restored vulvar symptoms to physiological levels in murine models, with the ESCC group exhibiting a significant reduction in vaginal fungal burden. ESCC upregulated LC3B, ATG5, and p62/SQSTM1 expression in vivo and in vitro, reversing the autophagy inhibition caused by C. albicans. Network pharmacology and KEGG enrichment analyses identified the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway as a pivotal mechanism, which was further verified by transcriptional and protein-level assays showing that ESCC promoted autophagic flux through pathway inhibition.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>ESCC alleviates C. albicans-induced VVC by activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR-mediated autophagy in vaginal epithelial cells, providing a mechanistic basis for its antifungal and supporting its potential as a plant-derived therapeutic.</p>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"120766"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145336888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-Target Therapeutics of Geraniin from Geranium wilfordii Maxim. and Related Species: Mechanisms and Applications.","authors":"Jia Cai, Long Wang, Min Xu, Shunpeng Zhu, Yangxi Chen, Jie Zhong, Jiaxin Li, Ping Zhang, Ting Zhang, Qiang Ye, Hui Ao","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120765","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2025.120765","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Ethnopharmacological relevance: </strong>Erodii Herba Geranii Herba (also called Laoguancao in China) is the dried aerial part of Geranium wilfordii Maxim., Geranium carolinianum L. or Erodium stephanianum Willd.. It has developed into a natural remedy known for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic and hepatoprotective properties, and widely recognized within traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and its cultural context. Given the traditional applications of Erodii Herba Geranii Herba, which underscore its potential as a promising source of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical development, geraniin-one of its principal active constituents-has attracted increasing attention for its prospective development and utilization. Previous studies have demonstrated that geraniin exhibits a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, including metabolic regulation, organ protection mediated through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms, as well as antitumor and antiviral effects. Nevertheless, a systematic review of these pharmacological activities and their underlying mechanisms remains lacking.</p><p><strong>Aim of the study: </strong>This review focused on the pharmacological activities of geraniin and also summarized its availability, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity, thereby providing a solid theoretical foundation for its further development and practical utilization.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>The literature included in this review was identified through searches conducted in the PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases using the keywords \"Geraniin\", \"Pharmacology\", and \"Pharmacokinetics\". A total of 99 articles were retrieved, excluding review articles. The retrieved publications covered a period from 1974 to 2025.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Geraniin demonstrated a range of pharmacological effects, including regulation of metabolism (glycolipid metabolism, blood pressure, and bone metabolism), protection of multiple organs (brain, cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and renal systems), anti-tumor activity (against lung, breast, colorectal, and cervical cancers), and broad-spectrum antiviral properties. Notably, the multi-target actions of geraniin facilitated cross-disease modulation through involvement in the oxidative-inflammatory network (via NF-κB-Nrf2 and MAPK pathways) and the cell survival network (including PI3K/Akt and Wnt/β-catenin pathways), thereby underpinning its organ-protective effects, anti-tumor activity, and metabolic regulatory functions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These attributes suggested that geraniin held promise as a multi-targeted therapeutic agent. Thus, this paper elucidated the possibility of exploiting the resources of geraniin as a pharmaceutical product.</p>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"120765"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145337004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}