Pharmacological Properties and Molecular Targets of Alisol Triterpenoids from Alismatis Rhizoma

Abstract

More than 100 protostane triterpenoids have been isolated from the dried rhizomes of Alisma species, designated Alismatis rhizoma (AR), commonly used in Asian traditional medicine to treat inflammatory and vascular diseases. The main products are the alisols, with the lead compounds alisol-A/-B and their acetate derivatives being the most abundant products in the plant and the best-known bioactive products. The pharmacological effects of Ali-A, Ali-A 24-acetate, Ali-B, Ali-B 23-acetate, and derivatives have been analyzed to provide an overview of the medicinal properties, signaling pathways, and molecular targets at the origin of those activities. Diverse protein targets have been proposed for these natural products, including the farnesoid X receptor, soluble epoxide hydrolase, and other enzymes (AMPK, HCE-2) and functional proteins (YAP, LXR) at the origin of the anti-atherosclerosis, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-fibrotic, and anti-proliferative activities. Activities were classified in two groups. The lipid-lowering and anti-atherosclerosis effects benefit from robust in vitro and in vivo data (group 1). The anticancer effects of alisols have been largely reported, but, essentially, studies using tumor cell lines and solid in vivo data are lacking (group 2). The survey shed light on the pharmacological properties of alisol triterpenoids frequently found in traditional phytomedicines.

Alisol A inhibits the circ_0001831/miR‐346/LIN28B pathway to ameliorate high glucose‐induced injury of human renal mesangial cells

“…9 Alisol A isolated from Alismatis rhizoma is a tetracyclic protostane-type triterpenoid and shows diverse pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects, useful for the therapy of metabolic disorders and cancers. 11 However, there is no information concerning its effect on DN MiRNAs are short-chained RNAs and contribute to various biological processes in disease progression. 14 As reported, miRNAs participate in the pathogenesis of DN mainly by increasing the production of genes related to mesangial expansion and extracellular matrix accumulation.…”

“…Numerous Chinese herbs including Rhizoma Alismatis have been used to treat obesity and obesity‐related syndrome 9 . Alisol A isolated from Alismatis rhizoma is a tetracyclic protostane‐type triterpenoid and shows diverse pharmacological effects such as anti‐inflammatory and antiproliferative effects, useful for the therapy of metabolic disorders and cancers 11 . However, there is no information concerning its effect on DN progression.…”

Potential herb–drug interactions between anti-COVID-19 drugs and traditional Chinese medicine

“…A wide range of chemical compounds, including triterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, and diterpenoids, have been isolated from Alismatis Rhizoma 118 . Among these compounds, alisol acetates are important bioactive triterpenoids that play various pharmacological effects 120 . Under normal physiological conditions the rate of alisol acetate binding to plasma protein is between 70% and 80% 121 .…”

Properties and Fungal Communities of Different Soils for Growth of the Medicinal Asian Water Plantain, Alisma orientale, in Fujian, China

“…Juzep (“Zexie” in Chinese, common name: Asian water plantain) is a well-known medical plant in China [ 24 ]. The dried tubers of the A. orientale , commonly referred to as Alismatis rhizome (AR), have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of diseases, including dysuria, diarrhea, edema, stranguria, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia [ 25 ]. A. orientale is mainly cultivated in the Jian’ou and Shaowu regions of Fujian Province.…”