Journal of Ethnopharmacology 153 (2014) 42–60 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Ethnopharmacology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jep Review The genus Anemarrhena Bunge: A review on ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacology Yingli Wang a,c, Yang Dan b, Dawei Yang c, Yuli Hu c, Le Zhang a,c, Chunhong Zhang c, Hong Zhu c, Zhanhu Cui a,c, Minhui Li a,c,n, Yanze Liu b,nn a Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning 530023, China b Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing 100193, China c Baotou Medical College, Baotou, Inner Mongolia 014060, China article info abstract Article history: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge. (Asparagaceae) yields Anemarrhenae Received 10 September 2013 Rhizoma, which has a long history to be used as a traditional medicine to treat various ailments, like cold- Received in revised form induced febrile disease with arthralgia, hematochezia, tidal fever and night sweats by Yin deficiency, bone- 9 February 2014 steaming, cough, and hemoptysis. It is also used as an ingredient of healthy food, wine, tea, biological Accepted 9 February 2014 toothpaste. Its importance is demonstrated by large scale to treat kinds of diseases in eastern Asian countries. Available online 17 February 2014 The aim of this review is to provide up-to-date information about phytochemistry, pharmacology, and Keywords: toxicology of Anemarrhena asphodeloides based on scientific literatures. It will build up a new foundation for Anemarrhena asphodeloides further study on mechanism and development of better therapeutic agent and healthy product from Ethnopharmacology Anemarrhena asphodeloides. Phytochemistry Material and methods: All the available information on Anemarrhena asphodeloides was collected via electronic Pharmacology search (using PubMed, SciFinder Scholar, CNKI, TPL (www.theplantlist.org), Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, and Chemical compounds studied in this article: Web of Science). Mangiferin (Pubchem CID: 5281647) Results: Comprehensive analysis of the literatures searched through sources available above confirmed that the Neomangiferin (Pubchem CID: 6918448) ethnomedical uses of Anemarrhena asphodeloides had been recorded in China, Japan, and Korea for thousands Timosaponin BII (Pubchem CID: 53486384) fl Timosaponin AIII (Pubchem CID: 15953793) of years. The phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of steroidal saponins, avonoids, phenylpro- Sarsasapogenin (Pubchem CID: 92095) panoids, alkaloids, steroids, organic acids, anthraquinones, and others. Crude extracts and pure compounds Nyasol (Pubchem CID: 12310493) from Anemarrhena asphodeloides exhibited significant pharmacological effects on the nervous system and the Broussonin B (Pubchem CID: 5315503) blood system. They also showed valuable bioactivities, such as antitumor, anti-oxidation, anti-microbial, anti- virus, anti-inflammation, anti-osteoporosis, anti-skin aging and damage as well as other activities. Conclusions: In light of long traditional use and modern phytochemical and pharmacological studies summarized, Anemarrhena asphodeloides has demonstrated a strong potential for therapeutic and health- maintaining purposes. Both the extracts and chemical components isolated from the plant showed a wide range of biological activities. Thus more pharmacological mechanisms on main active compounds (TBII, TAIII, mangiferin and other ingredients) are necessary to be explored. In addition, as a good source of the traditional medicine, clinical studies of main therapeutic aspects (e.g. diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, etc.), toxicity and adverse effect of Anemarrhena asphodeloides will also undoubtedly be the focus of future investigation. & 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Abbreviations: Aβ25À35, amyloid β-peptide fragments 25–35; AChE, acetylcholinesterase; AP-1, activator protein-1; BDNF, brain derived neurotrophic factor; COX-2, cyclooxygenase-2; DA, dopamine; DAT, dopamine transporter; ECE-1, endothelin-converting enzyme 1; ERK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase; FRAP, ferric reducing antioxidant power; FST, forced swimming test; GDNF, glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor; 5-HT, 5-hydroxytryptamine; IL-6, Interleukin-6; Inos, inducible nitric oxide synthase; JNK, JUN N-terminal kinase; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; LPO, lipid peroxides; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; MAO-B, monoamine oxidase B; MEK, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase1; MIC, minimum inhibitory concentration; MMPs, matrix metalloproteinases; MPTP, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; NF-kappaB, nuclear factor kappaB; PMA, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate; ROS, reactive oxygen species; SAaB, Saponins from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge; TAIII, timosaponin AIII; TBII, timosaponin BII; TEAC, trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α; TST, tail suspension test n Corresponding author at: Baotou Medical College, Baotou, Inner Mongolia 014060, China. Tel.: þ86 4727 1677 95. nn Corresponding author. Tel.: þ86 10 5783 3035. E-mail addresses: [email protected] (M. Li), [email protected] (Y. Liu). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.02.013 0378-8741 & 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Y. Wang et al. / Journal of Ethnopharmacology 153 (2014) 42–60 43 Contents 1. Introduction . 43 2. Botanical characterization and distribution . 43 3. Traditional uses and ethnopharmacology. 44 4. Chemical constituents . 44 4.1. Steroidal saponins . 44 4.2. Flavonoids . 47 4.3. Phenylpropanoids . 48 4.4. Alkaloids . 48 4.5. Steroids ...................................................................................................... 48 4.6. Organic acids . 48 4.7. Anthraquinones . 48 4.8. Other compounds . 48 5. Pharmacological activities . 51 5.1. Nervous system activities . 51 5.1.1. Neuroprotective activities . 51 5.1.2. Alzheimer's disease . 51 5.1.3. Parkinson's disease . 52 5.1.4. Anti-depression . 52 5.2. Blood system activities . 53 5.2.1. Anti-diabetes . 53 5.2.2. Anti-coagulated blood . 54 5.2.3. Lowering blood pressure . 54 5.3. Antitumor . 54 5.4. Anti-oxidation . 55 5.5. Anti-microbia. 55 5.6. Anti-virus . 55 5.7. Anti-inflammation.............................................................................................. 55 5.8. Anti-osteoporosis. 56 5.9. Anti-skin aging and damage . 56 5.10. Other effects . 56 6. Toxicity.............................................................................................................56 7. Conclusion..........................................................................................................56 Acknowledgment . 57 References..............................................................................................................57 1. Introduction traditional uses and ethnopharmacology, chemical constituents, pharmacological activities and toxicity of Anemarrhena asphode- Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge., the only species in genus loides based on scientific literatures in recent years. It will Anemarrhena Bunge. (Asparagaceae) (Chen and Nicholas, 2000), is construct a new foundation for further study on mechanism and mainly distributed in China, Mongolia and other eastern Asian development of better therapeutic agent and healthy product from countries. The rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides,Anemarrhe- Anemarrhena asphodeloides. nae Rhizoma, is known as Zhimu (Chinese: ), which is called Yanghuzi in vernacular name (Committee.