No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
Rhus Chinensis and Galla Chinensis - Folklore to Modern Evidence: Review
Abstract
The species Rhus chinensis Mill. (Anacardiaceae) is an important representative of the genus Rhus, which contains over 250 individual species found in temperate and tropical regions worldwide. Rhus chinensis has long been used by folk medicine practitioners in Asia. Leaves, roots, stem, bark, fruit and particularly the galls on Rhus chinensis leaves, Galla chinensis, are recognized to have preventative and therapeutic effects on different ailments (such as diarrhea, dysentery, rectal and intestinal cancer, diabetes mellitus, sepsis, oral diseases and inflammation). However, it is critical to separate evidence from anecdote. Fortunately, recent scientific research has revealed that Rhus chinensis compounds possess strong antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer, hepatoprotective, antidiarrheal and antioxidant activities. Moreover, compounds isolated from the stem of Rhus chinensis significantly suppressed HIV-1 activity in vitro. Compounds from this plant were also found to inhibit enamel demineralization in vitro and enhance remineralization of dental enamel with fluoride. This review highlights claims from traditional and tribal medicinal lore and makes a contemporary summary of phytochemical, biological and pharmacological findings on this plant material. It aims to show that the pharmaceutical potential of this plant deserves closer attention.
... FFs can be considered as whole, fortified, enriched or enhanced foods that provide health benefits beyond the provision of essential nutrients (e.g., vitamins and minerals) when they are consumed at efficacious levels as part of a varied diet regularly [3] . Rhus coriaria, also called sumac, is a high shrub or small tree (1-3 m high) with Oscar Zannou et al. / Journal of Future Foods 5-1 (2025) [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] imparipinnate leaves, villus, and red fruits with one-seeded drupe, and small greenish-white flowers organized in panicles [4][5] . Given its nutritional value and its phytochemical components (flavonoids, flavones, anthocyanins, tannins, organic acids, fibre, proteins, volatile oils, nitrites, and nitrates), it has been used both as a spice and gives a sour lemon taste to various foods such as vegetables, meat dishes and rice then as a medicinal herb. ...
... In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that tannins have anticancer effects. Likewise, aqueous and aqueous methanolic extracts of R. coriaria leaves and fruits revealed the presence of gallotannins, which can lower blood urea nitrogen and blood pressure [21] . ...
... Oscar Zannou et al. / Journal of FutureFoods 5-1 (2025) [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] ...
Sumac (Rhus coriaria) is a flowering plant that is widely consumed for its promoting health benefits and used in food preparations as a spice in the Mediterranean region. It is a high shrub or small tree with imparipinnate leaves, villus and red fruits with one-seeded drupe, and small greenish-white flowers. The nutraceutical and pharmaceutical potential of sumac makes it a remarkable functional food. In this review, the phytochemical and nutritional properties of sumac as an under valorized functional food have been discussed. Flavonoids, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, and organic acids have been reported as dominant phytochemicals in sumac, which are well known for their pharmacological properties that attract many consumers to commonly choose sumac in their diet as well as food preparations. The remarkable volatile compounds present in sumac give it a unique aroma that increases its acceptance by consumers and potential use in the food industry. Sumac has been evaluated for a broad range of nutritional and pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, anticancer, anti-infertility, and neuroprotective potential. This review has also briefly outlined the safety concerns concerning the use of sumac in terms of toxicology and interactions.
... Rhus/Searsia genus belongs to the family Anacardiaceae and it comprises more than 250 flowering plant species which are widely and abundantly distributed in temperate and tropical regions (Djakpo and Yao, 2010;Miller et al., 2013). Searsia longipes fall under this genus; ...
... Flowers are small, owning axillary and terminal inflorescences which are yellowish-green in color and fruits are small and red coloured. inflammations, laryngitis, stomachache, traumatic fractures, spermatorrhea, snake bite, diarrhea, coughs (antitussive), dysentery, fever, jaundice, hepatitis, helminthic infections, rheumatism as well as for stimulating blood circulation (Duke and Ayensu, 1985;Kuo et al., 1990;Ouyang, 2008;Abbasi et al., 2009;Djakpo and Yao, 2010;Abbassi et al., 2012;Kuma et al., 2015;Abbassi et al., 2012). In addition, Ethno-botanical survey conducted prior to the commencement of this study has revealed the ethno medicinal use of Searsia longipes for the management of schistosomiasis particularly in Manyara region. ...
... Galla chinensis, also known as nutgall, is a gall produced on the leaves of plants of the genus Rhus in response to secretions by the aphid Melaphis chinensis (Bell Baker) [11]. Galls made from Rhus chinensis are of the highest quality [12]. G. chinensis has been used to treat diarrhea, dysentery, hemorrhage, cough, and bloody sputum [13]. ...
... G. chinensis has been used to treat diarrhea, dysentery, hemorrhage, cough, and bloody sputum [13]. Recent studies revealed a wide range of therapeutic effects for G. chinensis, including antibacterial, anticarcinogenic, anticancer, antithrombin, and anti-diabetic effects [12]. The main characteristic components of G. chinensis are tannins, phenolic acids, amino acids, and trace elements, such as Cu, Zn, Fe, and Ca [11]. ...
Previous studies have revealed the medicinal and therapeutic effects of Galla chinensis. However, no studies have focused on the antihypertensive effects of G. chinensis. Therefore, we aimed to determine the vasorelaxant and hypotensive effects of G. chinensis 50% ethanolic extract (GCE). To evaluate the vascular relaxing effect of GCE, experiments were conducted using aortic segments dissected from Sprague Dawley rats. GCE showed a vasorelaxant effect via the nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate pathway, inhibiting Ca2+ channels, and activating K+ channels. The hypotensive effects of GCE were evaluated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). The SHRs were randomly divided into a control group and orally administered GCE group (100 or 300 mg/kg). The systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly by −19.47 ± 4.58% and −31.14 ± 7.66% in the GCE 100 mg/kg group, and −21.64 ± 2.40% and −31.91 ± 5.75% in the GCE 300 mg/kg group at 4 h after administration. Considering its vasorelaxant and hypotensive effects, our results indicate that GCE may be a valuable solution for the control of hypertension. However, further studies on the long-term administration and toxicity of GCE are required.
... The genus Rhus is composed of approximately 250 species, which are widely used in modern and traditional medicine because of their high content of phenols and flavonoids (Djakpo and Yao 2010;Miller et al. 2001). Among the Rhus species, R. chinensis is an important representative for its striking values in medicine, ornamental, soil remediation, and oil production. ...
... All parts of R. chinensis can be used as medicine; ripe fruit is used to treat gastrointestinal disorders (Heirangkhongjam and Ngaseppam 2019; Rymbai et al. 2016;Wu et al. 2021), while decoctions from leaves and roots are used to treat stomach aches and inflammation (Ouyang et al. 2008;Poudyali and Singh 2020). In recent years, phytochemists have isolated a series of potential medicinal compounds from R. chinensis, such as flavonoids, tannins, phenolics, triterpenoids, and aromatic alkanes (Djakpo and Yao 2010; Communicated by Scott A. Merkle . Suo et al. 2020). ...
Key message
An efficient micropropagation procedure for Rhus chinensis was developed using root segment-derived juvenile shoots as the source of materials through multiple shoot induction and hydroponic acclimation.
Abstract
Rhus chinensis Mill. is an economically important multipurpose tree in the Anacardiaceae that has a wide range of medicinal, ornamental, and industrial values. Here, an efficient micropropagation procedure for R. chinensis was developed using leaves, nodal segments, and petioles of juvenile shoots obtained from root segments as explants. The highest shoot induction frequency (100%) with a mean number of shoots (20.0 ± 0.9) was obtained when in vitro nodal segments were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg l⁻¹ TDZ. The shoot clusters were transferred to medium containing 0.2 mg l⁻¹ TDZ and 0.1 mg l⁻¹ NAA for multiplication, and shoot elongation was observed on medium with 0.2 mg l⁻¹ 6-BA and 0.2 mg l⁻¹ GA3. The highest rooting frequency (91.1%) was achieved on 1/4 MS medium fortified with 2.0 mg l⁻¹ NAA. The major challenge of the low transplantation survival rate of regenerated plants was solved by adopting an ex vitro hydroponic acclimation system. This is the first report on the propagation of R. chinensis through direct shoot organogenesis and hydroponic acclimation. The present procedure provides a novel method for the large-scale propagation and germplasm conservation of R. chinensis.
... The ripe fruit of RCM is nutritious and eaten as a condiment in many areas [20]. According to folk pharmacopeia, RCM has medicinal value and its fruit can be used as a treatment for jaundice and hepatitis [21]. Our previous studies have shown that the extracts of RCM are content with a variety of polyphenolic flavonoids, such as gallic acid and quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, which have been shown to have a good antioxidant capacity in vitro [22]. ...
... RCM fruits are widely cultivated as a condiment and beverage, and can also be used as a raw material to extract polyphenolic substances, such as gallic acid [28]. The extracts of RCM fruits have shown strong antioxidant activities in vivo and in vitro [21]. In this study, the preventive effect of the extracts of RCM fruits on cholestasis caused by DDC was investigated. ...
This study focused on the preventive effects of the extracts of Rhus chinensis Mill. (RCM) fruits on cholestasis induced by 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC) in mice. The results showed that RCM extracts could significantly ameliorate DDC-induced cholestasis via multiple mechanisms, including (1) alleviating liver damage via enhancing antioxidant capacity, such as increasing the contents of glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase and inhibiting the levels of malondialdehyde; (2) preventing liver inflammation by suppressing NF-κB pathway and reducing proinflammatory cytokines secretion (e.g., tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6); (3) inhibiting liver fibrosis and collagen deposition by regulating the expression of transforming growth factor-β and α-smooth muscle actin; (4) modulating abnormal bile acid metabolism through increasing the expression of bile salt export pump and multidrug resistance-associated protein 2. This study was the first to elucidate the potential preventive effect of RCM extracts on DDC-induced cholestasis in mice from multiple pathways, which suggested that RCM fruits could be considered as a potential dietary supplement to prevent cholestasis.
... [71]. The vescalagin and its epimer, castalagin, are the first Cglycosidic ellagitannins to have been isolated and characterized 30 years ago, from Castanea (chestnut) and Quercus (oak) [72][73][74]. Six other ellagitannins were subsequently isolated, which are the grandinin and the roburin A, B, C, D, and E. Grandinin and roburin E correspond to the monomers glycosylated by lyxose and xylose, respectively. Roburin A and D correspond to the nonglycosylated (Fig. 14). ...
... The crude ethanolic extract of Rhus verniciflua wood has shown strong antioxidant activity on neuronal cells in culture (Lee et al., 2001). Other species can also produce antioxidant potential such as the extract of Rhus copallina wood (Young, 1976), Rhus tripartita (Itidel, 2013), Rhus glabra (Young, 1976), Rhus typhina (Kossah et al., 2011), Rhus hirta (Wu et al., 2012), Rhus chinensis (Djakpo and Yao, 2010) and Rhus coriaria (Mohammadi et al., 2010). The chemical structures of synthetic antioxidants that can be toxic, such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), are related to those of natural antioxidants. ...
The aims of study were to investigate the analgesic, antioxidant activities of Rhus pentaphylla ethanolic extracts (leaves and fruits). Three animal models were used to evaluate the possible analgesic effect such as, hot plate, writhing and formalin tests. The antioxidant activity of both extracts were evaluated using DPPH and FRAP tests. Total phenolic compounds, condensed tannins and flavonoids were also estimated. Our findings demonstrates that ethanolic extracts of Rhus pentaphylla possess an analgesic remarkable effect of leaves followed by fruits in all experimental models, in hot plate assay time of latency was increased significantly (p≤0.001) in treated groups at all doses in comparison to the negative control. In writhing test, treated animals by both extracts at all pharmacological doses demonstrates notable reduction (p≤0.001) of writhing numbers. Concerning formalin test, administration of Rhus pentaphylla extracts reduce significantly (p≤0.001) licking time in both phases indicates a possible central and peripheral mechanisms respectively. Moreover, leaves extract possess an important antioxidant capacity (IC50= 47,20 ± 0,23 µg/ml; IC50= 64,10 ± 0,73 µg/ml for DPPH and FRAP assays respectively) than fruits extract (IC= 55,24 ± 0,26 µg/ml; IC50= 75,30 ± 1,01 µg/ml). This last recorded activity due to the amount of total polyphenols in leaves (13,25 ± 0,01 mg GAE/g DW) as compared to the fruits (12,97 ± 0,26 mg GAE/g DW). Keywords: Rhus pentaphylla; antinociceptive activity; antioxidant capacity; total phenolic compounds.
... 90 Triterpenoids of R. chinensis (TER), a constituent from Pentaphyllum officinale, was shown by Wang et al to inhibit tumor progression by regulating the expression of PD-L1 and significantly reduced mortality in mice. 91 This study also evaluated the role of TER in the CT26 xenograft model and confirmed that TER exerted potential immunostimulatory activity in the CT26 xenograft model by modulating intratumoral infiltration of CD8+ T cells, such as modulating NK cells and CD4 + and CD8+ T cells in spleen, blood, and tumor tissues. In addition, the mechanisms by which TER inhibits tumor growth and modulates CRC antitumor immunity by increasing the infiltration of CD8+ T cells into the central region of the tumor have also been investigated. ...
Immune checkpoint regulation is a negative feedback regulatory mechanism in the body, and sequential death receptor-1 (PD-1) and programmed death receptor ligand-1 (PD-L1) are known as immune checkpoints. The PD-1/PD-L1 pathway inhibits the activity of effector T cells through a negative regulatory mechanism to avoid excessive response-induced body damage. PD-L1 is highly expressed in many tumor tissues, and high PD-L1 expression can ultimately lead to tumor immune escape. Therefore, immune checkpoint blockade with inhibition of negative immune regulation therapy has become a cutting-edge hot spot for antitumor therapy, with the main target molecules being PD-1 and PD-L1. Recent years have seen promising progress in the study of traditional Chinese medicines and their effects on gastric and colon cancers, particularly in relation to the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway mechanisms. This review specifically examines the modulation of the PD-L1 pathway by certain traditional Chinese medicines in gastric and colon cancers, aiming to provide insights for the development of innovative drugs for these types of digestive cancers.
... The primary isomeric ellagitannins present in oak wood are vescalagin and castalagin ( Figure 6). Both were isolated and characterized 30 years ago from chestnut (Castanea) and oak (Quercus) trees (De la Cruz Lapa, 2004;Djakpo & Yao, 2010;Okuda, 2005). Following these discoveries, six other ellagitannins were identified: grandinin and roburin types A, B, C, D, and E. Grandinin and roburin E are monomers glycosylated by lyxose and xylose, respectively. ...
Climate change is affecting the composition of grape berries and has led to imbalances in the wine matrix, with an increase in alcohol content and a significant decrease in the acidity of wines. In this context, finding solutions to acidify musts and wines is crucial to maintain their stability, preservation, and sensory quality. The main goal of this study was to test the addition of an alternative acid: fumaric acid for must and wine acidification, and to assess its impact on the chemical and sensory characteristics of wines from different grape varieties and origins. A secondary objective was to study the use of fumaric acid to enhance wine preservation, either as a reduction or as an alternative to the addition of sulfur dioxide (SO2) in traditional winemaking and wine preservation.A preliminary study on the chemical properties to define the solubility and acidifying power of fumaric acid, in comparison to tartaric, malic, and lactic acids, was carried out in various hydro-alcoholic matrices, musts, and wines (both white and red). Additionally, a study on its sensory properties was conducted. A simple, quick, reliable, and validated routine analysis method using high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-UV) was also developed to quantify fumaric acid in various types of wines. This method has a detection limit of 0.2 mg/L and a quantification limit of 0.3 mg/L, with both inter and intra-day repeatability showing an RSD ≤ 2%. This research work also allowed the evaluation of the impact of adding fumaric acid to Cabernet Sauvignon red wine, compared to the addition of tartaric acid, at different stages of winemaking: during vatting and just after racking. The results of this first study helped understand the role of fumaric acid in winemaking steps, particularly its metabolism when added before alcoholic fermentation. A second study concerns the addition of fumaric acid at different doses (1 g/L and 2 g/L), compared to tartaric acid (1.25 g/L and 2.5 g/L), before bottling Cabernet Sauvignon red wine, revealing its effectiveness in pH control and its potential to reduce the use of SO2. The results of this second experiment revealed a significant impact of adding fumaric acid on phenolic compounds, particularly catechin and epicatechin, which are maintained at higher concentrations over time compared to the control and the modalities with tartaric acid. Finally, the use of fumaric acid in white winemaking, specifically on Müller-Thurgau (a German grape variety, Riesling x Sylvaner), was studied. The addition of fumaric acid effectively inhibited malolactic fermentation as effectively as the addition of SO2. The results indicate that adding fumaric acid during preservation and bottling appears as promising alternatives for wine acidification and more sustainable oenological practices that reduce the use of SO2. The concrete results obtained justify the inclusion of must and wine acidification with fumaric acid by the OIV in the International Code of Oenological Practices of the OIV. Further studies should refine the use and functionalities of fumaric acid on musts (in particular) and wines.
... Phytochemical investigations have demonstrated that that Galla chinensis is rich in gallotannins. Of these, Galla chinensis tannic acid (GCTA) is a hydrolysable tannin representing at least 70% of its total weight [16]. GCTA has been found to inhibit bacterial growth [17], modulate host immune responses [18], improve intestinal barrier function [11] and influence the gut microbiota [19]. ...
Salmonella infections pose a significant threat to animal and human health. Phytochemicals present a potential alternative treatment. Galla chinensis tannic acid (GCTA), a hydrolyzable polyphenolic compound, inhibits bacterial growth and demonstrates potential as an alternative or supplement to antibiotics to prevent Salmonella infections. However, little is known about the antimicrobial mechanism of GCTA against Salmonella. Here, we revealed 456 differentially expressed proteins upon GCTA treatment, impacting pathways related to DNA replication, repair, genomic stability, cell wall biogenesis, and lipid metabolism using TMT-labeled proteomic analysis. TEM analysis suggested altered bacterial morphology and structure post-treatment. A Salmonella-infected-mouse model indicated that GCTA administration improved inflammatory markers, alleviated intestinal histopathological alterations, and reduced Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) colonization in the liver and spleen of Salmonella-infected mice. The LD50 of GCTA was 4100 mg/kg with an oral single dose, vastly exceeding the therapeutic dose. Thus, GCTA exhibited antibacterial and anti-infective activity against S. Enteritidis. Our results provided insight into the molecular mechanisms of these antibacterial effects, and highlights the potential of GCTA as an alternative to antibiotics.
Supplementary Information
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12917-024-04036-5.
... Nutgall tree (NT), also known as the Chinese sumac or Rhus chinensis Mill, is distributed in the wide range of temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions [12]. Owing to their abundant nutrients, the leaf and fruit of NT have been used as ingredients in appetizers, spices, vinegar, drinks, and oils [13]. ...
Hypertension is the crucial modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and efforts to identify functional foods that are effective for hypertension control are increasing. The nutgall tree (NT, Rhus chinensis Mill.) is used in traditional medicine and food because of its medicinal value. However, the role of NT in hypertension has not been investigated. Therefore, the hypotensive effect of NT leaf ethanol extract (NTE) was investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). SHRs were allocated to three groups (control, 300, or 1000 mg/kg NTE), and blood pressure was measured before and after oral administration. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased in the NTE 1000 mg/kg group and was the lowest at 2 h after administration (−26.4 ± 10.3, −33.5 ± 9.8%, respectively). Daily NTE administration for five days also resulted in a similar effect. Further, the vasorelaxant effects and related mechanisms were investigated in the aortas of Sprague Dawley rats. NTE showed the dose-dependent blood-vessel-relaxing effect, and its mechanism involves the NO-sGC-cGMP pathway, activation of K+ channels, and reduction in the vasoconstrictive action of angiotensin II. Therefore, our study provides basic data indicating the potential use of NTE as a functional food for high blood pressure.
... Tannic acids have been used in many regions worldwide for multiple therapeutical applications. In Eastern countries, they were applied in traditional treatment in the herbal recipe for a various diseases such as diarrhea, bleeding, toxification, dementia, and coughing [1,9,10] . In Western countries, tannic acids were used for toxification, burn injuries, and diarrhea [11][12][13] . ...
The therapeutic options for coronal virus infections are limited. As SARS-CoV-2 directly targets the lungs and causes lung damage, treatment of COVID-19 with inhalants may offer more advantages over oral administration. Inhaled drug delivery provides a higher drug concentration in the target organ, where SARS-CoV-2 proliferates. In this study, we evaluated the potential systemic toxicity, relevant target organ toxicity, and toxicokinetics of Airnecflu®, Ultrapure, and Potent Tannic Acid (UPPTA) by metered-dose inhaler (MDI) inhalation to rodent and canine species once a day for 2 consecutive weeks. We further investigated the reversibility of the toxicity following a 3-week recovery period. No mortality related to the test article was observed in all the dose groups. Neither abnormalities related to the test article nor toxicologically significant changes were observed in both rodent and canine studies. In pathological examination, alveolar macrophage aggregation, perivascular/interstitial/alveolar inflammatory cell infiltration, and alveolar/bronchial epithelium hyperplasia were noted in the lung with bronchi involvement. However, after a 3-week recovery period, a substantial recovery was observed. There is limited systemic exposure to the inhalation administration. Therefore, inhalation of Airnecflu® UPPTA is safe to administer for respiratory disorders like COVID-19.
... The growth of CD4+ T lymphocytes and IFN production are both enhanced by crushed garlic extract [69,70]. Rhus chinensis inhibits entry of SARS-CoV virus into host cell and prevents virus replication [71,72]. The antiviral activity is determined by cytotoxicity on Vero E6 cells [73]. ...
... trees, green tea, coffee, and fresh fruits like pomegranate (Djakpo and Yao, 2010;Guo et al., 2021). This drug inhibits tumor growth due to its various properties, including inhibition of free radicals, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory systems (Jo et al., 2015;Yeo et al., 2020). ...
Introduction:
Due to the pivotal role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in cancers, interfering with its function can cause the accumulation of unfolded proteins, which ultimately leads to the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling pathway and apoptosis. Therefore, the use of plant compounds such as tannic acid with UPR-inducing properties can be proposed as a possible treatment method for cancer. In this study, we investigated the effect of tannic acid on cell migration, colony formation, growth, and UPR-induced apoptosis in the SW48 colorectal cancer cell line.
Methods:
The MTT assay was performed to investigate the cytotoxic effect of tannic acid. We performed the qPCR method to elucidate the effect of tannic acid on the expression of Bim, MMP-9, Bcl-xL, cyclin D1, CHOP, and ATF4 genes. We also used the colony formation and migration experiments to investigate the effect of this compound on the colony formation and migration ability of tumor cells. Finally, we used Hoechst staining to measure cell apoptosis.
Results:
Tannic acid inhibited the cell survival, clonogenic, and migration of colon cancer cells. This compound increased the expression of ER stress-mediated UPR genes, ATF4 and CHOP. Moreover; tannic acid increased the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins like Bim, while at the same time causing a sharp decline in the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL. A decline in MMP-9 expression confirmed the anti-metastatic role of this compound.
Conclusion:
Taken together, tannic acid can induce apoptosis via ER stress-mediated UPR pathway, and has a suppressive effect on cell viability, growth, migration, colony formation, and metastasis, suggesting it may be a potential drug in colorectal cancer treatment.
... Among such natural products, tannins are a group of polyphenols that are widely present in many types of trees and higher plants, such as green tea, coffee, and fruit species (Chung et al., 1998a). Over thousands of years, diverse tannin-containing plant species in China and across Asia, such as Galla chinensis, have been used as astringents to treat diarrhea and hemorrhage (Djakpo and Yao, 2010), as well as administered as anticarcinogens Gao et al., 2018) and antimicrobial agents (Chung et al., 1998a). ...
Staphylococcus aureus is a zoonotic opportunistic pathogen that represents a significant threat to public health. Previous studies have shown that tannic acid (TA) has an inhibitory effect on a variety of bacteria. In this study, the proteome and transcriptome of S. aureus were analyzed to comprehensively assess changes in genes and proteins induced by TA. Initial observations of morphological changes revealed that TA damaged the integrity of the cell membrane. Next, proteomic and genetic analyses showed that exposure to TA altered the expression levels of 651 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs, 283 upregulated and 368 downregulated) and 503 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, 191 upregulated and 312 downregulated). Analysis of the identified DEPs and DEGs suggested that TA damages the integrity of the cell envelope by decreasing the expression and protein abundance of enzymes involved in the synthesis of peptidoglycans, teichoic acids and fatty acids, such as murB, murQ, murG, fmhX and tagA. After treatment with TA, the assembly of ribosomes in S. aureus was severely impaired by significant reductions in available ribosome components, and thus protein synthesis was hindered. The levels of genes and proteins associated with amino acids and purine synthesis were remarkably decreased, which further reduced bacterial viability. In addition, ABC transporters, which are involved in amino acid and ion transport, were also badly affected. Our results reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of TA on S. aureus and provide a theoretical basis for the application of TA as an antibacterial chemotherapeutic agent.
... [71]. The vescalagin and its epimer, castalagin, are the first Cglycosidic ellagitannins to have been isolated and characterized 30 years ago, from Castanea (chestnut) and Quercus (oak) [72][73][74]. Six other ellagitannins were subsequently isolated, which are the grandinin and the roburin A, B, C, D, and E. Grandinin and roburin E correspond to the monomers glycosylated by lyxose and xylose, respectively. Roburin A and D correspond to the nonglycosylated (Fig. 14). ...
... Tannins are polyphenolic compounds 4,5 and are generally found in the roots, wood, bark, leaves, and fruits of plants like almonds, grapes, cacao, walnut, tea, and cranberry. Since ancient times, some Asian countries, such as China, have used tannins as astringents, antidiarrheal, anti-hemorrhage agents 6 , anti-carcinogens 7,8 , and antimicrobials. Recently, they have been used in industry for coloring the materials like textiles and leather 9 and mining 10 . ...
Objective:
We investigated the effects of tannic acid on viability and proliferation of nasal cells after topical application. It was also evaluated whether tannic acid served as an alternative treatment agent.
Materials and methods:
Collected primary nasal epithelium from healthy people who had undergone septoplasty operations were incubated in cell culture. Following the implementation of 2.5 µM tannic acid in cultured cells, both the number of total cells and their viability were measured using the trypan blue assay, while proliferation was assessed through the XTT method. The XTT method, which involves using "2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulphophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide", is a reliable means of determining cellular toxicity.
Results:
XTT experiment results showed that there was no harm was detected to nasal cells after tannic acid's topical implementation. There were no significant changes in cell proliferation; moreover, no matter what the doses were. Additionally, no cytotoxic effects were detected on nasal cells' primary culture at "the end of the 24 hours of implementation". There was no side effect of it, either.
Conclusions:
According to the research, the application of tannic acid topically did not result in any harmful effects on the nasal cell culture. Tannic acid's potential anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to decrease Th2-related cytokines suggest that it may be beneficial for patients with rhinosinusitis or allergic rhinitis, pending confirmation through clinical trials. Additionally, if clinical trials confirm its effectiveness, tannic acid may be useful in healing wounds for patients undergoing septorhinoplasty.
... The growth of CD4+ T lymphocytes and IFN production are both enhanced by crushed garlic extract [69,70]. Rhus chinensis inhibits entry of SARS-CoV virus into host cell and prevents virus replication [71,72]. The antiviral activity is determined by cytotoxicity on Vero E6 cells [73]. ...
... One is the aphid from the family Pemphigidae, which infests the compound leaves of Rhus spp. and results in deformed bulbs, and the other is a parasitic wasp from the family Cynipidae, which parasitizes the fresh branches or twigs of Quercus infectoria Oliver and produces aberrant protrusion (Djakpo and Yao, 2010;Sariozlu and Kivanc, 2011). The earliest medicinal use of CGs was recorded in the 'Compendium of Materia Medica' and its remedial effects on tuberculosis, hemostasis, diarrhea, insomnia, etc. have been well described in TCM. ...
Entomoceuticals define a subset of pharmaceuticals derived from insects. The therapeutic effect of insect-derived drugs has been empirically validated by the direct use of various folk medicines originating from three sources in particular: the glandular secretions of insects (e.g., silk, honey, venom), the body parts of the insect or the whole used live or by various processing (e.g., cooked, toasted, ground), and active ingredients extracted from insects or insect-microbe symbiosis. Insects have been widely exploited in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) relative to other ethnomedicines, especially in the prospect of insect species for medicinal uses. It is noticeable that most of these entomoceuticals are also exploited as health food for improving immune function. In addition, some edible insects are rich in animal protein and have high nutritional value, which are used in the food field, such as insect wine, health supplements and so on. In this review, we focused on 12 insect species that have been widely used in traditional Chinese herbal formulae but have remained less investigated for their biological properties in previous studies. We also combined the entomoceutical knowledge with recent advances in insect omics. This review specifies the underexplored medicinal insects from ethnomedicine and shows their specific medicinal and nutritional roles in traditional medicine.
... Phenolic compounds reported from Rhus species Compounds 89, 103, 107, 112, 115-117 and 120 were reported from R. typhina [44,45] ; compounds 90, 91, 97-100, 104, 106-109, 118-120 and 125-129 were reported from R. flexicaulis [30,44]; compounds 90-93, 95, 97, 112, 121-124, 126, 130 and 135-137 were isolated from R. javanica [31,58,65]; compounds 94, 102, 107 and 112 were isolated from R. coriaria [27,66,67]; compounds 101, 107, 110, 112, 120 and 138 were reported from R. verniciflua [55,57]; compounds 105 and 107 were reported from R. virens [68]; compounds 107, 112-114 were reported from R. copallinum [42,69]; compounds 107, 112, 141 and 142 were reported R. chinensis [60]; compounds 107, 139 and 140 were reported from R. pachyrrhachism [68]), compounds 111 and 112 were isolated from R. glabra [70]; compounds 131-133 were reported from R. succedanea [25] while compounds 96 and 134 were reported from R. tripartita and R. natalensis respectively [41,46,71]. ...
The genus Rhus (family: Anacardiaceae, order: Sapindales) consists of more than 250 species distributed in the tropics, subtropics and temperate regions. Traditionally, extracts and products from Rhus species are regarded as important remedy and have been used extensively as part of traditional healing practices for the treatment of fungal, bacterial and protozoal infections in both humans and animals. However, scientific data to support these ethnomedicinal uses is lacking for most Rhus species. The aim of this study was to collate and review the fragmented information on ethnomedicinal, phytochemistry and biological activities Rhus species and present recommendations for future research. Peer-reviewed articles using "Rhus" as search term were retrieved from Scopus, Science Direct, SciFinder and Google Scholar. Various books that contained ethnopharmacological information of the plants were also consulted. In addition to anti-infective properties, Rhus extracts are also used to treat a wide range of ailments including abdominal pain, inflammation, stomach aches, fever and headaches, which may be a manifestation of infections. Most of the biological activities are attributed to flavonoids, phenolic and terpenoid compounds present in the various species. From the literature available it is evident that most of Rhus species have not been studied. Further research aimed at identification of active extracts and compounds from the plants is needed.
... mg/100g dw), catechin (115.39 mg/100g dw), vanillic acid (26.34 mg/100g dw), cyanidin (142.19 mg/100g dw), rutin (28.84 mg/100g dw), vanillin (10.70 mg/100g dw), resveratrol (32.59 mg/100g dw), salicylic acid (631.14 mg/100g dw), quercetin (17.94 mg/100g dw) and octyl gallate (1.89 mg/100g dw) . Galls on leaves are a rich source of gallotannin (a hydralysable tannin), which is considered a major active compound of R. chinensis (Djakpo and Yao, 2010). Besides, eight compounds viz. ...
Rhus chinensis Mill (also known as Rhus semialata Murray, Family Anacardiaceae) is a deciduous underutilized wild edible fruit tree. It is native to China and Japan and distributed in tropical and subtropical regions at an altitude of 1300 to 2400 m asl in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Malaysia, Mayamar, Java, Europe, Ceylon, Korea. Fruits and galls (Galla chinensis) of this tree are utilized in medicine, food, fiber, juice and ingredients of traditional products. A number of phytoconstituents such as gallotannin, gallic acid, ellagic acid, phenols, flavonoids, organic acids and mineral isolated from R. chinensis were reported to have various pharmacological activities. This chapter is an attempt to synthesis the existing knowledge and scientific progress on this underutilized tree to evaluate its potential in nutritional, pharmaceutical and cosmoceutical industries.
... R. chinensis is a common deciduous sumac tree that is widely distributed in Asia, including China, India, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan [4]. This species is an important medicinal plant containing various pharmacologically active constituents, which have been used for medicinal purposes such as anticancer, antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory as well as being used as a revegetation plant for ecological restoration due to its cold tolerance and easy multiplication [5][6][7][8]. In particular, as the primary host plant of several species of Chinese sumac aphids, R. chinensis hosted the aphids which induced galls, which are a source of traditional Chinese medicine [9]. ...
The sumac Rhus chinensis Mill. is an economically and ecologically important shrub or tree species in the family of Anacardiaceae with a wide distribution in East to Southeast Asia. We assembled the complete chloroplast genome of 159,187 bp in length and the GC content of 37.8%. The genome encoded 132 genes, including 86 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 1 pseudogene, and 77 SSRs were identified as well as the interval regions, totaling 46,425 bp in length. The mauve alignment revealed one gene rearrangement among the Rhus species. All the SSRs were divided into five types, most of which consisted of mono- and tri- repeat motifs. Our genome exhibited the longest size and more annotated genes compared to the three other genomes of R. chinensis reported in GenBank. We also discovered some relatively highly variable regions in the complete chloroplast genomes of the Rhus species. The ML phylogenetic analysis of the available chloroplast sequences of the Anacardiaceae well supported the monophyly of each tribe and each genus; the tribe Rhoideae was close to the tribe Anacardiaceae with a high support of 100%, and they then grouped with the tribe Spondiadeae. R. chinensis was sister to R. potaninii, and they then grouped with the species R. typhina.
... 12 Rhus chinensis (Chinese Sumac) is a tannin-rich plant, containing tannic acids (50-70%), a type of hydrolyzable tannin, and small amounts (2-4%) of free gallic acid in leaf galls. 13 Tannins are distributed throughout the plant, as well as in the galls. 14 Although tannins have potential as antialgal active chemicals, high-efficiency extraction of active compounds from the plant material is necessary to develop biological algicides from natural materials. ...
BACKGROUND
Algal infestation in Korean lakes, rivers, and in agroecosystems is a catastrophic problem resulting in contaminated drinking and agricultural irrigation water. Developing allelochemical‐based algicides has previously faced difficulties, including dosage requirements and chemical instability. Despite these challenges, these algicides have enormous potential for eco‐friendly use. This study presents the efficient use of tannin derivatives as antialgal chemicals modeled on a tannin‐rich stem extract of Rhus chinensis in a thermal processing application.
RESULTS
Tannic acids are the key component of algal necrosis in R. chinensis stem extract, and although heat extraction from the stem increased the crude extraction yield 1.8‐fold, the procedure induced the conversion of tannic acids to gallic acid, resulting in lower antialgal activity. Gallotannin showed stronger antialgal activity (The 50% lethal dosage (LD50)= 44.6 mg L⁻¹) than gallic acid (LD50 = 99.2 mg L⁻¹), and the nonheated extract exhibited 3.7‐fold lower LD50 (0.66 g L⁻¹) than the heated extract (LD50 = 2.45 g L⁻¹), resulting in 2.6‐fold higher content of gallotannin.
CONCLUSION
These results demonstrate that heat treatment of R. chinensis stems during the extraction process is not beneficial to algal control because of the acceleration of thermal tannin degradation, despite it showing higher crude extract yields. Therefore, it is suggested extraction processes minimizing the loss of tannic acids should be the preferred methods used to develop tannin‐based natural algicides for controlling algal infestation. Tannic acids showed higher toxicity into necrosis of M. aeruginosa than gallic acid where heat‐processed extraction of R. chinensis stems produces more gallic acid content resulting in thermal degradation of tannic complexes than the extraction of nonthermal treatment. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
... Sumac, which is used as a spice in the Middle East, is widely consumed alongside kebabs and grilled meats (11). It is traditionally used by North American Indians to treat bacterial diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhea, gangrene, and dysentery (12). In traditional Chinese medicine, all its parts have been used to treat diseases; for example, the leaves are used to treat diarrhea and inflammations; the root is used to treat jaundice and malaria; fruits and seeds are widely used in the treatment of dysentery and hepatitis (13). ...
Since 2019, the COVID-19 virus has caused severe lung damage and acute respiratory syndrome, leading to global epidemics with high morbidity and mortality. The world health organization has declared it a cause of the pandemic. At the beginning of 2020, many national and international organizations urgently took action to develop vaccines, and dozens of approved vaccines have been developed so far. Despite the significant effectiveness of vaccines, the continuation of deaths because of COVID-19 has increased people’s interest in traditional medicine. The uncertainty in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of many diseases, especially chronic diseases, has increased the interest in treatment methods other than modern medicine all over the world. It is stated that over 85% of the population in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East use herbal medicines as the first treatment option. Some compounds are obtained from plants, especially flavonoids; the quercetin, silymarin, polyphenolic compound glycyrrhizin, and curcumin have shown antiviral activity. Sumac is the common name for a genus (Rhus) in the Anacardiaceae family that includes over 250 species of flowering plants. Many compounds such as fatty acids, phenolics, organic acids, essential oils, proteins, fibers, vitamins, and minerals have been isolated from different parts of the sumac plant. It is considered a reasonable treatment in traditional medicine because of its analgesic, anorexic, antidiarrheal, antiseptic, and antihyperglycemic properties. Djakpo and Yao reported that sumac contains potent antiviral properties. The bioactive compound of sumac with antiviral activity is polyphenol tetra-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose (TGG), a tannin. Ling et al. found that TGG exhibited significant inhibition against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Sherif et al. identified six polyphenolic compounds of Rhus spp as potential inhibitors to the SARS-CoV-2 major protease enzyme (Mpro; 6LU7). Keywords: Sumac, COVID-19, traditional medicine
... Rhus chinensis Mill, also known as the Chinese sumac or nutgall tree, is a perennial deciduous shrub that belongs to *Address correspondence to this author at the Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, 44618, Nepal; E-mail: adhikarimine@yahoo.com the genus Rhus and the family Anacardiaceae [1]. The species in the outer Himalayan ranges of Nepal at an altitude of 1000-2300m bears unusual pinnately complex leaves and white flowers with reddish-brown fruits [2]. Traditionally, its fruits alleviate colic, diarrhea, dysentery, jaundice, rheumatism, skin infection, intestinal worms, and antitoxin. ...
Background: Rhus chinensis Mill, indigenous wild fruit primarily found in the hilly region of Nepal. The ripe fruit is very sour and considered medicinal as a remedy for colic pain. In addition, their astringent and styptic qualities are used internally to treat illnesses such as diarrhea and hemorrhage. Also, they are used as a common component of polyherbal medications for diabetic mellitus.
Objectives: This work aimed to determine the total phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant, antibacterial, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase inhibition activity of the crude extract and fractions of Rhus chinensis Mill. Additionally, molecular docking of compounds from Rhus chinensis was performed.
Methods: Folin Ciocalteu’s (FC) reagent was used for the estimation of total phenolic content. Likewise, the aluminium trichloride method was applied for the determination of total flavonoid content. For the antioxidant activity, a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay was performed. Furthermore, the substrate-based enzyme inhibition assay was carried out for α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition activity of R. chinensis. P-nitrophenyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (PNPG) and 2-Chloro-4-Nitrophenyl-α-D-Maltotrioside (CNPG3) were used as substrates for α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition assay, respectively. Similarly, the well-diffusion method was used for the antibacterial activity. Autodock vina was used to perform the molecular docking.
Results: The total phenolic and flavonoid content of R. chinensis fruit were found 117.092±1.1 mg GAE/g and 62.41±1.23 mg QE/g, respectively. The IC50 value for antioxidant activity of the crude extract and its fractions ranged from 3.12±1.15μg/mL to 50.85±2.10μg/mL. Similarly, the IC50 for α-glucosidase inhibition ranged from2.33±1.01µg/mL to 28.34±2.79μg/mL. Likewise, The IC50 of R. chinensis crude methanolic extract against α-amylase was 120.3±1.382µg/mL. The antibacterial activity of R. chinensis was effective against gram-positive bacteria; Staphylococcus aureus (ZOI=11.0) and Bacillus subtilis (ZOI=9.0). Quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside and Myricetin 3-O-rhamnoside showed excellent binding to the active site of protein with binding energy -9.4kcal/mol and -9.6kcal/mol, respectively.
Conclusion: Rhus chinensis Mill is a potent antioxidant and inhibits enzymes; α-glucosidase and α-amylase. In addition, the methanolic extract of this plant shows antibacterial activity. However, further research is required to determine the inhibiting compounds.
Keywords: Rhus chinensis, α-glucosidase inhibition, α-amylase inhibition, antioxidant, antibacterial, molecular docking
... These compounds act as primary source of antioxidants.Rhus toxicodendron, is used as homeopathic remedy for symptoms such as rheumatic pains, skin irritation and inflammation [13,14]. Barka and coworkers reported, Rhus tripartita, is shown to have antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiinflammatory [15,16]. Ganj Renuka Raniand coworkes studies shown that the flavonoids isolated from Rhus mysorenis having antiinflammatory activity [17,18]. ...
Rhus chinensis is a dioecious shrub, found in warm temperate zone across Asia. In India it is found in Northeastern part like South Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. [16] The roots, stem, leaves and seed have various therapeutic effects on ailments like hemoptysis, jaundice, snakebites, diabetes. Phytochemical analysis of Rhus chinensis extracts revealed the presence of various biochemical compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, triterpenoids, amino acids, proteins and carbohydrates. These compounds have well proven remarkable anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. The adverse effect of oxidative stress results in many disorders such as aging, cardiovascular disorders and so on. Inflammation is yet again another problem which causes many disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and Crohn’s disease etc. This research was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of Rhus chinensis seed (Methanolic Extract). The in-vitro antioxidant activity was carried out by testing 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and ferric chloride reducing activity. Further, effect on protein denaturation, inhibition of proteinase and Human Red Blood Cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization was carried out to screen for anti-inflammatory activity.The total phenolic content was found to be 5 mg/mL of Gallic acid equivalent (GAE) and flavonoid content was found to be 335 µg/mL of Quercetin equivalent (QE). Aspirin and Diclofenac sodium were used as standard drug. All the assays showed positive results and it was concentration dependent. Thus, Rhus chinensis seed is a promising anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent with significant activity. Moreover, the use of natural products like Rhus chinensis can be highly efficient, beneficial, cost effective, safer alternative with lesser side effects. Altogether, studies on Rhus chinensis seeds have huge scope as an alternative ethno-pharmaceutical compound for inflammations.
... As a widely used traditional medicine in China, gallnut (Galla chinensis) is rich in tannic acid (TA), even accounting for 50-70% of its weight (30). Gallnut TA belongs to the family of hydrolyzable tannins (31) and is a naturally occurring polyphenol compound of high molecular weight (500-3,000 Da). The structures of gallnut TA are made up of a polyol core (typically D-glucose), which is esterified with phenolic acids (mainly gallic acid or hexahydroxy diphenic acid) (32). ...
Stress exposure is a potential threat to humans who live or work in extreme environments, often leading to oxidative stress, inflammatory response, intestinal dysbiosis, and metabolic disorders. Gallnut tannic acid (TA), a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound, has become a compelling source due to its favorable anti-diarrheal, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial activities. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the anti-stress effects of gallnut TA on the stress-induced inflammatory response, dysbiotic gut microbiota, and alterations of serum metabolic profile using beagle models. A total of 13 beagle dogs were randomly divided into the stress (ST) and ST + TA groups. Dietary supplementation with TA at 2.5 g/kg was individually fed to each dog in the ST + TA group for 14 consecutive days. On day 7, all dogs were transported for 3 h from a stressful environment (days 1–7) to a livable site (days 8–14). In our results, TA relieved environmental stress-induced diarrheal symptoms in dogs and were shown to protect from myocardial injury and help improve immunity by serum biochemistry and hematology analysis. Also, TA inhibited the secretion of serum hormones [cortisol (COR), glucocorticoid (GC), and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)] and the expression of heat shock protein (HSP) 70 to protect dogs from stress-induced injury, thereby relieving oxidative stress and inflammatory response. Fecal 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that TA stimulated the growth of beneficial bacteria (Allobaculum, Dubosiella, Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002, and Faecalibaculum) and suppressed the growth of pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia-Shigella and Streptococcus), thereby increasing fecal butyrate levels. Serum metabolomics further showed that phytosphingosine, indoleacetic acid, arachidonic acid, and biotin, related to the metabolism of sphingolipid, tryptophan, arachidonic acid, and biotin, respectively, could serve as potential biomarkers of stress exposure. Furthermore, Spearman’s correlation analysis showed strong relationships between the four potential serum biomarkers and differential bacteria. Overall, gallnut TA may be a potential prebiotic for the prevention and treatment of stress-induced metabolic disorders by targeting intestinal microbiota.
This study represents an attempt to document information on the antiviral plants that are found in North-Central Nigeria. A compiled check list of these plants including their local names, families, parts used, medicinal uses, and name in different Nigerian states is the main purpose of this study. The study revealed that traditional medicinal practices adopted through the use of these indigenous plants have a wide acceptability among the Nigerian people, probably because they believe in its effectiveness. The medicinal plant uses are varied, and the plant parts that are used ranged from leaves, roots, stem, bark to fruits only, or a combination of two or more in a species or with those of other species. Enduring and sustainable conservation efforts should be implemented to safeguard these important medicinal plants.Viruses are one of the main hazards for both humans and animals. They enter into the living body and redirect the body‘s metabolism to produce large copies of their genome and proteins. Diseases caused by these viruses are difficult to tackle with the help of currently available antiviral drugs. The aim of this study is to explore the plants with reported antiviral activity found in North-Central Nigeria, to get a better understanding for better control of these viruses. Prominent modes of action against these viruses were inhibition of viral entry and its replication in host cell. Against RNA viruses‘ plants mainly targeted their Reverse Transcriptase (RT) enzyme (like HIV) or protease (mostly found against hepatitis C virus). A range of active compounds have been identified which could be the potential antiviral agents for future drug development. Detailed study of their phytochemicals and mode of action against these viruses could be helpful for more effective control of hazardous viruses. Among several other ailments, viral infections, particularly infections associated with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and 2 (HIV-2), and newly emerging infectious viruses have challenged mankind‘s survival. Of importance, a variety of plants have shown promise to treat a number of viral infections, and some of them possess broad-spectrum antiviral activity. Development of vector-based strategies, in which non-infectious molecular clone of a virus could be used for antiviral screening purposes, and advancement in separation technologies offers promise for medicinal plants usage in modern drug discovery.
In the present study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized using aqueous root and leaf extracts of Rhus chinensis Mill. This study aimed to undertake the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles utilizing plant extracts in an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and more efficient manner with its antibacterial application. The prepared silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were characterized by using different techniques. Such as ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), x-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The color changes from yellowish to reddish brown can be visualized and it indicates the formation of silver nanoparticles. The UV–Vis absorption peak shown by the synthesized AgNPs assisted by root and leaf extract was at 443 nm and 440 nm respectively. The functional group present in plants' secondary metabolites may act as capping and stabilizing agents, indicated by the shifting and disappearing of the peak in the plant extracts and the extracts-assisted synthetic nanoparticles. The crystallite size of synthesized AgNPs assisted by the root and leaf extracts of Rhus cinensis was found to be 11.01 nm and 13.39 nm respectively, while with the help of FE-SEM image the shape and particle size of synthesized AgNPs root and leaf extract was found spherical with particle diameter of 54.40 nm and 30.89 nm respectively. The presence of an intense silver component was confirmed by EDX analysis which showed an intense peak at around 3 Kev and other elements like Cl, O, C, and N were also reported in synthesized AgNPs. Both the plant extracts assisted synthesized AgNPs showed higher zones of inhibition (ZOI) against both the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The results of the study indicate the potential benefit of synthesized silver nanoparticles using Rhus chinensis root and leaf extracts for biomedical purposes.
In nature lies the solution to restore teeth with minimal damage. In this groundbreaking book, the management of dental challenges is presented from a new perspective. Natural Conservative Dentistry: An Alternative Approach to Solve Restorative Problems provides evidence-based solutions to dental challenges to researchers, practitioners and dental service providers. The main attribute of all these solutions is that they are all derived from natural ingredients. Natural ingredients are an effective alternative for dental care and management in contrast to synthetic products that have multiple side effects.
This book fills a knowledge gap on alternative and sustainable solutions derived from nature to respond effectively to dental challenges encountered in dental treatment for the conservation of the tooth. It is a compilation of the work of expert dentists that has been carried out in clinics for the management of dental problems.
Key Features
- Provides an insightful look at the prevention of dental diseases through evidence-based interventions using natural products in 9 referenced chapters
- Contains valuable contributions in restorative dentistry, such as caries prevention, enamel and dentin remineralization, dentin biomodification, dentin desensitization, vital pulp therapy, antioxidants, and tooth bleaching
- Provides an update on the current status of different ingredients used in oral health care products developed for commercial markets
- Includes notes on pathophysiology and diagnosis on specific conditions and sources of natural ingredients
The book is a valuable reference for trainees and professionals who want to enhance their restorative dentistry practice in the clinic.
Rhus chinensis Mill., an economically valuable Anacardiaceae species, is parasitized by the galling aphid Schlechtendalia chinensis , resulting in the formation of the Chinese gallnut (CG). Here, we report a chromosomal‐level genome assembly of R. chinensis , with a total size of 389.40 Mb and scaffold N50 of 23.02 Mb. Comparative genomic and transcriptome analysis revealed that the enhanced structure of CG and nutritional metabolism contribute to improving the adaptability of R. chinensis to S. chinensis by supporting CG and galling aphid growth. CG was observed to be abundant in hydrolysable tannins (HT), particularly gallotannin and its isomers. Tandem repeat clusters of dehydroquinate dehydratase/shikimate dehydrogenase (DQD/SDH) and serine carboxypeptidase‐like (SCPL) and their homologs involved in HT production were determined as specific to HT‐rich species. The functional differentiation of DQD/SDH tandem duplicate genes and the significant contraction in the phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase ( PAL ) gene family contributed to the accumulation of gallic acid and HT while minimizing the production of shikimic acid, flavonoids, and condensed tannins in CG. Furthermore, we identified one UDP glucosyltransferase ( UGT84A ), three carboxylesterase ( CXE ), and six SCPL genes from conserved tandem repeat clusters that are involved in gallotannin biosynthesis and hydrolysis in CG. We then constructed a regulatory network of these genes based on co‐expression and transcription factor motif analysis. Our findings provide a genomic resource for the exploration of the underlying mechanisms of plant‐galling insect interaction and highlight the importance of the functional divergence of tandem duplicate genes in the accumulation of secondary metabolites.
Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a prevalent chronic disease, characterized by excessive blood uric acid levels, that poses a significant health risk. In this study, the preventive effects and potential mechanisms of ethanol extracts from Chinese sumac (Rhus chinensis Mill.) fruits on HUA and uric acid nephropathy were comprehensively investigated. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in uric acid levels in hyperuricemia mice after treatment with Chinese sumac fruit extract, especially in the high-dose group, where the blood uric acid level decreased by 39.56%. Visual diagrams of the kidneys and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections showed the extract’s effectiveness in protecting against kidney damage caused by excessive uric acid. Further investigation into its mechanism revealed that the extract prevents and treats hyperuricemia by decreasing uric acid production, enhancing uric acid excretion, and mitigating the oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions induced by excessive uric acid in the kidneys. Specifically, the extract markedly decreased xanthine oxidase (XOD) levels and expression in the liver, elevated the expression of uric acid transporters ABCG2, and lowered the expression of uric acid reabsorption proteins URAT1 and SLC2A9. Simultaneously, it significantly elevated the levels of endogenous antioxidant enzymes (SOD and GSH) while reducing the level of malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, the expression of uric-acid-related proteins NLRP3, ACS, and Caspase-3 and the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly reduced. The experimental results confirm that Chinese sumac fruit extract can improve HUA and uric acid nephropathy in mice fed a high-purine yeast diet. This finding establishes a theoretical foundation for developing Chinese sumac fruit as a functional food or medicine for preventing and treating HUA.
This research aimed to probe the potential alleviative effects of ethanol extracts of Chinese sumac (Rhus chinesis Mill.) fruits against type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in C57BL/6 mice induced by high-fat/high-fructose diet (HFFD) and streptozotocin. The results showed that the ethanol extracts could significantly regulate blood glucose levels, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood lipids, insulin, and insulin resistance, while also restoring endogenous oxidative stress. Pathological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the extracts partially restored the physiological function of islet cells. Furthermore, Western blotting results suggested that the extracts could regulate the protein expression in IRS-1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and immunofluorescence findings demonstrated their potential to promote the translocation of Nrf2 into the nucleus. This study elucidated a novel finding that ethanol extracts derived from Chinese sumac fruits have the potential to alleviate symptoms of T2DM in mice. Moreover, these findings could offer valuable scientific insights into the potential utilization of R. chinensis fruits as nutritional supplement and/or functional food to prevent or ameliorate diabetes.
Anneslea fragrans Wall. (AF) is an important medicinal and edible plant in China. The principal objectives of this study are to explore the hepatoprotective effect of ethanol-aqueous (AFE) and hot-water (AFW) extracts in vitro and in vivo. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis showed that AFW and AFE are rich in dihydrochalcones. Both AFW and AFE significantly up-regulated the expressions of SOD, CAT and GSH, reduced the MDA content in acetaminophen (APAP)-induced HepG2 cells, and suppressed the expressions of NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in LPS-induced RAW246.7 cells. In APAP-induced mice, AFW and AFE administration significantly decreased the plasma levels of AST and ALT, and improved liver tissue damage, the collagen deposition and fibrosis formation. Moreover, AFW and AFE decreased the MDA and ROS accumulations via activating Nrf2 pathway to increase the hepatic GSH contents and activities of SOD, CAT, HO-1, and NQO-1, reduced the levels of NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 by suppressing the JNK/p38/ERK/NF-κB pathways, and alleviated apoptosis via regulating Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3/9 protein expressions. This study provides a new sight that AFW and AFE may have a potential natural resource for the treatment of liver injury.
Diabetes mellitus is one of the major health problems in the world, the incidence and associated mortality are increasing. Inadequate regulation of the blood sugar imposes serious consequences for health. Conventional antidiabetic drugs are effective, however, also with unavoidable side effects. On the other hand, medicinal plants may act as an alternative source of antidiabetic agents. Examples of medicinal plants with antidiabetic potential are described, with focuses on preclinical and clinical studies. The beneficial potential of each plant matrix is given by the combined and concerted action of their profile of biologically active compounds.
The increasing prevalence of diabetes has led to reducing hyperglycemia through mechanisms other than the conventional mechanism, such as α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition. In recent years, medicinal drugs focusing on inhibiting dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) enzymes have emerged and are being used for type 2 diabetes management. DPP IV inhibitors reduce blood glucose levels by preventing the degradation of incretin hormones such as glucagon-like peptide and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide. PTP1B has also been known to play a crucial role in reducing insulin resistance and is one of the most promising targets for managing Type 2 diabetes. Inhibition of these two enzymes is also expected to benefit other metabolic conditions such as cancer, obesity, lowered immunity, etc. The existing synthetic DPP IV and PTP1B inhibitors have been known to cause side effects. Inhibitors from natural sources are expected to be safer. The search for PTP1B inhibitors is especially necessary since the primary treatment for type 2 diabetes is to reduce insulin resistance. None of the existing PTP1B inhibitors are clinically well-approved to date. Hence, searching for antihyperglycemic components from natural sources such as foods has become a pressing need. This review has attempted to collate and analyze the existing scientific evidence to identify plant foods and their phytochemicals with in vitro and in vivo DPP IV and PTP1B inhibitory activity comprehensively. With further scientific validation and safety studies, the identified phytochemicals could be used for pharmacological applications. The foods and their extracts could be advantageous in formulating functional foods and diets suitable for type 2 diabetes, along with other physiological benefits.
Ethnopharmacological relevance:
Rhus chinensis Mill. is a species of the genus Rhus belonging to the family Anacardiaceae. Its fruits used to treat/prevent liver related diseases (e.g., jaundice and hepatitis) in folk medicine. Otherwise, the effects and underlying mechanisms of the fruits on the prevention of isoniazid and rifampicin-caused liver injury have not been investigated.
Aim of the study:
To study the preventive effects and mechanisms of the Rhus chinensis Mill. fruits on isoniazid and rifampicin-caused liver injury.
Materials and methods:
This experiment was based on rifampicin (75 mg/kg/day) and isoniazid (75 mg/kg/day)-induced liver damage model to explain the pharmacological effects of Rhus chinensis Mill. fruits. The prevention of the extract from Rhus chinensis Mill. fruits on isoniazid and rifampicin-caused liver injury were evaluated using biochemical parameters, histopathological analysis, and immunofluorescence technique. Apart from that, the potential molecular mechanisms were elucidated by analyzing the expression of such crucial proteins participated in oxidative stress, apoptosis, and bile acid transport.
Results:
The extract from Rhus chinensis Mill. fruits significantly reduced the levels of ALT, AST, TBIL, ALP and MDA. Besides, the extract, especially 800 mg/kg b.w., was remarkably decreased the content of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1β, restored the levels of GSH and SOD. The results of Western blot also presented that the extract could activate the Nrf2 protein pathway and inhibit the expression of CYP2E1 to reduce oxidative stress. Meanwhile, the extract significantly up-regulated the expressions of BSEP and Mrp2 to regulate the transport of bile acid, and alleviated the cellular apoptosis via adjusting the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins.
Conclusions:
Rhus chinensis Mill. fruits can prevent the liver injury induced by isoniazid and rifampicin in mice through adjusting the expressions of multiple proteins in oxidative stress, apoptosis, and bile acid transport pathways. This paper may provide scientific basis for the fruits as a Chinese medicine to prevent/cure liver injury.
Chinese sumac (Rhus chinensis Mill.) fruit is a traditional Chinese medicinal material that can be consumed daily. This study aimed to investigate whether the ethanol extract of sumac fruits can ameliorate monosodium urate-induced gouty arthritis in rats from the perspective of inflammation. Results showed that the extract of Chinese sumac fruits can obviously prevent monosodium urate-induced gouty arthritis in rats. Further analyses revealed that this bioactivity may be mainly achieved by modulating several inflammatory pathways, including NLRP3, NF-κB, and MAPK pathways. In addition, the extract can also improve oxidative stress by reducing the levels of malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase, increasing the contents of superoxide dismutase and glutathione. In conclusion, this study revealed that the Chinese sumac fruit can alleviate the pathological symptoms of gouty arthritis by inhibiting inflammatory responses and oxidative stress, which can provide a theoretical basis for the use of Chinese sumac fruits as a Chinese herbal medicine and health food for the prevention and treatment of gouty arthritis.
Nine undescribed geranylgeranylated derivatives (chinensens A−G), including malic acid derivative (A) and phenolic derivatives (B−E), as well as two pairs of enantiomers, [(R), (S)]-chinensens F and [(R), (S)]-chinensens G, were isolated from the roots of Rhus chinensis Mill. Their structures were elucidated by UV, IR, HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra, as well as optical rotations. The 95% EtOH extract (95% EXT, 500 mg/kg, p. o.) of the roots of Rhus chinensis and the 95% EtOH fraction (95% FRA, 500 mg/kg, p. o.) from the microporous resin column significantly alleviated indomethacin-induced or water immersion-restraint stress-induced damage in rat gastric mucosa with inhibitory rates from 53% to 89%. The racemic mixture (chinensen G) and its enantiomers [(R), (S)]-chinensens G showed weak activities against H⁺,K⁺-ATPase (20%–24%) at a concentration of 0.1 mM, respectively.
Ethnopharmacological relevance
Toxicodendron vernicifluum (Stokes) F.A. Barkley (RVS) is an economic tree species and widely distributed in East Asia. Wood parts and raw lacquers of RVS have been used in coatings, herbal medicines or food supplements, and the leaves, flowers, roots, and fruits of RVS are also widely used in medicine traditionally. Lacquer seed oil (LSO) has potential health benefits and has not previously been evaluated for safety.
Aim of the study: The aim of the present study was to investigate the toxicological potential of LSO by acute and subchronic toxicity tests.
Materials and methods
The characterization of fatty acids of the LSO was carried out by gas chromatography. In the acute toxicity study, LSO was administered at single doses of 5000 or 10000 mg/kg by oral gavage. The subchronic toxicity study was conducted by daily oral administration of LSO at doses of 1250, 2500 and 5000 mg/kg/day for 30 consecutive days. The animals were evaluated for clinical observations, body weight, organ weight, feed consumption, biochemical and hematological parameters, and liver, lung, and kidney histology.
Results
There were no mortality and toxic changes were observed in acute toxicity study. The results of subchronic toxicity showed no toxicologically significant changes in clinical observations, body weight, organ weight, biochemical or hematological parameters. Histopathologic results indicated slight hepatic steatosis and inflammatory infiltration in the rats of 5000 mg/kg/day LSO treated group. However, the histopathologic observation was not confirmed by hepatic biochemical analysis.
Conclusions
These results suggested that the LD50 of LSO is over 10000 mg/kg and LSO is non-toxic for SD rats in acute toxicity study. The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of LSO in rats is considered to be 5000 mg/kg/day, and liver is the potential target organ of LSO for 30-day subchronic toxicity study.
As a fuel, hydrogen may effectively replace the traditional fossil fuels. TiO2 has been in use the most in semiconductors for photocatalytic hydrogen generation, according to a detailed review of the prior art. In our research, we created a photocatalytic system made of an H‐CD/Pt−TiO2 heterostructure, where carbon dots (H‐CD) were derived from a natural plant source called Rhus Semialata and 1 wt% Pt−TiO2 using photo‐deposition technique. After thorough characterization using various techniques including XPS, XRD, UV‐DRS, etc., the nanocomposites as‐prepared as well as the pristine materials were examined for their hydrogen generation capabilities using a 450 W Xe−Hg lamp. Inference from the experimental data showed that 1 wt %‐ Pt/TiO2 nanocomposite with 1 % H‐CD demonstrated a higher rate of hydrogen production (180.7 mmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹cat) than 1 wt%‐ Pt/TiO2. In this work, H‐CD and Pt play the role of photosensitizer and co‐catalyst respectively in enhancing the hydrogen generation of the nanocomposite compared to that of pure anatase TiO2 under similar conditions.
In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the pharmacological efficacy of tannins. Tannic acid (TA), the simplest hydrolysable tannin that has been approved by the FDA as a safe food additive, is one of the most important components of these traditional medicines. Studies have shown that TA displays a wide range of pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antitumor, cardioprotective, and anti-pathogenic effects. Here, we summarize the known pharmacological effects and associated mechanisms of TA. We focus on the effect and mechanism of TA in various animal models of inflammatory disease and organ, brain, and cardiovascular injury. Moreover, we discuss the possible molecular targets and signaling pathways of TA, in addition to the pharmacological effects of TA-based nanoparticles and TA in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs.
The fustin plant-derived bioflavonoid obtained from a common plant known as lacquer tree from family Anacardiaceae, formally known as Rhus verniciflua Stokes, is known to exert a variety of therapeutic properties. The current investigation proved the anti-ulcerative property of fustin on ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in an experimental animal model. The fustin 50 and 100 mg/kg was studied in an experimental rat model by performing an 8 day protocol. The ulcer index, pH, total acidic content, and biochemical parameters such as glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase activity (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-1β, prostaglandin E-2, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), myeloperoxidase, and nitric oxide (NO) in serum were measured. The gastric parameter such as ulcer index, pH, and acidic content was maintained in the fustin groups compared to the ethanol control group. Clinical presentation of gastric ulcers includes a significant increase in serum levels, GSH, SOD, and CAT and decreased MDA, TNF-α, interleukin-1β, and prostaglandin E-2 parameters in contrast to normal groups. The treatment regimen with fustin has significantly restored all serum parameters in test groups. The current study helps to develop reasonable phytochemical options for the innervations of chemical-induced gastric ulcers.
Ethnopharmacological relevance
Rhus chinensis Mill., firstly recorded as herbal medicine in Shan Hai Jing, have been used for thousands of years to treat various diseases.
Aim of this review
This review targets on the ethnomedicinal applications of R. chinensis and to gather the phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological data which support the therapeutic potential of R. chinensis in treatment on different diseases, with emphasis on the naturally occurring compounds and detailed pharmacological developments.
Materials and methods
The information of R. chinensis was collected based on a variety of popular databases such as Scifinder, PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Springer, Wiley, ACS, CNKI, Baidu Scholar, Google Scholar and other published materials (books and Ph.D. and M. Sc. Dissertations). The keywords “Rhus chinensis”, “Rhus amela”, “Rhus javanica”, “Rhus osbeckii”, “Rhus semialata”, and “Schinus indicus” were applied to search the literature related in this review.
Results
152 natural compounds of R. chinensis belong to different classes are presented in this review, including flavonoids, lignans, coumarins, simple phenolics, urushiols, tannins, triterpenoids, steroids and other types of constituents. Among them, flavonoids, lignans, and triterpenoids are most frequently reported components. The pharmacological effects of R. chinensis were numerous and complicated, including anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-diarrheal, hepatoprotective, anti-proliferation, enzyme-inhibiting, anti-oxidants and so on.
Conclusion
In order to discover more compounds with novel structures to both enrich chemical context of genus Rhus and expand the variety of constituents, the phytochemical research is urgent and indispensable. Anti-diarrhea, the most widely application of R. chinensis traditionally, is insufficient in underlying mechanism exploration. And for other activities, in-depth studies on the mechanism of pharmacological effects in vivo and in vitro are both needed. Meanwhile, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, quality control and preclinical and clinical data are urgent to assess the rationale and safety of the medicinal and food application of R. chinensis.
Background
Medicinal plants have been used countless times for curing diseases mainly in developing countries. They are easily available with little to no side effects when compared to modern medicine. This manuscript encompasses information on ethnomedicinal plants in Champhai district, located in the North East Region (NER) of India. The region lies within Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. This study will be the first quantitative report on the ethnomedicinal plants used by the local tribes of this region. Knowledge of medicinal plants is mostly acquired by word of mouth, and the knowledge is dying among the local youths with the prevalence of modern medicine. Hence, there is urgency in deciphering and recording such information.
Methods
Information was gathered through interviews with 200 informants across 15 villages of the Champhai district. From the data obtained, we evaluate indices such as used report (UR), frequency of citation (FC), informant consensus factor (Fic), cultural values (CVs) and relative importance (RI) for all the plant species. Secondary data were obtained from scientific databases such as Pubmed, Sci Finder and Science Direct. The scientific name of the plants was matched and arranged in consultation with the working list of all plant species (http://www.theplantlist.org).
Results
Totally, 93 plant species from 53 families and 85 genera were recorded. The most common families are Euphorbiaceae and Asteraceae with six and five species representatives, respectively. Leaves were the most frequently used part of a plant and were usually used in the form of decoction. Curcuma longa has the most cultural value (27.28 CVs) with the highest used report (136 FC), and the highest RI value was Phyllanthus emblica. The main illness categories as per Frequency of citation were muscle/bone problem (0.962 Fic), gastro-intestinal disease (0.956 Fic) and skin care (0.953 Fic).
Conclusion
The people of Mizoram living in the Champhai district have an immense knowledge of ethnomedicinal plants. There were no side effects recorded for consuming ethnomedicinal plants. We observed that there is a scope of scientific validation of 10 plant species for their pharmacological activity and 13 species for the phytochemical characterisation or isolation of the phytochemicals. This might pave the path for developing a scientifically validated botanical or lead to semisyntheic derivatives intended for modern medicine.
Background
Cervical cancer induced by the human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common cancers in women in developing countries. Novel treatments for cervical cancer are focused on bioactive metabolites obtained from natural sources.
Materials and Methods
The biological effects of Galla Chinensis on HPV16 + cells were analyzed by cell scratch and plate cloning, and the cycle process was evaluated by flow cytometry; PCR, WB and immunofluorescence techniques were used to explore its mechanism
Results
It was shown that compared to a blank control group, Galla chinensis is less toxic to cervical cancer cells and exhibits prominent inhibitory effects on the growth, cloning, and migration of SiHa adherent cells. The effects of Galla chinensis also included cell cycle arrest in the S phase, and our obtained results suggest that its mechanism of action may involve the downregulation of the HPV E6 oncoprotein and the reconstruction of the p53 functional protein.
Conclusion
It is proved that Galla chinensis can effectively eliminate HPV16 + cells and inhibit the development of cervical cancer. It can down regulate oncoprotein E6 and up regulate tumor suppressor protein p53.
Sumac is the common name for a genus (Rhus) that contains over 250 individual species of flowering plants in the family Anacardiaceae. These plants are found in temperate and tropical regions worldwide, often grow in areas of marginal agricultural capacity, and have a long history of use by indigenous people for medicinal and other uses. The research efforts on sumac extracts to date indicate a promising potential for this plant family to provide renewable bioproducts with the following reported desirable bioactivities: antifibrogenic, antifungal, antiinflamma-tory, antimalarial, antimicrobial, antimutagenic, antioxidant, antithrombin, antitumorigenic, antiviral, cytotoxic, hypo-glycaemic, and leukopenic. As well, the bioactive components can be extracted from the plant material using environmentally benign solvents that allow for both food and industrial end-uses. The favorable worldwide distribution of sumac also suggests that desirable bioproducts may be obtained at the source, with minimal transportation requirements from the source through processing to the end consumer. However, previous work has focussed in just a few members of this large plant family. In addition, not all of the species studied to date have been fully characterized for potential bioactive components and bioactivities. Thus, there remains a significant research gap spanning the range from lead chemical discovery through process development and optimization in order to better understand the full potential of the Rhus genus as part of global green technology based on bioproducts and bioprocesses research programs.
Sumac is the common name for a genus (Rhus) that contains over 250 individual species of flowering plants in the family Anacardiaceae. These plants are found in temperate and tropical regions worldwide, often grow in areas of marginal agricultural capacity, and have a long history of use by indigenous peoples for medicinal and other uses. The research efforts on sumac extracts to date indicate a promising potential for this plant family to provide renewable bioproducts with the following reported desirable bioactivities: antifibrogenic, antifungal, antiinflammatory, antimalarial, antimicrobial, antimutagenic, antioxidant, antithrombin, antitumorigenic, antiviral, cytotoxic, hypoglycaemic, and leukopenic. As well, the bioactive components can be extracted from the plant material using environmentally benign solvents that allow for both food and industrial end-uses. The favorable worldwide distribution of sumac also suggests that desirable bioproducts may be obtained at source, with minimal transportation requirements from the source through processing to end consumer. However, previous work has focussed on only a few members of this large plant family. In addition, not all of the species studied to date have been fully characterized for potential bioactive components and bioactivities. Thus, there remains a significant research gap spanning the range from lead chemical discovery through process development and optimization in order to better understand the full potential of the Rhus genus as part of global green technology based bioproduct and bioprocess research programs.
OBJECTIVE: To screen and evaluate the active constituents of Chinese medicinal herbs as potent inhibitors of Cdc25 phosphatase. METHODS: The affinity chromatography purified glutashione-S-transferase/Cdc25A phosphatase fusion protein and Cdc2/cyclin B from the extracts of starfish M phase oocytes are used as the cell cycle-specific targets for screening the antimitotic constituents. We tested 9 extracts isolated from the Chinese medicinal herbs and vegetables including the agents currently used in cancer treatment by measuring the inhibition of Cdc25A phosphatase and Cdc2 kinase activity. The antitumor activity of the extracts was also evaluated by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and flow cytometry. RESULTS: Cdc25A inhibitory activity and antitumor activity are detected in the extracts isolated from three Chinese medicinal herbs Agrimona pilosa; Herba solani lyrati; Galla chinesis. CONCLUSION: We found three extracts isolated from Chinese medicinal herbs have potential inhibitory activity of Cdc25 phosphatase using a highly specific mechanism-based screen assay for antimitotic drug discovery.
Rhus semialata Murr. (Anacardiaceae) is a deciduous tree of north eastern India. The fruit of this plant is traditionally used to control diarrhoea and dysentery. The Present study was undertaken to evaluate anti-diarrhoeal potency of methanol extract of fruits of R. semialata using Wister albino rats to substantiate folklore claims. The extract at graded doses (100, 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight) was investigated for anti-diarrhoeal activity in term of reduction in the rate of defecation in castor oil induced diarrhoea. To understand the mechanism of its antidiarrhoeal activity, the gastrointestinal transit and PGE(2)-induced intestinal fluid accumulation (enteropooling) were further evaluated. At graded doses, the extract showed a remarkable anti-diarrhoeal activity evidenced by the reduction in the rate of defecation up to 80.70% of control diarrhoeal animals at the dose of 600 mg/kg body weight. Results are comparable to that of standard drug diphenoxylate (50 mg/kg body weight). Extract produced profound decrease in intestinal transit (8.02-47.05%) at selected doses comparable to that of single intraperitoneal injection of standard drug atropine sulphate at doses of 0.1 mg/kg body weight. It significantly inhibited PGE(2)-induced enteropooling (21.98-56.03%). The results indicated that the methanol extract of the fruits of R. semialata possesses significant anti-diarrhoeal effect and substantiated the use of this herbal remedy as a non-specific treatment for diarrhoea in folk medicine.
The vertebrate digestive tract, including that of humans, is the habitat to trillions of bacteria that are of significant importance to host biology and health. Although these communities are often postulated to have coevolved with their hosts, evidence is lacking, yet critical for our understanding of microbial symbiosis in vertebrates. To gain insight into the evolution of a gut symbiont, we have characterized the population genetic structure and phylogeny of Lactobacillus reuteri strains isolated from six different host species (human, mouse, rat, pig, chicken and turkey) using Amplified-Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) and Multi-Locus Sequence Analysis (MLSA). The results revealed considerable genetic heterogeneity within the L. reuteri population and distinct monophyletic clades reflecting host origin but not provenance. The evolutionary patterns detected indicate a long-term association of L. reuteri lineages with particular vertebrate species and host-driven diversification. Results from a competition experiment in a gnotobiotic mouse model revealed that rodent isolates showed elevated ecological performance, indicating that evolution of L. reuteri lineages was adaptive. These findings provide evidence that some vertebrate gut microbes are not promiscuous, but have diversified into host-adapted lineages by a long-term evolutionary process, allowing the development of a highly specialized symbiosis.
Methyl gallate is a major component of Galla Rhois, as carvacrol is of oregano essential oils. Both have shown good antibacterial activity against intestinal bacteria. This study investigated the antibacterial activities of nalidixic acid in combination with methyl gallate and carvacrol against nalidixic acid resistant bacteria. The combined effect of nalidixic acid with methyl gallate and carvacrol was evaluated using the checkerboard method to obtain a fractional inhibitory concentration index. The results showed that the combinations of nalidixic acid + methyl gallate/carvacrol improved nalidixic acid resistant pathogenic bacteria inhibition with synergy or partial synergy activity. Thus, a strong bactericidal effect of the drug combinations was observed. In vitro data thus suggested that nalidixic acid combined with methyl gallate and carvacrol may be microbiologically beneficial, rather than antagonists.
This study examined the ability of methyl gallate (MG) and gallic acid (GA), the main compounds of gallo-tannins in Galla Rhois, to inhibit the proliferation of oral bacterial and the in vitro formation of Streptococcus mutans biofilms. The antimicrobial activities of these compounds were evaluated in vitro using the broth microdilution method and a beaker-wire test. Both MG and GA had inhibitory effects on the growth of cariogenic (MIC<8 mg/ml) and periodontopathic bacteria (MIC=1 mg/ml). Moreover, these compounds significantly inhibited the in vitro formation of S. mutans biofilms (MG, 1 mg/ml; GA, 4 mg/ml; P<0.05). MG was more effective in inhibiting bacterial growth and the formation of S. mutans biofilm than GA. In conclusion, MG and GA can inhibit the growth of oral pathogens and S. mutans biofilm formation, and may be used to prevent the formation of oral biofilms.
Lepcha is the oldest and the first tribe reported from Sikkim, India; majority of its population inhabiting in Dzongu valley, an officially demarcated reserve for Lepcha community, bordering Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, in north district. Lepchas of Dzongu are known for their retention of rich cultural heritage. In view of the on-going cultural and economic changes brought in by the process of globalization, the immediate need was felt to document in details the under-explored ethnomedicinal practices of Lepchas of Dzongu valley. This paper reports 118 species, belonging to 71 families and 108 genera, under ethnomedicinal utility by the Lepchas for curing approximately 66 ailments, which could be grouped under 14 broad categories. Zingiberaceae appeared as the most used family (8 species and 5 genera). As per use pattern, maximum of 30.50% species are to cure stomach related disorders/ailments, followed by 19.49% for curing cut, wounds, inflammation, sprains and joint pains. Administration of medicine orally is recorded in 75% cases. Root and rhizome harvesting targeted 30 species. The changing scenario over time both at socio-cultural front and passing traditional knowledge interests from older to younger generation and rich ethnomicinal wealth of the oldest tribe of Sikkim are discussed in the light of conservation strategies and techniques to adopt.
Synthetic antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) have been used widely for many years to retard lipid oxidation. Concern about the safety of synthetic antioxidants together with consumer preference for natural products has resulted in increased research on natural antioxidants. Many spices have been shown to impart an antioxidative effect in foods. This article summarizes the literature on the antioxidative effects of spices. The term spice is defined as dry plant material that is normally added to food to impart flavour.
The extracts from approximately 40 different Korean traditional medicines were prepared to investigate the antimicrobial activities against poultry disease-related bacteria. Among tested, the extracts of Schizandra chinensis (SC), Melia azedarach (MA), Caesalpinia sappan (CS) and Rhusjavanica (RJ) exhibited significant antimicrobial activities against Salmonella gallinarum, whereas the extracts of Elsholtzia ciliata (EC), Myristica fragrans (MF), Alpinia katsumadai (AK), Poncirus trifoliata (PT), runella vulgaris (PV), CS and RJ exhibited antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of MA, CS and RJ extracts against S. gallinarum were 1.2 mg/ml, whereas MIC of RJ extract for S. aureus was 0.6 mg/ml, which was the lowest among tested. The antimicrobial activities of SC and RJ extracts against S. gallinarum were reduced, but those of AK and CS extracts against S. aureus were not affected by heating treatment. The antimicrobial activities of SC extract against S. gallinarum and those of EC, PT and RJ extracts against S. aureus were stable by acid treatment but unstable by alkaline treatment. those of CS extract was not effected by either acid or alkaline treatment. The growth of all bacteria was significantly inhibited within 24 hours by the addition of at least 100 ppm and 300 ppm of RJ and CS extracts, respectively, compared with the control group. In conclusion, these findings suggest that RJ and CS extracts may play important roles for antimicrobial activities against poultry disease-related bacteria.
The present study was conducted to investigate the antimicrobial activities of extracts from approximately 40 different traditional Korean medicinal herbs against S. gallinarum and S. epidermidis. The extracts from Schizandra chinensis Baill., Melia azedarach Linn\acute{e}, Caesalpinia sappan Linn\acute{e}. and Rhus javanica Linn\acute{e}. exhibited high antimicrobial activities against S. gallinarum, whereas the extracts from Melia azedarach Linn\acute{e} and Rhus javanica Linn\acute{e}. exhibited high antimicrobial growth for S. epidermidis. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of Melia azedarach Linn\acute{e}, Caesalpinia sappan Linn\acute{e}. and Rhus javanica Linn\acute{e}. for S. gallinarum were 1.2 mg/mL, whereas MIC of exracts from Rhus javanica Linn\acute{e}. extract for S. epidermidis were 0.6 mg/mL. Heat treatment of the extracts from Schizandra chinensis Baill. and Rhus javanica Linn\acute{e}. caused a significant reduction in antimicrobial activities against S. gallinarum. but didn`t affect antimicrobial activities against S. edidermidis. Alkaline treatment of the extracts from Schizandra chinensis Baill. caused a significant reduction in antimicrobial activities against S. gallinarum, while similar treatment of the extracts from Rhus javanica Linn\acute{e}. caused a significant increase in antimicrobial activities against S. edidermidis. Since extracts from Rhus javanica Linn\acute{e}. and Caesalpinia sappan Linn\acute{e}. exhibited the highest antimicrobial activities, these extracts at the concentrations of 100, 300 or 500 ppm were added and then bacterial growth-inhibiting activities for S. gallinarum and S. epidermidis by these two extracts were further examined. Optical density at 620 nm (OD_{620}) after 24 hours incubation in the absence of Rhus javanica Linn\acute{e}. extract ranged from 0.30 to 0.45 compared with OD_{620} value ranging from 0.06 to 0.18 in the presence of 100, 300 or 500 ppm of the extract, indicating that growth of all bacteria was significantly inhibited within 24 hours by the addition of at least 100 ppm of Rhus javanica Linn\acute{e} extract. Value of OD_{620} after 24 hours incubation in the absence of Caesalpinia sappan Linn\acute{e}. extract ranged from 0.30 to 0.55 compared with OD_{620} value ranging from 0.05 to 0.15 in the presence of 300 or 500 ppm of the extract, indicating that growth of all bacteria was also significantly inhibited within 24 hours by the addition of at least 300 ppm of Caesalpinia sappan Linn\acute{e}. extract. In conclusion, these findings suggest that extracts from Rhus javanica Linn\acute{e}. and Caesalpinia sappan Linn\acute{e}. may play important roles in antimicrobial activities against S. gallinarum and S. epidermidis.
In this study, Chinese gallotannins were characterized by MALDI-TOF MS, and effects of cationization reagents on the quality of spectra were investigated. The trideca- and tetradeca-galloyl glucoses were observed in Chinese gallotannins, which could not be detected in earlier studies. When Cs+ was used as the cationization reagent, Chinese gallotannins gave a relatively simple MALDI-TOF spectrum, three series of quasimolecular ions [M + Cs]+, [M + 2Cs–H]+, and [M + 3Cs–2H]+ and a series of metastable ion peaks with minimum abundance were detected. Selection of Na+ as the cationization reagent, additional three series of ion peaks including two patterns from the fragmentation and complex 2M adducts [2M + Na]+ can be distinguished. In the case of no deionization or addition of cationization reagent to the analyte/matrix, naturally abundant Na+ and K+ as the cationization reagent, [M + Na]+ and [M + K]+ molecular ions both appeared in the complicated spectrum. Therefore, we conclude that cationization reagents affect the MALDI-TOF MS spectrum of Chinese gallotannins significantly. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007
From the roots of Rhus javanica L. var. roxburghiana, totally thirty-seven known compounds have been isolated and identified. Their structures were elucidated based on their spectral analysis as well as comparison with authentic samples. These compounds were grouped to be fifteen triterpenoids, five steroids, two lignans, two flavonoids, nine phenolics, and four other aromatic derivatives. Their cytotoxicities toward two cell lines NUGC-3 and HONE-1 were also evaluated.
Two new phenol glycosides, 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenol-1-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-4′,6′-O-(E)-diferuloyl ester (1), 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenylmethanol-4-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-4′,6′-O-(E)-diferuloyl ester (2), together with six known compounds were isolated from the n-butanol extract of Rhus javanica var. roxburghiana and their structures were established by various spectroscopic techniques.
Fifty-one tannins and forty-one flavonoids isolated from Oriental medicinal herbs were evaluated for their antioxidant ability with a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-generating system. The results showed that tannins and certain flavonoids are potential free-radical scavengers, and that their activity against the DPPH radical is closely associated with their chemical structure. A comparison of the two classes of compounds showed that tannins have more potential than flavonoids because almost all the tannins demonstrated significant scavenging action within a low concentration range, whereas the activity of flavonoids varied distinctively among the different compounds. An increase of galloyl groups, molecular weight, and ortho-hydroxyl structure enhanced the activity of tannins, whereas the number and position of hydroxyl groups were important features for the scavenging of free radicals by flavonoids. Moreover, it appeared that when the free hydroxyl group was methoxylated or glycosylated, the inhibitory activity was obviously decreased or even abolished.
In order to investigate the relationship between the antiherpetic activity and the structure of tannins, the activities of 38 such compounds were examined. The results indicate that the activities of hydrolysable tannins were dependent on the number of galloyl or hexahydroxydiphenoyl groups and those of condensed ones on the degree of condensation. On the other hand, the more active tannins were the wore cytotoxic.
The antioxidant potential of 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose (PGG), isolated from Elaeocarpus sylvestris var. ellipticus, was investigated by various established systems based on cell-free and cell system experiments, such as radical detection, antioxidant enzyme assay, lipid peroxidation detection, and cell viability assay. PGG was found to quench the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and intracellular reactive oxygen species. PGG recovered the cellular antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, which were reduced by H2O2 treatment, thereby resulting in the inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Cytoprotective effects of PGG were based on the results of DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ), apoptotic body formation, and caspase-3 activity. The results suggest that PGG protects cells against H2O2-induced cell damage via antioxidant properties.
Objective: To explore the antibacterial effect of Chinese crude drugs against clinical strains of Ureaplasma urealyticum(UU), including eight pure herbs and three compound herbs, and determine their minimal inhibitory concentrations(MICs). Methods: Isolates were collected from clinical patients with UU infection, and cultured in UU broth. In order to test the different effects on clinical strains of UU, the assays were performed by microdilution inhibition tests, and MICs of the herbs against the clinical strains of UU were calculated. Results: The MICs of eight pure herbs against clinical strains of UU were as follows: Galla Chinensis:0.313∼1.25 g/L; Fructus Forsythiae: 1.25∼5.00 g/L; Cortex Phellodendri:1.25∼5.00 g/L; Radix Paeoniae Rubra:1.25∼2.50 g/L; Semen Plantaginis:2.50∼10.00 g/L; Herba Lysimachiae: 5.00∼20.00 g/L; Rhizoma Coptidis: 5.00∼20.00g/L, Herba Houttuyniae: 10.00∼20.00 g/L. The MICs of compound herbs were: Liuheji: 0.625∼2.50 g/L; Bazhengsan: 5.00∼20.00 g/L; Wulinsan:2.50∼20.0 g/L. Conclusion: Galla Chinensis, Fructus Forsythiae, Cortex Phellodendrim, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, and Semen Plantaginis, exerted the stronger antibacterial effect against clinical strains of UU, whereas Herba Lysimachiae, Rhizoma Coptidis and Herba Houttuyniae, had relatively weaker activity against UU. Compound herbs, Bazhengsan and Wulinsan, and particularly Liuheji, also had antibacterial effects against UU. Further studies of the effects and mechanisms of action of Chinese crude drugs against UU infections are worthwhile. © 2009 The Editorial Board of Journal of Nanjing Medical University.
Rhus L. (sensu lato) has been considered the largest and most widespread genus in the Anacardiaceae. Controversy has surrounded the delimitation of the genus. Historically, seven segregate genera have been recognized: Actinocheita, Cotinus, Malosma, Melanococca, Metopium, Searsia, and Toxicodendron. These genera, together with Rhus s.str., are commonly referred to as the Rhus complex. Rhus s.str. includes two subgenera, Lobadium (ca. 25 spp.) and Rhus (ca. 10 spp.). Sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA were employed to examine the monophyly of Rhus s.str. and to provide insight into the phylogenetic and biogeographic history of the genus. The ITS data set indicates that Rhus s.str. is monophyletic. Actinocheita, Cotinus, Malosma, Searsia, and Toxicodendron are distinct from Rhus s.str., although the relationships among these genera of the Rhus complex are not well resolved. Rhus subgenus Rhus is paraphyletic; the monophyletic subgenus Lobadium is nested within it. The ITS data set indicates that, for Rhus, the Madro-Tertiary floristic element (subgenus Lobadium) had a single origin within the Arcto-Tertiary floristic element (subgenus Rhus).
Summary 1. It has been established that the semiacetal hydroxyls of the carbohydrate components of the tannins of the smoketree and
of Turkish galls are substituted by galloyl residues and the C3 hydroxy group is free; on the other hand, in the tannins from sumac and Chinese galls all the hydroxy groups of the sugars
are substituted by galloyl residues with the exception of the semiacetal hydroxyl.
2. It has been found that in the tannin from sumac, of the six gallic acid residues four are in the form of digalloyl and
two in the form of monogalloyl groups; in the tannins from the smoketree and Chinese galls, of the seven gallic acid residues
three are in the form of a trigalloyl, two of a digalloyl, and two of monogalloyl groups. In the tannin from Turkish galls,
of the five gallic acid residues three are in the form of a trigalloyl and two of a digalloyl residue.
The gallotannins of Galla chinensis (GAC) were extracted consecutively by five solvents of different polarity, and the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the extracts were evaluated. All of the ether-, ethyl acetate-, ethanol-, and water-extracts presented remarkable antioxidant abilities in the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), β-carotene linoleic acid system, and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of these extracts against 3 species of gram-positive bacteria, 3 species of gram-negative bacteria, and 3 species of fungi were also determined using the agar dilution method. All of the extracts showed excellent antibacterial activities, but no antifungal activities. The gallotannins in different extracts were analyzed by the HPLC and HPLC-ESI-MS. The results indicated that the extracts with weaker polarity contained gallotannins with higher molecular weight, and had stronger antioxidant and antibacterial activities.
Methanol extracts from 50 species of oriental medicinal plants were prepared and subjected to an in vitro screening test for their growth-inhibitory activity towards Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli, using a paper disc agar diffusion method under O2-free conditions. The inhibitory activity was both bacteria and plant-species dependent. Extracts from Pueraria thunbergiana, Astragalus membranaceus, Eucommia ulmoides, Coptis japonica, Akebia quinata and Rhus chinensis strongly inhibited growth of C. perfringens, A growth-inhibitory effect against E. coli was observed from extracts of C. japonica. These plant extracts did not affect the growth of B. adolescentis. It is concluded that intake of these oriental medicinal plants may be important in the prevention of human diseases caused by intestinal microorganisms by altering the growth and composition of intestinal bacteria and modulating the genesis of potentially harmful metabolites.
The four new lariciresinol-based lignan glycosides, (−)-lariciresinol 4′-(6″-O-feruloyl-β-D-glucopyranoside) (1), (−)-lariciresinol 4′-(4″,6″-di-O-feruloyl-β-D-glucopyranoside) (2), 5,5′-dimethoxylariciresinol 4′-(4″,6″-di-O-feruloyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside) (3), and 4-O-[α-(1,2-dihydroxyethyl)syringyl]-5,5′-dimethoxylariciresinol 4′-(4″,6″-di-O-feruloyl-β-D-glucopyranoside) (4), together with two known ones, lariciresinol 4′-β-D-glucopyranoside) (5) and tortoside B (6), were isolated from the BuOH extract of Rhus javanica var. roxburghiana roots, and their structures were established by means of various spectroscopic techniques.
Synthetic antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) have been used widely for many years to retard lipid oxidation. Concern about the safety of synthetic antioxidants together with consumer preference for natural products has resulted in increased research on natural antioxidants. Many spices have been shown to impart an antioxidative effect in foods. This article summarizes the literature on the antioxidative effects of spices. The term spice is defined as dry plant material that is normally added to food to impart flavour.
A new compound, semialatic acid was isolated from Rhus semialata and identified from spectral and chemical data as 3α-hydroxy-3β,19-epoxydammara-20,24E-dien-26-oic acid.
Antifungal activity and target sites of methanolic extract and its constituents from the gall (Galla rhois) caused by the Chinese sumac aphid, Schlechtendalia chinensis, on the nutgall sumac tree, Rhus javanica, were examined. In tests with six phytopathogenic fungi using a whole plant bioassay, the gall extract exhibited good antifungal activity. The biologically active constituents isolated from Galla rhois were characterized as the phenolics methyl gallate and gallic acid by spec-troscopic analyses. Methyl gallate was highly suppressive to Magnaporthe grisea, Botrytis cinerea, and Puccinia recond-ita, whereas gallic acid exhibited good antifungal activity against M. grisea and Erysiphe graminis. These two compounds were ineffective against rice sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani. Methyl gallate did not adversely affect conidial germination (94%) but significantly inhibited appressorium formation (7%) of M. grisea. Moderate and significant inhi-bition of conidial germination (64%) and appressorium formation (5%) of M. grisea, respectively, were observed with gallic acid. In complementation tests with M. grisea, cAMP and 1,16-hexadecanediol restored significantly and slightly appressorium formation inhibited by methyl gallate and gallic acid, respectively. These results indicate that methyl gal-late and gallic acid acted on a cAMP-related signaling pathway regulating appressorium formation in M. grisea.
The present study deals with socio-economic documentation of medicinal plant species against jaundice and hepatitis. A total of 30 plant species belonging to 24 families were reported by local practitioners for the treatment of jaundice and hepatitis. The most important plant species are Adiantum capillus, Boerhaavia procumbens, Equisetum debile, Carissa opaca,Cucumis sativus, Hordeum vulgare, Justacia adhatoda, Morus alba, Morus nigra, Phyllanthus emblica, Phyllanthus niruri, Plantago ovata, Prunus domestica, Punica granatum, Raphnus sativus, Rhus chinensis, Saccharum officinarum and Tamarandus indica.
a b s t r a c t The gallotannins of Galla chinensis (Chinese gallotannins, CGTs) were identified using LC–MS, and their numbers of isomers in different extracts of Galla chinensis were determined. The antioxidant activities of CGTs with different degree of galloylation were evaluated in four antioxidant systems. Their antioxidant activities increased with increasing number of galloyl groups in all four antioxidant tests. CGTs had a dose–response relationship at the low concentrations (15–60 mg/mL) in the b-carotene–linoleic acid system assay. The antibacterial activity of CGTs against Salmonella typhimurium (Gram negative) and Bacillus cereus (Gram positive) was assessed using the paper disc diffusion method. Hexa-hepta-gal-loylglucopyranoses (6–7GGs) showed the best antibacterial activities. In general, 6–7GGs possessed antioxidant and antibacterial activities greater than BHT, Trolox, or Ethylparaben. Moreover, an insight on the structure–activity relationship of CGTs is discussed.
We investigated the effects of the gallotannin penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose (PGG) on interleukin (IL)-8 gene expression and nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation. PGG inhibited IL-8 production and gene expression in human monocytic U937 cells stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis, respectively. PGG also inhibited PMA-mediated NF-κB activation, as measured by electromobility shift assay. Furthermore, PGG prevented PMA-mediated degradation of the NF-κB inhibitory protein I-κBα, as measured by Western blot analysis. PGG also inhibited both IL-8 production and NF-κB activation in the U937 cells stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-α. These results suggest that PGG, a major constituent of the root cortex of Paeonia suffruticosa ANDREWS, can inhibit IL-8 gene expression by a mechanism involving its inhibition of NF-κB activation, which is dependent on I-κBα degradation.
1, 2, 3, 4, 6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose (PGG) is a polyphenolic compound highly enriched in a number of medicinal herbals. Several in vitro and a handful of in vivo studies have shown that PGG exhibits multiple biological activities which implicate a great potential for PGG in the therapy and prevention of several major diseases including cancer and diabetes. Chemically and functionally, PGG appears to be distinct from its constituent gallic acid or tea polyphenols. For anti-cancer activity, three published in vivo preclinical cancer model studies with PGG support promising efficacy to selectively inhibit malignancy without host toxicity. Potential mechanisms include anti-angiogenesis; anti-proliferative actions through inhibition of DNA replicative synthesis, S-phase arrest, and G(1) arrest; induction of apoptosis; anti-inflammation; and anti-oxidation. Putative molecular targets include p53, Stat3, Cox-2, VEGFR1, AP-1, SP-1, Nrf-2, and MMP-9. For anti-diabetic activity, PGG and analogues appear to improve glucose uptake. However, very little is known about the absorption, pharmacokinetics, and metabolism of PGG, or its toxicity profile. The lack of a large quantity of highly pure PGG has been a bottleneck limiting in vivo validation of cancer preventive and therapeutic efficacies in clinically relevant models.
Prostate carcinoma is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related death of men in the United States. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) generated from bone tissue contributes to prostate cancer metastasis through stimulating matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) secretions from prostate cancer cells. In this study, in vitro invasion assay was performed by incubating penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose (5GG) at various concentrations with 2 x 10(4) PC-3 cells for 48 h. The anti-invasive and cytotoxic effects of 5GG were found and evaluated on the human androgen-independent prostate cancer PC-3 cell line by MTT assays and Western blot analyses. 5GG inhibited the EGF-induced cell invasiveness and MMP-9 expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner by reducing the MMP-9 transcriptional activity. To explore the mechanisms for the 5GG-mediated regulation of MMP-9, we further examined the effects of 5GG on transcription factors, including NF-kappaB, AP-1, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activities. The results showed that 5GG suppressed the EGF-induced NF-kappaB nuclear translocation and also abrogated the EGF-induced activation of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), an upstream modulator of NF-kappaB. Moreover, we showed that 5GG reduced EGFR expression through the proteasome pathway. These results suggest that 5GG may exert at least part of its anti-invasive effect in androgen-independent prostate cancer by controlling MMP-9 expression through the suppression of the EGFR/JNK pathway. Finally, 5GG suppresses invasion and tumorigenesis in nude mice treatment with intratibia injection of PC-3 cells. These in vitro and in vivo results suggest that 5GG may be a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.
Glycyrrhiza uralensis has been used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, such as diarrhea, in several ancient cultures. Glycyrrhizin is the principal component of liquorice and lots of pharmacological effects have been demonstrated.
Heat-labile enterotoxin (LT), the virulence factor of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, induces diarrhea by initially binding to the GM1 on the surfaces of intestinal epithelial cells and consequently leading to the massive loss of fluid and ions from cells. Therefore, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of traditional medicinal herbs (TMH) on the B subunit of LT (LTB) and GM1 interaction.
The inhibitory effects of TMH on LTB-GM1 interaction were evaluated by GM1-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The likely active phytochemicals of these TMH were then predicted by in silico model (docking) and analyzed by in vitro (GM1-ELISA) and in vivo (patent mouse gut assay) models.
We found that various TMH, which have been ethnomedically used for the treatment of diarrhea, inhibited the LTB-GM1 interaction. Docking data showed that triterpenoids were the most active phytochemicals and the oleanane-type triterpenoids presented better LTB-binding abilities than other types of triterpenoids. Moreover, by in vitro and in vivo models, we demonstrated that glycyrrhizin was the most effective oleanane-type triterpenoid that significantly suppressed both the LTB-binding ability (IC50=3.26+/-0.17 mM) and the LT-induced fluid accumulation in mice.
We found an LT inhibitor, glycyrrhizin, from TMH by in silico, in vitro, and in vivo analyses.