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Research Progress and Application Prospect of Medicinal Plants

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A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Horticultural and Floricultural Crops".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 15961

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Dr. Marcus Tullius Scotti

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Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
Interests: QSAR; medicinal chemistry; natural products; cheminformatic
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Prof. Dr. Luciana Scotti

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Campus I, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-970, PB, Brazil
Interests: molecular modeling; cheminformatic; natural products
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Dr. Eugene Muratov

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UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
Interests: cheminformatics; medicinal chemistry; antiviral research; computational toxicology; natural products
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Dear Colleagues，

Natural organisms, especially plants, provide innumerable molecules, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenes, secondary metabolites of plants, with the potential to treat several diseases because of their beneficial effects on human health, such as antiviral, antiallergic, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antioxidant and antiparasitic activities. The history of oriental and occidental civilizations is very rich in examples of the utilization of natural products in medicine and health care. The complexity, chemical diversity and biological properties of natural products have always fascinated people, and during the last 200 years, this has led to the discovery of important new drugs. The use of natural products has been the subject of increasing interest in phytochemistry, biochemistry and other fields of research in the chemistry–biology–ecosystem interface. Many studies report different approaches to using these compounds in drug discovery, which comprise synthesis, semi-synthesis, searches for new targets, evaluation of biological activities, and/or theoretical approaches as structure-based approaches, SAR, QSAR, docking and cheminformatics methods.

The objective for this thematic issue is to report on recent research using medicinal plants for the treatment or cure of diseases.

Dr. Marcus Tullius Scotti
Dr. Luciana Scotti
Prof. Eugene Muratov
Guest Editors

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Keywords

medicinal plants
diseases
drugs
natural products
pharmacological activity

Related Special Issue

Research Progress and Application Prospect of Medicinal Plants—Volume II in Agronomy (1 article)

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2572 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antimalarial and Antileishmanial Flavonoids from Calendula officinalis Flowers

by Arwa A. Al-Huqail, Adnan A. Bekhit, Hammad Ullah, Muhammad Ayaz and Nada M. Mostafa

Agronomy 2023, 13(11), 2765; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy13112765 - 03 Nov 2023

Viewed by 881

Abstract

Calendula officinalis L. (Asteraceae), commonly known as English or pot marigold, is an herbaceous plant with edible flowers. In this study, UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis was used for tentative identification of compounds in marigold flower methanol extract (MFE). In addition, RP-HPLC-DAD analysis was used to quantify the flavonoids hesperidin and rutin in MFE. The antileishmanial potentials of the crude extract and compounds were evaluated against Leishmania major promastigotes and amastigotes. Further, in vivo 4-day antimalarial testing of the extract and compounds was carried out at doses of 25 mg kg⁻¹ per day using mice infected with ANKA strain of Plasmodium berghei, following standard procedure. Molecular docking studies were carried out to assess the binding mode of flavonoids against the vital targets of L. major, including pteridine reductase 1 and farnesyl diphosphate synthase enzymes. The in silico antimalarial potentials of flavonoids were evaluated against wild-type Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase and phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase enzymes. Twenty compounds were tentatively identified by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of MFE, of which, seven flavonoids, six saponins, three phenolic acids, three fatty acids, and a triterpene glycoside were identified. MFE phytochemical analysis revealed that hesperidin content was 36.17 mg g⁻¹ extract, that is, 9.9-fold their content of rutin (3.65 mg g⁻¹ extract). The method was validated to ensure reproducibility of the results. The tested samples exhibited antileishmanial potentials against L. major promastigotes, with IC₅₀ values of 98.62, 118.86, and 104.74 ng µL⁻¹ for hesperidin, rutin, and MFE, respectively. Likewise, hesperidin showed inhibitory potentials against L. major amastigote with an IC₅₀ value of 108.44 ± 11.2 µM, as compared to miltefosine. The mean survival time, parasitemia, and suppression percentages showed similar results for the three samples against ANKA strain of P. berghei. The docking studies showed good binding affinities of rutin and hesperidin with numerous H-bonding and van der Waals interactions. Marigold flowers are nutraceuticals, presenting important sources of bioactive flavonoids with potential against neglected tropical diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress and Application Prospect of Medicinal Plants)

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12 pages, 1466 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Bioreactor Cultures on the Proliferation and Biological Activity of Protocorm-like Bodies of Dendrobium loddigesii

by Jinfeng Yang, Yong Soo Kwon, Eun Soo Seong and Myong Jo Kim

Agronomy 2023, 13(7), 1928; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy13071928 - 21 Jul 2023

Viewed by 933

Abstract

Dendrobium loddigesii has long been used in traditional folk medicine. The purpose of this study was to optimize the culture conditions for its protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) and explore their biological activities. The use of an air-lift bioreactor demonstrated superior PLB proliferation compared to agitated and solid culture methods. The optimal inoculum quantity of 30 g/vessel, cultured for 28 days in the bioreactor, yielded the highest PLB biomass production. Analysis of PLB extracts revealed that the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract exhibited the highest levels of flavonoids and alkaloids, as well as potent antioxidant activity demonstrated by DPPH free radical scavenging assay and reducing power. Furthermore, the antiproliferative effects of the PLB extracts were assessed using MTT assays, and the EtOAc extract showed significant efficacy by reducing cell viability by over 60% in the human colon carcinoma cell line SW620 at the highest tested concentration (200 μg/mL). Mechanistic analysis revealed the downregulation of key regulatory apoptosis genes, including survivin, p53, caspase-3, and caspase-9. These results demonstrate the potential of the bioreactor culture method for the efficient production of D. loddigesii PLBs and the biological activities of the EtOAc extract, suggesting its therapeutic potential. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress and Application Prospect of Medicinal Plants)

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15 pages, 3347 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Morphological Features and Biological Activity of Different Extracts of Echinops spinosissimus Grown in Saudi Arabia

by Luluah M. Al Masoudi and Ahmed M. Hashim

Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 573; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy13020573 - 17 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1551

Abstract

Based on a shortage of available data on Echinops spinosissimus in Saudi Arabia, the current study’s aim was to present some new information on the topic. Plant samples were collected from different locations in the northeast of Mecca. Out of fifteen species from this genus found in Saudi Arabia, one species was targeted in the current study. It was noted as a perennial subshrub that is 30–80 cm in length. Its stem is gray, striate, and slightly covered with glandular hairs. The epidermis is converted into cork cells in older stem parts. The vascular system showed a continuous siphonostelic structure and dissected vascular bundles. The lamina is abaxially rounded and straight. The pollen grains are monads, radially symmetric, medium-sized, and a prolate spheroidal shape with an aculeate–foveolate exine structure. Based on its historical pharmaceutical properties, the phytochemical properties were studied, and it was noted that ethyl acetate was the best solvent for producing high amounts of bioactive compounds such as phenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids. The obtained extracts appeared to exhibit high activity against Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria. These extracts were identified by using HPLC and GC-MS. Many bioactive compounds were detected, such as protocatechuic acid, gallic acid, rutin, vanillic acid, quercetin, and kaempferol. Additionally, four main compounds, including hexadecanoic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids, were detected via GC-MS. The total antioxidants of E. spinosissimus extracts showed that the ethyl acetate extract exhibited a high total antioxidant capacity and free radical-scavenging properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress and Application Prospect of Medicinal Plants)

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16 pages, 3461 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of the Genome-Wide Expression Patterns of Non-Coding RNAs Associated with Tanshinones Synthesis Pathway in Salvia miltiorrhiza

by Caicai Lin, Changhao Zhou, Zhongqian Liu, Xingfeng Li and Zhenqiao Song

Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 321; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy13020321 - 20 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1323

Abstract

The red root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), was caused by tanshinone in epidermis cells. In order to study the biological function of ncRNAs in the tanshinone synthesis, the expression patterns of mRNA and ncRNAs were comprehensively analyzed in red (high tanshinone content) and white root (low tanshinone content) tissues derived from the same plant. A total of 731 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly enriched in primary metabolic pathways such as galactose and nitrogen, and some secondary metabolic pathways such as phenylpropanoid and terpenoids. A total of 70 miRNAs, 48 lncRNAs, and 26 circRNAs were identified as differentially expressed (DE) ones. The enrichment pathway of the targets of DE-lncRNA were mainly in ribosome, carbon metabolism, plant hormone signal transduction, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. The function of the targets genes of 59 miRNAs combined with DE-circRNAs was mainly involved in plant–pathogen interaction, endocytosis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis pathways. Most genes of the tanshinone synthesis pathway had a higher expression. Some ncRNAs were predicted to regulate several key enzyme genes of the tanshinone synthesis pathway, such as SmDXS2, SmGGPPS1, SmKSL. Furthermore, most target genes were related to the resistance of pathogens. The present study exhibited the tissue-specific expression patterns of ncRNAs, which would provide a basis for further research into the regulation mechanism of ncRNAs in the tanshinone synthesis process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress and Application Prospect of Medicinal Plants)

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13 pages, 2026 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effect of Date of Sowing and Spacing of Plants on Yield and Quality of Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) Grown in an Arid Environment

by Moti Lal Mehriya, Devendra Singh, Aman Verma, Shailendra Nath Saxena, Abed Alataway, Ahmed A. Al-Othman, Ahmed Z. Dewidar and Mohamed A. Mattar

Agronomy 2022, 12(12), 2912; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12122912 - 22 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1804

Abstract

Little is known about how Indian farming practices affect German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.). This study examines the effects of the sowing date and spacing of plants on flower productivity, essential oil concentration, and the composition of German chamomile grown in the arid zone of Rajasthan, India. In a factorial randomized block design (FRBD), the treatments consisted of four sowing dates (15 and 25 October, 5 and 15 November) and three spacings of plants (20 × 10 cm, 30 × 10 cm, and 40 × 10 cm). The dried flower yield (Kg ha⁻¹), fresh flower yield (Kg ha⁻¹), and number of flowers per plant of chamomile crop were significantly affected by the varying spacing of plants and the date of sowing. The highest values for dry weight, fresh weight, and number of flowers were obtained from the second date of sowing (25 October) with 40 × 10 cm geometry. Likewise, the highest values for total oil (12.44%) and essential oil (0.94%) contents were also obtained from the D2P3 combination (D2—sowing date 25 October, P3—40 × 10 cm spacing of plants). GC/MS analyses of the samples showed that p-menth-1-en-4-ol, acetate, cis-alpha-farnesene, anethole+estragol, 1,4-cyclohexadiene,1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)- and 3,6-dihydro-4-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-1,2-dithiin were the main identified compounds in the essential oil of chamomile fresh flowers. The treatments altered the quality profile of the essential oils in general. The principal components of chamomile essential oil were significantly affected by the D2P3 treatment. The findings of this study add to our understanding of how to grow high-quality chamomile flowers in arid regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress and Application Prospect of Medicinal Plants)

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18 pages, 24906 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Posttranscriptional Mechanism in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge Leaves in Response to Drought Stress Using Phosphoproteomics

by Jin Zhang, Jingyu Li, Yuekai Su, Zhenqiao Song and Jianhua Wang

Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 781; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12040781 - 24 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1733

Abstract

Drought stress is a major constraint to the quality and production of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen). This study aimed to investigate the posttranslational molecular mechanisms in S. miltiorrhiza leaves in response to drought stress using quantitative phosphoproteomics analysis. S. miltiorrhiza plants were stressed by withholding water for two (moderate drought stress) and four weeks (high drought stress). Leaf samples were prepared with tandem mass tag labeling. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was performed for the quantitative phosphoproteomics. Bioinformatics methods were used to identify the phosphosites and phosphoproteins that had significantly changed phosphorylation levels upon drought stresses. A total of 119 common phosphoproteins were significantly changed by both high and moderate drought stresses. The phosphorylation levels of proteins related to protein processing, photosynthesis, RNA binding, and splicing were significantly changed upon high drought, not moderate drought. Additionally, we identified that the Ser phosphorylation levels of most proteins related to terpene metabolism and RNA splicing were regulated by drought stresses. The Ser and Thr phosphorylation levels of energy metabolism proteins (including FBA2/8, PPC4, and PPCC) and heat shock proteins (including HSP70 and HSP90) were upregulated by drought stresses. Our study showed the posttranscriptional mechanisms in S. miltiorrhiza leaves in response to drought stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress and Application Prospect of Medicinal Plants)

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15 pages, 1279 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Secondary Metabolism and Plant Growth of Piper divaricatum (Piperaceae) Inoculated with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Phosphorus Supplementation

by Joyce Solange de Oliveira, Nayara P. Ramos, Jair Leão Júnior, Luciana P. Xavier, Eloisa Helena Andrade, Andréa H. Mello, William N. Setzer and Joyce Kelly R. Da Silva

Agronomy 2022, 12(3), 596; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12030596 - 27 Feb 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2378

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species and/or phosphorus addition in the soil can affect secondary metabolism production and growth in plants. This study evaluated these effects on Piper divaricatum culture, which presents an essential oil rich in phenylpropanoids. Growth parameters, leaf volatile composition, total phenolic content, and the enzymatic activity of lipoxygenase (LOX) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) were monitored. At 90 days post inoculation (dpi), the treatments with AMF and AMF + P were more effective in terms of the number and biomass of leaves. In addition, the AMF group had increased plant height and root length. Phenylpropanoid and methyl eugenol contents were higher at 30 dpi in the P and AMF + P association treatments. However, at 90 dpi, the plants with P addition at 20 mg·dm⁻³ and AMF + 200 mg of P·dm⁻³ showed higher phenolic contents and PAL activity, respectively. All treatments increased LOX activity, especially with P addition at 200 mg·dm⁻³. These results demonstrate that P and AMF can be applied to optimize leaf biomass and volatile compound production in P. divaricatum. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress and Application Prospect of Medicinal Plants)

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15 pages, 40711 KiB

Open AccessReview

Genus Decalepis: Biology, Importance and Biotechnological Interventions

by Zishan Ahmad, Anwar Shahzad, Abolghassem Emamverdian, Muthusamy Ramakrishnan and Yulong Ding

Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 855; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12040855 - 30 Mar 2022

Viewed by 2259

Abstract

The steno-endemic species from the genus Decalepis are facing a high level of threat due to destructive wild harvesting. The genus claimed its paramount importance to mankind due to its unique tuberous root characteristics and exhibits a wide range of biological and medicinal properties, and is used in pharmaceutical and food industries. Plants of this genus are endemic to limited areas of peninsular India, such as the Eastern and Western Ghats, and according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), species from the genus Decalepis are considered globally critically endangered. The genus comprises of five species namely Decalepis hamiltonii Wight & Arn., Decalepis arayalpathra (J. Joseph & V. Chandras.) Venter, Decalepis salicifolia (Bedd. ex Hook. f.) Venter, Decalepis nervosa (Wight & Arn.) Venter, and D. khasiana (Kurz) Ionta ex Kambale. All the species of the genus Decalepis are being used by the tribal people and also in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine. International trade for this plant is also increasing, resulting in overharvesting. The traditional method of propagation, viz., seed germination and vegetative, are limited and jeopardizes the species population, whereas plant tissue culture provides the opportunity for extensive production of the plant in vitro without sacrificing their natural habitats. This review is aimed to systematize the up-to-date facts related to the Genus Decalepis with the exploration of their geographic distribution, chemical profile, pharmacology, biological activities, micropropagation, somatic embryogenesis, synthetic seed, and genetic transformation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress and Application Prospect of Medicinal Plants)

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22 pages, 2182 KiB

Open AccessPerspective

Biotechnological Intervention and Withanolide Production in Withania coagulans

by Zishan Ahmad, Arjumend Shaheen, Adla Wasi, Shams ur Rehman, Sabaha Tahseen, Muthusamy Ramakrishnan, Anamica Upadhyay, Irfan Bashir Ganie, Anwar Shahzad and Yulong Ding

Agronomy 2023, 13(8), 1997; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy13081997 - 28 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1283

Abstract

Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal is used in traditional medicine to treat diseases and has numerous pharmacological properties due to its biological compounds. The plant is a subshrub native to Asia, especially the tropical and temperate regions of western Asia. Its medicinal effects derive from its biological components, which are linked to human health. Conventional medicine uses these compounds to treat a variety of diseases, such as neurological issues, diabetes, and asthma. The long-term benefits of W. coagulans necessitate conservation strategies and plant biotechnological techniques such as micropropagation, synthetic seed, cell suspension, and hairy root elicitation technology, and genetic transformation can all play significant roles in conservation and sustainable utilization of the biological compounds for clinical uses. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the W. cogaulans medicinal properties, potential applications, and innovative approaches for sustainable utilization, making it a unique contribution to the existing body of knowledge. Multi-omics methods for the production of withanolides were also examined in order to gain a better understanding of the genome structure, prospective genes, and candidate proteins involved in the production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress and Application Prospect of Medicinal Plants)

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