Biological activity evaluations of chemical constituents derived from Mongolian medicinal forage plants and their applications in combating infectious diseases and addressing health problems in humans and livestock

Abstract

Mongolian nomadic people possess traditional knowledge of wild plants that grow in their areas of habitation. Many of these are forage plants in nature and are consumed by livestock. However, these plants are known to have medicinal and/or toxic properties. To establish a scientific understanding of the plants, and in turn, offer sound knowledge on their applications and effective use, it is essential to collect data pertaining to the chemical constituents of each plant. Therefore, the first objective of this study was to identify and determine the structural constituents of the forage plants that were available to our research group. Furthermore, in an attempt to demonstrate the biological activities of the isolated chemical compounds, we focused on solving some of the social issues affecting Mongolian communities, including protozoan diseases affecting livestock, vectors of infectious diseases, and the general health of humans and their livestock. The results of the chemical constituents derived from Mongolian medicinal plants and their biological activities that were studied in the recent decade are also described herein.

Keywords: Chemical; Constituents; Forage; Medicinal; Mongolian; Native.

Fig. 1

a Flower blooming plateau in Mongolia b Trypanosoma equiperdum (Photo by Dr. K. Suganuma), c Babesia caballi (Photo by Dr. B. Tuvshintulga), d Theileria equi (Photo by Dr. B. Tuvshintulga), e Ticks waiting for animals on a dried stem of a plant in early spring, f A tick sucking goat blood, g Ticks before and after sucking blood, h Livestock on the Mongolian steppe

Fig. 2

Oxazoles isolated from Oxytropis lanata (1–5) and lignans from Brachanthemum gobicum (6–10) possess trypanocidal activity, and Trypanosoma congolense (Photo by Dr. K. Suganuma)

Fig. 3

Anti-piroplasma compounds isolated from Saxifraga spinulosa (11–13) and Bergenia crassifolia (14 and 15)

Fig. 4

Catechin and its analogues (16–21)

Fig. 5

Diterpenoids (22–31) isolated from Caryopteris mongolica possess antibacterial and cholinesterase inhibitory activities

Fig. 6

Phenylpropanoid oligomers isolated from Dracocephalum foetidum (32 and 33) and saponins (34–37) from Oxytropis lanata possess hyaluronidase inhibitory activity

Fig. 7

Flavonoid glycosides isolated from Atraphaxis frutescens (38–42) possess tyrosinase inhibitory activity and monardic acid A (43) isolated from Thymus gobicus possesses cholinesterase inhibitory activity

Fig. 8

Sesquiterpenoids isolated from Artemisia sieversiana (44–46)