Natural Products Journal, The - Volume 14, Issue 6, 2024

Background: Depression is a psychiatric and mood disorder that impacts a person's mental health and behavior and is frequently linked to suicide. As per the World Health Organization's estimate, depressive disorder will be the main cause of mental disorders by the year 2030, and it has a huge impact on the burden of disease in the world. To treat depression, there are pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapy alternatives. With little to no consideration of other neurochemicals altered in depression, most antidepressant preparations are based on the monoamines, neuroendocrine, and neuro-inflammation concepts. Objective: The present study aims to provide comprehensive data related to depression, the factors associated, the mechanism involved, herbal plants effective for managing depression, and novel formulations along with patents and clinical trials. Methods: A thorough assessment of herbs and novel formulations that have been proven effective in treating depression was conducted. After extensive review, the present study includes a mechanism of action of herbal plants showing antidepressant effects, novel formulations, patents, and clinical trials related to depression. Results: Numerous studies reported that diverse herbal plants have been found to have a positive effect on depression management, such as Panax ginseng, Melissa officinalis, Piper methysticum, Schinus molle L, Kielmeyera coriacea Mart, Elaeocarpus ganitrus, Hypericum perforatum, Lavandula angustifolia Mill, Crocus Sativus L. Conclusion: Herbal plant research could help establish the potential of isolated compounds from plants with medicinal properties for managing depressive illnesses.

Background: Osteoporosis is a severe bone condition characterized by a bone mineral density (BMD) 2.5 standard deviations below peak bone mass. Osteoporosis will become a serious issue as the population ages. Traditional anti-osteoporotic medications are effective in both the prevention and treatment of Osteoporosis. However, they are linked to several adverse effects, enabling many women to seek alternative treatment with medicinal herbs. Chinese herbs, which are all-natural products, are thought to treat Osteoporosis primarily by improving bone quality. Methods: A literature survey has been carried out to determine the real potential of medicinal plants and their bioactive constituents in treating Osteoporosis. Results: Many medicinal plants can modulate bone metabolism and thus reduce bone loss. TCM formulations and their constituent plant remedies have a wealth of phytochemicals with significant promise for discovering novel antiosteoporotic medications. The active substances in TCM formulae can be established as potency medications in combination with antiosteoporotic benefits that may be superior to those of the individual compounds. Conclusion: The primary goal of the review is to describe the potential of antiosteoporosis medicinal plants and some of their phytoconstituents, along with an overview of osteoporosis pathogenesis, clinical studies, and their patent studies.

Camellia sinensis (L.) is acknowledged globally as the second most consumed beverage after water. Researchers have dedicated substantial efforts to validate the claims surrounding this plant through rigorous pharmacological screening, aiming to substantiate its traditional applications in treating various ailments. This work extensively delves into aspects such as marketed formulations of green tea, extraction techniques, phytochemistry, pharmacology, interactions between drugs and green tea, and its distinctive characteristics. Key research unequivocally suggests that green tea holds substantial health benefits for individuals. Presently, a multitude of pharmacologically active constituents have been successfully isolated and identified from green tea, encompassing polyphenols, alkaloids, amino acids, polysaccharides, and volatile components. Recent investigations have illuminated the broad spectrum of pharmacological properties exhibited by green tea, encompassing antioxidant, anticancer, hypoglycemic, antibacterial, antiviral, and neuroprotective attributes. The review amalgamates current research findings to present a thorough understanding of the diverse bioactive compounds found in Camellia sinensis, such as polyphenols, catechins, and alkaloids, and their contributions to its health-promoting properties. The review further highlights the significance of extraction techniques in preserving and enhancing the bioactivity of these compounds. Overall, this comprehensive review serves as a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and enthusiasts, consolidating the current knowledge surrounding Camellia sinensis and its multifaceted role in promoting human health.

Background: Polysaccharides from the medicinal mushroom Phellinus rimosus (Berk.) Pilát (PR) are the major functional bioactive ingredients. However, there has been a marked natural decrease in the number of PR fruit bodies, leading to their increased cost. Moreover, the natural growth and development of mature PR fruit bodies takes several decades. Objective: The objective of this study was to produce a polysaccharide extract from cultured PR mycelia (PEPRM) by using ultrasonic-assisted extraction with response surface methodology (RSM), and determine its physicochemical composition and antioxidant potential. Methods: Polysaccharide and monosaccharide composition analyses were carried out by Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Total contents of polysaccharides, beta-glucans, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids were investigated utilizing the phenol-sulfuric acid method, enzymatic-based commercial test kit, Folin-Ciocalteu method, and aluminium chloride colorimetric method, respectively. Antioxidant activity was determined by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and 2,2- azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazol-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical cation decolorization assay. Results: Optimal conditions for the production of PEPRM included a ratio of 51.29 mL water to 1 g PR mycelia and an extraction time of 46.23 minutes, resulting in a total polysaccharide content of 577.5 mg/g of PEPRM. FT-IR spectra of PEPRM showed two broad bands at 3272.08 cm^-1 and 2924.8 cm^-1 in the carbohydrate region and the peaks at 1078.44, 1019.05, and 853.0 cm^-1 indicated the presence of the pyranose ring skeleton, glycosidic linkage, and glucans. PEPRM had molar ratios of glucose: mannose: rhamnose: Fucose, i.e., 21.86: 1.00: 2.08: 3.40, respectively. PEPRM had total contents of beta-glucans, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids as percentages of dry weight, i.e., 21.22, 2.51, and 5.71, respectively. PEPRM showed better inhibitory activity against ABTS radicals than DPPH radicals. Conclusion: This is the first finding to reveal that ultrasonic-assisted extraction with RSM was an environmentally friendly alternative to produce antioxidant polysaccharides from cultured PR mycelia.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease affecting more than 300 million people worldwide. Even after advances in medicine, we are still away from a permanent solution to this problem. Longterm use of currently available treatments are associated with adverse effects ranging from cardiovascular conditions, renal disorders, liver ailments, and weight gain. Subsequently, a significant diabetic population seeks herbal medicines that are said to control blood sugar levels. Several plants have been explored in this context; one such plant is Withania coagulans Dunal., which is known for the hypoglycemic property due to its fruits. Different plant parts and bioactive components like withanolides exhibited anti-diabetic activity in type 2 diabetes models in vivo and in vitro. However, clinical studies are limited and more research is warranted. Bioactive composition of W. coagulans include Withanolide J, F; Coagulin C, E, L; Ajugin E, Withaperuvin C and others. Bioavailability of Withaferin A from W. coagulans was enhanced by co-administration of Piperine. Herbal quality control and commercialization aspects of W. coagulans are also highlighted. W. coagulans can be employed in managing type 2 diabetes mellitus after detailed follow-up studies.