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Pharmaceuticals
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Pharmacology and Medicinal Value of Flowering Plant in the Treatment...
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Pharmacology and Medicinal Value of Flowering Plant in the Treatment of Non-communicable Diseases

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2023) | Viewed by 5335

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sikiru Olaitan Balogun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Health Sciences (FCS), Post-Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD), Dourados, MS, Brazil
Interests: ethnobotany; ethnopharmacology; anti-cancer; organoids models; anti-inflammatory
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Edson Lucas Dos Santos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Group on Biotechnology and Bioprospecting Applied to Metabolism (GEBBAM), Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD), Dourados, MS, Brazil
Interests: antioxidants; cytotoxicity; antitumor action; cancer and prospection of bioactive molecules of natural and synthetic origin
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent estimates shows that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for the majority of deaths worldwide. NCDs are responsible for the deaths of approximately 41 million people each year, equivalent of 71% of all global deaths. Of these NCDs, cancer is one of the four groups of diseases that account for over 80% of all premature NCD deaths. In fact, it is the second most important NCD, causing the loss of 9.3 million lives on a yearly basis worldwide, representing a challenging situation, particularly regarding its pharmacological treatments. Recently, evidence from several scientific reports has thrown light on molecular and cellular mechanisms linking inflammation and cancer. Chronic inflammation, being one of the risk factors, is implicated in many environmental causes of cancer. In particular, pro-tumorigenic inflammation promotes cancer by blocking anti-tumor immunity, and drives tumor microenvironment towards a more tumor-permissive state.

Historically, plants are important therapeutic and preventive agents that have been used for millennia. In addition, it represents one of the natural arsenal of medicines that can be effectively harnessed to treat, prevent and manage inflammation, oxidative stress and tumor developments. There is growing volume of scientific evidence that plants or products derived from them might have a role to play in suppressing acute and chronic inflammations, effect sometimes attributed to their in vivo antioxidants properties. Another interesting fact about flowering plants is the use of some of species as supplements or “nutraceuticals” with promising preclinical and epidemiological studies pointing to their efficacy and safety. These facts have caused increased interest from many stakeholders, including the scientific community. However, in many cases, these plants lack rigorous scientific proof, and anecdotal evidence is presented.

This Special Issue is dedicated to highlighting important medicinal flowering plants with substantial pre-clinical and clinical evidence for their efficacy in the prevention or treatments of inflammation and cancer/antitumor activities. In this context, we invite investigators to submit both original research and review articles that explore these aspects, including preclinical and in human studies.

Dr. Sikiru Olaitan Balogun
Dr. Edson Lucas Dos Santos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceuticals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • medicinal plants
  • non-communicable diseases
  • inflammation
  • cancer
  • secondary metabolites

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 6255 KiB  
Article
Structural Characterization and Anticancer Activity of a New Anthraquinone from Senna velutina (Fabaceae)
by David Tsuyoshi Hiramatsu Castro, Daniel Ferreira Leite, Debora da Silva Baldivia, Helder Freitas dos Santos, Sikiru Olaitan Balogun, Denise Brentan da Silva, Carlos Alexandre Carollo, Kely de Picoli Souza and Edson Lucas dos Santos
Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16(7), 951; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16070951 - 01 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1385
Abstract
In this study, a novel compound was isolated, identified, and its chemical structure was determined from the extract of the roots of Senna velutina. In addition, we sought to evaluate the anticancer potential of this molecule against melanoma and leukemic cell lines [...] Read more.
In this study, a novel compound was isolated, identified, and its chemical structure was determined from the extract of the roots of Senna velutina. In addition, we sought to evaluate the anticancer potential of this molecule against melanoma and leukemic cell lines and identify the pathways of cell death involved. To this end, a novel anthraquinone was isolated from the barks of the roots of S. velutina, analyzed by HPLC-DAD, and its molecular structure was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Subsequently, their cytotoxic activity was evaluated by the (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method against non-cancerous, melanoma, and leukemic cells. The migration of melanoma cells was evaluated by the scratch assay. The apoptosis process, caspase-3 activation, analysis of mitochondrial membrane potential, and measurement of ROS were evaluated by flow cytometry technique. In addition, the pharmacological cell death inhibitors NEC-1, RIP-1, BAPTA, Z-VAD, and Z-DEVD were used to confirm the related cell death mechanisms. With the results, it was possible to elucidate the novel compound characterized as 2′-OH-Torosaol I. In normal cells, the compound showed no cytotoxicity in PBMC but reduced the cell viability of all melanoma and leukemic cell lines evaluated. 2′-OH-Torosaol I inhibited chemotaxis of B16F10-Nex2, SK-Mel-19, SK-Mel-28 and SK-Mel-103. The cytotoxicity of the compound was induced by apoptosis via the intrinsic pathway with reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, increased levels of reactive oxygen species, and activation of caspase-3. In addition, the inhibitors demonstrated the involvement of necroptosis and Ca2+ in the death process and confirmed caspase-dependent apoptosis death as one of the main programmed cell death pathways induced by 2′-OH-Torosaol I. Taken together, the data characterize the novel anthraquinone 2′-OH-Torosaol I, demonstrating its anticancer activity and potential application in cancer therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacology and Medicinal Value of Flowering Plant in the Treatment of Non-communicable Diseases)
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15 pages, 2026 KiB  
Article
Osteogenic Potential and Bioactive Profiles of Piper sarmentosum Ethanolic Extract-Treated Stem Cells
by Intan Zarina Zainol Abidin, Anis Nabilah Johari, Muhammad Dain Yazid, Zaidah Zainal Ariffin, Herryawan Ryadi Eziwar Dyari and Shahrul Hisham Zainal Ariffin
Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16(5), 708; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16050708 - 07 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1624
Abstract
Piper sarmentosum is a well-known traditional herbal plant in various diseases treatments. Multiple scientific studies have also reported various biological activities exhibited by the plant’s extract, such as antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic and antihyperglycemic activities, and, in addition, a bone protective effect in ovariectomized rats [...] Read more.
Piper sarmentosum is a well-known traditional herbal plant in various diseases treatments. Multiple scientific studies have also reported various biological activities exhibited by the plant’s extract, such as antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic and antihyperglycemic activities, and, in addition, a bone protective effect in ovariectomized rats has been reported. However, no known Piper sarmentosum extract is involved in osteoblast differentiation using stem cells. Our study aims to identify the potential of P. sarmentosum ethanolic extract to induce osteoblast differentiation of human peripheral blood stem cells. Prior to the assay, the proliferation ability of the cells was observed for 14 days and the presence of hematopoietic stem cells in the culture was determined by the expression of SLAMF1 and CD34 genes. During the differentiation assay, the cells were treated with P. sarmentosum ethanolic extract for 14 days. Osteoblast differentiation was examined using an (alkaline phosphatase) ALP assay, by monitoring the expression of osteogenic gene markers and by von Kossa staining. The untreated cells served as the negative control, while cells treated with 50 µg/mL ascorbic acid and 10 mM β-glycerophosphate acted as the positive control. Finally, the determination of the compound profile was performed using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The isolated cells were able to proliferate for 14 days during the proliferation assay. The expression of hematopoietic stem cell markers was also upregulated during the 14 days assay. Following the differentiation induction, the ALP activity exhibited a significant increase (p < 0.05) from day 3 of the differentiation assay. A molecular analysis also showed that the osteogenic markers ALP, RUNX2, OPN and OCN were upregulated compared to the positive control. The presence of mineralized cells with a brownish-stained morphology was observed, indicating the mineralization process increased in a time-dependent manner regardless of the concentration used. There were 54 compounds observed in the GC-MS analysis, including β-asarones, carvacrol and phytol, which have been shown to possess osteoinductive capacities. Our results demonstrate that the ethanolic extract of P. sarmentosum can induce osteoblast differentiation of peripheral blood stem cells. The extract contains potent compounds which can potentially induce the differentiation of bone cells, i.e., osteoblasts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacology and Medicinal Value of Flowering Plant in the Treatment of Non-communicable Diseases)
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14 pages, 338 KiB  
Article
The Ethanolic Extract of Piper glabratum Kunth Is Teratogenic and Interferes with the Ossification Process of Swiss Mice Fetuses
by Rogério Carlos Sanfelice Nunes, Silvia Cordeiro das Neves, Fabricia Rodrigues Salustriano, Marcelo Luiz Brandão Vilela, Valter Aragão do Nascimento, Karuppusamy Arunachalam, Roberto da Silva Gomes, Candida Aparecida Leite Kassuya, Jonas da Silva Mota and Rodrigo Juliano Oliveira
Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16(3), 430; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16030430 - 11 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1582
Abstract
Piper glabratum Kunth is a plant traditionally used to treat pain and inflammation in the Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Even pregnant women consume this plant. Toxicology studies of the ethanolic extract from the leaves of P. glabratum (EEPg) could establish the safety [...] Read more.
Piper glabratum Kunth is a plant traditionally used to treat pain and inflammation in the Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Even pregnant women consume this plant. Toxicology studies of the ethanolic extract from the leaves of P. glabratum (EEPg) could establish the safety of popular use of P. glabratrum. Thus, the effects of the ethanolic extract of leaves of P. glabratum (EEPg) on the reproductive performance and embryofetal development of Swiss mice were evaluated. Pregnant female mice were treated with 100, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg throughout the gestational period by gavage (p.o). The control group received the EEPg vehicle (Tween 80–1%) in the proportion of 0.1 mL/10 g (p.o.). The results demonstrated that EEPg has low maternal toxic potential and does not alter the reproductive performance of females. However, it altered embryofetal development and caused fetal weight reduction (increasing the frequency of small-for-gestational-age fetuses) at the two highest doses. In addition, it interfered with placental weight, placental index and placental efficiency. The frequency of visceral malformations increased by 2.8 times for the lowest dose of EEPg, and skeletal malformations increased by 2.48, 1.89 and 2.11 times for doses of 100, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg of EEPg, respectively. It is noteworthy that 100% of the offspring treated with EEPg showed changes in the ossification process. Thus, it is considered that the EEPg has low maternal toxic potential; it does not alter the reproductive performance of females. However, it is teratogenic and interferes, mainly, in the ossification process, and therefore its use is contraindicated in the gestational period. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacology and Medicinal Value of Flowering Plant in the Treatment of Non-communicable Diseases)
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