Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Ashwagandha): A comprehensive review on ethnopharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, biomedicinal and toxicological aspects

Oxidative Stress in Arterial Hypertension (HTN): The Nuclear Factor Erythroid Factor 2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2) Pathway, Implications and Future Perspectives

“…The experimental studies from Table 1 demonstrated that modulating natural products via Nrf2 pathways exerts beneficial antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects [ 132 , 137 , 140 ] in severe heart failure [ 133 ], in radiation-induced OS [ 134 ], in induced-cardiac stress [ 136 ], in renal impairment [ 139 ], in atherosclerosis [ 142 ], and in ochratoxin-induced toxicity [ 143 ] and also shows cytoprotective and antimicrobial properties [ 135 ]; cytoprotective and cancer chemopreventive effects [ 138 ]; and anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, renoprotective, antiobesity, antidiabetic, and anticancer effects [ 141 ] in other chronic diseases. Although the studies mentioned did not directly explore the effect of natural products in hypertension, the administration of these natural products leads to an Nrf2 response with subsequent activation of various protective pathways which can be linked to vascular protection.…”

Dioscin: A review on pharmacological properties and therapeutic values

“…Hence, the need for a novel candidate, that promises both high efficiency and minimal side effects, maybe satisfied by looking into the benefits of using natural products such as phytochemicals, which present considerable chemical diversity for discovering and developing new medicines 117–119 …”

“…Natural compounds have beneficial properties like low cytotoxicity and epidemiological studies indicate the numerous health benefits they offer. Therefore, a number of clinical studies have been performed with plant‐derived natural products 114,118,167 . In 2015 in the USA, Phase II clinical trials were completed for the dioscin‐containing DA‐9801 against diabetic neuropathy demonstrating its safety in humans 178 .…”

“…114,116 Hence, the need for a novel candidate, that promises both high efficiency and minimal side effects, maybe satisfied by looking into the benefits of using natural products such as phytochemicals, which present considerable chemical diversity for discovering and developing new medicines. [117][118][119] Research has demonstrated the development and implementation of different plant-derived saponins in aiding cancer treatment, and dioscin is one of the most common steroid saponins that exhibits potent antitumor activities in multiple human cancer types. 120 Dioscin shows robust anticancerous properties through its regulatory effects on autophagy, apoptosis, cell cycle, cell migration, proliferation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, Ca 2+ release, and DNA damage, along with its mechanistic actions on the related signaling pathways and the various target proteins included in cancer growth and metastasis.…”

“…Therefore, a number of clinical studies have been performed with plant-derived natural products. 114,118,167 In 2015 in the USA, Phase II clinical trials were completed for the dioscin-containing DA-9801 against diabetic neuropathy demonstrating its safety in humans. 178 In addition, dioscin-containing Di-Ao-Xin-Xue-Kang capsules were used against cardiovascular disease for two decades in China.…”