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Objective: To confirm the efficacy and safety of Ganyushu Granule (GYSG) in treating premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in patients with Gan (Liver) depression and qi stagnation syndrome (GDQSS) and determine its effective dosage. Methods: From June 2018 to March 2021, a total of 240 PMS women with GDQSS were included and randomly divided into 3 groups in a 1:1:1 ratio using central block randomization: high-dose GYSG group (n=78, GYSG 2 packs/time), low-dose GYSG group (n=82, GYSG and its simulant 1 pack/time), and placebo group (n=80, GYSG simulant 2 packs/time). Treatment with GYSG or placebo was given thrice daily and for up to 3 menstrual cycles. Primary outcomes were PMS diary (PMSD) score and premenstrual tension syndrome self-rating scale (PMTS). Secondary outcomes were Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome efficacy. PMSD, PMTS, and efficacy of CM were evaluated with menstrual cycles during the treatment period. Outcome indicators were analyzed after each menstrual cycle. All analyses were performed using an intention-to-treat method, and clinical safety was assessed. Results: Of the 216 patients included in the effectiveness analysis, 70, 75, and 71 patients were in the high-, low-dose GYSG, and placebo groups, respectively. From the 2nd treatment cycle, the change in PMSD scores in the high- and low-dose groups was lower than that in the placebo group (P<0.05). PMTS scores in the high-dose GYSG group after the 1st treatment cycle was lower than that in the placebo group (P<0.05), while after the 3rd treatment cycle, that in the low-dose group was lower than that in the placebo group (P<0.05). After the 2nd treatment cycle, the high-dose GYSG group had the best CM syndrome efficacy (P<0.05). No serious adverse reactions were reported. Conclusions: GYSG was safe and well-tolerated at both doses for treating PMS patients with GDQSS. High-dose GYSG might be the optimal dose for a phase III trial. (Registration No. ChiCTR1800016595) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The fragility index (FI), which is the minimum number of changes in status from "event" to "non-event" resulting in a loss of statistical significance, serves as a significant supplementary indicator for clinical physicians in interpreting clinical trial results and aids in understanding the outcomes of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In this systematic literature survey, we evaluated the FI for RCTs evaluating Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and explored potential associations between study characteristics and the robustness of RCTs. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in four databases in Chinese and four databases in English from their inception to January 1, 2023. RCTs encompassed 1:1 ratio into two parallel arms and reported at least one binary outcome that demonstrated statistical significance were included. FI was calculated by the iterative reduction of a target outcome event in the treatment group and concomitant subtraction of a non-target event from that group, until positive significance (defined as P < 0.05 by Fisher's exact test) is lost. The lower the FI (minimum 1) of a trial outcome, the more fragile the positive result of the outcome was. Linear regression models were adopted to explore influence factors of the value of FI. Results: A total of 30 trials from 2 4118 potentially relevant citations were finally included. The median FI of total trials included was 1.5 (interquartile range [IQR], 1–5), and half of the trials (n = 15) had a FI equal to 1. In 12 trials (40%), the total number of participants lost to follow-up surpassed the respective FI. The study also identified that increased FI was significantly associated with no TCM syndrome differentiation for inclusion criteria of the patients, larger total sample size, low risk of bias, and larger numbers of events. Conclusions: The majority of CHM IBS RCTs with positive results were found to be fragile. Ensuring adequate sample size, scientifically rigorous study design, proper control of confounding factors, and a quality control calibration for consistency of TCM diagnostic results among clinicians should be addressed to increase the robustness of the RCTs. We recommend reporting the FI as one of the components of sensitivity analysis in future RCTs to facilitate the assessment of the fragility of trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the effectiveness of the combined use of the Gukang capsule and vitamin D2 for treating elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis. A total of 126 patients admitted to the Second Hospital of Tangshan between March 2021 and March 2023 were recruited. All patients were treated with loxoprofen sodium tablets. Additionally, group 1 was treated with a vitamin D2 soft capsule, group 2 with a Gukang capsule, and group 3 with a vitamin D2 soft capsule+Gukang capsule. The total effective rate in group 3 (95.23%) was significantly higher compared to groups 1 and 2 (76.19% and 73.80%, respectively; P < 0.05). After treatment, the visual analogue scale score, inflammation level, and levels of cartilage metabolic factors in group 3 were significantly lower compared to groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.05). After treatment, the Hospital for Special Surgery and Lysholm scores were elevated in all three groups, and those in group 3 were significantly higher than those in groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.05). There was no difference in the incidence of adverse reactions among the three groups (P > 0.05). Overall, Gukang capsule + vitamin D2 can reduce inflammation, improve cartilage metabolism, accelerate knee function recovery, and improve the clinical effect in elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to explore the clinical efficacy and safety of the combination of thymopeptide enteric-coated tablets and Compound Kuwei Huoxue Formula in the treatment of oral lichen planus (OLP). Using a random number table, the patients were divided into a study group and a control group after registration and enrollment. There was no significant difference in the general data comparison between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, the number of cured patients in the study group was higher than that in the control group, and the number of ineffective cases was lower than that in the control group. The total cure rate in the study group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The levels of inflammatory factors interleukin-4, interleukin-6, and interferon-γ in the study group. Based on the practical clinical considerations, the treatment regimen of oral immunomodulator-thymopeptide enteric-coated tablets combined with Compound Kuwei Huoxue Formula emphasizes enhancing the immune function of the body and adopting the principle of clearing heat and detoxification in traditional Chinese medicine to achieve the goal of treating the root cause. This comprehensive treatment approach has achieved good clinical efficacy, providing new ideas and methods for the treatment of OLP that are worth promoting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate whether Naoxueshu Oral Liquid (NXS) could promote hematoma absorption in post-craniotomy hematoma (PCH) patients. Methods: This is an open-label, multicenter, and randomized controlled trial conducted at 9 hospitals in China. Patients aged 18–80 years with post-craniotomy supratentorial hematoma volume ranging from 10 to 30 mL or post-craniotomy infratentorial hematoma volume less than 10 mL, or intraventricular hemorrhage following cranial surgery were enrolled. They were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to the NXS (10 mL thrice daily for 15 days) or control groups using a randomization code table. Standard medical care was administered in both groups. The primary outcome was the percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 15. The secondary outcomes included the percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 7, the absolute reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 7 and 15, and the change in neurological function from day 1 to day 7 and 15. The safety was closely monitored throughout the study. Moreover, subgroup analysis was performed based on age, gender, history of diabetes, and etiology of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Results: A total of 120 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned between March 30, 2018 and April 15, 2020. One patient was lost to follow-up in the control group. Finally, there were 119 patients (60 in the NXS group and 59 in the control group) included in the analysis. In the full analysis set (FAS) analysis, the NXS group had a greater percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 15 than the control group [median (Q1, Q3): 85% (71%, 97%) vs. 76% (53%, 93%), P<0.05]. The secondary outcomes showed no statistical significance between two groups, either in FAS or per-protocol set (P>0.05). Furthermore, no adverse events were reported during the study. In the FAS analysis, the NXS group exhibited a higher percentage reduction in hematoma volume on day 15 in the following subgroups: male patients, patients younger than 65 years, patients without diabetes, or those with initial cranial surgery due to ICH (all P<0.05). Conclusions: The administration of NXS demonstrated the potential to promote the percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 15. This intervention was found to be safe and feasible. The response to NXS may be influenced by patient characteristics. (Registration No. ChiCTR1800017981) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fritillaria unibracteata (FRU) belongs to the genus Fritillaria of the Liliaceae family. It is one of the original plants of the Chinese medicinal material "Chuanbeimu" and also a biological resource featured in the Tibetan Plateau of China. The dried bulbs of FRU are used in traditional Chinese medicine. The chemical constituents of FRU that have been isolated and identified include alkaloids, sterols, organic acids and their esters, nucleosides and volatile oils. FRU has antitussive, expectorant, anti-asthmatic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, acute lung injury-reducing, antifibrosis, antitumor, and other pharmacological effects. This valuable plant has an extremely high market demand, and over the years, due to over-exploitation, FRU has now been listed as a key species that is endangered and scarcely cultivated in China as a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. However, research on FRU is rare, and its effective components, resource control, and mechanisms of action need further study. This review systematically discusses the herbal characteristics, resource distribution, chemical composition, biosynthesis, pharmacological effects, clinical application, and breeding techniques of FRU, hoping to provide a reference for further research and the use of FRU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panax ginseng (Chinese ginseng) is precious traditional Chinese medicine in China, which is commonly used to treat central nervous system diseases, cardiovascular diseases, endocrine system diseases, cancer and other diseases. Due to its excellent medicinal properties, it is widely used in East Asia (Korea, China and Japan) as herbal medicine and also known as the king of medicinal herbs. This paper reviews the origin and distribution of ginseng in China, different cultivation methods, economic significance of ginseng industry and allelopathy research on ginseng. This paper also describes the economic importance of ginseng in medical and other uses, and suggests future research areas of ginseng. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture, traditional Chinese herb hot compress and rehabilitation training is useful in post-stroke shoulder–hand syndrome (SHS), but it is less commonly used in combination. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the therapeutic efficacy of a combination of acupuncture, traditional Chinese herb hot compress and rehabilitation training in SHS patients. METHOD: Patients diagnosed with post-stroke SHS and treated from January 2022 to March 2023 at Beijing Friendship Hospital and Beijing Pinggu Hospital were selected and randomly divided into three groups (A, B and C). Group A received conventional rehabilitative treatment (35 cases), Group B underwent conventional rehabilitative treatment + acupuncture (35 cases), and Group C received conventional rehabilitative treatment + acupuncture + traditional Chinese herb hot compress treatment (35 cases). The post-treatment effectiveness rate, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, activities of daily living (ADL) score, Fugel–Meyer assessment (FMA) score, SHS assessment scale (SHSS) score and shoulder joint mobility were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: The post-treatment VAS score ( F VAS score = 232.512, P < 0.001), FMA score ( F FMA score = 239.412, P < 0.001), ADL score ( F ADL score = 412.634, P < 0.001), SHSS score ( F SHSS score = 212.542, P < 0.001) and shoulder joint mobility ( F Shoulder Joint Mobility = 197.531, P < 0.001) all showed statistically significant differences. The VAS and SHSS scores decreased in the order of Group A > Group B > Group C, while the FMA, ADL and shoulder joint mobility scores increased in the order of Group C > Group B > Group A. The post-treatment effectiveness rates (χ 2= 48.510, P < 0.001) also exhibited statistically significant differences, decreasing in the order of Group C (94.29%) > Group B (82.86%) > Group A (71.43%). CONCLUSION: The treatment efficacy of the combined acupuncture, traditional Chinese herb hot compress and rehabilitation training for SHS patients is significant, warranting its clinical promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two previously undescribed iridoid glycosides, 6'-O-trans-feruloyl-(4S,6R)-3,4-dihydro-3β-ethoxypaederoside (1) and 6'-O-trans-caffeoyl-(4S,6R)-3,4-dihydro-2'-O-3α-paederoside (2), were isolated from the 90% EtOH extract of the air dried aerial parts of Paederia Foetida. Structural elucidation of all the compounds was performed by spectral methods such as 1D and 2D (1H-1H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy. The two isolated iridoid glycosides were tested in vivo for their antinociceptive properties. As a result, 2 showed potent antinociceptive effect and its ID50 value (53.4 μmol/kg) was 2-fold less than those of the positive control drugs aspirin and acetaminophen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new iridoid glycosides, piasezkiiosides A (1) and B (2), were isolated from aqueous extract of the whole plant of Rehmannia piasezkii. Their structures were established from the spectroscopic data, chemical transformation, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound 1 exhibited weak hepatoprotective activity against APAP-induced HepG2 cell damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of Bufei Jiedu (BFJD) ranules as adjuvant therapy for patients with multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (MDR-PTB). Methods: A large-scale, multi-center, double-blinded, and randomized controlled trial was conducted in 18 sentinel hospitals in China from December 2012 to December 2016. A total of 312 MDR-PTB patients were randomly assigned to BFJD Granules or placebo groups (1:1) using a stratified randomization method, which both received the long-course chemotherapy regimen for 18 months (6 Am-Lfx-P-Z-Pto, 12 Lfx-P-Z-Pto). Meanwhile, patients in both groups also received BFJD Granules or placebo twice a day for a total of 18 months, respectively. The primary outcome was cure rate. The secondary outcomes included time to sputum-culture conversion, changes in lung cavities and quality of life (QoL) of patients. Adverse reactions were monitored during and after the trial. Results: A total of 216 cases completed the trial, 111 in the BFJD Granules group and 105 in the placebo group. BFJD Granules, as an adjuvant treatment, increased the cure rate by 13.6% at the end of treatment, compared with the placebo (58.4% vs. 44.8%, P=0.02), and accelerated the median time to sputum-culture conversion (5 months vs. 11 months). The cavity closure rate of the BFJD Granules group (50.6%, 43/85) was higher than that of the placebo group (32.1%, 26/81; P=0.02) in patients who completed the treatment. At the end of the intensive treatment, according to the 36-item Short Form, the BFJD Granules significantly improved physical functioning, general health, and vitality of patients relative to the placebo group (all P<0.01). Overall, the death rates in the two groups were not significantly different; 5.1% (8/156) in the BFJD Granules group and 2.6% (4/156) in the placebo group. Conclusions: Supplementing BFJD Granules with the long-course chemotherapy regimen significantly increased the cure rate and cavity closure rates, and rapidly improved QoL of patients with MDR-PTB (Registration No. ChiCTR-TRC-12002850) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jujube has a history of being used as both food and herbal medicine in China for thousands of years. Its nutritional value has long been recognized, as it contains various health-promoting bioactive components. Jujube polysaccharides are one of the major bioactive constituents. Extensive studies have shown that jujube polysaccharides exert multiple biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, immune regulatory, anti-fatigue, liver- protective, blood sugar-lowering, and blood lipid-lowering effects, through different or synergistic mechanisms. This article provides an overview of the physicochemical properties and structure-activity relationship of jujube polysaccharides, and summarizes the research progress on the bioactivity and mechanisms of jujube polysaccharides, both domestically and internationally in recent years. Based on these findings, the therapeutic potential of jujube polysaccharides for various diseases is discussed, aiming to provide references for further research and the development of related medicinal treatments involving jujube polysaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the evolution process of the industrial efficiency of the Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is an important link to promote the development of characteristic ecological agriculture industry. The regional differences and spatiotemporal pattern of the CHM industry efficiency of China were calculated by using the data envelope analysis, the Malmquist index and the spatiotemporal and geographically weighted regression. The results showed that the spatial difference of the CHM industry efficiency was significant, and the average efficiency level was low. The provinces whose industry efficiency reached the effective level were mainly concentrated in northwest China. Technical efficiency has been the main reason that restricts the comprehensive industry efficiency. The impact of technology and labor factors on the CHM industry efficiency in the western China is higher than that in the eastern China, but the impact of economy and investment factors on the efficiency in the eastern China is higher than that in the western China. The education factor has little influence on the CHM industry efficiency, while the traffic factor has an increasing impact. It is suggested that strengthening investment in technology innovation, emphasizing and promoting the modernization and standardization of CHM processing are important means to improve the regional CHM industry efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cnidium monnieri, a medicinal herb of the Cnidium genus and the Apiaceae family, is among the most important traditional Chinese medicines and is widely distributed in China. However, to date, no C. monnieri-related genomic information has been described. In this study, we assembled the C. monnieri genome of approximately 1210.23 Mb with a contig N50 of 83.14 Mb. Using PacBio HiFi and Hi-C sequencing data, we successfully anchored 93.86% of the assembled sequences to 10 pseudochromosomes (2n = 20). We predicted a total of 37,460 protein-coding genes, with 97.02% of them being functionally annotated in Non-Redundant, Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, and other databases. In addition, we identified 2,778 tRNAs, 4,180 rRNAs, 258 miRNAs, and 1,700 snRNAs in the genome. This is the first reported C. monnieri genome. Hopefully, the availability of this chromosome-level reference genome provides a significant basis for upcoming natural product-related biosynthetic pathway assessment in C. monnieri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ovarian endometriotic cysts (OEC) represent the primary manifestation of endometriosis, constituting a hormonally dependent inflammatory disorder in gynecology. It significantly affects the quality of life and reproductive health of women. It is worth noting that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), especially Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), has been widely applied in mainland China due to its unique therapeutic system and commendable clinical efficacy, bringing new hope for preventing and managing OEC. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CHM in the management of postoperative OEC. Simultaneously, it seeks to explore the medication laws, therapeutic principles, and specific treatment mechanisms of CHM. Methods: Eight electronic databases were searched from their inception to 01 November 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the therapeutic effects and safety of CHM for postoperative OEC were included. The risk of bias for each trial was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool. The certainty of the evidence was evaluated using the GRADE profiler 3.2. Additionally, we extracted formulation from the included studies, conducting a thorough analysis. Results: (i) Twenty-two RCTs involving 1938 patients were included. In terms of the primary efficacy outcome, the CHM group demonstrated a potentially lower recurrence rate compared to both control (odds ratio (OR) = 0.25; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.10–0.64) and conventional western medicine (CWM) (OR = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.11–0.65) groups. Furthermore, the joint application of CHM and CWM resulted in a significant reduction in the recurrence rate (OR = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.17–0.40). (ii) Regarding secondary efficacy outcomes, (a) Total clinical efficacy rate: CHM showcased an augmentation in clinical effectiveness compared to both the control (OR = 4.23; 95% CI: 1.12–15.99) and CWM (OR = 2.94; 95% CI: 1.34–6.43) groups. The combined administration of CHM and CWM substantially enhanced overall clinical effectiveness (OR = 3.44; 95% CI: 2.37–5.00). (b) VAS Score: CHM exhibited the capacity to diminish the VAS score in comparison to surgery alone (Mean difference (MD) = −0.86; 95% CI: -1.01 to −0.71). Nevertheless, no substantial advantage was observed compared to CWM alone (MD = −0.16; 95% CI: -0.49 to 0.17). The integration of CHM with CWM effectively ameliorated pain symptoms (MD = −0.87; 95% CI: -1.10 to −0.65). (c) Serum Level of Cancer antigen 125 (CA125): the CHM group potentially exhibited lower CA125 levels in comparison to CWM alone (MD = −11.08; 95% CI: -21.75 to −0.42). The combined intervention of CHM and CWM significantly decreased CA125 levels (MD = −5.31; 95% CI: -7.27 to −3.36). (d) Pregnancy Rate: CHM exhibited superiority in enhancing the pregnancy rate compared to surgery (OR = 3.95; 95% CI: 1.60–9.74) or CWM alone (OR = 3.31; 95% CI: 1.40–7.83). The combined utilization of CHM and CWM demonstrated the potential to enhance pregnancy rates compared to CWM (OR = 2.99; 95% CI: 1.28–6.98). Concerning safety outcome indicators, CHM effectively decreased the overall incidence of adverse events and, to a certain extent, alleviated perimenopausal symptoms as well as liver function impairment. (iii) Most of CHMs were originated from classical Chinese herbal formulas. Prunus persica (L.) Batsch (Taoren), Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (Danggui), Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen), Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (Chishao), and Corydalis yanhusuo W.T.Wang (Yanhusuo) were most frequently used CHM. Conclusion: CHM may be a viable choice in the long-term management of postoperative OEC, with the potential to enhance clinical efficacy while decreasing recurrence and adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious disease of domestic and wild pigs caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV). The mortality rate associated with ASF is remarkably high, almost approaching 100%. Since the introduction of ASF into China in 2018, its rapid spread has caused marked economic losses in the country's swine industry. To date, there are no safe and effective commercial vaccines or antiviral drugs against ASF; thus, there is an urgent need to develop novel prevention and control strategies. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which comprises various herbs that are abundant in various potential functional components, holds great promise for the prevention and control of ASF. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the advancements in TCM and the effects of its compound formulas against ASF, including the antiviral abilities, immunoregulatory activities, and practical application of these formulas for the prevention and control of ASF. We specifically examined the potential and constraints of natural product-derived extracts and TCM formulas in combating ASFV. This review aims to offer insights and ideas for the holistic management and containment of ASF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound global impact, although the majority of recently infected cases have presented with mild to moderate symptoms. Previous clinical studies have demonstrated that Shufeng Jiedu (SFJD) capsule, a Chinese herbal patent medicine, effectively alleviates symptoms associated with the common cold, H1N1 influenza, and COVID-19. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of SFJD capsules in managing symptoms of mild to moderate COVID-19 infection. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted from May to December 2022 at two hospitals in China. Mild and moderate COVID-19-infected patients presenting respiratory symptoms within 3 days from onset were randomly assigned to either the SFJD or placebo groups in a 1:1 ratio. Individuals received SFJD capsules or a placebo three times daily for five consecutive days. Participants were followed up for more than 14 days after their RT-PCR nucleoid acid test for SARS-CoV-2 turned negative. The primary outcome measure was time to alleviate COVID-19 symptoms from baseline until the end of follow-up. Results: A total of 478 participants were screened; ultimately, 407 completed the trial after randomization (SFJD, n = 203; placebo, n = 204). No statistically significant difference in baseline parameters was observed between the two groups. The median time to alleviate all symptoms was 7 days in the SFJD group compared to 8 days in the placebo group (p = 0.037). Notably, the SFJD group significantly attenuated fever/chills (p = 0.04) and headache (p = 0.016) compared to the placebo group. Furthermore, the median time taken to reach normal body temperature within 24 h was reduced by 7 hours in the SFJD group compared to the placebo group (p = 0.033). No deaths or instances of serious or critical conditions occurred during this trial period; moreover, no serious adverse events were reported. Conclusion: The trial was conducted in a unique controlled hospital setting, and the 5-day treatment with SFJD capsules resulted in a 1-day reduction in overall symptoms, particularly headache and fever/chills, among COVID-19-infected participants with mild or moderate symptoms. Compared to placebo, SFJD capsules were found to be safe with fewer side effects. SFJD capsules could potentially serve as an effective treatment for alleviating mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ephedra herb (EH), an important medicine prescribed in herbal formulas by Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners, has been widely used in the treatment of viral pneumonia in China. However, the molecular basis of EH in viral pneumonia remains unclear. In this study, a ternary correlation multi‐symptom network strategy was established based on in vivo chemical profile identification and metabolomics to explore the molecular basis of EH against viral pneumonia. Results showed that 143 compounds of EH and 70 prototype components were identified in vivo. EH could reduce alveolar‐capillary barrier disruption in rats with viral pneumonia and significantly downregulate the expression of inflammatory factors and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Plasma metabolomics revealed that EH may be involved in the regulation of arachidonic acid, tryptophan, tyrosine, nicotinate, and nicotinamide metabolism. The multi‐symptom network showed that 12 compounds have an integral function in the treatment of viral pneumonia by intervening in many pathways related to viruses, immunity and inflammation, and lung injury. Further verification demonstrated that sinapic acid and frambinone can regulate the expression of related genes. It has been shown to be a promising representative of the pharmacological constituents of ephedra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cordyceps sinensis is a rare and endangered medicinal herb in China and a typical medicinal and food plant. Most of the research related to Cordyceps sinensis focuses on its pharmacological effects, artificial cultivation and clinical applications. However, there are few comprehensive evaluations on the quality of Cordyceps sinensis under different drying methods. In this study, the effects of vacuum freeze-drying (DG), oven-drying (HG) and air-drying (YG) on the morphological characteristics, microstructure, antioxidant activity and metabolites of Cordyceps sinensis were investigated using wild Cordyceps sinensis as the research object. The results showed that in their appearance and morphology, the YG- and HG-method Cordyceps sinensis samples were darker in color and wilted, while the DG- method Cordyceps sinensis samples were golden yellow in color and had better fullness. In terms of microstructure, the stomata of the YG and HG method Cordyceps sinensis samples were relatively small and irregularly shaped, whereas those of the DG method Cordyceps sinensis samples were larger and neat. In terms of antioxidant capacity, the HG-method samples were the lowest, followed by the YG group, and the DG group had the highest total antioxidant capacity. A correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship between antioxidant capacity and lipids, lipid molecules, nucleosides, nucleotides, and analogs. A metabolomics analysis identified 1937 metabolites from 18 superclasses, with lipids, lipid-like molecules, organic acids and derivatives, organoheterocyclic compounds, and organic oxygen compounds being the predominant metabolites in Cordyceps sinensis. Differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) in DG samples showed higher levels of lipids and lipid molecules, organic oxygen compounds, organic acids and derivatives, and organoheterocyclic compounds compared to the other drying methods, suggesting DG as the optimal preservation method for Cordyceps sinensis. These findings offer insights for selecting appropriate drying methods and maintaining the post-drying quality of Cordyceps sinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: "Baizhi" is a famous herbal medicine in China, and it includes four landraces named as 'Hangbaizhi', 'Chuanbaizhi', 'Qibaizhi', and 'Yubaizhi'. Long-term artificial selection had caused serious degradation of these germplasms. Determining the wild progenitor of the landraces would be benefit for their breed improvements. Previous studies have suggested Angelica dahurica var. dahurica, A. dahurica var. formosana, or A. porphyrocaulis as potential candidates, but the conclusion remains uncertain, and their phylogenetic relationships are still in controversy. Methods: In this study, the genetic variation and phylogenetic analyses of these species and four landraces were conducted on the basis of both the nrITS and plastome datasets. Results: Genetic variation analysis showed that all 8 population of four landraces shared only one ITS haplotype, meanwhile extremely low variation occurred within 6 population at plastid genome level. Both datasets supported the four landraces might be originated from a single wild germplasm. Phylogenetic analyses with both datasets revealed largely consistent topology using Bayesian inference and Maximum likelihood methods. Samples of the four landraces and all wild A. dahurica var. dahurica formed a highly supported monophyletic clade, and then sister to the monophyly clade comprised by samples of A. porphyrocaulis, while four landraces were clustered into one clade, which further clustered with a mixed branches of A. porphyrocaulis and A. dahurica var. dahurica to form sister branches for plastid genomes. Furthermore, the monophyletic A. dahurica var. formosana was far distant from the A. dahurica var. dahurica-"Baizhi" clade in Angelica phylogeny. Such inferences was also supported by the evolutionary patterns of nrITS haplotype network and K2P genetic distances. The outcomes indicated A. dahurica var. dahurica is most likely the original plant of "Baizhi". Discussion: Considering of phylogenetic inference and evolutionary history, the species-level status of A. dahurica var. formosana should be accepted, and the taxonomic level and phylgenetic position of A. porphyrocaulis should be further confirmed. This study preliminarily determined the wild progenitor of "Baizhi" and clarified the phylogenetic relationships among A. dahurica var. dahurica, A. dahurica var. formosana and A. porphyrocaulis, which will provide scientific guidance for wild resources protections and improvement of "Baizhi". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Baiku Yao, primarily residing in Guangxi and Guizhou provinces of China, is a distinctive branch of the Yao ethnic group, known for their profound cultural preservation and unique ethnobotanical knowledge. This study investigates the Baiku Yao community's utilization of traditional food plants, focusing on the relationship between their dietary practices and the local biodiversity within their mountainous living environment. It aims to illuminate the cultural significance and survival strategies embedded in their ethnobotanical knowledge, highlighting the potential for sustainable living and biodiversity conservation. Methods: Through ethnobotanical surveys, key informant interviews, and quantitative analysis techniques such as the cultural food significance index (CFSI) and relative frequency of citations (RFC), this research systematically documents the diversity and cultural importance of edible plants in the Baiku Yao community. The study assesses how these plants contribute to the community's diet, traditional medicine, and overall cultural practices. Results: A total of 195 traditional edible plants were documented, belonging to 142 genera and 68 families, with a significant concentration in certain families such as Asteraceae, Rosaceae, and Fabaceae. The Baiku Yao diet prominently features herbaceous plants, with wild (103 species) and cultivated (89 species) varieties as diverse food sources. They utilize various plant parts, particularly fruits and leaves, for multiple purposes, including nutrition, medicine, and fodder. Their processing techniques, from raw to fermented, showcase a rich culinary tradition and emphasize a holistic use of plants for enhancing diet and health in a concise overview. The RFC and CFSI analyses reveal a deep cultural reliance on a variety of plant species, with a notable emphasis on vegetables, fruits, spices, and medicinal herbs. Specific plants like Zingiber officinale, Zea mays, and Oryza sativa were highlighted for their high cultural significance. The study also uncovers the multifunctional use of these plants, not only as food but also for medicinal purposes, fodder, and other cultural applications, reflecting the Baiku Yao's profound ecological wisdom and their harmonious coexistence with nature. Conclusion: The findings emphasize the rich ethnobotanical knowledge possessed by the Baiku Yao, underscoring the importance of documenting, safeguarding, and transmitting this invaluable traditional knowledge. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of cultural heritage and biodiversity conservation, advocating for concerted efforts to protect such traditional practices against the threats of modernization and cultural erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition. Chinese medicine therapies have demonstrated effectiveness for PD in controlled settings. However, the utilization of Chinese medicine therapies for PD in real-world clinical practice and the characteristics of patients seeking these therapies have not been thoroughly summarized. Method: The study retrospectively analyzed initial patient encounters (PEs) with a first-listed diagnosis of PD, based on electronic medical records from Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine between July 2018 and July 2023. Results: A total of 3,206 PEs, each corresponding to an individual patient, were eligible for analyses. Approximately 60% of patients made initial visits to the Chinesemedicine hospital after receiving a PD diagnosis, around 4.59 years after the onset of motor symptoms. Over 75% of the patients visited the Internal Medicine Outpatient Clinic at their initial visits, while a mere 13.85% visited PD Chronic Care Clinic. Rest tremor (61.98%) and bradykinesia (52.34%) are the most commonly reported motor symptoms, followed by rigidity (40.70%). The most commonly recorded non-motor symptoms included constipation (31.88%) and sleep disturbance (25.27%). Integration of Chinese medicine and conventional medicine therapies was the most common treatment method (39.15%), followed by single use of Chinese herbal medicine (27.14%). The most frequently prescribed herbs for PD included Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. (gan cao), Astragalus mongholicus Bunge (huang qi), Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. (bai zhu), Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (dang gui), Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) DC. (di huang), Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (bai shao), Bupleurum chinense DC. (chai hu), Citrus aurantium L. (zhi qiao/zhi shi/chen pi), Panax ginseng C. A. Mey. (ren shen), and Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf (fu ling). These herbs contribute to formulation of Bu zhong yi qi tang (BZYQT). Conclusion: Patients typically initiated Chinese medical care after the establishment of PD diagnosis, 4.59 years post-onset of motor symptoms. The prevalent utilization of CHM decoctions and patented Chinese herbal medicine products, underscores its potential in addressing both motor and non-motor symptoms. Despite available evidence, rigorous clinical trials are needed to validate and optimize the integration of CHM, particularly BZYQT, into therapeutic strategies for PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Thalictrum fargesii is a medicinal plant belonging to the genus Thalictrum of the Ranunculaceae family and has been used in herbal medicine in the Himalayan regions of China and India. This species is taxonomically challenging because of its morphological similarities to other species within the genus. Thus, herbal drugs from this species are frequently adulterated, substituted, or mixed with other species, thereby endangering consumer safety. Methods: The present study aimed to sequence and assemble the entire chloroplast (cp) genome of T. fargesii using the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform to better understand the genomic architecture, gene composition, and phylogenetic relationships within the Thalictrum. Results and discussion: The cp genome was 155,929 bp long and contained large single-copy (85,395 bp) and small single-copy (17,576 bp) regions that were segregated by a pair of inverted repeat regions (26,479 bp) to form a quadripartite structure. The cp genome contains 133 genes, including 88 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Additionally, this genome contains 64 codons that encode 20 amino acids, the most preferred of which are alanine and leucine. We identified 68 SSRs, 27 long repeats, and 242 high-confidence C-to-U RNA-editing sites in the cp genome. Moreover, we discovered seven divergent hotspot regions in the cp genome of T. fargesii, among which ndhD-psaC and rpl16-rps3 may be useful for developing molecular markers for identifying ethnodrug species and their contaminants. A comparative study with eight other species in the genus revealed that pafI and rps19 had highly variable sites in the cp genome of T. fargesii. Additionally, two special features, (i) the shortest length of the ycf1 gene at the IRA-SSC boundary and (ii) the distance between the rps19 fragment and trnH at the IRA-LSC junction, distinguish the cp genome of T. fargesii from those of other species within the genus. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis revealed that T. fargesii was closely related to T. tenue and T. petaloidium. Conclusion: Considering all these lines of evidence, our findings offer crucial molecular and evolutionary information that could play a significant role in further species identification, evolution, and phylogenetic studies on T. fargesii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbal medicines are widely used for clinical purposes worldwide. These herbs are susceptible to phytopathogenic fungal invasion during the culturing, harvesting, storage, and processing stages. The threat of fungal and mycotoxin contamination requires the evaluation of the health risks associated with these herbal medicines. In this study, we collected 138 samples of 23 commonly used herbs from 20 regions in China, from which we isolated a total of 200 phytopathogenic fungi. Through morphological observation and ITS sequencing, 173 fungal isolates were identified and classified into 24 genera, of which the predominant genera were Fusarium (27.74%) and Alternaria (20.81%), followed by Epicoccum (11.56%), Nigrospora (7.51%), and Trichocladium (6.84%). Quantitative analysis of the abundance of both Fusarium and Alternaria in herbal medicines via RT-qPCR revealed that the most abundant fungi were found on the herb Taraxacum mongolicum, reaching 300,000 copies/μL for Fusarium and 700 copies/μL for Alternaria. The in vitro mycotoxin productivities of the isolated Fusarium and Alternaria strains were evaluated by using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and it was found that the Fusarium species mainly produced the acetyl forms of deoxynivalenol, while Alternaria species mainly produced altertoxins. These findings revealed widely distributed fungal contamination in herbal medicines and thus raise concerns for the sake of the quality and safety of herbal medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New dammarane-type triterpenoid saponin, named 22(R)-notoginsenoside Ab1 (1), together with thirteen known dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins (2-14) was isolated from the EtOH extract of black ginseng and their structures were elucidated on the basis of one- and two-dimensional NMR (including 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, HSQC, HMBC, ROESY) and calculated ECD. Among them, compounds 1-2 and 6-8 were isolated for the first time from ginseng and black ginseng. Besides, the absolute structure of 22(R)- and 22(S)- notoginsenoside Ab1 were distinguished by ECD for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinopodium gracile is one of the commonly used medicinal herbs of the She ethnic minority in China. The whole plant of C. gracile is rich in flavonoids. This study pioneers the investigation to improve flavonoid yield by the use of response surface methodology (RSM) and microwave irradiation pretreatment method. The antimicrobial activities of its extracts was also tested. The significant parameters of extraction conditions of the whole plant of C. gracile flavonoids (WPCF) were as follows: wetted time of 25.514 min, microwave radiation pretreatment time of 38.024 s, microwave power of 411.557 w, and mass of vaporization solvent of 1.841 mL. For the convenience of the experiment, the optimum process parameters were modified as follows: wetted time of 25 min, microwave radiation pretreatment time of 38 s, microwave power of 420 w, and mass of vaporization solvent of 1.8 mL. Under these conditions, the yield of WPCF was 145.677 mg/g, which was increased by 25.450% compared to the traditional water bath extraction, a significant difference was observed. Antimicrobial experimentations showed that the extracts of ethyl acetate exhibited good activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC9027), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC29213), Staphylococcus aureus (SA1) with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 16 mg/mL, 8 mg/mL, 8 mg/mL, respectively. Therefore, the processing technology in this study was successful and microwave irradiation pretreatment provided some practical significance for the extraction of WPCF. The results also suggest that the extracts from C. gracile could be used as a potential antimicrobial source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To develop an interference-free and rapid method to elucidate Guanxin II (GX II)'s representative vasodilator absorbed bioactive compounds (ABCs) among enormous phytochemicals. Methods: The contents of ferulic acid, tanshinol, and hydroxysafflor yellow A (FTA) in GX II/rat serum after the oral administration of GX II (30 g/kg) were detected using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Totally 18 rats were randomly assigned to the control group (0.9% normal saline), GX II (30 g/kg) and FTA (5, 28 and 77 mg/kg) by random number table method. Diastolic coronary flow velocity-time integral (VTI), i.e., coronary flow or coronary flow-mediated dilation (CFMD), and endothelium-intact vascular tension of isolated aortic rings were measured. After 12 h of exposure to blank medium or 0.5 mmol/L H2O2, endothelial cells (ECs) were treated with post-dose GX II of supernatant from deproteinized serum (PGSDS, 300 µL PGSDS per 1 mL of culture medium) or FTA (237, 1539, and 1510 mg/mL) for 10 min as control, H2O2, PGSDS and FTA groups. Nitric oxide (NO), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelin-1 (ET-1), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and phosphorylated phosphoinositide 3 kinase (p-PI3K), phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT), phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (p-eNOS) were analyzed. PGSDS was developed as a GX II proxy of ex vivo herbal crude extracts. Results: PGSDS effectively eliminates false responses caused by crude GX II preparations. When doses equaled the contents in GX II/its post-dose serum, FTA accounted for 98.17% of GX II -added CFMD and 92.99% of PGSDS-reduced vascular tension. In ECs, FTA/PGSDS was found to have significant antioxidant (lower MDA and higher SOD, P<0.01) and endothelial function-protective (lower VEGF, ET-1, P<0.01) effects. The increases in aortic relaxation, endothelial NO levels and phosphorylated PI3K/Akt/eNOS protein induced by FTA/PGSDS were markedly abolished by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NA, eNOS inhibitor) and wortmannin (PI3K/AKT inhibitor), respectively, indicating an endothelium-dependent vasodilation via the PI3K/AKT-eNOS pathway (P<0.01). Conclusion: This study provides a strategy for rapidly and precisely elucidating GX II's representative in/ex vivo cardioprotective absorbed bioactive compounds (ABCs)-FTA, suggesting its potential in advancing precision ethnomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poria sini decoction (PSD), a significant traditional Chinese herbal formula, is effective in liver cancer (LC) and chronic heart failure (CHF); however, little is known about its concurrent targeting mechanism. Methods. This study analyzed the potential molecular mechanism of PSD against the two distinct diseases using network pharmacology approaches, including multidatabase search, pharmacokinetic screening, network construction analysis, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, and molecular docking to elaborate the active components, signaling pathways, and potential mechanisms of PSD in the treatment of both LC and CHF. Results. A total of 155 active components and 193 potential targets in PSD were identified. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that quercetin, isorhamnetin, and naringenin, etc. may be potential candidate agents. TNF, AKT1, and IL6, etc. could become potential therapeutic targets. TNF-α, NF-κB, PI3K-AKT, and TRP signaling pathways might play an important role in PSD against LC and CHF. Molecular docking results showed that most screened active compounds could embed itself into target proteins with a high binding affinity, and the hydrogen bonds number ≥3 indicated a more stable conformation of the compounds and target proteins. Overall, quercetin and isorhamnetin were the main active components, and TNF and AKT1 were the primary targets for PSD treatment of LC and CHF. Conclusions. This study illustrated that quercetin contained in PSD played an important role in the treatment of LC and CHF by acting on the key gene of TP53 and downregulating the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticide residue was one of the stress factors affecting quality and safety of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs). The present study was designed to investigate the occurrence and dietary exposure of 70 pesticide residues in 307 samples of CHMs, including 104 American ginseng, 100 Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum), and 103 Dendrobium officinale (D. officinale) in Shandong Province, China. The study revealed that a total of 29 pesticides were detected in the majority (92.5%) of samples, and the pesticide residues of 85 (27.7%) samples exceeded the maximum residue levels (MRLs). Particularly, the maximum concentration of chlorpyrifos was 23.8 mg kg−1, almost 50 times of the MRLs in food in GB 2763–2021, while there's no standard restrictions specified in CHMs in China. The chronic, acute, and cumulative risk assessment results indicated that risk exposure of the three types of CHMs were unlikely to pose a health risk to consumers. However, more attention should be paid to the multiple residues with the presence of four or more pesticides in one sample and high over-standard rate of pesticides. The pesticide users and the government should pay more attention to the pesticides used in CHMs and regularly monitor the presence of these compounds. The study recommended the MRLs of these pesticides in CHMs should be established and perfected by the relevant departments in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of root-knot nematode disease has seriously constrained the development of the Chinese herbal medicine industry. China is one of the largest producers of Polygonatum sibiricum and Peucedanum praeruptorum in the world, but the unidentified root-knot nematodes have become important pests of these two Chinese herbal medicines in China. Both morphological characteristics and molecular identification were used to identify the nematodes. The identification results showed that Meloidogyne incognita and M. arenaria were the causal species of root-knot nematode infection in P. sibiricum, and M. hapla was the causal species of the infection in P. praeruptorum. Through investigation, this is the first report of M. incognita and M. arenaria infecting P. sibiricum, and M. hapla infecting P. praeruptorum, in China. The two Chinese herbs are being severely damaged by various root-knot nematodes, and this damage should be taken seriously. [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]

Objectives: This study aimed to systematize the Zhuang medicinal herbs of Ardisia (ZMHA) in China, to clarify the traditional use in Zhuang medicine and the dynamics of international research on phytochemistry, pharmacology, clinical application, and toxicity. Key findings: There are 25 species of ZMHA, approximately 938 compounds from the different part, including triterpenoids, phenolics, volatile oils, etc. Pharmacological activity studies have also shown that this genus has anti-tumour, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, etc., and significant effects on respiratory, digestive, urinary, and musculoskeletal system diseases without toxic side effects. Summary: The Ardisia has a medicinal history of nearly a thousand years, mainly for treating diseases of the injuries, musculoskeletal, and symptomatic system in Zhuang medicine. Some plants, such as A. crenata, A. gigantifolia, and A. japonica, are also commonly used in folk Zhuang medicine formulas, to treat musculoskeletal, injury, respiratory, and urinate systems disease. These diseases are related to inflammation. These could provide a new direction for future new drug development research. Therefore, species identification and resource investigation should be strengthened, and conducted in vitro mechanism, in vivo pharmacology, clinical efficacy, and toxicology studies and establish a perfect quality standard system. Graphical Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrombophlebitis is the inflammatory condition characterized by obstruction of one or more vessels, commonly in the legs, due to the formation of blood clots. It has been reported that traditional Chinese medicine, including Mailuoning injection, is advantageous for treating inflammatory and blood disorders. This research assessed the therapeutic efficacy of Mailuoning injection in the treatment of thrombophlebitis in rodents, as well as investigated its impact on fibrinolysis, inflammation, and coagulation. An experimental setup for thrombophlebitis was established in rodents via modified ligation technique. Five groups comprised the animals: sham operation group, model group, and three Mailuoning treatment groups (low, medium, and high dosages). The pain response, edema, coagulation parameters (PT, APTT, TT, FIB), serum inflammatory markers (IL‐6, TNF‐α, CRP), and expression levels of endothelial markers (ICAM‐1, VCAM‐1, NF‐κB) were evaluated. Blood flow and vascular function were further assessed by measuring hemorheological parameters and the concentrations of TXB2, ET, and 6‐k‐PGF1α. In contrast to the sham group, model group demonstrated statistically significant increases in endothelial expression levels, coagulation latencies, and inflammatory markers (p < 0.05). The administration of mailing, specifically at high and medium dosages, resulted in a substantial reduction in inflammatory markers, enhancement of coagulation parameters, suppression of ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1 expression, and restoration of hemorheological measurements to baseline (p < 0.05). Significantly higher concentrations of 6‐k‐PGF1α and lower levels of TXB2 and ET were observed in high‐dose group, suggesting that pro‐ and anti‐thrombotic factors were restored to equilibrium. Utilization of Mailuoning injection in rat model of thrombophlebitis exhibited significant therapeutic impact. This effect was manifested through pain alleviation, diminished inflammation, enhanced blood viscosity and facilitation of fibrinolysis. The study indicated that Mailuoning injection may serve as a viable therapeutic option for thrombophlebitis, potentially aiding in the improvement of wound healing by virtue of its anti‐inflammatory and blood flow‐enhancing characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Chinese herbal medicine and electroacupuncture (EA) have been used to control pain for many decades in China. We aim to explore the efficacy of intervening patients whose discogenic sciatica symptoms lasting longer than 3 months with these conservative treatments. Patients and Methods: This is a single-center, parallel-group, patient-unblinded Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) with blinded outcome assessment and statistician. One hundred and twenty-four patients will be assigned randomly into 2 groups including conservative treatment group (Shenxie Zhitong capsule combined with EA treatment) and Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, NSAIDs) control group (Celecoxib) in a 1:1 ratio. The trial involves a 4-week treatment along with follow-up for 6 months. The primary outcome is the leg pain intensity measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS) at 6 months after randomization. Secondary outcomes include leg pain intensity at other time points, back pain intensity, leg pain and back pain frequency, functional status, quality of life, return to work status and satisfaction of patients. Adverse events will also be recorded. Strengths and Limitations of This Study: Through this study, we want to observe the efficacy of electroacupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medicine on pain intensity for chronic sciatica secondary to Lumbar Disc Herniation. If the final results are favorable, it is expected to be a safe, economical, and effective treatment for patients. The study design has the following limitations: the setup of control group was less than perfect; patients and doctors could not be blinded in this trial; we skipped the feasibility study. We have tried our best to minimize adverse impacts. Trial Registration: ChiCTR2300070884 (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, http://www.chictr.org.cn , registered on 25th April 2023). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional Chinese Medicine has a long history in ophthalmology in China. Over 250 kinds of Traditional Chinese Medicine have been recorded in ancient books for the management of eye diseases, which may provide an alternative or supplement to current ocular therapies. However, the core holistic philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine that makes it attractive can also hinder its understanding from a scientific perspective – in particular, determining true cause and effect. This review focused on how Traditional Chinese Medicine could be applied to two prevalent ocular diseases, glaucoma, and cataract. The literature on preclinical and clinical studies in both English and Chinese on the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat these two diseases was reviewed. The pharmacological effects, safety profile, and drug-herb interaction of selected herbal formulas were also investigated. Finally, key considerations for conducting future Traditional Chinese Medicine studies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Chinese herbal medicine with the same origin as medicine and food as botanical drug supplements, Asian countries not only appear as spices and flavorings in various cooking products, but also for the multi-target pharmacological active ingredients in the multi-mechanism of drug delivery and the safety of human absorption are widely used for health care, prevention or treatment of various diseases. As the only tropical province in China, South China is rich in natural medicinal plant resources and diverse ginger plants with unique and important value, providing a variety of choices for food, seasoning, medicine, natural dyes and spices and other products. Many studies at home and abroad have shown that, many active pharmacological and chemical components contained in ginger plants have potential medicinal use in plants, and two of the four southern medicines are ginger plants. In addition, many ginger plants recorded in the 2020 edition of Pharmacopoeia are abundant in Hainan, indicating that ginger plants have potential medicinal and research value in Hainan. This paper summarizes the research on the main ginger plants in Hainan as therapeutic drugs in related diseases, providing ideas for the development, research and clinical treatment of ginger plants in Hainan, and also promoting the cultivation industry of ginger plants in Hainan, increasing the added value of its products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine whether Naoxintong capsules may enhance wound healing and reduce postoperative complications in individuals having craniotomies. A total of 120 patients at Tongji Hospital, Shanghai, participated in this clinical perspective study conducted from April 2022 to June 2023. Participants were divided into treatment group (n = 60), receiving standard care plus Naoxintong capsules and control group (n = 60), receiving standard care only. Primary outcomes included the rate of wound healing, while secondary outcomes encompassed postoperative complications and patient‐reported outcomes on pain and quality of life. The treatment group exhibited significantly enhanced wound healing rate than the control at Day 7 (40.33 vs. 25.67%, p < 0.05), Day 14 (75.17 vs. 50.83%, p < 0.05) and Day 28 (94.83 vs. 79.50%, p < 0.05). Postoperative complications were markedly reduced in the treatment group, with lower rates of infection (p < 0.05), wound dehiscence (p < 0.05) and cerebrospinal fluid leakage (p < 0.05). Furthermore, patient‐reported outcomes significantly favoured the treatment group, with reduced pain scores and improved quality of life at 4 weeks post‐surgery(p < 0.05). Naoxintong capsules thus significantly enhanced the wound healing and reduced postoperative complications, contributing to improved patient‐reported outcomes in post‐craniotomy patients. These findings advocated for the integration of Naoxintong in postoperative care, highlighting the potential of traditional Chinese medicine in modern surgical recovery protocols. Further studies with larger cohorts are recommended to validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus is an antitussive and expectorant Chinese medicinal material derived from the dried bulbs of six Fritillaria species. In the 2015 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) is the officially listed method for their authenfication. Specifically, the ~ 300-bp ITS1 amplicon of only Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus but not other Fritillaria species can be cleaved into two smaller fragments with restriction enzyme SmaI. Considering repeated reported cases of incomplete digestion of ITS1 amplicon, this study aims to investigate the possibility of heterogeneous ITS1 sequences contained in the Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus. Methods: In this study, ITS1 amplicons of Fritillaria Cirrhosae Bulbus and four other Fritillaria species were sequenced on Illumina platform. We utilised high-throughout amplicon sequencing to determine ITS1 haplotypes and their frequencies in Fritillaria genomes. Results: Our results showed that all six botanical sources of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus indeed possess ITS1 haplotypes with no SmaI restriction site, and the average percentages of ITS1 reads containing SmaI restriction site ranged from 63.60% to 91.81%. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the incomplete digestion in PCR–RFLP analysis of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus is caused by the presence of ITS1 haplotypes without SmaI restriction site due to intragenomic heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Effective and safe treatments for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are limited. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is commonly used in China to manage MCI. However, its efficacy and safety remain uncertain. This review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CHM for MCI. Methods: Nine databases were searched from their inceptions to January 2023. Randomized, placebo-controlled trials of oral CHM for MCI were included. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool 2.0, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated via the GRADE approach. Results: Thirteen studies, involving 1,043 participants, were analyzed. Most of the studies (10 out of 13) were associated with “some concerns” regarding the overall risk of bias. Meta-analyses results indicated that CHM significantly improved cognitive function compared to placebo in terms of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) (MD: 1.90 [1.22, 2.58], I² = 87%, 11 studies, 823 participants) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (MD: 2.88 [1.69, 4.06], I² = 81%, 3 studies, 241 participants). The certainty of evidence for MMSE was assessed as “moderate”, while it was “low” for MoCA. One study did not report adverse events (AEs), one study reported no statistical difference between the groups in terms of AEs, and 11 studies provided detailed numbers of AE cases where gastrointestinal symptoms were the most commonly reported AEs. Two studies reported no SAEs among participants and one study found no significant difference in SAEs proportions between groups. The meta-analysis revealed no significant difference in AEs between the two groups (RR: 1.31 [0.92, 1.87), I² = 0%, 11 studies, 839 participants). The cognitive-enhancing function of commonly used herbs (Panax ginseng C.A.Mey., Acorus calamus var. angustatus Besser, and Polygala tenuifolia Willd.) may be attributed to mechanisms including antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, anti-neurotoxic, anti-cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory actions. Conclusion: Chinese herbal medicine holds potential as an effective intervention to improve cognitive function in MCI patients, supported by meta-analyses evidence of low to moderate certainty. Although current data suggests CHM is generally safe, caution is advised due to the lack of AE reporting or detailed information in some instances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The development of clinical practice guidelines in traditional medicine requires evidence that sufficiently reflects the medical field. Cardiac neurosis is a disease that occurs because of problems in the autonomic nervous system and is characterized by symptoms of the circulatory system that are representative of autonomic dysfunction. In traditional medicine, the heart is considered to be involved in mental health problems, and cardiac neurosis is accompanied by a variety of mental symptoms. Furthermore, there is a categorized diagnosis for cardiac neurosis, and active empirical research is being conducted in China. Objective: This study aimed to systematically review and quantitatively synthesize the effects of Korean medicine treatments in patients with cardiac neurosis to develop evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of autonomic dysfunction. Methods: Nine databases were searched for articles published before September 13, 2022. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the RoB tool. The primary outcomes were somatization, depression, anxiety, and effectiveness rate. The secondary outcome was the rate of adverse effects. Results: Based on a systematic literature review, 151 randomized controlled trials were selected and analyzed. For patients with cardiac neurosis, herbal medicine, combined treatment of herbal medicine and Western medicine, combined treatment of herbal medicine and acupuncture, acupuncture, and combined treatment of acupuncture and Western medicine showed better overall effects than Western medicine alone. Furthermore, the combined treatment of herbal medicine and psychotherapy and that of herbal medicine, psychotherapy, and Western medicine showed an overall better effect than the combined treatment of Western medicine and psychotherapy. Conclusion: A meta-analysis of articles revealed the effectiveness of Korean medicine treatments and verified the effectiveness of a Korean medicine treatment alone, Korean medicine combined treatment, and combined treatment of Korean medicine and Western medicine on cardiac neurosis. Limitations included the inability to verify the cause of high heterogeneity between studies and the poor quality of the included studies. Nevertheless, this systematic review and meta-analysis of cardiac neurosis showed that the disease concept of traditional medicine can also be organized based on the latest research. Future research related to traditional diseases such as these should be conducted. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_ record.php?ID=CRD42022347992, identifier CRD42022347992. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Encephalitis caused by dengue virus (DENV) is considered a manifestation of severe dengue. Tanreqing injection (TRQ) is a well-known Chinese patented medicine, which has been used to treat brain-related disorders by inhibiting inflammation. Nevertheless, the effects of TRQ on DENV encephalitis have not been studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of TRQ on DENV encephalitis and to explore its potential mechanisms. Methods: The cytotoxicity of TRQ was examined by MTT assay, and the anti-DENV activities of TRQ in BHK-21 baby hamster kidney fibroblast were evaluated through CCK-8 and plaque assays. The expression levels of NO, IL1B/IL-1β, TNFα and IL6 were measured by qRT‒PCR and ELISA in the BV2 murine microglial cell line. The inhibitory effects of TRQ on NLRP3 inflammasome activation in BV2 cells were examined by Western blotting, qRT‒PCR and ELISA. The effects of TRQ on HT22 mouse hippocampal neuronal cells were examined by CCK-8 assay, morphology observation and flow cytometry. Moreover, a DENV-infected ICR suckling mouse model was developed to investigate the protective role of TRQ in vivo. Results: TRQ decreased the release of NO, IL6, TNFα and IL1B from BV2 cells and inhibited the activation of NLRP3. The presence of the NLRP3 agonist nigericin reversed the anti-inflammatory activities of TRQ. Furthermore, TRQ inhibited the death of HT22 cells by decreasing IL1B in DENV-infected BV2 cells. In addition, TRQ significantly attenuated weight loss, reduced clinical scores and extended the survival in DENV-infected ICR suckling mice. Critically, TRQ ameliorated pathological changes in ICR suckling mice brain by inhibiting microglia and NLRP3 activation and decreasing the production of inflammatory factors and the number of dead neurons. Conclusion: TRQ exerts potent inhibitory effects on dengue encephalitis in vitro and in vivo by reducing DENV-2-induced microglial activation and subsequently decreasing the inflammatory response, thereby protecting neurons. These findings demonstrate the potential of TRQ in the treatment of dengue encephalitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the clinical effects of the novel Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) topical wash used in combination with negative pressure irrigation and tadalafil for the treatment of vascular erectile dysfunction. Eighty-seven patients with vascular erectile dysfunction were divided into an observation group and a control group. The observation group was administered negative pressure irrigation (TCM) in combination with oral tadalafil for four weeks, and the control group was administered oral tadalafil for four weeks. The observation group included 21 patients with arterial erectile dysfunction and 22 with intravenous erectile dysfunction. After treatment, IIEF-5, EHS, GAD scores, PSV, EDV and RI in observation group were improved compared with those before treatment (P = 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, L0.000/R0.000, L0.000/R0.000, L0.003/R0.000). Erectile function (IIEF-5, EHS) was significantly improved compared with the control group (P = 0.008, 0.002). In the observation group, there were 21 cases of arterial erectile dysfunction and 22 cases of intravenous erectile dysfunction. After treatment, PSV of arterial ED improved significantly (P = L0.000/R0.000), but EDV did not decrease significantly (P = L0.084/R 0.098). In patients with venous ED, PSV increased (P = L0.026/R0.032) and EDV decreased significantly (P = L0.000/R0.000). These findings suggest that TCM negative pressure lavage combined with tadalafil improves the blood supply of the penile artery, relaxes smooth muscle, and improves the closing mechanism of venous vessels in patients with vascular erectile dysfunction, ultimately improving the erectile function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Migraine is a prevalent, recurrent condition with substantial disease burden. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been used frequently for migraine in controlled clinical settings. This study is to summarise the characteristics of patients who seek clinical care in a tertiary Chinese medicine hospital in China; to gather their preferences and values of using CHM; to explore the effect of CHM for migraine and its comorbidities in a real-world setting, and to collect first-hand expertise of clinicians' practice pattern in prescribing CHM for migraine. Methods: This registry-based cohort study was prospectively conducted at Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine from December 2020 to May 2022. Adult migraine patients seeking their initial anti-migraine clinical care at the hospital were consecutively recruited and followed up for 12 weeks. Practitioners specialised in headache management prescribed individualised treatments without research interference. Standardised case report forms were employed to gather information on patients' preferences and perspective of seeking clinical care, as well as to assess participants' migraine severity, comorbidities, and quality of life, at 4-weeks intervals. Various analytical methods were utilised based on the computed data. Results: In this study, we observed 248 participants. Of these, 73 received CHM treatment for 28 days or longer. Notably, these participants exhibited a greater disease severity, compared to those treated with CHM for less than 28 days. Of the 248 participants, 83.47% of them expected CHM would effectively reduce the severity of their migraine, around 50% expected effects for migraine-associated comorbidities, while 51.61% expressing concerns about potential side effects. CHM appeared to be effective in reducing monthly migraine days and pain intensity, improving patients' quality of life, and potentially reducing comorbid anxiety, with a minimum of 28 days CHM treatment. Herbs such as gan cao, gui zhi, chuan xiong, fu ling, bai zhu, yan hu suo, etc. were frequently prescribed for migraine, based on patients' specific symptoms. Conclusion: CHM appeared to be beneficial for migraine and comorbid anxiety in real-world clinical practice when used continuously for 28 days or more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the World Health Organization's world report on hearing, nearly 2.5 billion people worldwide will suffer from hearing loss by 2050, which may contribute to a severe impact on individual life quality and national economies. Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) occurs commonly as a result of noise exposure, aging, and ototoxic drugs, and is pathologically characterized by the impairment of mechanosensory hair cells of the inner ear, which is mainly triggered by reactive oxygen species accumulation, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Though recent advances have been made in understanding the ability of cochlear repair and regeneration, there are still no effective therapeutic drugs for SNHL. Chinese herbal medicine which is widely distributed and easily accessible in China has demonstrated a unique curative effect against SNHL with higher safety and lower cost compared with Western medicine. Herein we present trends in research for Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of SNHL, and elucidate their molecular mechanisms of action, to pave the way for further research and development of novel effective drugs in this field. Chinese herbal medicine exhibits remarkable therapeutic effects against sensorineural hearing loss with fewer side effects and lower cost, and may be considered a new strategy for new drug development. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergy rhinitis (AR) is becoming more common and has serious medical and societal consequences. Sneezing, paroxysmal nasal blockage, nasal itching, mucosal edema, coughing, and rhinorrhea are symptoms of this type I allergic immunological illness. Immunoglobulin E-mediated inflammation is the cause of it. Because AR is prone to recurrent attacks, extended medication therapy may impair its effectiveness. In addition to negatively affecting the patients' physical health, this can also negatively impact their mental health. During AR development, there are inflammatory and oxidative stress responses that are linked to problems in a number of signal transduction pathways. By using the terms "allergic rhinitis", "traditional Chinese medicine", "inflammation", and "oxidative stress", we screened for pertinent research published over the previous five years in databases like PubMed. We saw that NF-KB, TLR, IL-33/ST2, PI3K/AKT, MAPK, and Nrf2 are some of the most important inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways in AR. Studies have revealed that antioxidant and anti-inflammatory therapy reduced the risk of AR and was therapeutic; however, the impact of the therapy varies widely. The Chinese medical system places a high value on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which has been there for virtually all of China's 5000-year history. By influencing signaling pathways related to inflammation and oxidative stress, Chinese herbal medicine and its constituent compounds have been shown to prevent allergic rhinitis. This review will focus on this evidence and provide references for clinical treatment and scientific research applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Huashi Baidu Granules (HSBD) in treating patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant. Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted during COVID-19 Omicron epidemic in the Mobile Cabin Hospital of Shanghai New International Expo Center from April 1st to May 23rd, 2022. All COVID-19 patients with asymptomatic or mild infection were assigned to the treatment group (HSBD users) and the control group (non-HSBD users). After propensity score matching in a 1:1 ratio, 496 HSBD users of treatment group were matched by propensity score to 496 non-HSBD users. Patients in the treatment group were administrated HSBD (5 g/bag) orally for 1 bag twice a day for 7 consecutive days. Patients in the control group received standard care and routine treatment. The primary outcomes were the negative conversion time of nucleic acid and negative conversion rate at day 7. Secondary outcomes included the hospitalized days, the time of the first nucleic acid negative conversion, and new-onset symptoms in asymptomatic patients. Adverse events (AEs) that occurred during the study were recorded. Further subgroup analysis was conducted in vaccinated (378 HSBD users and 390 non-HSBD users) and unvaccinated patients (118 HSBD users and 106 non-HSBD users). Results: The median negative conversion time of nucleic acid in the treatment group was significantly shortened than the control group [3 days (IQR: 2–5 days) vs. 5 days (IQR: 4–6 days); P<0.01]. The negative conversion rate of nucleic acid in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group at day 7 (91.73% vs. 86.90%, P=0.014). Compared with the control group, the hospitalized days in the treatment group were significantly reduced [10 days (IQR: 8–11 days) vs. 11 days (IQR: 10.25–12 days); P<0.01]. The time of the first nucleic acid negative conversion had significant differences between the treatment and control groups [3 days (IQR: 2–4 days) vs. 5 days (IQR: 4–6 days); P<0.01]. The incidence of new-onset symptoms including cough, pharyngalgia, expectoration and fever in the treatment group were lower than the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In the vaccinated patients, the median negative conversion time and hospitalized days were significantly shorter than the control group after HSDB treatment [3 days (IQR: 2–5 days) vs. 5 days (IQR: 4–6 days), P<0.01; 10 days (IQR: 8–11 days) vs. 11 days (IQR: 10–12 days), P<0.01]. In the unvaccinated patients, HSBD treatment efficiently shorten the median negative conversion time and hospitalized days [4 days (IQR: 2–6 days) vs. 5 days (IQR: 4–7 days), P<0.01; 10.5 days (IQR: 8.75–11 days) vs. 11.0 days (IQR: 10.75–13 days); P<0.01]. No serious AEs were reported during the study. Conclusion: HSBD treatment significantly shortened the negative conversion time of nuclear acid, the length of hospitalization, and the time of the first nucleic acid negative conversion in patients infected with SARS-COV-2 Omicron variant (Trial registry No. ChiCTR2200060472). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendrobium huoshanense (D. huoshanense) has been used as functional food supplements and herbal medicines for preventing and managing diseases with a long history in China. Due to its endangered natural resources and huge demand, people tend to cultivate D. huoshanense to protect this species. However, the quality of wild and cultivated herbs of the same species may change. This work quantified and compared the main quality traits and chemical components of wild imitating and greenhouse cultivated D. huoshanense with different growth years. As a result, wild and cultivated D. huoshanense had similar chemical composition, but there are significant differences in the content of many ingredients (polysaccharides, flavonoids, nucleosides, bibenzyls, lignans and volatile compounds). And the contents of many of these components increased with growing years. In addition, multivariate statistical analyses have been applied to classify and evaluate samples from different cultivation modes according to these components. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that the overall quality of greenhouse cultivated D. huoshanense was not as good as wild-grown, but this mode can be a promising and sustainable way of producing D. huoshanense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.) is a famous edible and medicinal herb worldwide with considerable consumption. The recent cultivation of goji berries in the Daodi region was seriously reduced due to increased production costs and the influence of policy on preventing nongrain use of arable land in China. Consequently, production of Daodi goji berry was insufficient to meet market demands for high-quality medicinal materials. Searching for regions similar to the Daodi region was necessary. Methods: The MaxEnt model was used to predicted the current and future potential regions suitable for goji berry in China based on the environmental characteristics of the Daodi region (including Zhongning County of Zhongwei prefecture-level city, and its surroundings), and the ArcGIS software was used to analyze the changes in its suitable region. Results: The results showed that when the parameters were FC = LQHP and RM = 2.1, the MaxEnt model was optimal, and the AUC and TSS values were greater than 0.90. The mean temperature and precipitation of the coldest quarter were the most critical variables shaping the distribution of Daodi goji berries. Under current climate conditions, the suitable habitats of the Daodi goji berry were 45,973.88 km², accounting for 0.48% of China's land area, which were concentrated in the central and western Ningxia Province (22,589.42 km²), and the central region of Gansu Province (18,787.07 km²) bordering western Ningxia. Under future climate scenarios, the suitable area was higher than that under current climate conditions and reached the maximum under RCP 6.0 (91,256.42 km²) in the 2050s and RCP 8.5 (82,459.17 km²) in the 2070s. The expansion regions weremainly distributed in the northeast of the current suitable ranges, and the distributional centroids were mainly shifted to the northeast. The moderately and highly suitable overlapping habitats were mainly distributed in Baiyin (7,241.75 km²), Zhongwei (6,757.81 km²), and Wuzhong (5, 236.87 km²) prefecture-level cities. Discussion: In this stduy, MaxEnt and ArcGIS were applied to predict and analyze the suitable habitats of Daodi goji berry in China under climate change. Our results indicate that climate warming is conducive to cultivating Daodi goji berry and will not cause a shift in the Daodi region. The goji berry produced in Baiyin could be used to satisfy the demand for high-quality medicinal materials. This study addresses the insufficient supply and guides the cultivation of Daodi goji berry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the clinical effect of Shugan Jieyu capsule combined with aerobic exercise on depression. One hundred patients with depression were recruited from Zhengzhou Sixth People's Hospital and were divided into a control group (n = 50) and a research group (n = 50). Patients in the control group received escitalopram alone therapy, while the research group received escitalopram and Shugan Jieyu capsule in conjunction with aerobic exercise. The research group exhibited a better therapeutic effect than the control group (Χ² = 6.06). After therapy, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores of both groups were reduced, and the research group had a lower score than the control group. Following treatment, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-2 levels decreased in both groups, and the research group had lower levels than the control group. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores of both groups were reduced, with the research group having a lower score than the control group. The score for each item of the World Health Organization Quality of Life in both groups was elevated after therapy, and the research group had a higher score than the control group. In summary, Shugan Jieyu capsule combined with aerobic exercise can decrease the symptoms of depression and inflammatory response, and promote the efficacy of treatment, sleep quality, and quality of life in patients with depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]