Phytomedicine Plus最新文献

{"title":"Effects of Moringa Oleifera leaf extract on glycemic control and inflammation in metabolic syndrome: a randomized controlled trial","authors":"Mohammad Rashidmayvan ,&nbsp;Naseh Pahlavani ,&nbsp;Mohammad Ali Javanmardi ,&nbsp;Alireza Gheflati ,&nbsp;Mojgan Mehri Ardestani ,&nbsp;Saeid Hadi ,&nbsp;Vahid Hadi","doi":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100932","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100932","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The present double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial aimed to evaluate the effects of <em>Moringa oleifera (MO)</em> extract, a natural source of polyphenols, on glycemic control and inflammatory markers in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Totally 73 MetS diagnosed patients were randomly assigned to receive either 1000 mg of <em>MO</em> supplement (n = 37) or 1000 mg twice a day placebo (n = 36) for 8 weeks. Inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, blood pressure and glycemic indices were assessed at the beginning and at the end of the study. Also anthropometric indices, dietary intake and physical activity levels of participants were assessed in the beginning of the study.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Our study revealed that <em>MO</em> supplementation had a significant effect on serum levels of Glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and insulin (P = 0.07 and p = 0.13, respectively). Interestingly, the MO group reduced high-sensitive reactive protein (hs-CRP) and malondialdehyde (MDA) after 8 weeks (P = 0.04 and P = 0.02 respectively) compared to the control group, we did not observe any significant effects on serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in patients who received <em>MO</em> after 8 weeks of intervention. Additionally, we have not found significant associations between weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and <em>MO</em> supplementation among patients with MetS. MO supplementation reduced HbA1c by 0.4% (P=0.02) and insulin by 1.2 μIU/mL (P=0.011), with no significant changes in body weight (mean difference: −0.5 kg, P=0.21). furthermore, in the <em>MO</em> group, systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased, but these effects weren’t significant.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div><em>MO</em> supplementation may serve as a complementary therapy for MetS patients, given its beneficial effects on both inflammatory markers and glycemic control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34599,"journal":{"name":"Phytomedicine Plus","volume":"6 1","pages":"Article 100932"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A comprehensive review on Kaempferol as a therapeutic flavonoid against ESKAPE and multiple drug-resistant bacteria: Recent advances and challenges","authors":"Hendrix Yulis Setyawan ,&nbsp;Aditya Kumar Singh ,&nbsp;Arpita Roy ,&nbsp;Soumya Pandit ,&nbsp;Harjot Singh Gill ,&nbsp;Mithul Rajeev ,&nbsp;Sarvesh Rustagi ,&nbsp;Cheng Wan Hee","doi":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100926","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100926","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, particularly the ESKAPE pathogens (<em>Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter</em> species), is considered as major threat to global public health. Kaempferol, a naturally occurring flavonoid found in many plants, has been demonstrated to hold great promise as a therapeutic agent with strong antimicrobial properties against these resistant pathogens. In this review, the current state of research on kaempferol's antimicrobial activities is reported, with particular emphasis placed on its mechanisms of action against ESKAPE bacteria and other MDR organisms. It has been reported in the literature that kaempferol exerts antimicrobial effects through multiple pathways, including disruption of bacterial cell membranes, interference with DNA replication, inhibition of essential enzymes, alteration of efflux pump systems, and disruption of biofilm formation. Significant synergistic effects have also been observed when kaempferol is combined with traditional antibiotics, potentially restoring their effectiveness against resistant strains. Favourable safety profiles, low toxicity at therapeutic concentrations, and good bioavailability have been noted in comparison with other flavonoids. However, challenges remain in relation to comprehensive clinical validation, delivery system optimization, and the standardization of extraction methods. This review highlights the most recent evidence suggesting the potential of kaempferol as an alternative therapy in the fight against antibiotic resistance, while also identifying critical areas that require further research for successful clinical translation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34599,"journal":{"name":"Phytomedicine Plus","volume":"6 1","pages":"Article 100926"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145681762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biological effects of curcuminoids and homoleptic metal complexes of curcuminoids against non-tumoral astrocytic and glioblastoma cell lines","authors":"Montserrat Zaragoza-Ojeda ,&nbsp;Marco Antonio Obregon-Mendoza ,&nbsp;Juan Mares-Muñoz ,&nbsp;William Meza-Morales ,&nbsp;Raul Guillermo Enríquez ,&nbsp;Francisco Arenas-Huertero","doi":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100914","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100914","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Curcumin, a compound that has sparked global interest, has been extensively studied for its potent cytotoxic effects on various human tumoral cell lines. Furthermore, it’s structurally related curcuminoids have shown even greater cytotoxicity against glioblastoma cell lines. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic effects, morphological changes, effects on cell proliferation, and molecular mechanisms of curcumin, diacetylcurcumin (DAC), dimethoxycurcumin (DiMeOC), and their metal complexes diacetylcurcumin magnesium complex (DAC-Mg), dimethoxycurcumin magnesium complex (DiMeOC-Mg), diacetylcurcumin zinc complex (DAC-Zn), and dimethoxycurcumin zinc complex (DiMeOC-Zn) on four glioblastoma cell lines and one astrocytic cell line. Our results indicate that DAC-Zn and DiMeOC-Zn are highly cytotoxic against glioblastoma cells. Gene expression analysis suggests that these curcuminoids are potent antioxidants. DAC, DAC-Mg, and DiMeOC-Mg control cell proliferation and, when combined with N-acetylcysteine, induce morphological changes associated with autophagy and cell differentiation in glioblastoma cell line A172. These changes appear to be the mechanisms involved in the control of cell proliferation. Our results unveil a novel control mechanism of these curcuminoids in glioblastoma cells, which is sure to pique the interest of researchers in the field.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34599,"journal":{"name":"Phytomedicine Plus","volume":"6 1","pages":"Article 100914"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145570319","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Therapeutic effects of Biochanin A against CCl4-induced cardiac toxicity: enhancing antioxidant defenses and modulating inflammatory responses","authors":"Esam Qnais ,&nbsp;Yousra Bsieso ,&nbsp;Omar Gammoh ,&nbsp;Alaa A.A. Aljabali ,&nbsp;Badriyah S. Alotaibi ,&nbsp;Abdelrahim Alqudah","doi":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100928","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100928","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Cardiovascular damage caused by environmental toxins, such as carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄), is closely associated with oxidative stress and inflammatory injury. Biochanin A, an isoflavone isolated from Trifolium pratense L., has been demonstrated to be a prospective candidate in rational phytotherapy based on its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activity.</div></div><div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>The present study was conducted to explore the therapeutic potential of Biochanin A against CCl₄-induced cardiac toxicity in rats, with an emphasis on its pharmacological mode of action via regulating oxidative stress &amp; pro-inflammatory cytokines.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>Experimental animal study.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Twenty-four Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups, including control, CCl₄, and CCl₄ + Biochanin A, at 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg doses. Assessment of lipid profile, oxidative stress markers (MDA, SOD, CAT, GPx), cardiac function enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase), and inflammatory markers (Hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF-α) was done. To our knowledge, this study is the first to show that Biochanin A has a dose-dependent therapeutic effect on CCl₄-induced cardiac toxicity in rats. Previous studies mainly investigated the effects of Biochanin A in models of hepatic, renal, or metabolic damage. Whereas the present investigation establishes its direct cardioprotective potential in an acute oxidative and inflammatory stress setting.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Treatment with Biochanin A robustly antagonized the effects evoked by CCl₄, particularly in lipid metabolism. Specifically, animals treated with Biochanin A had significantly decreased triglycerides, LDL, and VLDL levels; HDL levels that benefit cardiovascular health were brought closer to normal ranges. In addition, treatment with Biochanin A decreased malondialdehyde levels, suggesting diminished lipid peroxidation. Another beneficial effect was an increased activity of enzymes such as SOD, CAT, and GPx, which indicated that the antioxidant defense system was improved. Furthermore, reducing Hs-CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α levels significantly improves the inflammatory profile, offsetting systemic inflammatory and cardiac stress.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Biochanin A protects against CCl₄-mediated cardiac injury by modulating lipid metabolism, increasing antioxidant status, and suppressing inflammation, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic for CVDs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34599,"journal":{"name":"Phytomedicine Plus","volume":"6 1","pages":"Article 100928"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145681761","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dipteracanthus prostratus Nees: a study of it’s anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-metastasis and immunomodulatory potential","authors":"Sukanya Sasi ,&nbsp;Himabindu Padinjarathil ,&nbsp;Nandana Raghunath ,&nbsp;Amritha Sukumaran ,&nbsp;Prasanna Ramani","doi":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100919","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100919","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Dipteracanthus prostratus (Poir.) Nees</em> (DP) is a notable native medicinal plant belonging to the Acanthaceae family, flourishing in moist, shaded regions across India. The present study seeks to investigate the therapeutic potential of this plant. The research involved segmenting the plant into leaf, root, and stem components, followed by a systematic soxhlet extraction utilizing a series of solvents that ranged from nonpolar to polar specifically petroleum ether, dichloromethane, methanol, and water to uncover its medicinal properties. Phytochemical analysis of the extracts revealed the presence of glycosides, steroids, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids, and tannins. Notably, the anti-inflammatory effects of the water extracts from the leaf (IC₅₀: 0.303 mg/mL), stem, and root were found to be superior to those of the other extracts. The cytotoxic potential of the root water extract of DP against the SKBR cell line was significant, with an inhibitory concentration of 7.11 µg/mL. Moreover, AO/EB staining further corroborated the apoptotic effects of the petroleum ether extracts from the leaf, root, and stem, as well as the water extract from the root. Our findings indicated that root extracts serve as a potent immune booster for the HaCaT cell line. In addition to demonstrating cytotoxic effects against breast cancer cell lines, we also observed metastasis activity in root extracts from both water and petroleum ether. This analysis suggests a promising application for DP in the development of innovative anticancer therapeutics in the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34599,"journal":{"name":"Phytomedicine Plus","volume":"6 1","pages":"Article 100919"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phytotherapy efficacy in alleviating burning mouth syndrome symptoms: A systematic literature review","authors":"Juan Aitken-Saavedra ,&nbsp;Gisela Cristina Vianna Camolesi ,&nbsp;Rachel Estefanía Sánchez Hernández ,&nbsp;Ana Paula Neutzling Gomes ,&nbsp;Juliana Cassol-Spanemberg","doi":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100895","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100895","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of phytotherapeutics medicines interventions for burning mouth syndrome (BMS) in randomised controlled trials.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This systematic review, registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023475271), was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, BVS/IBECS, BDTD, SciELO, ScienceDirect, and grey literature (final search April 2025). RCTs in adults with BMS testing phytotherapeutics versus placebo/active control were included. Two reviewers extracted data and assessed risk of bias (RoB 2) and certainty of evidence (GRADE). When appropriate, effects were synthesized as between-group differences, otherwise, narrative synthesis was used.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>10 RCTs (<em>n</em> = 653) met inclusion criteria. Women are 75.2 % of participants, treatment durations ranged 1–12 weeks. Capsaicin (rinse/gel/capsule), Catuama, and Kampo (Saiboku-to) showed greater pain reduction than control in individual trials. In contrast, chamomile gel, lycopene-enriched olive oil, Aloe vera, and Hypericum did not show superiority to placebo. Adverse events were generally mild.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Evidence for capsaicin (topical/oral) and Catuama is promising but low to moderate certainty due to small samples, heterogeneous formulations, and risk of bias concerns. Controlled studies involving a larger number of patients and longer follow-up are recommended.</div></div><div><h3>Clinical relevance</h3><div>Selected phytotherapeutics may reduce BMS pain with mostly mild adverse effects, but routine use is premature pending higher quality evidence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34599,"journal":{"name":"Phytomedicine Plus","volume":"6 1","pages":"Article 100895"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146022877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phytochemicals in breast cancer therapy: Decoding molecular pathways and pioneering therapeutic strategies","authors":"Putri cahaya Situmorang ,&nbsp;Denny Satria ,&nbsp;Syafruddin Ilyas ,&nbsp;Kaniwa Berliani ,&nbsp;Nursahara Pasaribu ,&nbsp;Nik Mohd Afizan Nik Abd Rahman ,&nbsp;Alexander Patera Nugraha","doi":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100935","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100935","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Breast cancer constitutes a global health crisis, affecting millions worldwide and contributing significantly to cancer-related mortality. Its development, progression, and persistence are driven by complex molecular signaling networks, including the PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK/ERK, NF-κB, TNF, and apoptotic pathways. Phytochemicals such as curcumin, genistein, resveratrol, and EGCG have demonstrated therapeutic potential by modulating these critical pathways, thereby inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis, suppressing metastasis, and potentially overcoming drug resistance, offering a promising basis for developing targeted and less toxic breast cancer therapies.</div></div><div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>This review aims to examine the phytochemical composition of medicinal plants and elucidate the molecular pathways involved in their therapeutic effects against breast cancer. It also seeks to compile evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies, providing updated references for molecular targets suitable for phytochemical-based interventions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and CNKI up to September 2024 used keywords on breast cancer, molecular pathways, natural active ingredients, and pharmacological activity. Eligible studies examined phytochemicals’ molecular mechanisms or therapeutic effects in breast cancer, while non-peer-reviewed, duplicate, or unrelated studies were excluded.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Decoding signaling pathways allows for the development of an individualized molecular profile for each patient, guiding the selection of optimal treatments while minimizing adverse effects. Assessing mutation status and protein expression within these pathways can help predict prognosis and evaluate therapeutic effectiveness. Phytochemicals, in particular, can inhibit cancer cell growth by targeting key signaling cascades that regulate the cell cycle, such as the PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways. When used in combination with conventional therapies, these compounds may enhance treatment efficacy and reduce drug resistance. This review highlights the molecular pathways through which plant-derived phytochemicals act against breast cancer in both in vitro and in vivo settings, and elucidates their pharmacological effects at the molecular level. The findings provide a valuable reference for future research into molecularly targeted therapies and the development of breast cancer drugs from herbal sources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34599,"journal":{"name":"Phytomedicine Plus","volume":"6 1","pages":"Article 100935"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145736454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Chinese ancient prescription Zhentonggufang alleviates pain and inflammation, which is associated with reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-1β","authors":"Rui Yang ,&nbsp;Hongyuan Tu ,&nbsp;Shiqiang Ge ,&nbsp;Zhongkun Zhou ,&nbsp;Yunhao Ma ,&nbsp;Xuelian Chen ,&nbsp;Juan Lu ,&nbsp;Min Chen ,&nbsp;Xin Ma ,&nbsp;Xinhang Wang ,&nbsp;Jiazhong Li ,&nbsp;Peng Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100918","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100918","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Chronic pain poses serious health and socioeconomic burdens, highlighting the urgent need for safer, more effective analgesic alternatives from natural sources.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to explore the analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential and mechanisms of <em>Zhentonggufang</em> (ZTGF), a traditional Chinese prescription, and to develop a more effective drug delivery system in the form of a microemulsion hydrogel to enhance its clinical applicability.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We integrated data related to the discovery and development of analgesic and anti-Ninflammatory agents to construct an online web-based discovery platform. From this platform, ZTGF was identified as a candidate traditional Chinese ancient prescription for analgesia. For the first time, its mechanism of action was investigated using network pharmacology and molecular docking. The analgesic efficacy and mechanism of ZTGF were further validated through acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced pain, and carrageenan-induced paw edema tests in rats, along with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis. A microemulsion hydrogel formulation of ZTGF was then prepared and characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), viscosity analysis, particle size distribution, and zeta potential measurement. The enhanced efficacy of the formulation was further confirmed in vivo.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Two online platforms were established: the Analgesia Ancient Prescription Database (AAPD), containing herbal extracts and traditional formulas, and the Analgesia Factor Database (AFD), containing isolated natural products and synthetic compounds. Network pharmacology analysis revealed quercetin, ursolic acid, and other compounds as key active ingredients of ZTGF, which act on targets including IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β, primarily through the PI3K-AKT and MAPK signaling pathways. Pharmacological evaluations demonstrated that ZTGF significantly attenuated pain and inflammatory responses in animal models. ELISA results further revealed that ZTGF administration markedly decreased the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-1β. In addition, physicochemical analyses indicated that the formulated hydrogel possessed favorable stability and effectively mitigated inflammation in Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)-induced rats.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>ZTGF alleviated pain and inflammation in animal models, which may be associated with reduced levels of IL-6 and IL-1β. The developed hydrogel showed good physicochemical stability and provided an effective topical delivery system for ZTGF.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34599,"journal":{"name":"Phytomedicine Plus","volume":"6 1","pages":"Article 100918"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A comprehensive review on role of phytoconstituents from the roots of Asparagus racemosus (Queen of Herbs)","authors":"Alka Raj Pandey ,&nbsp;Prashant Kurkute ,&nbsp;Bhoomi Tyagi ,&nbsp;Amaara Pundir","doi":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100916","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100916","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Asparagus racemosus</em>, commonly known as Shatavari or the \"Queen of Herbs,\" is a traditional medicinal plant mentioned in Ayurveda, is renowned for its therapeutic potential which is attributed to its roots. Roots of Asparagus racemosus consists of a rich array of bioactive phytochemicals such as steroidal saponins, glycosides, alkaloids, polyphenols etc. Therefore, this review overviews and highlights the pharmacological mechanisms/pathways followed by its individual phytoconstituents (instead of extract level evaluation) of roots of <em>Asparagus racemosus</em> that have had been studied till date for alleviating different disorders such as neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, oxidative stress, and cancers. Sarsasapogenin follows inhibition of amyloid aggregation in Alzheimer’s disease, while Shatavarin IV follows upregulation of antiageing genes and reduction of alpha synuclein aggregation to improve the behavioural responses of parkinsons disease. On the other hand, <em>β</em>-Glucogallin has been reported to prevent formation of glucose induced anti-glycation end products by reducing fructosamine and dicarbonyl content formation to improve complications of diabetes whereas, furoasparoside E follows enhancement of GLUT4 translocation to improve glucose metabolism. Immunomodulatory properties have been attributed to saponins like Shatavarin IV and immunoside, the latter showing potential as a vaccine adjuvant. Furthermore, <em>A. racemosus</em>-derived phytochemicals have antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 because of strong affinity for spike receptor and NSP15 endoribonuclease, as both of them are essential for virus replication. Apart from this these phytoconstituents are involved in inhibition of estrogen biosynthesis and cell division pathways for anticancer properties. Similarly other phytoconstituents have been reported to follow different pharmacological pathways for antioxidant, antioxytocic, antiageing and antiadipogenic activities. The detailed structural analysis of these compounds and their pharmacological roles underscores the therapeutic versatility of <em>A. racemosus</em> across diverse health domains but still additional studies are needed to validate its bioactivities and optimize its therapeutic applications for clinical use.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34599,"journal":{"name":"Phytomedicine Plus","volume":"6 1","pages":"Article 100916"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145570318","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Immunomodulatory and antiviral properties of herbal formulation: Evidence from clinical trials in healthy volunteers, COVID-19 patients and molecular docking studies","authors":"Sarvesh Kumar Singh ,&nbsp;Kshipra Rajoria ,&nbsp;Sanjeev Sharma ,&nbsp;Sudhir Dadram Patsute ,&nbsp;Suchitra Ganeshacharya ,&nbsp;Sarita Singh ,&nbsp;William Rananaware ,&nbsp;Sandeep Kumar Thakur ,&nbsp;Pawan Kumar Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100917","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100917","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aim</h3><div>This study aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory and antiviral potential of herbal formulation through clinical trials in healthy volunteers and COVID-19 patients, complemented by <em>in-silico</em> molecular docking against viral target proteins.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The first single-blind, randomized, parallel-arm, controlled trial included 90 healthy participants allocated to three groups: Herbal Formulation (HF-1, HF-2), and Placebo (P-1). Each group received 10 mL of the respective intervention twice daily for 30 days. Based on favourable outcomes with HF-2, a second was randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted in 60 patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, randomized to receive either HF-2 or placebo for 10 days, with evaluations on days 0, 4, 7, and 10. Additionally, molecular docking of phytoconstituents from the formulation was performed against viral proteins from HSV, influenza virus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), parainfluenza virus, rhinovirus, and SARS-CoV-2.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In the healthy volunteers trial, HF-2 significantly enhanced CD⁴⁺ and CD⁸⁺ T-cell counts, alongside a reduction in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in 77% of subjects, compared to 57% and 63% in HF-1 and placebo groups, respectively. In COVID-19 patients, HF-2 significantly improved recovery rates and decreased inflammatory markers including CRP, LDH, and IL-6, without reported adverse events. Docking studies revealed that HF-2 phytochemicals demonstrated strong binding affinities with viral proteins (VP1, neuraminidase, hemagglutinin, glycoproteins, Mpro, HN complex, and DNA polymerase), suggesting inhibition of viral invasion and replication.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>HF-2 exhibited robust immunomodulatory and antiviral effects, validated by both clinical and <em>in-silico</em> findings. These results highlight its potential as a safe adjuvant therapy for viral infections and justify further large-scale clinical investigations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34599,"journal":{"name":"Phytomedicine Plus","volume":"6 1","pages":"Article 100917"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616084","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}