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World J Pharmacol. Jun 16, 2022; 11(2): 6-15
Published online Jun 16, 2022. doi: 10.5497/wjp.v11.i2.6
Botanical, chemical, and pharmacological characteristics of Lomatogonium rotatum: A review
Li-Li Dai, Rong-Gui Eni, Ming-Hai Fu, Gen-Na Ba
Li-Li Dai, Ming-Hai Fu, Gen-Na Ba, School of Mongolian Medicine, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao 028000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
Rong-Gui Eni, NMPA Key Laboratory of Quality Control of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Mongolian Medicine), Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao 028000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
Author contributions: Dai LL and Eni RG performed the data collection and wrote the manuscript; Fu MH and Ba GN wrote and reviewed the manuscript.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81803845; Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, No. 2018MS08040; Construction Project of "Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Mongolian Medicine and Food Source Protection and Utilization Innovation Team", No. 190301; and Graduate Research Project of Inner Mongolia Minzu University, No. NMDBS1901.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Gen-Na Ba, PhD, Professor, School of Mongolian Medicine, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, No. 996 Xilamulun Street, Horqin District, Tongliao 028000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. bagenna@126.com
Received: January 18, 2022
Peer-review started: January 18, 2022
First decision: February 8, 2022
Revised: February 19, 2022
Accepted: May 17, 2022
Article in press: May 17, 2022
Published online: June 16, 2022
Abstract

Lomatogonium rotatum (L. rotatum) Fries ex Nym, a dry whole grass belonging to the family Gentianaceae, is widely used to treat liver diseases in Mongolian medicine. In Mongolian medicine, L. rotatum Fries ex Nym, also known as Digeda, is a rare medicinal herb with low yield and widespread clinical use. Currently, it is included in over 25 traditional Mongolian medicine prescriptions that help reduce heat, dispel xieri, enhance stomach function, and heal wounds. Recent studies have shown that L. rotatum Fries ex Nym contains a variety of metabolites, including flavonoids, xanthone compounds, terpenoids, organic acids, steroids, and alkaloids. In addition, its anti-hepatitis B, anti-inflammatory, anti-acute liver injury, and anti-obesity effects have been proven by pharmacological studies. In this review, we summarize the ecological resources, traditional pharmacodynamics, chemical constituents, and pharmacological actions of L. rotatum Fries ex Nym, with an aim to provide a theoretical basis for future applied research and new product development.

Keywords: Mongolian medicine, Lomatogonium rotatum, Chemical composition, Pharmacological action, Research progress

Core Tip: As a highly distinctive Mongolian medicinal herb, Lomatogonium rotatum (L. rotatum) Fries ex Nym is traditionally used to prevent and treat liver and gallbladder diseases. However, its clinical application value and further development are limited by strict requirements on its growing environment, high demand for medicinal materials, decrease in wild resources, and insufficient scientific and technological availability in ethnic minority areas. Currently, a total of 38 compounds have been isolated and identified from L. rotatum Fries ex Nym, with flavonoids, xanthones, and terpenoids being the main metabolites. Pharmacological studies have mainly focused on hepatitis, liver injury, and weight loss, but mechanisms of pharmacological activity remain elusive and further comprehensive in vivo and in vivo experimental designs are needed to elucidate these issues.