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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: "Mutong" ( in Chinese, and generally known as Akebiae Caulis), which refers to a group of herbal medicines with different biological origins along history, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2000 years; it is still being frequently used in medicine. In recent decades, Akebiae Caulis has been reported to exhibit apparent toxicity., Aim of This Study: To clarify the plant species used as Akebiae Caulis and its synonyms, and to summarize their phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology., Methods: Academic search engines (Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, CNKI, Science Direct, Springer Link, SciFinder, PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO), ancient Chinese herbals, and modern medical monographs were used to obtain phytochemical, pharmacological, toxicological, and quality control information. Furthermore, a field survey was conducted to clarify the associated species., Results: Akebiae Caulis is derived from eight species belonging to two families. In the 2005 Pharmacopoeia of The People's Republic of China, it has been separated into two categories: Akebiae Caulis and Clematidis Armandii Caulis. Traditionally, Akebiae Caulis has been used to treat conditions such as gonorrhea, edema, and tongue sores. Pharmacological studies have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antihypertensive, antibacterial, analgesic, and other properties of Akebiae Caulis. Among the species used, Aristolochiae manshuriensis Kom. (Aristolochiaceae) contains aristolochic acid that has raised concerns globally because of its nephrotoxicity., Conclusions: Clarifying the biological origin of traditional herbal medicines is critical for their safe and effective use. The present review revealed that the biological origin of Akebiae Caulis is diverse. The traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of Akebiae Caulis indicate that it is a useful medical resource. The diversity of its biological and pharmacological activities is associated with the presence of a large number of chemical substances, among which terpenoids are predominant. Systematic reviews on Akebiae Caulis such as this one would provide solid references for its safe use, as well as drug discovery studies in the future., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The Daur people are one of the 55 minority ethnic groups in China and have lived in Northern China for 300 years. In traditional Daur medicine, medicinal and edible plants (MEPs) are utilised for health benefits and therapeutic purposes; however, related ethnobotanical knowledge is rarely reported, which is disadvantageous for the sustainable development of these MEPs. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 122 informants, six focus group discussions, and a resource survey were conducted in a Daur minority nationality area in Inner Mongolia from 2015 to 2020, and the data statistics were analysed. In this study, we simulated a system dynamics model aimed at understanding the multiple feedback mechanisms involved in the relationships between the cultural influences and socioeconomic factors, sustainable environment, and development of MEPs. Results: A total of 52 species of MEPs were identified and relevant ethnobotanical knowledge was assessed using Daur medicinal species data from Inner Mongolia and the Xinjiang region, with the literature and Ewenki ethnic group data used for comparison. The most commonly used medicinal plant species by the Daur were found to be Betula pendula subsp. mandshurica, Artemisia integrifolia, Crataegus pinnatifida, Saposhnikovia divaricata, Artemisia argyi, and Jacobaea cannabifolia. The MEPs most frequently targeted the digestive and rheumatic immunity systems, as well as infectious diseases or parasitic infections and other common diseases and basic health issues. MEP knowledge was primarily limited to older generations; thus, the valuable ethnobotanical knowledge on traditional medicines must be protected from future losses. Conclusions: Our findings provide insights for future research aimed at exploiting the rich phytochemical diversity in traditional medicine and promote its use in modern lifestyles. Effective assessment and management of plant resources will lead to their application for the improvement of dietary diversity, nutrition, and health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dragon's blood (DB) refers mainly to the crimson resin of many Dracaena spp. DB has been used by different traditional medicine systems worldwide, including Arabic medicine, African medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, Thai medicine, etc. DB are mainly used to heal wounds, kill pain, stop bleeding, and cure various diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery and ulcers for over 1000 years. 11 Dracaena spp. and 3 subspecies are reported to be able to produce red resin. However, the resources are extremely deficient. Several Dracaena spp. are in threatened status. Over 300 compounds have been isolated from Dracaena spp., mainly including flavonoids, steroids, and phenolics. DB exhibits anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antithrombotic, anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties, which explain its wound healing effects, preventive effects on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, dual-directional regulation of blood flow, neuroprotection and radioprotective effects. No apparent side effects or toxicity have been reported. DB are restricted from being exploited due to limited resources and unclear resin formation mechanism. It is necessary to expand the cultivation of Dracaena spp. and fully understand the mechanism underlying the resin formation process to develop an effective induction method for the sustainable utilization of DB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For over one millennium, goji berries have been used traditionally as food and medicine in eastern Asia. In recent decades, it has become increasingly popular globally. However, the biocultural development of goji is poorly known. The botanical origin of goji is controversial: in many but not all modern regional or international quality standards, L. barbarum is accepted exclusively as the botanical origin of goji. Focusing on historical, biogeographical, botanical, phytochemical and pharmacological data, the overarching aim is to understand the biological origin of goji's historical uses, as well as whether the two species can be used interchangeably. The taxonomic literature on L. barbarum and L. chinense were analysed, followed by a study of botanical specimens and fieldwork. Historical herbals and gazetteers were employed to define the historical producing areas and medical properties of goji. An identification of the species used in history was carried out. In a final step the phytochemical and pharmacological literature on the species was compared. Due to their morphological similarity and different accessibility, fruits of both L. barbarum and L. chinense have been used interchangeably as food and medicine at least since 682 CE. While the fruit of L. barbarum was recognized to be superior in quality, the fruit of L. chinense was commonly used as an equivalent because of its easier accessibility. Cultivation of L. barbarum in China since 1960s improved its availability, which likely lead to its exclusive use as source of goji in China. The long-term safe use with no reported major safety concerns supports that these two species both are useful sources for medicinal Lycium. Medicinal plants had been used traditionally long before they were named in scientific nomenclature system. Therefore, the understanding of traditional herbal knowledge and the adequate use of those traditional medicines require a reliable identification based on archival records. This study developed an approach for the identification of species used historically, with an integrated analysis of specimens, historical herbals, and national gazetteers. Additionally, their different chemical profiles and pharmacological activities indicate that they should not be used interchangeably. Further scientific evidence is required for their safe and effective use. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]