The Genus Adonis as an Important Cardiac Folk Medicine: A Review of the Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Abstract

The genus Adonis L. (Ranunculaceae), native to Europe and Asia, comprises 32 annual or perennial herbaceous species. Due to their cardiac-enhancing effects, Adonis spp. have long been used in European and Chinese folk medicine. These plants have been widely investigated since the late 19th century, when the cardiovascular activity of Adonis vernalis L. was noted in Europe. The present paper provides a review of the phytochemistry, biological activities and toxicology in order to highlight the future prospects of the genus. More than 120 chemical compounds have been isolated, with the most important components being cardiac glycosides as well as flavones, carotenoids, coumarins and other structural types. Plants of the genus, especially A. vernalis L. and A. amurensis Regel & Radde, their extracts and their active constituents possess broad pharmacological properties, including cardiovascular, antiangiogenic, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and acaricidal activities, and exhibit both diuretic effects and effects on the central nervous system. However, most plants within the 32 species have not been comprehensively studied, and further clinical evaluation of their cardiovascular activity and toxicity should be conducted after addressing the problem of the rapidly decreasing resources. This review provides new insight into the genus and lays a solid foundation for further development of Adonis.

Fungal Endophytes as Efficient Sources of Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds and Their Prospective Applications in Natural Product Drug Discovery: Insights, Avenues, and Challenges

“…Triterpenoid toosendanin (TSN) is a main bioactive component of fruits and bark of traditional anthelmintic and insecticidal plants Melia azedarach and Melia toosendan . Toosendanin has antibotulinum (inhibits the botulinum neurotoxin interaction with the SNARE protein), anti-influenza (alters nuclear localization of viral polymerase PA protein), anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic (selective presynaptic blocker) efficacy [ 310 , 311 ]. Possible actions of TSN as an antitumor drug against a variety of cancer types involve inhibition of STAT3, an emerging target for cancer therapy, induction of estrogen receptor β (ERβ) and p53 proteins, and activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway [ 312 , 313 , 314 ].…”

Safety assessment of homeopathic medicines

“…When analyzing a homogeneous group of substances such as a phytocomplex, the differences between the two methods must be three to five times a day (Sokolov, 2000). The mechanism of action is similar to digitoxin with inhibition of the membrane protein Na + /K + -ATPase in muscle tissue of the heart, resulting in Ca 2+ overload, diastolic dysfunction, arrhythmias, heart failure and death (Shang et al, 2019).…”

“…Adonis vernalis L. is an attractive yellow flower of the Ranunculaceae family, flowering in the spring (Figure 2) (Lattè, 2018). Extracts of the plant first appeared in cardiac‐stimulating medicine, in 1879, but were later used mixed with sodium (or potassium) bromide or codeine to treat light forms of epilepsy and heart disease (Shang et al, 2019). The herbal drug derived from the plant’s aerial parts is a cardiac stimulant.…”

“…A polysaccharide is attached to the steroid molecule and a group R that influences the biological activity of the overall molecule. The mechanism of action is similar to digitoxin with inhibition of the membrane protein Na + /K + ‐ATPase in muscle tissue of the heart, resulting in Ca 2+ overload, diastolic dysfunction, arrhythmias, heart failure and death (Shang et al, 2019).…”

Biological Activities and Phytochemical Screening of Ethanol Extracts From Adonis Paryadrica (Ranunculaceae)

“…It has been reported that the members of the Adonis genus are not appropriate for cultivation due to the presence of toxic alkaloids. The extracts and active components of A. vernalis, A. volgensis, A. courule and A. amurensis exhibit widespread pharmacological properties (antiinflammatory, cardiovascular, antiviral, antiangiogenic and diuretic effects, and antioxidant, antibacterial and acaricidal activities) [21]. Members of this genus have been reported to cause toxicity due to their adonitoxin and other cardiac glycoside (cardenolides) content [14,28].…”