Phytochemical Properties and Biological Activities of Cirsium Species

Cirsium species, commonly known as thistles, are remarkable for their rich array of secondary metabolites and their diverse pharmacological potentials. Central to their bioactivity are polyphenolic compounds—including flavonoids such as linarin, pectolinarin and hispidulin—as well as terpenoids and phenylpropanoid glycosides. These phytochemicals confer potent antioxidant properties by scavenging reactive oxygen species, and exhibit anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective and antiadipogenic effects. Traditional uses of various Cirsium species in folk medicine span treatments for liver ailments, inflammation and metabolic disorders. Advances in extraction and analytical techniques, notably high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, have enabled precise characterisation of individual constituents. Experimental models, from cell cultures to Caenorhabditis elegans, have elucidated mechanisms of action ranging from modulation of nuclear transcription factors to inhibition of key enzymes. The global significance of Cirsium research lies in its potential to yield natural leads for nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals, offering sustainable alternatives to synthetic antioxidants, antimicrobials and metabolic regulators.

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Phytochemical Properties and Biological Activities of Cirsium Species publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in phytochemical properties and biological activities of cirsium species across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Polyphenols: Secondary plant metabolites characterised by multiple phenolic rings, known for antioxidant activity.

Flavonoids: A subclass of polyphenols with diverse biological functions, including anti-inflammatory and enzyme-inhibitory effects.

Terpenoids: Organic compounds derived from isoprene units, often exhibiting antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive oxygen-containing molecules that can damage cellular structures and are targeted by antioxidants.

Molecular docking: Computational method to predict and evaluate the binding affinity between small molecules and protein targets.

References

1. Potential Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Polyphenolic Compounds from Cirsium japonicum Extract. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2024).
2. Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Efficacy of the Lipophilic Extract of Cirsium vulgare. Molecules (2023).
3. Chlorogenic Acid of Cirsium japonicum Resists Oxidative Stress Caused by Aging and Prolongs Healthspan via SKN-1/Nrf2 and DAF-16/FOXO in Caenorhabditis elegans. Metabolites (2023).