Ingredients Of Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Articles

Comparative Chloroplast Genome Analysis of Rhubarb Botanical Origins and the Development of Specific Identification Markers.

Rhubarb is an important ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine known as Rhei radix et rhizome. However, this common name refers to three different botanical species with different pharmacological effects. To facilitate the genetic identification of these three species for their more precise application in Chinese medicine we here want to provide chloroplast sequences with specific identification sites that are easy to amplify. We therefore sequenced the complete chloroplast genomes of all three species and then screened those for suitable sequences describing the three species. The length of the three chloroplast genomes ranged from 161,053 bp to 161,541 bp, with a total of 131 encoded genes including 31 tRNA, eight rRNA and 92 protein-coding sequences. The simple repeat sequence analysis indicated the differences existed in these species, phylogenetic analyses showed the chloroplast genome can be used as an ultra-barcode to distinguish the three botanical species of rhubarb, the variation of the non-coding regions is higher than that of the protein coding regions, and the variations in single-copy region are higher than that in inverted repeat. Twenty-one specific primer pairs were designed and eight specific identification sites were experimentally confirmed that can be used as special DNA barcodes for the identification of the three species based on the highly variable regions. This study provides a molecular basis for precise medicinal plant selection, and supplies the groundwork for the next investigation of the closely related Rheum species comparing and correctly identification on these important medicinal species.

ETCM: an encyclopaedia of traditional Chinese medicine.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is not only an effective solution for primary health care, but also a great resource for drug innovation and discovery. To meet the increasing needs for TCM-related data resources, we developed ETCM, an Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine. ETCM includes comprehensive and standardized information for the commonly used herbs and formulas of TCM, as well as their ingredients. The herb basic property and quality control standard, formula composition, ingredient drug-likeness, as well as many other information provided by ETCM can serve as a convenient resource for users to obtain thorough information about a herb or a formula. To facilitate functional and mechanistic studies of TCM, ETCM provides predicted target genes of TCM ingredients, herbs, and formulas, according to the chemical fingerprint similarity between TCM ingredients and known drugs. A systematic analysis function is also developed in ETCM, which allows users to explore the relationships or build networks among TCM herbs, formulas,ingredients, gene targets, and related pathways or diseases. ETCM is freely accessible at http://www.nrc.ac.cn:9090/ETCM/. We expect ETCM to develop into a major data warehouse for TCM and to promote TCM related researches and drug development in the future.

Linking resource supplies and price drivers: Lessons from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) price volatility and change, 2002–2017

Ethnopharmacological relevanceWorldwide, one of the drivers of substitution and adulteration is the cost of the natural resources (plants, animals, fungi) that are ingredients of traditional medicines. Relatively few studies have been done that link prices of traditional medicine ingredients to what drives changes in price, yet this is an important topic. Theoretically, prices have been widely considered as an economic indicator of resource scarcity. Rare, slow growing medicinal plants sell for high prices and common, less popular species for low prices. Price levels also influence the viability of farming vs. wild harvest (and incentives to overharvest high value species when tenure is weak). Prices can also influence the harvesting or buying behaviour of harvesters, traders or manufacturers. When prices are high, then there is a greater incentive to use cheaper substitute species or adulterants. As previous studies on herbal medicine ingredients have shown, adulteration applies in a wide variety of cases, including to some Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) species. Aim of the studyThe aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of which factors influenced changes in the market prices of document prices for four popular, but very different traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) species (2002 – 2017). Materials and methodsFluctuations in market prices were followed over a 15-year period (2002–2017) for four very different TCM ingredients: two plant species (one wild harvested for fruits (Schisandra sphenanthera Rehder & E.H. Wilson) the other in a transition from wild harvest to cultivation (Paris polyphylla Smith), an animal species (the Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko L.)) and the entomophagous “caterpillar fungus” (Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk). G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora). ResultsHigh prices of medicinal plants are widely considered to reflect resource scarcity. Real-time market prices for three of the four very different TCM species we studied all showed major price fluctuations. The exception was P. polyphylla, whose wild populations are widely known to be increasingly scarce, where there was a steady increase in price, with few fluctuations in the upward price trend. The three other species showed significant price fluctuations. These were driven by multiple factors. Ecological and biogeographic factors that influence abundance or scarcity of supply certainly played a role. But other factors were also influential. These included both national and global economic factors (the influence of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC)), national policy changes that in turn influenced businessmen giving expensive gifts (that included O. sinensis)), climate change (influencing fruiting success of S. sphenanthera), price speculation by traders and lack of information (e.g: reduction in G. gecko prices due to traders incorrectly believing that domestication would increase supplies). ConclusionsPrice fluctuations in the four TCM species we examined are influenced by many factors and not just resource scarcity. And the situation is more complex than the trajectory based on Homma's (1992) model, where he predicted that higher prices would result in a shift to cultivation, thus replacing wild harvest. In case of both O. sinensis and P. polyphylla, Homma (1992, 1996) was right in terms of scarcity and high prices stimulating a major investment in cultivation (P. polyphylla) and artificial production (O. sinensis). But in both cases, intensive production through cultivation or artificial propagation do not yet occur on a large enough scale to reduce harvest of wild stocks. Substitution and adulteration occur with all four species. Improving information to medicinal plant traders on the supply status of TCM stocks, whether from wild harvest or from cultivation could benefit product quality, cultivation initiatives and conservation efforts.

Evaluation of selected traditional Chinese medical extracts for bone mineral density maintenance: A mechanistic study

ObjectiveTo investigate the development of a minimal traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula using selected TCM ingredients and evaluating their biological activity with bone-specific in vitro tests. Finally, determining if the minimal formula can maintain bone mineral density (BMD) in a low bone mass (LBM)/osteoporosis (OP) model system. Methods and resultsSixteen different TCM plant extracts were tested for estrogenic, osteogenic and osteoclastic activities. Despite robust activation of the full-length estrogen receptors α and β by Psoralea corylifolia and Epimedium brevicornu, these extracts do not activate the isolated estrogen ligand binding domains (LBD) of either ERα or ERβ; estrogen (17-β estradiol) fully activates the LBD of ERα and ERβ. E. brevicornu and Drynaria fortunei extracts activated cyclic AMP response elements (CRE) individually and when combined these ingredients stimulated the production of osteoblastic markers Runx2 and Bmp4 in MC3T3-E1 cells. E. brevicornu, Salvia miltiorrhiza, and Astragalus onobrychis extracts inhibited the Il-1β mediated activation of NF-κβ and an E. brevicornu/D. fortunei combination inhibited the development of osteoclasts from precursor cells. Further, a minimal formula containing the E. brevicornu/D. fortunei combination with or without a third ingredient (S. miltiorrhiza, Angelica sinensis, or Lycium barbarum) maintained bone mineral density (BMD) similar to an estradiol-treated control group in the ovariectomized rat; a model LBM/OP system. ConclusionA minimal formula consisting of TCM plant extracts that activate CRE and inhibit of NF-κβ activation, but do not behave like estrogen, maintain BMD in a LBM/OP model system.

Icariin protects cardiomyocytes against ischaemia/reperfusion injury by attenuating sirtuin 1-dependent mitochondrial oxidative damage.

Icariin, a major active ingredient in traditional Chinese medicines, is attracting increasing attention because of its unique pharmacological effects against ischaemic heart disease. The histone deacetylase, sirtuin-1, plays a protective role in ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, and this study was designed to investigate the protective role of icariin in models of cardiac I/R injury and to elucidate the potential involvement of sirtuin-1. I/R injury was simulated in vivo (mouse hearts), ex vivo (isolated rat hearts) and in vitro (neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and H9c2 cells). Prior to I/R injury, animals or cells were exposed to icariin, with or without inhibitors of sirtuin-1 (sirtinol and SIRT1 siRNA). In vivo and in vitro, icariin given before I/R significantly improved post-I/R heart contraction and limited the infarct size and leakage of creatine kinase-MB and LDH from the damaged myocardium. Icariin also attenuated I/R-induced mitochondrial oxidative damage, decreasing malondialdehyde content and increasing superoxide dismutase activity and expression of Mn-superoxide dismutase. Icariin significantly improved mitochondrial membrane homeostasis by increasing mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome C stabilization, which further inhibited cell apoptosis. Sirtuin-1 was significantly up-regulated in hearts treated with icariin, whereas Ac-FOXO1 was simultaneously down-regulated. Importantly, sirtinol and SIRT1 siRNA either blocked icariin-induced cardioprotection or disrupted icariin-mediated mitochondrial homeostasis. Pretreatment with icariin protected cardiomyocytes from I/R-induced oxidative stress through activation of sirtuin-1 /FOXO1 signalling.

Construction of a small-caliber tissue-engineered blood vessel using icariin-loaded β-cyclodextrin sulfate for in situ anticoagulation and endothelialization.

The rapid endothelialization of tissue-engineered blood vessels (TEBVs) can effectively prevent thrombosis and inhibit intimal hyperplasia. The traditional Chinese medicine ingredient icariin is highly promising for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. β-cyclodextrin sulfate is a type of hollow molecule that has good biocompatibility and anticoagulation properties and exhibits a sustained release of icariin. We studied whether icariin-loaded β-cyclodextrin sulfate can promote the endothelialization of TEBVs. The experimental results showed that icariin could significantly promote the proliferation and migration of endothelial progenitor cells; at the same time, icariin could promote the migration of rat vascular endothelial cells (RAVECs). Subsequently, we used an electrostatic force to modify the surface of the TEBVs with icariin-loaded β-cyclodextrin sulfate, and these vessels were implanted into the rat common carotid artery. After 3 months, micro-CT results showed that the TEBVs modified using icariin-loaded β-cyclodextrin sulfate had a greater patency rate. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and CD31 immunofluorescence results showed a better degree of endothelialization. Taken together, icariin-loaded β-cyclodextrin sulfate can achieve anticoagulation and rapid endothelialization of TEBVs to ensure their long-term patency.

Chinese Medicine in the Battle Against Obesity and Metabolic Diseases.

Obesity is a multi-factor chronic disease caused by the mixed influence of genetics, environments and an imbalance of energy intake and expenditure. Due to lifestyle changes, modern society sees a rapid increase in obesity occurrence along with an aggravated risk of metabolic syndromes in the general population, including diabetes, hepatic steatosis, cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer. Although obesity has become a serious worldwide public health hazard, effective and safe drugs treating obesity are still missing. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been implicated in practical use in China for thousands of years and has accumulated substantial front line experience in treating various diseases. Compared to western medicine that features defined composition and clear molecular mechanisms, TCM is consisted with complex ingredients from plants and animals and prescribed based on overall symptoms and collective experience. Because of their fundamental differences, TCM and western medicine were once considered irreconcilable. However, nowadays, sophisticated isolation technologies and deepened molecular understanding of the active ingredients of TCM are gradually bridging the gap between the two, enabling the identification of active TCM components for drug development under the western-style paradigms. Thus, studies on TCM open a new therapeutic avenue and show great potential in the combat against obesity, though challenges exist. In this review, we highlight six key candidate substances derived from TCM, including artemisinin, curcumin, celastrol, capsaicin, berberine and ginsenosides, to review their recent discoveries in the metabolic field, with special focus on their therapeutic efficacy and molecular mechanisms in treating obesity and metabolic diseases. In addition, we discuss the translational challenges and perspectives in implementing modern Chinese medicine into the western pharmaceutical industry.

ADAM17 participates in the protective effect of paeoniflorin on mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells.

Paeoniflorin (PF), the most abundant active ingredient of traditional Chinese herbal medicine Paeoniae Radix, has been recognized as a potential neuroprotectant due to its remarkable efficacy on mitigating cerebral infarction and preventing the neurodegenerative diseases. However, the precise mechanisms of PF remain incompletely understood. In this study, we first provided evidence for the protective effect of PF on hydrogen peroxide-induced injury on mouse brain microvascular endothelial bEnd.3 cells, and for transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signal induced by PF, suggesting that EGFR transactivation might be involved in the beneficial role of PF. Next, by detecting the phosphorylation of a disintegrin and metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17) at Thr 735 and performing loss-of-function experiments with the ADAM17 inhibitor and ADAM 17-siRNA, we showed that PF-induced transactivation of EGFR and downstream ERKs and AKT signaling pathways were dependent on ADAM17. Furthermore, PF-induced phosphorylation of ADAM17 and the EGFR transactivation were inhibited by the inhibitors of adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) or Src kinase that were applied to cells prior to PF treatment, implying the involvement of A1R, and Src in the activation of ADAM17. Finally, PF reduced the cell surface level of TNF-receptor 1 (TNFR1) and increased the content of soluble TNFR1 (sTNFR1) in the culture media, indicating that PF might enhance the shedding of sTNFR1. Taken together, we conclude that A1R and Src-dependent activation of ADAM17 participates in PF-induced EGFR transactivation and TNFR1 shedding on mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells, which may contributes to the neuroprotective effects of PF.

Application of Ferulic Acid for Alzheimer's Disease: Combination of Text Mining and Experimental Validation.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an increasing concern in human health. Despite significant research, highly effective drugs to treat AD are lacking. The present study describes the text mining process to identify drug candidates from a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) database, along with associated protein target mechanisms. We carried out text mining to identify literatures that referenced both AD and TCM and focused on identifying compounds and protein targets of interest. After targeting one potential TCM candidate, corresponding protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were assembled in STRING to decipher the most possible mechanism of action. This was followed by validation using Western blot and co-immunoprecipitation in an AD cell model. The text mining strategy using a vast amount of AD-related literature and the TCM database identified curcumin, whose major component was ferulic acid (FA). This was used as a key candidate compound for further study. Using the top calculated interaction score in STRING, BACE1 and MMP2 were implicated in the activity of FA in AD. Exposure of SHSY5Y-APP cells to FA resulted in the decrease in expression levels of BACE-1 and APP, while the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 increased in a dose-dependent manner. This suggests that FA induced BACE1 and MMP2 pathways maybe novel potential mechanisms involved in AD. The text mining of literature and TCM database related to AD suggested FA as a promising TCM ingredient for the treatment of AD. Potential mechanisms interconnected and integrated with Aβ aggregation inhibition and extracellular matrix remodeling underlying the activity of FA were identified using in vitro studies.

Influence of harvest stage on the pharmacological effect of Angelica dahurica

BackgroundBaizhi (Angelica dahurica) has been widely used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, functional food and cosmetic product ingredient, mostly because of the high furanocoumarin compounds in roots. The cropping system of Baizhi with its unique summer dormancy feature, is easily affected by the transition of its growth stages. The aim of this study was to analyze the quantity (size, form and dry weight [DW]) and quality (antioxidant and furanocoumarin content) of taproot and lateral root from three growth stages of Baizhi; vegetative (V-stage), summer dormancy (S-stage) and bolting stage (B-stage).ResultsRoot length and diameter were lower at V-stage than the other two stages, and S-stage had higher lateral root to total root ratio. However, the highest root DW was observed at S-stage. Antioxidant activity was revealed by 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl and Fe2+ chelating assay, and the content of six furanocoumarin compounds, including xanthotoxin, bergapten, oxypeucedanin, imperatorin, phellopterin and isoimperatorin, was analyzed by liquid chromatography. Although the antioxidant activity was less at S-stage than the other stages, furanocoumarin contents showed little variation.ConclusionConsidering the high DW and stable furanocoumarin composition, S-stage is the best harvest stage than the other stages because of its richer total pharmacological content.

Coptisine, a natural alkaloid from Coptidis Rhizoma, inhibits plasmodium falciparum dihydroorotate dehydrogenase

Plasmodium falciparum dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (PfDHODH) is a promising drug target for antimalarial chemotherapy. In our continuous efforts to develop more potent PfDHODH inhibitors, a unique library of active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been collected and was screened in this study. Through the initial screening, we found that coptisine, a natural alkaloid from TCM Coptidis Rhizoma, was a novel and potent inhibitor of PfDHODH with an IC50 value of 1.83±0.08μm. At the same time, enzyme kinetic analysis using Lineweaver-Burk plot indicated that coptisine is an uncompetitive inhibitor for PfDHODH. Thermal shift assay and molecular docking simulation research reveal that coptisine is capable of binding with PfDHODH. Moreover, coptisine exhibits weak inhibition activity against human DHODH, indicating that coptisine is a selective inhibitor of PfDHODH. Taken together, our study highlights the potential of active ingredients in TCM as valuable resource for discovering novel chemical scaffolds for PfDHODH.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Is Widely Used for Cardiovascular Disease

A review article by Hao et al. (J Am Coll Cardiol 2017;69(24):2952–66) has had huge repercussions among those familiar with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the international academic community. It evaluated the efficacy and safety of TCM for cardiovascular disease and the pharmacological effect of active TCM ingredients on the cardiovascular system and potential mechanisms. We have several comments: Firstly, we give a brief summary addressing nonpharmacotherapy in TCM, including acupuncture, moxibustion, Qigong, and Tai Chi. Secondly, we have added traditional antiarrhythmic drug–related randomized controlled trials to make the coverage more comprehensive. Lastly, we support the concept that research into, development of, and application of active ingredients is part of modern TCM.

Evaluations of the effect of HuangQi against heart failure based on comprehensive echocardiography index and metabonomics

BackgroundHuangQi (HQ) is a major medicinal herb commonly used as an ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas. It has been proved to be effective against heart failure (HF). However, its holistic therapeutic mechanism is not yet well explored. PurposeThe present study was designed to investigate the inhibitory effects and action mechanism of HQ in adriamycin (ADR)-induced HF rats. MethodsAn integrative approach combining comprehensive echocardiography index (CEI) and metabonomics was conducted to assess the integral efficacy of HQ against HF. CEI was constructed to comprehensively evaluate the protection of HQ through principal component analysis of eight echocardiography parameters. Meanwhile, NMR-based untargeted metabolomic studies were performed to investigate the regulative effects of HQ coupled with correlation analysis. ResultsHQ showed significant regulatory effects on four echocardiography parameters (left ventricular diastolic diameter, left ventricular systolic wall thickness, ejection fraction and fractional shortening). The effect on comprehensive CEI also demonstrated the efficacy of HQ against HF, especially on the first principal component (PC1). HQ could exert marked metabolic regulations on five key metabolites related to HF (NAG, 3-hydroxybutyrate, glutamine, succinate and acetoacetate), which were mainly involved into alterations of energy metabolism, oxidative stress, hypertrophy, as well as inflammatory. Their correlation analysis revealed the relationship between the metabolic profiles and cardiac function, which further authenticated the systemic regulation of HQ against HF. ConclusionCurrent evidences revealed that HQ was effective in control of HF from cardiac dysfunction and metabolic alterations. This study provided a useful approach for evaluating the efficacy of TCMs against HF.

Miltirone-induced apoptosis in cisplatin-resistant lung cancer cells through upregulation of p53 signaling pathways.

The active ingredients of natural plants are important sources of antitumor agents. Miltirone is a major effective ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine and it is considered to have anti-infection and immunosuppressive activities. Clinically, it is often used for the treatment of arthritis and immune diseases. The effect of miltirone on cisplatin-resistant lung cancer cells has not been investigated to date. The present study aimed to examine the anticancer effect of miltirone in cisplatin-resistant lung cancer cells. Treatment with miltirone suppressed cell viability and induced apoptosis in HCC827 and A549 platinum-resistant lung cancer cells. It was also revealed that miltirone increased caspase-3/8 activity as well as B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X-protein, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), p53 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) protein expression, whereas it inhibited mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/9 protein expression in HCC827 and A549 platinum-resistant lung cancer cells. The results of the present study demonstrated that miltirone induces apoptosis in cisplatin-resistant lung cancer cells through ROS-p53, AIF, PARP and MMP2/9 signaling pathways.

The effects of triptolide on inflammatory responses in endothelial cells

It is widely held that endothelial dysfunction plays a crucial role in various pathological inflammatory conditions. Although triptolide, an active ingredient of Traditional Chinese Medicine Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.F., has been shown to possess anti‐inflammatory effects in vivo, little information is available that describes the effects of triptolide on inflammatory responses in endothelial cells (ECs). In this study, we determined whether triptolide suppresses inflammatory responses of ECs via inhibition of NF‐κB signaling. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) enhanced cytokine and chemokine production, adhesion molecule expression, and monocyte adhesion. These effects were associated with increased activation of NF‐κB pathway. Furthermore, we found that pretreatment with triptolide dose‐dependently attenuated LPS‐induced actions. Our results indicate that triptolide suppresses the inflammatory responses of ECs via the inhibition of NF‐κB signaling. [This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81673734) and Henan Provincial Science and Technique Foundation for International Cooperation Program (No. 162102410048)].Support or Funding InformationThis work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81673734) and Henan Provincial Science and Technique Foundation for International Cooperation Program (No. 162102410048)This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Urinary metabolomics study of Xiangdan submicron emulsions on a rat model of myocardial ischaemia

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to discover the potential biomarkers changes on a rat model of isoproterenol (ISO) induced myocardial ischaemia before and after treatment with a Xiangdan submicron emulsion and to explore the unclearing mechanisms by urinary metabolomics. MethodsThree active traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) ingredients were formulated into a lyophilized submicron emulsion powder with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin encapsulation by high pressure homogenization technology. The three ingredients were given both separately and combined, and the corresponding effects of the three drugs were compared. Principal component analysis (PCA) and the HPLC-UV analytical method was applied to explore the change of composition of urine metabolites in a rat model of isoproterenol induced myocardial ischaemia. ResultsAnalytical methods measuring the three active ingredients in urine samples were established. PCA score plots revealed that the therapeutic effect of the Xiangdan submicron emulsion was more significant than that of the Xiangdan injection. There was a synergistic effect among the three active ingredients. Furthermore, studies of rat metabolism changes and structure analysis of biological markers indicated that the mechanism of Xiangdan formulations was related to the inhibition of abnormal tryptophan metabolism. ConclusionXiangdan preparations had a confirmed effect in the treatment of coronary heart disease, especially with the novel Xiangdan submicron emulsion formulation. Urinary metabolomics methods to monitor special biomarker changes is an excellent method to reveal the mechanism of action of TCM drugs.

DNA metabarcoding identification of prescription ingredients in traditional medicine Ruyi Jinhuang San

The efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine are global concerns. Here, we selected a traditional medicinal powder Ruyi Jinhuang San as a research subject and employed DNA metabarcoding technology to identify its ingredients. First, 161 specimens constituting the ingredients of Ruyi Jinhuang San and their adulterants were collected. In addition, 154 ITS2 sequences belonging to the closed related species of these ingredients were extracted from the published literatures. First, a DNA barcode reference library of Ruyi Jinhuang San, comprising 119 species belonging to 10 genera, was constructed. Second, three different batches of Ruyi Jinhuang San were collected, and ITS2 was selected as a DNA barcode. PCR products were sequenced with the Illumina HiSeq sequencing platform using PE250 libraries. Taxonomy assignments were completed with the help of the above-mentioned DNA barcode reference library. The results indicated that all ingredients of Ruyi Jinhuang San can be successfully detected except Houppo. The medicine Cangzu had been contaminated with Atractylodes koreana . The medicine Tiannanxing had been substituted with Pinellia pedatisecta . The contamination and substitution of medicinal ingredients are potential threats to consumer safety and medicinal effectiveness. The authentication results of different samples are repeatable and stable. In conclusion, DNA metabarcoding is a valuable technology to validate the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine and has the potential to be a new method for identifying traditional Chinese medicine ingredients.

Effects of drying methods on contents of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities of Angelica dahurica.

Baizhi (Angelica dahurica) has been widely used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, functional food and cosmetic product ingredient, mostly because of the high furanocoumarin compounds in roots. Because the fresh root is perishable, drying techniques are needed to maintain a higher-quality product. Freeze-drying is the best method but energy-consuming and costly. The aim of this study was to analyze the quality (antioxidant and furanocoumarin content) of Baizhi roots after freeze-drying (the control) and in-the-shade, 40 and 70°C drying. Antioxidant activity was revealed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and Fe2+ chelating assay, and the content of six furanocoumarin compounds, including xanthotoxin, bergapten, oxypeucedanin, imperatorin, phellopterin and isoimperatorin, was analyzed by liquid chromatography. Antioxidant activity was greater in roots with in-the-shade, 40 and 70°C drying than freeze-drying. The furanocoumarin content pattern was similar with 70°C drying and freeze-drying. A. dahurica roots dried at 70°C may be an alternative method for maintaining high quality.

Complete mitochondrial genome characterization of the alligator pipefish Syngnathoides biaculeatus and phylogenetic analysis of family Syngnathidae

The alligator pipefish Syngnathoides biaculeatus (Bloch, 1785) is one of the heavily traded and expensive ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, the complete mitogenome of S. biaculeatus was determined. The mitochondrial genome of S. biaculeatus was 16,480 bp in length. It contains 13 protein coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNAs (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA), 22 tRNA genes, one origin of replication (OL) and a non-coding control region (D-loop). The overall base composition is 29.71, 28.39, 26.53 and 15.37% for A, T, C and G, respectively. Phylogenetic tree analysis suggests S. biaculeatus was placed as a sister relationship to the the leafy seadragon Phycodurus eques with high statistical support. This work provides fundamental molecular data of S. biaculeatus, which will be beneficial to species identification, genetic differentiation and further management and conservation in this species.

Determination of quality markers of Xuezhiling tablet for hyperlipidemia treatment

BackgroundThe massive number of ingredients in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) makes quality control very difficult. The concept of quality markers (Q-marker) was recently proposed to evaluate the quality of TCMs. Xuezhiling tablets (XZL) are widely used for the treatment of hyperlipidemia in China owing to its noticeable effectiveness and mild adverse effects, but there are no proper Q-markers for this Chinese patent medicine. PurposeThe aim of the present study was to determine the Q-markers of XZL against hyperlipidemia through an integration of investigations on its lipid-lowering effect, metabolomics, content determination and pharmacokinetics. MethodsXZL was prepared in accordance with the method described in the Chinese pharmacopoeia (Ch.P.). Hyperlipidemia was induced in rats through the administration of a high-fat diet (HFD). The hypolipidemic effect of XZL was investigated through the detection of the blood levels of total glyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). A metabolomics study was conducted to analyze the overall effects of XZL on the regulation of lipid metabolism. The main bioactive compounds of XZL were identified and determined in the XZL preparation and the medicated plasma of hyperlipidemic rats. ResultsXZL lowered the levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C through alterations of metabolic patterns. 2,3,5,4′-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (THSG), chrysophanol-1-O-β-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-β-D-glucopyranosy1-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (SHJ), cassiaside, rubrofusarin gentiobioside, aurantio-obtusin, chryso-obtusin, and obtusinfolin were identified and determined both in the preparation and the blood of hyperlipidemic rats. ConclusionSHJ, obtusinfolin, THSG, rubrofusarin gentiobioside, and aurantio-obtusin, which are more abundant in the preparation, leading to greater exposure in vivo, were suitable Q-markers to guarantee the medicinal quality of XZL and ensure the clinical effectiveness on hyperlipidemia.