Properties Of Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Articles

Sequencing of the complete plastome of the thermal adder’s-tongue fern, Ophioglossum thermale Kom. (Ophioglossaceae)

The Ophioglossaceae family, one of the oldest orders of extant ferns, exhibits diverse morphological and chromosomal characteristics. This study presents the first complete plastome sequence of thermal adder’s-tongue fern (Ophioglossum thermale), a species renowned for its antioxidant properties in traditional Chinese medicine. Our analyses revealed 27 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in the plastome, with variations in SSR frequencies compared to related genera. Our phylogenetic analyses placed O. thermale within the Ophioglossum s.s. clade, supporting previous studies and suggesting polyphyly within the genus Ophioglossum based on the sensu PPG I system. The enlarged noncoding regions in fern organelles (ENRFOs) resulting from foreign DNA insertions in O. thermale were identified in the ycf2-trnH and trnT-trnfM regions, similar to other Ophioglossum species. ENRFOs were found at the LSC and SSC, but not in IRs in Ophioglossaceae. Consequently, foreign DNA insertions and lineage-specific SSRs shed light on plastome evolution in the Ophioglossaceae family.

Study on the fourof Pfaffia glomerata based on the metabolomics technology and comparison of Dangshen () in the equivalent substitution prescription.

To explore the four Qiof Pfaffia glomerata (PG) and endow this foreign folk herb with the properties of Chinese medicine, make it Chinese medicinal and localized, and could be used as a Chinese medicine. The normal group, six cold herb groups, six hot herb groups, six cool herb groups, PG prescription group (PGPG), and Dangshen (Radix Codonopsis) prescription group (CPPG) were prepared with corresponding concentrations of water extracts, these herb extracts were administered by gavage to Sprague-Dawley rats, and the 12 h urine at night on the 29th day of the SD rats in each group were collected, Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer system was used to analyze them, the best discriminant models for the medicinal properties of cold-hot and cold-cool were set up, so as to the medicinal properties of PGPG, CPPG and PG were predicted. Based on the Progenesis QI, Human Metabolome Database, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, MetaboAnalyst 5.0 database, we enriched metabolic pathway and classification mechanism of medicinal properties of cold-cool Chinese herbs and the molecular mechanism of PG prescription. We established a best model of cold-hot herbal discrimination in the positive ion mode, then the probability that PGPG was predicted cold property was 88.9%. Furthermore, a model of cold-cool herbal discrimination was established, then the probability of PGPG containing the cool property was 77.8%. In addition, typical cold and cool herbs mainly affected nine biomarkers such as tyrosine-proline, (R)-3',7-Dihydroxy-2',4'-dimethoxyisoflavane in rats. The regulation trend of PGPG on markers was basically as same as the cool herbs and mainly involved in regulating the two pathways of cytochrome P450 and purine metabolism. The results showed PGPG had a cool medicinal property as same as CPPG, and the regulation trend of PGPG on markers was consistent with cool herbs. Therefore, the medicine properties PG and CP should be consistent, and the Traditional Chinese Medicine property of PG was predicted to be neutral.

Advanced Application of Polymer Nanocarriers in Delivery of Active Ingredients from Traditional Chinese Medicines.

Active ingredients from Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) have been a cornerstone of healthcare for millennia, offering a rich source of bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential. However, the clinical application of TCMs is often limited by challenges such as poor solubility, low bioavailability, and variable pharmacokinetics. To address these issues, the development of advanced polymer nanocarriers has emerged as a promising strategy for the delivery of TCMs. This review focuses on the introduction of common active ingredients from TCMs and the recent advancements in the design and application of polymer nanocarriers for enhancing the efficacy and safety of TCMs. We begin by discussing the unique properties of TCMs and the inherent challenges associated with their delivery. We then delve into the types of polymeric nanocarriers, including polymer micelles, polymer vesicles, polymer hydrogels, and polymer drug conjugates, highlighting their application in the delivery of active ingredients from TCMs. The main body of the review presents a comprehensive analysis of the state-of-the-art nanocarrier systems and introduces the impact of these nanocarriers on the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of TCM components. On the basis of this, we provide an outlook on the future directions of polymer nanocarriers in TCM delivery. This review underscores the transformative potential of polymer nanocarriers in revolutionizing TCM delivery, offering a pathway to harness the full therapeutic potential of TCMs while ensuring safety and efficacy in a modern medical context.

HTINet2: herb-target prediction via knowledge graph embedding and residual-like graph neural network.

Target identification is one of the crucial tasks in drug research and development, as it aids in uncovering the action mechanism of herbs/drugs and discovering new therapeutic targets. Although multiple algorithms of herb target prediction have been proposed, due to the incompleteness of clinical knowledge and the limitation of unsupervised models, accurate identification for herb targets still faces huge challenges of data and models. To address this, we proposed a deep learning-based target prediction framework termed HTINet2, which designed three key modules, namely, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and clinical knowledge graph embedding, residual graph representation learning, and supervised target prediction. In the first module, we constructed a large-scale knowledge graph that covers the TCM properties and clinical treatment knowledge of herbs, and designed a component of deep knowledge embedding to learn the deep knowledge embedding of herbs and targets. In the remaining two modules, we designed a residual-like graph convolution network to capture the deep interactions among herbs and targets, and a Bayesian personalized ranking loss to conduct supervised training and target prediction. Finally, we designed comprehensive experiments, of which comparison with baselines indicated the excellent performance of HTINet2 (HR@10 increased by 122.7% and NDCG@10 by 35.7%), ablation experiments illustrated the positive effect of our designed modules of HTINet2, and case study demonstrated the reliability of the predicted targets of Artemisia annua and Coptis chinensis based on the knowledge base, literature, and molecular docking.

Cordyceps sinensis ameliorates idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in mice via inhibiting mitochondrion‐mediated oxidative stress

AbstractIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) represents a chronic interstitial lung disease with an unclear underlying mechanism and currently lacks a definitive treatment. Cordyceps sinensis (CS), renowned for its pharmacological properties in traditional Chinese medicine and extensive use in lung disease treatment, holds promise as a therapeutic agent for IPF. However, the specific role of CS in treating IPF remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to assess the efficacy of CS in treating IPF and unravel potential underlying mechanisms. Our results demonstrate that CS treatment effectively mitigated pulmonary inflammation and collagen deposition in bleomycin‐induced IPF mice. Proteomics analysis revealed that the regulation of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation may serve as a potential protective mechanism of CS against IPF in mice. Further investigation unveiled that CS could suppress the excessive production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species in lung tissues induced by bleomycin through moderating the expression and activity of mitochondrial complexes, thus safeguarding the integrity and function of mitochondria. Overall, our findings not only underscore the effectiveness of CS in preventing bleomycin‐induced IPF but also highlight mitochondrial‐mediated oxidative stress as a promising therapeutic target for treating IPF.

The Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequence of the Medicinal Moss Rhodobryum giganteum (Bryaceae, Bryophyta): Comparative Genomics and Phylogenetic Analyses.

Rhodobryum giganteum (Bryaceae, Bryophyta), a rare medicinal bryophyte, is valued for its cardiovascular therapeutic properties in traditional Chinese medicine. This study presents the first complete chloroplast genome sequence of R. giganteum, including its assembly and annotation. The circular chloroplast genome of R. giganteum is 124,315 bp in length, displaying a typical quadripartite structure with 128 genes: 83 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNAs, and 8 rRNAs. Analyses of codon usage bias, repetitive sequences, and simple sequence repeats (SSRs) revealed an A/U-ending codon preference, 96 repetitive sequences, and 385 SSRs in the R. giganteum chloroplast genome. Nucleotide diversity analysis identified 10 high mutational hotspots. Ka/Ks ratio analysis suggested potential positive selection in rpl20, rps18, petG, and psbM genes. Phylogenetic analysis of whole chloroplast genomes from 38 moss species positioned R. giganteum within Bryales, closely related to Rhodobryum laxelimbatum. This study augments the chloroplast genomic data for Bryales and provides a foundation for molecular marker development and genetic diversity analyses in medicinal bryophytes.

Analysis of the Mechanism of Ophiopogon japonicus in Treating Pneumonia Based on Network Pharmacology

This study explores the mechanism of Ophiopogon japonicus in treating pneumonia through network pharmacology, establishes a physiological and pharmacological relationship between the two based on targets, and emphasizes the interaction between signaling pathways and targets. By utilizing Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, specific biological processes and signaling pathways are utilized to enhance the understanding of the medicinal properties of traditional Chinese medicine through the use of bioinformatics and biomedical tools. This method aims to identify the key targets and signaling pathways of Ophiopogon japonicus affecting pneumonia status, providing insights into its anti-inflammatory effect in the lungs. The active application of network pharmacology methods in the field of pneumonia is a new trend in the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine.

Database-aided ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography Q-Exactive-Orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry putatively identifies 16 unexpected compounds and three anticounterfeiting pharmacopoeia quality markers for Perillae Fructus.

Perillae Fructus (PF) is a common traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of asthma. It has not been effectively characterized by rosmarinic acid (RosA), which is currently designed as the sole quality indicator in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. This study introduced a database-aided ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography equipped with quadrupole-Exactive-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC/Q-Exactive-Orbitrap MS/MS) technology to putatively identify the compounds in PF, followed by literature research, quantum chemical calculation, and molecular docking to screen potential quality markers (Q-markers) of PF. A total of 27 compounds were putatively identified, 16 of which had not been previously found from PF. In particular, matrine, scopolamine, and RosA showed relatively high levels of content, stability, and drug-likeness. They exhibited interactions with the asthma-related target and demonstrated the TCM properties of PF. The database-aided UHPLC/Q-Exactive-Orbitrap MS/MS can identify at least 27 compounds in PF. Of these, 16 compounds are unexpected, and three compounds (matrine, scopolamine, and RosA) should be considered anticounterfeiting pharmacopoeia Q-markers of PF.

Impact of Preparative Isolation of C-Glycosylflavones Derived from Dianthus superbus on In Vitro Glucose Metabolism.

Dianthus superbus L. has been extensively studied for its potential medicinal properties in traditional Chinese medicine and is often consumed as a tea by traditional folk. It has the potential to be exploited in the treatment of inflammation, immunological disorders, and diabetic nephropathy. Based on previous studies, this study continued the separation of another subfraction of Dianthus superbus and established reversed-phase/reversed-phase and reversed-phase/hydrophilic (RPLC) two-dimensional (2D) high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) modes, quickly separating two C-glycosylflavones, among which 2″-O-rhamnosyllutonarin was a new compound and isomer with 6‴-O-rhamnosyllutonarin. This is the first study to investigate the effects of 2″-O-rhamnosyllutonarin and 6‴-O-rhamnosyllutonarin on cellular glucose metabolism in vitro. First, molecular docking was used to examine the effects of 2″-O-rhamnosyllutonarin and 6″-O-rhamnosyllutonarin on AKT and AMPK; these two compounds exhibited relatively high activity. Following this, based on the HepG2 cell model of insulin resistance, it was proved that both of the 2″-O-rhamnosyllutonarin and 6‴-O-rhamnosyllutonarin demonstrated substantial efficacy in ameliorating insulin resistance and were found to be non-toxic. Simultaneously, it is expected that the methods developed in this study will provide a basis for future studies concerning the separation and pharmacological effects of C-glycosyl flavonoids.

The Classification Study and Categorization of Medicinal Properties in Traditional Chinese Medicine

The Classification Study and Categorization of Medicinal Properties in Traditional Chinese Medicine

L-Borneol promotes skin flap survival by regulating HIF-1α/NF-κB pathway

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe clinical application of skin flaps in surgical reconstruction is frequently impeded by the occurrence of distant necrosis. L-Borneol exhibits myogenic properties in traditional Chinese medicine and is used in clinical settings to promote wound healing and conditions such as stroke. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism by which borneol exerts its protective effects on skin flap survival remains unclear. Aim of the studyTo explore the potential of L-borneol to promote skin flap survival and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Materials and methodsThirty-six male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: a high-dose (200 mg/kg L-borneol per day), a low-dose (50 mg/kg/day), and control group (same volume of solvent). In each rat, a modified rectangular McFarlane flap model measuring 3 × 9 cm was constructed. Daily intragastric administration of L-borneol or solvent was performed. The flap was divided into three square sections of equal size, namely Zone I (the proximal zone), Zone II (the intermediate zone), and Zone III (the distal zone). The survival rate was quantified, and the histological state of each flap was evaluated on the seventh day following the surgical procedure. The assessment of angiogenesis was conducted using lead oxide/gelatin angiography, whereas the evaluation of blood flow in the free flap was performed using laser Doppler flow imaging. Superoxide dismutase activity was detected using the water-soluble tetrazolium salt-8 method. The quantities of vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor-α were determined using immunohistochemistry. The levels of nuclear transcription factor-κB, hypoxia-inducible factor-1, B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2), and BCL-2-associated X (BAX) were determined by Western blotting technique. ResultsFlap survival rate significantly improved and neutrophil recruitment and release were enhanced after treatment with the compound. Angiogenesis was promoted. L-borneol protected against oxidative stress by increasing superoxide dismutase activity and decreasing malondialdehyde content. It downregulated the hypoxia-inducible factor nuclear transcription factor-κB pathway, leading to the inhibition of several inflammatory factors. Simultaneously, it facilitated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and BCL-2. ConclusionThe study shows that L-borneol may promote skin flap survival by inhibiting HIF-1α/NF-κB pathway.

Perspective on the Modern Interpretation of the Property Theory of Mild-natured and Sweet-flavored Traditional Chinese Medicine via Gut Microbiota Modulation

ABSTRACT The property theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has guided its clinical application for thousands of years. Although the TCM modernization project has made significant progress, several challenges, such as identifying modern biological indicators, remain. Recent investigations have demonstrated that the gut microbiota contributes to the metabolism and efficacy of TCMs, providing a potential indicator of TCM properties. To investigate whether the gut microbiota can partially interpret the property theory of TCM, we searched the “PubMed” and “China National Knowledge Infrastructure” databases using “gut microbiota” and “traditional Chinese medicine” as keywords. This review mainly focused on the relationship between mild-natured and sweet-flavored TCMs (MS-TCMs) and the gut microbiota. We discovered that MS-TCMs can recalibrate the gut microbiota to alleviate various diseases. At the family level, MS-TCMs upregulated Erysipelotrichaceae, Verrucomicrobiaceae, Bacteroidaceae, Christensenellaceae, Lactobacillaceae, and Prevotellaceae, while downregulating Enterobacteriaceae, Rikenellaceae4, and S24-7. At the genus level, MS-TCMs increased the abundance of Ruminococcus, Turicibacter, Parabacteroides, Dubosiella, Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, Oscillospira, and Prevotella, and decreased the abundance of Parasutterella, Mucispirillum, Lachnoclostridium, Escherichia, Enterococcus, Butyricicoccus, Clostridiales, Blautia, Desulfovibrio, and Oscillibacter. Mechanistically, changes in gut bacteria can influence the levels of metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, lipopolyaccharides, and neurotransmitters, which further regulate a series of physiological signaling pathways within the host. Overall, analyzing the TCM–microbiota interaction is an effective means to reveal the mechanisms of TCM, suggesting that the gut microbiota can be developed into a modern indicator of TCM properties.

Fermentation of Ganoderma lucidum and Raphani Semen with a probiotic mixture attenuates cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression through microbiota-dependent or -independent regulation of intestinal mucosal barrier and immune responses

BackgroundProbiotic fermentation is a promising strategy for improving the nutritional and functional properties of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). Ganoderma lucidum and Raphani Semen are famous TCMs that have been shown to help alleviate immune system disorders. However, few studies have experimentally investigated the effects of probiotic-fermented G.lucidum and Raphani Semen on the immune system. PurposeWe established the in vitro fermentation of G. lucidum and Raphani Semen with a probiotic mixture (Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and l. fermentum) (GRFB), investigated its ameliorating effect against cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppression, and explored its possible mechanisms. MethodsFirst, the different components in GRFB were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Second, its immune-stimulatory activities were evaluated in CTX-treated mice. Lastly, its possible in vitro and in vivo mechanisms were studied. ResultsProbiotic fermentation of G. lucidum and Raphani Semen altered some of its chemical constituents, potentially helping improve the ability of GRFB to alleviate immunosuppression. As expected, GRFB effectively ameliorated CTX-induced immunosuppression by increasing the number of splenic lymphocytes and regulating the secretion of serum and ileum cytokines. GRFB supplementation also effectively improved intestinal integrity in CTX-treated mice by upregulating tight junction proteins. It also protects against CTX-induced intestinal dysbiosis by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria and reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria. GRFB could directly promote intestinal immunity but not systemic immunity in vitro, suggesting a microbiota-dependent regulation of GRFB. Interestingly, cohousing CTX-induced immunosuppressed mice with GRFB-treated mice promoted their symptoms recovery. Enhanced CTX-induced immunosuppression by GRFB in vitro depended on the gut microbiota. Remarkably, a Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis showed that the GRFB-reprogrammed microbiota was significantly enriched in DNA damage repair pathways, which contribute to repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier. ConclusionThis is the first study to suggest that compare with unfermented G. lucidum and Raphani Semen, GRFB can more effectively promote intestinal immunity and manipulate the gut microbiota to promote immunostimulatory activity and repair immunosuppression-induced intestinal barrier damage by biotransforming G.lucidum and Raphani Semen components.

First Report of Penicillium subrubescens Causing Root Rot of Knoxia roxburghii in China.

Knoxia roxburghii (syn. Knoxia valerianoides), locally known as 'Zi Daji', is a perennial herb that belongs to the Rubiaceae family, cultivated in different areas of China and recognized for its medicinal properties in traditional Chinese medicine (Chen et al. 2022). In 2021, root rot was observed during summer on K. roxburghii in Xiangyun and Dali, Yunnan Province (25°25'N, 100°40'E), China. Root rots were characterized by dark brown tissue from stem base to root, loss of vitality in tender leaves and wither. Three symptomatic root samples of K. roxburghii collected from different fields were rinsed with running water, and 0.5-1 cm2 fragments of diseased tissues were cut and surface-disinfested with 75% ethanol for 30 s, and 1% NaClO for 180 s. The fragments were then washed with sterile water, transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA, 4.6%) and incubated at 28℃ in the dark for 3 days. A total of 13 isolates with consistent appearances were obtained by single spore isolation. These colonies on PDA showed gray and light brown obverse, and light green reverse after 10 days. The average growth rate was 3 mm per day. Conidia were nearly spherical or broadly elliptic, greyish-green, and 1.4-2.4×1.3-2.2 μm in size (n=50). The conidiophore has symmetrical or asymmetrical broom branches from the tip, with 2-4 small stems. The conidiophore branching patterns were predominantly biverticillate; stipes coarsely roughened, 80-210×2.6-3.0 μm; metulae were usually appressed verticils of 3-6, 6.4-12.5×1.6-3.0 μm; phialides were short and wide neck, 3.8-4.8×1.1-1.8 μm (n=30). The morphological characteristics of the fungus were identical to Penicillium (Mansouri et al. 2013). To further identify the isolate, one isolate (ByF10) was randomly selected for identification. DNA was extracted from mycelia using a simplified CTAB method. Primer pairs, ITS1/ITS4 and Bt2a/Bt2b were used to amplify the partial regions of rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and β-tubulin (TUB), respectively (White et al. 1990; Glass and Donaldson 1999). Blast searches showed that the sequences of ITS (OQ954757) and TUB (OQ970059) of isolate ByF10 were 99% (MH865456) and 100% (KC797611) identical with P. subrubescens CBS 130205 and CBS 129617, respectively. A concatenated phylogenetic tree (ITS+TUB) constructed using the maximum likelihood method showed that ByF10 was closely grouped next to isolates of P. subrubescens. Pathogenicity test was carried out using 1-year-old healthy seedlings of K. roxburghii cv. Yunji-1 growing on autoclaved soil (n=10). Ten plants were inoculated with mycelial blocks (5 mm2), which were taken from the colony margins of a 10-day-old culture (PDA) colony, and placed on the roots near the soil. Five control plants were inoculated with non-colonized PDA plugs. The pathogenicity test was repeated three times. All plants were kept at 25℃, 70% relative air humidity, and 12 h light/12 h regime dark for 35 days. After that period 95% of inoculated plants showed typical symptoms of root browning. P. subrubescens was only re-isolated from the inoculated plants, and identified based on morphological and molecular characteristics. No symptoms were observed in the controls. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of P. subrubescens causing root rot on K. roxburghii in China and the world.

Antidepressant effect of Perilla frutescens essential oil through monoamine neurotransmitters and BDNF/TrkB signal pathway

Ethnopharmacological relevanceTraditional Chinese medicine posits that affect-mind ill-being is the primary cause of depression, with Qi movement stagnation as its pathogenesis. As such, clinical treatment for depression should prioritize regulating Qi and relieving depressive symptoms. The pharmacological properties of traditional Chinese medicine indicate that Perilla frutescens may have potential therapeutic effects on depression and other neuropsychiatric diseases due to its ability to regulate Qi and alleviate depressive symptoms. Although previous studies have reported the antidepressant effects of Perilla frutescens, the mechanism underlying PFEO inhalation-mediated antidepressant effect remains unclear. Aim of the studyThe aim of this investigation is to elucidate the antidepressant mechanisms of PFEO by examining its effects on monoamine neurotransmitters and the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway. Materials and methodsThe CUMS rat model of depression was established, and the depressive state of the animals was assessed through sucrose preference and forced swim tests. ELISA assays were conducted to determine monoamine neurotransmitter levels in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of rats. Immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and RT-PCR experiments were employed to investigate the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway's regulation of depression via PFEO inhalation. ResultsIt has been observed that inhalation administration of PFEO can significantly enhance the preference for sugar water in CUMS rats and reduce their immobility time during forced swimming. Additionally, there was an increase in the levels of monoamine transmitters in both the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of these rats. Furthermore, there was an upregulation in the expression levels of BDNF and TrkB positive cells as well as BDNF and TrkB proteins within both regions, along with increased BDNF mRNA and TrkB mRNA expression levels. ConclusionThe antidepressant effect of PFEO via inhalation administration is speculated to be mediated through the monoamine neurotransmitters and BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway.

The linkage of gut microbiota and the property theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM): Cold-natured and sweet-flavored TCMs as an example.

The property theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a unique medical theory based on an extensive clinical practice for thousands of years, which guides TCM doctors choosing proper medicines to treat specific diseases. The nature and flavor of TCM are a high generalization of drug's characteristics according to the property theory. Despite intensive investigations, the modern interpretation of TCM property theory still confronts several challenges, which greatly hampers the elucidation of TCM's mechanisms as well as its application. Compelling evidence has proved that gut microbiota may be a potential indicator for TCM's efficacy and mechanism. Nevertheless, at present, the relationship between the gut microbiota and the nature and flavor of TCM has not been fully elucidated. To fill the gap in this field, we developed a comprehensive study to investigate the relationship between gut microbial community and TCM's property. We searched "PubMed" and "China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI)" with the key word "gut microbiota", and screened the published articles related to TCM. In this review, we mainly applied cold-natured and sweet-flavored TCMs as an example to explore the modulation of cold-natured and sweet-flavored TCMs on gut microbiota, and identify the potential relationship between the alterations of gut microbiota and TCM's efficacy. We found cold-natured and sweet-flavored TCMs possess several pharmacological activities and generally enrich beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia, Bacteroides, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which is in good accordance with their pharmacological effects. Simultaneously, these TCMs reduce the relative abundance of some harmful bacteria belonging to Firmicutes (Streptpcoccus, Enterococcus, Turicibacter, Anaerostipes and Oscillibacter) and Proteobacteria (Helicobacter, Enterobacter, Sutterella, Klebsiella, Desulfovibrio, Escherichia coli and Campylobacter jejuni). These results indicate that there are some intrinsic correlations between gut microbiota and the property of TCM, and gut microbiota may serve as a potential indicator to reflect the property of TCM. This pilot but comprehensive review provides an interesting proposal that the ancient theory of TCM property may be interpreted by the modern biological findings in gut microbiome.

Classification optimization of traditional Chinese medicine materials based on additive physical properties of powder

According to the method of predicting the physical properties of oily powder based on the additive physical properties of Chinese medicinal powder, Dioscoreae Rhizoma and calcined Ostreae Concha with high sieve rate and good fluidity were mixed and crushed with Persicae Semen, Platycladi Semen, Raphani Semen, Ziziphi Spinosae Semen, and other typical oily materials with high fatty oil content in proportion to obtain 23 mixed powders. Fifteen physical properties such as bulk density, water absorption, and maximum torque force were measured, and the physical properties of typical oily powders were predicted. When the mixing and grinding ratio was in the range of 5∶1-1∶1, the r value in the correlation equation between the weighted average score of the mixed powder and the powder proportion ranged from 0.801 to 0.986, and the linearity was good, indicating that the method of predicting the physical properties of oily powder based on the additive physical properties of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)powder was feasible. The results of cluster analysis showed that the classification boundaries of the five kinds of TCM materials were clear, and the similarity of the physical fingerprints of powdery and oily materials decreased from 80.6% to 37.2%, which solved the problem of fuzzy classification boundaries of powdery and oily materials due to the lack of representativeness of oily material model drugs. The classification of TCM materials was optimized, laying a foundation for optimizing the prediction model of the prescription of personalized water-paste pills.

Properties of new exotic traditional Chinese medicinal Vernonia amygdalina leaves:a literature research

The leaves of Vernonia amygdalina Delile of the family Asteraceae(also known as "bitter leaf"), rich in biological activities, are used as both medicine and food for a long time in West tropical Africa. They have been introduced into Southeast Asia and Fujian and Guangdong provinces of China in recent years. However, little is known about the properties of the plant in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), which limits its combination with other Chinese medicinal herbs. In this study, 473 articles on V. amygdalina leaves were selected from PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data and VIP to summarize their components, pharmacological effects and clinical research. V. amygdalina leaves presented anti-microbial, hypoglycemic, anti-hypertensive, lipid-lowering, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other pharmacological effects. On the basis of the theory of TCM properties, the leaves were inferred to be cold in property and bitter and sweet in flavor, acting on spleen, liver, stomach and large intestine and with the functions of clearing heat, drying dampness, purging fire, removing toxin, killing insects and preventing attack of malaria. They can be used to treat dampness-heat diarrhea, interior heat and diabetes, malaria, insect accumulation and eczema(5-10 g dry leaves by decoction per day and an appropriate amount of crushed fresh leaves applying to the affected area for external use). Due to the lack of TCM properties, V. amygdalina leaves are rarely used medicinally in China. The determination of medicinal properties of the leaves is conducive to the introduction of new exotic medicinal herbs and the development of new TCM resources, which facilitated further clinical application and research and development of Chinese medicinal herbs.

Investigation on property differences of ginseng and American ginseng by spatial metabolomics of neurochemicals with desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe properties are the body's response to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The essence of traditional Chinese medicine properties are cold, hot, warm, and cool. In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, ginseng is warm and American ginseng is cool, they present two opposite properties. The material basis of property differences and effect mechanism of property degree need further investigation. Aim of the studyThe aim of this work was to screen out the neurochemicals related to warm and cool properties of ginseng and American ginseng, and investigate the distributions of identified neurochemicals in rat brain and the metabolic mechanism. Materials and methodsSpatial metabolomics was applied to study the effects of ginseng and American ginseng on the distributions of neurochemicals in rat brain by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI). Based on discriminant coefficients in partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) processing, neurochemicals related to warm and cool properties were classified. In addition, the score contributions of the neurochemicals markers could be used to evaluate the warm and cool property degrees. ResultsA total of 25 neurochemicals were imaged and identified in brain section. The distribution regions of main neurochemicals were consistent with in sagittal and coronal sections of brain reported in literature. 17 neurochemicals were classified as warm markers. Meanwhile, 8 neurochemicals were identified as cool markers, correlated with the cool properties of American ginseng. It demonstrated that the score contributions of the 25 neurochemicals markers could be used to evaluate the warm and cool property degrees. Based on the regulatory effects of neurochemicals, the warm markers could promote the body's energy metabolism, improve the function of endocrine system, and enhance the excitability of central nervous system. The cool property markers have reduced excitability of central nervous system, weakened metabolism and stress response ability, thus presented the biological activity of cool and cold. ConclusionsOur findings provided a rapid and effective visualization method for the spatial distribution and metabolism of small molecular neurochemicals in rat brain. DESI-MSI was a reference methodology for evaluating the properties of TCM.

UPLC-Q-Exactive-based rats serum metabolomics for characterization of traditional Chinese medicine Natures and Flavors

Ethnopharmacology relevant“Four Natures and five “Flavors” comes from the high generalization of medicine pharmacological rules from clinical practice by ancients. “Flavor” and “Natures”are both descriptions of the effect properties of traditional Chinese medicine. At present, researchers have realized that the “Flavors” (Pungent, Sour, Sweet, Bitter and Salty) are related to the different pharmacological effects of treatment. The “Natures” (Warm, Hot, Cold and Cool) are closely related to energy and substance metabolism and contribute to the effect of the “Flavors”. Since “Four Natures and five Flavors” are the rules derived from clinical practice, how to describe and characterize “Natures” and “Flavors” scientifically is still a problem that needs to be solved. Aim of the studythe aim is to objectively further understand the scientific connotations of properties (“Flavors”and “Natures”) from the perspective of metabolomics and characterize them by metabolites. Materials and method“Pungent-Neutral”, “Sweet-Neutral and “Bitter-Neutral” TCMs were selected to characterize the “Flavors” (Pungent, Sweet and Bitter). “Pungent-Warm” and “Bitter-Cold” were selected to characterize the “Natures” (Warm and Cold). The rat serum metabolomics was performed on UHPLC-Q-Exactive. Metabolites were identified through the metabolites databases and related literature. ResultsThe “Flavors” and “Natures” metabolites were identified, respectively, including four “Pungent”, four “Sweet” and thirteen “Bitter” characterized metabolites and thirteen “Cold” and sixteen “Warm”related metabolites. ConclusionsThe “Natures” characterized metabolites show the “Natures” are closely related to lipid and energy metabolism. The “Warm” may promote lipid metabolism to produce ATP to generate energy through bile acid metabolism and purine metabolism. The “Cold” may inhibit lipid metabolism to generate ATP to decrease energy through the way of tryptophan metabolism and purine metabolism. The “Flavors” characteristic metabolites can provide a theoretical basis for the rules of the “Flavors”. These metabolites can also be used to characterize TCM's “Natures” and “Flavors” in the development of traditional Chinese medicine resources and quality control.