Medicinal Plant Research 2024, Vol.14, No.4, 180-195 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/mpr 183 2.3 Conservation of traditional knowledge Protecting traditional knowledge related to Eucommia ulmoides is of great significance in promoting its sustainable use and further research. As a traditional medicinal herb, Eucommia ulmoides has been extensively documented in historical literature, with its applications spanning multiple historical periods. Preserving and passing on this valuable ethnobotanical knowledge not only helps to understand how Eucommia ulmoides has been used in different cultural contexts but also provides valuable references for modern scientific research (Wang et al., 2019a). By documenting and deeply studying the traditional applications of Eucommia ulmoides, we can uncover its phytochemical components and pharmacological properties, laying the foundation for its applications in medicine and health care. The protection of traditional knowledge related to Eucommia ulmoides involves not only the documentation of historical records but also the support of modern scientific research. Ongoing research can reveal potential new applications of Eucommia ulmoides, promoting its commercial development as a traditional medicine and health food (He et al., 2014; Wang et al., 2019a; Sayed et al., 2021). This study not only contributes to the inheritance and development of ethnobotanical knowledge but also brings new opportunities to the modern medical and health industries. Protecting and promoting the traditional knowledge of Eucommia ulmoides is not only a respect for history but also a drive for future innovation. 3 Phytochemistry of Eucommia ulmoides 3.1 Major chemical constituents Eucommia ulmoides is rich in lignans and iridoids, which are among the primary bioactive compounds isolated from this plant, and contribute significantly to its pharmacological properties. Lignans such as pinoresinol diglucoside and syringaresinol have been identified, along with iridoids like geniposidic acid and aucubin (He et al., 2014; Wang et al., 2019a). Eucommiapinoresinol diglucoside is a natural blood pressure lowering compound. As a candidate drug for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, it could prevent the dysfunction of venous endothelial cells induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein (Yao et al., 2016). It also could mitigate dexamethasone-induced osteoporosis and chondrodysplasia by promoting bone formation and activating Wnt signaling (Zuo et al., 2024). Study has shown that the glucoside structure of lignans was extremely important, it would lose the ability to regulate blood pressure without the glucoside structure (Sih et al., 1976). Geniposide is a bioactive iridoid glucoside, which has significant therapeutic effect on digestive, cardiovascular and central nervous system diseases. Through activating AMPK-αand Sirt1 pathways, it’s able to reduce the heart damage caused by obesity symptoms (Ma et al., 2018), ameliorate DEX-induced osteoblast apoptosis by activating autophagy through GLP-1R/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway (Huang et al., 2022b), also could produce antiinflammatory effects by reducing the release of inflammatory cytokines (Li et al., 2019), alleviate osteoarthritis through inhibiting inflammation and chondrocytes ferroptosis via Nrf2 signalling pathway (Sun et al., 2024). Flavonoids and phenolic acids are also abundant in E. ulmoides. It contains 25 different flavonoids with different substituents, which have significant effects on treating cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease and hypertension (Liu et al., 2020). Key flavonoids include quercetin and kaempferol, which have been shown to possess strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities (Bai et al., 2015). The total flavonoids from E. ulmoides leaves can significantly alleviate neurological damage caused by ischemic stroke by inhibiting oxidative stress, including decrease the levels of reactive oxygen species, lactate dehydrogenase, and malondialdehyde, while increase catalase and glutathione (Qin et al., 2024). Quercetin glycoside, which fromE. ulmoides leaves, could bind to insulin receptors, and improve insulin resistance as demonstrated by the increased uptake of glucose and glycogen production through a signaling pathway called IRS-1/PI3K/Akt/GSK-3 (Tang et al., 2023). 3.2 Bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential The antioxidant properties of E. ulmoides are primarily attributed to its high content of flavonoids and phenolic acids. Compounds like quercetin and chlorogenic acid have demonstrated significant free radical scavenging activities, which help in mitigating oxidative stress-related damage (Bai et al., 2015; Gong et al., 2022). These antioxidants play a crucial role in the plant's ability to protect against various diseases, including
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