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Natural Bioactive Compounds from Traditional Asian Plants
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Natural Bioactive Compounds from Traditional Asian Plants

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 10922

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Mikio Nishizawa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga, Japan
Interests: molecular biology; biochemistry; pharmacology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

From the various parts of medicinal plants, such as flowers, fruits, leaves, and roots, bioactive compounds are purified and characterized. These natural compounds have been used as crude drugs in traditional medicine in Asia, including China, Japan (Kampo medicine), India (Ayurveda), and Indonesia (Jamu). In crude drugs, there are major constituents, which are included at a high content, and principal constituents, which exhibit pharmacological activities. Although the latter function in vitro and in vivo (animals and humans), they are not well elucidated. This Special Issue covers research on the natural bioactive compounds that are included in crude drugs of traditional medicine. This includes both structural and functional analyses of the constituents, including major constituents and principal constituents, especially in Kampo medicine and Jamu.

Prof. Dr. Mikio Nishizawa
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • natural product
  • medicinal plant
  • traditional medicine
  • bioactive molecule
  • crude drug

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 2323 KiB  
Article
Effect of Different Extraction Techniques on Phenolic Profile and Phytochemical Potential of Gymnema inodorum Leaf Extract
by Muhammad Hassnain Haideri, Titi Phanjaroen, Wiritphon Khiaolaongam, Thanarat Boonchalaem, Jiraporn Laoung-on, Supakit Chaipoot, Surat Hongsibsong, Kongsak Boonyapranai and Sakaewan Ounjaijean
Molecules 2024, 29(22), 5475; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29225475 - 20 Nov 2024
Viewed by 335
Abstract
The therapeutic potential of plant extracts has attracted significant interest, especially regarding indigenous species with health-promoting properties. Gymnema inodorum, native to Northern Thailand, is recognized for its rich phytochemical profile; however, the impact of various extraction techniques on its phenolic composition and [...] Read more.
The therapeutic potential of plant extracts has attracted significant interest, especially regarding indigenous species with health-promoting properties. Gymnema inodorum, native to Northern Thailand, is recognized for its rich phytochemical profile; however, the impact of various extraction techniques on its phenolic composition and bioactivity remains underexplored. Optimizing extraction methods is essential to enhance the pharmacological efficacy of this plant’s bioactive compounds. This study investigated the influence of four extraction methods—ethanol maceration, ethanol reflux, aqueous decoction, and microwave-assisted extraction—on the bioactive profile of G. inodorum leaves, with a focus on the phenolic content and biological activities. Antioxidant activities were evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, while the total phenolic and flavonoid contents were quantified by colorimetric methods. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) quantified gymnemic acid and key phenolic compounds. Among the methods, ethanol reflux yielded the highest antioxidant activities (DPPH and ABTS scavenging), with a total phenolic content of 82.54 mg GAE/g and flavonoid content of 31.90 mg QE/g. HPLC analysis identified sinapic acid, myricetin, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid as major phenolics. Furthermore, the ethanol reflux extract displayed potent anti-diabetic activity, with IC50 values of 13.36 mg/mL for α-amylase and 7.39 mg/mL for α-glucosidase, as well as strong anti-inflammatory activity (IC50 of 1.6 mg/mL) and acetylcholinesterase inhibition (IC50 of 1.2 mg/mL). These findings suggest that ethanol reflux extraction is a highly effective method for producing bioactive-rich G. inodorum extracts, with substantial pharmacological potential for developing herbal remedies and nutraceuticals, particularly in enhancing therapeutic approaches for diabetes and other health-related conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Bioactive Compounds from Traditional Asian Plants)
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11 pages, 1883 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Analysis of Sulfated Flavonoids in Eclipta prostrata for Quality Evaluation
by Ryunosuke Sato, Yuto Nishidono and Ken Tanaka
Molecules 2024, 29(20), 4888; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29204888 - 15 Oct 2024
Viewed by 566
Abstract
Eclipta prostrata (Asteraceae) is employed as a hemostatic agent in many traditional medicines, owing to its sulfated flavonoid content. In this study, we obtained crude drug samples from three provinces collected in different years and analyzed their sulfated flavonoid contents using liquid chromatography–mass [...] Read more.
Eclipta prostrata (Asteraceae) is employed as a hemostatic agent in many traditional medicines, owing to its sulfated flavonoid content. In this study, we obtained crude drug samples from three provinces collected in different years and analyzed their sulfated flavonoid contents using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) for quality evaluation. Because sulfated flavonoids are unstable and difficult to isolate from extracts, this study first synthesized a variety of sulfated flavonoids and accumulated spectral data in order to identify the compounds in E. prostrata. The LC–MS analysis of six crude drug samples revealed the presence of luteolin 7-sulfate, apigenin 7-sulfate, diosmetin 7-sulfate, and diosmetin 3′-sulfate. The samples without luteolin 3′-sulfate featured high apigenin 7-sulfate content. Although the samples were collected from the same locality, their compositions differed depending on the year of collection. Further, they were classified according to three patterns: (1) samples with luteolin 7-sulfate as the main component, (2) samples with apigenin 7-sulfate as the main component, and (3) samples with relatively high diosmetin sulfate content. Luteolin 7-sulfate typically exhibits relatively high erythrocyte aggregation efficiency and fibrinogen aggregation rate. These results demonstrate that the analysis of sulfated flavonoids is beneficial for the quality evaluation of E. prostrata for hemostatic applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Bioactive Compounds from Traditional Asian Plants)
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15 pages, 1310 KiB  
Article
Methanol Extract of Thottea siliquosa (Lam.) Ding Hou Leaves Inhibits Carrageenan- and Formalin-Induced Paw Edema in Mice
by Aneeta Renny, Jameema Sidhic, Alby Tom, Aswathi Moothakoottil Kuttithodi, Joice Tom Job, Rajakrishnan Rajagopal, Ahmed Alfarhan and Arunaksharan Narayanankutty
Molecules 2024, 29(20), 4800; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29204800 - 11 Oct 2024
Viewed by 638
Abstract
Inflammation is a physiological condition that when unattended causes serious health concerns over the long term. Several phytocompounds have emerged as promising sources of anti-inflammatory agents. Thottea siliquosa is a traditional medicine for inflammatory and toxicity insults; however, this has not been scientifically [...] Read more.
Inflammation is a physiological condition that when unattended causes serious health concerns over the long term. Several phytocompounds have emerged as promising sources of anti-inflammatory agents. Thottea siliquosa is a traditional medicine for inflammatory and toxicity insults; however, this has not been scientifically confirmed. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of T. siliquosa methanol leaf extract in a mouse model. This study investigates the anti-inflammatory activities of a plant extract obtained from leaves of T. siliquosa (TSE) with a focus on carrageenan- and formalin-induced paw oedema in mice. The extract’s efficacy was assessed using well-established inflammation models, and the results showed a considerable reduction in paw edema in both cases. In the case of carrageenan model TSE at 50 mg/kg showed a 53.0 ± 2.5% reduction in edema, while those treated with TSM at 100 mg/kg exhibited a 60.0 ± 1.8% reduction (p < 0.01). In the case of a formalin model when a higher dose of TSE (100 mg/kg) was given, paw thickness decreased by 47.04 ± 1.9% on the fifth day and by 64.72 ± 2.2% on the tenth day. LC-MS analysis reported the presence of gallic acid, quinic acid, quercetin, clitorin, myricitrin, retronecine, batatasin II, gingerol, and coumaric acid in the extract. Overall, this study confirms that T. siliquosa extract exerts anti-inflammatory effects in animals and is possibly mediated through the combined effects of these phytochemicals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Bioactive Compounds from Traditional Asian Plants)
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17 pages, 5294 KiB  
Article
Antioxidant Properties of Platycladus orientalis Flavonoids for Treating UV-Induced Damage in Androgenetic Alopecia Hair
by Chuntao Xu, Jiawei Dai, Weian Du and Hongbing Ji
Molecules 2024, 29(12), 2876; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29122876 - 17 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1305
Abstract
Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) causes thinning hair, but poor hair quality in balding areas and damage from UV radiation have been overlooked. Plant extracts like Platycladus orientalis flavonoids (POFs) may improve hair quality in AGA. This study examines POFs’ effectiveness in treating AGA-affected [...] Read more.
Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) causes thinning hair, but poor hair quality in balding areas and damage from UV radiation have been overlooked. Plant extracts like Platycladus orientalis flavonoids (POFs) may improve hair quality in AGA. This study examines POFs’ effectiveness in treating AGA-affected hair and repairing UV-induced damage. Methods: Hair samples were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to examine surface characteristics, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to measure free radicals in the hair, and spectrophotometry to assess changes in hair properties. Results: POFs effectively removed hydroxyl radicals from keratinocytes and had antioxidant properties. They also reduced UV-induced damage to AGA hair by mitigating the production of melanin free radicals. Following POF treatment, the reduction in peroxidized lipid loss in AGA hair was notable at 59.72%, thereby effectively delaying the progression of hair color change. Moreover, protein loss decreased by 191.1 μ/g and tryptophan loss by 15.03%, ultimately enhancing hair’s tensile strength. Conclusion: compared to healthy hair, hair damaged by AGA shows more pronounced signs of damage when exposed to UV radiation. POFs help protect balding hair by reducing oxidative damage and slowing down melanin degradation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Bioactive Compounds from Traditional Asian Plants)
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14 pages, 1556 KiB  
Article
Characterization of the Volatile Constituents of Plai (Zingiber purpureum) by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry
by Yuto Nishidono, Azis Saifudin and Ken Tanaka
Molecules 2024, 29(6), 1216; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29061216 - 8 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1712
Abstract
Zingiber purpureum Roscoe, known as plai in Thailand, is a perennial plant of the Zingiberaceae family and has traditionally been used in Southeast Asian countries to treat inflammation, pain, and asthma. In this study, we performed the characterization of the volatile constituents in [...] Read more.
Zingiber purpureum Roscoe, known as plai in Thailand, is a perennial plant of the Zingiberaceae family and has traditionally been used in Southeast Asian countries to treat inflammation, pain, and asthma. In this study, we performed the characterization of the volatile constituents in ethyl acetate extracts of plai. Ethyl acetate extracts derived from the rhizomes of plai were subjected to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and the key peaks in the total ion current chromatograms were annotated or identified. In total, twenty-one compounds were identified using isolation procedures or standards, and nine compounds were annotated by comparing their Kovats retention index (RI) and electron ionization (EI) mass spectra with those in the literature. Most of the identifications were inconsistent with the tentative annotations found via library search and suggested that some peaks were incorrectly assigned in previous studies. Thus, to avoid further misannotations and contribute to the research on dereplication, the RI value, EI mass spectral data, and NMR spectroscopy data of the isolated compounds are reported. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Bioactive Compounds from Traditional Asian Plants)
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Review

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24 pages, 757 KiB  
Review
Phytochemicals of Alpinia zerumbet: A Review
by Yuto Nishidono and Ken Tanaka
Molecules 2024, 29(12), 2845; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29122845 - 14 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1631
Abstract
Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L.Burtt & R.M.Sm is a perennial plant of the Zingiberaceae family widely distributed in the subtropical and tropical areas of South America, Oceania, and Asia. Multiple plant parts of A. zerumbet have been traditionally used as medicinal sources, each with [...] Read more.
Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L.Burtt & R.M.Sm is a perennial plant of the Zingiberaceae family widely distributed in the subtropical and tropical areas of South America, Oceania, and Asia. Multiple plant parts of A. zerumbet have been traditionally used as medicinal sources, each with different clinical uses. These variations may arise from differences among the chemical components and/or accumulations of the active compounds in each part. Therefore, this review summarizes previous studies on the phytochemicals in A. zerumbet and reveals the similarities and differences among the chemical constituents of its multiple medicinal parts, including the leaves, rhizomes, fruits, seeds, and flowers. The results contribute to the scientific validation of the traditional understanding that A. zerumbet possesses different medicinal properties in each plant part. In addition, this review provides directions for further studies on the phytochemicals of this plant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Bioactive Compounds from Traditional Asian Plants)
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43 pages, 12336 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Chemistry and Antioxidant/Anticancer Biology of Monoterpene and Meroterpenoid Natural Product
by Benedict J. Barras, Taotao Ling and Fatima Rivas
Molecules 2024, 29(1), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29010279 - 4 Jan 2024
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3878
Abstract
Monoterpenes and meroterpenes are two large classes of isoprene-based molecules produced by terrestrial plants and unicellular organisms as diverse secondary metabolites. The global rising incidence of cancer has led to a renewed interest in natural products. These monoterpenes and meroterpenes represent a novel [...] Read more.
Monoterpenes and meroterpenes are two large classes of isoprene-based molecules produced by terrestrial plants and unicellular organisms as diverse secondary metabolites. The global rising incidence of cancer has led to a renewed interest in natural products. These monoterpenes and meroterpenes represent a novel source of molecular scaffolds that can serve as medicinal chemistry platforms for the development of potential preclinical leads. Furthermore, some of these natural products are either abundant, or their synthetic strategies are scalable as it will be indicated here, facilitating their derivatization to expand their scope in drug discovery. This review is a collection of representative updates (from 2016–2023) in biologically active monoterpene and meroterpenoid natural products and focuses on the recent findings of the pharmacological potential of these bioactive compounds as well as the newly developed synthetic strategies employed to access them. Particular emphasis will be placed on the anticancer and antioxidant potential of these compounds in order to raise knowledge for further investigations into the development of potential anti-cancer therapeutics. The mounting experimental evidence from various research groups across the globe regarding the use of these natural products at pre-clinical levels, renders them a fast-track research area worth of attention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Bioactive Compounds from Traditional Asian Plants)
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