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Quality control methods of current traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation is time-consuming and difficult to assess in terms of overall efficiency of the drug. A non-destructive rapid near-infrared spectroscopy detection system for key chemical components and biological activity of Lanqin oral solution (LOS), one of the best-selling TCM formulations, was established for comprehensive quality evaluation. Near infrared spectral scanning was carried out on 101 batches of commercial LOS under the penetrated vial state and traditional state. RAW 264.7 cells were cultured to detect the anti-inflammatory ability of LOS, and the reference concentrations of epigoitrin, geniposide, and baicalin were obtained by HPLC. The quantitative models were optimized by three kinds of variable selection methods. The correlation coefficients of prediction value of the models were greater than 0.94. The system also passed the external validation. The performance of the non-invasive models was similar to the traditional models. The established non-destructive system can be applied to the rapid quality inspection of LOS to avoid unqualified drugs from entering the market and ensure drug effectiveness. The biological activity index of LOS was introduced and predicted by NIRs for the first time, which provides a new idea about the quality control of TCM formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taxillμs chinensis (DC.) Danser is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. It has not been reported regarding antibacterial active ingredients and mechanisms of action. However, the Chinese patent medicine Yinhua Miyanling Tablets containing Taxillμs chinensis has an obvious anti-infective effect in our patent. Therefore, we speculate that Taxillμs chinensis may have antibacterial activity. The purpose of this paper is to study the antibacterial effect and mechanism of Taxillμs chinensis and find active compounds with antibacterial activity and a mechanism. We studied the antibacterial effect and mechanism of Taxillμs chinensis extract. The compounds in the ethyl acetate extract of Taxillμs chinensis were preliminarily identified by UPLC-Q-Orbitrap and analyzed by mass spectrometry. Above all, the antibacterial effect and antibacterial mechanism of the active components of Taxillμs chinensis were determined. Finally, we found, for the first time, that Taxillμs chinensis has a good antibacterial effect and ethyl acetate extract has the best effect. In addition, we found, for the first time, that it has an active component, 4-indolecarbaldehyde, and the component has a good broad-spectrum antibacterial effect. Above all, the active chemical 4-indolecarbaldehyde of Taxillμs chinensis can destroy the bacterial structure, make it unable to maintain normal morphology, and significantly increase the number of deaths. In short, Taxillμs chinensis has an antibacterial effect, and one of its main antibacterial components is 4-indolecarbaldehyde. The antibacterial mechanism of Taxillμs chinensis and 4-indolecarbaldehyde is related to the change in bacterial membrane permeability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saponins are an important class of active components in Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs), which are present in large quantities in Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Polygonati Rhizoma, etc., and have immune regulation, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-cardiovascular disease, and hypoglycemic activities. Storage and processing are essential processes in the production process of CHMs which affect the stability of saponin components and then reduce the medicinal and economic value. Therefore, it is of great importance to investigate the effects of storage and processing conditions on the content of saponin components in CHMs. In this paper, the effects of various storage and processing factors, including temperature, pH, enzymes, meta lions, extraction methods, etc., on the saponin content of CHMs are investigated and the underlying mechanisms for the quantitative changes of saponin are summarized. These findings may provide technical guidance for the production and processing of saponin-rich CHMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Szechwan lovage rhizome (SLR, the rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., Chuanxiong in Chinese transliteration) is one Chinese materia medica (CMM) commonly used to activate blood circulation and remove blood stasis. SLR is applicable to most blood stasis syndromes. It has significant clinical efficacy in relation to human diseases of the cardiocerebrovascular system, nervous system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, etc. Apart from China, SLR is also used in Singapore, Malaysia, the European Union, and the United States of America. However, the current chemical markers in pharmacopeia or monography for the quality assessment of SLR are not well characterized or specifically characterized, nor do they fully reflect the medicinal efficacy of SLR, resulting in the quality of SLR not being effectively controlled. CMM can only have medicinal efficacy when they are applied in vivo to an organism. The intensity of their pharmaceutical activities can more directly represent the quality of CMM. Therefore, the chemical constituents and pharmacological actions of SLR are reviewed in this paper. In order to demonstrate the medicinal efficacy of SLR in promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, bioassay methods are put forward to evaluate the pharmaceutical activities of SLR to improve hemorheology, hemodynamics, and vascular microcirculation, as well as its anti-platelet aggregation and anticoagulation properties. Through comprehensive analyses of these pharmaceutical properties, the quality and therapeutic value of SLR are ascertained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (P. ginseng) is one of the more common traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). It contains numerous chemical components and exhibits a range of pharmacological effects. An enormous burden is placed on people's health and life by Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative condition. Recent research has shown that P. ginseng's chemical constituents, particularly ginsenosides, have a significant beneficial impact on the prevention and management of neurological disorders. To understand the current status of research on P. ginseng to improve AD, this paper discusses the composition of P. ginseng, its mechanism of action, and its clinical application. The pathogenesis of AD includes amyloid beta protein (Aβ) generation and aggregation, tau protein hyperphosphorylation, oxidant stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial damage, and neurotransmitter and gut microbiota disorders. This review presents the key molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of the active ingredients in P. ginseng involved in improving AD from the perspective of AD pathogenesis. A P. ginseng-related signaling pathway network was constructed to provide effective targets for the treatment of AD. In addition, the application of spatial metabolomics techniques in studying P. ginseng and AD is discussed. In summary, this paper discusses research perspectives for the study of P. ginseng in the treatment of AD, including a systematic and in-depth review of the mechanisms of action of the active substances in P. ginseng, and evaluates the feasibility of applying spatial metabolomics in the study of AD pathogenesis and pharmacological treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbon quantum dot (CQD) paper-based analytical device (PAD) has drawn great attention and is being intensively explored. However, the construction of a continuous flow CQD synthesis device remains challenging. In this work, a continuous flow reaction apparatus was constructed to synthesize nitrogen-doped CQDs using a mixed-solvent system of tetraethylene glycol and water. The optical properties of the CQDs were characterized. The CQDs were found to be quenched by phenolics such as chlorogenic acid, salvianolic acid B, and rutin. The CQD PAD was prepared for the determination of the total phenolic content of honeysuckle extracts. A smartphone was used to test the analytical performance of the CQD PAD. The results demonstrated that the degree of fluorescence quenching of the CQDs showed a linear relationship with the concentration of the added chlorogenic acid solution. This method was compared with the total phenolic assay in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and the statistical test showed no significant difference between their results. With aqueous tetraethylene glycol as the solvent for the synthesis, the continuous flow reactor for CQD preparation could be easily set up. The CQD PAD is convenient, cheap, and expected to be used for the rapid quality detection of traditional Chinese medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal food varieties developed according to the theory of medical and edible homologues are effective at preventing and treating chronic diseases and in health care. As of 2022, 110 types of traditional Chinese medicines from the same source of medicine and food have been published by the National Health Commission. Inflammation is the immune system's first response to injury, infection, and stress. Chronic inflammation is closely related to many diseases such as atherosclerosis and cancer. Therefore, timely intervention for inflammation is the mainstay treatment for other complex diseases. However, some traditional anti-inflammatory drugs on the market are commonly associated with a number of adverse effects, which seriously affect the health and safety of patients. Therefore, the in-depth development of new safe, harmless, and effective anti-inflammatory drugs has become a hot topic of research and an urgent clinical need. Polysaccharides, one of the main active ingredients of medical and edible homologous traditional Chinese medicines (MEHTCMs), have been confirmed by a large number of studies to exert anti-inflammatory effects through multiple targets and are considered potential natural anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, the structure of medical and edible homologous traditional Chinese medicines' polysaccharides (MEHTCMPs) may be the key factor determining their anti-inflammatory activity, which makes the underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of polysaccharides and their structure–efficacy relationship hot topics of domestic and international research. However, due to the limitations of the current analytical techniques and tools, the structures have not been fully elucidated and the structure–efficacy relationship is relatively ambiguous, which are some of the difficulties in the process of developing and utilizing MEHTCMPs as novel anti-inflammatory drugs in the future. For this reason, this paper summarizes the potential anti-inflammatory mechanisms of MEHTCMPs, such as the regulation of the Toll-like receptor-related signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, JAK-STAT signaling pathway, NLRP3 signaling pathway, PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, PPAR-γ signaling pathway, Nrf2-HO-1 signaling pathway, and the regulation of intestinal flora, and it systematically analyzes and evaluates the relationships between the anti-inflammatory activity of MEHTCMPs and their structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Periplocae Cortex (PC), Acanthopanacis Cortex (AC), and Lycii Cortex (LC), as traditional Chinese medicines, are all dried root bark, presented in a roll, light and brittle, easy to break, have a fragrant scent, etc. Due to their similar appearances, it is tough to distinguish them, and they are often confused and adulterated in markets and clinical applications. To realize the identification and quality control of three herbs, in this paper, Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry Expression (UHPLC-QTOF-MSE) combined with chemometric analysis was used to explore the different chemical compositions. Methods: LC, AC, and PC were analyzed by UHPLC-QTOF-MSE, and the quantized MS data combined with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) were used to explore the different chemical compositions with Variable Importance Projection (VIP) > 1.0. Further, the different chemical compositions were identified according to the chemical standard substances, related literature, and databases. Results: AC, PC, and LC can be obviously distinguished in PCA and PLS-DA analysis with the VIP of 2661 ions > 1.0. We preliminarily identified 17 differential chemical constituents in AC, PC, and LC with significant differences (p < 0.01) and VIP > 1.0; for example, Lycium B and Periploside H2 are LC and PC's proprietary ingredients, respectively, and 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde, Periplocoside C, and 3,5-Di-O-caffeoylquinic acid are the shared components of the three herbs. Conclusions: UHPLC-QTOF-MSE combined with chemometric analysis is conducive to exploring the differential chemical compositions of three herbs. Moreover, the proprietary ingredients, Lycium B (LC) and Periploside H2 (PC), are beneficial in strengthening the quality control of AC, PC, and LC. In addition, limits on the content of shared components can be set to enhance the quality control of LC, PC, and AC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic gastritis (CG) is a common clinical digestive system disease, which is not easyily cured and is prone to recurrence. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays a significant role in the treatment of CG and has attracted increasing attention for clinical applications. In recent years, a large number of reports have shown that TCM has good therapeutic effect on CG. The aim of this paper is to investigate the pharmacological activities and mechanism of action of TCM in the treatment of CAG. Therefore, by searching the databases of Pubmed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and Baidu academic databases, this paper has summarized the molecular mechanisms of TCM in improving CG. The results show that the improvement of GC by TCM is closely related to a variety of molecular mechanisms, including the inhibition of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, alleviation of oxidative stress, improvement of gastric function, repair of gastric mucosa, inhibition of inflammatory response, and apoptosis. More importantly, IRF8-IFN-γ, IL-4-STAT6, Hedgehog, pERK1/2, MAPK, PI3K-Akt, NF-κB, TNFR-c-Src-ERK1/2-c-Fos, Nrf2/HO-1, and HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathways are considered as important molecular targets for TCM in the treatment of GC. These important findings will provide a direction and a basis for further exploring the pathogenesis of GC and tapping the potential of TCM in clinical treatment. This review also puts forward a bright prospect for future research of TCM in the treatment of CG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endothelium, as the guardian of vascular homeostasis, is closely related to the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). As an early marker of the development of a series of vascular diseases, endothelial dysfunction is often accompanied by oxidative stress and inflammatory response. Natural flavonoids in fruits, vegetables, and Chinese herbal medicines have been shown to induce and regulate endothelial cells and exert anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, and anti-aging effects in a large number of in vitro models and in vivo experiments so as to achieve the prevention and improvement of cardiovascular disease. Focusing on endothelial mediation, this paper introduces the signaling pathways involved in the improvement of endothelial dysfunction by common dietary and flavonoids in traditional Chinese medicine and describes them based on their metabolism in the human body and their relationship with the intestinal flora. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the broad pharmacological activity and target development potential of flavonoids as food supplements and drug components in regulating endothelial function and thus in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. This paper also introduces the application of some new nanoparticle carriers in order to improve their bioavailability in the human body and play a broader role in vascular protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional methods for harvesting medicinal materials with long roots, like Astragalus membranaceus, require extensive soil excavation, leading to problems like inefficient soil separation, low stemming rates, and blockages in conveyor chains. To address these challenges, this study introduces a prototype machine capable of digging, separating soil, crushing soil, and collecting the medicinal materials in one continuous process. The paper focuses on the machine's design and working principle, with theoretical analysis and calculations for key components like the digging shovel, multi-stage conveyor, and soil-crushing device. Specific structural parameters were determined, and the screening efficiency of the roller screen was analyzed using EDEM 2020 software, comparing scenarios with and without rollers. A motion model for the medicinal materials during conveyance was established, allowing for the determination of optimal linear velocity and mounting angle for the conveyor. Additionally, a motion model for the second-stage conveyor chain and rear soil-crushing device was used to optimize their placement, ensuring efficient soil crushing without affecting the thrown Astragalus. Compared to traditional Chinese medicine diggers, this machine boasts superior resistance reduction and soil-crushing capabilities. Compared with traditional harvesters, the drag-reducing and soil-crushing device of this machine is more efficient, reducing the damage to Astragalus during the harvesting process, reducing the labor intensity of farmers, and improving the quality and efficiency of Astragalus harvesting. Field experiments have shown that when the operating speed of the prototype is 1.0 m/s and the roller-screen speed is 130~150 rpm, the operating performance is optimal, and comparative experiments can be conducted under the optimal parameters. From the experimental results, it can be seen that the improved equipment has increased the bright-stem rate by about 4%, the digging and loosening rate by 97.42%, and the damage rate by 2.44%. The equipment design meets the overall design requirements, and all experimental indicators meet national and industry standards. This provides a reference for the optimization and improvement of the soil-crushing device and the structure of the Astragalus membranaceus harvester. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragali radix is a traditional medicinal herb with a long history and wide application. It is frequently used in prescriptions with other medicinal materials to replenish Qi. According to the classics of traditional Chinese medicine, Astragali radix is attributed with properties such as Qi replenishing and surface solidifying, sore healing and muscle generating, and inducing diuresis to reduce edema. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that some extracts and active ingredients in Astragali radix function as antioxidants. The polysaccharides, saponins, and flavonoids in Astragali radix offer beneficial effects in preventing and controlling diseases caused by oxidative stress. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive research on the effective components and molecular mechanisms through which Astragali radix exerts antioxidant activity. In this paper, we review the active components with antioxidant effects in Astragali radix; summarize the content, bioavailability, and antioxidant mechanisms; and offer a reference for the clinical application of Astragalus and the future development of novel antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the use of large language models in constructing a knowledge graph for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to improve the representation, storage, and application of TCM knowledge. The knowledge graph, based on a graph structure, effectively organizes entities, attributes, and relationships within the TCM domain. By leveraging large language models, we collected and embedded substantial TCM–related data, generating precise representations transformed into a knowledge graph format. Experimental evaluations confirmed the accuracy and effectiveness of the constructed graph, extracting various entities and their relationships, providing a solid foundation for TCM learning, research, and application. The knowledge graph has significant potential in TCM, aiding in teaching, disease diagnosis, treatment decisions, and contributing to TCM modernization. In conclusion, this paper utilizes large language models to construct a knowledge graph for TCM, offering a vital foundation for knowledge representation and application in the field, with potential for future expansion and refinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumors have a huge impact on human life and are now the main cause of disease-related deaths. The main means of treatment are surgery and radiotherapy, but they are more damaging to the organism and have a poor postoperative prognosis. Therefore, we urgently need safe and effective drugs to treat tumors. In recent years, Chinese herbal medicines have been widely used in tumor therapy as complementary and alternative therapies. Medicinal and edible herbs are popular and have become a hot topic of research, which not only have excellent pharmacological effects and activities, but also have almost no side effects. Therefore, as a typical medicine and food homology, some components of Paeoniae Radix Alba (PRA, called Baishao in China) have been shown to have good efficacy and safety against cancer. Numerous studies have also shown that Paeoniae Radix Alba and its active ingredients treat cancer through various pathways and are also one of the important components of many antitumor herbal compound formulas. In this paper, we reviewed the literature on the intervention of Paeoniae Radix Alba in tumors and its mechanism of action in recent years and found that there is a large amount of literature on its effect on total glucosides of paeony (TGP) and paeoniflorin (PF), as well as an in-depth discussion of the mechanism of action of Paeoniae Radix Alba and its main constituents, with a view to promote the clinical development and application of Paeoniae Radix Alba in the field of antitumor management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has emerged as the most destructive emerging infectious disease of the 21st century. Vaccination is an effective method to combat viral diseases. However, due to the constant mutation of the virus, new variants may weaken the efficacy of vaccines. In the current field of new coronavirus research, viral protease inhibitors have emerged as a highly regarded therapeutic strategy. Nevertheless, existing viral protease inhibitors do not fully meet the therapeutic needs. Therefore, this paper turned to traditional Chinese medicine to explore new active compounds. This study focused on 24 isolated compounds from Acorus calamus L. and identified 8 active components that exhibited significant inhibitory effects on SARS-CoV-2 PLpro. Among these, the compound 1R,5R,7S-guaiane-4R,10R-diol-6-one demonstrated the best inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 0.386 ± 0.118 μM. Additionally, menecubebane B and neo-acorane A exhibited inhibitory activity against both Mpro and PLpro proteases, indicating their potential as dual-target inhibitors. The molecular docking results confirmed the stable conformations of these compounds with the key targets and their good activity. ADMET and Lipinski's rule analyses revealed that all the small molecule ligands possessed excellent oral absorption properties. This study provides an experimental foundation for the discovery of promising antiviral lead compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, acupoints refer to special points and areas on the meridian line of the human body. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the application of unique techniques such as pressing, kneading, rubbing, pushing, and patting to acupoints or massage with the help of specific tools has the effects of promoting blood circulation, dredging meridians, and eliminating fatigue. At present, most automatic massage devices are for large-area massage of the trunk, and few are specifically for acupoint massage of the limbs. First, this paper analyzes the characteristics of traditional Chinese medical acupoint massage and then obtains the design index of an automatic acupoint massage device. After that, based on the principle of a series elastic actuating mechanism, a flexible uni-acupoint massage device and control system, imitating the acupoint massage technique of traditional Chinese medicine, were designed. In order to analyze the massage force of the massage device, the man–machine contact dynamic model of the massage device was established, and the force of the massage device was simulated and analyzed. Finally, an experimental platform was built to verify the massage force and massage process of the massage device. The experimental results show that the massage device designed in this paper meets the indexes of traditional Chinese medical massage, in terms of the massage process and massage force, and verify the rationality of the design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn silk (Zea mays L.) is the stigma of an annual gramineous plant named corn, which is distributed in many regions worldwide and has a long history of medicinal use. In recent years, with the sustainable development of traditional Chinese medicine, studies of corn silk based on modern technologies, such as GC–MS, LC–MS, and other analytical means, have offered more comprehensive analyses. Phytochemistry studies have shown that the main bioactive components in corn silk include flavonoids, polyphenols, phenolic acids, fatty acids, and terpenoids. Pharmacological studies have shown that corn silk extract has various pharmacological effects, such as reducing blood lipids, lowering blood pressure, regulating blood sugar levels, anti-inflammatory effects, and anti-oxidation effects. In this paper, the related research on corn silk from the past few years is summarized to provide a theoretical reference for the further development and utilization of corn silk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The medicinal value of P. zhennan has been documented in traditional Chinese medicine books. The aim of this paper was to study the antioxidant activity of alcoholic extracts of P. zhennan leavesusing 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazolineoxyl-1-oxyl-3-oxide (PTIO) radical scavenging and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The active components of the leaves were identified via headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). The results showed that the scavenging rate of DPPH was 94.67%with an EC50 value of 0.674 mg/mL at a concentration of 2 mg/mL. The maximum scavenging rate was 47.40% at a Trolox equivalent of 0.33 mg TE/mL for PTIO radicals. The FRAP reached 84.80% at 0.20 mg/mL concentration. The results confirmed the strong antioxidant activity of the extracts. Furthermore, 44 compounds, mostly terpenoids, obtained from the alcoholic extracts of P. zhennan leaves were analyzed using HS-SPME-GC-MS and 15 of these compounds had a relative content exceeding 1%. The strong antioxidant activity of the alcoholic extracts of P. zhennan leaves could be attributed to the presence of copaene (33.97%), β-caryophyllene (4.42%), δ-cadinene (11.04%), γ-muurolene (4.78%), cis-calamenene (2.02%), linalool (1.04%), α-pinene (1.46%), borneol acetate (1.5%), and γ-terpinene (0.66%). This study demonstrates the potential medicinal value of alcoholic extracts of P. zhennan leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jujube is a plant native to China that could be used in medicine and food. Its dried fruit is a superior herb commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine formulations for its calming effect and for nourishing the blood and strengthening the spleen and stomach. Jujube contains numerous active components including polysaccharides, phenols, and triterpene acids, which show a diverse array of pharmacological activities such as neuroprotection and the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In this paper, the research status of jujube over the past two decades has been statistically evaluated. Meanwhile, by tracking the latest research advances, the pharmacological efficacy and molecular mechanisms of jujube are exhaustively expounded to provide specific and systematic references for further research on the pharmacological effects of jujube and its application in the food and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centipeda minima is a traditional Chinese medicine with wide applications and diverse pharmacological effects. Scholars have conducted extensive studies on its relevant clinical applications, especially its remarkable efficacy in cancer treatment. This paper thoroughly investigates the chemical composition and identification, pharmacological effects, and toxicity, along with the safety of Centipeda minima, so as to lay the foundation for corresponding clinical applications and product development. Furthermore, as global scholars have conducted extensive research on such clinical applications and made significant progress, the future development and utilization of Centipeda minima's active ingredients to create novel drugs are of great clinical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, skin injuries have a serious impact on people's lives and socio-economic stress. Shikonin, a naphthoquinone compound derived from the root of the traditional Chinese medicine Shikonin, has favorable biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, immunomodulatory, anticancer, and wound-healing-promoting pharmacological activities. It has been reported that Shikonin can be used for repairing skin diseases due to its wide range of pharmacological effects. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of Shikonin can play a great role in food and can also reduce the number of pathogenic bacteria in food. This paper summarizes the research on the pharmacological effects of Shikonin in recent years, as well as research on the mechanism of action of Shikonin in the treatment of certain skin diseases, to provide certain theoretical references for the clinical application of Shikonin, and also to provides research ideas for the investigation of the mechanism of action of Shikonin in other skin diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of chemotherapy drugs in tumor treatment has a long history, but the lack of selectivity of drugs often leads to serious side effects during chemotherapy. The natural anti-tumor ingredients derived from Chinese herbal medicine are attracting increased attention due to their diverse anti-tumor effects, abundant resources, and minimal side effects. An effective anti-tumor strategy may lie in the combination of these naturally derived anti-tumor ingredients with conventional chemotherapy drugs. This approach could potentially inhibit tumor growth and the development of drug resistance in tumor cells while reducing the adverse effects of chemotherapy drugs. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the combined therapy strategies integrating natural anti-tumor components from Chinese herbal medicine with chemotherapy drugs in current research. We primarily summarize various compounds in Chinese herbal medicine exhibiting natural anti-tumor activities and the relevant mechanisms in synergistic anti-tumor combination therapy. The focus of this paper is on underlining that this integrative approach, combining natural anti-tumor components of Chinese herbal medicine with chemotherapy drugs, presents a novel cancer treatment methodology, thereby providing new insights for future oncological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese Materia Medica Resources (CMMRs) are crucial for developing the tradition and industry of traditional Chinese medicine. Given the increasing demand for CMMRs, an accurate and effective understanding of CMMRs is urgently needed. Chinese medicinal plants (CMPs) are the most important sources of CMMRs. Traditional methods of investigating medicinal plant resources have limitations, including severe subjectivity and poor timeliness, which make it difficult to meet the demand for real-time monitoring of large-scale medicinal plant resources. In recent years, remote sensing technology has become an important means of obtaining information on medicinal plants, and the application of this technology has made up for the shortcomings of traditional methods. This paper first discusses the development of investigation methods of CMMRs; points out the importance of remote sensing technology in the application of spatial distribution and information identification and extraction of Chinese medicinal plant resources (CMPRs); analyzes the characteristics of CMPs in different planting patterns, different habitats, and different regions from the perspective of remote sensing information extraction; and explores the selection of suitable data sources, providing a reference for medicinal plant identification and information extraction. Secondly, according to the existing classification and identification methods, previous studies are summarized from the perspectives of classification scales, classification features, and classification accuracy, and the advantages and disadvantages of the commonly used remote sensing classification methods in the investigation of CMPRs are summarized and compared. Finally, the development trend of remote sensing technology in the identification and information extraction of CMPs is examined, and the key technical problems to be solved in the identification and classification of CMPs and the extraction of area information are summarized so as to provide technical support and experience references for the application of remote sensing in the investigation of CMPRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hagiographical tales tell us that some Buddhist monks who lived during the Early Medieval China (220–589) possessed considerable medical skills. Some were proficient in foreign medicine, while others had mastery over traditional Chinese medicine. The outstanding medical practitioners among these monks included Yu Fakai 于法開, Zhi Facun 支法存, Sengshen 僧深, and Shi Daohong 釋道洪. In addition to having a background in traditional Chinese medicine, these individuals are said to have had access to foreign medical knowledge due to their status as monks. However, the literature on these physician-monks' medical skills is limited, which is why the present paper aims to explore this matter further, especially by introducing and elaborating upon some modern Chinese research which has generally gone unnoticed in international scholarship. To this end, this paper critically analyzes various historical records detailing these monks' lives. It shows that, in addition to having extraordinary medical skills, some of these physician-monks mastered methods to cure specific diseases (such as beriberi [jiaoqi bing 腳氣病] (This is the name of the disease in traditional Chinese Medicine. It refers to a disease characterized by numbness, soreness, weakness, contracture, swelling, or muscle withering in the legs and feet.)). It also shows that they were usually more accurate in syndrome differentiation, while the treatments they prescribed were unique. However, given the lack of information, further research is required to clarify how these physician-monks learned methods as well as the impact of their foreign medicine knowledge on their methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As natural products with biological activity, the quality of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) is the key to their clinical application. Fingerprints based on the types and contents of chemical components in TCM are an internationally recognized quality evaluation method but ignore the correlation between chemical components and efficacy. Through chemometric methods, the fingerprints represented by the chemical components of TCM were correlated with its pharmacodynamic activity results to obtain the spectrum–effect relationships of TCM, which can reveal the pharmacodynamic components information related to the pharmacodynamic activity and solve the limitations of segmentation of chemical components and pharmacodynamic research in TCM. In the 20th anniversary of the proposed spectrum–effect relationships, this paper reviews its research progress in the field of TCM, including the establishment of fingerprints, pharmacodynamic evaluation methods, chemometric methods and their practical applications in the field of TCM. Furthermore, the new strategy of spectrum–effect relationships research in recent years was also discussed, and the application prospects of this technology were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a class of natural drugs with multiple components and significant therapeutic effects through multiple targets. It also originates from a wide range of sources containing plants, animals and minerals, and among them, plant-based Chinese medicine also includes fungi. Fungal traditional Chinese medicine is a medicinal resource with a long history and widespread application in China. Accumulating evidence confirms that polysaccharide is the main pharmacodynamic material on which fungal TCM is based. The purpose of the current systematic review is to summarize the extraction, isolation, structural identification, biological functions, quality control and medicinal and edible applications of polysaccharides from fungal TCM in the past three years. This paper will supplement and deepen the understanding and application of polysaccharides from fungal TCM, and propose some valuable insights for further research and development of drugs and functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years, research on the detection of heavy metals in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) have gradually increased. Current main methods of establishing calibration curve are based on grounding and pelleting of the tested samples. Although compared to digested samples, grounding and pelleting of the sample is already quite simple, it cannot fully reflect the advantages of LIBS: rapid analysis, and, also, the uneven distribution of heavy metals in the TCM is ignored. In order to avoid grinding and pelleting sample to be tested, and to achieve microdamage quantitative analysis by LIBS, this article presents a new method for establishing calibration curve. The experiment in this paper based on a study with Cd and Pb in leaves of laurel. The preparation of calibration samples and the establishment of calibration methods for microdamage quantitative analysis were presented, which proved the feasibility of microdamage quantitative analysis by LIBS. The square of the linear relationship coefficient R of Pb was higher than 0.82. This method provides a guiding method for the rapid quantitative analysis of heavy metals in TCM by LIBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muskmelon pedicel is the fruit stalk of muskmelon and one of the traditional Chinese medicines, which can be used to treat jaundice, diabetes and neuropathy. However, in recent years, agricultural soil heavy metal cadmium (Cd) pollution has become serious, coupled with the imperfect sales management of herbal medicine, increasing the potential health risk of contaminated herbal medicine in the human body. In this paper, the comprehensive quality of contaminated muskmelon was tested. The results showed that Cd stress significantly inhibited the growth of muskmelon plants, reduced the anthocyanin and chlorophyll contents, and increased the fruit size and sweetness of muskmelon. In addition, heavy metal Cd can also cause oxidative stress in plants, resulting in a series of changes in antioxidant enzyme activities. In the experimental group, the content of polyphenols and saponins increased by 27.02% and 23.92%, respectively, after high-concentration Cd treatment, which may be a mechanism of plant resistance to stress. This paper reveals that the content of bioactive substances in Chinese herbal medicine is high, but the harm in heavy metals cannot be underestimated, which should be paid attention to by relevant departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous improvement in user demand and the increasingly obvious complexity characteristics, such as strong coupling and nonlinearity of the system, it has become a new problem faced by the decision making of conceptual design. Decision-making methods in conceptual design such as traditional information axioms and the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework cannot provide a good solution for systems with strong coupling and nonlinearity. To fill these gaps, this paper proposes a decision-making method of design for a coupling system based on a complexity composite method (DMDCC). DMDCC is composed of a prediction model and a synthetic paradigm. In the early stages of decision making of design, design-centric complexity (DCC) theory is used to preliminarily sort the schemes. Then, driven by the twin data of existing products, the complexity of function units is obtained by using the prediction model. The complexity of different function units is composited by the composite paradigm to obtain the total function realization probability of the design scheme. A more accurate calculation of the total function realization probability of new products can assist designers to judge the scheme from the perspective of function and help to guide the decision making of the design of new systems' development scientifically and reasonably. The engineering example of the bulk traditional Chinese medicine dispensing device is used to verify the scientific effectiveness of the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Author Contribution Original: Y.-H.K. and M.-J.C. designed the research; M.-D.W., C.-F.C., H.-S.C. and M.-J.C. performed the research; C.-L.C. and Y.H.K. conducted biological assays, Y.-H.K. and M.-J.C. helped with structure elucidation, M.-J.C. organized the data and wrote the paper. To be replaced with: Y.-H.K. is responsible for the main research framework; Y.-H.K. and M.-J.C. designed the research; C.-F.C. performed the chemical and structure elucidation research; C.-L.C., M.-D.W. and H.-S.C. conducted antifungal assays, Y.-H.K. and M.-J.C. helped with structure elucidation, Y.-H.K. and M.-J.C. organized the data and M.-J.C. wrote the paper. Author List Original: Ming-Jen Cheng SP 1, sp *, Ming-Der Wu SP 1 sp , Chao-Lin Chang SP 2 sp , Hsun-Shuo Chang SP 3 sp , Chiou-Fung Chyu SP 4 sp and Yueh-Hsiung Kuo SP 4,5,6,7 sp 1 Bioresource Collection and Research Center (BCRC), Food Industry Research and Development Institute (FIRDI), Hsinchu 300, Taiwan; wmd@firdi.org.tw 2 Product & Process Research Center (PPRC), Food Industry Research and Development Institute (FIRDI), Hsinchu 300, Taiwan; ccl@firdi.org.tw 3 School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan; hschang@kmu.edu.tw 4 Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan; cmj@firdi.org.tw (C.-F.C.); yhkuo800@gmail.com (Y.-H.K.). [Extracted from the article]

B Author Contribution b Original: Y.-H.K., J.-J.C. and M.-J.C. designed the research; N.K., M.-D.W.,W.-W.L. and M.-J.C. performed the research; N.K. conducted biological assays, J.-J.C., Y.-H.K. and M.-J.C. helped with structure elucidation; M.-J.C. organized the data and wrote the paper. Reference 1 Wu M.-D., Cheng M.-J., Chen J.-J., Khamthong N., Lin W.-W., Kuo Y.-H. To be replaced with: Y.-H.K. is responsible for the main research framework; Y.-H.K. and M.-J.C. designed the research; W.-W.L. performed the chemical research; N.K. and M.-D.W. conducted antimicrobial assays, J.-J.C., Y.-H.K. and M.-J.C. helped with structure elucidation; Y.-H.K. and M.-J.C. organized the data and M.-J.C. wrote the paper. [Extracted from the article]

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common types of cancer in women with a high mortality rate, and the treatment of OC is prone to high recurrence rates and side effects. Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) is a herbal medicine with good anti-cancer activity, and several studies have shown that SB and its flavonoids have some anti-OC properties. This paper elucidated the common pathogenesis of OC, including cell proliferation and cell cycle regulation, cell invasion and metastasis, apoptosis and autophagy, drug resistance and angiogenesis. The mechanisms of SB and its flavonoids, wogonin, baicalein, baicalin, Oroxylin A, and scutellarein, in the treatment of OC, are revealed, such as wogonin inhibits proliferation, induces apoptosis, inhibits invasion and metastasis, and increases the cytotoxicity of the drug. Baicalein also inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression etc. Analyzing their advantages and disadvantages in treating OC provides a new perspective on the role of SB and its flavonoids in OC treatment. It serves as a resource for future OC research and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuronal injury and apoptosis are important causes of the occurrence and development of many neurodegenerative diseases, such as cerebral ischemia, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Although the detailed mechanism of some diseases is unknown, the loss of neurons in the brain is still the main pathological feature. By exerting the neuroprotective effects of drugs, it is of great significance to alleviate the symptoms and improve the prognosis of these diseases. Isoquinoline alkaloids are important active ingredients in many traditional Chinese medicines. These substances have a wide range of pharmacological effects and significant activity. Although some studies have suggested that isoquinoline alkaloids may have pharmacological activities for treating neurodegenerative diseases, there is currently a lack of a comprehensive summary regarding their mechanisms and characteristics in neuroprotection. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the active components found in isoquinoline alkaloids that have neuroprotective effects. It thoroughly explains the various mechanisms behind the neuroprotective effects of isoquinoline alkaloids and summarizes their common characteristics. This information can serve as a reference for further research on the neuroprotective effects of isoquinoline alkaloids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paeonia suffruticosa, known as 'Feng Dan', has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine. In our chemical investigation on the root bark of the plant, five new phenolic dimers, namely, paeobenzofuranones A–E (1–5), were characterized. Their structures were determined using spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS, UV, and IR, as well as ECD calculations. Compounds 2, 4, and 5 showed cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 6.7 to 25.1 μM. Compounds 1 and 2 showed certain inhibitory activity on NO production. To the best of our knowledge, the benzofuranone dimers and their cytotoxicity of P. suffruticosa are reported for the first time in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using traditional Chinese medicine residue biomass as the raw material and industrial limestone as a carbon absorbent, this paper investigates the production of hydrogen-rich synthesis gas in a pilot-scale calcium looping dual fluidized bed (DFB) system. The study focuses on analyzing the distribution characteristics of temperature and pressure, as well as the operation and control methods of the DFB system. The effects of reaction temperature, material layer height (residence time), water vapor/biomass ratio (S/B), and calcium/carbon molar ratio (Ca/C) on gasification products are examined. The experimental results demonstrate that as the temperature (600–700 °C), S/B ratio (0.5–1.5), Ca/C ratio (0–0.6), and other parameters increase, the gas composition shows a gradual increase in the volume content of H2, a gradual decrease in the volume content of CO, and an initial increase and subsequent decrease in the volume content of CH4. Within the range of operating conditions in this study, the optimal conditions for producing hydrogen-rich gas are 700 °C, an S/B ratio of 1.5, and a Ca/C ratio of 0.6. Furthermore, increasing the height of the material layer in the gasification furnace (residence time) enhances the absorption of CO2 by the calcium absorbents, thus promoting an increase in the volume content of H2 and the carbon conversion rate in the gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper takes the deep foundation pit project of Lanzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine as the background. The design and construction of the foundation pit is relatively difficult due to the complex environment around the pit, the dense surrounding buildings, the complex underground soil layer and the influence of groundwater on the pit. In order to detect problems in the construction process, the pit was monitored in real time through an automated monitoring system for the whole process of excavation and backfilling of the pit. The analysis of the actual monitoring data shows that: (i) the support scheme of bored pile + prestressed anchor cable support combined with concrete corner bracing can meet the design of this type of foundation pit without causing disturbance to the surrounding buildings; (ii) combined with the actual case of the influence of groundwater on the excavation process of the foundation pit, it proves that the real-time measurement by the robot can timely detect the safety hazards caused by external factors during the construction process of the foundation pit. The project is a very important one for deep pits and complex pits. This project provides a good reference case for deep foundation pits and foundation pit projects in complex environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendrobium officinale is an important traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). A disease causing bud blight in D. officinale appeared in 2021 in Yueqing city, Zhejiang Province, China. In this paper, 127 isolates were obtained from 61 plants. The isolates were grouped into 13 groups based on collected areas and morphological observations. Four loci (ITS, LSU, tub2 and rpb2) of 13 representative isolates were sequenced and the isolates were identified by constructing phylogenetic trees with the multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) method. We found the disease to be associated with three strains: Ectophoma multirostrata, Alternaria arborescens and Stagonosporopsis pogostemonis, with isolates frequencies of 71.6%, 21.3% and 7.1%, respectively. All three strains are pathogenic to D. officinale. A. arborescens and S. pogostemonis isolated from D. officinale were reported for the first time. Iprodione (50%), 33.5% oxine-copper and Meitian (containing 75 g/L pydiflumetofen and 125 g/L difenoconazole) were chosen to control the dominant pathogen E. multirostrata, with an EC50 value of 2.10, 1.78 and 0.09 mg/L, respectively. All three fungicides exhibited an effective inhibition of activities to the growth of the dominant pathogen E. multirostrata on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates, with Meitian showing the strongest inhibitory effect. We further found that Meitian can effectively control D. officinale bud blight disease in pot trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Menispermi Rhizoma, the rhizome of Menispermum dauricum DC., is a traditional Chinese medicine, which has the effect of clearing away heat and detoxification, dispelling wind, and relieving pain. It is often used in the treatment of sore throat, enteritis, dysentery, and rheumatism. The chemical constituents of M. Rhizoma mainly include alkaloids, phenolic acids, quinones, cardiotonic glycosides, and so on. Modern pharmacological studies have proved that M. Rhizoma has the effects of anti-tumour, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, bacteriostasis, cardio-cerebrovascular protection, anti-depression and anti-Alzheimer's disease. In recent years, the chemical constituents of M. Rhizoma have been found continuously, and the pharmacological studies have deepened gradually. This paper reviews the research progress on the chemical composition and pharmacological effects of M. Rhizoma, to provide a basis for further research and development of its medicinal value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coriolus versicolor (CV) is a common species from the Polyporaceae family that has been used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine for over 2000 years. Among well-described and most active compounds identified in CV are polysaccharopeptides, such as polysaccharide peptide (PSP) and Polysaccharide-K (PSK, krestin), which, in some countries, are already used as an adjuvant agent in cancer therapy. In this paper, research advances in the field of anti-cancer and anti-viral action of CV are analyzed. The results of data obtained in in vitro and in vivo studies using animal models as well as in clinical research trials have been discussed. The present update provides a brief overview regarding the immunomodulatory effects of CV. A particular focus has been given to the mechanisms of direct effects of CV on cancer cells and angiogenesis. A potential use of CV compounds in anti-viral treatment, including therapy against COVID-19 disease, has also been analyzed based on the most recent literature. Additionally, the significance of fever in viral infection and cancer has been debated, providing evidence that CV affects this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broussonetia papyrifera is a multifunctional deciduous tree that is both a food and a source of traditional Chinese medicine for both humans and animals. Further analysis of the UGT gene family is of great significance to the utilization of B. papyrifera. The substrates of plant UGT genes include highly diverse and complex chemicals, such as flavonoids and terpenes. In order to deepen our understanding of this family, a comprehensive analysis was performed. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 155 BpUGTs were divided into 15 subgroups. A conserved motif analysis showed that BpUGT proteins in the same subgroups possessed similar motif structures. Tandem duplication was the primary driving force for the expansion of the BpUGT gene family. The global promoter analysis indicated that they were associated with complex hormone regulatory networks and the stress response, as well as the synthesis of secondary metabolites. The expression pattern analysis showed that the expression level of BpUGTs in leaves and roots was higher than that in fruits and stems. Next, we determined the composition and content of flavonoids, the main products of the BpUGT reaction. A total of 19 compounds were isolated and analyzed by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS in 3 species of Broussonetia including B. kazinoki, B. papyrifera, and B. kazinoki × B. papyrifera, and the number of compounds was different in these 3 species. The total flavonoid content and antioxidant capacities of the three species were analyzed respectively. All assays exhibited the same trend: the hybrid paper mulberry showed a higher total flavonoid content, a higher total phenol content and higher antioxidant activity than the other two species. Overall, our study provides valuable information for understanding the function of BpUGTs in the biosynthesis of flavonoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dragon's blood (DB) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with hemostatic effects and antibacterial properties. However, it is still challenging to use for rapid hemostasis because of its insolubility. In this study, different amounts of DB were loaded on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) to prepare a series of DB-MSN composites (5DB-MSN, 10DB-MSN, and 20DB-MSN). DB-MSN could quickly release DB and activate the intrinsic blood coagulation cascade simultaneously by DB and MSN. Hemostasis tests demonstrated that DB-MSN showed superior hemostatic effects than either DB or MSNs alone, and 10DB-MSN exhibited the best hemostatic effect. In addition, the antibacterial activities of DB-MSN against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) improved with the increase in DB. Furthermore, the hemolysis assay and cytocompatibility assay demonstrated that all DB-MSNs exhibited excellent biocompatibility. Based on these results, 10DB-MSN is expected to have potential applications for emergency hemostatic and antibacterial treatment in pre-hospital trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fruit of Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as "Forsythiae fructus". The species is also grown in parks and gardens, and on streets and building lots, as an ornamental plant, but it requires pruning. In this study, the allelopathic activity and allelopathic substances in the leaves of pruned branches of F. suspensa were investigated to determine any potential application. The leaf extracts of F. suspensa showed growth inhibitory activity against three weed species; Echinochloa crus-galli, Lolium multiflorum, and Vulpia myuros. Two allelopathic substances in the extracts were isolated through the bioassay-guided purification process, and identified as (-)-matairesinol and (-)-arctigenin. (-)-Matairesinol and (-)-arctigenin, which showed significant growth inhibitory activity at concentrations greater than 0.3 mM in vitro. The inhibitory activity of (-)-arctigenin was greater than that of (-)-matairesinol. However, both compounds were more active than (+)-pinolesinol which is their precursor in the biosynthetic pathway. The investigation suggests that F. suspensa leaves are allelopathic, and (-)-matairesinol and (-)-arctigenin may contribute to the growth inhibitory activities. Therefore, the leaves of the pruned branches can be applied as a weed management strategy in some agricultural practices such as using the leaf extracts in a foliar spray and the leaves in a soil mixture, thereby reducing the dependency on synthetic herbicides in the crop cultivation and contributing to developing eco-friendly agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transmission and infectivity of COVID-19 have caused a pandemic that has lasted for several years. This is due to the constantly changing variants and subvariants that have evolved rapidly from SARS-CoV-2. To discover drugs with therapeutic potential for COVID-19, we focused on the 3CL protease (3CLpro) of SARS-CoV-2, which has been proven to be an important target for COVID-19 infection. Computational prediction techniques are quick and accurate enough to facilitate the discovery of drugs against the 3CLpro of SARS-CoV-2. In this paper, we used both ligand-based virtual screening and structure-based virtual screening to screen the traditional Chinese medicine small molecules that have the potential to target the 3CLpro of SARS-CoV-2. MD simulations were used to confirm these results for future in vitro testing. MCCS was then used to calculate the normalized free energy of each ligand and the residue energy contribution. As a result, we found ZINC15676170, ZINC09033700, and ZINC12530139 to be the most promising antiviral therapies against the 3CLpro of SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has increased students' stress as they may feel under increased pressure to have a good performance and compensate for the disruption to their education. Improving attention levels and learning capacity may assist in ameliorating academic performance. Qigong is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that appears to have positive effects on the management of mental health and may provide tools for coping with stressful situations. This paper explores data obtained while conducting a previous study and includes an excess of data from a total of 44 participants who were previously divided into an experimental Qigong group and a sham Qigong control group. The improvements in specific auditory processing and reaction times may indicate benefits in attention and learning capacity. These improvements were more pronounced in the experimental Qigong group compared to the sham Qigong group. Qigong may be able to assist in improving students' academic performance and can be easily integrated into physical education classes. It could also assist students to cope with the increased academic pressure resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal infections have become a growing public health challenge due to the clinical transmission of pathogenic fungi. The currently available antifungal drugs leave very limited choices for clinical physicians to deal with such situation, not to mention the long-standing problems of emerging drug resistance, side effects and heavy economic burdens imposed to patients. Therefore, new antifungal drugs are urgently needed. Screening drugs from natural products and using synthetic biology strategies are very promising for antifungal drug development. Chinese medicine is a vast library of natural products of biologically active molecules. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, preparations used to treat fungal diseases usually have antifungal and immunomodulatory functions. This suggests that if antifungal drugs are used in combination with immunomodulatory drugs, better results may be achieved. Studies have shown that the active components of TCM have strong antifungal or immunomodulatory effects and have broad application prospects. In this paper, the latest research progress of antifungal and immunomodulatory components of TCM is reviewed and discussed, hoping to provide inspiration for the design of novel antifungal compounds and to open up new horizons for antifungal treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese pharmaceutical industry and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are both vital components of Chinese culture. Some traditional methods used to prepare TCMs have lost their conformity, and as a result, are producing lower-quality medicines. In this regard, the TCM sector has been looking for new ways to boost productivity and product quality. Membrane technology is environmentally-friendly, energy-saving technology, and more efficient than traditional technologies. Membrane separation is the most effective method for separating and cleaning the ingredients of the non-pharmaceutical common compounds from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Membrane technology is currently being employed for the concentration, purification, and separation of TCMs. This review paper discusses how membranes are fabricated and their role in non-pharmaceutical common compound separation and TCM purification. Accordingly, the membrane applicability and the technological advantage were also analyzed in non-pharmaceutical common compound separation. Researchers pay attention to the choice of membrane pore size when selecting membranes but often ignore the influence of membrane materials and membrane structure on separation, resulting in certain blindness in the membrane selection process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyroptosis is an active and ordered form of programmed cell death. The signaling pathways of pyroptosis are mainly divided into canonical pathways mediated by caspase-1 and noncanonical pathways mediated by caspase-11. Cell pyroptosis is characterized by the activation of inflammatory caspases (mainly caspase-1, 4, 5, 11) and cleavage of various members of the Gasdermin family to form membrane perforation components, leading to cell membrane rupture, inflammatory mediators release, and cell death. Moderate pyroptosis is an innate immune response that fights against infection and plays an important role in the occurrence and development of the normal function of the immune system. However, excessive pyroptosis occurs and leads to immune disorders in many pathological conditions. Based on canonical pathways, research on pyroptosis regulation has demonstrated several pyroptotic inhibitors, including small-molecule drugs, natural products, and formulations of traditional Chinese medicines. In this paper, we review the characteristics and molecular mechanisms of pyroptosis, summarize inhibitors of pyroptosis, and propound that herbal medicines should be a focus on the research and development for pyroptosis blockers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural medicine has been widely used for clinical treatment and health care in many countries and regions. Additionally, extracting active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine and other natural plants, defining their chemical structure and pharmacological effects, and screening potential druggable candidates are also uprising directions in new drug research and development. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling is a mathematical modeling technique that simulates the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of drugs in various tissues and organs in vivo based on physiological and anatomical characteristics and physicochemical properties. PBPK modeling in drug research and development has gradually been recognized by regulatory authorities in recent years, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This review summarizes the general situation and shortcomings of the current research on the pharmacokinetics of natural medicine and introduces the concept and the advantages of the PBPK model in the study of pharmacokinetics of natural medicine. Finally, the pharmacokinetic studies of natural medicine using the PBPK models are summed up, followed by discussions on the applications of PBPK modeling to the enzyme-mediated pharmacokinetic changes, special populations, new drug research and development, and new indication adding for natural medicine. This paper aims to provide a novel strategy for the preclinical research and clinical use of natural medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this review is to perform a systematic review of scientific papers and an in-depth analysis of the latest research related to Paeonia × suffruticosa Andrews as a valuable plant species, important in pharmacy and cosmetology. P. × suffruticosa bark root-Moutan cortex is a medicinal raw material formerly known from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) but less common in official European medicine. It was introduced for the first time in the European Pharmacopoeia Supplement 9.4 in 2018. In this work, the numerous possible applications of this raw material were depicted based on modern professional pharmacological studies documenting its very valuable medicinal values, including antioxidant, cytoprotective, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-diabetic and hepatoprotective activities. The scientific studies indicated that the profile of raw material activity is mainly due to paeonol, paeoniflorin and 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranose. Moreover, the significance of this plant (its different organs) in the production of cosmetics was underlined. P. × suffruticosa finds increasing application in cosmetology due to research on its chronic dermatitis, anti-aging and brightening effects. Furthermore, some biotechnological research has been described aimed at developing effective in vitro micropropagation protocols for P. × suffruticosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrodiae rhizoma (GR) formula granules and preparations have been used as a popular traditional Chinese medicine for clinical treatment since they have good pharmacological activity to treat nervous system diseases. Gastrodin and parishins have been the main active components in aqueous extracts for GR formula granules, but their pharmacological activities and metabolism are different. For quality control of the extracts, the extraction conditions should be investigated to accurately control the contents of two kinds of components. In this paper, the transfer rate of six index components (including gastrodin, p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, parishin A, parishin B, parishin C, and parishin E) obtained by HPLC were used as indicators to investigate the effect of pH on the GR extraction process. The results demonstrated that pH is a key factor for preventing transforming parishins into gastrodin and maintaining high content of parishins in the extracts. It can be concluded that the weak acid environment could improve the transfer rate of parishins, thus ensuring the gastrodin and parishins consistency between GR raw materials and its aqueous extracts. Therefore, pH is an essential condition for accurate quality control of the extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]