Research progress on flavonoids and coumarins from Chimonanthus plants and its pharmacological activities / 中草药

Chimonanthus plants are endemic in China, which was rich and widely distributed; And its roots, stems, leaves, buds, and fruit can be used as medicine. It is a traditional garden flower and folk medicine, which has a great prospect for development. In this paper, the constituents flavonoids and coumarins from the genus Chimonanthus plants and its pharmacological activities were systematically reviewed, and their research status and development prospects were prospected to provide reference for the further research and development of Chimonanthus plants.

Research progress on Atractylodes japonica / 中草药

Objective Atractylodes japonica, a member of the Compositae family, is a per nnial Chinese medicinal plant, whose rhizomes are used as medicinal materials with functions of antibiosis, anti-inflammatory, and dispelling wind-cold. A. japonica is mainly distributed in northeast China, which is the genuine medicine in northeast China, and it is also a traditional medicine of Korean nationality. In this paper, the plant morphology, classification, identification of medicinal properties, chemical composition, pharmacological effects, and the cultivation techniques of A. japonica were briefly reviewed. The purpose of this paper is to provide theoretical reference for rational exploitation of Chinese material medica and sustainable utilization of resources of A. japonica.

Research progress of pharmacological active substances from diazotrophic cyanobacteria / 中草药

As cyanobacteria with nitrogen-fixing ability, diazotrophic cyanobacteria can adapt to all kinds of habitat and produce many primary and secondary metabolic materials with unique chemical structures, diverse properties, and biological activities. As a nutritional supplement, diazotrophic cyanobacterium such as Nostoc has a long edible history in indigenous populations in China. In recent years, research results have shown that the bioactive substances produced by nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria are promising candidates for the prevention and control of some human diseases, and the mechanisms of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria to achieve health and disease prevention are gradually revealed. This paper reviewed the progress in research and its mechanism of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria in anti-oxidation, scavenging free radicals, antibiosis, antivirus, antitumor, antiinflammation, and anticoagulation in the past five years (2013-2017) at home and abroad. Moreover, the existing problems and the development directions in future were also discussed. We expect that it can provide reference for the further development of the related field in China.

Research progress in boswellic acids from medicinal plants in Boswellia Roxb. ex Colebr. and their pharmacological action as well as mechanisms / 中草药

Frankincense, the gum resin from the plants in Boswellia Roxb. ex Colebr. or the other plants belonging to Burseraceae, has a long history as a medicine in China. The investigations on the pharmacological effects of the resin have demonstrated its anti-inflammatory, antisepsis, antitumor effects, etc. This article classifies and summarizes the preparation methods, pharmacological effects, action mechanisms, and metabolic process in vivo or in vitro of boswellic acids compounds, and providing the reference for the further development and utilization of boswellic acids and medicinal plants in Boswellia Roxb. ex Colebr.

Advance in studies on chemical constituents of Fraxini Cortex and their pharmacological effects / 中草药

Fraxini Cortex is widely distributed in China and rich in resources, and is a kind of medicinal plants with great utilization value. From the phytochemical view, the secondary metabolites such as coumarins, lignans, secoiridoids, phenylethanoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and triterpenoids had been reported from this species. Its pharmacological research mainly focused on the antibacterial, antiphlogistic, anti-oxidative, lowing-uric acid, diuretic, and antineoplastic activities. The present paper reviews the phytochemistry and biological activities of Fraxini Cortex through accessing Web of Science and multiple databases for biomedicinal sciences.