Chinese Natural Medicines Research Articles

Schisandrin B Inhibits LPS-Induced Endometritis Through Attenuating Ferroptosis via AMPK/PGC1α/Nrf2 Signalling Pathway.

Endometritis is one of the common reproductive diseases in human and animal. In recent years, a number of studies have found that Schisandra B (Sch B), as a natural Chinese medicine extract, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other biological activities. Based on the above, in this study, mice were used to conduct an invivo experiment to investigate the effect and mechanism of Sch B on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endometritis. Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to detect the pathological changes of uterine tissue and western blot was used to detect the expression levels of signalling pathways and key genes for ferroptosis. The results showed that Sch B significantly inhibited the pathological injury of uterine tissue, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, the activation of NF-κB pathway and the production of TNF-α and IL-1β. Furthermore, Sch B effectively inhibited ferroptosis by inhibiting malondialdehyde (MDA) and iron production and promoting the expression of ferroptosis suppressor genes GPX4 and ferritin. In conclusion, Sch B inhibited LPS-induced endometritis through alleviating inflammatory response and ferroptosis via AMPK/PGC1α/Nrf2 signalling pathway.

Registration and characteristics of clinical trials on traditional Chinese medicine and natural medicines for endometriosis: a comprehensive analysis.

To investigate the characteristics of clinical trials on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) or natural medicines for treating endometriosis, aiming to inform future clinical practice and the development of new effective drugs. The global clinical trial registration platform was searched to identify clinical trials investigating the efficacy of TCM/natural medicine in treating endometriosis. Relevant trials were selected based on stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data entry was performed using Microsoft Excel, while data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23. The study encompassed 57 trials, of which ClinicalTrials.gov accounted for 18, ChiCTR for 3, ICRP for 15, and ChiDTR for 21 trials. The number of registrations showed a significant positive correlation with the years. Of the 57 clinical trials, 87.7% were randomized, 63.2% were blinded, 78.9% followed a parallel intervention model, and 56.1% had a sample size below 100. Regarding trial phases, 45.6% of clinical trials did not specify a phase, while Phase 3 and Phase 4 clinical trials accounted for 17.5%. Nine clinical trials involved drugs that are already on the market, including six Chinese patent medicines: Sanjie Zhentong Capsules, Honghua Ruyi Pills, Huayu Sanjie Enema Liquid, Kuntai Capsules, Wenjing Tang, and Xuefu Zhuyu Capsules. Outside China, Iran has the highest number of registrations for natural medicine treatments for endometriosis, with curcumin being the most registered natural medicine. The analysis reveals that clinical trials on TCM and natural remedies for endometriosis often utilize randomization; however, substantial deficiencies remain in blinding and sample size adequacy. These findings suggest that, despite growing interest in TCM and natural remedies, further methodological improvements are necessary to enhance the credibility of future studies. This research highlights the importance of rigorously designed clinical trials in verifying the safety and efficacy of these alternative therapies, which may influence future therapeutic approaches for managing endometriosis.

A novel multi-functional skin-care dry mask based on Bletilla Striata polysaccharide electrospun nanofibers

The dual challenges of additive safety and environmental sustainability in the current cosmetics market have attracted significant attention. In this study, we obtained raw materials from natural Chinese medicine, combined with electrospinning technology, developed a new type of environmentally friendly dry nanofiber multifunctional mask with Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) as the material and loaded with the sodium ferulate (SF). The optimal manufacturing process was screened by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the diameters of the dry nanofiber facial mask (DNFM) were mainly distributed in the range of 180–240 nm. Volunteer experiments and water contact angle assessments showed that the DNFM had good moisture retention and solubility. The experimental findings showcased that the water vapor transmission rate of the PVA/BSP/SF DNFM was 4607.77 ± 74.12 g/m2/day, and the tyrosinase inhibition rate was 52.88 %, over 98 % inhibition rates against Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), and a 94.99 ± 0.24 % DPPH free radical scavenging rate. The mouse group treated with the DNFM displayed stronger resistance to UV damage. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) and Live/Dead staining experiments verified its safety and biocompatibility. The combined application of electrospinning technology and natural Chinese medicine components provides a new strategy for the development of an environmentally friendly and convenient mask product.

The Synergistic Inhibitory Effect of Combination Drug Treatment of Enteromorpha Prolifera Polysaccaharide and Doxorubicin Hydrochloride on A549 Cell.

As a common drug for tumor therapy, doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) is not yet widely used as a clinical solution. This is due to its toxicity and potential drug resistance. This study investigated the inhibitory effect of enteromorpha prolifera polysaccaharide (EPP) combined with doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) on A549 cells, which fall into the cell line of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It also explained the attenuated and synergistic effect of enteromorpha acid polysaccharide along with its synergistic effect on DOX. To evaluate the proliferation inhibitory effect of EPP, DOX and both combined, we monitored cell growth curve and morphology using the real-time cell function analysis and imaging system-xCELLigence RTCA eSight system (eSight system). Flow cytometry was used to monitor cell apoptosis rate and cell cycle distribution. Mitochondrial function was tested by the energy metabolism analysis system. EPP could work with DOX to inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells. Growth curve showed that when 0.4 mg/mL of EPP was mixed with 0.2 µg/mL of DOX for 24 h, the mixure liquid had a significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of A549 cells (p < 0.0001). The cells had lower cell adhesiveness, shrinking cell membrane, cytoplasmic aggregation, and hyperchromatic nuclei. According to the flow cytometry results, the combined drug of EPP and DOX could significantly increase the apoptosis rate of A549 cells (p < 0.0001), and block the cell cycle in the G1-S phase. Based on the results of the real-time energy metabolism, we found that the combined drug could significantly reduce A549 cells' ATP production rate and inhibit their mitochondrial respiratory function. The combination of EPP and DOX can block cell cycle, inhibit cell mitochondrial function, promote cell apoptosis, and enhance the killing ability of DOX on tumor cells. This study supports the antitumor activity of enterococcus acid polysaccharide and provides insights on reducing doxorubicin toxicity and drug resistance. It holds great significance for applying traditional Chinese natural medicine in clinical disease treatment.

New drug discovery and prospect of small nucleic acids derived from traditional Chinese medicine and natural medicine

Small nucleic acid drugs mainly include small interfering RNA(siRNA), antisense oligonucleotide(ASO), microRNA(miRNA), messenger RNA(mRNA), nucleic acid aptamer(aptamer), and so on. Its translation or regulation can be inhibited by binding to the RNA of the target molecule. Due to its strong specificity, persistence, and curability, small nucleic acid drugs have received considerable attention in recent years. Recent studies have shown that some miRNAs from animal and plant sources can stably exist in the blood, tissue, and organs of animals and human beings and exert pharmacological action by regulating the expression of various target proteins. This paper summarized the discovery of small nucleic acids derived from traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and natural drugs and their cross-border regulatory mechanisms and discussed the technical challenges and regulatory issues brought by this new drug, which can provide new ideas and methods for explaining the complex mechanism of TCM, developing new drugs of small nucleic acids from TCM and natural medicine, and conducting regulatory scientific research.

Superior hemostatic and wound-healing properties of tetrastigma polysaccharide

Hemostatic materials that allow fast and convenient hemostasis are urgently needed. However, obtaining an ideal hemostatic agent that exhibits biocompatibility, biodegradability, and hemostatic efficacy remains challenging. Recent studies demonstrate that morphological characteristics of hemostatic materials impact their efficacy. This study reports on the importance of morphological modification of traditional Chinese medicine plant polysaccharides. The hemostatic properties of Three-leaf Qing polysaccharides, optimized in particle (SYQ-P) and sponge (SYQ-S) forms, were investigated in vitro and in vivo. SYQ-S and SYQ-P exhibit excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility, thereby improving fibroblast cell proliferation. The hemostatic mechanism involves stable blood clot formation through intrinsic coagulation pathways. In a lethal mouse liver defect bleeding model, blood loss and clotting time were lower with polysaccharides use than with commercial hemostatic drugs. SYQ-S demonstrates instant water-triggered expansion and high absorption capacity, while the sponge-like morphological characteristics effectively improve blood component concentrations. With efficient hemostasis and excellent biocompatibility, SYQ-S dramatically accelerated wound healing in a full-thickness skin defect model in vivo. Thus, SYQ-S effectively promotes the formation of granulation tissue, collagen deposition, and angiogenesis, which ultimately accelerates wound healing. Our work highlights the design of natural Chinese medicine polysaccharides and presents a promising hemostatic agent for widespread clinical application.

Influencing Factors of Prepulse Inhibition Deficit in Patients with Schizophrenia and Observations on the Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine

This study aims to analyze the abnormal expression of lncRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with schizophrenia, investigate the influencing factors of prepulse inhibition deficit in patients and observe the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine. A total of 106 patients with schizophrenia who underwent treatment at our hospital from January 2020 to December 2022 were included, along with 45 healthy individuals who received routine check-ups as control subjects. The significantly expressed lncRNAs were validated and analyzed using ROC curve analysis, and logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors influencing prepulse inhibition deficit. Find 125 lncRNAs were found to be differentially expressed lncRNAs in the PBMCs of patients with schizophrenia, including 62 upregulated and 63 downregulated lncRNAs. And smoking amount, and relapse frequency were influencing factors for prepulse inhibition deficit in patients with schizophrenia. Animal experiments were conducted using hematoxylin eosin staining to observe the number and morphology of neurons in the hippocampal CA3 area and prefrontal cortex of rats, and the effects of natural Chinese medicine Poria cocos on the nervous system were analyzed. Find the acidic polysaccharides from Poria cocos, a natural traditional Chinese medicine, can promote the regeneration of neuronal cells, reduce excessive autophagy of neurons in the CA3 area of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of rats, promote neuronal cell proliferation, and improve neuronal cell morphology. Traditional Chinese medicine has good effects in psychopathology, positive and negative symptoms, and PANSS total score. Disruption of lncRNA expression may be one of the biological factors contributing to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and is closely related to its mechanism. Prepulse inhibition, reflecting sensory gating function, is an important factor affecting perceptual and cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia. Gender, smoking amount, and relapse frequency may influence prepulse inhibition deficit in these patients. Traditional Chinese medicine shows potential in improving prepulse inhibition deficit. The acidic polysaccharides from Poria cocos, a natural traditional Chinese medicine, can promote the regeneration of neuronal cells, effectively improve the damage to the structure and function of neurons in the hippocampal CA3 area and prefrontal cortex. When used in combination with other traditional Chinese medicines, it could offer new approaches for treating schizophrenia.

Cyaonoside A-loaded composite hydrogel microspheres to treat osteoarthritis by relieving chondrocyte inflammation.

Cyaonoside A (CyA), derived from the natural Chinese medicine, Cyathula officinalis Kuan, which was for a long time used to treat knee injuries and relieve joint pain in traditional Chinese medicine, showed an unclear mechanism for protecting cartilage. In addition, CyA was poorly hydrosoluble and incapable of being injected directly into the joint cavity, which limited its clinical application. This study reveals that CyA resisted IL-1β-mediated chondrogenic inflammation and apoptosis. Next, transcriptome sequencing is used to explore the potential mechanisms underlying CyA regulation of MSC chondrogenic differentiation. Based on these findings, CyA-loaded composite hydrogel microspheres (HLC) were developed and they possessed satisfactory loading efficiency, a suitable degradation rate and good biocompatibility. HLC increased chondrogenic anabolic gene (Acan, COL2A, and SOX9) expression, while downregulating the expression of the catabolic marker MMP13 in vitro. In the osteoarthritis mouse model, HLC demonstrated promising therapeutic capabilities by protecting the integrity of articular cartilage. In conclusion, this study provides insights into the regulatory mechanisms of CyA for chondrocytes and proposes a composite hydrogel microsphere-based advanced therapeutic strategy for osteoarthritis.

Integrated network pharmacology and metabolomics reveal the mechanisms of Jasminum elongatum in anti-ulcerative colitis

Jasminum elongatum (JE), an ethnic Chinese medicine, is widely used in the Lingnan region of China, because of its analgesic and antidiarrheal action, as well as its anti-inflammatory effects in gastrointestinal diseases. However, whether JE could against ulcerative colitis (UC) remains unclear. This research aims to reveal JE in treating UC and clarify the underlying mechanism. We used the 2.5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC mice (C57BL/6J) to evaluate the therapeutic effects of JE. Metabolomics of serum and network pharmacology were combined to draw target-metabolite pathways. Apart from that, the targets of associated pathways were confirmed, and the mechanism of action was made clear, using immunohistochemistry. The pharmacodynamic results, including disease activity index (DAI), histological evaluation, and inflammatory cytokines in colon tissues, demonstrated that JE significantly relieved the physiological and pathological symptoms of UC. Network pharmacology analysis indicated 25 core targets, such as TNF, IL-6, PTGS2 and RELA, and four key pathways, including the NF-κB signaling pathway and arachidonic acid metabolism pathway, which were the key connections between JE and UC. Metabolomics analysis identified 45 endogenous differential metabolites and 9 metabolic pathways by enrichment, with the arachidonic acid metabolism pathway being the main metabolism pathway, consistent with the prediction of network pharmacology. IκB, p65 and COX-2 were identified as key targets and this study demonstrated for the first time that JE reverses 2.5% DSS-induced UC in mice via the IκB/p65/COX-2/arachidonic acid pathway. This study reveals the complex mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of JE on UC and provides a new approach to identifying the underlying mechanisms of the pharmacological action of Chinese natural medicines such as JE.

Impact of Using Natural Herbal Materials for Acupoint Application Combined with an Evidence-Based Supervision Method on Improving Renal Function and Lifestyle Treatment in Hemodialysis Patients

Natural herbal materials are commonly derived from plants, minerals, and animals, and compared to synthetic drugs, are closer to natural resources. Here, we analyzed the impact of using evidence-based supervision in combination with natural herbal materials for acupoint application on renal function and lifestyle treatment in hemodialysis patients, with the aim to provide evidence for clinical practice. We selected 80 patients who underwent hemodialysis treatment in our hospital between September 2021 and December 2022 as the research subjects. All of the research subjects were randomly divided into observation and control groups, with 40 cases in each group. The control group received conventional nursing interventions, while the observation group received interventions using acupuncture point application of natural Traditional Chinese medicine herbal materials combined with evidence-based supervision. The main endpoints were to compare the nursing intervention effects between the two groups, including patients’ renal function indicators and quality of life. The natural Chinese medicinal herb Atractylodes macrocephala contains eucalyptol-type sesquiterpene lactones, which exhibit various activities, especially in anti-inflammatory aspects, with a definite effect on the prevention and treatment of renal fibrosis in hemodialysis patients. Clinical studies have shown that the levels of serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, while the GQOLI-74 scores of the observation group were higher than those of the control group (all P &gt;0.05). Natural Chinese medicines are natural biobased materials that are often described as compound drugs in practical clinical applications, containing multiple components that can work synergistically to produce comprehensive therapeutic effects. Among them, Atractylodes macrocephala has a definite effect on the prevention and treatment of renal fibrosis in hemodialysis patients. The use of natural Chinese medicinal materials in acupoint application combined with evidence-based supervisory methods has shown precise clinical effects in hemodialysis patients, not only by improving renal function but also significantly enhancing their quality of life.

Impact of Natural Chinese Medicine Acupoint Application on Anxiety in Long-Term Hemodialysis Patients and Analysis of the Corresponding Nursing Measures

This study aimed to determine the effects of natural herbal acupoint application on anxiety in long-term hemodialysis patients and analyze the corresponding nursing measures. Between March 2020 and January 2022, 150 long-term hemodialysis patients admitted to our hospital were surveyed for this study. A questionnaire survey was conducted to determine the anxiety status of the patients. Patients with anxiety were registered and randomly divided into a research group and a control group. The control group received traditional routine nursing care, while the research group received personalized interventional nursing care combined with natural herbal acupoint application. The comfort level, sleep quality, emotional management ability, and negative emotional status before and after the intervention were compared between the two groups. The 58 (38.66%) patients who experienced anxiety were divided into control and research groups, with 29 patients per group. No significant differences in baseline characteristics were detected between the two groups (P &gt;0.05). The research group had significantly higher General Comfort Questionnaire (GCQ) scores and significantly lower Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores compared with the scores in the control group (P &lt;0.05 for both). The research group had higher scores in emotional processing, interpersonal relationships, and psychological activity management than the control group, indicating better emotional management ability (P &lt;0.05). Moreover, the research group had significantly lower scores on the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) than the control group (P &lt;0.05). In this study, targeted interventions combining individualized nursing care and traditional Chinese medicine acupoint patching were administered to patients, which effectively promoted their physical and mental well-being, enhanced patient comfort, improved sleep quality, and effectively managed patient anxiety, as well as alleviated negative emotions. Therefore, natural herbal patches are worthy of promotion and application in clinical settings.

Issue Information

Animal Models and Experimental MedicineVolume 6, Issue 3 p. ii-viii ISSUE INFORMATIONFree Access Issue Information First published: 15 June 2023 https://doi.org/10.1002/ame2.12241AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Volume6, Issue3Themed Issue: Traditional Chinese Medicines and Natural Medicines ResearchJune 2023Pages ii-viii RelatedInformation

Crosstalk between autophagy and the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway regulates realgar-induced neurotoxicity

Ethnopharmacological relevanceRealgar, the main component of which is As2S2 or As4S4 (≥90%), is a traditional Chinese natural medicine that has been used to treat carbuncles, furuncles, snake and insect bites, abdominal pain caused by parasitic worms, and epilepsy in China for many years. Because realgar contains arsenic, chronic or excessive use of single-flavor realgar and realgar-containing Chinese patent medicine can lead to drug-induced arsenic poisoning, but the exact mechanism underlying its toxicity to the central nervous system is unclear. Aim of the studyThe aim of this study was to clarify the mechanism of realgar-induced neurotoxicity and to investigate the effects of realgar on autophagy and the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway. Materials and methodsWe used rats treated with the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) or adeno-associated virus (AAV2/9-r-shRNA-Sqstm1, sh-p62) to investigate realgar-induced neurotoxicity and explore the specific relationship between autophagy and the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway (the Nrf2 pathway) in the cerebral cortex. Molecular docking analysis was used to assess the interactions among the Nrf2, p62 and Keap1 proteins. ResultsOur results showed that arsenic from realgar accumulated in the brain and blood to cause neuronal and synaptic damage, decrease exploratory behavior and spontaneous movement, and impair memory ability in rats. The mechanism may have involved realgar-mediated autophagy impairment and continuous activation of the Nrf2 pathway via the LC3-p62-Keap1-Nrf2 axis. However, because this activation of the Nrf2 pathway was not sufficient to counteract oxidative damage, apoptosis was aggravated in the cerebral cortex. ConclusionsThis study revealed that autophagy, the Nrf2 pathway, and apoptosis are involved in realgar-induced central nervous system toxicity and identified p62 as the hub of the LC3-p62-Keap1-Nrf2 axis in the regulation of autophagy, the Nrf2 pathway, and apoptosis.

Aspirin in combination with gastrodin protects cardiac function and mitigates gastric mucosal injury in response to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion.

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is common in acute myocardial infarction. Aspirin is commonly prescribed as anti-thrombotic therapy with coronary heart disease (CHD). However, long-term use of aspirin causes severe gastric mucosal damage. Gastrodin is a Chinese natural medicine with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of combined therapy with aspirin and gastrodin on the myocardial and gastric mucosal injury in response to myocardial I/R injury and underlying mechanisms using the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat model. Our results demonstrated that myocardial I/R caused significant cardiac dysfunction and gastric mucosal damage. Administration of aspirin led to significantly reduce myocardial infarction size and myocardial enzyme release, as well as significantly improved cardiac function through exerting anti-inflammatory effects. However, aspirin exacerbated gastric mucosal damage by increasing the levels of inflammatory mediators and endothelin (ET) while reducing prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels. The combined treatment with aspirin and gastrodin not only significantly protected gastric mucosa by normalizing the expression levels of the inflammatory factors, ET and PGE2, but also significantly reduced myocardial infarction size and improved cardiac function by inhibiting inflammation in response to I/R. The combination therapy also dramatically down-regulated the levels of pyroptosis-related proteins in the myocardium and gastric mucosa. The combination therapy showed obviously reduced level of thromboxane B2 (TXB2), which was simultaneously accompanied with increased levels of the tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). This suggested that gastrodin did not inhibit the anti-thrombotic function of aspirin. Accordingly, aspirin in combination with gasrtodin protected the structural and functional integrity of the heart and stomach by suppressing pyroptosis and inflammation. Therefore, combination of aspirin and gastrodin is a promising treatment for cardiac dysfunction and gastric mucosa injury after myocardial I/R.

Synthesis and Discovery of Ligustrazine-Heterocycle Derivatives as Antitumor Agents.

Ligustrazine (TMP) is a natural pyrazine alkaloid extracted from the roots of Ligusticum Chuanxiong Hort, which has the potential as an antitumor agent. A series of 33 ligustrazine–heterocycle (TMPH) derivatives were designed, synthesized, and investigated via antitumor screening assays, molecular docking analysis, and prediction of drug-like properties. TMP was attached to other heterocyclic derivatives by an 8–12 methylene alkyl chain as a linker to obtain 33 TMPH derivatives. The structures were confirmed by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and high-resolution mass spectroscopy spectral (HR-MS) data. The antiproliferative activity against human breast cancer MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, mouse breast cancer 4T1, mouse fibroblast L929, and human umbilical vein endothelial HUVEC cell lines was evaluated by MTT assay. Compound 12–9 displayed significant inhibitory activity with IC50 values in the low micromolar range (0.84 ± 0.02 µM against the MDA-MB-231 cell line). The antitumor effects of compound 12–9 were further evaluated by plate cloning, Hoechst 33 342 staining, and annexin V-FITC/PI staining. The results indicated that compound 12–9 inhibited the proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer cells. Furthermore, molecular docking of compound 12–9 into the active site of the Bcl-2, CASP-3, and PSMB5 target proteins was performed to explore the probable binding mode. The 33 newly synthesized compounds were predicted to have good drug-like properties in a theoretical study. Overall, these results indicated that compound 12–9 inhibited cell proliferation through PSMB5 and apoptosis through Bcl-2/CASP-3 apoptotic signaling pathways and had good drug-like properties. These results provided more information, and key precursor lead derivatives, in the search for effective bioactive components from Chinese natural medicines.

Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Bone Regeneration and Osteoporosis.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), osteoporosis is a systematic bone disability marked by reduced bone mass and microarchitectural degeneration of osseous cells, which leads to increased bones feebleness and fractures vulnerability. It is a polygenetic, physiological bone deformity that frequently leads to osteoporotic fractures and raises the risk of fractures in minimal trauma. Additionally, the molecular changes that cause osteoporosis are linked to decreased fracture repair and delayed bone regeneration. Bones have the ability to regenerate as part of the healing mechanism after an accident or trauma, including musculoskeletal growth and ongoing remodeling throughout adulthood. The principal treatment approaches for bone loss illnesses, such as osteoporosis, are hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and bisphosphonates. In this review, we searched literature regarding the Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) in osteoporosis and bone regeneration. The literature results are summarized in this review for osteoporosis and bone regeneration. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) have grown in popularity as a result of its success in curing ailments while causing minimal adverse effects. Natural Chinese medicine has already been utilized to cure various types of orthopedic illnesses, notably osteoporosis, bone fractures and rheumatism with great success. TCM is a discipline of conventional remedy that encompasses herbal medication, massage (tui na), acupuncture, food, and exercise (qigong) therapy. It is based on more than 2,500 years of Chinese healthcare profession. This article serves as a comprehensive review summarizing the osteoporosis, bone regeneration and the traditional Chinese medicines used since ancient times for the management of osteoporosis and bone regeneration.

Current Evidence and Future Directions of Berberine Intervention in Depression.

A major type of serious mood disorder, depression is currently a widespread and easily overlooked psychological illness. With the low side effects of natural products in the treatment of diseases becoming the pursuit of new antidepressants, natural Chinese medicine products have been paid more and more attention for their unique efficacy in improving depression. In a view from the current study, the positive antidepressant effects of berberine are encouraging. There is a lot of work that needs to be done to accurately elucidate the efficacy and mechanism of berberine in depression. In this review, the relevant literature reports on the treatment of depression and anxiety by berberine are updated, and the potential pharmacological mechanism of berberine in relieving depression has also been discussed.

Acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid promotes sciatic nerve repair after injury: molecular mechanism.

Previous studies showed that acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA), the active ingredient in the natural Chinese medicine Boswellia, can stimulate sciatic nerve injury repair via promoting Schwann cell proliferation. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, we performed genomic sequencing in a rat model of sciatic nerve crush injury after gastric AKBA administration for 30 days. We found that the phagosome pathway was related to AKBA treatment, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in the neurotrophic factor signaling pathway was also highly up-regulated. We further investigated gene and protein expression changes in the phagosome pathway and neurotrophic factor signaling pathway. Myeloperoxidase expression in the phagosome pathway was markedly decreased, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor, and nerve growth factor receptor expression levels in the neurotrophic factor signaling pathway were greatly increased. Additionally, expression levels of the inflammatory factors CD68, interleukin-1β, pro-interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α were also decreased. Myelin basic protein- and β3-tubulin-positive expression as well as the axon diameter-to-total nerve diameter ratio in the injured sciatic nerve were also increased. These findings suggest that, at the molecular level, AKBA can increase neurotrophic factor expression through inhibiting myeloperoxidase expression and reducing inflammatory reactions, which could promote myelin sheath and axon regeneration in the injured sciatic nerve.

The Effect of Terpenoid Natural Chinese Medicine Molecular Compound on Lung Cancer Treatment.

Among all malignant tumors in the whole universe, the incidence and mortality of lung cancer disease rank first. Especially in the past few years, the occurrence of lung cancer in the urban population has continued to increase, which seriously threatens the lives and health of people. Among the many treatments for lung cancer, chemotherapy is the best one, but traditional chemotherapy has low specificity and drug resistance. To address the above issue, this study reviews the five biological pathways that common terpenoid compounds in medicinal plants interfere with the occurrence and development of lung cancer: cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, cell autophagy, cell invasion, metastasis, and immune mechanism regulation. In addition, the mechanism of the terpenoid natural traditional Chinese medicine monomer compound combined with Western medicine in the multipathway antilung cancer is summarized.

Construction status and development strategy of GAP bases for Chinese herbal medicine

Good agricultural practices(GAP) for Chinese herbal medicine(CHM) is the source of quality control in the production of CHM. To ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of Chinese herbal and natural medicine, the international community has been exploring the implementation of GAP for CHM. The implementation of GAP for CHM has a far-reaching impact, and the scale planting of CHM has been expanding. However, the medicinal materials produced by the GAP bases for CHM still cannot fully meet the market demand, and the output and quality of CHM remain to be improved. This paper summarizes construction status of GAP bases for CHM.The 129 companies that passed the certification during the implementation of GAP for CHM included 196 GAP bases, forming the scale CHM production zone with Sichuan province, Yunnan province, Jilin province, Henan province, and Shandong province as the core.The total area of GAP bases for CHM in China is about 250 000-500 000 Mu(1 Mu≈667 m2), which is still less than 1% of the total production area of CHM. The international agricultural production quality management strategies are all market-oriented behaviors.Drawing on the international good agricultural and collection practice(GACP) and hazard analysis critical control point(HACCP) as well as the relevant policies of Chinese quality management of CHM, we put forward feasible suggestions for the further implementation of GAP for CHM:(1)The market rules and international experience should be followed and employed to promote GAP management of CHM and third-party implementation of GAP certification;(2)The sound development of GAP for CHM should be boosted with the HACCP management system and the revision of GAP for CHM;(3)The implementation of policies and standards should be stepped up to facilitate the building of a whole-course traceability system for the production of CHM with high quality and reasonable prices.