The first committed step in triterpenoid biosynthesis is the cyclization of epoxysqualene into various triterpene alcohol isomers, a reaction catalyzed by oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs). The different OSCs have characteristic product specificities, which are mainly due to differences in the numbers of high-energy intermediates the enzymes can stabilize. The goal of this investigation was to clon...

Ardisia elliptica Thunberg (Myrsinaceae) is a medicinal plant traditionally used for alleviating chest pains, treatment of fever, diarrhoea, liver poisoning and parturition complications. The objectives of the study were to investigate the effect of A. elliptica on collagen induced platelet aggregation and to isolate and purify potential antiplatelet components. Fresh A. elliptica leaves were e...

Native to Southern China, Ilex pubescens and Ilex asprella are frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine. Both of them produce a large variety of ursane-type triterpenoid saponins, which have been demonstrated to have different pharmacological effects. However, little is known about their biosynthesis. In this study, transcriptomic analysis of I. pubescens and comparison with its closely ...

α-amylase inhibitors play a critical role in the control of diabetes and many of medicinal plants have been found to act as α-amylase inhibitors. swertia genus, belonging to the family gentianaceae, comprises different species most of which have been used in traditional medicine of several cultures as antidiabetic, anti-pyretic, analgesic, liver and gastrointestinal tonic. swertia longifolia bo...

BACKGROUND Tea seed oil is a high quality edible oil, yet lacking sufficient scientific evidences to support the nutritional and medical purposes. We identified major and minor components in Camellia tenuifolia seed oil and investigated the antioxidative activity and its underlying mechanisms in Caenorhabditis elegans. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The results showed that the major constitutes in C. ten...

In view of alleged antidiabetic potential, effect of methanolic extract of Ficus carica L. (Moraceae) stem bark on fasting blood sugar levels and serum biochemical analysis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were investigated. The resulted extract had shown significant protection and lowered the blood glucose levels to normal in glucose tolerance test. In long term treatment of streptozoto...

Leptadenia reticulata (Ritz.) Wight (Asclepiadaceae), a traditional medicinal plant species, is widely used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments such as tuberculosis, hematopoiesis, emaciation, cough, dyspnea, fever, burning sensation, night blindness, cancer, and dysentery. In Ayurveda, it is known for its revitalizing, rejuvenating, and lactogenic properties. This plant is one of...

A molecular docking approach was employed to evaluate the binding affinity of six triterpenes, namely epifriedelanol, friedelin, ?-amyrin, ?-amyrin acetate, ?-amyrin and bauerenyl towards cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1). Molecular studies showed that epifriedelanol had strongest CB1. dynamics simulation revealed friedelin engaged in stable non-bonding interactions by a pocket close active sit...