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Ethnopharmacological relevance The species of the genus Cirsium have been used as traditional Chinese medicine for hundreds of years. It is believed that Cirsium has the efficacies of cooling blood and stopping bleeding, dispelling blood stasis, detoxifying and eliminating carbuncle. At present, they are mainly used in treatment of the hemoptysis, hematemesis, hemoptysis, hematuria, traumatic bleeding and Henoch-Schonlein purpura. They are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Aim This paper systematically collated the classification, traditional use, pharmacological action, phytochemistry and clinical application of Cirsium plants in the past ten years, intending to provide a critical appraisal of current knowledge for future in-depth study and rational development and utilization of Cirsium plants. Material and methods This paper searched various databases (SciFinder, Science Direct, CNKI, Wiley online library, Spring Link, Web of Science, PubMed, Wanfang Data, Weipu Data), Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020 Edition, Chinese Flora, Chinese Materia Medica and some local books on ethnopharmacology. Results More than ten species of Cirsium have been used as folk medicine, and modern pharmacological studies have shown that Cirsium has the effects of protecting liver, antioxidation, anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, antibacterial, etc. More than 200 chemical constituents such as flavonoids, triterpenes, sterols, phenylpropanoids have been isolated from Cirsium. Some ingredients show a wide variety of bioactivities including hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor and other activities. At present, Cirsium medicinal plants, as traditional Chinese medicine, were mainly used to treat nephritis, Henoch-Schonlein purpura and hemorrhage, although some species used in folk lack of quality control systems. Conclusion Cirsium plants are a safe and effective medicine for cooling blood and hemostasis. Recent studies on pharmacology and phytochemistry also provide solid scientific evidences for the traditional application of this genus. It also shows significant hepatoprotective activity and may be a potential clinical candidate for the treatment of liver disease. However, the qualitative and quantitative analysis, pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics and mechanism of action also need in-depth study.

s: Ethnopharmacological relevance Dietary herbal medicines are widely used for the prevention and treatment of a variety of diseases due to their pharmacological activities in China. Juhua (the flower head of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.), the most representative flower-derived one, which is mainly used for the treatment of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, shows significant activities, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer, and, neuroprotective, as well as effects on the cardiovascular system. Aims of this review This review aims to provide an overview of the crucial roles of flowers in Chinese dietary herbal medicine, and the pharmaceutical research progress of Juhua (the paradigm of dietary herbal medicine derived from the flower) including its applications in Traditional Chinese medicine and diet, cultivars, phytochemistry, quality control, pharmacology, and toxicity, along with chrysanthemum breeding and biotechnology. Method The information associated with Chinese dietary herbal medicine, flower-derived medicine, dietary flower, and pharmaceutical research of Juhua, was collected from government reports, classic books of Traditional Chinese medicine, the thesis of doctors of philosophy and maters, and database including Pubmed, Scifinder, Web of Science, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Internet; and others. Result All flower-originated crude medicines recorded in Chinese pharmacopeia and their applications were summarized for the first time in this paper. The edible history and development of flowers in China, the theory of Chinese dietary herbal medicines, as well as flowers serving as dietary herbal medicines, were discussed. Moreover, applications in Traditional Chinese medicine and diet, cultivars, phytochemistry, quality control, pharmacology, and safety evaluation of Juhua, together with chrysanthemum breeding and biotechnology, were summarized in this paper. Conclusion The theory of dietary herbal medicines, which are an important part of the Traditional Chinese medicine system, has a history of thousands of years. Many herbal flowers, serving as dietary herbal medicines, contribute significantly to the prevention and treatment of a variety of diseases for Chinese people. To better benefit human health, more effective supervision practice for dietary herbal medicines is needed. Although various investigations on Juhua have been done, there is a lack of analytical methods for discrimination of cultivar flowers and identification of authenticity. Research on the major compounds with bioactivities, especially those related to its clinical application or healthcare function, as well as their possible mechanize, need be strengthened. More safety evaluation of Juhua should be carried out. The research limitations Juhua is facing exist in all dietary herbal medicine.

Ethnopharmacological relevance The history of Chinese spices has received increasing attention in recent years, but little research been carried out on where they fit on the food-medicine continuum for early China, during the formation of the classical medical system. This paper describes how the synaesthetic qualities of spices attracted a particular analysis in that emerging system which serves to mark them as different to other medical materials and foodstuffs. We aim to clarify the special role created for spices to accommodate their boundary-crossing synaesthetic action on the body. Material and methods This paper analyses the contents of several spice bags excavated in 1972 from a tomb that was closed in the second century BCE. It uses archaeological reports of material culture together with the early Chinese textual record, extant in both manuscripts and received texts, to bring out the role of spices in ritual, food and medicine. Results Noting that the flavours and aromas of early China were assigned physiological potency in the first centuries BCE, we argue that by medieval times the unique synaesthetic role that spices played in mediating the senses was systematically medicalised. While being deployed for the purpose of curing disease in medicine, they also remained within the realm of everyday healthcare, and religious practice, deployed both as aromatics to perfume the environment, attracting benign spirits, but also to ward off the agents of disease, as well as for enhancing health through their use in cookery. Conclusion While foodstuffs entered the digestive system spices were all considered ‘pungent’ in the emerging clasical medical system. They acted on the body through the nose and lungs, making them neither food nor drug. This implicit categorisation medicalised spices which, like music, could affect the passions and lighten the spirit, codifying observations about the impact on the body of the ritual environment.

Background Recently, biologically active compounds isolated from plants used in herbal medicine have been the center of interest. Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT), structurally closely related to the lignan podophyllotoxin, is a potent antitumor and anti-inflammatory agent. However, DPT has not been used clinically yet. Also, DPT from natural sources seems to be unavailable. Hence, it is important to establish alternative resources for the production of such lignan; especially that it is used as a precursor for the semi-synthesis of the cytostatic drugs etoposide phosphate and teniposide. Aims and objectives The update paper provides an overview of DPT as an effective anticancer natural compound and a leader for cytotoxic drugs synthesis and development in order to highlight the gaps in our knowledge and explore future research needs. Approach and methods The present review covers the literature available from 1877 to 2012. The information was collected via electronic search using Chinese papers and the major scientific databases including PubMed, Sciencedirect, Web of Science and Google Scholar using the keywords. All abstracts and full-text articles reporting database on the history and current status of DPT were gathered and analyzed. Results Plants containing DPT have played an important role in traditional medicine. In light of the in vitro pharmacological investigations, DPT is a high valuable medicinal agent that has anti-tumor, anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties. Further, DPT is an important precursor for the cytotoxic aryltetralin lignan, podophyllotoxin, which is used to obtain semisynthetic derivatives like etoposide and teniposide used in cancer therapy. However, most studies have focused on the in vitro data. Therefore, DPT has not been used clinically yet. Conclusions DPT has emerged as a potent chemical agent from herbal medicine. Therefore, in vivo studies are needed to carry out clinical trials in humans and enable the development of new anti-cancer agents. In addition, DPT from commercial sources seems to be unavailable due to its rarity from natural sources and cumbersome extraction procedures. Hence, it is important to establish alternative, cost-effective and renewable resources, such plant cell cultures and (semi-) synthesis strategies for the production of DPT.

Licorice is a multi-purpose plant raw material, which is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry and food industry, cosmetic industry, etc. It has a wide application in various countries and regions around the world.This paper studied the trade situation of licorice-related products among major countries and regions in the world, providing a practical reference for the sustainable development of the global licorice industry.The licorice trade data of licorice-related products came from the United Nations Commodity Trade Database and China Customs data. We analyzed the world's major trading countries by using international market share (IMS), trade competitiveness index (TC), average export price (AEP) and average import price (AIP), and analyzed global trade flows with chord diameter.Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Iran mainly export licorice raw materials and low value-added products. China is both a producer and a consumer of licorice raw materials and licorice products. The processing trade of the licorice industry in China has advantages, and the structure of import and export trade has been continuously improved. The United States, France, Germany and other developed countries are still important consumers who rely on the intellectual property rights and brand advantages of licorice products, which have stronger global trade radiation capacity.China's trade structure has been optimized and its industrial competitiveness has been enhanced. China's experience can be used for reference by other countries, especially those with rich licorice resources among the SCO members.

Ginseng, Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, is a well-known Chinese traditional medicine. There have been more than 300 original papers in Chinese and in English during the last 10 years in China. This review paper summarizes some achievements from some of these published papers. Tewnty-eight ginsenosides and some minor constituents were extracted and isolated from the root, root-stock, stems, leaves, flowers and flower-buds of ginseng. The chemical analysis demonstrated that the content of ginsenosides is related to the source, part and growth years of ginseng. The drug has a wide range of pharmacological and therapeutical actions, it acts on the central nervous system, cardiovascular system and endocrine secretion, promotes immune function and metabolism, possesses biomodulation action, anti-stress and anti-ageing activities, and so on. Many preparations of ginseng have been officially approved for clinical application in China. Clinical evaluation has shown that these preparations play a special role in medicinal use.

Kanglaite injection (KLTi), a Chinese herbal medicine, is used as an adjuvant treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).To provide an evidence-based endorsement for the clinical application and selection of KLTi by evaluating the reporting quality, methodological quality, risk of bias, and evidence quality of systemic reviews (SRs).SRs of KLTi adjuvant therapy of NSCLC were searched by using 12 databases, consulting experts, and retrieving relevant conference papers until 2022.03.24. The treatment group received KLTi in combination with other therapies, regardless of dosage, duration, or the therapy combined. Network meta-analyses and SRs using repeated data were excluded. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines 2009, A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews, Risk of Bias in Systematic Review, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation were used to assess the quality of reports, methodological quality, risk of bias, and level of evidence; R was used for visual analysis of the relevant contents.Twenty SRs (13 Chinese and 7 English articles), all authored by Chinese authors as the first author, were included. The reporting information of most included studies was relatively complete (21-27 points), accounting for three-fourths of the total literature. The quality of the methods used in all studies was critically low. The risk of bias was mostly high. Results of the evidence summary showed that among the "moderate" evidence, KLTi combined with chemotherapy had benefits of 9.7-16.4% for objective response rate (ORR) (11 SRs), 8.1-14% for disease control rate (four SRs), and 20.1-28.6% for quality of life (12 SRs) compared with those of chemotherapy alone. The incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms (five SRs) was reduced by 11.5%-23.2%, while that of leukopenia (four SRs) improved by 19.5-29.2%. Combined radiotherapy and targeted therapy had benefits of 25.9% and 16.8%, respectively, in ORR and 31.3% and 22.8%, respectively, in quality of life (the quality of evidence was "low"). The results depicted that treatment with two courses of KLTi produce the best results.Our results suggest that KLTi, whether combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or targeted therapy, has an effect on ORR and quality of life and induces adverse reactions, such as leukopenia, nausea, and vomiting. It may improve patient survival; however, the impact of its low-grade quality on the immune function remains undetermined. Owing to the low reporting quality and methodological quality and high risk of bias of the SRs and the included studies, clinical application of KLTi remains unelucidated; higher-quality SRs and randomized controlled trials are necessary in the future.

Banxia Xiexin Decoction (BXD) was first recorded in a Chinese medical classic, Treatise on Febrile Diseases and Miscellaneous Diseases, which was written in the Eastern Han dynasty of China. This ancient prescription consists of seven kinds of Chinese herbal medicine, namely, Pinellia ternata, Rhizoma Coptidis, Radix scutellariae, Rhizoma Zingiberis, Ginseng, Jujube, and Radix Glycyrrhizaepreparata. In clinic practice, its original application in China mainly has focused on the treatment of chronic gastritis for several hundred years. BXD is also effective in treating other gastrointestinal diseases (GIDs) in modern medical application. Despite available literature support and clinical experience, the treatment mechanisms or their relationships with the bioactive compounds in BXD responsible for its pharmacological actions, still need further explorations in more diversified channels. According to the analysis based on the five-flavor theory of TCM, BXD is traditionally viewed as the most representative prescription for pungent-dispersion, bitter-purgation and sweet-tonification. Consequently, based on the flavor-oriented analysis, the compositive herbs in BXD can be divided into three flavor groups, namely, the pungent, bitter, and sweet groups, each of which has specific active ingredients that are possibly relevant to GID treatment.This paper summarized recent literatures on BXD and its bioactive components used in GID treatment, and provided the pharmacological or chemical basis for the further exploration of the ancient prescription and the relative components.ology: Relevant literature was collected from various electronic databases such as Pubmed, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Citations were based on peer-reviewed articles published in English or Chinese during the last decade.Multiple components were found in the pungent, bitter, and sweet groups in BXD. The corresponding bioactive components include gingerol, shogaol, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol in the pungent group; berberine, palmatine, coptisine, baicalein, and baicalin in the bitter group; and ginsenosides, polysaccharides, liquiritin, and glycyrrhetinic acid in the sweet group. These components have been found directly or indirectly responsible for the remarkable effects of BXD on GID.This review provided some valuable reference to further clarify BXD treatment for GID and their possible material basis, based on the perspective of the flavor-oriented analysis.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Quercus Infectoria galls (QIG) have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Uyghur medicine for the treatment of diarrhea, hemorrhage, skin disease, and many other human ailments. Medicinal applications of QIG have become increasingly popular in Greece, Asia Minor, Syria, and Iran. Aim of the review The present paper reviewed the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, analytical methods, biological activities, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and drug interactions of QIG to assess the ethnopharmacological uses, explore its therapeutic potential, and identify future opportunities for research. Materials and methods Information on QIG was gathered via the Internet (using Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, Elsevier, ACS, Pubmed, Web of Science, CNKI, and EMBASE) and libraries. Additionally, information was also obtained from local books and PhD and MS dissertations. Results QIG has played an important role in traditional Chinese medicine. The main bioactive metabolites of QIG include tannins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, triterpenoids, and steroids. Scientific studies on the QIG extract and its components have shown its wide range of pharmacological activities, such as cholinesterase- and monoamine oxidase-inhibitory, antitumor, anti-hypertension, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, insecticidal, antiparasitic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. Conclusions The ethnopharmacological, phytochemical, pharmacological, and analytical methods of QIG were highlighted in this review, which provides information for future studies and commercial exploration. QIG has a huge potential for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. Moreover, comprehensive toxicity studies of this plant must be conducted to ensure its safety. Additional investigations are recommended to transmute the ethnopharmacological claims of this plant in folklore medicines into scientific rationale-based information. Research on pharmacokinetics studies and potential drug interactions with standard-of-care medications is still limited, which calls for additional studies particularly on humans. Further assessments and clinical trials should be performed before it can be integrated into medicinal practices.

Ethnopharmacology relevance The Euphorbiaceae family, which contains about 300 genera and more than 5000 species, is widely distributed in different regions. Trigonostemon genus comprises a wide group of tropical and temperate plants belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family. This genus includes at least 50 species throughout tropical Asia, extending from India and Sri Lanka to New Guinea. They have been employed by local populations for the treatment of asthma, poisonous snake bites, and food poisoning. Aim of the review The main aim of the review is to critically analyze the reported traditional uses, bioactive chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Trigonostemon species. Materials and methods Scientific databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, CNKI, SpringerLink, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library and SciFinder, were searched using keywords such as “Trigonostemon”, “South China”, “chemical constituents”, or “traditional use”. Thus, available articles from 2000 to 2020 were collected and analyzed. Results and discussion This paper provides systematic data that Trigonostemon species possess a diverse phytochemical composition, (including diterpenes, alkaloids, coumarins, lignins, sesquiterpenes, triterpenoids, flavonoids, and polyphenols) found in different plant organs. Research on Trigonostemon plants has revealed critical therapeutic properties, such as antiviral, anti-tumor, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and insecticidal activities. Conclusions It is envisaged that the current review will add value to more scientific research on Trigonostemon species and enhance/promote the increased interest in the sustainable use of Trigonostemon species as well as lead to the validation of unverified ethnobotanical claims. Future studies on Trigonostemon species would focus on establishing the links between the traditional uses, active compounds and reported pharmacological activities.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Traditional Indian medicine is one of the oldest medical systems and remains popular worldwide. Traditional medicine systems in China and India have historical origins pertaining to mutual learning, reference, and development from medical theory to the drugs used. The exchange of traditional medicine between China and India began in the Qin and Han Dynasties (221 BC–220 AD), prospered in the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), and declined after the Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD). It was also directly related to the rise and fall of Buddhism. The traditional medicines of the two countries are highly complementary because of differences in geographical climate and the modernisation process of traditional medicine. Aim This review aimed to understand the spread and development of traditional Indian medicine in China to further promote exchange and cooperation between China and India in the field of traditional medicine. Materials and methods We performed a systematic search of MEDLINE via PubMed, CNKI, Science Direct, Sci-Hub, and other databases using the terms ‘traditional Indian medicine’ or ‘Indian medicine’ or ‘Ayurveda’ or ‘Yoga’ or ‘Unani’, and limiting the search to articles published between 1958 and 2019. We analysed the sources, publication date, type, and topic of the retrieved articles/studies. Results Based on the results of research on traditional Indian medicine carried out by Chinese scholars, 518 academic papers and 60 classic works published in China and abroad were collected. The results showed the following. First, Chinese scholars have systematically investigated traditional Indian medicine including its composition, management, and education; the scale of medicinal and pharmaceutical plants; protective measures of intellectual property rights of traditional medicine; and international promotion of Yoga. Second, studies have examined the development status of traditional Indian medicine in China including the spread of Yoga in the country and the industrial scale of, education in, existing problems in, and clinical research on Yoga. In addition, Chinese scholars conducted research on and the translation of classic works and terms of Ayurveda, and studied the theory, treatment, and medicine thereof. Third, the historical exchange and trading status of traditional medicine between India and China have been discussed, including the exchange of traditional medicine between the two countries, effect of traditional Indian medicine on Chinese Buddhism, and minority medicine and trade in medicinal materials between the two countries. Conclusion India attaches great importance to the management of, education in, and industry of traditional medicine, and has made various efforts to protect intellectual property rights. Indian Yoga is very popular in China, and Chinese scholars have conducted some clinical research thereon. However, regulatory systems and legislation for Yoga are lacking in China. At present, traditional Chinese medicine scholars have an enhanced understanding of the term Yoga and less knowledge of the terms Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and similar concepts. We suggest that Chinese scholars further study the classic works, basic theories, treatment of clinical diseases, medicinal materials, and prescriptions compounding traditional Indian medicine. The results of this study highlight directions for Chinese scholars to pursue in further studying traditional Indian medicine comprehensively, and will help promote exchange and cooperation between China and India in the field of traditional medicine.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Notopterygium incisum Ting ex H.T. Chang, known in Chinese as ‘Qianghuo’ is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb with the rhizome and roots associated with meridians of the kidney and urinary bladder. It is pungent, bitter and warm in nature. It has been used over the years to disperse cold, prevent painful obstructions from wind, damp and warm pain. It has also been used with other herbs to treat wind-cold exterior syndrome and wind-cold-damp bi-syndromes and has been known to grow well in regions of high altitude such as Gansu, Tibet etc. The aim of the review This systematic review focuses on the ethnopharmacological uses of this herb, including recent advances on the phytochemical and pharmacological study of N. incisum. Recent analytical methods developed for the quantitative and qualitative determination of constituents in this herb have also been reviewed. Additionally, future trends and prospects in the study of this herb have been proposed. Materials and method Various literature and electronic databases such as Pubmed, Science Direct, Springer, Wiley etc were searched and data obtained. Other online academic libraries such as Google Scholar and ethnopharmacological literature were searched systematically for more information on the herb. Results This review focuses on the ethnopharmacological uses of N. incisum and also the various chemical constituents present in the herb and their various therapeutic effects such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and antioxidants effects. Analytical methods developed for the quantitative and qualitative determination of various compounds in this herb were further reviewed. Conclusion In this paper, we have reviewed various researches conducted on N. incisum especially in areas of its ethnopharmacological use, phytochemicals, pharmacology and developed analytical methods. This herb has been used over the years in treating headache, rheumatoid arthritis, cold, diaphoretic etc, prompting many types of research into identifying which compounds are responsible for these activities and their mechanism of action. More research is needed in the area of pharmacokinetics and toxicology to give further information on the clinical use and control the quality of the herb.

Ethnopharmacological relevance The research into bioactive natural products originating from medicinal plants, fungi and other organisms has a long history, accumulating abundant and diverse publications. However no quantitative literature analysis has been conducted so far. Aim of the study Here we analyze the bibliometric data of ethnopharmacology literature and relate the semantic content to the publication and citation data so that the major research themes, contributors, and journals of different time periods could be identified and evaluated. Materials and methods Web of Science (WoS) was searched to identify relevant publications. The Analyze function of WoS and bibliometric software (VOSviewer) were utilized to perform the analyses. Results Until the end of November 2018, 59,576 publications -linked to ‘ethnopharmacology’ indexed by WoS, published since 1958 in more than 5600 journals, and contributed by over 20,600 institutions located in more than 200 countries/regions, were identified. The papers were published under four dominating WoS categories, namely pharmacology/pharmacy (34.4%), plant sciences (28.6%), medicinal chemistry (25.3%), and integrative complementary medicine (20.6%). India (14.6%) and China (13.2%) were dominating the publication space. The United States and Brazil also had more than 8.0% contribution each. The rest of the top ten countries/regions were mainly from Asia. There were around ten-fold more original articles (84.6%) than reviews (8.4%). Conclusions Ethnopharmacological research has a consistent focus on food and plant sciences, (bio)chemistry, complementary medicine and pharmacology, with a more limited scientific acceptance in the socio-cultural sciences. Dynamic global contributions have been shifting from developed countries to economically and scientifically emerging countries in Asia, South America and the Middle East. Research on recording medicinal plant species used by traditional medicine continues, but the evaluation of specific properties or treatment effects of extracts and compounds has increased enormously. Moreover increasing attention is paid to some widely distributed natural products, such as curcumin, quercetin, and rutin.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Asthma is a costly global health problem that negatively influences the quality of life of patients. The Chinese Materia Medica (CMM) contains remedies that have been used for the treatment of asthma for millennia. This article strives to systematically summarize the current research progress so that more comprehensive examinations of various databases related to CMM anti-asthma drugs, can be performed, so as to sequentially provide effective basic data for development and application of anti-asthma drugs based on the CMM. Materials and methods The research data published over the past 20 years for asthma treatment based on traditional CMM remedies were retrieved and collected from libraries and online databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Elsevier, Spring Link, Web of Science, PubChem Compound, Wan Fang, CNKI, Baidu, and Google Scholar). Information was also added from classic CMM, literature, conference papers on classic herbal formulae, and dissertations (PhD or Masters) based on traditional Chinese medicine. Results This review systematically summarizes the experimental studies on the treatment of asthma with CMM, covering the effective chemical components, typical asthma models, important mechanisms and traditional anti-asthma CMM formulae. The therapy value of the CMM for anti-asthma is clarified, and the original data and theoretical research foundation are provided for the development of new anti-asthmatic data and research for the CMM. Conclusions Substantial progress against asthma has been made through relevant experimental research based on the CMM. These advances improved the theoretical basis of anti-asthma drugs for CMM and provided a theoretical basis for the application of a asthma treatment that is unique. By compiling these data, it is expected that the CMM will now contain a clearer mechanism of action and a greater amount of practical data that can be used for future anti-asthma drug research.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Aucklandia costus Falc. a medicinal plant is native to the Himalayan region and synonymous with Saussurea costus, Saussurea lappa, and Aucklandia lappa. It has an ancient background of being used ethnopharmacologically for various body ailments. According to Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Costus roots are recommended for leukoderma, liver, kidney, blood disorders, Qi stagnation, and tridosha. Root and powder are used orally with warm water to cure gastric problems, and the paste is applied to the inflamed area to relieve pain. Root paste is applied on the skin to cure boils, blisters, and leprosy. Aim of the study The aim of the present review is to establish a correlation among the ethnopharmacological uses and scientific studies conducted on A. costus with chemical constituents, safety & toxicity data including future directions for its conservation with higher yield and effect. Materials and methods The study was conducted by studying books, research papers, and literature in history, agroforestry, phytopharmacology of Himalayan plants using international databases, publication, Red data book, and reports. The search engines: Pubmed, Scopus, Wiley Inter-science, Indian Materia Medica, Science Direct, and referred journals are referenced. Results The literature collected from databases, journals, websites, and books mentioned the use of costus roots in local and traditional practices. CITES included A. costus in a critically endangered category due to lack of cultural practices and overexploitation from wild. A. costus roots are known since 13th century for use in ancient Ayurvedic products but the scientific evaluation is of future research interest. A correlation of traditional uses with scientific studies has been explored to assess the effect of root powder, extract, oil and isolated constituents: Costunolids, Saussureamine B and Dehydrocostus lactone etc. in gastric ulceration and lesions; inhibition of antigen-induced degranulation, mucin production, number of immune cells, eosinophils, and expression and secretion of Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-13) in asthma. The inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators is also reported by Cynaropicrin, Alantolactone, Caryophyllene, Costic acid. Also, the sesquiterpene lactones has profound effect in inhibition of inflammatory stages and induced apoptotic cascades in cancer. Very few data on the safety and toxicity of plant parts have been noted which needs to be evaluated scientifically. Conclusion A. costus have been noted to have remarkable effect for gastric, hepatic, inflammatory, respiratory, cancer, skin problems but there were several errors in selection of plant material, authentification, selection of dose, assessment, selection of standard and control have been identified. Therefore, a schematic drug development and research strategy exploiting the potential of plant extract, fraction, products and probable constituents, costunolide, dehydrocostus lactone, cynaropicrin, saussureamine assuring dose-response relationship and safety may be determined under pre-clinical which may be extrapolated to clinical level. An evaluation of phytochemicals in A. costus collected from different geographical location in Himalayas may be drawn to identify and conserve the higher yielding plant.

Ethnopharmacological relevance The genus Orobanche consists of annual, biennial or perennial fleshy parasitic herb species, many of which are in use as traditional medicines and wild gathered foods since a long time. Recently, Orobanche spp. are increasingly accepted as edible medicines with nourishing properties. However, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of their ethnopharmacological background. Aim of the review: This review focuses on the advancements in botanical classification, and summary of traditional use, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of Orobanche species, in order to check for scientific support of their traditional uses and the safe treatment of human ailments and diseases. Materials and methods In this review, the results of a systematic and comprehensive literature survey about Orobanche spp over the past 60 years (from 1960 to 2020) is presented. The selected literature includes periodicals, doctoral dissertations, master dissertations conference papers and various books. The literature was identified through search engine websites and a cross-checked with the Chinese pharmacopeia, classic Chinese and European herbals, regional medicinal monographs, and online ethnobotanical databases. Results The literature about the traditional uses revealed that Orobanche spp. were used as medicine and food in many regions of the world, but mainly in China and North America while in Europe they were primarily used as food items. Phenylpropanoid derivatives and alkaloids, were reported as their main bioactive compounds, showing antioxidant, immune system enhancing, androgenic, antibacterial and antiviral properties. Conclusions Orobanche spp. are increasingly being used for tonic purposes in China. Their ethnopharmacological background suggests potential usages as healthy foods and food supplements. They have the potential to be developed into herbal medicines for tonifying the kidney, against impotence and spermatorrhea, dermatological problems and wounds, as well as infantile diarrhoea. However, the pharmacological studies conducted with extracts derived from Orobanche spp. were not useful for rationally explaining the traditional uses. More investigations are required to provide a pharmacological basis for the traditional claims and the relationship between traditional uses, clinical uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties. Additionally, quality control should be emphasized to ensure the safe and effective use of Orobanche derived products.

ETHNOBOTANICAL RELEVANCE: Due to the global rise in the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Chinese materia medica (medicinal materials, or CMM) are giving cause for concern over their evidence base, safety/possible toxicity, questionable quality and use of endangered species of both animals and plants. However, little if anything is actually known about the range of species used to produce CMM used in Europe and even in China. This study represents the first attempt to identify and compare the most important CMM used in both regions, to begin the process of assessing the risks to public health and possible future benefits.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected from a convenience sample of TCM practitioners in the EU and mainland China, using a paper/online survey. Among other questions, respondents were asked (1) which conditions they most commonly treated using CMM and the likelihood of them using herbal manufactured products and decoctions in addition to raw herbs; (2) the perceived frequency with which they observed adverse events to CMM; (3) the frequency and reasons for use of 1 herbal formula and 6 specific individual herbs; (4) an open question about other CMM they used, including materials of non-plant origin. Data were entered into PASW statistics package and analysed using frequency tables, cross-tabulations and chi-squared tests to compare EU and Chinese results.RESULTS: From a total of 747 useable questionnaires (420 from China, 327 from the EU) of those responding from the EU, TCM was generally more commonly used for obstetric/gynaecological and dermatological conditions, compared to neurological and gastrointestinal diseases in China. Disorders treated by Chinese practitioners were more varied, and often more serious, than those treated by their European counterparts, and the range of materials used in China was wider. The potential for toxicity was not high in either region, but although greater in China due to the use of more potent CMM, the incidence of side effects was perceived to be higher by EU practitioners.CONCLUSIONS: Very few of the species used to prepare CMM in the EU in this study give rise to safety concerns from what is known from the scientific and other literature, and in China only a few toxic CMM appear to be commonly used, some of them only after processing and mainly for serious disorders. The main cause for concern is likely to be interaction with prescribed medication, especially in central nervous system and cardiovascular conditions where drug interactions have previously been reported most frequently and which would currently be more applicable in China than Europe.

Ethnopharmacological relevance BX is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) from the plant Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Berit. It has been traditionally used to treat cough, vomiting, infection and inflammation. Despite of its potentially clinical utility, it also has many side effects and toxicity. Aim of the study We propose here an ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-fight mass spectrometry (UPLC Q-TOF/MS) metabonomics approach to elucidate the toxicity in rats induced by orally administered BX in multiple organs including the kidney, liver, and heart. Materials and methods Serum samples were collected from Sprague-Dawley male rats exposed to BX (6 g/kg/day, n =10) and healthy controls ( n =10) at the 48 h, 144 h, 240 h, and 336 h postdose for LC/MS analyses. Through principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis of the integrated serum MS data, we distinguished the BX group from the healthy control group and identified the differential metabolites and pertinent altered biological pathways in response to the herbal toxin. The liver, kidney, heart were assessed using conventional histopathological examinations at the end point of the experiment. The serum samples at the 336 h postdose were assessed using biochemistry test. Results Significant differences in the serum levels of phospholipids, amino acids, l -carnitine and l -acetylcarnitine were observed in BX-induced rats, indicating the perturbations of phospholipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism and carnitine metabolism in BX-induced rats. Conclusions In the paper, we used metabonomics approach to study the toxicity of BX for the first time. With blood biochemistry, histopathological examinations and metabonomics methods, we validated that oral administration of crude BX caused no obvious liver and kidney toxicity in SD rats. BX may possess certain cardio toxicity in SD rats. The metabolism changes suggested that metabonomic approach was a promising tool to study and diagnose TCM-induced toxicity.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Studies on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), like those of other systems of traditional medicine (TM), are very variable in their quality, content and focus, resulting in issues around their acceptability to the global scientific community. In an attempt to address these issues, an European Union funded FP7 consortium, composed of both Chinese and European scientists and named "Good practice in traditional Chinese medicine" (GP-TCM), has devised a series of guidelines and technical notes to facilitate good practice in collecting, assessing and publishing TCM literature as well as highlighting the scope of information that should be in future publications on TMs. This paper summarises these guidelines, together with what has been learned through GP-TCM collaborations, focusing on some common problems and proposing solutions. The recommendations also provide a template for the evaluation of other types of traditional medicine such as Ayurveda, Kampo and Unani. Materials and methods: GP-TCM provided a means by which experts in different areas relating to TCM were able to collaborate in forming a literature review good practice panel which operated through e-mail exchanges, teleconferences and focused discussions at annual meetings. The panel involved coordinators and representatives of each GP-TCM work package (WP) with the latter managing the testing and refining of such guidelines within the context of their respective WPs and providing feedback. Results: A Good Practice Handbook for Scientific Publications on TCM was drafted during the three years of the consortium, showing the value of such networks. A "deliverable - central questions - labour division" model had been established to guide the literature evaluation studies of each WP. The model investigated various scoring systems and their ability to provide consistent and reliable semi-quantitative assessments of the literature, notably in respect of the botanical ingredients involved and the scientific quality of the work described. This resulted in the compilation of (i) a robust scoring system and (ii) a set of minimum standards for publishing in the herbal medicines field, based on an analysis of the main problems identified in published TCM literature. Conclusion: Good quality, peer-reviewed literature is crucial in maintaining the integrity and the reputation of the herbal scientific community and promoting good research in TCM. These guidelines provide a clear starting point for this important endeavour. They also provide a platform for adaptation, as appropriate, to other systems of traditional medicine. © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved., http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2012.01.038, SCOPUS: re.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Ethnopharmacological relevanceGP-TCM is the first EU-funded Coordination Action consortium dedicated to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research. One of the key deliverables of the Work Package 7 in GP-TCM was to investigate information of the existing requirements for registration of TCM products listed by global regulatory bodies. The paper aims to collate data and draw comparison of these regulations. Case studies are also presented to illustrate the problems involved in registering TCM products in different regions worldwide.Materials and methodsA collaborative network task force was established during the early stage of the GP-TCM project and operated through exchanges, teleconferences and focused discussions at annual meetings. The task force involved coordinators, academics who are actively involved with R&D of Chinese herbal medicines, experts on monographic standards of Chinese materia medica, representatives from regulatory agencies, experts from industries in marketing Chinese medicines/herbal medicines and natural products. The co-ordinators took turns to chair teleconferences, led discussions on specific issues at AGM discussion sessions, at joint workshops with other work-packages such as WP1 (quality issues), WP3 (toxicology issues) and WP6 (clinical trial issues). Collectively the authors were responsible for collating discussion outcomes and updating written information.ResultsA global overview of regulations on herbal registration has been compiled during the three years of the consortium. The regulatory requirements for registration of herbal products in the EU and China were compared, and this is extended to other regions/countries: Africa, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States. A wide variation of the regulations for the categories of herbal products exists: food (functional food, novel foods, dietary food for special medical purpose, foods for particular nutritional use, food supplement); cosmetic, traditional herbal medicine products; herbal medicines for human use and veterinary use.ConclusionThe regulatory issues for registration of herbal products are complicated among the countries and regions worldwide. The information summarised in the text is for reference only. Some regulations which are presented in this review are still in legislation process and may change in due course. Before taking any regulatory action, readers are advised to consult current official legislation and guidance and/or to seek appropriate professional advice. The lessons learnt from global regulation of TCM will provide valuable insights for regulation of other traditional medicine such as Ayurveda and Unani medicine, as well as other forms of indigenous medicine. The WHO is well placed to co-ordinate a consultation process with the aim of putting forward suggestions for harmonisation to key regulatory agencies.

Lizhong Pill, composed of radix Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), rhizoma Zingiberis (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.) and radix Glycytthizae (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.), is a classical herbal product for curing spleen deficiency in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and reserpine treated rats show similar signs to TCM spleen deficiency pattern. This paper is aimed to explore the regulatory effect on neuroendocrinoimmune network by Lizhong Pill in reserpine induced TCM spleen deficiency rats.100 healthy adult male SD rats, with a mean weight of 200 g, were randomly divided into five groups in average: control group, reserpine treated group, atropine treated group, treatment groups with Lizhong Pill at high dose and low dose (equal to the dosage of crude drugs for 4 g/kg/d and 8 g/kg/d). Rats in reserpine treated group were induced by intraperitoneal injection of reserpine at 0.5 mg/kgd for 4 weeks. The levels of IL-1, IL-6 and gastrin were measured with radioimmunoassay, TNF-α and IFN-γ in serum were measured with ELISA, the level of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and substance P (SP) in small intestine were determined with radioimmunoassay, and the TNF-α and TGF-β positive cells in small intestine were detected by immunohistological staining. Data were analyzed with SAS 9.1 software package.The rats in reserpine treated group, body weight, concentrations of IFN-γ, IL-1 and TNF-α in serum, expression of TGF-β in small intestine, VIP in small intestine decreased (P0.05), and the level of IL-6 in serum, expression of TNF-α, SP in small intestine and gastrin were increased (P0.05). Administration of Lizhong Pill at high dose could increase the body weights at day 21, and the weights of rats in Lizhong Pill groups were much higher compared to reserpine treated group. At high dose of Lizhong Pill could increase the level of TNF-α in serum. Lizhong Pill at high dose and low dose could reverse the changes of IL-1, IL-6 and IFN-γ, gastrin, expression of TGF-β and TNF-α, VIP and SP in small intestine.The rats treated with reserpine, with similar signs to TCM spleen deficiency, show neuroendocrinoimmune disorders, and the restoration of the neuroendocrinoimmune disorders might be the part of mechanism of Lizhong Pill for reinforcing TCM spleen deficiency.

Objective Wujijing Oral Liquid (WJJ) contained principally the flesh essence of the black-boned chicken. As a kind of food and medicine in China, it was used to treat the menstrual disturbance traditionally, but the exact mechanism of the action was not yet clear. The clinical effects of the WJJ on the symptoms of the menstrual disturbance and the reproductive hormones were studied in this paper. Materials and methods The 53 women with the menstrual disturbance were selected as the study object, and then they were randomly divided to receive either WJJ 10 mL twice daily ( n = 28) or the placebo ( n = 25) from the 1st day after menstrual flow for 2 menstrual cycles. On the 1st day after the discontinuation of the medication but before the treatment, the scores for the menstrual pattern and the related symptoms were obtained and the blood samples were collected to test the reproductive hormones. The serum levels of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL) and estradiol (E2) were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of progesterone (P) and testosterone (T) in serum were measured by the radioimmunoassay. Results The score for the primary and related symptoms of the menstruation was increased significantly among patients treated with the WJJ. The differences on the FSH, PRL, and E2 levels of patients were significant before and after the treatment with WJJ. Comparing the WJJ group and the placebo group, the levels of P and T differed significantly after treatment. The oral liquid of WJJ was found to be safe, as it did not cause any change in the hepatic and renal functional parameters. Conclusion The oral liquid of Wujijing could improve the menstrual disturbance and were generally safe and well tolerated. The possible mechanism could be associated with its effects in reinforcing the kidney and regulating the hypothalamus–pituitary–ovary axis (HPOA).

Ethnopharmacological relevance Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, known as Dang Gui (in Chinese), is a traditional medicinal and edible plant that has long been used for tonifying, replenishing, and invigorating blood as well as relieving pain, lubricating the intestines, and treating female irregular menstruation and amenorrhea. A. sinensis has also been used as a health product and become increasingly popular in China, Japan, and Korea. Aim of the review This paper aims to provide a systemic review of traditional uses of A. sinensis and its recent advances in the fields of phytochemistry, analytical methods and toxicology. In addition, possible trends, therapeutic potentials, and perspectives for future research of this plant are also briefly discussed. Materials and methods An extensive review of the literature was conducted, and electronic databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Reaxys were used to assemble the data. Ethnopharmacological literature and digitalised sources of academic libraries were also systematically searched. In addition, information was obtained from local books and The Plant List (TPL, www.theplantlist.org). Result This study reviews the progress in chemical analysis of A. sinensis and its preparations. Previously and newly established methods, including spectroscopy, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography (GC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ultra-performance liquid chromatography(UPLC), and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis (NMR), are summarized. Moreover, identified bioactive components such as polysaccharides, ligustilide and ferulic acid were reviewed, along with analytical methods for quantitative and qualitative determination of target analytes, and fingerprinting authentication, quality evaluation of A. sinensis, and toxicology and pharmacodynamic studies. Scientific reports on crude extracts and pure compounds and formulations revealed a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory activity, antifibrotic action, antispasmodic activity, antioxidant activities, and neuroprotective action, as well as cardio- and cerebrovascular effects. Conclusions Within the published scientific literature are numerous reports regarding analytical methods that use various chromatographic and spectrophotometric technologies to monitor various types of components with different physicochemical properties simultaneously. This review discusses the reasonable selection of marker compounds based on high concentrations, analytical methods, and commercial availabilities with the goal of developing quick, accurate, and applicable analytical approaches for quality evaluation and establishing harmonised criteria for the analysis of A. sinensis and its finished products. Compounds isolated from A. sinensis are abundant sources of chemical diversity, from which we can discover active molecules. Thus, more studies on the pharmacological mechanisms of the predominant active compounds of A. sinensis are needed. In addition, given that A. sinensis is one of the most popular traditional herbal medicines, its main therapeutic aspects, toxicity, and adverse effects warrant further investigation in the future.

Chinese medicine (CM), one of the oldest continuously surviving traditions, has been practised to maintain good health and treat diseases in the Chinese communities and recently by other ethnic groups worldwide. Chinese medicinal materials (Chinese materia medica, CMM) and proprietary CM products (PCM), acupuncture and related physical therapies, as well as special life styles are often used together in the practice, co-existing with orthodox medicine (OM) in China and some regions in the Far East. Increasing uses of CMM have created both skepticism and support of CM practice that have been the major debate since the successful randomised clinical trial of the 10-CM herbs prescription in relieving atopic eczema was published in 1992. Available in the West, some CMM are supplied with wrong species or wrong named herbs that possess liver and kidney toxicity and some PCM adulterated with OM drugs. These do not give CMM the right reputation and recognition. These problems have been due to lack of recognition and regulation of the profession, qualified practitioners, quality-controlled CMM products and evidence-based clinical studies. Though practised widely, CM was not recognised officially in some regions such the EU and North America as part of the healthcare system run by western OM practice. Such circumstance has delayed the development of CM in these regions including Hong Kong comparing with that in Australia, Japan (As Kampo medicine), the UK, some European countries, and the USA. It can be considered as obstacles for proper development of CM in general. This paper addresses these key issues and attempts to propose ways for future research and development for CMM. The impact will certainly be modernisation in every aspect of CMM to cope with the fast growing demand in quality medicines in the 21st century. Several major areas are listed for discussion.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Polyporus umbellatus (Pers.) Fries (Polyporaceae, Zhuling ) has been commonly used in medicine for a wide range of ailments related to the edema, scanty urine, vaginal discharge, urinary dysfunction, as well as jaundice and diarrhea. Aim of the review The present paper reviewed the traditional uses, propagation, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and quality control of Polyporus umbellatus . Materials and methods All the available information on Polyporus umbellatus was collected via a library and electronic search (using Web of Science, Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Splinker, Google Scholar, etc. ). Results Phytochemical studies showed the presence of many valuable secondary metabolites such as steroids, polysaccharides, anthraquinones and nucleosides. Crude extracts and isolated compounds showed a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities including diuretic, nephroprotective, anti-cancer, immuno-enhancing, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities. The pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that the ergosterol and ergone had a high distribution and absorption in the plasma and the two main components of Polyporus umbellatus were mainly excreted by faeces. The determination of multiple chemical components was successfully applied to the quality control of Polyporus umbellatus . Conclusions Modern phytochemical, pharmacological and metabonomic investigations showed that the crude extracts and isolated compounds from Polyporus umbellatus possess many kinds of biological functions, especially in the diuretic activities and the treatment of kidney diseases as well as anti-cancer, immuno-enhancing and hepatoprotective activities. The pathways of the distribution, absorption, metabolism and excretion of main steroidal compounds were clarified by pharmacokinetic studies. Most of the pharmacological studies were conducted using crude and poorly characterized extracts of Polyporus umbellatus in animals especially in case of diuretic activities and the treatment of kidney diseases. Thus, more bioactive components especially diuretic compounds should be identified using bioactivity-guided isolation strategies and the possible mechanism of action as well as potential synergistic or antagonistic effects of multi-component mixtures derived from Polyporus umbellatus need to be evaluated integrating pharmacological, pharmacokinetic, bioavailability-centered and physiological approaches. In addition, more experiments including in vitro , in vivo and clinical studies should be encouraged to identify any side effects or toxicity. These achievements will further expand the existing therapeutic potential of Polyporus umbellatus and provide a beneficial support to its future further clinical use in modern medicine.

Aim of the study: Based on the authors' collection of specimens used as Jie-Ji in local Tibetan areas, China, and taxonomic determination, this paper aims to give a list of medicinal plants as Jie-Ji, formally identify the ones recognized as Jie-Ji Ga-Bao or Jie-Ji Na-Bao and to offer basic data for further studies on these Tibetan herbs. Materials and methods: Local herbalists were visited in Tibetan areas, China to observe which plants were being used as Jie-Ji. Samples of the indigenous plants were collected at the same time. Also, the medicinal plants as Jie-Ji were taxonomically identified. Results: A list of medicinal plants including 10 species of Jie-Ji in local Tibetan areas is given, including their morphological pictures used for identification. Conclusions: The origin of Jie-Ji is from 10 species of the Section Cruciata, Genus Gentiana (Gentianaceae). five species with dark blue flowers are used as Jie-Ji Na-Bao, the other five with white flowers are used as Jie-Ji Ga-Bao. Also, Gentiana macrophylla Pall. with dark blue flowers in the Section Cruciata, Genus Gentiana is not the original plant of Jie-Ji Na-Bao. The species endemic to the province are used as the original plants of Jie-Ji only in local Tibetan area of the province. Finally, the drug use of Jie-Ji in Traditional Tibetan Medicine is reasonable and it is efficacious.

The genus Murraya has been widely used in traditional medicine in east Asia. In view of the recent isolation of the anti-implantation alkaloid yuehchukene from M. paniculata a search has now been made for other natural sources of this alkaloid within the genus. In this paper we report findings for nine taxa of Murraya.

In this paper, a brief introduction to recent developments on medicinal plants in China has been reviewed. About 60 new drugs have originated directly or indirectly from Chinese medicinal plants by means of modern scientific methods. This fact has shown that medicinal plants are an important source in searching for new drugs.

Chinese scientists have capitalised on the rich flora and the ethnomedical experience in China, in their pursuit of fertility regulating agents from natural products. Discoveries range from anti-implantation agents to abortifacient and pregnancy-terminating compounds, as well as a male contraceptive. Chemistry and bioactivity of these compounds and materials are reviewed in this paper, with the hope that further research and collaboration will take place to help solve the problem of population explosion.