From Traditional Usage to Pharmacological Evidence: A Systematic Mini-Review of Spina Gleditsiae

Abstract

Spina Gleditsiae is an important herb with various medicinal properties in traditional and folk medicinal systems of East Asian countries. In China through the centuries, it has been traditionally used as a source of drugs for anticancer, detoxication, detumescence, apocenosis, and antiparasites effects. Recently, an increasing number of studies have been reported regarding its chemical constituents and pharmacological activities. To further evidence the traditional use, phytochemicals, and pharmacological mechanisms of this herb, a systematic literature review was performed herein for Spina Gleditsiae. The review approach consisted of searching several web-based scientific databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Elsevier using the keywords “Spina Gleditsiae”, “Zao Jiao Ci”, and “Gleditsia sinensis”. Based on the proposed criteria, 17 articles were evaluated in detail. According to the reviewed data, it is quite evident that Spina Gleditsiae contains a number of bioactive phytochemical components, which account for variety medicinal values including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, antimicrobial, antiallergic, and antivirus activities. The phytochemical and pharmacological studies reviewed herein strongly underpin a fundamental understanding of herbal Spina Gleditsiae and support its ongoing clinical uses in China. The further phytochemical evaluation, safety verification, and clinical trials are expected to progress Spina Gleditsiae-based development to finally transform the traditional TCM herb Spina Gleditsiae to the valuable authorized drug.

Validation of a HPLC Method for Flavonoid Contents in Spina Gleditsiae and Its Use to Illustrate the Various Quality of Cultivated Varieties

“…According to the literature, flavonoid compounds are the major bioactive components of Spina Gleditsiae. 1 These include epicatechin, isovitexin, fisetin, fustin, quercetin, and aromadendrin; these were eluted from the column using the methodology developed in this study, with retention times of 14.003, 19.674, 20.539, 21.639, 24.492, and 30.966 minutes, respectively. Moreover, compared with the retention time of a standard in parallel experiments, a major compound eluted at 16.330 minutes could be determined as isoscopoletin (6-hydroxy-7methoxycoumarin).…”

“…The constituents of Spina Gleditsiae include triterpenes, sterols, flavonoids, phenols, and alkaloids. 1 To date, the separation and analysis of its active flavonoid compounds have been barely reported. Based on analytical techniques reported for flavonoids of medicinal plants, reversed-phase C18 columns and mobile phases consisting of an acidic buffer and an organic solvent were employed in this study.…”

“…Flavonoids, the major bioactive components of Spina Gleditsiae, exhibit a wide range of pharmacological properties, especially anticancer and antimicrobial activities. 1 From Spina Gledisiae, the flavonoids fusin, (2R,3R)-5,3′,4′-trimethoxyl-7-hydroxyl-flavanonol, 5,7,3′,4′ -tetrahydroxyl-flavanonol, and 5-methoxyl-3′,4′,7-trihydroxylflava nonol presented significant cytotoxic effects against human esophageal (EC109), human lung (A549), and liver cancer cell lines (HepG2) with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) values lower than 20 µg/mL, 2 whereas butein exhibited inhibitory effects on MCF7 cancer cells with an IC 50 value of 28.5 µg/ mL. 3 Moreover, quercetin and 5,7,3′,5′-tetrahydroxyflavanonol demonstrated antibacterial effects against Bacillus subtilis with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 0.5 and 0.5 mg/mL, and against Xanthomonas vesicatoria with MIC of 0.75 and 0.75 mg/mL, respectively.…”

Yinang formulation versus placebo granules as a treatment for chronic kidney disease stages III–IV in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: study protocol for a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial

“…The potential mechanism of YNF in the treatment of ADPKD needs to be further explored. It has been reported that some of the herbs in YNF have pharmacological effects, such as inhibiting platelet and erythrocyte aggregation and improving the microcirculation [26, 27], relieving pain [28], anti-inflammation [29], anti-fibrous tissue proliferation [30, 31], anti-oxidant [32, 33], and anti-tumor [34] activities. Such activities may contribute (1) to the inhibition of cyst growth and cell proliferation, (2) to reducing the compression of the renal parenchyma, which is good for relieving ADPKD-related pain, and (3) to down-regulating Scr and BUN levels to improve renal function.…”

Anticancer Effects of Gleditsia sinensis Extract in Rats Transplanted With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

“…The thorns of Gleditsia sinensis (FGS), also known as Chinese honey locust, soap bean, or soap pod, are historically used as a traditional Chinese medicine for their anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antitumor properties 1 . More than 60 compounds, including triterpenes, sterols, flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolics and their derivatives have been isolated from the crude extracts, in addition to purified molecules from Gleditsia species, which exhibit diverse cytoprotective activities 2–4 .…”