Moringa oleifera is an ancient remedy plant, known as the miraculous plant due to its many prominent uses and significant health benefits. It is a nutrient-rich plant, with exceptional bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols that possess several medicinal properties. Many significant studies have been carried out to evaluate the ethnomedicinal and pharmacological properties of M. oleifera in various applications. Therefore, this comprehensive review compiles and summarizes important findings from recent studies on the potential properties of different parts of M. oleifera. The pharmacological properties of M. oleifera have been studied for various potential biological properties, such as cardio-protective, anti-oxidative, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-diabetic and anti-carcinogenic effects. Therefore, the potential of this plant is even more anticipated. This review also highlights the safety and toxicity effects of M. oleifera treatment at various doses, including in vitro, in vivo and clinical trials from human studies.
Lygodium japonicum is a valuable medicinal plant with increasing demand in China, yet large-scale cultivation remains limited, relying heavily on wild populations. As climate change accelerates, its potential distribution is expected to shift, affecting suitable growth areas. Despite its medicinal importance, research on its adaptability and future habitat changes is limited. This study used an optimized MaxEnt ecological niche model and Geographic Information System (GIS) to predict the potential suitable habitats of L. japonicum under current and future climate conditions (2041-2060 and 2061-2080) across three greenhouse gas emission scenarios (SSP126, SSP245, SSP585). Results show that under current climatic conditions, the potential habitat of L. japonicum spans approximately 216.31 × 104 km², with high suitability areas concentrated in southern and eastern China. In future climate scenarios, While the total suitable habitat area remains stable, the area of high suitability is significantly reduced. Specifically, under the SSP126 scenario, high suitability areas are projected to decrease by 44.1% during 2041-2060. The centroid of high suitability areas is expected to shift northward, though a localized southward shift is observed under the SSP126 scenario. Key environmental factors influencing the species’ distribution include temperature seasonality (bio4), May precipitation (prec5), and mean diurnal temperature range (bio2). These findings highlight the potential impacts of climate change on L. japonicum’s distribution and are crucial for the conservation and sustainable utilization of the species in China, particularly under changing climatic conditions.
The combined effects of climate change and human activities are reshaping species distributions, with many valuable plant species also being affected. This study uses the Maximum Entropy (Maxent) model to assess the current and future distribution of Lophatherum gracile Brongn. in China under different environmental and anthropogenic scenarios. A dataset comprising 142 occurrence records and 13 selected environmental variables, including bioclimatic, soil, and solar radiation factors, was used to predict suitable habitats. The model achieved high accuracy (AUC > 0.9, TSS > 0.7, CBI > 0.7), with precipitation during the driest month, elevation, and soil saturation identified as key factors influencing habitat suitability. The results indicate that under current conditions, L. gracile is predominantly distributed in southern China, including provinces such as Hunan, Guangxi, and Fujian. Future climate scenarios (SSP245 and SSP585) predict significant shifts in habitat suitability, with an overall reduction in highly suitable areas and a westward shift in the distribution centroid. Human activities exacerbate habitat fragmentation, resulting in a 2.18% reduction in suitable areas. These findings underscore the vulnerability of L. gracile to both environmental and anthropogenic pressures, highlighting the need for targeted conservation strategies. This research provides a scientific foundation for the conservation of L. gracile and informs adaptive management strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and human disturbance.
Natural products from medicinal plants are vital sources for medicines, but understanding their complex production pathways within the plant is challenging. This review explores how artificial intelligence (AI), defined here as a suite of computational techniques including Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning (DL), Natural Language Processing (NLP), and network analysis—is transforming this field of research. We describe how AI technologies, particularly machine and deep learning, are used to integrate large, heterogeneous biological datasets, extract features and identify key components in the biosynthesis of valuable compounds, and model how these metabolic networks behave over time. The review demonstrates that AI technologies effectively integrate large biological datasets to model dynamic metabolic behaviors. Furthermore, AI facilitates the optimization of the entire production chain, from cultivation conditions to extraction parameters. Ultimately, these technologies are shifting the research paradigm from conventional methods to precise, data-driven approaches, accelerating the sustainable bioproduction of plant-based natural products.
Aims: Albiflorin, a key compound from Paeonia lactiflora, has shown therapeutic potential in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders (NPDs and NDDs), especially depression and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This review aimed to summarize its pharmacological effects, mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic prospects.Discussion: Albiflorin exhibits multi‐target actions, including modulation of monoamine neurotransmitters, inhibition of neuroinflammation, and enhancement of neuroplasticity. In AD, it reduces Aβ accumulation, improves mitochondrial function, and activates MAPK/ERK and Nrf2/HO‐1 signaling pathways. In depression, it restores phospholipid and tryptophan metabolism, regulates HPA axis function, and increases BDNF expression. Albiflorin crosses the blood‐brain barrier (BBB) and may act indirectly via the gut‐brain axis through its metabolite benzoic acid. Though brain concentrations are low, its pharmacological effects remain significant. Albiflorin also shows potential benefits in conditions like cerebral ischemia and hypoxic‐ischemic brain injury. Toxicological data indicate low systemic toxicity and good safety margins in vivo and in vitro.Conclusions: Albiflorin demonstrates promising therapeutic potential for NPDs and NDDs via multi‐pathway regulation. However, further studies are needed to optimize brain delivery, understand gut microbiota interactions, and confirm efficacy through clinical trials. The advancement of formulation strategies and pharmacokinetic research will be considered key to achieving clinical translation.