Review on Croton crassifolius: From botanical characteristics to biotransformation and better utilization

Abstract

Croton crassifolius (C. crassifolius) is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine, with a history hundreds of years in China. By consulting Sciencedirect databases and Web of Science databases, 68 related articles were found, 12 of which were related to chemical composition and pharmacological activity. It was used by the ancients as the medicine to treat stomach trouble, rheumatism, poliomyelitis and injuries, and it is the treasure of traditional Chinese medicine in China. With the development of modern medicine, the active ingredients and therapeutic mechanism of C. crassifolius have been gradually revealed. In this study, the functions and applications of C. crassifolius were reviewed from the aspects of botany, traditional Chinese medicine therapy and biotransformation of substances, so as to better understand and use C. crassifolius and provide more effective drug choices for clinical treatment.

Keywords

Croton crassifolius / botany / biotransformation / utilization

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by National Nature Science Foundation of China (81973284) and Scientific Research Foundation of the Education Department of Liaoning Province (LJKZ0944).

References

[1] Qiu MS, Cao D, Gao YH, et al. New clerodane diterpenoids from Croton crassifolius. Fitoterapia, 2016, 108: 81-86.

[2] Sun M, Zeng W, Zhao Z. Croton crassifolius Geisel: A comprehensive review of the botany, traditional uses phytochemistry, pharmacology, and quality control. J Ethnopharmacol, 2023, 3: 117352-117355.

[3] Costa R, Lourenço A, Oliveira V, et al. Chemical characterization of cork, phloem and wood from different Quercus suber provenances and trees. Heliyon, 2019, 5: 2-5.

[4] Huang JZ, Weng WF. Pharmacognostical study of Croton Crassifolius Geisel. J Holist Integr Pharm, 2023, 4: 234-240.

[5] Huang JG, Xu JY, Wang Z, et al. New lasiodiplodins from mangrove endophytic fungus Lasiodiplodia sp. 318#. Nat Prod Res, 2017, 31: 326-332.

[6] Umeokoli, Ebrahim W, El-Neketi M, et al. A new depsidone derivative from mangrove sediment derived fungus Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Nat Prod Res, 2019, 33: 2215-2222.

[7] Wei XP, Li HJ, Che P, et al. Comparing chloroplast genomes of traditional Chinese herbs Schisandra sphenanthera and S. chinensis. Chin Herb Med, 2020, 12: 247-256.

[8] Li JY, Bai M, Song SJ, et al. Chemical constituents from the roots of Croton crassifolius and their chemophenetic significance. Biochem Syst Ecol, 2023, 107: 1-3.

[9] Pan WZ. Croton Crassifolius can treat strain joint muscle pain. New Rural Tech, 2013, 1: 46-47.

[10] Chen Y, Tian JL, Wu JS, et al. Biotransfomation of cyperenoic acid by Cunninghamella elegans AS 3.2028 and the potent anti-angiogenic activities of its metabolites. Fitoterapia, 2017, 118: 32-37.

[11] Jiang FL, Gong T, Chen JJ, et al. Synthetic biology of plants-derived medicinal natural products. Chin J Biotech, 2021, 37: 1931-1951.

[12] Guan SL, Wu YX, Sun H, et al. Application of microbial transformation technology in the development of Chinese medicine. Microb Chin, 2018, 45: 900-906.

[13] Tian JL, Chen Y, Wang TX, et al. Microbial transformation of methyl cyperenoate by Cunninghamella elegans AS 3.2028 and the antithrombotic activities of its metabolites. RSC Advances, 2016, 6: 112712-112720.

[14] Huang FL. The application of traditional Chinese medicine in modern cosmetics. J Tradit Chin Med, 2001, 2: 48-50.

[15] Wu CJ, Wang YT, Lei PL. Comprehensive utilization and treatment of traditional Chinese medicine residue. China J Chin Mater Med, 1998, 1: 59-60.

[16] Li X, Liu Z, Liao J, et al. Network pharmacology approaches for research of Traditional Chinese Medicines. Chin J Nat Med, 2023, 21: 323-332.