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Abstract Background Prior studies have suggested that the chronic inflammatory response has an important role in the pathophysiology of slow coronary flow phenomenon (SCFP). However, data are scarce regarding the role of plasma fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (PFAR) in patients having SCFP without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study, we investigated the relationship between PFAR and the presence of SCFP in patients without obstructive CAD. Methods From January 2021 to January 2023, we consecutively recruited 1085 patients without obstructive CAD according to the diagnostic and exclusion criteria. In total, SCFP was diagnosed in 70 patients. A 1:2 age-matched case–control study was then conducted using comparators without SCFP. Ultimately, this study enrolled 70 patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries and SCFP, along with 140 comparators with angiographically normal coronary arteries and normal coronary flow. Plasma fibrinogen and albumin levels were measured, and the PFAR was then calculated for each patient. Results PFARs were significantly greater in the SCFP group than in the comparators with normal coronary flow (82.8 ± 15.4 vs 73.1 ± 19.5, p 0.05). Conclusion PFAR is an independent predictor of SCFP in patients without obstructive CAD. PAFR could improve the predictive value of SFCP than albumin or fibrinogen alone, but not significantly.

In Southeast Asia, Amomum tsao-ko(A. tsao-ko) is a well-known plant spice that has both medicinal and edible value. A.tsao-ko was mainly used in the past for flavoring and aroma enhancement in cooking. It is also a medicinal plant used in folklore to treat diseases and is widely used in the therapeutic system. In China, A. tsao-ko is often used as a treatment or adjunct to the treatment of malaria, gastrointestinal disorders, epilepsy and cholera. This review describes in detail the traditional and folkloric uses, botanical studies, phytochemical components, and pharmacological activities of A. tsao-ko, elucidates its medicinal value as a traditional herbal medicine, and analyzes its potential for clinical applications. To provide reference for the comprehensive development and exploitation of A. tsao-ko in the fields of functional food, medicine and cosmetics. The available information about A. tsao-ko was collected through Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, Baidu Scholar, Science Direct, China Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Springer Search. The keywords used included A. tsao-ko, essential oil, secondary metabolites, chemical composition, biological activity, pharmacology, traditional medicinal use, safety, and other related words. The literature of A. tsao-ko traditional and folk uses was retrieved from CNKI and Duxiu Search (https://www.duxiu.com/). The botany research information of A. tsao-ko was obtained through the Plant Plus of China website (https://www.iplant.cn). The economic value of A.tsao-ko can be obtained from Chinese herbal medicine industry information portal (https://www.zyctd.com/). So far, more than 493 chemical components have been isolated from A. tsao-ko. It possesses a variety of functions to maintain human health and protect the body from external influence, including regulating gastrointestinal function, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, regulating metabolic syndrome, and neuroprotection. In addition, A. tsao-ko is also an important cash crop in some areas, including southwest China, Vietnam, and northern Laos. Future research should focus on exploring the mechanisms between the single chemical constituents in A. tsao-ko and their pharmacological activities, as well as the relationship between their biological activities and medicinal clinical research.

The effects of twelve different pre-drying and drying methods on the chemical composition in the pericarp and kernel of Amomum tsao-ko were studied. The volatile components were isolated from the samples by simultaneous distillation and extraction and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Sixty and thirty-eight compounds were identified from pericarp and kernel, respectively, and the main constituents were oxygenated monoterpenes. These compounds were not only significantly affected by pre-drying and drying methods but also varied in content due to different tissue locations. The total volatile content of pericarp varied from 0.70 to 1.55%, with the highest obtained by microwave-dried samples (150 W) and the lowest in freeze-dried samples. The total volatile content of the kernel varied from 6.11 to 10.69%, with the highest content obtained during sun drying (SD) and the lowest content in samples treated with boiling water for 2 min. Oxygenated monoterpenes were the highest compounds in pericarp and kernel, which were also the most affected by drying methods. The highest content of oxygenated monoterpenes in the pericarp (0.77%) could be obtained by boiling water treatment for 5 min, and the highest content of oxygenated monoterpenes in the kernel (7.48%) could be obtained by SD. Additionally, the main components such as 1,8-cineole, 2-carene, (Z)-citral, nerolidol, (Z)-2-decenal, (E)-2-dodecenal, citral, (E)-2-octenal, 4-propylbenzaldehyde, and phthalan showed remarkable variations in pre-drying and drying methods.