Rui Wang

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and recurrent gastrointestinal disorder, which is typically characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss, significantly impairing patients' quality of life. The etiology of IBD is multifactorial, involving complex interactions among genetic predisposition, immune dysregulation, environmental influences, and gut microbiota imbalance. Curcumin (CUR), a natural polyphenolic compound derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Curcuma longa, attracted considerable interest in pharmacological research due to its potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. In the context of IBD, CUR exerts therapeutic effects by modulating key inflammatory signaling pathways, maintaining the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier, and restoring microbial homeostasis. Clinical studies demonstrated that CUR can alleviate IBD symptoms, suppress inflammatory responses, and improve patients’ quality of life. Nevertheless, its clinical application is limited by poor aqueous solubility and low oral bioavailability. To address these limitations, a variety of nanodelivery systems—including polymeric nanoparticles, lipid-based carriers, and nanofibers—have been developed to enhance the solubility, stability, and targeted delivery of CUR. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the mechanistic insights, clinical applications, and drug delivery strategies of CUR in IBD therapy, to support future research and clinical translation.

Prunellate A (1), an unprecedented lignan lactone bearing a 6/7/6/5 tetracyclic system with C-2-C-2' and C-7-C-8' single bond linkage, probably derived from the rearrangement of methyl rosmarinate (2), has been isolated from the medicinal plant Prunella vulgaris. An extensive interpretation of multispectroscopic data including HRMS, IR, 1D, and 2D NMR elucidated its structure. The stereochemical assignment was conclusively established through electronic circular dichroism (ECD) experiments. The possible biosynthetic routes for the rearrangement from 2 to 1 were deduced. The antifibrosis activity was tested according to the traditional application of raw materials. Prunellate A exhibited a significant inhibition effect against TGFβ1-induced activation on LX-2 cells by targeting the Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR). These results indicated that prunellate A has great potential for use in the treatment of liver fibrosis.

Scleromitrion diffusum (SD) is a medicinal plant belonging to the family Rubiaceae, primarily distributed across Asia. It has a long-standing history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as an antipyretic-detoxicate agent. This paper reviews studies conducted between 1979 and 2024 that encompass the phytochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical applications of SD. To date, over 259 compounds have been identified from SD, including iridoids, triterpenes, flavonoids, anthraquinones, phenolic acids, essential oils, polysaccharides, and cyclic peptides. Pharmacological investigations indicate that the compounds and extracts isolated from SD exhibit a diverse range of activities in vitro and in vivo, such as anticancer, antioxidant, anti-hepatic injury, anti-inflammatory, and anti-Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, herbal formulations containing SD have demonstrated significant efficacy in treating various conditions, including chronic gastritis and psoriasis. In summary, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current research on SD to facilitate its further development and utilization in medicinal applications.

Natural products (NPs) play a crucial role in drug discovery, with over 30% of recent FDA‐approved drugs derived from them. Plants from the genus Goniothalamus , belonging to the Annonaceae family, have garnered significant interest as potential sources of active lead compounds. Over the last five decades, researchers have isolated 357 compounds from Goniothalamus species (GCs), which exhibit a wide range of pharmacological properties, including cytotoxicity, antibacterial, antifungal, antiplasmodial, antioxidant, and other activities. Notably, cytotoxicity stands out as the most prominent characteristic of GCs. This review also summarizes the structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies related to the cytotoxicity of GCs and their underlying mechanisms. In summary, our objective is to provide an overview of the research progress concerning the Goniothalamus genus, aiming to foster further development and utilization of these plants.

Bisindole alkaloids constitute a significant class of natural compounds distinguished by their characteristic bisindole structure and renowned for their anticancer properties. Over the last six decades, researchers have isolated 425 microorganism‐derived bisindole alkaloids (MDBAs). Among them, 187 MDBAs have demonstrated anticancer properties against various in vitro cancer cell lines, primarily by impeding the cell cycle, restraining cell proliferation, and inducing apoptosis and autophagy. These effects are mediated by regulating key targets and signaling pathways such as hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐1, MAPK, and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mTOR. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the sources, chemical diversity, and anticancer properties of these compounds. Furthermore, it summarizes the structure–activity relationship (SAR), druggability, and the mechanisms underlying MDBAs’ anticancer effects. Ultimately, this article aims to furnish a thorough overview of the advancements in the investigation of microorganism‐derived bisindole alkaloids for their continued development and utilization.