Phytomedicine Plus最新文献

{"title":"Linear furanocoumarins: Bridging natural wisdom and synthetic ingenuity in drug discovery","authors":"Duha Adnan Hassan,&nbsp;Yasser Fakri Mustafa","doi":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100832","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100832","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coumarins, renowned for their adaptability and therapeutic potential, have emerged as a cornerstone in modern drug development. Nature contains these products, and scientists synthesize them in the lab, in addition to having a simple structure that can be modified in a lot of ways, which makes them excellent at therapy with few side effects. Adding other heterocycles, like furan rings, to a coumarin framework has been documented in many studies to make new annulates that are better at treating illnesses. This review looks at how to make linearly annulated coumarin-furan systems, where they come from natural and synthetic origins, and what they can do as therapeutic alternatives. Because they can improve bioavailability and pharmacological activity, linear furanocoumarins have a lot of potential as antioxidants, pain relievers, blood thinners, and even cancer fighters. Rich sources such as the <em>Apiaceae</em> and <em>Rutaceae</em> plant families continue to provide a diverse array of these annulated compounds with applications ranging from diabetes management to cardiovascular and neuroprotective treatments. Drawing from a comprehensive review of over 227 studies, this work sheds light on the structure-activity relationships that drive these compounds' efficacy. Finally, this review can help medicinal chemists and researchers come up with new medicines that use the unique benefits of linear furanocoumarin frameworks. Exploring these versatile molecules can lead to innovative treatments that have the potential to transform the future of medicine.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34599,"journal":{"name":"Phytomedicine Plus","volume":"5 3","pages":"Article 100832"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144196140","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":"Multi-ligand simultaneous docking of Carica papaya leaf phytochemicals, Carpaine and Rutin reveal multi-mechanism inhibition of cancer proteins, BCL-2 and WWP1","authors":"Merla Sudha ,&nbsp;Asmita Saha ,&nbsp;Belaguppa Manjunath Ashwin Desai ,&nbsp;Anil Ranu Mhashal ,&nbsp;Pronama Biswas","doi":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100829","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100829","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cancer remains a major global health concern due to chemotherapy resistance and toxicity from high-dose treatments. To overcome these challenges, new therapeutic strategies targeting key proteins in cancer progression are essential. This study evaluates two phytochemicals, Carpaine (Car) and Rutin (Rut), from <em>Carica papaya</em> leaves, for their potential in enhancing cancer therapy by targeting B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) and WW domain-containing protein 1 (WWP1) proteins. We assessed their additive, allosteric, and synergistic effects using molecular docking, multi-ligand simultaneous docking (MLSD), molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and MMPBSA analysis. Car and Rut showed an additive effect on BCL-2 by binding at distinct regions within the same pocket. MLSD revealed an improved binding affinity of -13.13 ± 0.08 kcal/mol, individual ligands or the commercial inhibitor Venetoclax. For WWP1, Car bound near the H-site and Rut near the Le-site, exhibiting an allosteric effect that increased Car’s binding affinity in MLSD to -15.59 ± 0.39 kcal/mol. Furthermore, Rut combined with bortezomib (Bortezomib) demonstrated a synergistic interaction with WWP1. Binding energies were -7.64 ± 0.156 kcal/mol for Bort, -10.26 ± 0.07 kcal/mol for Rut, and -15.59 ± 0.39 kcal/mol for MLSD, suggesting a more stable complex through synergy. These results suggest Car and Rut, particularly in combination with Bort, as promising candidates against cancer-related proteins BCL-2 and WWP1. Further experimental validation is warranted to explore their therapeutic potential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34599,"journal":{"name":"Phytomedicine Plus","volume":"5 3","pages":"Article 100829"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144221063","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":"Unveiling the cancer-fighting potential of Rheum species (Rhubarb): Phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, and mechanistic insights into the anticancer effects of key anthraquinones","authors":"Umer Majeed Khaja ,&nbsp;Chirag Chopra ,&nbsp;Amit Sehgal ,&nbsp;Reena Singh ,&nbsp;Showkat Ahmad Ganie","doi":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100831","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100831","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Background&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Rhubarb (&lt;em&gt;Rheum&lt;/em&gt; spp.) has been cultivated for over 5,000 years for both medicinal and culinary purposes. Renowned in traditional and modern medicine, it offers a range of therapeutic benefits. The rhizome of rhubarb, recognized as a significant medicinal plant, was first documented as early as 270 BC in the ancient Chinese text “Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing”. Notably, rhubarb is celebrated for its anti-cancer properties, gastrointestinal regulation, anti-inflammatory effects, and ability to inhibit fibrosis. Cancer, a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, underscores the urgency to identify new therapeutic agents. Despite rhubarb’s extensive history of use, there is a pressing need for a comprehensive review that examines its anti-cancer properties and underlying mechanisms.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Purpose&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This review aims to examine the phytochemistry, ethno-medicinal applications, and anti-cancer capabilities of Rhubarb. Additionally, it will explore the underlying mechanisms of the anti-neoplastic activity of the most prevalent anthraquinones found in &lt;em&gt;Rheum&lt;/em&gt; species.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;A comprehensive search was conducted for randomized controlled trials on the benefits of &lt;em&gt;Rheum&lt;/em&gt; species, using databases such as PubMed, Elsevier, SCOPUS, and the Cochrane Database for Systematic Review.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Rhubarb exhibits diverse biological effects through its phytoconstituents, making it effective in preventing and treating various diseases, including cancer. Key anthraquinones in rhubarb, such as emodin and aloe-emodin, have demonstrated the ability to inhibit cellular proliferation, induce apoptosis, and suppress metastasis in cancers of the breast, colon, lung, liver, blood, pancreas, stomach, and oral cavity. The chemopreventive and anti-carcinogenic potential of &lt;em&gt;Rheum&lt;/em&gt; species stems from their modulation of critical molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways including NF-kappa B (NF-κB), Tumor Suppressor Gene (p53), tyrosine kinases, phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), protein kinase C (PKC) involved in various anti-cancer activities. The review findings also elucidate the potent anti-inflammatory activity of rhubarb, supported by various mechanisms including inhibition of lipoxygenase (LOX), cyclooxygenase (COX) and hyaluronoglucosaminidase (HYAL) enzymes, reduction of pro-inflammatory responses, and modulation of inflammatory signaling pathways. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of rhubarb’s bioactive anthraquinones that show a great potential in fighting cancer and could be used for various therapeutic applications.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusions&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Rhubarb contains herbal remedies that have the potential to prevent and treat a variety of human malignancies. Many chemical constituents of rhubarb, especially anthraquinones may be the cause of its therapeutic properties.","PeriodicalId":34599,"journal":{"name":"Phytomedicine Plus","volume":"5 3","pages":"Article 100831"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144297051","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":"Harnessing nature: plant-derived nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery in cancer therapy","authors":"Esther Ugo Alum ,&nbsp;Olisa Alfred Nwuruku ,&nbsp;Okechukwu Paul-Chima Ugwu ,&nbsp;Daniel Ejim Uti ,&nbsp;Benedict Nnachi Alum ,&nbsp;Nzubechukwu Edwin","doi":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100828","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100828","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background/objective</h3><div>The rising global burden of cancer underscores the need for innovative therapies that address limitations of conventional treatments, such as drug resistance, systemic toxicity, and poor bioavailability. Plant-derived nanocarriers (PDNs) offer a sustainable, biocompatible, and effective platform for targeted drug delivery. This review explores the classifications, mechanisms, and therapeutic potential of PDNs in enhancing cancer treatment outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>A comprehensive literature review was conducted using databases including Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed, focusing on peer-reviewed publications from the past decade. Various PDN types such as phytosomes, lipid-based nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, and exosome-like nanovesicles were examined. Mechanisms of drug encapsulation, release, and tumor targeting were analyzed alongside relevant preclinical and clinical case studies.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>PDNs improve drug stability, solubility, and targeted delivery, minimizing toxicity to healthy tissues. Case studies highlight successful delivery of agents like curcumin, doxorubicin, and plant-derived alkaloids. Key challenges include scalability, stability, and regulatory hurdles. Emerging solutions such as green synthesis and integration with artificial intelligence are discussed.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>PDNs represent a promising frontier in cancer therapy by merging nanotechnology with natural biomaterials to enhance efficacy and personalization while reducing side effects. Overcoming current limitations could accelerate clinical adoption and revolutionize cancer treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34599,"journal":{"name":"Phytomedicine Plus","volume":"5 3","pages":"Article 100828"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144184981","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":"Targeting hyperlipidemia: A polarity-driven ternary extraction of Apium graveolens bioactives—A coupled in-vivo, in-vitro and in-silico investigation","authors":"Nargis Sultana Chowdhury ,&nbsp;Tasnuva Sharmin Zaman ,&nbsp;Rifah Noor Chowdhury ,&nbsp;Md Abdur Rahman ,&nbsp;Sheikh Rakibul Alam ,&nbsp;Romana Akter ,&nbsp;Md. Nazmus Samdani ,&nbsp;Syeda Sadia Afrin ,&nbsp;Md. Rafat Tahsin ,&nbsp;Fahima Aktar ,&nbsp;Ishrat Jahan ,&nbsp;Nasiba Binte Bahar ,&nbsp;Salehuddin Ayubee ,&nbsp;Umme Habiba Ria ,&nbsp;Md Zakir Sultan ,&nbsp;Mohammad Borhan Uddin ,&nbsp;Jakir Ahmed Chowdhury ,&nbsp;Md. Selim Reza ,&nbsp;Abu Asad Chowdhury ,&nbsp;Shaila Kabir ,&nbsp;Md. Shah Amran","doi":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100824","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100824","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>An important factor in the onset and progression of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (CHD) is hyperlipidemia. Though numerous medication classes are available to regulate our body's fat content, the current fascination with natural products has accelerated the hunt for novel molecules from natural sources that decrease cholesterol. In our investigations, <em>Apium graveolens</em> (celery) has demonstrated a superior effect than the control medications.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Considering previous research (96 % Ethanol), we modified the solvent system (70 % methanol and 30 % aqueous acetone). In 96 % ethanol, mostly the hydrophobic compound can be dissolved. However, in our solvent system we enhance the polarity by adding 15 % water so more hydrophilic compounds could be present in the extract. Also, 15 % acetone would draw high molecular weight polyphenols. As a result, a wide array of compounds (hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and high molecular weight polyphenols will be present in our extract. However, in a previous study, the research used 96 % ethanol and we are using 70 % methanol, as a result, we will get a diminished concentration of hydrophobic compound. So, we aim to explore whether the hydrophilic anti-hyperlipidemic and high molecular weight polyphenol can compensate for the reduced concentration of hydrophobic anti-hyperlipidemic constituents.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>The <em>Apium graveolens</em> extract was prepared using a ternary extraction solvent. Under careful monitoring, the in-vivo study was conducted by distributing 95 healthy Wister albino male rats into 19 groups. Histopathological investigation was conducted using fluorescence microscope, followed by statistical assessment of the experimental data.</div></div><div><h3>Results and discussion</h3><div>According to the experimental data, rats with disrupted hyperlipidemic conditions showed a significant restoration in their HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels upon administration of <em>Apium graveolens</em> extract prepared with the ternary extraction solvent. Moreover, rats treated with the plant extract exhibited a significant reduction in their serum levels of the hepatic damage biomarkers and renal function biomarkers compared to the disease control group. The histopathological investigations showed that <em>Apium graveolens</em> at high doses can change the status of histopathological markers associated with liver damage. The findings of the <em>in-silico</em> studies revealed that the 3 top performing compounds (i.e. apiumoside, apiin and graveobioside B) showed high binding affinity to selected anti hyperlipidemic targets HMG CoA reductase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-Alpha (PPAR-Alpha) with a very stable condition in the molecular dynamic simulation against the selected targets.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Based on our findings it can be infer","PeriodicalId":34599,"journal":{"name":"Phytomedicine Plus","volume":"5 3","pages":"Article 100824"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144271410","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":"Oral administration of diosgenin protects optic nerve degeneration in a mouse model of normal-tension glaucoma","authors":"Chihiro Tohda,&nbsp;Shogo Shibue","doi":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100823","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100823","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>In glaucoma, degeneration of visual pathway spread whole brain area, suggesting that restoring the degenerated axons in the whole visual pathway is crucial for vision recovery. Current pharmacological therapies for glaucoma are intraocular pressure-lowering eye drops. However, the contribution of those medications to the recovery of vision loss may be small. Our previous studies revealed that diosgenin has axonal regeneration activity, and distributes in the brain after oral treatment. Therefore, we have hypothesized that the oral administration of diosgenin might better protect the visual pathway in normal-tension glaucoma because of its wide distribution in the brain.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Diosgenin was intravitreally or orally administered to optic nerve-crushed mice for 14 days. The number of retinal ganglion cells, optic nerve density, and intraocular pressure were measured. The time course of diosgenin distribution in the retina, optic nerve, and brain after oral administration was quantified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Intravitreal injection of diosgenin (0.5, 5, 50 μM, twice for14 days) provided no protective effects on the loss of retinal ganglion cells and optic nerves. In contrast, oral administration of diosgenin (1, 10, and 100 mg/kg, daily for 14 days) significantly protected against optic nerve loss but not retinal ganglion cell death. Six hours after oral administration, diosgenin reached the retina, optic nerve and brain at 6 h.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Oral administration of diosgenin protected the optic nerve. Diosgenin is a potential medicine that can be expected to restore the visual field in glaucoma more effectively than local intraocular administration by affecting the brain and eye.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34599,"journal":{"name":"Phytomedicine Plus","volume":"5 3","pages":"Article 100823"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144139533","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":"SAPPHIRE: Gupta and Jachak guideline for a Pre-Step analysis of medicinal plants for In Silico research (SAPPHIRE: Systematic assessment and Pre step protocol for herbal in silico research and evaluation)","authors":"Prashant Gupta ,&nbsp;Sanjay M. Jachak ,&nbsp;Akash Dey ,&nbsp;Rashmi Sahu ,&nbsp;Anjana CS ,&nbsp;Galib R","doi":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100820","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100820","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>For decades, computational studies have delved into the realm of medicinal plant research, significantly propelled by the burgeoning pharmaceutical industry's quest to harness plants' pharmacological potentials. Despite advancements, challenges persist in identifying phytochemicals crucial for preliminary <em>in silico</em> analyses, as there areno established guidelines to streamline this process.</div></div><div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>This study aims to fill this gap by developing a foundational guideline for <em>in silico</em> studies targeting medicinal plants.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Through a comprehensive literature review on PubMed, we examined current trends in phytochemical analysis, leading to the development of a preliminary fourteen-component checklist. Subsequently a focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted with field experts from Natural product research, Phytochemistry and Bio informatics. The suggestions and insights from the FGD were incorporated into the final checklist.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>After the comprehensive review of literature and the FGD, the Fourteen item checklist was refined into an eight-item checklist. This guideline was designed to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of phytochemical identification and the subsequent computational study of medicinal plants.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This refined checklist not only aims to standardize this crucial pre-step but also fosters a more systematic approach to the computational exploration of plant-based therapeutics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34599,"journal":{"name":"Phytomedicine Plus","volume":"5 3","pages":"Article 100820"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144220919","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 French maritime pine bark extract alleviates cellulite: A double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study","authors":"Qi Liu ,&nbsp;Jinhao Wu ,&nbsp;Nan Wang ,&nbsp;Carolina Burki ,&nbsp;Susanne Grether-Beck ,&nbsp;Jean Krutmann","doi":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100821","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100821","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aims and objectives of the research</h3><div>Cellulite presents with dimpling and denting of the skin surface. It mainly affects women, for whom it often poses a cosmetically unfavorable skin condition. Etiopathological knowledge is scarce, under discussion are, among others, inflammatory processes as well as dermal vascular and metabolic changes as found in chronic venous stasis. Besides topical regimes, there is growing interest in nutritional supplements as a strategy to ameliorate cellulite.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methodology</h3><div>The standardized bark extract from the French maritime pine tree <em>Pinus pinaster</em> Aiton, subspecies <em>atlantica</em> (FMPBE), contains 70 ± 5 % procyanidins built from condensed catechin and epicatechin monomers. The extract is a nutritional supplement known for its antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and vascular endothelium protective capacity. Based on its positive effects on endothelial health, we wanted to test the impact of this proprietary bark extract from the French maritime pine tree on cellulite.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>In a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study with no follow-up, we asked if a moderate dose of 150 mg FMPBE a day over 3 months would affect (i) a clinical cellulite score, (ii) the thigh circumference, and (iii) physiological parameters such as roughness, and smoothness in 60 Han Chinese females aged between 25 and 45 years suffering from moderate cellulite. The subjects were recruited in a Beijing study center from November 2021 to February 2022. The occurrence of adverse events or serious adverse events was regularly recorded by phone. Results: No adverse or serious adverse events were observed. The clinical cellulite score significantly improved after 2 and 3 months by 12.2 % and 13.6 % in the verum group, corresponding to approximately 1 score point, whereas no significant effect was seen under placebo treatment. The improvement of the cellulite severity score was associated with clinical remediation shown by photographs and a significant decrease in the upper thighs’ circumference after 3 months. Skin roughness and skin smoothness were significantly ameliorated in the verum group.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>FMPBE is suited to ease moderate cellulite and may help to prevent or postpone females against minimally invasive cellulite treatments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34599,"journal":{"name":"Phytomedicine Plus","volume":"5 3","pages":"Article 100821"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144124397","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":"Protective effects of Morus alba Linn leaf extract on streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in mice model","authors":"Ngoc Kim Nguyen ,&nbsp;Ha Thu Thi Nguyen ,&nbsp;Thanh Phuong Mai ,&nbsp;Quang Vinh Trinh ,&nbsp;Nghia Trong Duong ,&nbsp;Phong Xuan Pham ,&nbsp;Van Anh Thi Pham","doi":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100819","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100819","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Diabetic nephropathy, a major microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes, arises from chronic hyperglycemia-induced renal dysfunction. Current therapies have limited efficacy in halting its progression.</div></div><div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>The aim of this study was to evaluate the nephroprotective potential of <em>Morus alba</em> Linn leaf extract (MAE) against streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in a mouse model.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Diabetic nephropathy was induced in Swiss mice using multiple low-dose streptozotocin intraperitoneal injections. Mice received MAE (820.8 or 2462.4 mg/kg) or dapagliflozin (1 mg/kg) orally for 28 days.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div><em>Morus alba</em> Linn leaf extract reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglycerides, total cholesterol, lipoprotein combine index (LCI), and urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) while increasing creatinine clearance (Ccr) compared to diabetic controls. Specifically, after 28 days of treatment, MAE at 820.8 mg/kg reduced FBG from 16.56 ± 3.90 mmol/L in diabetic controls to 9.69 ± 2.15 mmol/L (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.01), and at 2462.4 mg/kg to 12.51 ± 4.17 mmol/L (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). Additionally, Ccr increased from 16.80 ± 10.80 µl/min in diabetic controls to 41.84 ± 27.02 µl/min with low-dose MAE (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05) and 39.72 ± 15.54 µl/min with high-dose MAE (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.01). Histopathological analysis revealed reduced glomerulosclerosis, tubular degeneration, and pancreatic islet damage in MAE-treated groups. However, MAE did not improve glucose tolerance in the oral glucose tolerance test, and changes in renal malondialdehyde (MDA) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were not significant, suggesting limited effects on dynamic glucose handling and oxidative/inflammatory pathways. A trend toward increased glutathione (GSH) was observed.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These findings suggest MAE as a promising candidate for managing diabetic nephropathy, but further mechanistic and clinical studies are needed to validate its therapeutic potential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34599,"journal":{"name":"Phytomedicine Plus","volume":"5 3","pages":"Article 100819"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144106129","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":"Antidiabetic potential of Phaleria macrocarpa fruit liquid CO₂ extract: Bioactivity, cytotoxicity, phytochemicals and molecular targets","authors":"Md Abdur Rashid Mia ,&nbsp;Qamar Uddin Ahmed ,&nbsp;Sahena Ferdosh ,&nbsp;Md Shahidul Islam ,&nbsp;Mohammad Shahzad Samdani ,&nbsp;Md Zaidul Islam Sarker","doi":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100814","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100814","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder marked by impaired insulin utilization and elevated blood glucose levels. Synthetic drugs often fall short in fully regulating glucose and can cause deleterious side effects during the treatment of diabetes. In contrast, medicinal plants are believed to manage diabetes effectively and alleviate its symptoms. <em>Phaleria macrocarpa</em> fruit has been traditionally used in Southeast Asia to treat various diseases, including diabetes mellitus. This research aims to evaluate the antidiabetic effects of <em>P. macrocarpa</em> fruit extract, identify its antidiabetic compounds, and elucidate their mechanisms of action. The fruit flesh of <em>P. macrocarpa</em> was extracted using liquid CO₂ and ethanol under subcritical conditions to obtain a liquid CO₂ extract (LCE), while a heat reflux extract (HRE) was prepared using ethanol. Both LCE and HRE were assessed for total phenolic, flavonoid contents, <em>α</em>-glucosidase inhibition and cytotoxicity effects. The most bioactive fraction, LCE, was tested in a mice model. The <em>in vivo</em> antidiabetic effect of LCE was evaluated biochemically and histologically. LCE was analysed by LCMS-MS, and the identified compounds were evaluated for ADME and toxicity properties, followed by QSAR and molecular docking to confirm antidiabetic properties. LCE showed higher total phenolic (100.9 ± 3.02 mg GAE/g), flavonoid (92.26 ± 1.21 mg QE/g) contents, and <em>α</em>-glucosidase inhibition (IC₅₀ = 4.52 μg/mL) compared to HRE. LCE fraction was also found to be non-toxic in the cell lines. After 6 weeks of administering 250 mg/kg bw of LCE, blood glucose levels significantly decreased, insulin response improved, and glycogen was partially restored in the liver and muscles. Histological findings indicated <em>β</em>-cell regeneration and protected liver architecture in treated hyperglycemic mice. Six bioactive compounds were identified, adhering to the Lipinski rule of five, and exhibiting potential antidiabetic activity. <em>In silico</em> findings showed these compounds bind to <em>α</em>-glucosidase and PPAR-<em>γ</em> receptors via hydrogen and hydrophobic interactions. Among the findings, rhodomyrtoxin, genistein, 8-methyl, <em>cis</em>-9-palmitoleic acid and sappanone A dimethyl ether demonstrated the best antidiabetic effects against <em>α</em>-glucosidase inhibition and PPAR-<em>γ</em> activation, indicating their potential as antidiabetic inhibitors. Based on these scientific findings, LCE may be a safe and potent antidiabetic inhibitor, offering an alternative herbal medicine for the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34599,"journal":{"name":"Phytomedicine Plus","volume":"5 3","pages":"Article 100814"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144116395","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}