Uvaria longipes (Craib) L.L.Zhou, Y.C.F.Su & R.M.K.Saunders, Artabotrys burmanicus A.DC, Marsypopetalum modestum (Pierre) B.Xue & R.M.K.Saunders and Dasymaschalon sp. have been used for traditional medicine to treat cancer-like symptoms in some ethnic groups of Thailand and Laos. We evaluated the anti-cancer activity of these Annonaceae plants against several human cancer cell lines. The apoptosis induction was detected by Annexin/propidium iodide (PI) staining. Phytochemical screening was tested by standard protocols and bioactive compounds were determined by HPLC. The crude extracts from leaves of U. longipes, Dasymaschalon sp., A. burmanicus, and M. modestum showed particular effects that were found to vary depending on the cancer cell line, suggesting that the effect was in a cell-type specific manner. Interestingly, the induction of apoptotic cell death was prominent by the leaves-derived crude extract of M. modestum. This crude was, therefore, subjected to cell cycle analysis by PI staining. Results showed that this crude extract arrested cell cycle and increased the percentage of cells in the SubG1 phase in some cancer cell lines. The phytochemical screening tests indicated that all crude extracts contained tannins and flavonoids. HPLC of flavonoids using standards identified rutin as an active compound in U. longipes and Dasymaschalon sp., whereas quercetin was found in U. longipes and M. modestum. These crude extracts provide a new source for rutin and quercetin, which might be capable of inducing cancer cell apoptotic death in a cell-type specific manner. This suggests, by analyzing the major bioactive compounds, the potential use of these crudes for chemotherapy in the future.

Twenty-three samples of mangrove plants were refluxed with methanol, then their activities were evaluated. Surprisingly, sample 6 (%SC₅₀ = 5.00 ± 0.08 μg/mL) had the best antioxidation activity among candidates and L-ascorbic acid. Sample 19 was the second, with %SC₅₀ = 5.15 ± 0.15 μg/mL. Both presented the availability of flavonoids and tannins, which was confirmed by phytochemical screening. The antimicrobial assay was done parallelly with the DPPH-free radical scavenging assay. Sample 19 exhibited the highest bacteriostatic activities against S. aureus, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa (MIC = 62.50 μg/mL), and E. faecalis (MIC = 500 μg/mL) due to the presence of terpenes. In the MTT assay, it was found that sample 19 displayed specific toxicity against KB (%IC50 = 18.51 ± 5.49 μg/mL) and HeLa (%IC50 = 160.68 ± 39.36 μg/mL). Samples 2, 4, and 20 also demonstrated selective toxicity against cancer cells. This is the first report of sample 19, which is the most effective and potent cytotoxic agent against KB, and sample 4, which is the specific and most potent cytotoxic agent against HeLa. This is the first time mangrove plants have been evaluated for their potential to be alternative natural sources of medicine.

Searching biologically active compounds has been one of the major duties of organic chemists. We previously constructed a library of synthetic 12-arylbenzoacridines and found estrogenic and anti-estrogenic agents. With taking the shot-gun approach into consideration, further exploration for bioactive species in the above library was carried out. As a result, new antibacterial agents against S. aureus (MIC = 16 μM), E. coli (MIC = 7.8 μM), E. faecalis (MIC = 0.98 μM), and A. baumannii (MIC = 31 μM) were found. Moreover, we also unveiled that some of the tested compounds exhibit cell-based anti-oxidative activity. These results clearly show a good potential of 12-arylbenzoacridines as novel pharmacophores, which is useful to establish various medicines.

The leaves of 20 species belonging to the Annonaceae family were collected and extracted using methanol to obtain scientific data to evaluate their potential use as new sources of medicinal agents. Methanolic leaf extracts 1–20 were subjected to phytochemical screening and a biological activity assay. The multipharmacophore of the natural products with the synergistic action was remarked as the target. The antimicrobial activity assay was done in parallel with the antioxidant activity test. Among these 20 extracts, extracts 1 and 4 exhibited the inhibition of the growth of all the test microbes. Flavonoids and tannins seem to be the main components of this action. Dramatic results indicate that extract 1 was the most active as an antioxidant. This research was the first report on the biological activities of extract 20. Extract 20 exhibited bactericidal activity against Enterococcus faecalis at 1,000 μg/ml. Terpenes might be the main component of this action. This result was related to the antimicrobial activity of extract 2 which contains terpenes and exhibited high antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and E. faecalis (minimum inhibition concentration, MIC = 250 μg/ml). These data indicated a promising potential for Annonaceous plants to be used as sources of naturally occurring medicinal agents.

Hemorrhoid is a multifactorial condition involving inflammation, venous stasis, degeneration of supporting tissue, and vascular fragility. It requires safer adjunctive therapy options for long-term use. This narrative review seeks to comprehensively examine potential anti-hemorrhoidal medicinal plants by linking bioactive compounds, pharmacological targets, and evidence from in vitro , in vivo , and clinical trials. Literature searches were conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, focusing on original research articles that documented anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, venoprotective-venotonic, hemostatic-astringent, analgesic, and wound healing activities. The articles were further synthesized qualitatively according to the pathophysiology of hemorrhoids. A total of 90 articles met the inclusion criteria and were classified based on the predominant mechanism, namely anti-inflammatory–antioxidant agents (14 plants; 41 articles), vasoprotective–venotonic agents (6 plants; 10 articles), astringent–hemostatic agents (6 plants; 14 articles), and analgesic and wound healing acceleration (7 plants; 25 articles). The findings showed that medicinal plants operate through a multitarget manner by suppressing inflammatory mediators, increasing endogenous antioxidant defenses, improving venous tone and microvascular stability, supporting local hemostasis, and accelerating mucosal regeneration. Nonetheless, the evidence remains predominantly derived from preclinical studies, with variations in extraction methods, formulations, routes of administration, and dosages. Overall, medicinal plants have potential as adjuvant therapy for hemorrhoids; nevertheless, standardization of extracts and controlled clinical trials are necessary to ensure efficacy and safety.