Liver Meridian Research Articles

Electroacupuncture at acupoints of liver meridian for diminished ovarian reserve of liver depression: a randomized controlled trial

To observe the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture at acupoints of liver meridian in patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) of liver depression. A total of 62 patients with DOR of liver depression were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture group (31 cases, 1 case discontinued) and a western medication group (31 cases, 1 case was eliminated). Electroacupuncture was applied at bilateral Taichong (LR 3), Ligou (LR 5), Ququan (LR 8), Jimai (LR 12) in the electroacupuncture group, with continuous wave, in frequency of 2 Hz and current of 0.5-1.0 mA, 30 min each time, once every other day, 3 times a week. Femoston was taken orally in the western medication group, oral estradiol tablets were taken for the first 14 days, followed by oral estradiol/progesterone complex tablets for the rest 14 days, 1 tablet a day. Both groups were treated for 3 consecutive menstrual cycles. Before and after treatment, the scores of TCM syndrome, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were observed, serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) were detected, and antral follicle count (AFC), peak systolic velocity (PSV) and resistance index (RI) of ovarian artery were measured by color Doppler ultrasound in the two groups, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment. After treatment, the scores of primary symptom and secondary symptom, as well as the total scores of TCM syndrome were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01), the scores of SAS and SDS, as well as the serum FSH levels and RI of ovarian artery were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01), while the serum AMH levels, AFC and PSV of ovarian artery were increased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the two groups. After treatment, in the electroacupuncture group, the primary symptom score of TCM syndrome was higher than that in the western medication group (P<0.01), the secondary symptom score of TCM syndrome and the scores of SAS and SDS were lower than those in the western medication group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The total effective rate was 70.0% (21/30) in the electroacupuncture group and 73.3% (22/30) in the western medication group respectively, there was no significant difference in the total effective rate between the two groups (P>0.05). Electroacupuncture at acupoints of liver meridian can effectively improve the clinical symptoms, anxiety and depression, regulate the serum sex hormone levels, increase AFC and improve ovarian blood supply in DOR patients of liver depression.

Integrated metabolomics and network pharmacology analysis to reveal the protective effect of Complanatoside A on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

The rising prevalence and severe consequences of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have driven the quest for preventive medications. Complanatoside A (CA) is the marked flavonoid of Astragali complanati semen, a traditional Chinese herb that acts on the liver meridian and is widely used to treat liver problems. CA has been proven to have considerable lipid-lowering and liver-protective effects in vitro. However, the efficacy of CA in preventing NAFLD has yet to be shown in vivo. First, the effectiveness of CA against NAFLD was assessed using a high-fat diet (HFD) mouse model. Second, the CA protective mechanism against NAFLD was investigated using a combined metabolomics and network pharmacology strategy. Differential metabolites were identified by metabolomics-based analyses, and metabolic pathway analysis was accomplished by MetaboAnalyst. Potential therapeutic targets were obtained through network pharmacology. Finally, key targets were identified via compound-target networks and validated by molecular docking and western blotting. CA prevented NAFLD mainly by reducing liver lipid accumulation in HFD mice. Metabolomics identified 22 potential biomarkers for CA treatment of NAFLD, primarily involving glycerophospholipid and arachidonic acid metabolism. Fifty-one potential targets were determined by network pharmacology. Co-analysis revealed that albumin, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha, retinoid X receptor alpha, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha were key targets. This experiment revealed that CA has a preventive effect on NAFLD, primarily by regulating the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha/retinoid X receptor alpha pathway. Furthermore, it provides evidence supporting the potential use of CA in the long-term prevention of NAFLD.

Deciphering the impact and mechanism of total flavonoids from Cortex Juglandis Mandshuricae on alcoholic fatty liver employing LC-MS/MS, network pharmacology analysis and in vitro validation

The Cortex Juglandis Mandshuricae (CJM) has the efficacy of penetrating the liver meridian, removing heat and dampness, and alleviating the liver, which corresponds to the pathogenesis of alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) with damp heat accumulation. Modern research has shown that total flavonoids from Cortex Juglandis Mandshuricae (TFC) have hepatoprotective, antioxidant and antitumour pharmacological effects. However, there is no any investigation on the mechanism of TFC improving AFLD. In this work, a valid strategy combining UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS, network pharmacology and in vitro cellular experimental validation is proposed to predict the targets and pathways of total flavonoids from Cortex Juglandis Mandshuricae (TFC) to ameliorate AFLD and to explore its mechanism of action. As a result, 26 flavonoids and 182 targets linked to TFC and AFLD were identified. These compounds realize their critical targets via various signaling pathways and perform multiple biological functions on the basis of the constructed compound-disease target networks. In vitro experiments demonstrated TFC had a protective impact on ethanol-treated L02 cells to a certain extent and could diminished lipid accretion. In addition, RT-qPCR and western blot results illustrated that TFC could regulate the expression of PPARα, CPT-1, SREBP-1c and FAS, and inhibit alcohol-induced lipid accumulation in L02 cells thereby alleviating AFLD. The present study further provides experimental justification for TFC to ameliorate AFLD in practical applications.

The processing mechanism of vinegar-processed Curcumae Rhizome enhances anti hepatic fibrotic effects through regulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

BackgroundHepatic fibrosis, a chronic pathological condition resulting from various forms of persistent liver injury, in the later stage, it can evolve into cirrhosis and even liver cancer. Curcumae Rhizoma (CR), traditionally recognized for its properties in line qi break blood, eliminate accumulation and relieve pain. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) principles, vinegar-processing enhances CR's ability to enter the liver meridian and act on the blood level, potentially augmenting its therapeutic effects on hepatic diseases. Therefore, vinegar-processed Curcumae Rhizoma (VCR) is frequently employed in treating liver fibrosis and related hepatic conditions. However, the underlying mechanisms of vinegar processing in enhancing its therapeutic efficacy remain unclear. MethodsThe anti-liver fibrosis effects of CR and VCR were verified at individual and cellular levels. Subsequently, HPLC-Q-TOFMS and pharmacokinetic analysis were utilized to elucidate the potential bioactive substances underlying the enhanced anti-fibrotic efficacy of VCR. Building upon these findings, network pharmacology and metabolomics were integrated to screen for key effect components and regulatory pathways. Finally, the mechanisms of action were further analyzed and validated at the tissue and cellular levels through Western blotting (WB) and molecular docking studies. ResultsBoth CR and VCR exhibited therapeutic effects against hepatic fibrosis, with VCR demonstrating enhanced efficacy after vinegar processing. 6 sesquiterpenes including furanodiene and curdione, showed significant alterations in plasma exposure and hepatic distribution post-processing. VCR significantly improved pathological liver conditions, lipid accumulation, and fibrosis severity. Additionally, VCR markedly reduced the expression of α-SMA in the liver and attenuated the elevations in liver function markers such as ALT and AST. Combined network pharmacology, metabolomics, and hepatic tissue WB analysis revealed that the reduced phosphorylation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is a critical mechanism in VCR's anti-fibrotic effects. Experiments on LX-2 cells demonstrated that four sesquiterpenes, including furanodiene and curdione, effectively inhibited the proliferation of activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Furanodiene, in particular, promoted apoptosis in activated HSCs by reducing phosphorylation levels of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway proteins, increasing BAX expression, and activating downstream caspase-3 to achieve the effect of anti-liver fibrosis. ConclusionVinegar-processing significantly increases the plasma exposure and hepatic distribution of components such as furanodiene in VCR, enhancing anti-fibrotic efficacy by downregulating the phosphorylation levels of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and promoting HSC apoptosis. This study provides a comprehensive explanation of the vinegar-processing mechanism and its role in enhancing the anti-fibrotic effects of VCR, offering insights for its clinical application in liver fibrosis treatment and reference for the mechanistic study of other vinegar-processed herbal medicines.

The Influencing Factors and Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Characteristics of Depression/Anxiety in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the situation of depression/anxiety in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) at different stages of the disease and to analyze the influencing factors and the evolution characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes. Materials and Methods: From October 2016 to April 2018, a cross-sectional survey was conducted at 48 clinical research centers in 23 provinces, cities, and autonomous regions across China. A total of 11383 cases were collected by outpatient or inpatient cases, including healthy individuals (n = 1754), low-risk individuals (n = 2339), metabolic syndrome (n = 1475), stable CHD (n = 3366), acute coronary syndrome (n = 704), perioperative intervention treatment (n = 753), and heart failure (n = 992). Survey demographic data, lifestyle habits, disease and health status, TCM symptoms and signs, and other information were collected. Results: The prevalence rates of depression/anxiety in surveyed patients with CHD were 35.7% and 21.0%, respectively, and were higher than those in patients with metabolic syndrome (18.8% and 10.3%, respectively), low-risk individuals (11.7% and 7.5%), and healthy individuals (9.7% and 5.7%, respectively). The significant risk factors for CHD combined with depression analyzed by the generalized linear mixed model included age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.019), gender (OR = 0.632), hypertension (OR = 0.306), course of CHD (OR = 0.022), stent placement (OR = −0.284), heart function level (OR = −4.151/−3.336/−2.118), and phlegm stasis syndrome score (OR = 0.129). The significant risk factors for CHD combined with anxiety included gender (OR = 0.581), heart function level (OR = −1.856), and phlegm stasis syndrome score (OR = 0.094). Factor analysis was conducted on the symptoms and signs of patients with CHD combined with depression/anxiety, and 16 common factors were obtained with cumulative contribution rates of 62.83% and 66.13%, respectively. Disease syndromes included liver and kidney deficiency syndrome, liver stagnation and discomfort syndrome, Qi deficiency syndrome, liver meridian fire heat syndrome, kidney deficiency syndrome, phlegm dampness syndrome, heart and gallbladder Qi deficiency syndrome, blood stasis syndrome, lung Qi inversion syndrome, Yang deficiency syndrome, and three symptoms named diseases, including chest tightness, chest pain, insomnia, and head discomfort. Conclusions: Through cross-sectional design, the data obtained in this study revealed the actual situation of CHD patients with anxiety or depression at different stages. The influencing factors of CHD patients with depression or anxiety were analyzed through the collected cross-sectional information and further revealed the syndromic characteristics of CHD patients with depression or anxiety at different stages from the perspective of TCM syndromes. The data obtained provide a practical basis for further understanding the clinical characteristics of bicardiac diseases and for proposing treatment strategies in stages.

An Image Dataset and an Effective Detection Algorithm for Human Body Acupoints

With the development of artificial intelligence, computer vision technology has been widely used in the fields of security monitoring, automatic driving and wisdom city. However, there has not been a research on the detection of the meridians in human bodies by using the computer vision technology. In order to promote the use of the computer vision technology in human meridian detection, this paper first releases a dataset based on human meridians, which makes up for the gap in the field of human meridian detection using image processing technology. Moreover, the human meridian detection dataset is manually annotated and proofread by experienced Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners according to the position and direction of the human meridians, so that the annotated human meridians are as accurate as possible. The released human meridian dataset label’s 12 meridians, including spleen meridian, pericardium meridian, stomach meridian, lung meridian, heart meridian, kidney meridian, gallbladder meridian, liver meridian, triple energizer meridian, bladder meridian, large intestine meridian and small intestine meridian. A total of 296 acupoints were labeled. At last, this paper proposes a method for data augmentation, especially for datasets with a small amount of data, wherein the data amount can be augmented by enhancing the underlying edge visual features of the data. Experimental results show that human meridians can be detected by using image processing technology, and the proposed method for data augmentation can effectively improve the detection accuracy of human meridians. The dataset can be downloaded from https://www.zksylf.com/col.jsp?id=127 .

Active Targets and Potential Mechanisms of Erhuang Quzhi Formula in Treating NAFLD: Network Analysis and Experimental Assessment.

The purpose of this research was to investigate the main active components, potential targets of action, and pharmacological mechanisms of Erhuang Quzhi Formula (EHQZF) against NAFLD using network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation. The main active chemical components of EHQZF and the potential targets for treating NAFLD were extracted and analyzed. The PPI network diagram of "Traditional Chinese Medicine-Active Ingredients-Core Targets" was constructed and the GO, KEGG, and molecular docking analysis were carried out. Identification of components in traditional Chinese medicine compounds was conducted by LC-MS. NAFLD models were established and relevant pathologic indicators and Western blot were analyzed in vivo and ex vivo. Totally 8 herbs attributed to the liver meridian and 20 corresponding targets of NAFLD were obtained from EHQZF. Flavonoids and phenolic acids as the main components of EHQZF treated NAFLD through the MAPK/AKT signaling pathway. Pathway enrichment analysis focused on the MAPK/AKT signaling pathway and apoptosis signaling pathway. Molecular docking showed that Quercetin and Luteolin had stable binding structures with AKT1, STAT3, and other targets. Experiments showed that EHQZF reduced lipid accumulation, regulated changes in adipose tissue, inhibited the MAPK/AKT signaling pathway and exert multiple components, several targets, and multiple pathway interactions to treat NAFLD.

Patrinia villosa (Thunb.) Juss alleviates CCL4-induced acute liver injury by restoring bile acid levels and inhibiting apoptosis/autophagy.

Patrinia villosa (Thunb.) Juss is one of the plant resources of the famous traditional Chinese medicine "Bai jiang cao (herba patriniae)," and it is considered to function at the liver meridian, thereby treating diseases of the liver as demonstrated by the traditional theory of TCM. Unfortunately, the therapeutic mechanism of the whole plant of PV is so far unknown. UPLC QTOF-MS/MS was used to analyze the profile of PV. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were categorized into five groups, and PV groups (125 and 375mg/kg) were administered by oral gavage for seven consecutive days. The model of liver injury was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 40% CCl4 oil solution. H&E staining was performed for histological evaluation. The ELISA method was used to assess the serum level of ALT, AST, and T-BIL. Serum and liver bile acid (BA) profiling was analyzed by LC-MS/MS. TUNEL-stained liver sections were used to monitor apoptosis caused by CCl4. HepG2 cells were used to detect autophagy caused by CCl4. A total of 16 compounds were identified from the 70% methanol extract of PV. PV (125 and 375mg/kg) could reverse the ectopic overexpression of AST, ALT, and T-BIL caused by CCl4 administration. H&E staining indicated that PV (125 and 375mg/kg) could reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cells and restore liver tissue and hepatocyte structures. Six bile acids, including DCA, HDCA, GCA, TCA, TCDCA, and TUDCA, were significantly altered both in the serum and liver tissue after CCl4 administration, and the level of all these six bile acids was restored by PV treatment. Moreover, PV inhibited apoptosis caused by CCl4 stimulation in liver tissue and suppressed autophagy in HepG2 cells treated with CCl4. The results in this paper for the first time reveal the alteration of the bile acid profile in CCl4-induced liver injury and demonstrate that inhibiting apoptosis and autophagy was involved in P. villosa-elicited liver protection, providing a scientific basis for the clinical utilization of P. villosa as a natural hepatic protective agent.

Medication rules of Chinese herbs in treatment of H-type hypertension based on data mining

Based on the R language data mining technology, the medication rules of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in the treatment of H-type hypertension were discussed, and the basis and new ideas for the treatment of H-type hypertension with TCM were provided. CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and SinoMed were searched to collect clinical studies on the treatment of H-type hypertension with TCM. The data were screened, and Excel was used to build a database. Rstudio was used to carry out drug efficacy classification, four Qi and five flavors, meridian homing, frequency of use, correlation, association rules, and clustering analyses of drugs and explore the medication rules of TCM. 191 TCM prescriptions were obtained, and the main syndromes were phlegm-dampness accumulation syndrome, phlegm and blood stasis syndrome, and Yin deficiency and Yang hyperactivity syndrome. A total of 169 kinds of TCM were used, and the frequency was 1 875 times. Among them, the drugs whose single use frequency was more than 20 times were high-frequency medicines, 26 kinds in total. They were Gestrodiae Rhizoma, Poria, Pinelliae Rhizoma, Achyranthis Bidenthis Radix, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, etc. The efficacy of high-frequency medicines was mainly classified as tonic medicines, blood-activating and stasis-removing medicines, liver-relieving wind medicines, and damp-clearing medicines. The four Qi of the drug were mainly warm and flat, and the five flavors were mainly sweet and bitter. The liver meridian and spleen meridian were the main meridians. The association rule analysis obtained a total of 14 groups of commonly used drug combinations, and the correlation analysis obtained 20 drug combinations with a high correlation coefficient. A total of six drug combinations were obtained by cluster analysis. Eight groups of drug pairs were obtained by association rule analysis on H-type hypertension with phlegm-dampness accumulation syndrome. Seven drug combinations with high correlation coefficients were obtained by correlation analysis, and three drug prescriptions were obtained by cluster analysis. The pathological factors of H-type hypertension are mainly phlegm, stasis, and deficiency. The disease site is in the liver, involving the spleen, lungs, and other viscera. The commonly used drugs are Gestrodiae Rhizoma, Poria, Pinelliae Rhizoma, Achyranthis Bidenthis Radix, etc. Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction, Tianma Gouteng Decoction, and Buyang Huanwu Decoction are commonly used prescriptions. The medication rules shown in this study can provide certain ideas for the clinical treatment of H-type hypertension with TCM.

Utilizing data mining techniques to analyze traditional Chinese medicine patterns in patients with acute cardiorenal syndrome

AbstractObjectiveThis study intends to investigate the medication patterns of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of acute cardiorenal syndrome (ACRS) through clinical data mining.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted at China‐Japan Friendship Hospital, encompassing hospitalized patients with ACSR admitted from June 1, 2013, to June 30, 2022. Patient treatment records, including TCM prescriptions, were gathered to establish a comprehensive prescription database. The prescriptions underwent analysis using the ancient and modern medical case cloud platform, incorporating the frequency, properties and flavors and channel tropism of each herbs, and clustering patterns, combination relationships, and complex network analysis of the whole.ResultsA total of 330 prescriptions from eligible hospitalized patients were included, which totally involves 324 kinds of different herbs. The therapeutic effects primarily emphasized descending qi and eliminating turbidity, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, drying dampness and dispelling phlegm, and promoting the ascension of Yang Qi. The properties were largely warm, netural, slightly cool and cold, with warm being predominant. The flavors were chiefly sweet, spicy, and bitter, with sweetness being the most common. The major channel tropism were the lung and spleen meridians, followed by the stomach, liver, heart, and kidney meridians. Combination analysis identified 30 pairs of combinations, with higher associations found in combinations such as Jiegeng, Huangqi, Chaihu, Baizhu, Zhimu, and Dangshen. Cluster analysis categorized high‐frequency herbs into 4 groups: Gualou–Fabanxia–Chuanxiong–Chishao, Fuling–Baizhu–Zhigancao–Chenpi, Maidong–Guizhi–Huangqi–Chaihu–Shengma–Zhimu–Shanzhuyu, and Huangqi–Dangshen–Jiegeng–Chaihu–Shengma–Zhimu–Shanzhuyu. Complex network analysis revealed core prescriptions for treating ACRS, including 17 herbs.ConclusionsIn the treatment of ACRS, TCM herbs with the properties of warm and neturality, and the flavors of sweet and spicy are commonly utilized. The prescribed herbal formulas have the effect of descending qi and eliminating turbidity, tonifying qi, activating blood and resolving stasis, resolving phlegm and promoting water.

Elucidating the hepatoprotective mechanisms of cholic acid against CCl4-Induced acute liver injury: A transcriptomic and metabolomic study

Ethnopharmacological relevanceCholic acid (CA) is one of the main active ingredients in Calculus Bovis, a traditional Chinese medicine, which helps to regulate the heart and liver meridians, clearing the heart, opening the mouth, cooling the liver and calming the wind. However, the molecular mechanism of its liver protective effect is still unclear. Aim of the studyGrowing attention has been directed towards traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), particularly Calculus Bovis, as a potential solution for liver protection. Despite this interest, a comprehensive understanding of its hepatoprotective mechanisms remains lacking. This research seeks to explore the potential protective properties of cholic acid (CA) against CCl4-induced acute liver injury (ALI) in mice, while also examining the mechanisms involved. Materials and methodsIn the experiment, a mouse model was employed to ALI using CCl4, and the potential therapeutic effects of orally administered CA at varying doses (15, 30, and 60 mg/kg) were assessed. The study employed a multi-faceted approach, integrating liver transcriptomics with serum metabolomics, and conducting thorough analyses of serum biochemical markers and liver histopathological sections. ResultsOral CA administration markedly reduced the organ indices of the liver, spleen, and thymus in comparison with the model group. It also elevated the expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in serum while diminishing the concentrations of ALT, AST, MDA, IL-6, and TNF-α. Moreover, CA ameliorated the pathological damage induced by CCl4. Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses indicated that the hepatoprotective action of CA on ALI is mediated through the modulation of lipid metabolic pathways—specifically, metabolisms of glycerophospholipid, arachidonic acid, as well as linoleic acid—and by altering the expression of genes such as Ptgr1, PLpp1, Tbxas1, and Cyp2c37. ConclusionsThe current investigation offers insights into the hepatoprotective mechanisms by which CA mitigates ALI caused by CCl4 exposure, thus supporting the further evaluation and development of CA-based therapeutics for ALI.

A study for quality evaluation of Lysimachiae herba from different origins based on fingerprint-activity relationship modeling and multi-component content determination

Ethnopharmacological relevanceLysimachiae Herba (LH), called Jinqiancao in Chinese, is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine in clinical practice. Doctors in the Qing Dynasty recorded that it tastes bitter, sour, and slightly cold, and it belongs to the liver, gallbladder, kidney, and bladder meridians. It has the effects of removing dampness and jaundice, eliminating gallstones, and reducing blood stasis. Because of its potent pharmacological effects, it is extensively utilized in the treatment of hepatobiliary and urinary system stones, jaundice, hepatitis, and cholecystitis. Although LH is included in “Sichuan authentic Chinese herbal medicine records”, the quality of it from different origins still lacks reliable evaluation methods, which is difficult to reflect the high quality of LH from Sichuan. Aims of the studyThis study aimed to establish a fingerprint-activity relationship model between the fingerprint of LH and its protective effect on cholestatic liver injury, and to evaluate the quality of LH from Sichuan and Guizhou by multivariate statistical analysis. Materials and methods20 batches of LH samples were collected from Sichuan and Guizhou. Characteristic fingerprints of samples were established by UHPLC−Triple TOF−MS/MS and the chemical pattern recognition analysis was carried out by HCA. Then, a rat model of cholestatic liver injury was established by intragastric administration of ANIT. Combined with the common peak information of fingerprint and pharmacodynamic index results, GCA and BCA were used to screen the efficacy markers. Finally, based on UHPLC−QTRAP−MS/MS, the content of efficacy markers was simultaneously determined, and the overall quality of LH from two origins was evaluated by PCA and TOPSIS. ResultsIn the fingerprint of 20 batches of LH, 15 common peaks were identified in the negative ion mode, and the similarity was between 0.887 and 0.981. Pharmacological results showed that, compared with the control group, the content of AST, ALT, ALP, TBA, TBIL, and MDA in serum increased, and the content of GSH and SOD activity decreased after 48 h of ANIT administration. In addition, compared to the model group, different doses of LH from the two origins could decrease the serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, TBA, TBIL, and MDA, raise the levels of GSH and SOD activity, reduce the infiltration range of inflammatory cells, and improve the cholestatic liver injury in rats. Among them, the pharmacodynamic indices of the SCHD group were significantly better. GCA and BCA showed that a total of 7 constituents related to the efficacy were screened, which were proanthocyanidin B1, ferulic acid, hyperoside, astragalin, nicotiflorin, afzelin, and kaempferol. Besides, the content of 7 active constituents in samples from Sichuan was higher than that from Guizhou, indicating that the quality of samples from Sichuan may be better, consistent with the result of the pharmacological experiment. ConclusionThe quality and efficacy of LH from different origins were stable, and all of them had protective effects on cholestatic liver injury in rats. The method established in this study is accurate and reliable, and it can be used to comprehensively evaluate the internal quality of LH.

Longdan Xiegan Decoction and its interpretation from the perspective of meridians

By systematically examing through Longdan Xiegan Decoction in medical books of the past dynasties, it was found that the Longdan Xiegan Decoction recorded in Lan Shi Mi Cang mainly targeted men's genital odor at frist. After Xue Ji's addition and subtraction, the scope of the prescription was gradually generalized and expanded, and confusion its name, composition and source of the prescription appeared, which was particularly prominent in Jingyue Quanshu and Yifang Jijie.Doctors used to interpret this prescription from the perspective of viscera. In order to better understand the main treatment rules of Longdan Xiegan Decoction, it is necessary to change the perspective and reinterpreted it from the perspective of meridians.Attributing the symptoms of the perineum to Liver Meridian of Foot-Jueyin,hypochondriac pain, deafness and other symptoms to the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang, and adding or subtracting herbs according to the specific conditions, is not only conducive to a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the prescription to achieve accurate clinical syndrome differentiation and medication, but also prompts modern researchers to rethink the important role of meridian theory in the formation and development of the theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine.

Study on Professor Diangui Li's Medication Experience in Treating Atrophic Gastritis Concomitant with Helicobacter Pylori Infection Based on Data Mining

Abstract Objective Our objective was to explore the national traditional Chinese medicine by studying master Diangui Li's medication experience in treating atrophic gastritis (AG) concomitant with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection based on data mining, and to provide the reference for the clinical treatment of relevant diseases. Methods The Chinese medicine prescriptions of the patients' first visits to the Famous Doctors' Consultation Room in Hebei Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine from May 2019 to December 2022 were collected and frequency analysis of the Chinese herbs, association rules analysis of the Chinese herbs, and cluster analysis were conducted using the Famous Doctor Inheritance Assistance Platform. Results A total of 188 prescriptions were collected, with 136 kinds of Chinese herbs. The highest use frequency of Chinese herbs was 185 and the lowest was 1. There were 28 kinds of Chinese herbs with high use frequency. The top 10 herbs with the high use frequency include Baihuasheshecao (Hedyotis Diffusae Herba), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Yinchen (Artemisiae Scopariae Herba), Jigucao (Abriherba), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Banzhilian (Scutellariae Barbatae Herba), Baihe (Lilii Bulbus), Zhishi (Aurantii Immaturus Fructus), Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma). Chinese herbs with high frequency use are mostly heat-clearing herbs and qi-regulating herbs; the flavors of the herbs are mainly pungent, bitter, and sweet; the properties are mainly warm, cold, and neutral; the meridian tropism is mainly the spleen, liver, and stomach meridians. The core herbal medicines are Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Yinchen (Artemisiae Scopariae Herba), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), etc.; the results of association rules: Jigucao (Abriherba)-Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix), Jiaogulan (Gynostemmatis Pentaphylli Rhizoma seu Herba)-Banlangen (Isatidis Radix), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix)-Banlangen (Isatidis Radix), etc.; the results of cluster analysis showed that there were 10 clusters: (1) Yinchen (Artemisiae Scopariae Herba), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Baihuasheshecao (Hedyotis Diffusae Herba), Banzhilian (Scutellariae Barbatae Herba), Jigucao (Abriherba); (2) Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Wuyao (Linderae Radix); (3) Yuanhu (Corydalis Rhizoma), Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix). Conclusions For the treatment of AG concomitant with Hp infection, Professor Diangui Li mainly adopts the method of clearing heat and removing the toxin, regulating qi and resolving phlegm, combining disease differentiation with syndrome differentiation, performing reinforcing method, and reducing method simultaneously to regulate the mechanism of the human body.

Peripheral pulse harmonic analysis and its clinical application: A systematic review

IntroductionPulse harmonic analysis is a quantitative and objective methodology within traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used to evaluate pulse characteristics. However, interpreting pulse wave data is challenging due to its inherent complexity. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review and comparison of existing human pulse wave harmonic analysis methods to elucidate their patterns and characteristics. MethodsA systematic review of clinical research reports published from 1990 to 2021 was conducted, focusing on variations in harmonic characteristics across different medical conditions and physiological states. Keyword searches included terms related to analysis methods (e.g., "Pulse Spectrum," "harmonic analysis," "harmonic index") and measured indicators (e.g., "vascular response," "PPG," "Photoplethysmography," "aortic," "arterial," "blood pressure"). Supplementary research using PubMed's Mesh terms specifically targeted "Pulse wave analysis" within the methods and statistical analysis domain. Articles were filtered based on predefined criteria, including human participants and research related to pulse pressure or vascular volume changes. Conference papers, animal studies, and irrelevant research were excluded, with literature evaluation scales selected based on the retrieved research reports. ResultsInitially, 6487 research reports were identified, and after screening, 50 reports were included in the review. The analysis revealed that low-frequency harmonics increase following vigorous activity or sympathetic excitation but decrease during rest or parasympathetic excitation. Cardiovascular patients exhibited elevated first harmonics associated with the liver meridian, while diabetes patients displayed weakened third harmonics related to the spleen meridian. Liver dysfunction was linked to changes in the first harmonic, and cancer patients showed signs of liver and kidney yin deficiency in the first and second harmonics. These findings underscore the potential of harmonic analysis for TCM disease diagnosis and organ assessment. Moreover, individuals with conditions such as liver dysfunction, cancer, and gynecological disorders displayed distinct intensity patterns across harmonics one through ten compared to healthy controls, albeit with some variations. Heterogeneity in these studies mainly stemmed from differences in measurement methods and study populations. Additionally, research suggested that factors like blood circulation and cognitive activity influenced harmonic intensity. ConclusionsIn summary, this report consolidates prior research on pulse wave harmonics analysis, revealing unique patterns associated with various physiological conditions. Despite limitations, such as limited sample sizes in previous studies, the observed associations between physiological states and harmonics hold promise for potential clinical applications. This study lays a solid foundation for future applications of arterial wave harmonics analysis, promoting wider adoption of this analytical approach.

Exploring the pathogenesis of depression and potential antidepressants through the integration of reverse network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics.

Depression is characterized by a significant and persistent decline in mood and is currently a major threat to physical and mental health. Traditional Chinese medicine can effectively treat depression with few adverse effects. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the use of reverse network pharmacology and computer simulations to identify effective ingredients and herbs for treating depression. Differentially expressed genes associated with depression were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, after which enrichment analyses were performed. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed using the STRING database to screen core targets. The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform database was used to screen ingredients related to these core targets, and the core ingredients were screened by constructing the "Targets-Ingredients-Herbs" network. Drug evaluation analysis was performed using the SwissADME and ADMETlab platforms, according to Lipinski Rule of 5. The binding between the targets and ingredients was simulated using molecular docking software. The binding stability was determined using molecular dynamics analysis. The "Ingredients-Herbs" network was constructed, and we annotated it for its characteristics and meridians. Finally, the selected herbs were classified to determine the formulation for treating depression in traditional Chinese medicine. The pathogenesis of depression was associated with changes in SPP1, Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, CCNB1 protein, CCL3, and other genes. Computer simulations have verified the use of quercetin, luteolin, apigenin, and other ingredients as drugs for treating depression. Most of the top 10 herbs containing these ingredients were attributed to the liver meridian, and their taste was symplectic. Perilla Frutescen, Cyperi Rhizoma, and Linderae Radix, the main components of "Tianxiang Zhengqi Powder," can treat depression owing to Qi stagnation. Epimedium and Citicola, the main traditional Chinese herbs in "Wenshen Yiqi Decoction," have a positive effect on depression of the Yang asthenia type. Fructus Ligustri Lucidi and Ecliptae Herba are from the classic prescription "Erzhi Pills" and can treat depression of the Yin deficiency type. This study identified the key targets and effective medicinal herbs for treating depression. It provides herbal blend references for treating different types of depression according to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine.

Medication rule of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of plateau hypoxia based on data mining.

The development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the plateau area is relatively backward. There is a lack of system to analyze the effects of the special environment of plateau low pressure and hypoxia on human meridians qi and blood, as well as the etiology and pathogenesis of plateau hypoxic diseases. To analyze the composition rules of anti-hypoxia TCM formulation with data mining methods. The experimental literatures related to high altitude hypoxia were searched in China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Med Online, VIP, China Biology Medicine disc and other databases, a standardized prescription database was established after screening and standardization of prescription data in the literature. The composition rules of these prescription including drug frequency, drug attributes, drug efficacy, drug combination, and core prescription were analyzed and displayed with visual charts. A total of 135 TCM prescriptions were included, and 229 flavored drugs were included. Among these prescriptions, the TCM with high frequency of use were Astragalus, Danshen, Ginseng, and Angelica, etc. Four natures of the TCM were mostly warm and calm. Five flavours of the TCM were mostly sweet, bitter, and pungent. And channel tropism of the TCM mostly entered the heart, lung, and liver meridians. The frequency combination of TCM was Astragalus-Danshen and Astragalus-Angelica. The core medicines of these prescriptions were Astragalus, Danshen, Angelica, Rhodiola, Goji, and Ginseng. TCM could alleviate symptoms such as chest tightness, chest pain, coughing and wheezing, coughing, vomiting, fatigue, and loss of appetite caused by hypoxia at high altitude. Through data mining, it is concluded that the prevention or treatment of plateau hypoxic diseases mostly utilized products can nourish blood, replenish qi and dispel stasis, and help yang and dispel qi, most of them are compatible with qi tonic drugs and blood circulation and stasis dissolving drugs, and pay attention to the combination of virtual and real, yin and yang.

Analysis of medication rules and application characteristics of Chinese patent medicine containing borneol based on data mining

BackgroundIn this study, the regularity of drug containing borneol proprietary Chinese medicine was mined, to provide reference for the clinical application and new drug research and development of borneol. MethodsThe database of proprietary Chinese medicines on Pharmaceutical Intelligence Network was searched for internal and external prescriptions that contained borneols and the diseases they treat. Microsoft Office Excel 2019 and SPSS Modeler 18.0 were used to analyze the properties, flavors, meridians tropisms and association rule analysis of the medicines, and Origin 21.0 software was used to draw the association rules diagram. ResultsAmong them, 528 prescriptions of internal Chinese patent medicine containing borneol and 387 prescriptions of external Chinese patent medicine were included. The diseases treated by internal prescription were mainly neurological diseases and heart diseases, among which Chinese medicines with higher frequency of compatibility with borneol were bezoar, licorice, cinnabar, musk and scutellaria. The diseases treated by external prescription were mainly physical disabilities, paralysis diseases, sore and ulcer diseases and so on. Among them, menthol, camphor, frankincense, angelica, and carthami flos and so on are the most frequently combined with borneol. ConclusionThe prescription of Chinese patent medicine containing borneol is composed of cold or warm, pungent or bitter Chinese medicine. Internal prescription primarily targets the meridians of the heart, liver, and lungs, and is often combined with sedative, antipyretic and detoxicating drugs to treat stroke, infantile convulsion and angina pectoris. External prescription mainly acts on liver, heart and spleen meridian, and is often combined with drugs for clearing heat, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis to treat rheumatic arthralgia syndrome and sore and ulcer diseases.

Electroacupuncture for ulcerative colitis patients: A meta-analysis and acupoints selection study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) on ulcerative colitis (UC) and explore the influence of EA parameters and acupoint compatibility to optimize the clinical treatment plan. MethodsAfter searching eight databases, data were extracted and analyzed to determine the quality and bias of the study's methodological design, and randomized controlled trial (RCT) datas were meta-analyzed. ResultsTwelve studies that meet the criteria were included. The results of meta-analysis indicated that, compared with the control group, experimental group had better clinical efficacy [RR = 1.27, 95%CI = (1.19, 1.36), P < 0.01], Other indicators such as cure rate [RR = 1.73, 95%CI = (1.43, 2.09), P < 0.01], effective rate of mucosal lesions under enteroscopy [RR = 1.24, 95%CI = (1.11, 1.38), P < 0.01], serum inflammatory factor TNF-α [MD = −41.11, 95%CI = (−46.01, 36.22), P < 0.01] were significantly better than those in the control group. Sixteen acupoints on the Ren, Bladder, Stomach, Spleen, and Liver meridians were used 74 times. RN4-ST25 is the most compatible acupoints. ConclusionThe clinical efficacy of EA in treating UC is superior than the control group's, and it has curative effects in terms of cure rate, efficacy of mucosal lesions under colonoscopy, serum inflammatory factors, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome scores. Combining acupoints of the Bladder, Stomach, and Ren meridians and using dense wave for 30 min each time for more than 6 weeks may be optimal for UC patients.

Multi-target meridians classification based on the topological structure of anti-cancer phytochemicals using deep learning

Ethnopharmacological relevanceTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) meridian is the key theoretical guidance of prescription against tumor in clinical practice. However, there is no scientific and systematic verification of therapeutic action of herbs under meridians context. Several studies have determined the Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) phytochemicals for intrinsic attribute or meridians classification based on artificial intelligence (AI) tools. However, it is challenging to represent the complex molecular structures with large heterogeneity through the current technologies. In addition, the multiple correspondence between herbs and meridians has not been paid much attention. Aim of the studyWe aim to develop an AI framework to classify multi-target meridians through the topological structure of phytochemicals. Materials and methodsA total of 354 anti-cancer herbs, their corresponding TCM meridians and 5471 ingredient compounds were collected from public databases of CancerHSP, ETCM, and Hit 2.0. The statistical analysis of herbal and compound datasets, clustering analysis of the associated cancers, and correlational analysis of meridian tropism were preliminary conducted. Then a deep learning (DL) hybrid model named GRMC consisting of graph convolutional network (GCN) and recurrent neural network (RNN) was employed to generate the meridian multi-label sequences based on molecular graph. ResultsThe curing herbs against tumors have tight relationships to lung, liver, stomach, and spleen meridians. These herbs behave different properties in curing certain cancer. Certain cancer types have co-occurrence such as ovarian, bladder and cervical cancer. Compounds have multitarget meridians with characteristics of higher-order correlations. Compared with the other state-of-the-art algorithms on the datasets and previous methods dealing with conventional fixed fingerprints of herbal compounds, the proposed GRMC has superior overall performance on testing dataset with the one error of 0.183, hamming loss of 0.112, mean averaged accuracy (MAA) of 0.855, mean averaged precision (MAP) of 0.891, mean averaged recall (MAR) of 0.812, and mean averaged F1 score (MAF) of 0.849. ConclusionsThe proposed method can predict multi-targeted meridians through neural graph features in herbal compounds and outperforms several comparison methods. It could provide a basis for understanding the molecular scientific evidence of TCM meridians.