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The major characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are amyloid plaques, consisting of aggregated beta amyloid (Aβ) peptides, together with tau pathology (tangles, neuropil treads and dystrophic neurites surrounding the plaques), in the brain. Down’s syndrome (DS) individuals are at increased risk to develop AD-type pathology; most DS individuals have developed substantial pathology already at the age of 40. DS individuals have an extra copy of chromosome 21, harbouring the amyloid precursor protein gene (APP). Our aim was to investigate the Aβ peptide pattern in DS and AD brains to investigate differences in their amyloid deposition and aggregation, respectively. Cortical tissue from patients with DS (with amyloid pathology), sporadic AD and controls were homogenized and fractionated into TBS (water soluble) and formic acid (water insoluble) fractions. Immunoprecipitation (IP) was performed using a variety of antibodies targeting different Aβ species including oligomeric Aβ. Mass spectrometry was then usedgradation and accumulation, except for APP/Aβ(-X to 15). Likewise, the Aβ peptides forming protofibrils/oligomers in both AD and DS were similar, implying the possibility that treatment with clinical benefit in sporadic AD might also be beneficial for subjects with DS.

Herba Siegesbeckiae, mainly includes Sigesbeckia orientalis L, Sigesbeckiae pubescens Makino and Sigesbeckiae glabrescens Makino. Herba Siegesbeckiae, also known as ‘Xi-Xian Cao’ (Chinese ), has been regarded as an important traditional Chinese medicine since Tang dynasty. The dried aerial parts of Herba Siegesbeckiae are also being used as a herbal medicine in many countries such as Japan, Korea and Vietnam. In China, Herba Siegesbeckiae has been used for the treatment of rheumatic arthralgia with aching and weakness of loins and knees, as well as numbness of limbs.

The aim of this review was to provide critical analysis on the scientific evidence to support the traditional uses of Herba Siegesbeckiae. The information available on its in botanical characteristics, traditional uses, chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, clinical studies, toxicity and quality control was summarized to understand the current research and provided the leas for future study.

The search terms “Herba Siegesbeckia medical plant with various chemical compounds and numerous pharmacological activities. However, fewer experimental studies were focused on toxicity and quantitative study of 3 species. It suggested that further in-depth study of toxicity and quality control were critical for future evaluation of drug efficacy and safety.

According to its traditional uses, chemical constituents, pharmacological activities and clinic studies, Herba Siegesbeckiae is regarded as a promising medical plant with various chemical compounds and numerous pharmacological activities. However, fewer experimental studies were focused on toxicity and quantitative study of 3 species. It suggested that further in-depth study of toxicity and quality control were critical for future evaluation of drug efficacy and safety.

As one of the first plants used by ancient people, cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. The long history of medicinal cannabis use contrasts with the paucity of archaeobotanical records. Moreover, physical evidence of medicinal cannabis use in a secular context is much rarer than evidence of medicinal cannabis use in religious or ritual activities, which impedes our understanding of the history of medicinal cannabis use.

This study aims to provide archaeobotanical evidence of medicinal cannabis use and analyse the specific medicinal usage of cannabis in a secular context in ancient times.

Plant remains were collected from the Laoguanshan Cemetery of the Han Dynasty in Chengdu, South China, with the archaeological flotation process and were identified based on morphological and anatomical characteristics. The examination of the medicinal significance of the remains relied on the investigation of the documentation on unearthed medical bamboo slips, the diseases of the tombresent the first physical evidence of medicinal cannabis use for the treatment of metrorrhagia, severe lumbago, and/or arthralgia. This study emphasizes the importance of the evidence of the diseases suffered by the occupants of the tomb in determining the medicinal use of cannabis in a secular context and contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the ancient history of medicinal cannabis.

Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch (Gramineae) is a medicinal spice traditionally used in the treatment of hypertension and cancer.

To assess the anti-metastatic potential of the methanol extract of I. cylindrica roots and determined its mechanisms of action.

The growth inhibition activity of I. cylindrica root extract in vitro and in vivo in human cervical cancer. The scratch assay and Boyden Chamber assay were used to determine the anti-migrative and anti-invasion actions of the plant extract. The whole-genome gene expression profiling using RNA-Seq was performed to determine the differentially expressed genes in CaSki cells after exposure to I. cylindrica to identify its targeted genes related to metastasis. Using protein analysis (western blotting) and gene expression analysis (RTqPCR), the targeted pathways of the key genes that were initially identified with RNA-Seq, were evaluated.

I. cylindrica extract showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo in mice bearing tumors. Furthermore, I. cylindrica root extract significantly inhibited cell migration and cell invasion. After the genome-wide transcriptome analysis, we found that important genes involved in cancer progression and metastasis of cervical cancer, that is, CD24 and TIMP-4 were significantly downregulated and upregulated, respectively. Moreover, I. cylindrica root extract significantly inhibited the PI3/AKT/Snail signaling pathway and blocked the EMT of CaSki cells.

These findings provide an anti-metastatic mechanism of action of I. compound library inhibitor cylindrica root extract toward the human cervical cancer suggesting that this plant maybe developed into selective chemotherapy.

These findings provide an anti-metastatic mechanism of action of I. cylindrica root extract toward the human cervical cancer suggesting that this plant maybe developed into selective chemotherapy.