Processing Of Chinese Materia Medica Research Articles

Application of digital-intelligence technology in the processing of Chinese materia medica.

Processing of Chinese Materia Medica (PCMM) is the concentrated embodiment, which is the core of Chinese unique traditional pharmaceutical technology. The processing includes the preparation steps such as cleansing, cutting and stir-frying, to make certain impacts on the quality and efficacy of Chinese botanical drugs. The rapid development of new computer digital technologies, such as big data analysis, Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain and cloud computing artificial intelligence, has promoted the rapid development of traditional pharmaceutical manufacturing industry with digitalization and intellectualization. In this review, the application of digital intelligence technology in the PCMM was analyzed and discussed, which hopefully promoted the standardization of the process and secured the quality of botanical drugs decoction pieces. Through the intellectualization and the digitization of production, safety and effectiveness of clinical use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoction pieces were ensured. This review also provided a theoretical basis for further technical upgrading and high-quality development of TCM industry.

Slicing specifications in general rule of processing in Chinese Pharmacopoeia from slicing development of Chinese materia medica processed product and thinking and suggestion on slicing techniques

Slicing is critical in the processing of Chinese materia medica(CMM) processed product and the specification(thickness) is closely related to the quality of the decoction. On the basis of clarifying the concept and evolution of slicing of CMM processed product by reviewing the Chinese herbal classics of the past dynasties and general rules of local processing standards, this study discussed the development history of slicing specifications in general rules of Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition), analyzed the current situation and key problems, and proposed the thinking and suggestion on promoting the sound development of slicing of CMM processed product. Since 2000, the slicing thickness of CMM processed product in the general rules of local CMM processed product processing specifications newly revised and issued by 27 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities has been consistent with that in the general rules of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition). The standard that the thickness of extremely thin pieces is less than 0.5 mm is rarely retained, and the pieces in 0.5-1 mm thickness have not been found on the market, which is consistent with the provisions of the general rules of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. This study can provide a historical and modern basis for the rationality of slicing of CMM processed product.

Quality assessment of processed Eucommiae Cortex based on the color and tensile force

Eucommiae Cortex (EC), the dried stem bark of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv, has been traditionally used to strengthen the muscle and bone tissues and improve liver and kidney functions in East Asian countries, including China, Japan, and Korea. Salty-fried EC (SFEC) is made by using mixing EC and saline together based on the protocol of Chinese Materia Medica Processing (CMMP) for clinical use. However, the clinical effectiveness of SFEC is directly impacted by the frying temperature and time. But precise techniques for evaluating the caliber of SFEC have yet to be developed. Thus, this study aimed to establish a fast and accurate quality-check method for SFEC decoction pieces. According to the frying temperature and time, four different categories of SFEC had been got according to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia method as Raw (R), Under (U), Moderately (M), and Overly (O). The red (R), green (G), blue (B), and light (L) color values of the decoction pieces were quantitated using the Photoshop software to determine the standard value range of the L color (raw [104.44 ​± ​15.06], under [67.28 ​± ​8.20], moderately [39.94 ​± ​6.40], and over [15.02 ​± ​5.03]). Additionally, the tensile strengths and pinoresinol diglucoside (PDG) levels of EC gum-silks were measured using the mechanical tensile test and HPLC, respectively. We also conducted Pearson correlation analysis on the L color value, EC gum-silk tension (FbcN), and PDG level, and established the following multiple-linear regression equation: the decline in PDG level (w) ​= ​0.829–0.001 ​× ​FbcN – 0.009 ​× ​L. In conclusion, the L color value and FbcN could be used for cluster analysis of four categories of SFEC. Additionally, based on the correlation among the L color value, gum-silk tensile test, and PDG level, a rapid and accurate quality-control method for SFEC decoction pieces with different frying temperatures and durations was established. This method facilitates the manufacturing of efficacious SFEC.

Study on the Effects of Chinese Materia Medica Processing on the Hypoglycemic Activity and Chemical Composition of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma.

Purpose To compare the hypoglycemic effects of different extracts of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (AR) before and after being stir-baked with salt water on the diabetic mice and to detect the contents of 8 components in the corresponding active parts simultaneously using the UPLC-MS method, in order to screen the better extracts for diabetes and to clear the material basis for enhancing hypoglycemic activity of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma stir-baked with salt water (SAR). Methods Taking spontaneous type II diabetic db/db mice as models and fasting blood glucose (FBG), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), glycated hemoglobin or glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc), serum resistin (RESISTEIN), fasting insulin (FINS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO) as indicators, the hypoglycemic effects of different active parts of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma were evaluated. The chromatographic separation was performed on a Waters BEH C18 (2.1 mm × 50 mm, 1.7 μm) column using acetonitrile (B) and 0.1% formic acid in water (A) as mobile phases, and the flow rate was 0.3 ml/min. The column temperature was set as 28°C, and the injection volume was 10 μL. A mass spectrometer was connected to the UPLC system via an electrospray ionization (ESI) interface. Full-scan data acquisition was performed in the negative ion mode. Result In the study of pharmacodynamics, the hypoglycemic effect of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma stir-baked with salt water is better than that of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma and the hypoglycemic effect of ethanol extract of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma is more remarkable than that of the decoction. The measured components all have a good linear relationship within their respective linear ranges (r ≥ 0.9990); the average recovery rates are 98.86%–100.69%, RSD <2.90%. Compared with the raw Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, the contents of Timosaponin AIII, Timosaponin BII, Timosaponin BIII, Anemarrhenasaponin I, Anemarrhenasaponin Ia, and Mangiferin of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma stir-baked with salt water are all higher, the changes of Timosaponin AI and Anemarrhenasaponin AII are not obvious, and all the contents of chemical composition in the ethanol extract of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma and Anemarrhenae Rhizoma stir-baked with salt water were obviously higher compared with the water decoction. Conclusion The processing method, stir-baking with salt water, can increase the contents of active compositions in Anemarrhenae Rhizoma and strengthen the hypoglycemic effect. The ethanol extract of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma stir-baked with salt water is the better active site.

Identification of different bran-fried Atractylodis Rhizoma and prediction of atractylodin content based on multivariate data mining combined with intelligent color recognition and near-infrared spectroscopy

Unclear established standard of bran-fried Atractylodis Rhizoma (BFAR), a commonly used drug in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), compromised its clinical efficacy. In this study, we explored the correlation between color and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) feature with content of atractylodin, then established a rapid recognition model for the optimal degree of processing for BFAR preparation. The results of the Pearson analysis indicated that the color values were significantly and positively correlated with atractylodin content. The back propagation artificial neural network algorithm and cluster analysis revealed the color of different BFAR could be accurately divided into three categories; subsequently, the color range for the optimal degrees of stir-frying was established as follows: R[red value (105.79–127.25)], G[green value(75.84–89.64)], B[blue value(33.33–42.73)], L[Lightness (81.26–95.09)].Using NIR, principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and cluster analysis, three types of BFAR were accurately identified. The prediction model of atractylodin content was established using partial least squares regression analysis. The R2 of the validation set was 0.9717 and the root mean square error was 0.026. In the color judgment model, the processing degree of 8 batches of BFAR from the market is inferior. According to the NIR judgment model, the processing degree of all samples from the market is inferior. In conclusion, the best fire degree of BFAR can be identified quickly and accurately based on our established model. It is a potential method for quality evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica processing.

Current application of metabolomics in the elucidation of processing mechanisms used in Chinese materia medica: A review

Processing, a key characteristic of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), enhances the efficacy and safety of Chinese materia medica (CMM) in clinics. It plays an important role in TCM. Studies on processing mechanisms involved in CMM promote the development of TCM. However, most studies on the mechanisms used for processing CMM do not reflect the holistic theory of TCM because they are based only on analysis of some specific chemical components and biochemical indices which do not support the TCM characteristics of network target and multicomponent therapeutics. Fortunately, the perspective of systems biology is consistent with the holistic theory of TCM. Metabolomics, a key tool in systems biology, has been widely used to investigate the processing mechanism of CMM for many years. In this work, current applications of metabolomics in elucidating mechanisms used for processing of CMM were systematically reviewed and discussed in terms of changes in chemical components, toxicity and efficacy of CMM before and after processing. This work provides researchers a clear and concise reference on the current application of metabolomics in investigation of mechanisms used in processing of CMM. Moreover, this work provides a guide on how to investigate the mechanisms used in processing of CMM, based on metabolomics.&#x0D; Keywords: Chinese materia medica, Processing mechanism, Metabolomics, Holistic theory

Comprehensive profiling of the chemical components and potential markers in raw and processed Cistanche tubulosa by combining ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry and MS/MS-based molecular networking.

Chinese materia medica processing is a distinguished and unique pharmaceutical technique in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which has played an important role in reducing side effects, increasing medical potencies, altering the properties and even changing the curative effects of raw herbs. The efficacy improvement in medicinal plants is mainly caused by changes in the key substances through an optimized processing procedure. Thus, the use of a rapid method for determining suitable chemical markers between raw and processed TCM is critical in order to elucidate how the bioactive compounds influence the clinical effects. In this study, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry combined with MS/MS-based molecular networking (MN) and a multivariate statistical analysis method is proposed for the first time. This combination was used to identify the complex chemical composition and clarify the changed constituents between raw and processed Cistanche tubulosa (C. tubulosa). The chemical analysis results demonstrated that a total of 85 compounds were identified in the crude and processed C. tubulosa. Moreover, 34 compounds were detected as chemical markers. This systematic research into chemical constituents and chemical markers of crude and processed C. tubulosa lays a solid foundation for further study of the quality control of C. tubulosa. Moreover, the study provides a new and valuable technical strategy for analyzing chemical components and identifying potential chemical markers for the processing of herbal medicines.Graphical abstract.

Characterization of the cold and hot natures of raw and processed Rehmanniae Radix by integrated metabolomics and network pharmacology

BackgroundThe processing of Chinese materia medica (CMM) is one of the characteristics and advantages of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Occasionally, the processing of CMM might reverse the cold/hot nature of CMM. For example, the nature of raw Rehmanniae Radix (RR) is cool, while the processed Rehmanniae Radix (PR) by steaming is hot. Because the cold/hot nature of CMM is defined by the body's response to CMMs, a metabolomics approach, allowing the monitoring of the fluctuation of endogenous metabolites related to an exogenous stimulus, might be an ideal tool to uncover the cold/hot nature of different forms of Rehmanniae Radix. PurposeAn integrated strategy combining metabolomics and network pharmacology was applied to illuminate the different natures of raw and processed Rehmanniae Radix. Study designMice were orally administered RR and PR once daily for ten days. The entire metabolic changes in the plasma of mice were profiled by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/Q-TOF MS). Furthermore, network pharmacology analysis was performed to identify the underlying targets related to iridoids that significantly changed during the processing. ResultsThe metabolomics analysis results demonstrated a clear separation of the metabolic phenotypes among the control, RR and two PR groups in both the positive and negative modes. Nine lysophosphatidylcholines (LysoPCs), LysoPC (16:0), LysoPC (18:2), LysoPC (18:1), LysoPC (22:6), LysoPC (20:2), LysoPC (18:0), LysoPC (16:1), LysoPC (20:4) and LysoPC (20:5), that decreased in the RR-treated group, but increased in the PR-treated group, were identified to be potential biomarkers related to the natures of RR and PR. The network pharmacology results indicated that four iridoids in Rehmanniae Radix, 8-epiloganic acid, 6-O-p-coumaroyl ajugol, 6-O-p-hydroxybenzoyl ajugol and ajugol, might play important roles in the different natures of raw and processed Rehmanniae Radix. ConclusionsThere might be a strong connection between the cold/hot nature of different forms of Rehmanniae Radix and LysoPC metabolism. This study offers new insight into the cold/hot nature of Rehmanniae Radix.

The inheritance path research of the processing of Chinese materia medica in Anguo herbs market

The inheritance path research of the processing of Chinese materia medica in Anguo herbs market

Research on mechanism of traditional hot processing on velvet antler based on 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and multivariate statistical analysis

Background: The processing of Chinese materia medica is an important part for the preparation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) which has been believed that can change the chemical composition and physiological function. Velvet antler is a kind of precious TCM and widely used after hot processing as folk medicines in China. However, no strategy has been presented to reveal the processing principle of velvet antler. Objective: The aim of this study is to develop a method for exploring the mechanism of hot processing on velvet antler. Materials and Methods: In this study, the chemical compositions of fresh velvet antler (FVA) and hot processed velvet antler (HPVA) were compared based on the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and multivariate statistical analysis methods to explore the mechanism of hot processing on velvet antler. Results: It showed that hot processing increased phosphorylcholine, taurine, alanine, uridine, phenylalanine, uracil, tyrosine, accompanied by decreased bile acid, choline, lipid 2 and succinic acid in comparison to the FVA, which changed significantly in 52 common metabolites of FVA and HPVA. In addition, a clear separation between FVA and HPVA was obtained by using principal component analysis and 11 “chemical markers” were found by using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) approaches. Particular attention was given to the “chemical markers” with potentially beneficial bioactivities. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that 1H NMR-based chemometric approach could be a promising tool for investigation of the hot processing of velvet antler in a holistic way of TCM.

Freeze drying process optimization of ginger juice-adjuvant for Chinese materia medica processing and stability of freeze-dried ginger juice powder

Ginger juice， a commonly used adjuvant for Chinese materia medica， is applied in processing of multiple Chinese herbal decoction pieces. Because of the raw materials and preparation process of ginger juice， it is difficult to be preserved for a long time， and the dosage of ginger juice in the processing can not be determined base on its content of main compositions. Ginger juice from different sources is hard to achieve consistent effect during the processing of traditional Chinese herbal decoction pieces. Based on the previous studies， the freeze drying of ginger juice under different shelf temperatures and vacuum degrees were studied， and the optimized freeze drying condition of ginger juice was determined. The content determination method for 6-gingerol， 8-gingerol， 10-gingerol and 6-shagaol in ginger juice and redissolved ginger juice was established. The content changes of 6-gingerol， 8-gingerol， 10-gingerol， 6-gingerol， 6-shagaol， volatile oil and total phenol were studied through the drying process and 30 days preservation period. The results showed that the freeze drying time of ginger juice was shortened after process optimization; the compositions basically remained unchanged after freeze drying， and there was no significant changes in the total phenol content and gingerol content， but the volatile oil content was significantly decreased(P<0.05). Within 30 days， the contents of gingerol， total phenol， and volatile oil were on the decline as a whole. This study has preliminarily proved the feasibility of freeze-drying process of ginger juice as an adjuvant for Chinese medicine processing.

Processing of calamine with modern analytical techniques: Processed with Huanglian Decoction () and Sanhuang Decoction ().

To determine the pyrolysis characteristics of calcined and processed calamine, qualitatively and quantitatively compare the contents of related elements, morphology and functional groups of the pyrolysis products dried at different heating temperatures and explore the critical temperature and the optimal drying temperature for the process of calamine with Huanglian Decoction (HLD, ) and San Huang Decoction (SHD, ). Pyrolysis products were prepared by programmable and constantly heating the calcined and processed calamine to or at different heating temperatures. Thermogravimetry (TG) was used to test their pyrolysis characteristics. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopeenergy dispersive spectrometer were used to determine their morphology, functional groups and element contents. Page model was used to investigate the constant drying kinetics of processed calamine. The adding of HLD or SHD to calcined calamine (CC) can slow its weight loss in drying pyrolysis process. The temperature ranges where HLD and SHD can affect its weight loss were 65-150 °C and 74-180 °C, respectively. The drying temperature was optimized as 90 °C. The drying kinetic for the processed calamine fits Page model shows good linearity. Conclusions: The critical temperature and the optimal drying temperature where HLD and SHD can affect the weight loss rate in the process of calamine were explored using the theories and methods of both biophysical chemistry and processing of Chinese materia medica. This work provides a good example for the study of the process of other Chinese medicines using modern analytical techniques.

Status and suggestions for adjuvant standard for Chinese materia medica processing in China

In this paper, the status of adjuvant standard for Chinese materia medica processing in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2015 edition, the National Specification of Chinese Materia Medica Processing, and the 29 provincial specification of Chinese materia medica was summarized, and the the status including general requirements, specific requirements, and quality standard in the three grade official specifications was collected and analyzed according to the "medicine-adjuvant homology" and "food-adjuvant homology" features of adjuvants. This paper also introduced the research situation of adjuvant standard for Chinese materia medica processing in China; In addition, analyzed and discussed the problems existing in the standard system of adjuvant for Chinese materia medica processing, such as lack of general requirements, low level of standard, inconsistent standard references, and lack of research on the standard, and provided suggestions for the further establishment of the national standards system of adjuvant for Chinese materia medica processing.

Analysis of feature and development of traditional processing branches

Processing of Chinese materia medica is one of the important part of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Drugs in small pieces or slices are special for China and the whole world. Processing technic of Chinses materia medica existed for thousands of years and presented the essence of TCM. The purpose of analyzing the feature and development of traditional processing culture branches was to make a better understanding of traditional processing technic, and further the development of special processing culture branches.

Study on the Property Change of Processed Rhizoma Coptidis Based on 5-HT Level and Brain Tissues Morphology of Rats

All Chinese medicinal substances have a special property (cold, hot, warm or cool) according to the theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Processing of Chinese Materia Medica ( pao zhi ) is always applied to modify the property according to clinical needs in TCM. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the processing effects on the property of Rhizoma Coptidis (RC). The wine-processed RC (WPRC, with less cold property in TCM) and bile-processed RC (BPRC, with colder property in TCM) were prepared, the level of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) of rats was determined by fluorescence spectrophotometry and the morphology of rats’ brain tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Compared to crude RC treated group, the distribution of 5-HT-immunopositive neurons and cell staining in the brainstem raphe nuclei were remarkably denser and deeper in BPRC treated group, while the distribution of 5-HT-immunopositive neurons was sparse and the cell staining was lighter in WPRC group. The work provided a meaningful way in the research of processing effect on properties of Chinese medicinal substances.

Study on Nature Change of Processed Coptidis Rhizoma Based on Metabonomics

According to the theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), all Chinese medicinal substances have a special nature (cold, hot, warm or cool). Processing of Chinese Materia Medica (Pao zhi) is usually applied to modify the nature of medicinal substances to meet clinical needs [1]. It is believed that, after processing by materials with different natures, such as wine (hot) or animal bile (cold), the cold nature of Coptidis Rhizoma (CR. Coptis chinensis Franch.) could be moderated to be less cold or reinforced to be even colder. This change may be monitored by energy metabolic parameters. To evaluate the effects of processing on a Chinese medicinal substance's nature, HPLC-MS/MS-based metabonomics was used to find the possible energy metabolism biomarkers of processed CR in rat urine. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were administrated 15g·kg-1 of an aqueous extract of wine-processed and bile-processed CR for 29 days. Urine was collected at different durations and analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS. The data were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) with SIMCA-P 1010 software. The metabonome showed the biggest difference in the 29th day between the groups treated by wine-processed and bile-processed CR. For both groups, 92 kinds of biomarkers were identified, among which 1, 3-bisphosphoglycerate, cis-aconitic acid and malic acid were consistent with previously observed pharmacological effects of energy metabolisms [2]. The concentrations of the energy metabolism markers were found to be lower in bile-processing group than those in wine-processing group, suggesting that bile-processed CR was more likely to decrease rats' energy metabolism than wine-processed CR. The goal of this research was to provide a better understanding of processing effects on the nature of Chinese medicinal substances. Acknowledgements: This research work is financially supported by Young Scientists training program in Jiangxi Province (Project No. 2007185). We thank Key Laboratory of Jiangxi University of TCM, Ministry of Education of China for the operation support for HPLC-MS/MS.

A Unique Issue in the Standardization of Chinese Materia Medica: Processing

Processing of Chinese Materia Medica (CMM) is a pharmaceutical technique to fulfill the different requirements of therapy, dispensing and making preparations according to traditional Chinese medicine theory. The aims of processing are to enhance the efficacy and/or reduce the toxicity of crude drugs. Those processed products are named as decoction pieces, which are used in clinics. Therefore, there is a close relationship between processing, safety, and efficacy of Chinese medicines. Some toxicity or side effects are caused by improper processing methods and some are due to improper combination of herbal mixtures. Standardization of processing methods for Chinese herbs is as important as authentication to maintain their quality and ensure their safe use. The objective of this paper is to review the literature covering the current situation and problems of CMM processing as well as recent progress in research in this area. A summary of the most urgent work needed is proposed.

Process of Traditional Chinese Medicine on “Omics”

Abstract Establishing an effective research system for the processing of Chinese herb is one of the key issues to be solved in the study of modern medicine. In this article, based on the fundamentals of the combination of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Chinese Materia Medica (CMM), the system theory and reductionism, global and piece, in vivo and in vitro , a system that consists of chemical, pharmacology, and metabolomics was established. The CMM processing has also been investigated based on the above-mentioned system. This system is able to provide a methodology in modern TCM research, and it also promotes the development of new technology of CMM processing and TCM theories.

Research on Zhang's collated edition of Lei gong pao zhi lun (Master Lei's Discourse on Processing of Chinese Materia Medica)

Lei gong pao zhi lun (Master Lei's Discourse on Processing of Chinese Materia Medica) collated by Zhang Ji, and printed by Zhang's Yisheng Tang in Chengdu in 1932 was the first collated edition. Its original edition was not Jing shi zheng lei bei ji ben cao (Classified Materia Medica from Historical Classics for Emergency) of the Song Dynasty, but was Xiu shi zhi nan (Instruction for Drug Processing) and Lei gong pao zhi yao xing jie (Explanation on Master Lei's Properties of Drugs Processing) of the Qing Dynasty. The contents of this collated edition was far from Lei gong pao zhi lun with many mistakes, and was not the best edition to study Lei gong pao zhi lun.

Study on sociocultural history of therapeutic efficacy and processing of Chinese materia medica

The historical evolving examples of the confirmation of therapeutic efficacy of some Chinese materia medica, the social fashion of using medicine, and the processing methods of Chinese materia medica indicate that the social trend of thoughts, customs and economic factors in different ages affected the various aspects of Chinese materia medica. So, Chinese materia medica possesses very outstanding social and cultural features. Not all the actions of Chinese materia medica recorded came from the experiences of doctors. The understanding level to the nature in different ages decides what kind of drugs they would accept. There are three kinds of drug processing in ancient times: effective medicinal processing, fantastic Taoist processing and invalid trading processing. Based on the study of sociocultural history of therapeutic efficacy and processing of Chinese materia medica. It is crucial that the history and medical literature research on Chinese materia medica and pharmacy should be raised to the position as important as clinical and experiment researches.