Research Progress of Natural Products with the Activity of Anti-nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a multi-target disease, is becoming a global epidemic. Although several anti-NASH drug candidates are being evaluated in late-stage clinical trials, none have been approved by the FDA to date. Given the global prevalence of the disease, the lack of effective drugs, and the very limited therapeutic efficacy of most of the existing synthetic drugs focusing on a single target, there is an urgent need to continue to develop new therapeutic agents. In contrast, many natural products, including pure compounds and crude extracts, possess hepatoprotective activities. Usually, these natural components are characterized by multi-targeting and low side effects. Therefore, natural products are important resources for the development of new anti- NASH drugs. In this paper, we focus on reviewing the anti-NASH potential, structure, and some of the side effects of natural products based on structural classification. We hope this mini-review will help researchers design and develop new anti-NASH drugs, especially based on the structure of natural products.

The chemical constituents and gastroprotective effects of Calanthe fimbriata Franch.

Calanthe fimbriata Franch. is a Tujia ethnic herb, which has traditionally been used to treat gastric ulcers, chronic hepatitis, etc. We explored the chemical constitutes, gastroprotective effects, and the active fraction of C. fimbriata, as well as elucidating the underlying mechanisms. Firstly, four in vitro antioxidant tests were applied to determine the oxidation resistance of C. fimbriata methanol extract and its fractions. The gastroprotective effects were evaluated in ethanol-induced gastric ulcer rats, gastric histopathology was visualized by H&E staining, and the acidity of gastric juice was measured by titrating with NaOH solution. The contents of malondialdehyde, catalase, superoxide dismutase, gastrin, and the activity of H+K+-ATPase were estimated using commercial kits. EtOAc fraction of C. fimbriata methanol extract (CfEF) exhibited significant gastroprotective effects by ameliorating stomach pathological changes and elevating the pH value of gastric juice. It also manifested remarkable antioxidant activities in vitro and in vivo. Using various chromatographic methods and spectroscopic techniques, 22 compounds were isolated and characterized from CfEF, in which alkaloids were the predominant components. All of these substances were derived from C. fimbriata for the first time. The results indicated that CfEF is a promising source of gastroprotective agents. The antioxidant activity of this herb, as well as prevention of gastrin secretion and inhibition of H+K+ -ATPase, was found to be the underlying mechanism of action.

Chemical investigation and anti-inflammatory activities of the aerial part of Filipendula palmata.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Filipendula palmata Maxim. as an ethnic herb is commonly used by Oroqen minority people in the treatment of rheumatism in China and as a wild vegetable is eaten by Russian in the Far East area. However, so far, the chemical constituents and bioactivity of this edible herb are still unclear, especially the anti-inflammatory constituents and action have not been elucidated despite the traditional folk use. AIM OF STUDY: The current study was conducted to investigate the main chemical components of the aerial part of F. palmata and evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of the extract and the isolated constituents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Various chromatographic techniques including silica gel, ODS, HPLC were used to isolate the components and several spectroscopic methods such as UV, IR, MS and NMR were adopted to characterize the structures of the compounds. The inhibitory action of the extract and components on the production of nitric oxide stimulated by LPS in RAW264.7 cells was applied to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity and the MTT method was used to investigate the cytotoxicity. In addition, the antioxidant capacity of F. palmata was measured in three in vitro assays including DPPH and hydroxyl radicals scavenging and FRAP experiments. RESULTS: The bioactivity research demonstrated that the EtOAc fraction and n-BuOH fraction of this ethnic herb possessed potent anti-inflammation activity in RAW264.7 macrophages and antioxidant activity in three in vitro assays. The chemical study on the EtOAc fraction led to a new dihydrophenanthrene derivative, filipendutin A (1), together with 9 known compounds from the herb, in which compound 4 could significantly inhibit the production of nitric oxide in RAW264.7 cells, while compounds 1 and 9 exhibited obvious cytotoxicity in cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that F. palmata had significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and could be used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Meanwhile, the cytotoxic activity of EtOAc fraction and its components also indicated the potential application in antitumor which remained the further study in the future.