Herbal Prescription Research Articles

Traditional Chinese Medicines and Prescriptions Brought from China to Japan by a Monk (Jianzhen, Japanese: Ganjin): A Historical Review

(1) Background: Japanese Kampo medicine has its origin in ancient Chinese medicine. In 742, a Tang Dynasty monk named Jianzhen (Ganjin) was invited by Japanese clerics to visit Japan and teach commandments in Buddhism. Because of the dangers of the voyage and also other obstacles, he took 11 years to reach Japan on the sixth voyage and he was blind when he arrived in Japan. He was the first person in China to go to Japan to establish the Buddhism commandments, and he was also the first person in Japan to directly teach traditional Chinese medicine. Until now, there have been few reports in English about the details of the Chinese herbal medicines he brought to Japan, including the types of herbal medicines, pharmacological activities, and formulations. In the review, we systematically and comprehensively summarized Jianzhen’s life from the standpoint of his medical and pharmaceutical knowledge and the types and pharmacological activities of Chinese herbal medicines and prescriptions that were brought to Japan by Jianzhen; (2) Methods: A review was made on the relevant literature written by Chinese, Japanese, and English languages regarding the medical and pharmacological knowledge of Jianzhen, the 36 Chinese herbal medicines brought to Japan by Jianzhen, and the pharmacological and therapeutic effects of these 36 herbal medicines, as well as their formulations; (3) Results: The review of the literature proved that Jianzhen’s prescriptions served as a basis for current herbal medicines (Kampo) in Japan. In the process of the literature search, we found a book entitled Jianshangren (Holy Priest Jianzhen)’s Secret Prescription, which recorded the complete prescription of the 36 traditional Chinese medicines Jianzhen brought to Japan; (4) Conclusions: Jianzhen is one of the ancestors of traditional Chinese medicine/Kampo medicine, and he brought traditional Chinese medicine and medical books to Japan for patients. He made important contributions to the development of traditional Chinese medicine in Japan.

Ojeoksan Ameliorates Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Mice by Downregulating MAPK and NF-κB Pathways.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major side effect of cisplatin, a crucial anticancer agent. Therefore, it is necessary to develop drugs to protect against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Ojeoksan (OJS), a traditional blended herbal prescription, is mostly used in Korea; however, there are no reports on the efficacy of OJS against cisplatin-induced AKI. To investigate the reno-protective effect of OJS on AKI, we orally administered 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of OJS to mice 1 h before intraperitoneal injection with 20 mg/kg of cisplatin. OJS inhibited the increase of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr) levels and reduced histological changes in the kidney, like loss of brush borders, renal tubular necrosis, and cast formation. Administration of OSJ reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. In addition, OJS inhibited the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways in cisplatin-induced AKI. These results suggest that OJS attenuates cisplatin-induced AKI by downregulating the MAPK and NF-κB pathways.

Network Pharmacology-Based Exploration on the Intervention of Qinghao Biejia Decoction on the Inflammation-Carcinoma Transformation Process of Chronic Liver Disease via MAPK and PI3k/AKT Pathway.

Chronic liver disease(CLD) is a slow-developing and long-term disease that can cause serious damage to the liver. Thus far, it has been associated with viral hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease(ALD), hepatic fibrosis(HF), liver cirrhosis (LC), and liver cancer. Qinghao Biejia Decoction (QBD) is a classic ancient Chinese herbal prescription with strong immune-enhancing, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects. In this study, we used a network pharmacology approach to investigate the molecular mechanisms of QBD in the inflammation-carcinoma transformation process of chronic liver disease. Two key drug targets, MAPK1 and PIK3CA, were screened using network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques, revealing dihydroartemisinin, artesunate, 12-O-Nicotinoylisolineolone, caffeic acid, and diincarvilone A as active ingredients involved in QBD mechanisms. The main signaling pathways involved were the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway. In summary, our results indicated that QBD affects the inflammatory transformation of chronic liver disease through MAPK1 and PIK3CA and signaling pathways MAPK and PI3K/AKT. These data provide research direction for investigating the mechanisms underlying the inflammation-carcinoma transformation process in QBD for chronic liver disease.

Chinese herbal prescriptions for COVID-19 management: Special reference to Taiwan Chingguan Yihau (NRICM101).

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), the respiratory illness responsible for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As at June 2022, increasing numbers of newly diagnosed COVID-19-associated pneumonia cases worldwide have attracted close attention from the international community. The present review analyzes and summarizes the treatment of COVID-19 with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). A systematic analysis of the efficacies and benefits of TCM for the treatment of COVID-19 was performed, and the mechanisms underlying such treatment are summarized. This analysis of the literature highlights the potential of TCM to prevent and treat COVID-19 via antiviral, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities, with evidence showing that many TCM components act upon multiple targets and pathways. Famous TCM formulas include Qing-Fei-Pai-Du-Tang (QFPDT), Lianhuaqingwen Capsule (LHC), Taiwan Chingguan Yihau (NRICM101), and Jing Si herbal drink (JSHD). In particular, the botanical preparation NRICM101 was developed in 2020 for use in viral respiratory tract infections and is recommended for treating non-severe and mild COVID-19 infections. NRICM101 has been adopted for use in Taiwan for the clinical treatment of COVID-19. The common components and active ingredients of 10 TCM preparations have been analyzed for the most promising substances. This review aims to provide reliable evidence demonstrating the therapeutic efficacy of TCM substances in support of their further development against novel coronavirus infectious diseases in Taiwan.

Reports of 63 Patients Treated with Herbal Medicine to Relieve Symptoms of COVID-19 at One Korean Medicine Clinic: A Retrospective Chart Review

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to report on the cases and prescriptions of non-face-to-face care performed to alleviate COVID-19 symptoms and to present their results.Methods: This study was conducted on 63 COVID-19 patients who visited the Ilsan Hamsoa Korean Medicine Clinic from January 24 to June 11, 2022. We retrospectively analyzed all 63 patient charts and amassed COVID-19-related symptoms and their changes according to clinical characteristics and outcomes.Results: All 63 COVID-19 patients complained of symptoms, such as coughing, sore throat, sputum, fever, headache, myalgia, rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, postnasal drip, and voice change. In total, 30 patients were administered Eunma-san, 6 patients were administered Eungyo-san plus Mahaenggamseok-tang, 10 patients were administered Galgeunhaegi-tang, 7 patients were administered Eungyo-san, 6 patients were administered Maekmundong-tang, and 4 patients were administered Jugyeopseoggo-tang. Improvements in symptoms due to herbal medicine included the disappearance of COVID-19 fever (22 cases) within 3.59±4.2 days, sore throat (32 cases) within 4.37±2.98 days, and cough (36 cases) within 4.86±3.1 days.Conclusion: Various herbal medicine prescriptions were effective COVID-19 treatments, indicating that herbal medicines may be alternative treatment options for COVID-19. However, the evidence should be supplemented with better designed prospective research on individual prescriptions.

Qingchang Wenzhong Decoction reduce ulcerative colitis in mice by inhibiting Th17 lymphocyte differentiation

BackgroundQingchang Wenzhong Decoction (QCWZD), a chinese herbal prescription, is widely used for ulcerative colitis (UC). Nevertheless, the active ingredients and mechanism of QCWZD in UC have not yet been explained clearly. PurposeThis research focuses on the identification of the effective ingredients of QCWZD and the prediction and verification of their potential targets. MethodsThe UC mice were established by adding 3.0% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to sterile water for one week. Concurrently, mice in the treatment group were gavage QCWZD or mesalazine. LC-MS analyzed the main components absorbed after QCWZD treatment, and network pharmacology predicted their possible targets. ELISA, qPCR, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence experiments were used to evaluate the colonic inflammation level and the intestinal barrier completeness. The percentage of Th17 and Treg lymphocytes was detected by flow cytometry. ResultsAfter QCWZD treatment, twenty-seven compounds were identified from the serum. In addition, QCWZD treatment significantly reduced the increased myeloperoxidase (MPO) and inflammatory cell infiltration caused by DSS in the colonic. In addition, QCWZD can reduce the secretion of inflammatory factors in serum and promote the expression of mRNAs and proteins of occludin and ZO-1. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that inhibiting IL-6-STAT3 pathway may be necessary for QCWZD to treat UC. Flow cytometry analysis showed that QCWZD can restore the normal proportion of Th17 lymphocytes in UC mice. Mechanistically, QCWZD inhibited the phosphorylation of JAK2-STAT3 pathway, reducing the transcriptional activation of RORγT and IL-17A. ConclusionsOverall, for the first time, our work revealed the components of QCWZD absorbed into blood, indicated that the effective ingredients of QCWZD may inhibit IL-6-STAT3 pathway and inhibit the differentiation of Th17 lymphocytes to reduce colon inflammation.

Protective effects of Yiqi jiedu decoction on ionizing radiation-induced spermatogenic cell injury

Ethnopharmacological relevanceIonizing radiation (IR) has found widespread application in modern medicine. As a result, radiotherapy inevitably causes spermatogenic cell injury. Many Chinese herbal prescriptions or natural extracts have the potential to protect against radiation injury. Aim of the studyWe used GC-2spd cells to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of YQJD decoction on protecting spermatogenic cells from ionizing radiation injury. Materials and methodsFirstly, the GC-2spd cells were irradiated with 60Co γ-rays (1 Gy, 2 Gy, 4 Gy and 8 Gy) to establish an in vitro model of radiation injury. After that, Cells were divided into six groups: negative control group (NC group), model group (IR group), positive drug group (IRA group), high-dose YQJD decoction (IRH group), medium-dose YQJD decoction (IRM group), and low-dose YQJD decoction group (IRL group). DNA damage, oxidative damage and inflammatory factors were measured. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by Flow cytometry. Transmission electron microscopy was performed to observe the morphological changes. ResultsAfter irradiation with 60CO γ-ray, the results indicated that the damage of spermatocyte was significantly induced by radiation exposure over 4 Gy. Furthermore, ionizing radiation could make DNA damage and oxidative stress in in GC-2spd cells. In addition, 60CO γ-ray also caused the increase of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α and the change of cell cycle. However, the application of YQJD decoction inhibited the damage and apoptosis of GC-2spd cells in the aspects of anti-oxidation, promoting DNA damage repair and regulating inflammatory reaction. ConclusionsTaken together, the protective effects of YQJD decoction on 60CO γ-ray induced spermatocyte injury were confirmed in this study. This exploration might provide a new strategy for the application of Chinese herbs in radioprotection.

Complementary and alternative medicine for functional dyspepsia: An Asian perspective

A considerable number of Asian patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) are searching for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) because they are unsatisfied with conventional medical treatment. However, no article has focused on CAM for FD from Asian perspective. In Asian countries, many traditional herbal formulas, including Banha-sasim-tang, Soyo-san, Sihosogan-san, Yukgunja-tang, and Pyeongwi-san, are used in patients with FD. In the few blinded and placebo-controlled studies conducted, the weak evidence regarding the effectiveness of herbal prescriptions in patients with FD did not allow any conclusions to be made. The clinical efficacy and safety of STW-5 were proven in several prospective randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews. Hence, it was recently approved as a therapeutic option for the treatment of FD. Peppermint and caraway, FDgard, black seed oil, and Jollab have been used in patients with FD, but there is limited evidence supporting their use. Reviews of acupuncture in patients with FD showed inconsistent results: a Cochrane review reported a negative result, while other meta-analyses reported positive results. Psychotherapy, including hypnotherapy, psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy, may be used in patients with FD, although it is only supported by weak evidence. Therefore, well-planned, large-scale studies are necessary to evaluate the efficacy of CAM in treating FD, especially in Asian countries.

A Study on the Mechanism of Herbal Drug FDY003 for Colorectal Cancer Treatment by Employing Network Pharmacology

Colorectal cancer (CRC) originates from the uncontrolled growth of epithelial cells in the colon or rectum. Annually, 1.9 million new CRC cases are being reported, causing 0.9 million deaths worldwide. The suppressive effects of the herbal prescription FDY003, a mixture of Cordyceps militaris, Lonicera japonica Thunberg, and Artemisia capillaris Thunberg, against CRC have previously been reported. Nonetheless, the multiple compound-multiple target mechanisms of FDY003 in CRC cells have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we used network pharmacology (NP) to analyze the polypharmacological mechanisms of action of FDY003 in CRC treatment. FDY003 promoted the suppression of viability of CRC cells and strengthened their sensitivity to anticancer drugs. The NP study enabled the investigation of 17 pharmaceutical compounds and 90 CRC-related genes that were targets of the compounds. The gene ontology terms enriched with the CRC-related target genes of FDY003 were those involved in the control of a variety of phenotypes of CRC cells, for instance, the decision of apoptosis and survival, growth, stress response, and chemical response of cells. In addition, the targeted genes of FDY003 were further enriched in various Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways that coordinate crucial pathological processes of CRC; these are ErbB, focal adhesion, HIF-1, IL-17, MAPK, PD-L1/PD-1, PI3K-Akt, Ras, TNF, and VEGF pathways. The overall analysis results obtained from the NP methodology support the multiple-compound-multiple-target-multiple-pathway pharmacological features of FDY003 as a potential agent for CRC treatment.

Signaling pathways and targets of natural products in psoriasis treatment

Aim: Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disorder, which has adverse effects on patients’ quality of life. Natural products exhibit significant therapeutic capacities with small side effects and might be preferable alternative treatments for patients with psoriasis. This study summarizes the signaling pathways with the potential targets of natural products and their efficacy for psoriasis treatment. Methods: The literature for this article was acquired from PubMed and Web of Science, from January 2010 to December 2020. The keywords for searching included “psoriasis” and “natural product”, “herbal medicine”, “herbal therapy”, “medicinal plant”, “medicinal herb” or “pharmaceutical plant”. Results: Herbal extracts, natural compounds, and herbal prescriptions could regulate the signaling pathways to alleviate psoriasis symptoms, such as T helper 17 (Th17) differentiation, Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and other signaling pathways, which are involved in the inflammatory response and keratinocyte hyperproliferation. The anti-psoriatic effect of natural products in clinical trials was summarized. Conclusions: Natural products exerted the anti-psoriatic effect by targeting multiple signaling pathways, providing evidence for the investigation of novel drugs. Further experimental research should be performed to screen and characterize the therapeutic targets of natural products for application in psoriasis treatment.

Therapeutic material basis and underling mechanisms of Shaoyao Decoction-exerted alleviation effects of colitis based on GPX4-regulated ferroptosis in epithelial cells

BackgroundShaoyao Decoction (SYD) is a canonical herbal medicine prescription formulated by Liu Wan-Su in AD 1186. SYD has been widely used to treat inflammatory bowel disease by clearing heat and damp, removing stasis toxin in the intestine; however, the precise mechanisms and therapeutic material basis remain largely unclear. In the present study, we measured the effects of SYD on colitis symptom, epithelial barrier function, epithelial ferroptosis, colonic protein and mRNA expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in colitis model, and determined whether SYD restored barrier loss in colitis by modulation of GPX4-regulated ferroptosis pathway.MethodsColitis was established by infusion with 1 mL 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) dissolved in ethanol (40% v/v) in rats at a 125 mg/kg dose. Ferroptosis in epithelial cells was determined by flow cytometer. GPX4 promoter-firefly luciferase fusion construct was transfected to Caco-2 cell to determine GPX4 transcription. MS analysis was used to identified ingredients in SYD.ResultsDifferent doses of SYD significantly alleviated colitis, decreased ferroptosis in epithelial cells, knockout of GPX4 significantly reversed SYD-induced alleviation effects on colitis, restoration of epithelial barrier function, and epithelial ferroptosis. Wogonoside, wogonin, palmatine, paeoniflorin and liquiritin were identified as active ingredients of SYD-exerted alleviation effects of colitis based on GPX4 agonistic transcription.ConclusionSYD alleviated chemically induced colitis by activation of GPX4, inhibition of ferroptosis in epithelial cells and further restoration of barrier function. Wogonoside, wogonin, palmatine, paeoniflorin and liquiritin were identified as the key therapeutic material basis of SYD-exerted anti-colitis effects. The findings provide a scientific basis for the therapeutic effect of SYD on colitis.

Mechanistic Study of the Herbal Drug FDY003 for the Treatment of HER2-Positive Breast Cancer via Network Pharmacology Analysis

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer (HER2PBC), a subset of breast cancer (BC), results from overexpression and hyperactivation of the oncogene HER2. This subtype is observed in 20-30% of all patients with BC. FDY003 is an herbal prescription comprising Lonicera japonica Thunberg, Artemisia capillaris Thunberg, and Cordyceps militaris, and its suppressive effects on HER2PBC cells have been previously investigated. However, its anticancer mechanisms, and specifically its actions on HER2PBC cells, have not been fully elucidated. Thus, we applied network pharmacology (NP) methodology to FDY003, a widely used technique that effectively and comprehensively investigates the pharmacological features of herbal drugs, to explore its mechanisms against HER2PBC. FDY003 exhibited inhibitory activity on HER2PBC cell viability, and it improved the efficacy of the HER2-targeting therapeutic. NP analysis identified 8 bioactive ingredients and 69 HER2PBC-associated genes that were targeted by those ingredients. Gene ontology analysis of the HER2PBC-associated genes targeted by FDY003 indicated that FDY003 might exhibit pharmacological effects by regulating the behaviors of HER2PBC cells, such as proliferation/growth arrest and survival/death. Moreover, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis indicated that FDY003 might affect critical pathways responsible for HER2PBC pathology, including the ErbB, HIF-1, JAK-STAT, MAPK, p53, PD-L1/PD-1, PI3K-Akt, Ras, TNF, and VEGF cascades. The NP analysis results suggested multitarget-multipathway regulatory characteristics of FDY003 against HER2PBC, focusing on its network mechanisms.

Jiedu-Yizhi Formula Alleviates Neuroinflammation in AD Rats by Modulating the Gut Microbiota

Background The Jiedu-Yizhi formula (JDYZF) is a Chinese herbal prescription used to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). It was previously confirmed that JDYZF can inhibit the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins in the hippocampus of AD rats and inhibit gut inflammation in AD rats. Therefore, it is hypothesized that JDYZF has a regulatory effect on the gut microbiota. Methods In this study, an AD rat model was prepared by bilateral hippocampal injection of Aβ25-35 and AD rats received high, medium, and low doses of JDYZF orally for 8 weeks. The body weights of the AD rats were observed to assess the effect of JDYZF. The 16S rRNA sequencing technique was used to study the regulation of the gut microbiota by JDYZF in AD rats. Immunohistochemical staining was used to observe the expression levels of Caspase-1 and Caspase-11 in the hippocampus. Results JDYZF reduced body weight in AD rats, and this effect may be related to JDYZF regulating body-weight-related gut microbes. The 16S rRNA analysis showed that JDYZF increased the diversity of the gut microbiota in AD rats. At the phylum level, JDYZF increased the abundances of Bacteroidota and Actinobacteriota and decreased the abundances of Firmicutes, Campilobacterota, and Desulfobacterota. At the genus level, the abundances of Lactobacillus, Prevotella, Bacteroides, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, and Blautia were increased and the abundances of Lachnospiraceae-NK4A136-group, Anaerobiospirillum, Turicibacter, Oscillibacter, Desulfovibrio, Helicobacter, and Intestinimonas were decreased. At the species level, the abundances of Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Lactobacillus faecis were increased and the abundances of Helicobacter rodentium and Ruminococcus_sp_N15.MGS-57 were decreased. Immunohistochemistry showed that JDYZF reduced the levels of Caspase-1- and Caspase-11-positive staining. Conclusion JDYZF has a regulatory effect on the gut microbiota of AD rats, which may represent the basis for the anti-inflammatory effect of JDYZF.

Tong-Xie-Yao-Fang alleviates diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome in rats via the GCN2/PERK-eIF2α-ATF4 signaling pathway

BackgroundDiarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is a common functional gastrointestinal disease. Tong-Xie-Yao-Fang (TXYF), the traditional Chinese herbal medicine prescription, is a classic and effective prescription for the treatment of IBS-D, but its mechanism of action is not fully clarified. ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of TXYF in the treatment of IBS-D and to explore its potential mechanism of action. MethodsChanges in the serum levels of 50 free amino acids were targeted for detection by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), general control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2), and endoplasmic reticulum-resident kinase (PERK) was detected by immunohistochemistry examinations in healthy volunteers and IBS-D patients. The IBS-D rat was constructed by the three-factor superposition method of neonatal maternal separation, 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid enema, and chronic unpredictable stress stimulation. The treatment effect of TXYF on IBS-D rats was observed by recording the body weight, grasp force, fecal water content (FWC), and abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) of rats before and after treatment. The effects of GCN2/PERK-eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF2α) -activating transcription Factor 4 (ATF4) pathway proteins and gene expression were analyzed by western blotting, reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–qPCR), and immunohistochemistry evaluations. ResultsCompared with healthy volunteers, IBS-D patients exhibited lower levels of cysteine, γ-aminoacetic acid (GABA), homoproline, and lysine, and immunohistochemistry showed strong activation of GRP78, a marker of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Differential expression of GCN2 and PERK proteins was detected in IBS-D patients and rat colons. In the IBS-D rats, TXYF improved the body weight and grasp force, reduced the FWC, and improved the AWR score. TXYF increased the levels of p-GCN2 and GCN2 and reduced the levels of GRP78, p-PERK, PERK, p-eIF2α, and eIF2α, thereby affecting the expression of the apoptosis-related transcription factors ATF4, CHOP, Caspase-3, and Bcl-2. ConclusionOur study showed that TXYF improved IBS-D by inhibiting apoptosis. The anti-apoptosis effects were potentially mediated by regulating the GCN2/PERK-eIF2a-ATF4 signaling pathway.

Study on the Anti-demyelination Mechanism of Bu-Shen-Yi-Sui Capsule in the Central Nervous System Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification.

Methods The potential active ingredients and corresponding potential targets of BSYS Capsule were obtained from the TCMSP, BATMAN-TCM, Swiss Target Prediction platform, and literature research. Disease targets of CNSD were explored through the GeneCards and the DisGeNET databases. The matching targets of BSYS in CNSD were identified from a Venn diagram. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using bioinformatics methods. Gene Ontology (GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed to predict the mechanisms of BSYS. Furthermore, the neuroprotective effects of BSYS were evaluated using a cell model of hydrogen peroxide- (H2O2-) induced cell death in OLN-93 cells. Results A total of 59 potential bioactive components of BSYS Capsule and 227 intersection targets were obtained. Topological analysis showed that AKT had the highest connectivity degrees in the PPI network. Enrichment analysis revealed that the targets of BSYS in the treatment of CNSD were the PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathway, among other pathways. GO analysis results showed that the targets were associated with various biological processes, including apoptosis, reactive oxygen species metabolic process, and response to oxidative stress, among others. The experimental results demonstrated that BSYS drug-containing serum alleviated the H2O2-induced increase in LDH, MDA, and ROS levels and reversed the decrease in SOD and mitochondrial membrane potential induced by H2O2. BSYS treatment also decreased the number of TUNEL (+) cells, downregulated Bcl-2 expression, and upregulated Bax and c-caspase-3 expression by promoting Akt phosphorylation. Conclusion BSYS Capsule alleviated H2O2-induced OLN-93 cell injury by increasing Akt phosphorylation to suppress oxidative stress and cell apoptosis. Therefore, BSYS can be potentially used for CNSD treatment. However, the results of this study are only derived from in vitro experiments, lacking the validation of in vivo animal models, which is a limitation of our study. We will further verify the underlying mechanisms of BSYS in animal experiments in the future.

A strategy to comprehensively analyze the bioactivity of complex herbal prescriptions via peak-by-peak cutting and knock-out chromatography: Qiliqiangxin capsule as an example.

An herbal prescription is usually composed of several herbal medicines. The complex and diverse components bring great challenges to its bioactivity study. To comprehensively analyze the bioactivity of an herbal prescription, a new strategy based on peak-by-peak cutting and knock-out chromatography was proposed. In this strategy, active compounds were screened out via peak-by-peak cutting from an herbal extract, and the influence of a compound on the overall activity of the herbal extract was evaluated by knock-out chromatography. Qiliqiangxin capsule is an herbal prescription composed of 11 herbal medicines for the treatment of chronic heart failure. A total of 71 peaks were collected through peak-by-peak cutting, and each peak was identified by a high-resolution mass spectrum. The bioassay against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl showed that two types of compounds namely salvianolic acids and caffeoylquinic acids were potent scavengers. Knock-out chromatography suggested that the removal of one single compound had no obvious influence on the overall activity of the Qiliqiangxin capsule. After all the main peaks in the Qiliqiangxin capsule were knocked out, the remaining part still exhibited a potent activity, indicating high activity stability of the Qiliqiangxin capsule. The proposed strategy is helpful for the comprehensive analysis of the bioactivity of other herbal prescriptions.

Front Cover: A strategy to comprehensively analyze the bioactivity of complex herbal prescriptions via peak‐by‐peak cutting and knock‐out chromatography: Qiliqiangxin capsule as an example

DOI: 10.1002/jssc.202200045 The cover picture shows the strategy to comprehensively analyze the bioactivity of complex herbal prescriptions via peak-by-peak cutting and knock-out chromatography. In this strategy, peak-by-peak cutting is like a pair of scissors to obtain each peak for bioactivity assay, while knock-out chromatography is like a pair of tweezers to pick out target peaks for contribution assessment. An herbal prescription of Qiliqiangxin capsule, which consists of 11 traditional Chinese medicines as shown in the picture, was taken as the research object.

Identification of Active Component of Hachimi-jio-gan Ameliorating Diabetic Nephropathy

Conventional medicine-based Chinese herbal prescriptions, have fascinatedmuch attention due to their extensive and unique diversity of biologicaleffects without toxicity and/or adverse effects. Treatment with Hachimijio-gan (Ba-Wei-Di-Huang-Wan in Chinese) improved the dysregulatedlevels of hyperglycemic condition-related oxidative stress generation,advanced glycation endproduct generation, and renal function parameters.These results indicate that Hachimi-jio-gan is a prospective therapeuticagent against the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Cornel iridoidglycosides and polyphenol are the active compounds of Corni Fructus, theactive component of Hachimi-jio-gan, against kidney damage caused bydiabetes. Additionally, major components of the Corni Fructus, morronisideand 7-O-Galloyl-D-sedoheptulose (GS) are considered to be importantcontributors to prevent and/or delay the onset of kidney damage caused bydiabetes. Chief of all, GS is expected to be developed as a novel therapeuticdrug for the diabetes-accelerated kidney damage.

In Vitro and In Vivo Genotoxicity Assessments and Phytochemical Analysis of the Traditional Herbal Prescription Siryung-Tang.

Siryung-tang (SRT) is a traditional herbal prescription containing Oryeong-san and Soshiho-tang that is used to treat digestive system diseases. We performed safety evaluations of SRT based on genotoxicity and developed an assay for quality control using high-performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector. Genotoxicity was evaluated based on bacterial reverse mutation (Salmonella typhimurium TA1535, TA98, TA100, and TA1537, and Escherichia coli WP2 uvrA), chromosomal aberration (Chinese hamster lung cells), and micronucleus (mouse) tests. Quality control analysis was conducted using a SunFire C18 column and gradient elution with a distilled water–acetonitrile mobile phase system containing 0.1% (v/v) formic acid for 12 markers (5-(hydroxy-methyl)furfural, 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, liquiritin apioside, liquiritin, coumarin, baicalin, wogonoside, cinnamaldehyde, baicalein, glycyrrhizin, wogonin, and atractylenolide III). SRT showed no genotoxicity in three tests. Ames tests showed that SRT at 313–5000 μg/plate did not significantly increase the number of revertant colonies with or without metabolic activation among five bacterial strains. Moreover, in vivo micronucleus testing showed that SRT did not increase the frequency of bone marrow micronuclei. The number of chromosomal aberrations associated with SRT was similar to that observed in the negative controls. The 12 markers were detected at 0.04–16.86 mg/g in a freeze-dried SRT sample and completely eluted within 45 min. The extraction recovery was 95.39–104.319% and the relative standard deviation value of the precision was ≤2.09%. Our study will be used as basic data for the safety and standardization of SRT.

The use of herbal medicines in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus in Indonesia

In Indonesia, the use of herbal medicine as an alternative medicine is increasing. Herbal remedies are used as complementary medicine and self-medication. Diabetes mellitus requires treatment over the long term. This may contribute to the medication adherence problem. Consequently, many patients seek alternative treatments, such as herbal medications. The purpose of this study was to determine the use and type of herbal medicines among diabetic patients in Indonesia. A cross-sectional study with 190 respondents selected at random from multiple cities in Indonesia. A questionnaire was used to determine the most frequently used herbal medicine, the demographic profile of the patients, the health services, and the level of patient satisfaction with the use of herbal medicines. The participants were predominantly female (62.7%), housewives (39.5%), aged between 40 and 65 (84.5%), high school graduates (74.7%), and had low to moderate incomes (74.7%). The use of herbal medicine was 22%, and the combination of herbal medicine and prescription medication was 6%. Bitter leaves (10%), mangosteen peel (8.9%), insulin leaves (7.9%), mahkota dewa herbs (6.3%), and bitter melon are used as herbal or traditional medicines (4.7%). In terms of satisfaction, 28.7%, 40.9%, and 14.4% of respondents were quite satisfied, satisfied, and very satisfied with the use of herbal medicines, respectively. Herbal remedies are commonly used in alternative diabetes treatments. Bitter leaves are the most frequently used herb, with over half of respondents expressing satisfaction with the benefits of herbal medicine.