Ferula sinkiangensis (Chou-AWei, Chinese Ferula): Traditional Uses, Phytoconstituents, Biosynthesis, and Pharmacological Activities

Abstract

Ferula is the third largest genus of the Apiaceae family, its species are utilized as a remedy for diverse ailments all over the world. F. sinkiangensis K. M. Shen (Chou-AWei, Chinese Ferula) is mainly found in Xin-jiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Traditionally, it is utilized for treating various illnesses such as digestive disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, wound infection, baldness, bronchitis, ovarian cysts, intestinal worms, diarrhea, malaria, abdominal mass, cold, measles, and bronchitis. It can produce different classes of metabolites such as sesquiterpene coumarins, steroidal esters, lignans, phenylpropanoids, sesquiterpenes, monoterpenes, coumarins, organic acid glycosides, and sulfur-containing compounds with prominent bioactivities. The objective of this work is to point out the reported data on F. sinkiangensis, including traditional uses, phytoconstituents, biosynthesis, and bioactivities. In the current work, 194 metabolites were reported from F. sinkiangensis in the period from 1987 to the end of 2022. Nevertheless, future work should be directed to conduct in vivo, mechanistic, and clinical assessments of this plant`s metabolites to confirm its safe usage.

Keywords: Apiaceae; Ferula sinkiangensis; bioactivities; biosynthesis; responsible consumption and production; sesquiterpene coumarins; sustainability; traditional uses.

Figure 1

A map illustrating the geographic location of the Xinjiang-Uigur Autonomous Region in China.

Figure 2

Sources of the cited references in this work and their numbers. T&F: Taylor and Francis Ltd.; MDPI: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute; Z.Y.Y.K.: Zhongguo Yufang Yixue Kexueyuan; T.M.P.: Thieme Medical Publishers; Z.Z.Y.: Zhongguo Zhongyi Yanjiuyuan; W.P.: Webpages; I.S.P: Iranian Society of Pharmacognosy; R.S.C.: Royal Society of Chemistry; F.M.: Frontiers Media; C.P.: Cell Press; W.M.M.: Walsh Medical Media; H.P.C.: Hindawi Publishing Corporation; W.K.H.: Wolters Kluwer Health—Pvt.; G.R.O.: Global Research Online; J-Stage: Pharmaceutical Society of Japan; PLOS: Public Library of Science; L.W.W.: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Ltd.; A.M.A.: American Medical Association; e-C.P.C.: e-Century Publishing Corporation; A.C.S. American Chemical Society.

Figure 3

Structures of sesquiterpene coumarins (1–12) reported from F. sinkiangensis.

Figure 4

Structures of sesquiterpene coumarins (13–24) reported from F. sinkiangensis.

Figure 5

Structures of sesquiterpene coumarins (25–34) reported from F. sinkiangensis.

Figure 6

Structures of sesquiterpene coumarins (35–46) reported from F. sinkiangensis.

Figure 7

Structures of sesquiterpene coumarins (47–51) reported from F. sinkiangensis.

Figure 8

Structures of sesquiterpene coumarins (52–60) reported from F. sinkiangensis.

Scheme 1

Biosynthetic pathway of (±)-ferulasin [40].

Figure 9

Structures of sesquiterpene chromones (61 and 62), monoterpene coumarins (63–65), and coumarins (66–68) from F. sinkiangensis.

Figure 10

Structures of sesquiterpene phenylpropanoids (69–76) from F. sinkiangensis.

Figure 11

Structures of lignans (77–89) reported from F. sinkiangensis.

Figure 12

Structures of lignans (90–97) reported from F. sinkiangensis.

Figure 13

Structures of lignans (98–109) reported from F. sinkiangensis.

Scheme 2

Biosynthesis of sinkianlignan C (94) via shikimate pathway [44].

Figure 14

Structures of lignans (110–114) reported from F. sinkiangensis.

Figure 15

Structures of monoterpenes (115–119) and sesquiterpenes (120–125) reported from F. sinkiangensis.

Figure 16

Structures of sulfanes (126–147) reported from F. sinkiangensis.

Figure 17

Structures of sterols (148–153) reported from F. sinkiangensis.

Scheme 3

Biosynthesis of sinkiangenrins A (148) and B (149) [17].

Figure 18

Structures of phenolic compounds (154–169) reported from F. sinkiangensis.

Figure 19

Structures of phenolic compounds (170–181) reported from F. sinkiangensis.

Figure 20

Structures of other metabolites (182–194) reported from F. sinkiangensis.

Scheme 4

Biosynthetic pathway of sinkiangenorin D (44) [52].

Figure 21

Number of compounds and their percentage reported from various parts of F. sinkiangensis.

Figure 22

Number of compounds reported from various classes of F. sinkiangensis. SCs: Sesquiterpene coumarins; LGs: Lignans; PHs: Phenolics; SFs: Sulfanes; SPPs: Sesquiterpene phenylpropanoids; SQs: Sesquiterpenes; MTs: monoterpenes; SCHs: Sesquiterpene chromones; MCs: Monoterpene coumarins; Cs: coumarins; OMs: Other metabolites.