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.

Hypertension is a highly prevalent population-level disease that represents an important risk factor for several cardiovascular complications and occupies a leading position in mortality statistics. Antihypertensive therapy includes a wide variety of drugs. Additionally, the potential antihypertensive and cardioprotective effects of several phytotherapy products have been evaluated, as these could also be a valuable therapeutic option for the prevention, improvement or treatment of hypertension and its complications. The present review includes an evaluation of the cardioprotective and antihypertensive effects of garlic, Aloe vera, green tea, Ginkgo biloba, berberine, ginseng, Nigella sativa, Apium graveolens, thyme, cinnamon and ginger, and their possible interactions with antihypertensive drugs. A literature search was undertaken via the PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase and Cochrane databases. Research articles, systematic reviews and meta-analyses published between 2010 and 2023, in the English, Hungarian, and Romanian languages were selected.

Human health is now inextricably linked to lifestyle choices, which can either protect or predispose people to serious illnesses. The Mediterranean diet, characterized by the consumption of various medicinal plants and their byproducts, plays a significant role in protecting against ailments such as oxidative stress, cancer, and diabetes. To uncover the secrets of this natural treasure, this review seeks to consolidate diverse data concerning the pharmacology, toxicology, phytochemistry, and botany of Olea europaea L. (O. europaea). Its aim is to explore the potential therapeutic applications and propose avenues for future research. Through web literature searches (using Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus), all information currently available on O. europaea was acquired. Worldwide, ethnomedical usage of O. europaea has been reported, indicating its effectiveness in treating a range of illnesses. Phytochemical studies have identified a range of compounds, including flavanones, iridoids, secoiridoids, flavonoids, triterpenes, biophenols, benzoic acid derivatives, among others. These components exhibit diverse pharmacological activities both in vitro and in vivo, such as antidiabetic, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anticancer, and wound-healing properties. O. europaea serves as a valuable source of conventional medicine for treating various conditions. The findings from pharmacological and phytochemical investigations presented in this review enhance our understanding of its therapeutic potential and support its potential future use in modern medicine.

UNASSIGNED: Natural products are increasingly gaining interest as potential new drug candidates for cancer treatment. Herbal formula, which are combinations of several herbs, are primarily used in East Asia and have a long history of use that continues today. Recently, research exploring the combination of herbal formulas and chemotherapy for cancer treatment has been on the rise.
UNASSIGNED: This study reviewed research on the co-administration of herbal formulas and chemotherapy for cancer treatment. The databases PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were used for article searches. The following keywords were employed: \"Antineoplastic agents,\" \"Chemotherapy,\" \"Phytotherapy,\" \"Herbal medicine,\" \"Drug synergism,\" and \"Synergistic effect.\" The selection process focused on studies that investigated the synergistic interaction between herbal formulas and chemotherapeutic agents.
UNASSIGNED: Among the 30 studies included, 25 herbal formulas and 7 chemotherapies were used. The chemotherapy agents co-administered included cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, docetaxel, doxorubicin, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and gemcitabine. The types of cancer most frequently studied were lung, breast, and colon cancers. Most studies evaluating the anticancer efficacy of combined herbal formula and chemotherapy treatment were conducted in vitro or in vivo.
UNASSIGNED: Most studies reported synergistic effects on cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and tumor growth inhibition. These effects were found to be associated with cell cycle arrest, anti-angiogenesis, and gene expression regulation. Further studies leading to clinical trials are required. Clinical experiences in East Asian countries could provide insights for future research.

BACKGROUND: According to the World Health Organization, more than 80% of the world\'s population relies on traditional medicine. Traditional medicine is typically based on the use of single herbal drugs or polyherbal formulations (PHFs) to manage diseases. However, the probable mode of action of these formulations is not well studied or documented. Over the past few decades, computational methods have been used to study the molecular mechanism of phytochemicals in single herbal drugs. However, the in silico methods applied to study PHFs remain unclear.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this protocol is to develop a search strategy for a scoping review to map the in silico approaches applied in understanding the activity of PHFs used as traditional medicines worldwide.
METHODS: The scoping review will be conducted based on the methodology developed by Arksey and O\'Malley and the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). A set of predetermined keywords will be used to identify the relevant studies from five databases: PubMed, Embase, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Two independent reviewers will conduct the search to yield a list of relevant studies based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Mendeley version 1.19.8 will be used to remove duplicate citations, and title and abstract screening will be performed with Rayyan software. The JBI System for the Unified Management, Assessment, and Review of Information tool will be used for data extraction. The scoping review will be reported based on the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines.
RESULTS: Based on the core areas of the scoping review, a 3-step search strategy was developed. The initial search produced 3865 studies. After applying filters, 875 studies were short-listed for further review. Keywords were further refined to yield more relevant studies on the topic.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings are expected to determine the extent of the knowledge gap in the applications of computational methods in PHFs for any traditional medicine across the world. The study can provide answers to open research questions related to the phytochemical identification of PHFs, criteria for target identification, strategies applied for in silico studies, software used, and challenges in adopting in silico methods for understanding the mechanisms of action of PHFs. This study can thus provide a better understanding of the application and types of in silico methods for investigating PHFs.
UNASSIGNED: PRR1-10.2196/56646.

OBJECTIVE: Endometriosis means the presence of tissue similar to normal endometrium outside the uterus. Although surgical, hormonal, and analgesic treatment relieves symptoms and improves fertility, it is associated with side effects and a high recurrence rate. Alternative medicines like medicinal plants have been used for the treatment of chronic diseases. Given the global importance of endometriosis as a chronic disease affecting over 15% of all women in their fertile period, this systematic review aimed to give a comprehensive view of research on medicinal plants.
METHODS: Comprehensive searches were performed on three databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science Core Collection (Indexes = SCI-EXPANDED, SSCI, A, and HCI Timespan), and Scopus, to identify papers published until June 2023. Keywords, such as \"Endometriosis\" and \"Herbal Medicine\", were used to search. A manual search of valid journals followed by a manual search of the references of the retrieved full-text articles was performed. All retrieved articles were imported into a database into Endnote X9. Articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded from the study, and the full texts of all the articles that met the inclusion criteria were assessed. Studies that evaluated the effects of herbal compounds on various aspects of endometriosis treatment were included in the review.
RESULTS: In total, 11 studies were included in the present study. The evidence showed that in addition to safety, drugs available alongside treatments could play an effective role in improving the symptoms associated with endometriosis. In this study, the positive results of using Chinese treatments were reported in aspects such as fertility rate, pain, endometriosis recurrence rate, quality of life, sexual function, CA-125 level, and menopause symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS: A wide range of preclinical and clinical studies evaluated the effectiveness and safety of medicinal plants in the treatment of endometriosis symptoms. Thus, alternative treatments for endometriosis with no or low side effects should be included in the holistic treatment of endometriosis upfront. However, there is still a need for well-designed trials to investigate standard interventions and specific and safe doses of herbal medicines.

BACKGROUND: Differentiation therapy, a highly regarded treatment method in tumor research, aims to induce tumor cells to differentiate back to normal cells, deviating from the malignant pathway and returning to a benign state. Its development relies on the continuous discovery of efficient and low-toxic differentiation inducers, including plant-derived active components that offer significant biological utilization and therapeutic potential. For this reason, the exploration of plant-derived inducers, particularly in their application in differentiation therapy, holds great promise in advancing cancer treatment strategies toward more effective and safer alternatives.
OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to provide a valuable reference for researchers seeking to identify natural, efficient, and low-toxic differentiation inducers from plants and highlights a promising research direction for the application of differentiation therapy in malignant tumor treatment.
METHODS: For the collection of pertinent information, an extensive search was conducted across diverse literature and electronic databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley, ACS, CNKI, Springer, Taylor & Francis, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Baidu Scholar. This comprehensive approach aimed to retrieve and include all relevant literature from 1985 to 2023. Primary keywords such as \"Natural medicinal plant,\" \"Differentiation therapy,\" and \"Differentiation inducer\" were utilized, supplemented by secondary search terms including \"Cancer,\" \"Tumor,\" \"Herbal medicine,\" \"Induced differentiation,\" and \"Cancer treatment.\"
RESULTS: This study systematically evaluated the application of plant-derived inducers in tumor-induced differentiation therapy. Through extensive literature review, specific plant components with confirmed differentiation-inducing properties were identified. Furthermore, potential molecular mechanisms underlying this process were outlined, shedding light on the future development of differentiation therapy in cancer treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: Plant-derived active components exhibit substantial biological utility and therapeutic potential. Delving deeper into the research on these components as differentiation inducers holds promise for the selection of novel cancer drugs and the unveiling of novel pathways for cancer treatment. These results emphasize the importance of continued exploration and in-depth research into natural, efficient, and low-toxic differentiation inducers from plants, which could significantly advance cancer treatment strategies. Moreover, the highlighted research direction underscores the relevance of differentiation therapy in the context of malignant tumor treatment, indicating its potential as a safer and more effective alternative in cancer therapy.

The use of plant-based products in healthcare systems has experienced a tremendous rise leading to a substantial increase in global demand. However, the quality and effectiveness of such plant-based treatments are often affected due to contamination of various pollutants including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Like other plants, medicinal plants also uptake and accumulate PAHs when exposed to a contaminated environment. The consumption of such medicinal plants and/or plant-based products causes negative effects on health rather than providing any therapeutic advantages. Unfortunately, research focusing on PAH accumulation in medicinal plants has received very limited attention. This review discusses a sizable number of literature regarding the concentration of sixteen priority PAH pollutants as recognised by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in different medicinal plants. The review also highlights the risk assessment of cancer associated with some medicinal plants in terms of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) equivalent concentrations.

Polyphenols are ubiquitous plant metabolites that demonstrate biological activities essential to plant-environment interactions. They are of interest to plant food consumers, as well as to the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. The class of the plant metabolites comprises both widespread (chlorogenic acids, luteolin, quercetin) and unique compounds of diverse chemical structures but of the common biosynthetic origin. Polyphenols next to sesquiterpenoids are regarded as the major class of the Inuleae-Inulinae metabolites responsible for the pharmacological activity of medicinal plants from the subtribe (Blumea spp., Dittrichia spp., Inula spp., Pulicaria spp. and others). Recent decades have brought a rapid development of molecular and analytical techniques which resulted in better understanding of the taxonomic relationships within the Inuleae tribe and in a plethora of data concerning the chemical constituents of the Inuleae-Inulinae. The current taxonomical classification has introduced changes in the well-established botanical names and rearranged the genera based on molecular plant genetic studies. The newly created chemical data together with the earlier phytochemical studies may provide some complementary information on biochemical relationships within the subtribe. Moreover, they may at least partly explain pharmacological activities of the plant preparations traditionally used in therapy. The current review aimed to systematize the knowledge on the polyphenols of the Inulae-Inulinae.

A robust, well-functioning immune system is the cornerstone of good health. Various factors may influence the immune system\'s effectiveness, potentially leading to immune system failure. This review aims to provide an overview of the structure and action of immunomodulators isolated from African medicinal plants. The research was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Full-text access research articles published in English up to December 2023, including plant characteristics, isolated phytochemicals, and immuno-modulatory activities, were screened. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were generated using ChemDraw® (version 12.0.1076), and convergent and distinctive signaling pathways were highlighted. These phytochemicals with demonstrated immunostimulatory activity include alkaloids (berberine, piperine, magnoflorine), polysaccharides (pectin, glucan, acemannan, CALB-4, GMP90-1), glycosides (syringin, cordifolioside, tinocordiside, aucubin), phenolic compounds (ferulic acid, vanillic acid, eupalitin), flavonoids (curcumin, centaurein, kaempferin, luteolin, guajaverin, etc.), terpenoids (oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, betulinic acid, boswellic acids, corosolic acid, nimbidin, andrographolides). These discussed compounds exert their effects through various mechanisms, targeting the modulation of MAPKs, PI3K-Akt, and NF-kB. These mechanisms can support the traditional use of medicinal plants to treat immune-related diseases. The outcomes of this overview are to provoke structural action optimization, to orient research on particular natural chemicals for managing inflammatory, infectious diseases and cancers, or to boost vaccine immunogenicity.