Many of the inflammatory diseases are becoming common in aging society throughout the world. The clinically used anti-inflammatory drugs suffer from the disadvantage of side effects and high cost of treatment (in case of biologics). Alternative to these drugs are traditional medicines and natural products, which offer a great hope in the identification of bioactive lead compounds and their development into drugs for treating inflammatory diseases. Since ancient times traditional medicines and phytopharmaceuticals are being used for the treatment of inflammatory and other disorders. The present review article describes anti-inflammatory natural products derived from plants and marine sources reported during last decade. The compounds described belong to different chemical classes such as alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, polyphenolics, phenylpropanoids, fatty acids and lipids, and various miscellaneous compounds. The attempt is also being made to enumerate the possible leads, e.g. curcumin, resveratrol, baicalein, boswellic acid, betulinic acid, ursolic acid, and oleanolic acid, for further development with the help of structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies and their current status. In addition SAR studies carried out on the anti-inflammatory activity of flavonoid compounds and clinical studies performed on anti-inflammatory natural products are also discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Med Res Rev, 29, No. 5, 767–820, 2009

Recent developments in anti-inflammatory natural products.

Inflammation, although first characterized by Cornelius Celsus, a physician in first Century Rome, it was Rudolf Virchow, a German physician in nineteenth century who suggested a link between inflammation and cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, pulmonary diseases, neurological diseases and other chronic diseases. Extensive research within last three decades has confirmed these observations and identified the molecular basis for most chronic diseases and for the associated inflammation. The transcription factor, Nuclear Factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) that controls over 500 different gene products, has emerged as major mediator of inflammation. Thus agents that can inhibit NF-kappaB and diminish chronic inflammation have potential to prevent or delay the onset of the chronic diseases and further even treat them. In an attempt to identify novel anti-inflammatory agents which are safe and effective, in contrast to high throughput screen, we have turned to "reverse pharmacology" or "bed to benchside" approach. We found that Ayurveda, a science of long life, almost 6,000 years old, can serve as a "goldmine" for novel anti-inflammatory agents used for centuries to treat chronic diseases. The current review is an attempt to provide description of various Ayurvedic plants currently used for treatment, their active chemical components, and the inflammatory pathways that they inhibit.

Identification of Novel Anti-inflammatory Agents from Ayurvedic Medicine for Prevention of Chronic Diseases: “Reverse Pharmacology” and “Bedside to Bench” Approach

Role of plant alkaloids on human health: A review of biological activities

Introduction Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Annonaceae General Concept Fissistima lanuginosum (Hk f et Th) Merr Fissistigma manubriatum (Hk f et Th) Phaeanthus ebracteolatus (Prels) Merr References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Myristicaceae General Concept Knema glaucescens Jack Knema Globularia (Lamk) Warb Myristica argentea Warb Myristica elliptica Wall Ex Hook F Thoms References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Lauraceae General Concept Cinnamomun sintoc Bl Beilschmiedia pahangensis Gamb Bielschmiedia tonkinensis Ridl Cryptocarya griffithiana Wight Cryptocarya tomentosa Bl Litsea umbellata (Lour) Merr References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Piperaceae General Concept Piper Abbreviatum Opi Piper betle L Piper officinarum DC Piper sarmentosum Roxb References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Aristolochiaceae General Concept Aristolochia philippinensis Warb References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Nympheaceae General Concept Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn Nymphea Pubescens Willd Nymphea stellata Willd References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Menispermaceae General Concept Arcangelica flava (L) Merr Limacia oblonga Hook f & Thoms Stephania Japonica (Thunb) Miers References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Polygonaceae General Concept Polygonum chinense L Polygonum Minus Huds Polygonum tomentosum Willd References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Myrsinaceae General Concept Aegiceras corniculatum Blco Aridisia corolata Roxb Ardisia elliptica Thunb Ardisia fuliginosa Bl Ardisia humilis Vahl Ardisia lanceolata Roxb Ardisia odontophylla Wall Ardisia oxyphylla Wall Ardisia pyramidalis (Cav) Pers Ardisia ridleyi King & Gamble Ardisia squamulosa Presl Maesa cumingii Mez Maesa denticullata Mez Maesa laxa Mez Maesa perlarius (Lour) Merr Maesa ramentacea (Roxb) ADC Maesa tetrandra A DC References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Ebenaceae General Concept Diospyros lanceifolia Roxb Diospyros malabarica (Desr) Kostel Diospyros multiflora Blco Diospyros pilosanthera Blco Diospyros sumatrana Miq Diospyros rufa King & Gamble Diospyros toposioides King & Gamble References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Bombacaceae General Concept Ceiba pentandra (L) Gaertn Neesia Altissima Bl References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Elaeocarpaceae General Concept Elaeocarpus floribundus Bl Elaeocarpus obtusus Bl sensu King References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Capparaceae General Concept Capparis micrantha DC Crateva religiosa Forts References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Flacourtiaceae General Concept Flacourtia jangomas (Lour) Raeusch Homalium tomentosum (Vent) Benth Hydnocarpus kurzii ssp Australis Sleumer References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Passifloraceae General Concept Adenia cordifolia Engl Passiflora foetida L Passiflora quadrangularis L Passiflora laurifolia L References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Cucurbitaceae General Concept Gymnopetalum cochinchinense (Lour) Kurz Hodgsonia macrocarpa (Bl) Cogn Trichosanthes quinquangulata A Grey Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour Trichosanthes villosa Bl Trichosanthes wawrae Cogn References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Connaraceae General Concept Connarus ferrugineus Jack References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Anisophylleaceae General Concept Anisophyllea disticha Hook f Reference Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Rosaceae General Concept Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb) Lindl Prunus arborea (Bl) Kalkman Rubus moluccanum L References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Thymeleaceae General Concept Gonystylus confusus Airy Shaw Gonystylus macrophyllus (Miq) Airy Shaw References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Melastomataceae General Concept Blastus cogniauxii Stapf Diplectra divaricata (Willd) O Ktze Dissochaeta annulata Hook f Dissochaeta bracteata (Jack) Bl Dissochaeta punctulata Hook f ex Triana Medinilla hasseltiI Bl Medinilla radicans (Bl) Bl Melastoma polyanthum Bl Melasatoma sanguineum Sims Memecylon dichotomum CB Clarke Neodissochaeta gracilis (Jack) Bakh f Osbeckia chinensis L Pternandra coerulescens Jack References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Rhizophoraceae General Concept Bruguiera sexangula (Lour) Poir Carallia brachiata (Lour) Merr Carallia suffruticosa King Ceriops tagal (Pers) CB Rob Gynotroches axillaris Bl Rhizophora apiculata Bl Rhizophora mucronata Lamk References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Olacaceae General Concept Ochanostachys amentacea Mast Ximenia americana L Strombosia philippinensis (Baill) Rolfe References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Icacinaceae General Concept Gonocaryum gracile Miq References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Euphorbiaceae General Concept Antidesma ghaemsembilla Gaertn Euphorbia thymifolia L Macaranga tanarius Muell-Arg References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Sapindaceae General Concept Dodonaea viscosa (L) Jacq Lepisanthes tetraphylla (Vahl) Radlk Nephelium juglandifolium Bl Pometia pinnata Forst References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Anacardiaceae General Concept Dracontomelon dao (Blanco) Merr & Rolfe Gluta rhengas L Melanochyla auriculata Hook f Pentaspadon officinalis Holmes References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Simaroubaceae General Concept Eurycoma apiculata Benn Quassia indica (Gaertn) Nootebom References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Meliaceae General Concept Aglaia odorata Lour Aphanamixis grandifolia Bl Aphanamixis rohituka (Roxb) Pierre Chisocheton penduliflorus Planch ex Hiern Dysoxylum alliaceum Bl Dysoxylum cauliflorum Hiern Sandoricum koejape (Burm f) Merr Toona sureni (Bl) Merr Trichilia connaroide (Wight & Arn) Bentvelzen Xylocarpus granatum Koenig Xylocarpus moluccensis (Lamk) Roem References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Rutaceae General Concept Aegle marmelos Correa Atalantia monophylla DC Atalantia roxburghiana Hook f Citrus hystrix DC Citrus mitis Blco Clausena excavata Burm f Clausena lansium (Lour) Skeells Euodia elleryana F Muell Lunasia amara Blco Micromelum minutum (Forst f) W & A Paramignya andamanica Tanaka Toddalia asiatica (L) Lamk Zanthoxylum avicennae (Lamk) DC Zanthoxylum myriacanthum Wall ex Hk f References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Loganiaceae General Concept Fagraea auriculata Jack Fagraea blumei GDon Fagraea obovata (non Wall) King Neuburgia corynocarpa (A Gray) Leenh References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Gentianaceae General Concept Nymphoides indica (Thwaites) Kuntze Swertia javanica Bl References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Apocynaceae General Concept Alstonia angustifolia Wall ex A Dc Alstonia macrophylla Wall ex G Don Alstonia spectabilis Alstonia spatulata Bl Carissa carandas L Epigynum maingayi Hook f Ervatamia sphaerocarpa Bl Holarrhena curtisii King & Gamble Kibatalia arborea (Bl) GDon Kopsia larutensis King & Gamble Willughbeia edulis Ridl Wrightia pubescens R Br References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Asclepiadaceae General Concept Hoya coriacea Bl Hoya coronaria Bl Hoya diversifolia Bl Streptocaulon cumingii (Turcz) F-Vill Telosma cordata (Burmf) Merr References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Solanaceae General Concept Capsicum minimum Roxb Solanum ferox var laniocarpum Solanum mammosum L Solanum nigrum L Solanum verbascifolium L References Medicinal Plants Classified in the Family Verbenaceae General Concept Callicarpa arborea Roxb Clerodendrum dDeflexum Wall Clerodendrum inerm (L) Gaertn Duranta plumieri Jacq Gmelina elliptica Sm Peronema canescens Jack Sphenodesme pentandra Jack Sphenodesme trifolia Wight Teijmanniodendron pteropodium (Miq) Bakh References Index

Medicinal Plants of Asia and the Pacific

Many natural substances with proven anti-inflammatory activity have been isolated throughout the years. The aim of this review is to review naturally sourced alkaloids with anti-inflammatory effects reported from 2000 to 2010. The assays were conducted mostly in vivo, and carrageenan-induced pedal edema was the most used experimental model. Of the 49 alkaloids evaluated, 40 demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity. Of these the most studied type were the isoquinolines. This review was based on NAPRALERT data bank, Web of Science and Chemical Abstracts. In this review, 95 references are cited.

Anti-inflammatory activity of alkaloids: an update from 2000 to 2010.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of brucine and brucine N-oxide extracted from seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica.

The apoptotic effect of brucine from the seed of Strychnos nux-vomica on human hepatoma cells is mediated via Bcl-2 and Ca2+ involved mitochondrial pathway.

Fangzhou Yin

Papers

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of brucine and brucine N-oxide extracted from seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica.

The apoptotic effect of brucine from the seed of Strychnos nux-vomica on human hepatoma cells is mediated via Bcl-2 and Ca2+ involved mitochondrial pathway.

Running title: Brucine induced HepG2 cells apoptosis