Ephedrae herba: A comprehensive review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology

Zheng, Qingge; Mu, Xiangyu; Pan, Shaobin; Luan, Ruqiao; Zhao, Pan

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2023.116153

Cited by 32 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…[158]. Mahuang decoctions (Ephedrae herba) are largely used in China to treat asthma, liver disease, skin disease, and other diseases [4,5]. Ephedrae herba (Maoto) is also used in traditional Japanese medicine (Kampo) [159,160], based notably on the cultivation of E. sinica [161].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ethnobotanical Uses and Pharmacological Activities of Moroccan Ephedra Species

Chroho,

Bailly,

Bouissane

2024

Planta Med

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Ephedra species are among the most popular herbs used in traditional medicine for a long time. The ancient Chinese medical book “Treatise on Febrile Diseases” refers to the classic traditional Chinese medicine prescription Ge Gen decoction, which consists of seven herbs, including an Ephedra species. Ephedra species are utilized all over the world to treat symptoms of the common cold and coughs, and to combat major human diseases, such as asthma, cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular and digestive disorders, and microbial infections. This study aimed at identifying specific Ephedra species used traditionally in Morocco for therapeutic purposes. The plant parts, their preparation process, and the treated pathologies were identified and analyzed. The results revealed five ethnobotanically important species of Ephedra: Ephedra alata Decne, Ephedra altissima Desf., Ephedra distachya L., Ephedra fragilis Desf., and Ephedra nebrodensis Tineo. These species are used traditionally in Morocco for treating people with diabetes, cancer, rheumatism, cold and asthma, hypertension, influenza virus infection, and respiratory ailments. In addition, they are occasionally used as calefacient agents, to regulate weight, or for capillary care. Few studies have underlined the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of some of these Moroccan Ephedra species, but little information is available regarding the natural products at the origin of the bioactivities. Further phytochemical investigations and clinical data are encouraged to better support the use of these plants.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…

Ephedra plants are among the oldest and most popular herbs used in traditional medicine in China and Japan [1][2][3]. Ephedrae herba has long been used as both medicine and food [4,5]. It stands as an efficient anti-stroke herbal medicine [6].

…”

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confidence: 99%

Ethnobotanical Uses and Pharmacological Activities of Moroccan Ephedra Species

Chroho,

Bailly,

Bouissane

2024

Planta Med

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“…Among these, ephedrine hydrochloride has various pharmacological effects, including antitussive, expectorant, anti‐inflammatory, neuroprotective, cardiovascular protection, antiandrogenic, and anticancer properties (Dang et al, 2023). Ephedrine hydrochloride is known for its cough‐suppressing, bronchial‐dilating, bronchodilatory, central stimulating, hypotensive, and hypoglycemic effects (Zheng et al, 2023). Methyl eugenol is recognized for its hypotensive, antitussive, expectorant, sedative, and analgesic properties (Sim et al, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prediction and analysis of quality markers for Chuantieling gel patches based on HPLC fingerprinting and network pharmacology

Du,

Lu,

Xiao

et al. 2023

Biomedical Chromatography

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The Chuantieling gel patch (CGP), a traditional Chinese medicine compound, is an external treatment for asthma. It has shown remarkable effectiveness in alleviating asthma‐related airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation. Nevertheless, there is currently no information available regarding the analysis of quality markers for CGP, and there is a need for further improvement in quality control research. In this study, we developed an HPLC fingerprinting method for CGP and conducted a comprehensive methodological investigation. We assessed the similarity among 10 batches of CGP, identified common peaks, and quantified the content of seven major quality markers. Furthermore, we built a network pharmacology–based ‘active ingredients–targets–pathways–diseases’ network to forecast the potential mechanisms of action for the primary active components in asthma treatment. Our findings demonstrated that the developed CGP fingerprinting and content determination methods were consistent and trustworthy. We verified the existence of 25 shared peaks and successfully identified 7 chromatographic peaks, including sinigrin thiocyanate, ephedrine hydrochloride, methyleugenol, imperatorin, cinnamaldehyde, emodin, and 6‐gingerol, using reference standards. The network pharmacology analysis suggested that these seven active components may target proteins such as STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3), MAPK3 (mitogen‐activated protein kinase 3), and TP53 (tumor protein P53) and influence various diseases through pathways including cancer pathways, hepatitis B, and PI3K–Akt (phosphoinositide 3‐kinase–protein kinase B) signaling. This study provides insight into the complex multicomponent composition of CGP, and the predictive analysis through network pharmacology sets the stage for uncovering the mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic effects of CGP.

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“…Coix seed decoction (CSD) is a classical formula for the treatment of “Bi Syndrome” in TCM recorded in the Chinese medical text “ Lei Zheng Zhi Cai .” It is written in “Lei Zheng Zhi Cai” that CSD consists of Yi Yiren (Coix seed/Seed of Job tears), Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Sheng Jiang (Ginger), Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi ramulus), Qiang Huo (Notopterygium incisum), Du Huo (Doubleteeth Pubescent Angelica Root), Fang Feng (Saposhnikovia divaricata), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes macrocephala), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis), Chuan Wu (Aconitum carmichaelii), Ma Huang (Ephedra sinica). In this formula, Coix seed strengthens the spleen and permeates dampness; [23] Chuan Wu, [24–26] Gui Zhi, [27,28] Ma Huang, [29] Sheng Jiang [30,31] warming the meridians and relieving pain. In addition, it has the function of nourishing and energizing the circulation when Chuanxiong is combined with Dang Gui.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Network pharmacological analysis on the mechanism of Coix seed decoction for osteoarthritis of the knee

et al. 2023

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Based on network pharmacology methods, we explored the mechanism of the classic Chinese medicine formula Coix seed decoction (CSD) in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). We searched each single drug in the CSD in the traditional Chinese medicine systematic pharmacology database in turn to obtain information on the active ingredients and target proteins of the CSD, and obtain the name of the genes corresponding to the target proteins through the UniProt database. We collected KOA-related genes from DisGeNET, GeneCards, comparative toxicogenomics database, and MalaCards database. The Venny online tool identified potential therapeutic targets by intersecting CSD and KOA target genes, while gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis was performed using the Oebiotech Cloud Platform. A protein-protein interaction network was established using the String database; a “CSD-active ingredient-target gene-KOA” network plot was constructed using Cytoscape 3.9.1 software and screened for key targets and hub targets. Finally, molecular docking was performed for hub genes with high Degree values. A total of 227 effective target genes for CSD and 8816 KOA-related target genes were obtained, as well as 191 cross-target genes for CSD and KOA. We screened 37 key gene targets and identified the top 10 hub target genes in descending order of Degree value using protein-protein interaction and Cytoscape 3.9.1 software (TNF, IL-6, MMP-9, IL-1β, AKT-1, VEGFα, STAT-3, PTGS-2, IL-4, TP53). Gene ontology analysis showed that the biological process of CSD treatment of KOA mainly involves cytokine-mediated signaling pathway, negative regulation of apoptotic process, cellular response to hypoxia, cellular response to cadmium ion, response to estradiol, and extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway in absence of ligand. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis revealed major signaling pathways including Cellular senescence, TNF signaling pathway, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. The molecular docking results show that the core components bind well to the core targets. In conclusion, CSD may exert therapeutic effects on KOA by inhibiting pathological processes such as inflammatory response, apoptosis, cellular senescence, and oxidative stress.

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Ephedrae herba: A comprehensive review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology

Cited by 32 publications

References 59 publications

Ethnobotanical Uses and Pharmacological Activities of Moroccan Ephedra Species

Ethnobotanical Uses and Pharmacological Activities of Moroccan Ephedra Species

Prediction and analysis of quality markers for Chuantieling gel patches based on HPLC fingerprinting and network pharmacology

Network pharmacological analysis on the mechanism of Coix seed decoction for osteoarthritis of the knee

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