Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae Research Articles

Study on the active components and mechanism of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma for invigorating the spleen and tonifying qi based on spectrum-effect relationship and network pharmacology.

Spleen deficiency can lead to various abnormal physiological functions of the spleen. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (AMR) is a traditional Chinese medicine used to invigorate the spleen and tonify qi. The study aimed to identify the primary active components influencing the efficacy of AMR in strengthening the spleen and replenishing qi through spectrum-effect relationship and chemometrics. Network pharmacology was used to investigate the mechanism by which AMR strengthens the spleen and replenishes qi, with molecular docking utilized for validation purposes. The findings indicated that bran-fried AMR exhibited superior efficacy, with atractylenolides and atractylone identified as the primary active constituents. Atractylenolide II emerged as the most influential component impacting the effectiveness of AMR, while the key target was androgen receptor. Furthermore, crucial pathways implicated included the mitogen-activated protein cascade (MAPK) cascade, RNA polymerase II transcription factor activity, ligand-activated sequence-specific DNA binding, and RNA polymerase II sequence-specific DNA-binding transcription factor binding. In summary, our study has identified the primary active components associated with the efficacy of AMR and has provided an initial exploration of its mechanism of action. This offers a theoretical foundation for future investigations into the material basis and molecular mechanisms underlying the pharmacodynamics of AMR.

Development of an High Performance Liquid Chromatography Method for Simultaneous Determination of Hesperidin and Sodium Benzoate in Kien Ty Syrup

The Kien ty syrup is formulated from six medicinal materials, including Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Fructus Aurantii immaturus, Radix Codonopsis, Rhizoma Atractylodis macrocephalae, Fructus Crataegi, Fructus Hordei germinatus and sodium benzoate as a preservative. Hesperidin, a bioflavonoid found in Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Fructus Aurantii immaturus, is used to assess the syrup's quality in terms of assay. In this study, an HPLC method for simultaneous determination of hesperidin and sodium benzoate in Kien ty syrup was developed. The method was performed on an Agilent C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm; 5 μm) with the mobile phase being a mixture of 0.05 M phosphate buffer solution pH 5.5: acetonitrile (70:30, v/v), running in a isocratic elution mode. The flow rate was set at 1.0 mL/min, and the injection volume was 10 μL. The analytes were detected at 225 nm. The method was validated and met the requirements according to ICH, AOAC guidelines. Applying the developed quantification method, the analysis of three sirup lots revealed that the content of hesperidin and sodium benzoate ranged from 0.480-0.504 mg/mL and 2.869-2.306 mg/mL, respectively. The study results indicate that this quantification method can be applied for simultaneous determination of hesperidin and sodium benzoate in Kien ty syrup and similar products.

REVIEW OF THE PHYTOTHERAPY FOR NEPHROLITHIASIS

Nephrolithiasis (kidney stone) cases have a prevalence ranging from 1% to 13%. The disease not only hampers kidney function but also elevates the risk of chronic kidney diseases. The pathophysiology of nephrolithiasis is closely linked to elevated concentrations of calcium, oxalate, and/or uric acid in the urine. Pharmacotherapy to manage nephrolithiasis includes thiazide diuretics, allopurinol, citrate supplements, and alpha-blockers that have been prescribed to relieve symptoms. In addition, there is growing interest in exploring the potential of phytotherapy. This review aims to identify suitable phytotherapy approaches by examining relevant articles on nephrolithiasis. The research methodology involved searching PubMed articles using the keywords of (("Plant Extracts") AND ("Nephrolithiasis")) OR ("Ureterolithiasis"). The articles obtained from the initial search were n =123. 2 authors screened articles for their eligibility. The inclusion criteria were limited to articles written in English, topics related to nephrolithiasis and not other kidney diseases, the botanical names of the plants and the method of extraction are clearly described, complete studies with clear descriptions regarding the methods and results, not synthetic drugs, and not involving medical instruments or laser to remove the stones. Articles included in the review were n = 17. Water and hydro-alcohol were the solvents used to extract the plants. Twenty-two plants have confirmed their anti-nephrolithiasis activity, and nine articles described the assay by in vivo study, two by in vitro study, three by both in vitro and in vivo study, and only one article mentioned a study in humans by a randomized-control trial on a mixture of herbs. It is concluded that Rhizoma alismatis, Poria cocos, Polyporus umbellatus, Atractylodis macrocephalae, and Cinnamomi Cassiae prepared as a mixture in the Wu-Ling-San formula have a potential therapeutic effect on nephrolithiasis, as this formula has been studied in humans.

Contamination and health risk of pesticides in eight popular Chinese traditional medicines from Zhejiang Province.

Zhejiang Province is one of the top five major provinces producing traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) and is famous for Zhebawei (in Chinese), the eight popular geo-authentic TCMs including Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Thunberg Fritillary Bulb, Chrysanthemum morifolium, Corydalis yanhusuo W. T. Wang, Scrophulariae Radix, Ophiopogonis Radix, and Curcuma Wenyujin Y. H. Chen et C. Ling. High proportion application and residue of pesticides directly affect the quality and yield of TCMs. In this study, pesticides residual levels in crude and processing samples were assessed along with their health risks in Zhebawei primarily produced in Zhejiang Province. In total, the exceeded ratios of pesticides residual concentrations in above mentioned eight species were 15/23, 4/7, 26/70, 22/44, 10/19, 8/12, 7/15, and 0/2, respectively. No acute dietary intake health risks were found but the long-term risks from permethrin in S. Radix should be carefully considered, with all quotient values being higher than 2.1 for all groups between 7 and 70 years. Furthermore, the risks of total benzene hexachloride in T. Fritillary Bulb and carbendazim in C. morifolium should be closely monitored. Suggestions for the cultivation and pesticide management of herbal medicines have been proposed to promote the quality of medicinal materials.

Impact of Baizhu, Daqingye, and Hehuanhua extracts on the human gut microbiome.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala (Baizhu), the leaves of Isatis indigotica (Daqingye), and the flowers of Albizia julibrissin (Hehuanhua) have been used to treat gastrointestinal illnesses, epidemics, and mental health issues. Modern researchers are now exploring the underlying mechanisms responsible for their efficacy. Previous studies often focused on the impact of purified chemicals or mixed extracts from these plants on cells in tissue culture or in rodent models. As modulation of the human gut microbiome has been linked to host health status both within the gastrointestinal tract and in distant tissues, the effects of lipid-free ethanol extracts of Baizhu, Daqingye, and Hehuanhua on the human adult gut microbiome were assessed using Systemic Intestinal Fermentation Research (SIFR®) technology (n=6). Baizhu and Daqingye extracts similarly impacted microbial community structure and function, with the extent of effects being more pronounced for Baizhu. These effects included decreases in the Bacteroidetes phylum and increases in health-related Bifidobacterium spp. and short chain fatty acids which may contribute to Baizhu's efficacy against gastrointestinal ailments. The changes upon Hehuanhua treatment were larger and included increases in multiple bacterial species, including Agathobaculum butyriciproducens, Adlercreutzia equolifaciens, and Gordonibacter pamelaeae, known to produce secondary metabolites beneficial to mental health. In addition, many of the changes induced by Hehuanhua correlated with a rise in Enterobacteriaceae spp., which may make the tested dose of this herb contraindicated for some individuals. Overall, there is some evidence to suggest that the palliative effect of these herbs may be mediated, in part, by their impact on the gut microbiome, but more research is needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms.

Dual-channel colorimetric sensor based on metal ion mediated color transformation of AuNPs to identify the authenticity and origin of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma

Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (AMR) is a bulk herbal foods, which can invigorate spleen and supplement Qi to help health. The accurate identification of the authenticity and origin of AMR is a prerequisite for the safe use and quality control. Herein, a dual-channel colorimetric sensor based on metal ions mediated color transformation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was constructed to identify the authenticity and origin of AMR. The Ag+ / cetyltrimethylammonium chloride modified AuNPs (CTAC-AuNPs) sensing channel and Cr3+ / trisodium citrate modified AuNPs (TCA-AuNPs) sensing channel were rationally designed based on two mechanisms that are the silver deposition and the induced aggregation, respectively. When AMR extracts from different origins or its counterfeits were added to the colorimetric sensor, significantly different terpenoids in extracts can bind to Ag+ or Cr3+ to produce different color transformations. AMR samples from three origins (Zhejiang, Hunan and Anhui) and the counterfeit samples (Gynura japonica (Thunb.) Juel., and Atractylodis Rhizoma) were all accurately classified using the dual-channel colorimetric sensor combined with PLSDA. Our sensor has obvious advantages of simple and instrument-free analysis procedure, which will provide a new idea for the convenient identification of AMR and other herbal foods.

Effect and mechanism of Zexie Decoction in promoting white adipose tissue browning/brown adipose tissue activation based on GLP-1R/cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway

This study investigated the mechanism of Zexie Decoction(ZXD) in promoting white adipose tissue browning/brown adipose tissue activation based on the GLP-1R/cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway. A hyperlipidemia model was induced by a western diet(WD) in mice, and the mice were divided into a control group, a model group(WD), and low-, medium-, and high-dose ZXD groups. An adipogenesis model was induced in 3T3-L1 cells in vitro, and with forskolin(FSK) used as a positive control, low-, medium-, and high-dose ZXD groups were set up. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence results showed that compared with the WD group, ZXD promoted the expression of UCP1 in white and brown adipose tissues, and also upregulated UCP1, CPT1β, PPARα, and other genes in the cells. Western blot analysis showed a dose-dependent increase in the protein expression of PGC-1α, UCP1, and PPARα with ZXD treatment, indicating that ZXD could promote the white adipose tissue browning/brown adipose tissue activation. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining results showed that after ZXD treatment, white and brown adipocytes were significantly reduced in size, and the mRNA expression of ATGL, HSL, MGL, and PLIN1 was significantly upregulated as compared with the results in the WD group. Oil red O staining and biochemical assays indicated that ZXD improved lipid accumulation and promoted lipolysis. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining for p-CREB revealed that ZXD reversed the decreased expression of p-CREB caused by WD. In vitro intervention with ZXD increased the protein expression of CREB, p-CREB, and p-PKA substrate, and increased the mRNA level of CREB. ELISA detected an increase in intracellular cAMP concentration with ZXD treatment. Molecular docking analysis showed that multiple active components in Alismatis Rhizoma and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma could form stable hydrogen bond interactions with GLP-1R. In conclusion, ZXD promotes white adipose tissue browning/brown adipose tissue activation both in vivo and in vitro, and its mechanism of action may be related to the GLP-1R/cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway.

Atractylodes-I Overcomes the Oxidative Stress-induced Colonic Mucosal Epithelial Cells Dysfunction to Prevent Irritable Bowel Syndrome Via Modulating the miR-34a-5p-LDHA Signaling Pathway.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a known brain-gut disorder. Currently, the molecular and cellular mechanisms of IBS remain unclear. Atractylenolide-I (ATL-I) is a majorly bioactive component extracted from Rhizoma Atractylodes Macrocephalae. Studies have revealed that ATL-I functioned as an anti-tumor drug in various cancers. However, the effects and molecular mechanisms of ATL-I on the pathological processes of colonic mucosal epithelial cells (CMECs) during IBS remain unclear. This study reports ATL-I effectively alleviated the oxidative stress-induced colonic mucosal epithelial cell dysfunction. In colonic mucosal tissues from IBS patients, we detected upregulated miR-34a-5p and suppressed glucose metabolism enzyme expressions. Under H2O2 treatment which mimics in vitro oxidative stress, miR-34a-5p was induced and glucose metabolism was inhibited in the colon mucosal epithelial cell line, NCM460. Meanwhile, ATL-I treatment effectively overcame the oxidative stress-induced miR-34a- 5p expression and glucose metabolism in NCM460 cells. By bioinformatics analysis, Western blot and luciferase assay, we illustrated that miR-34a-5p directly targeted the 3'UTR region of glucose metabolism key enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase-A (LDHA) in colonic mucosal epithelial cells. Rescue experiments validated that miR-34a-5p inhibited glucose metabolism by targeting LDHA. Finally, we demonstrated that ATL-I treatment reversed the miR-34a-5p-inhibited glucose metabolism and -exacerbated colonic mucosal epithelial cell dysfunction under oxidative stress by modulating the miR-34a-5p-LDHA pathway. Summarily, our study reports the roles and mechanisms of ATL-I in the oxidative stress-induced colonic mucosal epithelial cell dysfunction during IBS through regulating the miR-34a-5p-LDHA-glucose metabolism axis.

Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae-Assessing the influence of herbal processing methods and improved effects on functional dyspepsia.

Background: The unique pharmaceutical methods for the processing of botanical drugs according to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) affect clinical syndrome differentiation and treatment. The objective of this study was to comprehensively elucidate the principles and mechanisms of an herbal processing method by investigating the alterations in the metabolites of Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (AMR) processed by Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (AFI) decoction and to determine how these changes enhance the efficacy of aqueous extracts in treating functional dyspepsia (FD). Methods: A qualitative analysis of AMR before and after processing was conducted using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, and HPLC was employed for quantitative analysis. A predictive analysis was then conducted using a network analysis strategy to establish a botanical drug-metabolite-target-disease (BMTD) network and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and the predictions were validated using an FD rat model. Results: A total of 127 metabolites were identified in the processed AMR (PAMR), and substantial changes were observed in 8 metabolites of PAMR after processing, as revealed by the quantitative analysis. The enhanced aqueous extracts of processed AMR (PAMR) demonstrate improved efficacy in treating FD, which indicates that this processing method enhances the anti-inflammatory properties and promotes gastric motility by modulating DRD2, SCF, and c-kit. However, this enhancement comes at the cost of attenuating the regulation of motilin (MTL), gastrin (GAS), acetylcholine (Ach), and acetylcholinesterase (AchE). Conclusion: Through this series of investigations, we aimed to unravel the factors influencing the efficacy of this herbal formulation in improving FD in clinical settings.

Effects of Li-Dan-He-Ji on regulating oxidative stress and antagonising infantile cholestatic hepatic fibrosis

To explore the clinical effect of Li-Dan-He-Ji in the treatment of infantile cholestatic hepatic fibrosis. Patients who met the diagnostic criteria of infantile cholestatic hepatic fibrosis in the department of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine and the department of gastroenterology of Wuhan Children's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January to December 2021 were included in the study by prospective randomized controlled trial. They were divided into the conventional treatment group and Li-Dan-He-Ji group according to the random number table. The patients in the conventional treatment group were given conventional treatment according to the guidelines. In the Li-Dan-He-Ji group, the self-made Chinese medicinal compound Li-Dan-He-Ji (prescription: Herba Artemisiae Scopariae, Fructus Forsythiae, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei preparata, Radix Polygoni Multiflori Preparata, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, Ramulus Cinnamomi, Fructus Aurantii, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis, Carapax Trionycis, and Radix Glycyrrhizae) was given on the basis of the routine treatment, by oral, enema or nasal feeding, 60 mL each day, divided into 2 or 3 times, for 28 days. Outpatient follow-up was maintained for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, serum liver fibrosis 4 items [type IV collagen (IV-C), hyaluronidase (HA), type III procollagen (PC III), laminin (LN)], liver function and cholestasis-related markers [total bilirubin (TBil), direct bilirubin (DBil), total bile acid (TBA), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)], oxidative stress markers [superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH)], liver stiffness measurement (LSM) detected by transient elastography (TE), aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and liver and spleen retraction time were recorded in the two groups. During the observation period, a total of 40 cases of cholestatic hepatic fibrosis were treated, including 21 cases in the conventional treatment group and 19 cases in the Li-Dan-He-Ji group. Before treatment, the differences in serum liver fibrosis 4 items, serum liver function and cholestasis-related markers, oxidative stress indexes, LSM and APRI of the two groups were not statistically significant. After treatment, the liver fibrosis 4 items, liver function and cholestasis-related markers, LSM, and APRI were all significantly decreased in both groups, and the indexes in the Li-Dan-He-Ji group were significantly lower than those in the conventional treatment group [HA (ng/L): 165.81±21.57 vs. 203.87±25.88, PC III (μg/L): 69.86±9.32 vs. 81.82±7.39, IV-C (μg/L): 204.14±38.97 vs. 239.08±24.93, LN (μg/L): 162.40±17.39 vs. 190.86±15.97, TBil (μmol/L): 37.58±27.63 vs. 53.06±45.09, DBil (μmol/L): 20.55±19.34 vs. 30.08±27.39, ALP (U/L): 436.50±217.58 vs. 469.60±291.69, γ-GGT (U/L): 66.78±35.84 vs. 87.00±32.82, ALT (U/L): 64.75±50.53 vs. 75.20±50.19, AST (U/L): 77.25±54.23 vs. 96.80±59.77, TBA (μmol/L): 74.35±44.44 vs. 85.45±39.50, LSM (kPa): 5.24±0.39 vs. 7.53±3.16, APRI: 0.52±0.39 vs. 0.98±0.29, all P < 0.05]. After treatment, MDA in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment, and SOD and GSH were significantly higher than those before treatment. The level of SOD in the Li-Dan-He-Ji group was significantly higher than that in the conventional treatment group (kU/L: 64.56±6.69 vs. 51.58±5.98, P < 0.05). In addition, the liver retraction time (day: 20.13±10.97 vs. 24.33±13.46) and spleen retraction time (day: 25.93±13.01 vs. 29.14±14.52) in the Li-Dan-He-Ji group were significantly shorter than those in the conventional treatment group (both P < 0.05). The use of Li-Dan-He-Ji in the treatment of cholestatic hepatic fibrosis can effectively improve the indicators of cholestasis, hepatic fibrosis, oxidative stress and clinical symptoms in children.

Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz's rhizomes contain anti-inflammatory sesquiterpenes.

Two new compounds, named eudesm-4(15),7-diene-3α,9β,11-triol (1) and eudesm-4(15),7-diene-1β,3α,9β,11-tetraol (2) together with three known sesquiterpene lactones (1S,5R,7R,10R)-secoatractylolactone (3), (1S,5R,7R,10R)-secoatractylolactone-11-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4) atractylenolide III (5) were isolated from the rhizomes of Atractylodes macrocephala. Their structures were elucidated by using 1D and 2D-NMR spectra and HRESIMS data. Compound 5 exhibited the most active anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 values of 27.5 μM in inhibiting of nitric oxide production. Compounds 1, 2, and 3 showed moderate effects while compound 4 was inactive.

Artificial neural network model- and response surface methodology-based optimization of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma polysaccharide extraction, kinetic modelling and structural characterization

Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (AMR) is the dried rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz, which is widely used in the development of health products. AMR contains a large number of polysaccharides, but at present there are fewer applications for these polysaccharides. In this study, the effects of different extraction methods on the Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma polysaccharide (AMRP) yield were investigated, and the conditions for ultrasound-assisted extraction were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) and three neural network models (BP neural network, GA-BP neural network and ACO-GA-BP neural network). The best conditions were a liquid-to-solid ratio of 17 mL/g, ultrasonic power of 400 W, extraction temperature of 72 °C, and extraction time of 40 min, which yielded 31.31% AMRP. The kinetic equation of AMRP was determined and compared with the results predicted by three neural network models. It was finally determined that the extraction conditions, kinetic processes and kinetic equation predicted by the GA-ACO-BP neural network were optimal. In addition, AMRP was characterized using SEM, FTIR, HPLC, UV, XRD, and NMR, and the structural study revealed that AMRP has a rough exterior and a porous interior; moreover, it contains high levels of glucose (5.07%), arabinose (0.80%), and galactose (0.74%). AMRP has three crystal structures, consisting of two β-type monosaccharides and one α-type monosaccharide. Additionally, the effectiveness of AMRP as an antioxidant was demonstrated in an in vitro experiment.

QuEChERS-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for determination of 22 triazole pesticide residues in Chinese herbal medicines

Eight well-known herbals in Zhejiang Province, Zhebawei, are commonly used as traditional Chinese herbal medicines owing to their rich active ingredients. However, the unavoidable use of pesticides during agricultural production has led to pesticide residue problems in these herbs. In this study, a simple, rapid, and accurate method was established to determine 22 triazole pesticide residues in Zhebawei. An improved QuEChERS method was used for sample pretreatment, and Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae was used as a representative sample. The sample was extracted with acetonitrile to eliminate some polar and nonpolar compounds, pigments, and other impurities, and the purification effects of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), amino-modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-NH2), carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-COOH), crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVPP), zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), 3-(N,N-diethylamino)-propyltrimethoxysilane (PSA), octadecyl (C18), and graphitized carbon black (GCB) were compared. MWCNTs-COOH and C18 were selected as the purification adsorbents, and their dosages were systematically optimized. The combination of 10 mg of MWCNTs-COOH and 20 mg of C18 was eventually selected as the purification adsorbents. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used for analysis, and box graphs were plotted to present the dispersion of each group of recoveries, thus enabling the identification of the data outliers, dispersion distribution, and data symmetry. The established method was systematically verified and showed good linearity over the concentration range of 1-200 μg/L (except for bromuconazole, epoxiconazole, and etaconazole) with correlation coefficients >0.99. The average recoveries of the 22 pesticides at spiked levels of 10, 20, 100, and 200 μg/kg were in the range of 77.0%-115% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) <9.4%. The limits of detection and quantification were 1-2.5 μg/kg and 10-20 μg/kg, respectively. The applicability of the developed method to other herbals was investigated at 100 μg/kg, and the average recoveries of the target pesticides in different matrices ranged from 76.4% to 123% with RSDs <12.2%. Finally, the method established was used to detect triazole pesticide residues in 30 actual Zhebawei samples. The results showed that triazole pesticides were present in Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii and Dendranthema Morifolium. Difenoconazole was detected in Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii at contents ranging from 41.4 μg/kg to 110 μg/kg, while difenoconazole, myclobutanil, triadimenol and propiconazole were detected in Dendranthema Morifolium at contents ranging from 16.1 μg/kg to 250 μg/kg. The established method can meet the requirements for the accurate quantitative analysis of triazole fungicides in Zhebawei.

An Analysis of the Clinical Medication Rules of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Based on Data Mining.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the rules and characteristics of the clinical administration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) using data mining methods. Medical cases of well-known contemporary TCM doctors treating PCOS were collected from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System, Wanfang, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, and PubMed; the data were then characterized, and a standardized database of medical cases was built. This database was used to (1) count the frequency of syndrome types and the herbs used in medical cases by data mining methods and (2) analyze drug association rules and systematic clustering methods. A total of 330 papers were included, involving 382 patients and a total of 1,427 consultations. The most common syndrome type was kidney deficiency; sputum stasis was the core pathological product and causative factor. A total of 364 herbs were used. Among them, 22 herbs were used >300 times, including Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Tusizi (Semen Cuscutae), Fuling (Poria), Xiangfu (Nutgrass Galingale Rhizome), and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma). Additionally, 22 binomial associations were obtained from the analysis of association rules; five clustering formulae were obtained via the analysis of high-frequency drug clusters; and 27 core combinations were obtained by k-means clustering of formula. In the treatment of PCOS, TCM is primarily employed as a combination approach involving tonifying the kidneys, strengthening the spleen, eliminating damp and dissolving phlegm, activating blood circulation, and resolving blood stasis. The core prescription is primarily a compound intervention based on the Cangfu Daotan pill, Liuwei Dihuang pill, and Taohong Siwu decoction.

Diversity and structural analysis of rhizosphere soil microbial communities in wild and cultivated Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae and their effects on the accumulation of active components.

Rhizosphere microorganisms are the main factors affecting the formation of high quality medicinal materials and promoting the accumulation of secondary metabolites. However, the composition, diversity, and function of rhizosphere microbial communities in endangered wild and cultivated Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (RAM) and their relationships with active component accumulation have remained unclear. In this study, high-throughput sequencing and correlation analysis were used to study the rhizosphere microbial community diversity (bacteria and fungi) of three RAM species and its correlation with the accumulation of polysaccharides, atractylone, and lactones (I, II, and III). A total of 24 phyla, 46 classes, and 110 genera were detected. The dominant taxa were Proteobacteria, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota. The microbial communities in both wild and artificially cultivated soil samples were extremely species-rich, but there were some differences in their structure and the relative abundances of microorganism taxa. Meanwhile, the contents of effective components in wild RAM were significantly higher than those in cultivated RAM. Correlation analysis showed that 16 bacterial and 10 fungal genera were positively or negatively correlated with active ingredient accumulation. These results showed that rhizosphere microorganisms could play an important role in component accumulation and might lay a foundation for future research on endangered materials.

Bioactive constituents from the rhizomes of Atractylodes macrocephala

Twelve undescribed compounds including five sesquiterpenes (1–5), one monoterpene (6), and four lignans (7a/7b and 8a/8b), along with two other types (9 and 10) were isolated from the rhizomes of Atractylodes macrocephala. Among them, two pairs of enantiomers (7a/7b and 8a/8b) were successfully separated by chiral-phase HPLC, while racemate 9 could not be resolved. Their structures and absolute configurations were unambiguously elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Notably, compounds 1 and 2 are rare sesquiterpene hybrids featuring an eudesmanolactam linked to a resorcinol or methyl 2-methylpentanoat through a CN bond. Compound 3 represents the first example of eudesmanolide sesquiterpene with an oxygen-bridge between C-8 and C-14. Compounds 7a and 7b are a pair of rare enantiomeric benzodioxane norneolignans. Additionally, compound 2 exhibited weak cytotoxicity against SGC-7901 cells. Compound 4 significantly promoted the proliferation of LPS-induced IEC-6 cells with the rate of 117.2%.

Phylogenetic implications and characterization of the chloroplast genome of Atractylodes macrocephala (Compositae), an herb species to China

The rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala is one of the most commonly used herbs in China. In this paper, we presented the complete chloroplast genome of A. macrocephala. The chloroplast genome of A. macrocephala is 153,256 bp in length as the circular, which harbors a large single-copy (LSC) region 84,291 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,675 bp and separated by a pair of inverted-repeat (IR) regions of 25,145 bp for each one. The overall nucleotide content of the chloroplast genome is 37.7% GC content. This chloroplast genome contains 125 genes, which includes 88 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 29 transfer RNA (tRNAs) and 8 ribosome RNA (rRNAs). Phylogenetic implications based on chloroplast genomes of 16 the family Compositae plant species indicated that Atractylodes macrocephala was closely related to Atractylodes lancea in the family Compositae by the Maximum-Likelihood (ML) method.

Impact of sulfur-fumigation on carbohydrate components of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma

Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (AMR) is one of commonly used medicinal and edible herbs in China. It is often sulfur-fumigated during post-harvest processing. Carbohydrates are important active components of AMR. However, it is unknown whether sulfur-fumigation would induce changes on carbohydrates. Here, carbohydrates including polysaccharides, oligosaccharides and free monosaccharides were comprehensively analyzed to characterize the quality changes of sulfur-fumigated AMR. Determination of both homemade sulfur-fumigated AMR samples and commercial samples from market revealed that sulfur-fumigation did not affect molecular weight distribution of polysaccharides, but altered polysaccharides content and its ratios of constituent monosaccharides, especially glucose (Glc) and fructose (Fru), as well as the contents of oligosaccharides DP2–10 and free monosaccharide Fru. Moreover, the variations enhanced with the increasing of residual SO2 content. The potential transformation mechanisms could be due to the hydrolysis of polysaccharides. The research outcomes could provide a chemical basis for the safety and efficacy evaluations of sulfur-fumigated AMR.

Eudesmane−type sesquiterpenes from the rhizomes of Atractylodes macrocephala and their bioactivities

Fifteen undescribed eudesmane−type sesquiterpenes, named atramacronoids D−R, along with fourteen known analogues were isolated from the rhizomes of Atractylodes macrocephala. The structures of atramacronoids D−R were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic data analysis, Snatzke's rule, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Notably, of the undescribed isolates, atramacronoids D and E are the first example of eudesmanolactam−phenol and eudesmanolactam−ethyl hybrids obtained from plants, respectively. A pair of enantiomers, (+)- and (−)-atramacronoids F, were successfully resolved by chiral-phase HPLC. Atramacronoid D exhibited weak cytotoxicity against SGC-7901 cells. Atramacronoid E significantly promoted the proliferation of LPS-induced IEC-6 cells.

Aquaporins: A new target for traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of digestive system diseases.

Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of transmembrane proteins expressed in various organ systems. Many studies have shown that the abnormal expression of AQPs is associated with gastrointestinal, skin, liver, kidneys, edema, cancer, and other diseases. The majority of AQPs are expressed in the digestive system and have important implications for the physiopathology of the gastrointestinal tract as well as other tissues and organs. AQP regulators can prevent and treat most gastrointestinal-related diseases, such as colorectal cancer, gastric ulcer, and gastric cancer. Although recent studies have proposed clinically relevant AQP-targeted therapies, such as the development of AQP inhibitors, clinical trials are still lacking and there are many difficulties. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used in China for thousands of years to prevent, treat and diagnose diseases, and is under the guidance of Chinese medicine (CM) theory. Herein, we review the latest research on the regulation of AQPs by TCMs and their active components, including Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma, Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Poria, Astragali radix, and another 26 TCMs, as well as active components, which include the active components include anthraquinones, saponins, polysaccharides, and flavonoid glycosides. Through our review and discussion of numerous studies, we attempt to explore the regulatory effects of TCMs and their active components on AQP expression in the corresponding parts of the body in terms of the Triple Energizer concept in Chinese medicine defined as "upper energizer, middle energizer, and lower energizer,"so as to offer unique opportunities for the development of AQP-related therapeutic drugs for digestive system diseases.