Gao Li

Rhododendron dauricum L. flowers are highly valued as ornamental plants in northern Chinese horticulture, yet while its leaves are well-known for their antitussive and anti-asthmatic effects, the flowers themselves remain an underutilized resource. Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are intimately intertwined pathological processes that mutually reinforce each other in a self-perpetuating cycle, and current clinical treatments for diseases related to oxidative stress and inflammation have become a significant focus of research. This study investigated the chemical composition and bioactivities of R. dauricum flower extract using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro assays. A total of 57 compounds were tentatively annotated in EFRD, with Morin, Quercetin 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside and Procyanidin B2 as candidate compounds prioritized through network analysis. Network prediction revealed key targets (STAT3, JUN, ESR1, CXCL8, PTGS2) and pathways (MAPK, AGE-RAGE, PPAR). In vitro, assays demonstrated that EFRD exhibited dose-dependent scavenging of DPPH, ABTS, and superoxide radicals, as well as a dose-dependent suppression of LPS-induced NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 release in RAW 264.7 macrophages, with IC₅₀ values of 16.52, 29.91 and 72.09 μg/mL, respectively, indicating the most potent inhibition of NO. These findings demonstrate that R. dauricum flowers possess dual antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, providing a scientific basis for expanding their medicinal use.

Glycyrrhetinic acid is a secondary metabolite derived from the traditional Chinese herb licorice and has attracted considerable attention due to its diverse biological activities. In this study, using glycyrrhetinic acid as a lead compound, we designed and synthesized twenty-seven glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives, including eighteen new compounds, and evaluated their in vitro antitumor activities against A549, Hela, and MKN-74 cell lines. The results showed that compound GA-3b exhibited the most potent antitumor activity against A549 and Hela cell lines, with IC₅₀ values of 4.66 ± 0.36 μM and 6.11 ± 0.76 μM, respectively; while compound GA-2c demonstrated the best antitumor activity against the MKN-74 cell line, with an IC₅₀ value of 9.33 ± 1.89 μM.

The Belamcanda chinensis (L.) Redouté is a perennial herb belong to the genus Belamcanda, primarily found in China, but with additional distribution in North Korea, South Korea, Japan, and India. The rhizomes of B. chinensis have a long history of use as a traditional herbal medicine in China, one that is recognized for its effects in clearing heat, in detoxifying and eliminating phlegm, and in soothing the throat. In this review, we conducted a comprehensive search across several databases, both Chinese and international, using the primary keyword Belamcanda chinensis paired with a relevant research area (e.g., chemical composition, pharmacology). The databases included Sci-Finder, ScienceDirect, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wiley, Springer Baidu Scholar and Research Gate, as well as domestic materia medica. We illustrated the chemical structures using ChemBioDraw Ultra 22.0 software. There are more than 10 proprietary Chinese medicines already on the market that consist of or originate from B. chinensis. More than 200 natural products have been isolated and identified from B. chinensis, including iridal-type triterpenoids, flavonoids, phenolics, quinones, sesquiterpenes, and polysaccharides. Modern pharmacological studies indicate that both crude extracts and monomeric compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antioxidant, neuroprotective and anti-diabetic activities, with potential regulatory pathways. Additionally, B. chinensis demonstrates toxicity to fish, mollusks and arthropods. Clinical studies have shown that formulas containing B. chinensis as the main ingredient have a good therapeutic effect on respiratory diseases. In summary, B. chinensis presents promising prospects for application in medicine, functional food, cosmetics and agriculture. Therefore, we have reviewed the chemical composition, pharmacological activities (both in vivo and in vitro), structure–activity relationships, toxicity and clinical application of B. chinensis over the past 40 years, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the subsequent comprehensive utilization of the plants.