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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) poses significant health risks; however, effective treatment options remain scarce. Yinchen-Gancao decoction (YG, a formula composed of Traditional Chinese Medicine Artemisia capillaris Thunb. and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.) ameliorated symptoms in NASH mouse models. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated., Aim of Study: This study aimed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of YG and explore the underlying mechanisms., Materials and Methods: YG was prepared and characterized, and then orally administered to high-fat diet (HFD) or high-fat high-sugar diet (HFHS) induced mice. Histopathological examinations and biochemical analyses were performed to evaluate the therapeutic effects. Fxr -/- mice were used to investigate the role of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in the therapeutic effects of YG. The mechanism of action was explored by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), western blotting, molecular docking, and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA)., Results: YG improved liver histopathology and biochemical parameters in wild-type mice but only improved alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in Fxr -/- mice. YG upregulated FXR with Chlorogenic acid (CGA) identified as a bioactive constituent. In wild-type (WT) mice, YG downregulated de novo lipogenesis (DNL), fatty acid (FA) uptake, and upregulated FA β-oxidation. However, these effects were absent in the Fxr -/- mice. YG inhibited hepatic inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in both WT and Fxr -/- mice., Conclusion: Our study supported the use of YG as a promising therapeutic agent to attenuate NASH. Its mechanism of action involved the reduction of hepatic lipid accumulation (FXR-dependent) and the inhibition of hepatic inflammation and ERS., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Artemisia capillaris Thunb. (ACT) is a plant in the Asteraceae family. Its traditional effects are to clear away dampness and heat, promote gallbladder and reduce jaundice. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that MASLD is a damp-heat syndrome. The group's previous study showed that Artemisia capillaris Thunb. Water Extract (ACTE) has an improved effect on MASLD., Aim of the Study and Methods: In order to further understand its mechanism of action, this study established a mouse MASLD model and a HepG2 cell lipid droplet model, combined small RNA sequencing and miRNA transfection experiments, to explore the mechanism of ACTE to improve MASLD by modulating miRNA-targeted mRNA. Non-targeted metabolomics method was used to detect and analyze ACTE., Results: This study screened miR-34a-5p and confirmed its target mRNA-Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1). MASLD induced high expression of miR-34a-5p and low expression of Sirt1, and ACE reversed these changes. When overexpressing miR-34a-5p or knocking down Sirt1, the effect of ACE in reducing PO (palmitic acid and oleic acid complex)-induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells was attenuated. ACTE reduces the expression of FASN, SCD1, ACC, and SREBP-1c, promotes the expression of CPT-1 and HSL, thereby reducing lipid accumulation., Conclusions: ACTE activates Sirt1 by inhibiting the expression of miR-34a-5p, thereby reducing liver lipid accumulation and improving HFD-induced MASLD. These findings highlight the potential of ACTE in reducing weight, controlling obesity, and improving lipid metabolism disorders., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Artemisia ordosica Krasch. represents a medicinal species traditionally and extensively employed in traditional medicine for treating ailments such as rheumatic arthritis, sore throat, and inflammation. This study initially focuses on the extraction, purification, and characterization of Artemisia ordosica Krasch. polysaccharides (AOP). The purified AOP exhibits a molecular mass corresponding to 9.00 kDa and consists of multiple monosaccharide units, with glucose (54.08%) as the predominant component, followed by arabinose (13.75%), mannose (13.43%), galactose (12.79%), xylose (3.15%), glucuronic acid (0.93%), galacturonic acid (0.67%), ribose (0.63%), and fucose (0.56%), respectively. Furthermore, to explore the immune-regulatory mechanisms of AOP, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) were cultured and exposed to inhibitors targeting receptors and signaling molecules. The results indicated that TLR4 serves as a potential target through which AOP exerts its immunomodulatory functions. AOP mitigates immune stress in PBLs triggered by LPS by disrupting the interaction between LPS and TLR and downregulating the over-activation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. In summary, AOP shows promise as a feed additive to protect animals from immune stress.

As a part of our ongoing search for bioactive constituents of Artemisia capillaris , we isolated 4- O -caffeoyl-2- C -methyl-d-threonic acid (PPT-14). This is a rare caffeic acid ester derivative that is reported here for the first time in the Artemisia species, which is the third occurrence in any plant species worldwide. In this study, we evaluated the anti-diabetic potential of PPT-14 using in vitro and in silico approaches. PPT-14 demonstrated significant inhibitory activity against two crucial enzymes linked to diabetes progression and complications: protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and aldose reductase (AR). These had IC 50 values of 64.92 and 19.50 µM, respectively. Additionally, PPT-14 exhibited free radical scavenging activity with 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (IC 50 14.46 µM). Molecular docking and 200 ns molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that there were stable binding interactions with the key residues of PTP1B and AR, highlighting strong affinity and dynamic stability. Pharmacokinetic analyses revealed favorable water solubility, adherence to Lipinski's Rule of Five, and minimal interactions with cytochrome P450 enzymes, indicating the drug-like potential of PPT-14. Toxicity studies confirmed its safety profile, showing no genotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, or significant toxicity risks, with an acceptable oral LD 50 value of 2.984 mol/kg. These findings suggest that PPT-14 could be a promising multitarget lead compound for ameliorating diabetes and its associated complications.

Eleven undescribed sesquiterpenes, vachanins A-K covering types of germacrane, eudesmane, guaiacane, and cadinane, along with fifteen known analogs were isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia vachanica Krasch. ex Poljakov. Their structures were established on the basis of HRMS and NMR data, and their absolute configurations were successfully determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, 13 C-NMR calculations and DP4+ probability analysis, and ECD data in corporation with quantum chemical calculations. Vachanin A is the first example of germacrane bearing an uncommon C 5 , C 10 -oxygen bridge. All isolated compounds were assayed for anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activities. Compounds 15 and 22 presented weak anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the release of NO in RAW 264.7 cells induced by LPS with IC 50 values of 42.82 ± 1.43, and 63.37 ± 3.28 μM., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Praziquantel is currently the only effective treatment for schistosomiasis, but several limitations underscore the need for new therapeutic agents. Recent promising in vitro results with Artemisia species and the success of A. annua and its active compound artemisinin in treating parasitic infections warrant the need for further studies. Here we evaluate the in vitro activity of nine Artemisia species, including previously untested species, against newly transformed schistosomula (NTS) and adult Schistosoma mansoni. Three extracts were prepared: an aqueous infusion, a dichloromethane (DCM) fraction of the aqueous infusion, and a DCM extract. All samples were tested for activity at concentrations ranging from 1-25 μg/ml against NTS and the most promising against the adult S. mansoni. All aqueous infusions showed inferior activity against NTS as opposed to the DCM fractions of the infusions and DCM extracts of A. abrotanum, A. arborescens, A. afra, and A. scoparia which displayed superior activity as compared to the positive control praziquantel. The DCM fraction infusions of A. afra (BB) were the most active with IC 50 values of 0.35 μg/ml against NTS and 4.5 μg/ml against adult worms. Chemical fingerprinting using High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the samples revealed some phytochemical similarities and significant differences between the species tested. This study provides supporting evidence of the antischistosomal potential of Artemisia spp. and warrants more in-depth research to identify potential novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of schistosomiasis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Neuroinflammation is a causative factor in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Previous studies have shown that Artemisia mongolica has anti-inflammatory properties. Aschantin (AM3) has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. However, the mechanism of AM3 and its epimer epi-aschantin (AM2) remains controversial. Therefore, the present study explored the mechanism of neuroinflammation by AM2 and AM3 and attempted to reveal the relationship between the structure of AM2 and AM3 and anti-neuroinflammatory activity. We isolated for the first time 12 lignans from A. mongolica that inhibited NO content at 10 μM in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. Among them, epi-aschantin (AM2) and Aschantin (AM3) showed significant inhibition in NO screening. With further studies, we found that both AM2 and AM3 effectively inhibited the overproduction of NO, PGE2, IL-6, TNF-α and MCP-1, as well as the overexpression of COX-2 and iNOS. Mechanistic studies have shown AM2 and AM3 significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK and P-38 in the MAPK signaling pathway and p-IκBα,p-p65 and blocked p65 entry into the nucleus. The results suggested that the pair of epimers (AM2 and AM3) can be used as potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of various brain disorders and that structural differences do not differ in anti-neuroinflammatory effects., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

In Cameroon, like in other African countries, infusions of Artemisia afra and Artemisia annua are widely used for the management of health-related problems, including malaria. The secondary metabolite contents of medicinal plants vary between different geographical regions and seasons, directly influencing their effectiveness in treating ailments. This study explores the phytochemical diversity and anti-plasmodial potential of A. annua and A. afra from distinct geographical locations within Cameroon, aiming to define the optimal chemical composition in terms of anti-plasmodial activity. Extracts were prepared from plants collected from diverse regions in Cameroon during both the rainy and dry seasons, and their metabolic contents were analyzed using Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and Gas Chromatography (GC). Their anti-plasmodial potential was assessed on a chloroquine-sensitive 3D7 Plasmodium falciparum strain. Additionally, the environmental parameters of the collecting sites were retrieved from multispectral satellite imagery. The activity profiles of the samples were associated with their environment, with distinct phytochemical compositions observed for each sample based on its geographical origin and season. Traces of artemisinin were detected in some of the A. afra samples, but it was present in the A. annua samples at a significantly higher concentration, especially in the rainy season samples (highest concentration in the Adamawa region, at 8.9% m/m artemisinin in the dry extract). Both plants are active at different levels, with A. annua more active due to the presence of artemisinin and A. afra probably active due to the presence of polyphenols. Both season and geographical location influence both plants' metabolic contents and hence their antimalaria activity. These findings suggest that the selection of a suitable Artemisia sample for use as a potential antimalarial treatment should take into consideration its geographical origin and the period of collection.

Artemisia argyi volatile oil (AAVO) is a kind of natural oil with abundant active components and remarkable medicinal and healthcare value. However, AAVO has low solubility, stability, and bioavailability. Here, to address these issues, a nanoemulsion system of Artemisia argyi volatile oil (AAVO-Ne) is constructed using phase transition titration, and the conditions are continuously optimized to combine it with chitosan, forming a chitosan composite of the volatile oil nanoemulsion (AAVO-NeCs). The structure was analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and the performance was evaluated through in vitro antibacterial tests, in vitro release experiments, and antioxidant assays. The results indicated that the typical characteristic absorption peaks of AAVO shifted in the AAVO-Ne spectrum and new absorption peaks appeared in the AAVO-NeCs, which implied that the formation of AAVO-NeCs involved not only a physical encapsulation process but also certain chemical interactions, thus enhancing the stability and bioactivity of the composites. Compared to AAVO, AAVO-NeCs exhibited a 1.87-fold increase in antibacterial activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Meanwhile, the in vitro release study demonstrated that AAVO-NeCs exhibited a biphasic release pattern. Compared to AAVO-Ne and AAVO, AAVO-NeCs also showed a significant enhancement in antioxidant activity. Overall, AAVO-NeCs demonstrate improved solubility and efficacy of AAVO, as well as high-efficiency delivery, antibacterial, sustained-release, and antioxidant properties. These attributes position AAVO-NeCs as a promising candidate for applications in drug delivery, food preservation, and other fields, offering innovative solutions and contributing to the sustainable development of related industries.

In spite of the many chemical reports on polyacetylenes of the genus Artemisia , combined conclusions regarding their distribution and biological functions are widely missing. The aim of the present review was to arrange the diversity of polyacetylenes in the genus following biogenetic aspects and group them together into characteristic structural types. The co-occurrence of the dehydrofalcarinol type with the aromatic capillen-isocoumarin type represents a characteristic biogenetic trend, clearly segregating species of the subgenus Dracunculus from those of the subgenera Artemisia and Absinthium, distinguished by the spiroketal enol ether and/or linear triyne type. Various accumulation trends toward specific structures additionally contribute to a more natural species grouping within the subgenera. Biological activities were reported for all four structural types, ranging from antifungal, insecticidal, nematicidal, and cytotoxic properties to allelopathic effects. Of particular interest were their remarkable cytotoxic potencies, from which the very high values of dehydrofalcarin-3,8-diol may be associated with the pronounced affinity of this type to form extremely stable bonds to proteins acting in signaling pathways. The aromatic acetylene capillin inhibited the viability of various tumor cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Its potent apoptosis-inducing activity was induced via the mitochondrial pathway. A group of spiroketal enol ethers was identified as inhibitors of PMA-induced superoxide generation. Among them, the epoxide of the isovalerate ester exhibited the highest potency. The ecological impact of acetylene formation was made apparent by the allelopathic effects of DME of the linear triyne type, and the aromatic capillen by inhibiting seed germination and growth of widespread weeds.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an important component of the skin's extracellular matrix, and its degradation leads to wrinkles. Hyaluronan-binding protein involved in hyaluronan depolymerization (HYBID) is the main factor responsible for HA degradation in dermis. This study aimed to identify natural plant materials that can effectively suppress HYBID expression and protect HA from degradation. Screening of various plant extracts was performed for the inhibition of histamine-induced mRNA expression of HYBID in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF). The molecular size distribution of HA was evaluated by incubating fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled large HA (1200-1600 kDa) in NHDF for certain time followed by measuring different sizes of FITC-labeled HA in the cultured medium by HPLC. Among 380 plant extracts, we found that Artemisia capillaris flower extract (ACFE) was the most effective agent in both suppressing HYBID expression as well as protecting large HA from degradation. Subsequent mechanism elucidation studies showed that ACFE epigenetically regulates the expression of HYBID by modulating the expression of a specific miRNA, miR-486-5p, which is known to directly target and inhibit HYBID expression. Our active compound search identified 1-caffeoyl-3-hydroxybutane and 3-caffeoyl-1-hydroxybutane in ACFE as new compounds, which we named Kawarayomogin I and Kawarayomogin II, respectively. This is the first report to show that Artemisia capillaris with two novel active compounds inhibits HYBID expression as well as hyaluronic acid degradation, and therefore, could be used as possible agent for cosmeceutical potential., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. The authors declare that they have no potential conflicts of interest., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

While the use of plants in traditional medicine dates back to 1500 B.C., modern advancements led to the development of innovative therapeutic techniques. On the other hand, in the field of anti-infective agents, lack of efficacy and the onset of resistance stimulate the search for novel agents. Genus Artemisia is one of the most diverse among perennial plants with a variety of species, properties, and chemical components. The genus is known for its therapeutic values and, in particular, for its role in the origin of antimalarial agents derived from artemisinin. In this review, we aim to provide an updated overview of the evolution of natural and nature-inspired compounds related to the genus Artemisia that have been proven, in vitro and in vivo , to possess antimalarial properties. An overview of the chemical composition and a description of the ethnopharmacological aspects will be presented, as well as an updated report on in vitro and in vivo evidence that allowed the translation of artemisinin and its derivatives from traditional chemistry into modern medicinal chemistry. The biological and structural properties will be discussed, also dedicating attention to the challenging tasks that still are open, such as the identification of optimal combination strategies, the routes of administration, and the full assessment of the mechanism of action., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Inflammation is a vital and normal physiological response; however, excessive inflammation can contribute to the development of various diseases. Artemisia sieversiana, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, contains a variety of chemical compounds. One such compound, 3-oxo-11αH-germacra-1(10)E,4Z-dien-12,6α-olide, a germacranolide sesquiterpenoid (germacranolide, GMO), has not been thoroughly investigated regarding its potential anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of GMO were investigated for the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 cells. It was demonstrated that GMO effectively suppressed the production of inflammatory mediators, decreased the phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in RAW264.7 cells. Additionally, GMO exhibited the capacity to mitigate oxidative damage induced by LPS, as indicated by assessments of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial membrane potential. In summary, GMO possesses significant anti-inflammatory effects by modulating the NF-κB/MAPK pathway and antioxidant effects by regulating ROS production., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to The Japanese Society of Pharmacognosy.)

Background: Artemisia argyi is a well-known medicinal plant. A. argyi has been widely used in clinical for about 3000 years, owing to its extensive pharmacological activity. Among these, its anti-cancer properties are the most reported activity. However, its pharmacodynamic compounds remain unknown., Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the potential anti-cancer compounds in A. argyi and reveal its molecular mechanisms and targets., Methods: Firstly, A. argyi were extracted with 70 % ethanol, yielding A. argyi EtOH (AAE) crude extracts. AAE was extracted with Ethyl acetate and Butanol successively to yield A. argyi EtOAc (AAEA) and A. argyi Butanol (AAB) sub-fraction. And, AAE, AAEA, and AAB were prepared to assess their anti-cancer ability in vitro and in vivo. Then, the natural products were isolated from active sub-fraction via activity-oriented separation and identification. Meanwhile, all the compounds were evaluated the anti-cancer effect. The anti-proliferation mechanism of representative compounds was explored, based on programmed cell death. Moreover, 4D-data-independent (DIA) quantitative proteomic studies were performed to reveal the underlying targets and mechanism of representative compounds. Finally, the pharmacodynamic compound and key target interaction were identified by the evaluation of targets function, molecular docking, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay, and small interfering RNA. In addition, the toxicity of pharmacodynamic compounds were evaluated by in vitro and zebrafish model in vivo., Results: AAEA demonstrated stronger inhibitory effects than AAB on various cancer cell lines in vitro. And, AAEA sub-fraction effectively inhibited the tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Subsequently, we isolated and identified 47 anti-cancer components from AAEA, especially 23 of which were isolated from A. argyi for the first time. Among them, 8 sesquiterpenes compounds showed strong anti-cancer activity. Moreover, compound 3 (moxartenolide) exhibited stronger induction of apoptosis and ferroptosis. Ultimately, a series of studies based on proteomics revealed that Moxartenolide inhibited cancer cell proliferation through the key enzyme NDUFA4. In addition, toxicological evaluation in vivo and in vitro demonstrated the safety of the candidate drug., Conclusion: These findings reveal the anti-cancer components of A. argyi based on activity-oriented separation and identification for the first time. Specially, Compound 3 (moxartenolide) inhibited cancer proliferation by inducing apoptosis and ferroptosis via key cell metabolism enzyme NDUFA4. Briefly, it suggests that A. argyi has the potential of anti-cancer drug development., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Microscopic examination is one of the important identification methods for crude drug test described in the 18th Japanese Pharmacopoeia. This method is useful for identification because it can be used for small amounts of samples regardless of their storage conditions; however, this method requires a lot of technical skill in sectioning intricate and/or small samples and is time-consuming. High-resolution X-ray computed tomography (HRXCT) is a novel method for observing the internal morphology of materials. Previously, we used HRXCT to visualize the internal morphology of the Ephedra Herb, obtaining observations that closely match those obtained via microscopic examination. HRXCT employs a low-energy X-ray source and the permeation distance of the X-rays is very short. Therefore, HRXCT can be used for elucidating the morphology of small herbal medicines. In this study, Artemisia Capillaris Flower (capitulum with a diameter of approximately 2 mm) and Plantago Seed (seeds with a length of approximately 2 mm) were examined. The results showed that HRXCT examination was sufficient to illustrate the internal independent organs of Artemisia Capillaris Flower and that their inflorescences remained intact. When observing Plantago Seed, the internal morphology of more than one seed can be depicted simultaneously. Therefore, observation using HRXCT was easy, simple, and effective to illustrate the internal morphology of herbal medicines, which is typically time-consuming and requires advanced microscopy skills., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interests: There is no conflict of interest to disclose in relation to this paper., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to The Japanese Society of Pharmacognosy.)

Background: Artemisia spp. have been used for millennia in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including malaria. Extracts of Artemisia afra and A. annua remain widely used throughout Africa for healthcare purposes, notably to prevent and/or treat malaria. However, the modes of action of these plant extracts remain unclear, with contradictory reports regarding the presence and role of artemisinin in both plants., Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify differences in the antimalarial mode of action of A. afra and A. annua by measuring their phenolic profiles and comparing their effect on parasite metabolism in vitro., Methods: In this work, we analyzed the phenolic profile of A. afra and A. annua extracts through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), detected and quantified artemisinin through HPLC and mass spectrometry (MS), and performed comparative HPLC-MS metabolomic analysis on in vitro-cultured Plasmodium falciparum trophozoites to elucidate the potential modes of action of these plant extracts., Results: A. afra contained only trace amounts of artemisinin and elicited a different parasite metabolic response compared to A. annua, which contained significantly more artemisinin and correlated closely with the parasite response profile elicited by purified artemisinin. A. annua impacted parasite glutathione metabolism in agreement with the established redox activity of artemisinin, while A. afra had an effect on lipid precursors., Conclusions: This study reveals that A. afra and A. annua have divergent effects on Plasmodium falciparum metabolism and provides support for ongoing efforts exploring the use of A. afra for the treatment of malaria., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this article., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

Purpose: The objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of an ethyl acetate extract of Artemisia ludoviciana on the viability of adult Fasciola hepatica parasites and eggs., Methods: The collection of plant material was performed as described in previous reports. The dried material was macerated with ethyl acetate. Ovicidal assays were performed at concentrations of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mg/L A. ludoviciana extract. Bioassays of fasciolicidal efficacy in adult specimens of F. hepatica were performed at extract concentrations of 125, 250, 375 and 500 mg/L. The effects of triclabendazole, a reference drug, and artemisinin were also evaluated., Results: The ovicidal effectiveness of the extracts obtained after 16 h of incubation at concentrations of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mg/L was 48%, 52%, 87%, 89% and 92%, respectively (p < 0.05), and the fasciolicidal efficiencies during the first 24 h post-treatment ranged from 82 to 100% (p < 0.05). In both cases, scanning electron microscopy revealed damage to the shells of the eggs treated with the extract, compromising their stability. In adult fasciolae, alterations to the integument that resulted in its erosion and detachment were observed. Histopathological studies of the affected specimens revealed damage to the tegumentary and subtegumentary cells and alterations in the ovaries, testicles and intestine. This damage was more severe after treatment with the extract than after treatment with the other compounds., Methods: Extract of A. ludoviciana causes damage to the tegument, intestine, ovaries, testes and eggs of F. hepatica., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical Approval: not applicable. Consent to Participate: The authors give their consent to participate in the editorial process by the journal. Consent for Publication: The authors give their consent to publish the research work in the journal. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

One new chlorinated sesquiterpenoid (compound 1, ablepharolide) and twenty-one known compounds were obtained from the aerial parts of Artemisia blepharolepis. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods and the absolute configuration was further determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis for ablepharolide. Ablepharolide is a rare sesquiterpenoid with a 4-methyl-7-isopropyl-9-ethyl-perhydroindene skeleton that incorporates a chlorine atom. It significantly inhibited the growth of MCF-7 cells with IC 50 value of 8.34±0.77 μM. Further investigations demonstrated that ablepharolide induced morphological changes in MCF-7 cells, inhibited proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, western blot analysis revealed that ablepharolide induced a significant increase in cleaved caspase-8, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in MCF-7 cells. All of these results supported that ablepharolide induced exogenous apoptosis in MCF-7 cells., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Verticillium wilt, a significant pathogen affecting cotton, has historically been challenging to control, posing a substantial threat to the sustainable development of the cotton industry. This study demonstrates that resistance to Verticillium dahliae in cotton can be enhanced by treating the roots with an ethyl acetate extract (EAAA) extracted from Artemisia argyi. The mechanisms by which EAAA activates immunity in cotton were elucidated by examining the expression levels of resistance genes post-treatment, evaluating salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) levels, analyzing transcriptome data, and employing virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technology. Additionally, pot experiments were conducted to validate the efficacy of EAAA in controlling Verticillium wilt. The flavonoid content in EAAA was qualitatively analyzed using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), identifying three specific flavonoids that were further screened to verify their roles in activating cotton immunity. Cotton plants treated with EAAA exhibited reduced leaf chlorosis and browning in the vascular bundles. Genes involved in SA and JA synthesis and signaling in the root system were highly expressed, resulting in increased levels of SA and JA. Transcriptome analysis revealed that most upregulated differentially expressed genes were primarily enriched in the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Two specific genes, RLK and MAPKKK18, were identified through VIGS technology as key regulators of the immune pathway in cotton. The flavonoid monomer activation experiment demonstrated that eupatilin, hispidulin, jaceosidin, and a mixture of these three could induce the expression of cotton-related resistance genes. Collectively, these findings provide a research basis for the development of EAAA as a natural plant immune-inducing agent against cotton Verticillium wilt., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: The hepatotoxicity induced by acetaminophen (APAP), a commonly used antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug in clinical practice, has received accumulated attention. Artemisia argyi essential oil (AAEO), a volatile oil component extracted from traditional Chinese medicine Artemisia argyi H.Lév. & Vaniot, has great hepatoprotective effects. However, the potential role of AAEO in APAP-induced hepatotoxicity has not been characterized. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of AAEO on hepatic metabolic changes in mice exposed to APAP., Methods: In this study, 300.00 mg/kg acetaminophen was used to establish liver injury model in C57BL/6 J mice. Hepatoprotective effect of AAEO on APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in mice was investigated by detecting liver function enzymes and histopathological examination. Secondly, UPLC-MS/MS was used to analyze the to analyze the small molecule metabolites and metabolic pathways induced by AAEO treatment; In addition, the effect of AAEO on APAP-induced oxidative stress and inflammation were evaluated by detecting the levels of glutathione peroxidase 4, malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species and inflammatory factors. Finally, the active components of AAEO were preliminarily screened by cellular assays. The hepatoprotective effect of AAEO against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity was examined through the Western blotting, after the CYP2E1 gene was knocked down in AML12 cells by siRNA transfection., Results: Compared with the APAP group, AAEO could reduce the abnormal increase in the levels of liver function enzymes caused by APAP. AAEO could enhance the antioxidant capacity by down-regulating the biosynthesis pathway of unsaturated fatty acids and promoting the activity of antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT in liver tissue induced by APAP. Our study revealed that AAEO promoted GSH synthesis and covalently combined to form APAP-GSH conjugates to reduce the accumulation of APAP in liver tissue. In addition, the chemical constituents in AAEO were analyzed by GC-MS/MS, and it was determined to identify that dihydro-beta-ionone and (-)-verbenone in AAEO might have a significant protective effect on hepatocyte survival after APAP exposure. Further studies on the hepatoprotective mechanism of AAEO indicated that it might reduce the production of toxic metabolites by regulating CYP2E1 levels., Conclusion: AAEO exerted hepatoprotective effects on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice via regulating the activity of CYP2E1 and regulating the γ-glutamyl cycle pathway., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare that they do not have any conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper. We wish to confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Artemisia argyi polysaccharide (AAP) is a homogeneous polysaccharide with a molecular weight of 16 kDa, displaying anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-tumorigenic properties, and potential protective effects on intestinal barrier function. It is anticipated to serve as an efficient component in diarrhea treatment. This study aims to examine the impact of AAP on diarrhea severity, intestinal barrier function, and inflammation in diarrhea-induced rats. The results demonstrated that AAP treatment notably decreased the incidence of diarrhea, reduced its severity, and lowered the disease activity score in rats, while also increasing body weight. Oral administration of AAP augmented goblet cell counts and elevated mucin-2 expression, aiding in the restoration of the mucus barrier. Additionally, AAP treatment enhanced colonic microbial diversity by increasing the abundance of S24-7 and Lactobacillus, while decreasing the levels of Bacteroides, Clostridium, and Sutterella. Moreover, the AAP administration elevated the levels of steroid hormones, prostaglandins, and their derivatives. By inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway, AAP mitigated the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and increased the secretion of anti-inflammatory factor (IL-10). Overall, oral AAP administration effectively combats osmotic diarrhea by fortifying mucus barrier integrity and exerting anti-inflammatory effects, suggesting its potential use as an adjunctive agent in oral rehydration therapy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Changchun Zeng reports financial support was provided by Shenzhen Longhua District Central Hospital. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Artemisia plants are well-known for their abundant sesquiterpene compounds, which encompass various structural types and exhibit a range of biological activities. In this study, a systematic investigation of Artemisia atrovirens revealed the presence of germacrane-type sesquiterpenes for the first time. This included the discovery of 10 new compounds and three known analogues, among which were two rare dimeric germacrane-type compounds. Their structures were fully characterized through a comprehensive analysis involving MS, IR, 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic data, single crystal X-ray diffraction, density functional theory (DFT) NMR calculations, and time-dependent DFT electronic circular dichroism (TDDFT ECD) calculations. Furthermore, all isolated compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Compound 10 demonstrated a potent inhibitory effect on NO production, with an IC 50 value of 4.01 ± 0.09 μM. This study highlights the diverse chemical repertoire of Artemisia species and underscores their potential in drug discovery and development., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Haemonchus contortus is a highly pathogenic blood-feeding parasite affecting sheep and goats, leading to significant economic losses. With increasing resistance to conventional anthelmintics, exploring plant-based alternatives is crucial. In vitro, studies suggest that peruvin and hentriacontane/1-nonacosanol, isolated from Artemisia cina (Asteraceae), may synergistically control Haemonchus contortus. However, their in vivo efficacy and safety are unestablished. This study evaluated these compounds' anthelmintic activity and health effects and their synergistic mixture in Meriones unguiculatus (gerbils). The compounds were isolated using open-column chromatography and identified by spectroscopic techniques. Gerbils were artificially infected with H. contortus following dexamethasone treatment to enhance infection. Anthelmintic activity was assessed by larval reduction in the stomach, blood biochemical parameters using a blood chemistry analyzer, and the anatomopathological changes in kidney and liver tissues. Peruvin (0.4 mg/kg) and hentriacontane/1-nonacosanol (2.60 mg/kg) achieved larvicidal reductions of 84.86 % and 74.05 %, respectively, while their synergistic mixture (0.08/0.0017 mg/kg) resulted in a 100 % reduction. Histopathological analysis revealed minor inflammation and albuminous degeneration, primarily affecting the liver. The peruvin-treated group showed notable kidney damage, while hepatic alterations were similar across both compounds. Although effective, further research is needed to optimize dosing and ensure safety., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Rosa Isabel Higuera-Piedrahita reports financial support was provided by Support Program for Research and Technological Innovation Projects (PAPIIT-UNAM) TA200324. Luis David Arango-De la Pava reports financial support was provided by National Autonomous University of Mexico Directorate General of Academic Staff Affairs. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Artemisiae Scoporiae Herba is derived from Artemisia scoparia or A. capillaris. The accurate identification of the herbs, particularly when dealing with bulk samples, is critical for ensuring the quality and efficacy of the medicinal product. This study aimed to establish a comprehensive molecular approach by combining multiple markers for the precise identification of Artemisiae Scoporiae Herba. The ITS2 from A. scoparia, A. capillaris, and other common Artemisia species were retrieved from GenBank. MEGA was used to build a phylogenetic tree with these sequences, and the effectiveness of ITS2 in species identification was assessed. The analysis revealed that while ITS2 could distinguish Artemisiae Scoporiae Herba from other closely related species of Artemisia, it was insufficient to differentiate between A. scoparia and A. capillaris. To address this limitation, the chloroplast genome of A. capillaris was assembled and compared with the published chloroplast genomes of A. scoparia and A. capillaris, on the basis of which a DNA mini-barcode was developed. The rpoA-rps11 region was selected as the target for the development of mini-barcode due to its potential for distinguishing between these two species. Specific primers were designed to differentiate A. scoparia from A. capillaris. The ITS2 sequences and the newly developed mini-barcode were used together for Sanger sequencing to identify individual samples of Artemisiae Scoporiae Herba, while DNA metabarcoding was employed for the identification of bulk samples. The identification results of representative individual samples and bulk samples from different regions consistently confirmed A. capillaris. This study established a method that combined ITS2 and mini-barcode to identify bulk samples of Artemisiae Scoporiae Herba from different regions. This approach overcomes the limitations of morphological and chemical methods, enhancing species identification accuracy and supporting a stable supply of medicinal materials.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Vietnamese people use mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.) to treat arthritis and gout. Our previous research shows that mugwort contains flavonoids, and its extract possesses antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. However, no publications have been on the xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of mugwort and acute anti-inflammatory activity in vivo., Aim of the Study: The study aimed to verify the antioxidant, xanthine oxidase inhibitory, and anti-inflammatory capabilities of mugwort extract in vitro and in vivo, isolate phyto-compounds from potential bioactive fractions, and then evaluate their potential in inhibiting xanthine oxidase., Methods: According to established methods, the extract and the active flavonoids were obtained using different chromatographic techniques. DPPH, ABTS, reducing power, and H 2 O 2 elimination were used to evaluate antioxidant activity. The model of LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells was used to measure the inhibition of NO production. The carrageenan-induced paw oedema model was used to assess acute inflammation in mice. In vitro, xanthine oxidase inhibition assay was applied to investigate the effects of extract/compounds on uric acid production. Chemical structures were identified by spectral analysis., Results: The assessment of the acute inflammatory model in mice revealed that both the 96% ethanol and the 50% ethanol extracts significantly decreased oedema in the mice's feet following carrageenan-induced inflammation. 96% ethanol extract exhibited a better reduction in oedema at the low dose. The analysis revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction had the highest levels of total polyphenols and flavonoids. Additionally, this fraction demonstrated significant antioxidant activity in various assays, such as DPPH, ABTS, reducing power, and H 2 O 2 removal. Furthermore, it displayed the most potent inhibition of xanthine oxidase, an anti-inflammatory activity. Five phytochemicals were isolated and determined from the active fraction such as luteolin (1), rutin (2), apigenin (3), myricetin (4), and quercetin (5). Except for rutin, the other compounds demonstrated the ability to inhibit effective xanthine oxidase compared to standard (allopurinol). Moreover, quercetin (5) inhibited NO production (IC 50 21.87 μM)., Conclusion: The results indicate that extracts from A. vulgaris effectively suppressed the activity of xanthine oxidase and exhibited antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, potentially leading to a reduction in the production of uric acid in the body and eliminating ROS. The study identified mugwort extract and bioactive compounds derived from Artemisia vulgaris, specifically luteolin, apigenin, and quercetin, as promising xanthine oxidase inhibitors. These findings suggest that further development of these compounds is warranted. At the same time, the above results also strengthen the use of mugwort to treat gout disease in Vietnam., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Artemisia stechmanniana Besser, one of the most prevalent botanical medicines in Chinese, has been traditionally used for hepatitis treatment. However, the bioactive components and pharmacological mechanism on alcohol-induced liver injury remains unclear., Aim of the Study: To investigate the effect of A. stechmanniana on alcohol-induced liver damage, and further explore its mechanism., Materials and Methods: Phytochemical isolation and structural identification were used to determine the chemical constituents of A. stechmanniana. Then, the alcohol-induced liver damage animal and cell model were established to evaluate its hepato-protective potential. Network pharmacology, molecular docking and bioinformatics were integrated to explore the mechanism and then the prediction was further supported by experiments. Moreover, both compounds were subjected to ADMET prediction through relevant databases., Results: 28 compounds were isolated from the most bioactive fraction, ethyl acetate extract A. stechmanniana, in which five compounds (abietic acid, oplopanone, oplodiol, hydroxydavanone, linoleic acid) could attenuate mice livers damage caused by alcohol intragastration, reduce the degree of oxidative stress, and serum AST and ALT, respectively. Furthermore, abietic acid and hydroxydavanone exhibited best protective effect against alcohol-stimulated L-O2 cells injury among five bioactive compounds. Network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis suggested that abietic acid and hydroxydavanone exhibiting drug likeliness characteristics, were the principal active compounds acting on liver injury treatment, primarily impacting to cell proliferation, oxidative stress and inflammation-related PI3K-AKT signaling pathways. Both of them displayed strong binding energies with five target proteins (HRAS, HSP90AA1, AKT1, CDK2, NF-κB p65) via molecular docking. Western blotting results further supported the predication with up-regulation of protein expressions of CDK2, and down-regulation of HRAS, HSP90AA1, AKT1, NF-κB p65 by abietic acid and hydroxydavanone., Conclusion: Alcohol-induced liver injury protection by A. stechmanniana was verified in vivo and in vitro expanded its traditional use, and its two major bioactive compounds, abietic acid and hydroxydavanone exerted hepatoprotective effect through the regulation of PI3K-AKT signaling pathway., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The leaves of Artemisia argyi Levl.et Vant. have a long history of being used to treat skin diseases such as pruritus and dermatitis in China, but the therapeutic effect on allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is still unclear., Aim of the Study: To investigate the effect and molecular mechanisms of the volatile oil of A. argyi leaves (abbreviated as 'AO') in the treatment of ACD., Materials and Methods: The main components in AO were analyzed using GC-MS. The effect of AO on channel currents in hTRPA1-transfected HEK293T cells was studied by whole-cell patch clamp. Subsequently, chloroquine-evoked acute itch and squaraine dibutyl ester (SADBE)-induced ACD chronic itch model was established to evaluate the antipruritic effect through counting scratching behavior, and the anti-inflammatory effects on ACD mice were measured using histological analysis. Meanwhile, the changes of CGRP, the infiltration of nerve fibers and the recruitment of dendritic cells, the expression of Il-23 and Il-17 mRNA in skin lesions, the phosphorylation of ERK and p38 in dorsal root ganglion (DRG), were evaluated by molecular biological methods. Then the inhibitory effect of AO on AITC- or SADBE-activated TRPA1 channels in primary DRG neurons of C57BL/6, Trpa1 -/- or Trpv1 -/- mice was elucidated by Ca 2+ imaging and immunofluorescence., Results: AO treatment inhibited the activation of TRPA1 in HEK293T cells and alleviated acute itch caused by chloroquine, but this effect was lacking in Trpa1 -/- mice. Furthermore, administration of AO attenuated scratching behavior in SADBE-induced ACD mice. AO also inhibited the increase of nerve fibers and recruitment of dendritic cells, and down-regulated the expression of CGRP and the levels of Il-23 and Il-17 mRNA. Meanwhile, AO reduced the expression of p-p38 and p-ERK in the lesioned skin and DRG of SADBE-induced ACD mice. Additionally, AO blocked the activation of TRPA1 channels and decreased the levels of CGRP, p-p38, and p-ERK in DRG neurons., Conclusion: AO could inhibit TRPA1 channels in sensory neurons, thereby reducing the release of CGRP and exerting anti-pruritic and anti-inflammatory effect. These findings also provide a new strategy for exploring the role of A. argyi in treating ACD., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Plants contain a vast array of natural products yet to be discovered, particularly those minor bioactive constituents. Identification of these constituents requires a significant amount of plant material, presenting considerable technical challenges. Mugwort ( Artemisia argyi ) is a widely recognized insect repellent herb, particularly renowned for its extensive usage during the Dragon Boat Festival in China, but the specific constituent responsible for its repellent activity remains unknown. Here, we employed a gene-directed in vitro mining approach to characterize mugwort terpene synthases (TPSs) systematically in a yeast expression system. Based on the establishment of "Terpene synthase-standard library", we have successfully identified 54 terpene products, including a novel compound designated as cyclosantalol. Through activity screening, we have identified that (+)-intermedeol, which presents in trace amount in plants, exhibits significant repellent activity against mosquitoes and ticks. After establishing its safety and efficacy, we then achieved its biosynthetic production in a yeast chassis, with an initial yield of 2.34 g/L. The methodology employed in this study not only identified a highly effective, safe, and commercially viable insect repellent derived from mugwort but also holds promise for uncovering and producing other valuable plant natural products in future research endeavors.

Background: Eupatilin, a flavone isolated from Artemisia species, exerts anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-neoplastic activities. However, the effects of eupatilin on H. pylori-associated gastritis remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of eupatilin on gastric epithelial cells infected with cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA)-positive Helicobacter pylori., Materials and Methods: AGS human gastric carcinoma cells were infected with a CagA-positive H. pylori strain and then treated with 10, 50, or 100 ng of eupatilin. After 24 h, the expression levels of CagA, phosphoinositide 3-kinase 1 (PI3K), nuclear factor (NF)-κB, interleukin (IL)-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the cell lysates were measured using western blotting, and the mRNA levels of IL-6, IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction., Results: CagA translocation into AGS cells resulted in an elongated cell morphology, which was significantly suppressed by eupatilin treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Immunofluorescence staining for anti-CagA showed that eupatilin treatment dose-dependently inhibited CagA expression in the H. pylori-infected AGS cells. H. pylori infection increased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1, and eupatilin treatment significantly reduced the levels of these cytokines in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, eupatilin treatment dose-dependently suppressed the expression of PI3K and NF-κB., Conclusions: Eupatilin treatment demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects on CagA-positive H. pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells by inhibiting CagA translocation, thereby suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway. These results suggest that eupatilin plays a protective role against CagA-positive H. pylori-induced gastritis., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Lee et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) seriously affects the daily life of people. The whole plant of Artemisia ordosica Krasch. (AOK) has been used in folk medicine. This study aimed to investigate the in vivo anti-RA effects of AOK extract (AOKE) on collagen-induced arthritis in rats., Methods: AOKE (400, 200, or 100 mg/kg) was administered orally to animals for 30 days. Body weight, paw swelling, arthritis index, thymus, and spleen indices, and pathological changes were assessed for effects of AOKE on RA. Furthermore, the inflammatory cytokines in rat serum were detected. In addition, the expressions of STAT3, Caspase-3, Galectin-3, and S100A9 in synovial tissue were researched using immunohistochemistry., Key Findings: The AOKE significantly reduced the arthritis indices, paw swelling, spleen, and thymus indices. Meanwhile, AOKE (400 mg/kg) decreased the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17A, and increased the level of IL-10 in rat serum. Histopathological examination showed that AOKE reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and cartilage erosion. Then, AOKE decreased the expressions of STAT3, Galectin-3, S100A9, and increased the expression of Caspase-3., Conclusion: AOKE had interesting anti-RA activity in rats, which deserved further research for the development and clinical use of this medicinal resource., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

To cope with the constraints of conventional drug delivery systems, site-specific drug delivery systems are the major focus of researchers. The present research developed water-swellable, pH-responsive methacrylic acid-based hydrogel scaffolds of Artemisia vulgaris seed mucilage with mucin and loaded with acyclovir sodium as a model drug. The developed hydrogel discs are evaluated for diverse parameters. Drug loading efficiency in all formulations ranges from 63% to 75%. The hydrogels exhibited pH-dependent swelling, displaying optimum swelling in a phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), and insignificant swelling in an acidic buffer (pH 1.2), in addition, they responded well to electrolyte concentrations. The sol-gel fraction is estimated ranging from 60 to 95%. Dissolution studies unveiled sustained drug release for 24 h in a phosphate buffer of pH 7.4, exhibiting zero-order release kinetics. Moreover, FTIR spectra confirmed the drug-excipient compatibility. SEM photomicrographs revealed a rough and porous surface of hydrogel discs with several pores and channels. The PXRD diffractograms exposed the amorphous nature of the polymeric blends. The findings of acute toxicity studies proved the developed hydrogel network is biocompatible. Therefore, these outcomes connote the newly created network as a smart delivery system, able to dispatch acyclovir sodium into the intestinal segment for a prolonged period., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Artemisia argyi Levl. et Vant. (A. argyi) is an important member of Asteraceae (Compositae) family, which has good medicinal potential and edible value. Phytochemical studies have shown that the A. argyi has a variety of bioactive components, mainly including polysaccharides, flavonoids, alkaloids, and volatile oil. More and more evidences show that A. argyi polysaccharide is a kind of representative pharmacological and biological active macromolecules, which has a variety of pharmacological activities in vitro and in vivo, such as estrogen-like effect, anti-bacterial, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant and immune regulation effect. As far as we know, there are few comprehensively reviews on A. argyi polysaccharide. This review aims to comprehensively and systematically review the research progress on the extractions and purifications, structural characteristics, pharmacological activities, structure-activity relationships, existing and potential applications of A. argyi polysaccharides in the past 12 years, in order to support their therapeutic potential and health functions. Finally, prospects were made for the further development and utilization of A. argyi polysaccharides in four fields: food, medicine, packaging materials, and daily chemicals., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study evaluated the impact of Artemisia sphaerocephala Krasch glucomannan with different degrees of acetyl group substitution (DS) on the prebiotic properties of grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSP). UV spectra, CIELab, and dynamic light scattering analyses indicated DS-influenced variable interactions between GSP and glucomannan. In vitro fermentation demonstrated that glucomannan enhanced the solubility of some phenolic compounds, and decreased the pH value of fermentation liquids. The production of acetate acid and total short chain fatty acids in the GSP fermentation liquid increased with the degree of DS of glucomannan. Notably, acetylated glucomannan exerted dramatic effects on GSP-induced gut microbiota modulation. The relative abundances of Bacteroides ovatus and Bacteroides decreased as DS increased. Meanwhile, Bacteroides acidifaciens and Akkermansia muciniphila have a positive correlation, even though the GSP-promoted enrichment of A. muciniphila was inhibited by the added glucomannan. Moreover, glucomannan enhanced the metabolism of nucleotides, secondary bile acid, and glycan inhibited by GSP. These findings suggest that acetylated glucomannan affect the prebiotic properties of GSP with its DS serving as a key factor., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the study was to characterise the chemical composition of the essential oil extracted from a Chinese traditional aromatic herb, Artemisia sieversiana Ehrhart ex Willd and investigate its antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus , the test bacterium, using thin-layer chromatography-direct bioautography (TLC-DB). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed that the essential oil was dominated by chamazulene (44.44%). Undeveloped TLC-DB enabled the measurement of zone of inhibition as valid as and more sensitive than the traditional agar diffusion method. The overall antimicrobial effect was weak at the tested concentration range and the antimicrobial strength did not exhibit concentration dependence. At high essential oil concentration (>1000μg/ml), size of zone of inhibition was all <7mm. Developed TLC-DB separated the components and visualised the inhibition of bacterial growth on the plate surface where the active antimicrobials were determined to be the minor components, hydroxylated terpenes, rather than the dominant component, chamazulene.

Background: Glasswort represents a novel alternative to KCl for replacing sodium in meat products. To evaluate the effects of Na reduction on the quality changes of a traditional dry cured belly due to storage, fresh bellies were dry-salted with 2% NaCl (BCON), with 2% of a mixture containing 50% NaCl and 50% KCl (BKCl) or with 1% of a mixture of 90% NaCl and 10% powdered glasswort (BGW), dry-cured, sliced, vacuum packaged and stored under refrigeration for 60 days., Results: The BKCl and BGW bellies were lower in sodium by one-third to one-half compared to BCON (with 1.6 g Na/100 g). Neither BKCl, nor BGW significantly differed from BCON in free fatty acids (FFA) before and after storage, whereas BGW showed almost twice as much 2-methylbutanal content as BCON. All bellies showed microbiological stability during storage. Micrococcaceae was the most abundant microbial group with values of 10 5 to 10 6 colony-forming units g -1 . The BGW presented higher Micrococcaceae counts (approximately one log unit) but lower microbial biodiversity than BCON., Conclusion: The two alternative dry salting methods reduced the sodium content in bellies, at the same time as ensuring chemical and microbiological stability during refrigerated vacuum storage. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.)

Artemisia argyi is a perennial herbaceous herb of the Artemisia family, with leaves for medical use. However, the germplasm of A. argyi is seriously unclear and mixed during production, and it is urgent to protect new varieties of A. argyi. The distinctness, uniformity, and stability(DUS) testing of the new varieties of plants is the basis for the protection of new varieties of plants, and the development of the DUS testing guidelines is the technical basis for DUS testing. To develop the DUS testing guidelines of A. argyi, A. argyi of 100 germplasm was used as the research objects, and their agronomic and medicinal quality characters were observed and measured during six growth stages, and each character was graded and described. A total of 53 test characters were determined, including 19 characters that must be tested; there were four plant characters, two rhizome characters, five stem characters, three branching characters, 29 leaf characters, three floral characters, five medicinal quality characters, and two other characters. It also involved 16 quality characters, 22 quantitative characters, and 15 pseudo-quantitative characters. Seven grouping characters were determined from 53 characters, including &quot;emergence period&quot; &quot;plant-plant type&quot; &quot;branching-primary branching site&quot; &quot;stem-color&quot; &quot;middle leaf-number of leaf splits&quot; &quot;budding period&quot;, and &quot;plant-height&quot;. By searching for standard characters, 16 standard varieties were ultimately determined. The preparation of this guideline was of great significance for the review and protection of new A. argyi varieties, the protection of breeders' rights, and the promotion of the development of A. argyi industry.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: African wormwood (Artemisia afra Jacq. ex Willd.) has been used traditionally in southern Africa to treat illnesses causing fever and was recently shown to possess anti-tuberculosis activity. As tuberculosis is an endemic cause of fever in southern Africa, this suggests that the anti-tubercular activity of A. afra may have contributed to its traditional medicinal use., Aim of the Study: Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is a deadly and debilitating disease globally affecting millions annually. Emerging drug-resistant Mtb strains endanger the efficacy of the current therapies employed to treat tuberculosis; therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel drugs to combat this disease. Given the reported activity of A. afra against Mtb, we sought to determine the mechanisms by which A. afra inhibits and kills this bacterium., Materials and Methods: We used transcriptomics to investigate the impact of Artemisia spp. extracts on Mtb physiology. We then used chromatographic fractionation and biochemometric analyses to identify a bioactive fractions of A. afra extracts and identify an active compound., Results: Transcriptomic analysis revealed that A. afra exerts different effects on Mtb compared to A. annua or artemisinin, suggesting that A. afra possesses other phytochemicals with unique modes of action. A biochemometric study of A. afra resulted in the isolation of an O-methylflavone (1), 5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)chromen-4-one, which displayed considerable activity against Mtb strain mc 2 6230 in both log phase growth and metabolically downshifted hypoxic cultures., Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that an O-methylflavone constituent of Artemisia afra explains part of the activity of this plant against Mtb. This result contributes to a mechanistic understanding of the reported anti-tubercular activity of A. afra and highlights the need for further study of this traditional medicinal plant and its active compounds., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors report there are no competing interests to declare., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Artemisia rupestris L. (AR) is a traditional medicinal herb commonly used in the Uyghurs and Kazakhs; it was first documented in the Supplement to Compendium of Materia Medica written by Zhao Xuemin in the Qing Dynasty of China and is used clinically to treat colds, hepatitis, and allergic diseases., Aim of the Study: The material basis and mechanisms of AR in acute liver injury (ALI) remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to reveal the possible active components involved in liver protection in AR and to preliminarily explore their pharmacological mechanisms., Materials and Methods: The chemical composition of the ethanolic extract (ARA) was identified by UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS/MS and confirmed by 32 reference standards. The pharmacodynamic results were utilized to screen the active part within the ARA that contribute to the amelioration of CCl 4 /ConA-induced ALI. The main active components and core targets were predicted by network pharmacology and verified by molecular docking combined with qPCR and Western blotting., Results: A total of 131 chemical components were identified in the ARA. The extraction parts of ARA had different therapeutic effects on ALI, among which the dichloromethane extract (ARA-D), which might constitute the main effective fraction of ARA, had significant anti-ALI effects. The network pharmacology results showed that targets including PIK3R1, AKT1, and EGFR, as well as 7 compounds, such as artemetin, vitexicarpin and rupestonic acid may play pivotal roles in treating CCl 4 /ConA-induced ALI. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed that the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway was the main pathway involved. In each model, ARA-D dose-dependently reduced the increase in ALT levels. High-dose ARA-D markedly decreased ALT activity from 196.79 ± 24.82 to 66.37 ± 16.19 U/L in the CCl 4 model group and from 178.00 ± 28.39 to 50.67 ± 7.39 U/L in the ConA model group. Further studies revealed that ARA-D significantly inhibited TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 expression and inhibited the protein expression of PI3K, p-PI3K, and p-AKT in CCl 4 /ConA-induced ALI., Conclusion: ARA-D exhibits protective effects against ALI induced by CCl 4 /ConA, potentially through inhibition of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. These findings may help to determine the material basis and mechanisms of action of ARA-D for liver protection and provide ideas for future comprehensive studies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The gut microbiome influences neurological disorders through bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain, i.e., the gut-brain axis. Artemisia asiatica ex, an extract of Artemisia asiatica Nakai (Stillen®, DA-9601) has been reported to improve depression by increasing brain-derived neurotropic factor. Therefore, we hypothesized that DA-9601 can be a potential therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer's disease (AD) acting through the gut-brain axis. Four groups of Tg2576 mice were used as the animal model for AD: wild type mice (n = 6), AD mice (n = 6), and DA-9601-administered AD mice given dosages of 30mg/kg/day (DA&#95;30mg; n = 6) or 100mg/kg/day (DA&#95;100mg; n = 6). Microglial activation, blood‒brain barrier integrity, amyloid beta accumulation, cognitive behavior, and changes in the gut microbiome were analyzed. DA-9601 improved the cognitive behavior of mice (DA&#95;30mg **p<0.01; DA&#95;100mg **p<0.01) and reduced amyloid beta accumulation (DA&#95;30mg ***p<0.001; DA&#95;100mg **p<0.01). Increased Iba-1 and upregulation of claudin-5 (DA&#95;30mg *p<0.05) and occludin (DA&#95;30mg **p<0.01; DA&#95;100mg ***p<0.001) indicated altered microglial activation and improved blood‒brain barrier integrity. Akkermansia muciniphila was dramatically increased by DA-9601 administration (DA&#95;30mg 47%; DA&#95;100mg 61%). DA-9601 improved AD pathology with Akkermansia muciniphila dominance in the gut microbiome in a mouse model of AD, inferring that DA-9601 can affect AD through the gut-brain axis., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Lee et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Artemisia argyi essential oil (AAEO) is a traditional herbal remedy for asthma. However, the potential effect of AAEO on asthma has not been elucidated., Aim of the Study: To investigate the protective properties of AAEO upon asthma and elucidate its mechanism., Materials and Methods: The effects of AAEO in asthma were assessed by histology and biochemical analysis. Then, we integrated real-time reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunohistochemistry and metabolomics analysis to reveal its mechanism., Results: In vivo, AAEO reduced the counts of white blood cells (WBCs) and cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), ameliorated pathologic alterations in lung tissues, and inhibited secretion of OVA-sIgE and muc5ac. Metabolomics results showed that AAEO can exert therapeutic effects on asthmatic mice by regulating disordered arachidonic acid metabolism and tryptophan metabolism. Further studies shown that AAEO inhibited the expression of 5-LOX and reduced the accumulation of CysLTs in mice. Meanwhile, AAEO promoted the activity of IDO-1, facilitated the conversion of tryptophan to kynurenine, and regulated the imbalance of Treg/Th17 immunity. Immunohistochemical results showed that AAEO promoted the expression of IDO-1. RT-qPCR results showed that AAEO promoted the expression of IL-10 and Foxp3 mRNA, and inhibited the expression of IL-17A and RORγt mRNA, thus regulated the imbalance of Treg/Th17 immunity and exerted its therapeutic effects., Conclusion: AAEO treatment not only attenuates the clinical symptoms of asthma but is also involved in regulating lung tissue metabolism. The anti-asthmatic activity of AAEO may be achieved by reprogramming 5-LOX-CysLTs and IDO-1-KYN pathways., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare that they have no competing relationships that might affect the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Artemisia argyi (AA), a herbal medicine traditionally used in Asian countries, to treat inflammatory conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, arthritis, allergic asthma and colitis. However, the mechanism of action of this plant with regard to hepatitis and other liver-related diseases is still unclear., Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effects of AA ethanol extract on NASH-related fibrosis and gut microbiota in a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined, high-fat diet (CDAHFD)-induced mouse model., Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were fed CDAHFD, with or without AA ethanol extract treatment. Biochemical markers, lipid profiles, hepatic mRNA expression levels of key genes, and the fibrosis area were assessed. In vitro, TGF-β-stimulated human hepatic stellate LX-2 cells and mouse primary hepatic stellate cells (mHSCs) were used to elucidate the effects of AA ethanol extract on fibrosis and steatosis. 16S rRNA sequencing, QIIME2, and PICRUST2 were employed to analyze gut microbial diversity, composition, and functional pathways., Results: Treatment with the AA ethanol extract improved plasma and liver lipid profiles, modulated hepatic mRNA expression levels of antioxidant, lipolytic, and fibrosis-related genes, and significantly reduced CDAHFD-induced hepatic fibrosis. Gut microbiota analysis revealed a marked decrease in Acetivibrio ethanolgignens abundance upon treatment with the AA ethanol extract, and its functional pathways were significantly correlated with NASH/fibrosis markers. The AA ethanol extract and its active components (jaceosidin, eupatilin, and chlorogenic acid) inhibited fibrosis-related markers in LX-2 and mHSC., Conclusion: The AA ethanol extract exerted therapeutic effects on CDAHFD-induced liver disease by modulating NASH/fibrosis-related factors and gut microbiota composition. Notably, AA treatment reduced the abundance of the potentially profibrotic bacterium (A. ethanolgignens). These findings suggest that AA is a promising candidate for treating NASH-induced fibrosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Associated Arthritis (IBD-associated arthritis) poses a significant challenge, intertwining the complexities of both inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and arthritis, significantly compromising patient quality of life. While existing medications offer relief, these drugs often initiate adverse effects, necessitating the requirement for safer therapeutic alternatives. Artemisia herba-alba , a traditional medicinal plant known for its anti-inflammatory properties, emerges as a potential candidate. Our computational study focused on examining 20 bioactive compounds derived from A. herba-alba for potential treatment of IBD-associated arthritis. These compounds detected in A. herba-alba include camphor, alpha-thujone, eucalyptol, cis-chrysanthenyl acetate, vicenin-2, 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, chlorogenic acid, hispidulin, isoschaftoside, isovitexin, patuletin-3-glucoside, vanillic acid, rutin, schaftoside, lopinavir, nelfinavir, quercetin, artemisinin, gallic acid, and cinnamic acid. Following rigorous analysis encompassing pharmacokinetics, toxicity profiles, and therapeutic targets, compounds with favorable, beneficial characteristics were identified. In addition, comparative analysis with disease-gene associations demonstrated the interconnectedness of inflammatory pathways across diseases. Molecular docking studies provided mechanistic insights indicating this natural plant components potential to modulate critical inflammatory pathways. Overall, our findings indicate that A. herba-alba -derived compounds may be considered as therapeutic agents for IBD-associated arthritis, warranting further experimental validation and clinical exploration.

Objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a nutritional and metabolic disease with a high prevalence today. Artemisia capillaris has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other effects. However, the mechanism of A. capillaris in treating NAFLD is still poorly understood., Methods: This study explored the mechanism of A. capillaris in the treatment of NAFLD through network pharmacology and molecular docking, and verified the results through in vivo experiments using a high-fat diet-induced mouse model and in vitro experiments using an oleic acid-induced HepG2 cell model., Key Findings: Aqueous extract of A. capillaris (AEAC) can reduce blood lipids, reduce liver lipid accumulation and liver inflammation in NAFLD mice, and improve NAFLD. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that 51 drug ingredients in A. capillaris correspond to 370 targets that act on NAFLD. GEO data mining obtained 93 liver differentially expressed genes related to NAFLD. In the UHPLC-MS detection results, 36 components were characterized and molecular docked with JNK. Verified in vitro and in vivo, the results show that JNK and the phosphorylation levels of IL-6, IL-1β, c-Jun, c-Fos, and CCL2 are key targets and pathways., Conclusions: This study confirmed that AEAC reduces lipid accumulation and inflammation in the liver of NAFLD mice by inhibiting the JNK/AP-1 pathway., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Artemisia argyi is a traditional medicinal and edible plant, generating various triterpenoids with pharmacological activities, such as anti-virus, anti-cancer, and anti-oxidant. The 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase family of A. argyi offers novel insights into the triterpenoid pathway, which might contribute to the medicinal value of its tissue extracts. Nevertheless, the biosynthesis of active triterpenoids in Artemisia argyi is still uncertain. In this study, four putative OSC (2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase) genes (AaOSC1-4) were first isolated and identified from A. argyi. Through the yeast heterologous expression system, three AaOSCs were characterized for the biosynthesis of diverse triterpenoids including cycloartenol, β-amyrin, (3S,13R)-malabarica-14(27),17,21-trien-3β-ol, and dammara-20,24-dien-3β-ol. AaOSC1 was a multifunctional dammara-20,24-dien-3β-ol synthase, which yielded 8 different triterpenoids, including tricyclic, and tetracyclic products. AaOSC2 and AaOSC3 were cycloartenol, and β-amyrin synthases, respectively. As a result, these findings provide a deeper understanding of the biosynthesis pathway of triterpenes in A. argyi., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Moxibustion, a traditional Chinese medicine practice, employs Moxa Wool, derived from Artemisia argyi. Flavonoids, the key pharmacological constituents in Moxa Wool, are known for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. The purity of Moxa Wool, particularly its flavonoid content, directly influences the efficacy of moxibustion treatments. However, quantifying these bioactive flavonoids accurately and non-destructively has been a challenge., Purpose: This study introduces terahertz spectroscopy as a non-destructive optical detection method for qualitative detection and quantitative analysis of flavonoids in Moxa Wool. By establishing a mathematical model between spectral signals and clinical efficacy, a reliable correlation between flavonoid concentration and the therapeutic effect of moxibustion can be established, providing a potential predictive model for the treatment outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis., Study Design: We adopted terahertz spectroscopy technology and combined it with terahertz metamaterial biosensors to achieve rapid, efficient, and non-destructive testing of the quality of Moxa Wool. This method reduces the detection time from hours to minutes while lowering the sample detection limit, overcoming the limitations of traditional detection methods in pharmacological research., Methods: Through terahertz metamaterial biosensors, rapid detection of the purity of Moxa Wool has been achieved. A combination of molecular simulation and terahertz spectroscopy was used to quantitatively analyze the flavonoid content in different purities of Moxa Wool. To ensure accuracy, the quantitative results of flavonoids obtained by terahertz spectroscopy were validated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In addition, moxibustion treatment was performed on rats with rheumatoid arthritis using Moxa Wool, and medical indicator information was recorded. A mathematical analysis model was established to evaluate the correlation between flavonoid content and analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects., Results: Terahertz spectroscopy analysis shows that there is a direct correlation between the flavonoid content in moxibustion and the absorption peak intensity. The maximum R 2 in the model analysis is 0.98, indicating a high accuracy in predicting the purity of Moxa Wool. These results were also validated by HPLC. In a rat model, the purity of 30:1 Moxa Wool samples showed a 50 % decrease in TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels during treatment compared to low-purity samples, significantly reducing inflammation markers and pain symptoms. Meanwhile, The PLS prediction model established a correlation between terahertz-detected flavonoid levels and treatment outcomes (PWL and IL-1β). The maximum R 2 in the model is 0.91, indicating a high correlation between flavonoid levels and the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of moxibustion treatment., Conclusion: This study not only demonstrates the effectiveness of terahertz spectroscopy in the pharmacological quantification of bioactive compounds but also establishes a novel predictive model for the efficacy of moxibustion in rheumatoid arthritis treatment. It underscores the potential of integrating traditional medicine insights with advanced technology to enhance therapeutic strategies in pharmacology., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

The chemical constituents in the petroleum ether fraction of Artemisia stolonifera were investigated. Twenty compounds(1-20) were isolated from the petroleum ether fraction of A. stolonifera by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and ODS chromatography and semi-preparative HPLC. Based on physicochemical properties and spectral data, the structures of these compounds were identified as(7S,9S,10S)-9-hydroxy-7-allyl acetate-1-one(1), 1β,4β,7α-trihydroxy-8,9-eudesmene(2), oplodiol(3), 10α-hydroxycadin-4-en-15-al(4), loliolide(5), vanillin(6), vanillic acid(7), methoxyeugenol(8), ethyl 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoate(9), ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate(10),(E)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butenyl benzoate(11),(3R,6R,7E)-3-hydroxy-4,7-megastigmadien-9-one(12), hydroxydihydrobovolide(5-hydroxy-3,4-dimethy-5-pentyl-2(5H)-furanone(13),(R)-2-ethylhexyl 2H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxylate(14), eriodictyol-7,3'-dimethyl ether(15), progesterone(16), spinasterol(17), schottenol(18), α-tocospiro A(19), and 3-[3'-(nona-1″-en-3″,5″,7″-trynyl)oxiran-2'-yl] propan-2-ol(20). Compound 1 was a new sesquiterpenoid, and compounds 2-5 and 7-20 were isolated from this plant for the first time. The antitumor activities of the compounds were studied. The results showed that compounds 16 and 19 displayed cytotoxic activity against MCF-R7 and B16 cells, with the IC&#95;(50) values of(20.94±1.72) and(77.45±0.35) μmol·L~(-1) against MCF-7 cells and(33.89±2.98) and(23.42±0.31) μmol·L~(-1) against B16 cells, respectively. Compounds 11, 15, and 20 had cytotoxic activity against B16 cells, with the IC&#95;(50) values of(88.13±6.38),(68.05±10.28), and(58.89±10.29) μmol·L~(-1), respectively.

As a kind of well-known moxibustion material across the world, Artemisia argyi Folium (AAF) has a definite curative effect. From 1996 to now, various studies on AAF have been increasing year by year. That is why this paper is conducted because of no comprehensive summary except for an essential oil review recently published in 2023. Using "AAF" and "mugwort" as keywords, the related literature was summarized in four internationally recognized databases: PubMed, Web of Science, ACS, and ScienceDirect, mainly include four aspects such as botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical application. Four traditional identification methods and two new ones were reported. A total of 136 compounds were identified, among which 23 new terpenoids and two new flavonoids were discovered. The pharmacological effects of AAF mainly focus on anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antioxidant, antibacterial, and other aspects. Clinically, it is mainly used in respiratory, immune, digestive, and nervous systems in addition to gynecology. The current research mainly focuses on the composition and pharmacology of AAF. Future studies should thoroughly establish the quality criteria and pharmacokinetics of AAF. According to the different application fields, the corresponding quality standards should be formulated to ensure the efficacy of drugs in the actual treatment., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Plants have numerous defensive secondary metabolites to withstand insect attacks. Scoparone, which is extracted from the medicinal plant Artemisia capillaris, has potent acaricidal effects on Tetranychus cinnabarinus. Spirodiclofen, derived from a tetronic acid derivative, is a potent commercial acaricide that is extensively used globally. However, whether scoparone has synergistic effects when used in conjunction with spirodiclofen and the underlying synergistic mechanism remains unclear., Results: Scoparone exhibited a potent synergistic effect when it was combined with spirodiclofen at a 1:9 ratio. Subsequently, cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450) activity, RNA-Seq and qPCR assays indicated that the enzyme activity of P450 and the expression of one P450 gene from T. cinnabarinus, TcCYP388A1, were significantly inhibited by scoparone and spirodiclofen + scoparone; conversely, P450 was activated in spirodiclofen-exposed mites. Importantly, RNAi-mediated silencing of the TcCYP388A1 gene markedly increased the susceptibility of spider mites to spirodiclofen, scoparone and spirodiclofen + scoparone, and in vitro, the recombinant TcCYP388A1 protein could metabolize spirodiclofen. Molecular docking and functional analyses further indicated that R117, which is highly conserved in Arachnoidea species, may be a vital specific binding site for scoparone in the mite TcCYP388A1 protein. This binding site was subsequently confirmed using mutagenesis data, which revealed that this binding site was the sole site selected by scoparone in spider mites over mammalian or fly CYP388A1., Conclusions: These results indicate that the synergistic effects of scoparone and spirodiclofen on mites occurs through the inhibition of P450 activity, thus reducing spirodiclofen metabolism. The synergistic effect of this potent natural product on the detoxification enzyme-targeted activity of commercial acaricides may offer a sustainable strategy for pest mite resistance management. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Psoriasis is an inflammatory immune-mediated skin disease that affects nearly 2-3 % of the global population. The current study aimed to develop safe and efficient anti-psoriatic nanoformulations from Artemisia monosperma essential oil (EO). EO was extracted using hydrodistillation (HD), microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD), and head-space solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME), as well as GC/ MS was used for its analysis. EO nanoemulsion (NE) was prepared using the phase inversion method, while the biodegradable polymeric film (BF) was prepared using the solvent casting technique. A.monosperma EO contains a high percentage of non-oxygenated compounds, being 90.45 (HD), 82.62 (MADH), and 95.17 (HS-SPME). Acenaphthene represents the major aromatic hydrocarbon in HD (39.14 %) and MADH (48.60 %), while sabinene as monoterpene hydrocarbon (44.2 %) is the primary compound in the case of HS-SPME. The anti-psoriatic Effect of NE and BF on the successful delivery of A.monosperma EO was studied using the imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriatic model in mice. Five groups (n = 6 mice) were classified into control group, IMQ group, IMQ+standard group, IMQ+NE group, and IMQ+BF group. NE and BF significantly alleviated the psoriatic skin lesions and decreased the psoriasis area severity index, Baker's score, and spleen index. Also, they reduced the expression of Ki67 and attenuated the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin 6, and interleukin 17. Additionally, NE and NF were able to downregulate the NF-κB and GSK-3β signaling pathways. Despite the healing properties of BF, NE showed a more prominent effect on treating the psoriatic model, which could be referred to as its high skin penetration ability and absorption. These results potentially contribute to documenting experimental and theoretical evidence for the clinical uses of A.monosperma EO nanoformulations for treating psoriasis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)