Research on the Chemical Composition of Papyrus
Cyperus Papyrus is a tall aquatic or aquatic plant belonging to the Cyperaceae family and Cyperus genus. Papyrus, also known as papyrus, Egyptian papyrus, or Egyptian papyrus, is native to southern Europe, northern Africa, and Asia Minor. It is the main plant that forms vegetation in deeper waters. Papyrus is an important component of ancient Egyptian civilization. The writing medium made from it was used by Europeans and Arabs for 3000 years until the 8th century AD, when Chinese paper-making technology was introduced to the Middle East and replaced papyrus.

Papyrus has strong water purification function and is often cultivated and improved as a water landscape plant. At present, research on papyrus at home and abroad mainly focuses on its water purification function, with little research on its chemical composition. There are few reports on its biological activity, except for its whitening and skincare effects. The dried rhizomes of the same family and genus of Chinese herbal medicine, Cyperus, are commonly used in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. They have antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activities, and are commonly used in clinical practice to treat dysmenorrhea, menstrual disorders, and bone and intestinal disorders. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF – κ B) is an important nuclear transcription factor in cells, which participates in the body’s inflammatory and immune response processes. The overactivation of the NF – κ B signaling pathway is closely related to the occurrence and development of various inflammatory related diseases in humans, including cancer. Therefore, inhibiting the overactivation of the NF – κ B signaling pathway may become a treatment for related diseases. In order to conduct in-depth research on the chemistry and active ingredients of papyrus, the entire plant of papyrus was studied, and 19 compounds were isolated and identified. Nine active compounds were found to have inhibitory effects on the NF – κ B signaling pathway induced by TNF – α activation.

A study was conducted on the chemistry and active ingredients of Sedum, and 19 compounds were isolated from its methanol extract, including sesquiterpenes (1-6), steroids (7-14), and fatty acids (15-19). All compounds were isolated from Sedum for the first time, enriching the chemical composition research of Sedum and Sedum plants. Through anti-inflammatory activity research, 9 active compounds were discovered that have inhibitory effects on the NF – κ B signaling pathway induced by TNF – α. The active compounds are mainly sesquiterpenes and steroidal compounds, among which sesquiterpenes have stronger activity, especially eucalyptoid sesquiterpenes (1 and 6), which is consistent with our previous research results on their genus Sedum. Sedum plants are rich in sesquiterpenes, and our research has found that sesquiterpenes are active ingredients with potential anti-inflammatory effects, especially eucalyptus sesquiterpenes, in Sedum. In order to develop and utilize this plant resource reasonably, it is necessary to conduct further systematic research on the active ingredients in papyrus, explore their activity mechanisms in depth, and carry out in vivo activity verification. This study provides material and theoretical support for subsequent research on the biological activity of Sedum and Sedum plants.