Traditional Chinese Patent Medicine Research Articles

Ionizable copolymer functionalized magnetic nanocomposite as an adsorbent for boosting the extraction selectivity of aristolochic acids.

Aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) has drawn increasing public attention. Organic anion transporters (OATs) are considered to be responsible for mediating nephrotoxicity of aristolochic acids (AAs), as AAs are typical OAT1 substrates that exhibit anionic properties and contain one hydrophobic domain. Inspired by the OAT1 three-dimensional structure or substrate/protein interactions involved in transport, we designed a magnetic polymeric hybrid, mimicking the effect of basic and aromatic residues of OAT1, for efficient enriching aristolochic acid I (AA I) and aristolochic acid II (AA II) in Traditional Chinese patent medicines (TCPM). N, N-dimethylaminopropyl acrylamide (DMAPAm) was used as a cationic monomer and copolymerized with divinylbenzene (DVB) onto the surface of monodisperse magnetic nanoparticles (denoted as MNs@SiO2T-DvbDam). The magnetic polymer hybrid demonstrated high selectivity and capacity for AAs, which was mainly attributed to (1) electrostatic interactions from the cationic or basic moiety of DMAPAm and (2) the hydrophobic and π-π stacking interactions from the aromatic ring of DVB. Additionally, the surface of the hybrid exhibited amphiphilic property according to the ionization of DMAPAm, thus improving the compatibility of the adsorbent with the aqueous sample matrix. This strategy was proven to be robust in the analysis of real drug samples, which was characterized by a good linearity, high recovery and satisfactory reusability. This work confirmed that the proposed tool could be a promising candidate for enhancing the extraction selectivity of AAs in Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM).

Establishment of CME Mouse Model Based on Autologous Thrombotic Particles and the Effect of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill on the Coronary Microvascular Blood Flow in This Model

Coronary microvascular disease poses significant clinical harm and is closely associated with major cardiovascular adverse events. Existing research has highlighted coronary microvascular embolism (CME) as an important factor. Previous studies have utilized microspheres to construct a mouse model of CME, which can partially simulate coronary microvascular disease. However, there are notable discrepancies from the clinical reality. Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill (SXDP), a traditional Chinese patent medicine, is widely used in Chinese hospitals for treating coronary heart disease. Our preliminary research has indicated that SXDP effectively alleviates chest pain symptoms and improves coronary thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) blood flow in patients with angina pectoris. Nonetheless, the specific mechanism remains unclear. To address this, the current study aimed to explore the size and concentration of autologous thrombotic particles to construct a CME mouse model, taking reference from previous studies on microsphere parameters (size: 9 µm; concentration: 500 000/50 µl). Additionally, we aimed to observe the effect of SXDP on coronary microvascular blood flow in this model. The experiments revealed that the average size of 400-mesh thrombus particles closely approximated 9 µm, and the concentration suspension at a ratio of 1 : 0.15, with a volume of 50 µl, contained approximately 500 000 particles. Concurrently, we observed that 400-mesh blood clot particles induced T-wave elevation in the electrocardiogram, decreased region of interest value in laser speckle examination, downregulated CD31 and Lectin in vascular endothelium, caused thrombosis in coronary microvessels, and led to myocardial infarction. Moreover, a decrease in serum nitric oxide levels and an increase in endothelin-1 (ET-1) were observed. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of SXDP on this animal model and identified potential mechanisms underlying its ability to reverse the aforementioned pathological changes. The research findings suggest that 400-mesh blood clot particles can successfully establish a CME mouse model, and SXDP can improve coronary microvascular blood perfusion, potentially through the improvement of endothelial function.

Angong niuhuang pill improves the neurological function of younger patients with basal ganglia and cerebral lobe intracerebral hemorrhage: A randomized controlled trial

Background & Objective: Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) is one of the stroke forms with the highest disability and mortality rates and significant differences in prognosis among patients with different locations of SICH. Angong Niuhuang Pill (ANP) 安宫牛黄丸 is one of the most well-known traditional Chinese patent medicines used in the clinical emergency treatment of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. This prospective study was performed to determine the therapeutic effect of ANP in different locations of SICH. Methods: Patients with basal ganglia(n=81) and cerebral lobe (n=67) hemorrhage were randomly assigned into two groups: the standard medical management (SMM) group and the combined ANP as well as medical management group (ANP group). Fisher exact test and Mann- Whitney U test were used for comparing the differences between two groups. Primary and secondary outcomes were the 6-month modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores and the 2-week Brunnstrom stage ratings. Results: For patients with basal ganglia hemorrhage and cerebral lobe hemorrhage, there were no significant differences observed between the ANP group and the SMM group in terms of patient age (53.1±5.3 vs 52.7±6.4; 54.7±4.8 vs 52.7±5.9), sex (male:64.3% vs 53.8%; 63.6% vs 58.8%), body mass index (25.1±2.1 vs 24.2±2.6; 25.6±2.0 vs 25.0±2.4), mean hematoma volume (17.1±6.6 vs 18.6±5.7; 18.4±7.4 vs 18.9±6.0), as well as the proportions of hypertension (88.1%vs71.8%; 90.9% vs 76.5%), alcoholism (40.5% vs 51.3%; 54.6% vs 41.2%), smoking (40.5% vs 38.5%; 36.4% vs 38.2%), and diabetes mellitus (21.4% vs 18%; 12.1% vs 17.7%). The proportion of basal ganglia hemorrhage patients with a 6-month mRS score of 0-2 in the ANP group was significantly higher than that in the SMM group (26.2% vs. 2.6%, P=0.004), but it was not significantly improved in patients with cerebral lobe hemorrhage (57.6% vs 38.2%, P=0.145). The 2-week Brunnstrom stage ratings of patients with basal ganglia hemorrhage were significant difference (P=0.048). But for patients with cerebral lobe hemorrhage, there was no significant difference (P=0.164). The incidence of liver dysfunction, renal dysfunction, gastrointestinal dysfunction, hypothermia and allergy in the two groups of patients was not significantly different. Conclusions: ANP has different therapeutic effects on different locations of SICH, and has the most obvious effect on improving the long-term neurological function of patients with basal ganglia hemorrhage.

Guhan Yangsheng Jing mitigates hippocampal neuronal pyroptotic injury and manifies learning and memory capabilities in sleep deprived mice via the NLRP3/Caspase1/GSDMD signaling pathway

Ethnopharmacological relevanceGuhan Yangsheng Jing (GHYSJ) is a traditional Chinese patent medicine, that has the function of nourishing the kidney and replenishing the essence, invigorating the brain and calming the mind. It is often used to treat dizziness, memory loss, sleep disorders, fatigue, and weakness, etc. However, its mechanism for improving sleep has not yet been determined. Aim of the studyThis study aims to explore the effects of GHYSJ on Sleep Deprivation (SD)-induced hippocampal neuronal pyroptotic injury, learning and cognitive abilities, and sleep quality in mice. MethodsIn this study, a PCPA-induced SD mouse model was established. We assessed the influence of GHYSJ on sleep quality and mood by using the pentobarbital-induced sleep test (PIST) and sucrose preference test (SPT). The pharmacological effects of GHYSJ on learning and memory impairment were evaluated by the Morris Water Maze (MWM) and Open Field Test (OFT). Pathological changes in the hippocampal tissue of the SD rats were observed via HE staining and Nissl staining. The severity of neuronal damage was evaluated by detecting the expression of the neuronal marker Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2), via immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Furthermore, the levels of neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), 5-hydroxy tryptamine (5-HT), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and Glutamic acid (Glu) in hippocampal tissues, as well as the expression of inflammatory factors Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and Interleukin-18 (IL-18) in serum, were determined by ELISA. The expressions of mRNA and protein NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3), Gasdermin D (GSDMD), Cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase1 (Caspase1), High mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) and Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC) related to the cellular ferroptosis pathway were tested and analyzed by RT-PCR and WB respectively. ResultsPCPA significantly diminishes the sleep span of experimental animals by expediting the expenditure of 5-HT, consequently establishing an essentially direct SD model. The intervention of GHYSJ displays remarkable efficacy in mitigating insomnia symptoms, encompassing difficulties in initiating sleep and insufficient sleep duration. Likewise, it ameliorates memory function impairments induced by sleep deprivation, along with symptoms such as fatigue and depletion of vitality. GHYSJ exerts a protective influence on hippocampal neurons facilitated by inhibiting the down regulation of MAP2 and maintaining the equilibrium of neurotransmitters (5-HTP, 5-HT, GABA, and Glu). It diminishes the expression of intracellular pyroptosis-associated inflammatory factors (IL-1β and IL-18) and curbs the activation of the NLRP3/Caspase1/GSDMD pyroptosis-related signaling pathways, thereby alleviating the damage caused by hippocampal neuronal pyroptosis.

XianLingGuBao protects against osteoporosis through activating STAT3 in vitro and vivo

BackgroundXianLingGuBao (XLGB) is a potent traditional Chinese patent medicine used to treat osteoporosis (OP), osteoarthritis, aseptic bone necrosis, and other musculoskeletal disorders. The current study aims to identify the active ingredients of XLGB and further elucidate its mechanism on OP treatment. MethodsExperimental pharmacology coupled with network pharmacology methods were used, and the effects of XLGB on mouse osteoblast MC3T3-E1 and ovariectomized (OVX) postmenopausal OP mouse model were detected. Furthermore, ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC Q/TOF MS) was used to identify the active ingredients in XLGB for protecting osteoporosis. ResultsXLGB was shown to significantly promote the growth of MC3T3-E1 cells. It could promote the cell proliferation and enhance the formation of mineralized nodule of MC3T3-E1 cells. The efficacy of XLGB in preventing osteoporosis in OVX mice was also demonstrated. The network pharmacological analysis indicated that the top 5 active components of XLGB anti-OP were HX-14, 3-hydroxypsoralen, kaempferol, palmitic acid, and terpene ether. Both KEGG and GO analysis indicated that XLGB may inhibit bone loss through activating the STAT3. Results from the Western blot analysis confirmed that the expression and activity of STAT3 were affected by XLGB. ConclusionThis study clearly demonstrates that the activation of STAT3 plays an crucial role in the protective effect of XLGB against OP. These findings provide a solid experimental foundation on the extensive use of XLGB in the clinical treatment of OP.

Evidence map analysis of randomized controlled trial of commonly used Chinese patent medicines in treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in recent five years

This study systematically combed the randomized controlled trial(RCT) of Chinese patent medicines in treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) in recent five years by using the method of evidence map. It understood the distribution and quality of evidence in this field and found the existing Chinese patent medicines in treatment of T2DM and the problems in its research. The study collected the commonly used Chinese patent medicines for the treatment of T2DM from three drug catalogs, retrieved Chinese and English databases to obtain RCT literature related to Chinese patent medicines in recent five years, and extracted information such as sample size, study drug, combination medication, course of treatment, and outcome indicators from the literature. It also conducted quality evaluation based on the Cochrane collaborative network bias risk assessment tool and used charts to display the analysis results. A total of 19 kinds of Chinese patent medicines are collected, of which 13 kinds of Chinese patent medicines are mentioned in 131 articles related to RCT. The literature concerning Shenqi Jiangtang Capsules/Granules, Jinlida Granules, and Xiaoke Pills accounts for a large proportion. Outcome indicators include blood glucose, blood lipids, pancreatic islet cell function, and clinical symptoms. In terms of literature quality, 75 articles have correct random methods, and 1 article performs allocation hiding and blind methods. Therefore, the clinical orientation of Chinese patent medicines for the treatment of T2DM is broad, failing to reflect their own characteristics and lacking safety information. Insufficient attention has been paid to TCM syndrome scores, quality of life, and blood lipid outcome indicators that reflect the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). The number of studies on the treatment of T2DM by Chinese patent medicines varies greatly among varieties, and the quality of the studies is low. It is suggested that the holders of the marketing license of T2DM Chinese patent medicines should carry out a post-marketing re-evaluation of the varieties of traditional Chinese patent medicines for treating T2DM according to the relevant requirements of the State Food and Drug Administration, standardize the clinical positioning, and revise and improve the safety information in the instructions. It is recommended that researchers construct a core indicator dataset for Chinese patent medicine treatment of T2DM, improve the efficacy evaluation system, and develop an experimental plan based on CONSORT before conducting RCT.

Investigation on the antipyretic mechanism of Chaiqin Qingning capsule for the treatment of fever based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro experimental validation

AbstractChaiqin Qingning Capsule (CQQNC), a traditional Chinese patent medicine, can effectively shorten the duration of fever and significantly improve fever symptoms. However, the mechanism of its antipyretic effect needs to be further elucidated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of CQQNC in the treatment of fever. We used the network pharmacology method to analyze the mechanism of action of CQQNC in the treatment of fever and validated our study primarily by molecular docking. Finally, the predictive results were verified by IL‐1β‐induced bEnd.3 cells. The results showed that quercetin, kaempferol, cubebin, chenodeoxycholic acid, isorhamnetin, bilirubin, cholic acid, and baicalin were the major components of CQQNC against fever. A total of 381 common targets have been crossed by CQQNC for the treatment of fever. Furthermore, we found that CQQNC targets several deregulated genes in fever such as AKT1, COX2, AVP, cAMP, IL6, IL1B, TNF, mPGES1, and PI3K, biological functions such as endopeptidase, cytokine receptor binding, and phosphatase activity, and signaling pathways such as the PI3K‐Akt pathway and the AGE‐RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications. The docking study revealed that the core components of CQQNC both had high affinity for hub targets, especially the targets of COX‐2, cAMP, mPGES1, and PI3K proteins. To further investigate the mechanism of CQQNC, an Elisa assay and Western blot detection were performed as part of an in vitro study. Elisa's result showed that CQQNC can significantly decrease the expression levels of cPLA2, sPLA2, PGE2, cAMP, and 15‐PGDH after stimulating IL‐1β to bEnd.3 cells in a dose‐dependent manner (p < .01, p < .001, p < .0001). In addition, detection of the PGE2/ COX /cMAP pathway via immunoblotting showed that CQQNC can significantly downregulate the protein expression of COX‐1, COX‐2, EP3, cAMP, and mPGES1 in bEnd.3 (p < .0001, p < .001, p < .01). In conclusion, our study confirmed that the antipyretic mechanism of CQQNC affects the synthesis and secretion processes of PGE2 via the PGE2/ COX/cAMP pathway, providing insight into the antipyretic mechanism of CQQNC in clinical application.

The Different Therapeutic Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shensong Yangxin Capsule and Salubrinal in High-intensity Exercise-induced Heart Failure in Rats with Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Currently, endoplasmic reticulum stress is studied utilizing a dephosphorylation inhibitor (Sal). The traditional Chinese patent medicine and simple formulation Shensong Yangxin Capsule is a commonly used medication for the treatment of arrhythmia. However, the efficacy and underlying mechanism of the capsule in treating post-ischemic heart failure in myocardial tissue have not yet been investigated. The therapeutic effects and the underlying mechanism of the Shensong Yangxin Capsule (SSYX) and the dephosphorylation inhibitor Salubrinal (Sal) on heart failure (HF) induced by high-intensity exercise in rats with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were investigated. Male infants of 8 weeks Spragge-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to one of four groups: sham surgery group, AMI+placebo group, AMI+Shensong Yangxin Capsule group (AMI+SSYX), and AMI+Sal administration group. Rats' myocardial infarction was induced by left coronary artery ligation. Rats were subjected to a 3-week high-intensity exercise program to simulate heart failure after 7 days of postoperative rest. After the fourth postoperative week, echocardiography was applied to determine the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS), and left ventricular systolic volume (LVESV) in each group. HE and TUNEL labeling were employed to examine the morphology of cardiac cells and measure the percentage of apoptosis in each group; Western blotting was applied to detect the cardiomyocyte apoptosis-related proteins p-JNK, p-P38, and NOX2, while ELISA was used to detect glutathione(GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase SOD in serum. Following a 4-week drug intervention:(1)LVFS and LVEF in the AMI+placebo group were statistically significantly reduced, while LVESV were significantly higher, compared to those in the sham surgery group (P<0.05); The AMI+SSYX group performed statistically significantly better than the AMI+placebo group(P<0.05). (2) The myocardial cells in the AMI+placebo group exhibited significant swelling and inflammatory cell infiltration; the myocardial cells in the AMI+SSYX group and AMI+Sal group displayed mild swelling and minimal inflammatory cell infiltration; the AMI+SSYX group's myocardial cell morphology was superior to that of the AMI+Sal group; (3) The apoptosis rate of the AMI+placebo group was around 95%, greater than that of the sham surgery group (2.55%). The apoptosis rate of the AMI+SSYX group is approximately 21%, while the apoptosis rate of the AMI+Sal group is about 43%. (4) In the AMI+placebo group, p-JNK, p-P38, and NOX2 protein expression dramatically increased compared to the sham surgery group. The expression of p-P38, NOX2, and p-JNK/t-JNK was considerably reduced in the AMI+Shensong group and AMI+Sal group， compared to the AMI+placebo group. (P<0.01)The AMI+SSYX group's result is superior to that of the AMI+Sal group. (5) Compared to the sham surgery group, the serum levels of SOD and GSH were significantly lower, and MDA was significantly higher in the AMI+placebo group. Compared to the AMI+placebo group, the serum levels of SOD and GSH were significantly higher, and MDA was significantly lower in the AMI+SSYX group and the AMI+Sal group. (P<0.05) Conclusion: In rats with acute myocardial infarction in high-intensity exercise-induced heart failure, Shensong Yangxin Capsule dramatically reduces myocardial cell death and cardiac dysfunction. SSYX has a shorter course of treatment and a better therapeutic effect than Sal.

Mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in elderly diabetes mellitus and a systematic review of its clinical application.

Objective: Affected by aging, the elderly diabetes patients have many pathological characteristics different from the young people, including more complications, vascular aging, cognitive impairment, osteoporosis, and sarcopenia. This article will explore their pathogenesis and the mechanism of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) intervention, and use the method of systematic review to evaluate the clinical application of TCM in elderly diabetes. Method: Searching for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from January 2000 to November 2023 in the following databases: Web of Science, Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Sinomed, China National Knowledge Internet, Wanfang and VIP. They were evaluated by three subgroups of Traditional Chinese Prescription, Traditional Chinese patent medicines and Traditional Chinese medicine extracts for their common prescriptions, drugs, adverse reactions and the quality of them. Results and Conclusion: TCM has the advantages of multi-target and synergistic treatment in the treatment of elderly diabetes. However, current clinical researches have shortcomings including the inclusion of age criteria and diagnosis of subjects are unclear, imprecise research design, non-standard intervention measures, and its safety needs further exploration. In the future, the diagnosis of elderly people with diabetes needs to be further clarified. Traditional Chinese patent medicines included in the pharmacopoeia can be used to conduct more rigorous RCTs, and then gradually standardize the traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions and traditional Chinese medicine extracts, providing higher level evidence for the treatment of elderly diabetes with traditional Chinese medicine.

Study on the underlying mechanism of Poria in intervention of arrhythmia zebrafish by integrating metabolomics and network pharmacology.

Poria is an herb with both medicinal and dietary application. It has been used in various traditional Chinese patent medicines and medicinal decoctions for the treatment of arrhythmia. However, the specific mechanisms involved in the antiarrhythmic effects of Poria have, until now, remained unknown. This present study sought to explore the potential compounds and mechanisms by which Poria ameliorates BaCl2-induced arrhythmia. We initiated by using network pharmacology to predict probable components, targets, and associated signaling pathways before optimizing the extraction process of Poria. We then applied Poria extract to a zebrafish model of BaCl2-induced arrhythmia. We combined network pharmacology and untargeted metabolomic analysis to predict the likely signaling and metabolic pathways governed by Poria. Finally, we verified putative mRNA and metabolite targets of Poria involved in the intervention of arrhythmia by PCR, molecular docking, enzymatic inhibition and targeted metabolomics. We found that triterpenoids may be the main components of Poria responsible for its effects on arrhythmia, and that the optimal extraction process for its water extract is 9 volumes of water with the 7.5h first extraction period, and the second extraction period of 1.5h. Through experimentation, we have found that the water extract of Poria can interfere with BaCl2 induced arrhythmia in zebrafish by significantly increasing the heart rate, reducing the SV-BA distance, and pericardial area, and the degree of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in zebrafish. In addition, PCR validation revealed that Poria can regulate the calcium signaling pathway by upregulating the gene expression levels of ADRB1, HTR7, CALMB1, and PPP3CA. Meanwhile, through molecular docking and enzyme activity inhibition, it was found that the compounds in Poria can bind to ADRB1, HTR7, CALMB1, and PPP3CA, respectively. Targeted metabolism confirmed that Poria can downregulate the synthesis of cAMP in the calcium signaling pathway, as well as the synthesis of valine and isoleucine in valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis. Overall, our study indicates that Poria exerts its antiarrhythmic effect through regulating the calcium signaling pathway and valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis. Our findings not only establish a mechanistic framework for elucidating the antiarrhythmic effects of Chinese patent medicine containing Poria, but also provide a medicinal basis for the study of its dual use as medicine and food.

Anti-tumor effect of coix seed based on the theory of medicinal and food homology.

Coix seed is a dry and mature seed of Coix lacryma-jobi L.var.ma-yuen (Roman.) Stapf in the Gramineae family. Coix seed has a sweet, light taste, and a cool nature. Coix seed enters the spleen, stomach, and lung meridians. It has the effects of promoting diuresis and dampness, strengthening the spleen to prevent diarrhea, removing arthralgia, expelling pus, and detoxifying and dispersing nodules. It is used for the treatment of edema, athlete's foot, poor urination, spleen deficiency and diarrhea, dampness and obstruction, lung carbuncle, intestinal carbuncle, verruca, and cancer. The medicinal and health value is high, and it has been included in the list of medicinal and food sources in China, which has a large development and application space. This article reviews the current research achievements in the processing methods and anti-tumor activities of Coix seed and provides examples of its clinical application in ancient and modern times, aiming to provide reference for further research on Coix seed and contribute to its clinical application and development. Through the analysis of the traditional Chinese patent medicines, and simple preparations and related health food of Coix seed queried by Yaozhi.com, the source, function, and dosage form of Coix seed were comprehensively analyzed, with a view of providing a reference for the development of Coix seed medicine and food.

Investigating the pharmacological mechanism of Zhengyuan jiaonang for treating colorectal cancer via network pharmacology analysis and experimental verification

Ethnopharmacological relevanceZhengyuan jiaonang (ZYJN) is a traditional Chinese patent medicine (CPM) used in China for adjuvant cancer therapy, which has been proved to have anti-fatigue effects. Aim of studyThe study aims to investigate the antitumor effects of ZYJN and its underlying mechanisms using subcutaneous transplant CT26 model. Materials and methodsFingerprint analysis of ZYJN was performed using high performance liquid chromatography. The potential targets of ZYJN were predicted using bioinformatic analysis, which were further validated by Western Blot assay. Subcutaneous transplant CT26 model was used to evaluate the antitumor effects of ZYJN. The effects of ZYJN on the tumor immune microenvironment were investigated by flow cytometry. Transparent imaging was used to investigate the effects of ZYJN on fibrosis and angiogenesis. ResultsZYJN could inhibit colorectal cancer growth when administered alone or in combination with 5-FU. The combination of ZYJN and 5-FU could significantly increase the serum level of albumin (ALB) and decrease the serum level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST). In addition, the combination of ZYJN at 0.75 g/kg and 5-FU significantly decreased the serum level of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) and inhibited the angiogenesis of CT26 cancer. The combination of ZYJN at 1.50 g/kg and 5-FU could promote the fibrosis process of CT26 cancer. Additionally, combination of ZYJN and 5-FU could significantly increase the percentage of tumor-infiltrating T cells and CD4+ T cells in the late stage of CT26 model, while ZYJN at 1.50 g/kg increased the percentage of NK cells as well as CD8+ T cells in the early stage of CT26 model. Western Blot analysis revealed that administration of ZYJN at 0.75 g/kg reduced the expression of PI3K-p110α, CDK1, CCNB1 and MMP-9, and inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt (Thr308). ConclusionsZYJN could inhibit the tumor growth of CT26 colorectal cancer by promoting tumor fibrosis, suppressing angiogenesis, migration, and invasion and modulating the tumor immune microenvironment. ZYJN enhanced the efficacy and reduced the toxicity of chemotherapy drugs in combination therapy. Our findings provide evidence for the clinical application of ZYJN in cancer treatment.

Traditional Chinese medicines treat ischemic stroke and their main bioactive constituents and mechanisms.

Ischemic stroke (IS) remains one of the leading causes of death and disability in humans. Unfortunately, none of the treatments effectively provide functional benefits to patients with IS, although many do so by targeting different aspects of the ischemic cascade response. The advantages of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in preventing and treating IS are obvious in terms of early treatment and global coordination. The efficacy of TCM and its bioactive constituents has been scientifically proven over the past decades. Based on clinical trials, this article provides a review of commonly used TCM patent medicines and herbal decoctions indicated for IS. In addition, this paper also reviews the mechanisms of bioactive constituents in TCM for the treatment of IS in recent years, both domestically and internationally. A comprehensive review of preclinical and clinical studies will hopefully provide new ideas to address the threat of IS.

Efficacy of Chinese traditional patent medicines for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a Bayesian network meta-analysis of 64 randomized controlled trials.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, and modern medicine offers less effective treatment for HFpEF. Much evidence shows that Chinese traditional patent medicines (CTPMs) have good efficacy for HFpEF, but the advantages and disadvantages of different CTPMs for HFpEF are still unclear. This study used network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare clinical efficacies of different CTPMs for HFpEF. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of CTPMs for treating HFpEF were searched in seven Chinese and English databases from inception to September 2023: China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, VIP, China Biology Medicine, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the quality of the included studies. The GeMTC package in R (version 4.1.2) was used to perform Bayesian NMA. A total of 64 RCTs were included, involving six CTPMs and 6,238 patients. The six CTPMs were Qili Qiangxin capsule (QLQXC), Qishen Yiqi dropping pill (QSYQDP), Yixinshu capsule (YXSC), Yangxinshi tablet (YXST), Shexiang Baoxin Pill (SXBXP), and Tongxinluo capsule (TXLC). Conventional Western medicine (CWM) treatment was given to the control group, and CWM treatment combined with CTPM treatment was given to the experimental group. The results indicated that CPTMs + CWM were all superior to CWM alone; SXBXP + CWM had the best efficacies in improving the New York Heart Association cardiac functional classification efficiency; TXLC + CWM was best at improving the ratio of early diastolic mitral inflow velocity to late diastolic mitral inflow velocity (E/A); QSYQDP + CWM was best at reducing N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP); and QSYQDP + CWM was best at improving the 6-min walking test. In terms of safety, there was no significant difference between CTPMs + CWM and CWM. Compared with CWM alone, CTPMs + CWM combinations have certain advantages and good safety in the treatment of HFpEF. QSYQDP + CWM and SXBXP + CWM may be the potential optimal integrative medicine-based treatments for HFpEF. Given the limitations of this study, further high-quality, multicenter, large sample, randomized, and double-blind studies are needed to confirm the current results. identifier, CRD42022303938.

Corrosion inhibition of extracts from the expired traditional Chinese patent medicines for Q235 carbon steel in hydrochloric acid

During the COVID-19 epidemic, traditional Chinese patent medicine played a significant role in treatment and prevention. However, excessive production of medicines will face serious disposal problems once they are expired, and how to achieve safe and efficient utilization of resources becomes another challenge. In this study, the diverse organic components of traditional Chinese patent medicine-YanReQing Granules (YGE) have been extracted and enriched using a low-temperature extraction method, and the main compositions have been analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The inhibition performance of YGE for Q235 steel in 0.1 mol L−1 HCl solution was evaluated by various methods. The results indicated that the corrosion rate of metal decreased significantly with the addition of YGE, and the corrosion potential shifted positively as the increase of cathodic and anodic Tafel slopes, indicating that the YGE belongs to a mixed type of corrosion inhibitor with the simultaneously inhibition on cathode and anode. The inhibition efficiency of YGE increased gradually with the more additive amounts, and exceeded 99% calculated by the fitting current density in polarization curves. The active ingredients in YGE are mainly composed of hydroxyl and carbon-based aromatic hydrocarbons, which are easily protonated in hydrochloric acid solution and carry a positive charge, and then adsorb at the metal interface electrostatically to form a shielding layer. Moreover, the theoretical calculations have confirmed that the chemical adsorption can be achieved between the polar atoms and metal to enhance the protective layer ultimately.

Chinese guidelines for the treatment of chronic pain disorders with non-opioid analgesics

Non-opioid analgesics are one of the important clinical treatment drugs for chronic pain disorders, which mainly include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics, ion channel drugs, antidepressants, glucocorticoids, neurotrophic drugs, muscle relaxants, α2 adrenergic receptor agonists, bone metabolism regulating drugs, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists and traditional Chinese patent medicines. The guidelines for the treatment of chronic pain disorders based on international classification of diseases (ICD)-11 with non-opioid analgesics have not been reported. This guideline was formulated under the leadership of expert group on Pain Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Special Ability Training Project of National Health Commission Capacity Building and Continuing Education Center (hereinafter referred to as the expert group). The expert group systematically searches and evaluates the effectiveness evidence related to the indications, contraindications, precautions, and other issues of non-opioid analgesics treatment for the seven major categories of chronic pain diseases in ICD-11. It also recommends non-opioid analgesic drug treatment for special chronic pain patients such as the elderly, women and children, as well as patients with liver and kidney dysfunction. This guide aims to provide reference for the application of non-opioid analgesics in the treatment of chronic pain disorders in different disciplines.

Identification and quantitation of NF-κB inhibitory components in weichang'an pill based on UHPLC-QE-MS and spectrum-effect relationship

Weichang'an pill (WCAP) is a traditional Chinese patent medicine, which is clinically used for the treatment of bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia such as diarrhea, abdominal distension, and enteritis. So far, quality control studies of WCAP have mainly focused on the determination of chemical composition content, which has little relevance to biological activity and clinical effects. With the aim of identifying the multi-index ingredients with NF-κB inhibitory activities related to WCAP clinical effect, this present work described the chemical profile of WCAP by UHPLC-QE-MS, established the correlated relationship between chromatographic fingerprints and the NF-κB inhibitory activities based on multivariate statistical analysis, including hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), Pearson correlation analysis, and Partial least squares regression analysis (PLSR). The spectrum-effect relationship analysis indicated 10 compounds, which were ferulic acid, naringin, narirutin, hesperidin, neohesperidin, aloe emodin, emodin, honokiol, magnolol, and physcion, might be the potential NF-κB inhibitory constituents in the pill. The NF-κB inhibitory effects of the ten compounds were verified by in vitro dual luciferase reporting detection system. Considering that the detection index should be representative of more medicinal materials, a rapid and efficient UPLC-DAD method was eventually developed to determine the content of the 13 components. Our findings will provide data support for WCAP quality control and advance the understanding of the quality assessment of traditional Chinese patent medicines.

Simultaneous determination of multiple components in Fuke Yangrong pill by HPLC

AbstractFuke Yangrong pill, a traditional Chinese patent medicine, with the functions of nourishing qi and blood, soothing liver and relieving depression, regulating menstruation and removing blood stasis, is composed of 16 Chinese medicinal herbs. For quality control purpose, an HPLC method was established for simultaneous quantification of paeoniflorin, hesperidin and ligustilide in Fuke Yangrong pill. With acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid as mobile phase, gradient elution was carried out using Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5.0 μm) at 1.0 mL min−1. Detection wavelength was set at 230 nm for paeoniflorin, 280 nm for hesperidin and ligustilide. The temperature was 30 °C. There was a good linearity between the peak area and the concentration of each component to be measured within their linear range (r ≥ 0.9994). The average recoveries were between 98.6% and 102.6% with RSDs no more than 2.93%. This method was validated to be accurate and convenient, which is suitable for the quality control of Fuke Yangrong pill.

Total Glucosides of White Paeony Capsule ameliorates Parkinson's disease-like behavior in MPTP-induced mice model by regulating LRRK2/alpha-synuclein signaling

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe Total Glucosides of White Paeony Capsule (TGPC), one of the traditional Chinese patent medicines, has been used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical practice. Besides, the components of TGPC are extracted from Radix Paeoniae Alba (RPA) and have displayed neuroprotective properties. Aim of the studyThe present study was designed to evaluate the anti-PD-like effects of TGPC on a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced mice model and explore its potential molecular mechanisms. Materials and methodsBehavioral tests, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, Nissl staining, immunohistochemistry (IHC), western blotting (WB) and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) were performed in this study. ResultsIt was observed that TGPC treatment (150, 300 mg/kg) significantly reversed MPTPinduced PD-like behaviors, such as reduced locomotive activity in the open field test, prolonged time to turn downward on the ball (T-turn) and to climb down the whole pole (T-descend) in the pole test, decreased movement scores in the traction test and extended the latency to fall in the hanging wire test. In addition, TGPC improved neurodegeneration, inhibited the excessive activation of microglia and suppressed the overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines induced by MPTP, partially by restoring leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) activity and inhibiting alpha-synuclein (α-syn) mediated neuroinflammation signaling. ConclusionTaken together, TGPC exhibited neuroprotective effects on MPTP-induced mice model of PD, which was associated with the prevention of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration modulated by LRRK2/α-syn pathway.

Yinzhihuang injection induces apoptosis and suppresses tumor growth in acute myeloid leukemia cells.

The unmet needs in treating acute myeloid leukemia(AML) promote us to look for more effective and less toxic therapies. In this study, we discovered that Yinzhihuang injection(YZHI), a traditional Chinese patent medicine for hepatitis treatment, suppressed the growth of AML cells. Anti-proliferative activities of YZHI were measured by CCK-8 assay. Cell cycle arrest was evaluated by PI staining, and apoptosis was evaluated by annexin V/PI staining. To explore the cell cycle arrest and cell death mechanism induced by YZHI, we assessed a series of assays, including measurements of the protein expression and cellular ATP. The anti-tumor activity was further demonstrated in nude mice. Flow cytometric and biochemical analysis revealed that YZHI caused cell cycle arrest and induced apoptosis in the AML HL-60 cells. Mechanistically, YZHI activated AMPK by promoting phosphorylation of the kinase. The active AMPK negatively regulated the downstream target mTORC1, leading to the inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. Pretreatment with the AMPK inhibitor compound C rescued YZHI induced apoptosis and partially restored cell proliferation of HL-60. Consistent with the data in vitro, YZHI obviously suppressed subcutaneous xenograft growth in nude mice. In a word, our data suggest that YZHI can be repurposed for the treatment of AML, which is worthy of further clinical evaluation.