Ethnobotany and diversity of medicinal plants used by the Buyi in eastern Yunnan, China

The Buyi are a socio-linguistic group in Yunnan Province of southwest China that have a long history of using medicinal plants as part of their indigenous medical system.Given the limited written documentation of the Buyi indigenous medical system,the objective of this paper is to document the medicinal plants of the Buyi and associated traditional knowledge and transmission.Field research was conducted in four villages in Lubuge Township of Luoping County in Yunnan Province using ethnobotanical methodologies including participatory observation,semi-structured interviews,key informant interviews,and focus group discussions to elicit information on medicinal plants.In total,120 informants(including 15 key informants who are healers)were interviewed.This study found that a total of 121 medicinal plant species belonging to 64 families are used by the Buyi including by local healers to treat different diseases.Among the medicinal plants recorded in this study,56 species(46%)have not previously been documented in the scientific literature as having medicinal value,highlighting the pressing need for ethnobotanical documentation in indigenous communities.The most frequently used medicinal part was the leaf(24.9%of documented plants),and the most common preparation method was decoction(62.8%of medicinal).Medicinal plants were mainly used to treat rheumatism(12.4%of plants),trauma and injuries(9.6%).The documented plants are also used for other non-medicinal purposes including food,fodder,fencing,and ornamental.In addition,35 of the medicinal plants are considered poisonous and are used by local Buyi healers for medicine.The traditional Buyi beliefs and practices associated with the documented medicinal plants likely contributes to their conservation in the environments and around Buyi communities.This study further highlights that ethnomedicinal knowledge of the Buyi is at risk of disappearing due to increased introduction and use of modern medicine in Buyi communities,livelihood changes,rapid modernization,and urbanization.Research,policy,and community programs are urgently needed to conserve the biocultural diversity associated with the Buyi medical system including ethnobotanical knowledge towards supporting both environmental and human wellbeing.

Plant distribution and pharmacological activity of flavonoids

Flavonoids are natural organic compounds that are widely found in nature, their structural types are complex, and they mainly include flavonoids, flavonols, dihydroflavonols, isoflavones, dihydroisoflavones, chalcones, orange ketones, flavanoids, anthocyanidins, and biflavonoids. This review covers the plant distribution and pharmacological activities of flavonoids. Flavonoids are mainly distributed in angiosperms and gymnosperms, and they are abundant in plants such as Rutaceae, Labiatae, Zingiberaceae, Scrophulariaceae, and Leguminosae. Because of their wide distribution and variety, researchers have found that flavonoids have diverse biological activities, mainly focusing on anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antitumor activities. Mechanistically, the anti-inflammatory effects are mainly related to the NF-κB and MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signaling pathway and then the inhibition of the production of inflammatory cytokines and mediators. The antibacterial activity is mainly manifested as inhibitory effects on many strains, including Escherichia coli, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, via destroying the stability of the microbial membrane, inhibiting the invasion of virulent bacteria into host cells, promoting the apoptosis of bacteria, inhibiting bacterial fatty acid synthesis, etc. The antitumor activity of flavonoids is related to their inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis via the mitochondria-mediated, endoplasmic reticulum-mediated, and death factor and its receptor-mediated signal transduction pathways. Understanding the plant distribution and pharmacological activity of flavonoids not only reveals the importance of identifying such valuable flavonoids in another genus or family but also provides a basis for fully exploiting the therapeutic potential of flavonoids.

Folk nomenclature of plants in Cistanche deserticola-associated community in South Gobi, Mongolia

Cistanche deserticola is an important medicinal plant in Mongolia.Despite its significant role in local healing systems,little traditional knowledge had been reported.The present study investigated folk names of C.deserticola and other species of the same community in Umnugobi Province,South Gobi region of Mongolia,based on ethnobotanical approaches.The high correspondence between folk names and scientific names of plant species occurring in Cistanche-associated community shows the scientific meaning of folk nomenclature and classification in Mongolia.The Mongolian and folk names of plants were formed on the basis of observations and understanding of wild plants including their morphology,phenology and traditional uses as well.Results from this study will support the conservation of C.deserticola itself,a rare and endangered plant species listed in the Monglian Red Data Book.Our documentation of folk nomenclature based on 96 plant species in the Cistanche community,as a part of traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity,will be very helpful for making strategy of plant biodiversity conservation in Mongolia.

Amides,Isoquinoline Alkaloids and Dipeptides from the Aerial Parts of Piper mullesua

One undescribedamide,pipermullesine A,twoundescribed isoquinoline alkaloids,pipermullesinesBand C,and six undescribed dipeptides,pipermullamides A–F,along with 28 known compounds,were isolated from the aerial parts of Piper mullesua.The structures of the undescribed compounds were elucidated based on the analysis of 1D and 2D NMR and MS data.Furthermore,the structures of pipermullesines A–Cwere confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.All isolates were evaluated for inhibitory activity against platelet aggregation induced by thrombin(IIa)or platelet-activating factor(PAF).(-)-Mangochinine,pellitorine,and(2E,4E)-N-isobutyl-2,4-dodecadienamide showed weak inhibitory activity against rabbit platelet aggregation induced by PAF,with IC_(50)values of 470.3μg/mL,614.9μg/mL,and 579.7μg/mL,respectively.

Identification of potential anti-pneumonia pharmacological components of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma after the treatment with Gan An He Ji oral liquid

Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,a traditional Chinese medicine also known as Gan Cao(GC),is frequently included in clinical prescriptions for the treatment of pneumonia.However,the pharmacological components of GC for pneumonia treatment are rarely explored.Gan An He Ji oral liquid(GAHJ)has a simple composition and contains GC liquid extracts and paregoric,and has been used clinically for many years.Therefore,GAHJ was selected as a compound preparation for the study of GC in the treatment of pneumonia.We conducted an in vivo study of patients with pneumonia undergoing GAHJ treatments for three days.Using the intelligent mass spectrometry data-processing technologies to analyze the metabolism of GC in vivo,we obtained 168 related components of GC in humans,consisting of 24 prototype components and 144 metabolites,with 135 compounds screened in plasma and 82 in urine.After analysis of the metabolic transformation relationship and relative exposure,six components(liquiritin,liquiritigenin,glycyrrhizin,glycyrrhetinic acid,daidzin,and formononetin)were selected as potential effective components.The experimental results based on two animal pneumonia models and the inflammatory cell model showed that the mixture of these six components was effective in the treatment of pneumonia and lung injury and could effectively downregulate the level of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS).Interestingly,glycyrrhetinic acid exhibited the strongest inhibition on iNOS and the highest exposure in vivo.The following molecular dynamic simulations indicated a strong bond between glycyrrhetinic acid and iNOS.Thus,the current study provides a pharmaceutical basis for GC and reveals the possible corresponding mechanisms in pneumonia treatment.

Effect of Zhuang Medicine Feilongzhangxue on the Expression of HMGB1-TLR4 / RANKL-NF-κB Signaling Pathway Related Factors in Osteoclasts

Objective:To study the regulatory effect of feilongzhangxue on the levels of HMGB1-TLR4/RANKL-NF-κB signaling pathway related factors HMGB1,RANKL,rank,TRAF-6 and NF-κBp65 in osteoclasts,so as to explore the mechanism of feilongzhangxue intervention in RA;Methods:The osteoclasts with good activity were randomly divided into blank group,methotrexate control group and Zhuang medicine feilongzhang blood containing serum treatment group,which were divided into OC+blank group,OC+methotrexate control group,OC+Zhuang medicine feilongzhang blood containing serum group;The expression of HMGB1,RANKL,rank,TRAF-6 and NF-κBp65 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR;The protein expressions of HMGB1,RANKL,RANK,TRAF-6 and NF-κBp65 were detected by immunofluorescence.Results:PCR results showed that:Compared with the blank group,feilongzhangxue could effectively inhibit the expression levels of HMGB1,RANKL,rank,TRAF-6 and NF-κB p65 mRNA in OC cells,and the inhibitory effect was stronger than methotrexate.Immunofluorescence test results showed that:Compared with the blank group and methotrexate group,feilongzhangxue could effectively inhibit the protein expression of HMGB1,RANKL,rank,TRAF-6 and NF-κB p65 in OC cells.Conclusion:The effect of Zhuang medicine feilongzhangxue on hmgbl-tlr4/rankl-nf-κB signaling pathway of osteoclasts is through the regulation of related factors HMGB1,RANKL,rank,TRAF-6 and NF-κB p65,which may be the key mechanism of Zhuang medicine feilongzhangxue on rheumatoid arthritis.

Directional screening and identification of potential cytotoxic components from Achnatherum inebrians by a combination of surface palsmon resonance and chromatography

Objective:To establish a method for directional screening of the cytotoxic components from the medicinal herb of Achnatherum inebrians by a combination of surface plasmon resonance(SPR)biosensor and chromatographic isolation technology.Methods:Under the guidance of bioactive assessment based on binding abilities between objects and the a-Mannosidase(a-Man)target,the active components from different solvents extracts,different polar extraction parts and fractions were screened orderly and directionally using SPR.Components with a high binding ability to a-Man can be precisely oriented in a narrower fractions range and are easy to isolate.Three human cancer cells were used to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of component with the highest affinity to a-Man.Results:Eight compounds were isolated and identificated from A.inebrians for the first time.Deoxyvasicinone possessed the highest affinity to a-Man among them.Moreover,deoxyvasicinone showed good effects on inhibited proliferation of human hepatoma cells HepG2(IC_(50)=5.7 μmol/L),human breast cancer cells MCF7(IC_(50)=7.21 μmol/L)and human lung cancer cells HCC827(IC_(50)=0.75 μmol/L),respectively.In particular,its inhibitory effect on HCC827 was stronger than the positive drug gefitinib(IC_(50)=1.65 μmol/L).Conclusion:A comprehensive strategy of directional screening potential cytotoxic components from herb based on biomolecular interaction and chromatography was established.Deoxyvasicinone as an effective anti-cancer component was initially isolated from A.inebrians.It is expected that this screening strategy could provide new perspectives for rapid screening and identification of active components from natural plants with the complex matrix.

Organoimido functionalized trinuclear gold(Ⅰ)clusters with fluorescent chromophore

The post-functionalization of gold nanoclusters with organic molecules into organic-inorganic hybrid functional materials is an efficient approach to develop multifunctional materials.By introducing 1-pyrenamine and 3-aminofluoranthene into[O(AuPPh_(3))_(3)][BF_(4)]with a covalent bond,two novel organoimido functionalized trinuclear gold nanoclusters[C_(16)H_(9)N(AuPPh_(3))_(3)][BF_(4)](Au_(3)-P)and[C_(6)H_(4)-C_(10)H_(5)N(AuPPh_(3))_(3)][BF_(4)](Au_(3)-F)have been successfully obtained.Their structures have been determined by electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy(ESI-MS)and single-crystal X-ray diffraction(SC-XRD),and the photoluminescence properties have been investigated from both experimental and theoretical aspects.It is found that the lowest-energy electronic transitions in the ultraviolet-visible(UV-Vis)absorption spectra of Au_(3)-P(403 nm)and Au_(3)-F(425 nm)exhibit a slight bathochromic shift compared to the corresponding transitions in the spectra of 1-pyrenamine and 3-aminofluoranthene,respectively.In addition,the dichloromethane solutions of Au_(3)-P and Au_(3)-F complexes clearly display blue and yellowish-green fluorescence,respectively.These results will help to design and prepare organic-inorganic nanocluster hybrid luminescent materials for potential applications in(bio)sensors,bioimaging and optoelectronic devices.