Properties of new exotic traditional Chinese medicinal Vernonia amygdalina leaves:a literature research / 中国中药杂志

The leaves of Vernonia amygdalina Delile of the family Asteraceae(also known as "bitter leaf"), rich in biological activities, are used as both medicine and food for a long time in West tropical Africa. They have been introduced into Southeast Asia and Fujian and Guangdong provinces of China in recent years. However, little is known about the properties of the plant in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), which limits its combination with other Chinese medicinal herbs. In this study, 473 articles on V. amygdalina leaves were selected from PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data and VIP to summarize their components, pharmacological effects and clinical research. V. amygdalina leaves presented anti-microbial, hypoglycemic, anti-hypertensive, lipid-lowering, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other pharmacological effects. On the basis of the theory of TCM properties, the leaves were inferred to be cold in property and bitter and sweet in flavor, acting on spleen, liver, stomach and large intestine and with the functions of clearing heat, drying dampness, purging fire, removing toxin, killing insects and preventing attack of malaria. They can be used to treat dampness-heat diarrhea, interior heat and diabetes, malaria, insect accumulation and eczema(5-10 g dry leaves by decoction per day and an appropriate amount of crushed fresh leaves applying to the affected area for external use). Due to the lack of TCM properties, V. amygdalina leaves are rarely used medicinally in China. The determination of medicinal properties of the leaves is conducive to the introduction of new exotic medicinal herbs and the development of new TCM resources, which facilitated further clinical application and research and development of Chinese medicinal herbs.

Diospyros lycioides Desf.: Review of its botany, medicinal uses, pharmacological activities and phytochemistry

Diospyros lycioides Desf. (D. lycioides) is traditionally used as herbal medicine against various human and animal ailments in tropical Africa. The present paper reviewed information on botany, medicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of D. lycioides. This review was compiled using scientific literature from electronic search engine such as PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Springerlink, BioMed Central, Scielo, Medline and Science domain. Additional literatures were obtained from book chapters, books, dissertations, websites and other scientific publications. D. lycioides is used as traditional medicine in 50% of the countries where the species is native in tropical Africa. This study recorded 22 medicinal uses of D. lycioides which included abdominal pains, infertility in women, sexually transmitted infections, and used as chewing sticks (or mouthwash), toothbrushes and ethnoveterinary medicine. D. lycioides extracts demonstrated anti-adhesive, anti-inflammatory, antimetastatic, antioxidant, antifungal, antiproliferative, mutagenicity and antibacterial activities. Future research should focus on the pharmacological properties, phytochemistry, clinical trials and pharmacokinetics of D. lycioides which will enhance the therapeutic potential of the species.

Diospyros lycioides Desf.: Review of its botany, medicinal uses, pharmacological activities and phytochemistry

Diospyros lycioides Desf.(D.lycioides) is traditionally used as herbal medicine against various human and animal ailments in tropical Africa.The present paper reviewed information on botany,medicinal uses,phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of D.lycioides.This review was compiled using scientific literature from electronic search engine such as PubMed,Scopus,ScienceDirect,Springerlink,BioMed Central,Scielo,Medline and Science domain.Additional literatures were obtained from book chapters,books,dissertations,websites and other scientific publications.D.lycioides is used as traditional medicine in 50％ of the countries where the species is native in tropicai Africa.This study recorded 22 medicinal uses of D.lycioides which included abdominal pains,infertility in women,sexually transmitted infections,and used as chewing sticks (or mouthwash),toothbrushes and ethnoveterinary medicine.D.lycioides extracts demonstrated anti-adhesive,anti-inflammatory,antimetastatic,antioxidant,antifungal,antiproliferative,mutagenicity and antibacterial activities.Future research should focus on the pharmacological properties,phytochemistry,clinical trials and pharmacokinetics of D.lycioides which will enhance the therapeutic potential of the species.