Traditional Chinese Medicine Species Research Articles

Effects of light intensity on the growth of Polygala fallax Hemsl. (Polygalaceae).

Polygala fallax Hemsl. (Polygalaceae), a traditional Chinese medicinal species, requires optimal growth conditions for artificial cultivation. Irradiance is one of the primary environmental factors that affects the growth and survival of P. fallax Hemsl. plants, which seemingly grow better under weak irradiance conditions. However, the optimum light intensity for growing P. fallax Hemsl. is not clear. To determine the optimum light intensity for cultivating this medicinal plant species, P. fallax Hemsl. plants from two different habitats were grown and exposed to three shade treatments (50% shade, 70% shade and 90% shade, which resulted in photosynthetically active radiation amounts equal to 662 μmol m−2 s−1, 401 μmol m−2 s−1, and 131 μmol m−2 s−1, respectively) to evaluate survival, growth, leaf photosynthesis, and the main pharmacological active ingredients (saponins) in response to shade. Our results revealed that the P. fallax Hemsl. plants in the different habitats consistently exhibited relatively high photosynthesis rates, biomass, survival rates and saponins under 662 μmol m−2 s−1 created by the 50% shade treatment. We concluded that photosynthetically active radiation of approximately 662 μmol m−2 s−1 is suitable for the cultivation of P. fallax Hemsl. plants.

Dietary exposure and risk assessment of chlorinated paraffins in roots and rhizomes of traditional Chinese medicine herbs.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provides therapeutic and health care effects through dietary intake. Owing to the susceptibility of plants to contaminations, a risk assessment system is urgently needed to ensure the safe use of TCMs. In this study, the contamination levels and risks associated with the dietary intake of short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) were investigated in six kinds of frequently-used TCM herbs. The concentrations varied from 144.4 to 1527.8ng·g-1 dw for SCCPs and non-detect to 1214.1ng·g-1 dw for MCCPs, with mean values of 551.5 and 259.8ng·g-1 dw, respectively. A geographic distribution analysis indicated that the concentrations of CPs in TCMs were mainly associated with their levels of contamination in the ambient environment. Carbon atom-chlorine congener profiles of CPs were dominated by C10Cl7-8 and C14Cl7-8 congeners, accounting for 20.1% and 32.4% of the total SCCP and MCCP concentrations, respectively. Principal component analysis indicated that the TCM species might be the main factor influencing the accumulation of SCCPs congeners. Finally, a risk assessment reveals that the estimated daily intake and margin of exposure were far below levels that might pose a health risk, indicating an acceptable dietary intake of SCCPs and MCCPs in the studied TCMs. This is the first report of CPs in the TCM herbs and the obtained results are expected to aid in future evaluation of the quality of TCMs and ensuring diet and drug safety.

Comparative study and quality evaluation regarding morphology characters, volatile constituents, and triglycerides in seeds of five species used in traditional Chinese medicine

Volatile compounds (VCs) and triglycerides (TGs) are the primary groups of constituents in the fruits of five well-known species used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), viz. Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. (AO), Alpinia katsumadai Hayata (AK), Amomum villosum Lour. (FAL), Amomum villosum Lour. var. xanthioides T. L. Wu et Senjen (FALX), and Amomum longiligulare T. L. Wu (FALO). The fruits of these species are morphologically similar and commonly used in both foods and TCM. Each species is purportedly endowed with different medicinal properties. Efficient and environmentally friendly methods are desirable for the quality control of these species. The current study attempted to establish both comprehensive profiles and quality standards for the five TCM species. External morphology characters were provided to distinguish 18 fruit samples belonging to the five species, which were collected from different geographical regions of China. The VCs of each sample were analyzed by SPME GC/Q-ToF. The identification of marker compounds from each species allowed for the differentiation of the fruits from the five plants. Characterization and quantification of 21 TGs were achieved using SFC/MS with an analysis time of less than 15 min. The complex TGs were unambiguously identified using the MS detection with correct attribution of the acyl group to the sn-2 position. Moreover, the quantification of TGs was improved by using reference standards whenever possible or a single standard strategy to determine multiple TGs. The validity of the proposed SFC/MS method was assessed by analyzing fatty acids from the hydrolysis and transesterification products of the same sample set using GC/MS. The quantification results from both TGs and fatty acids were consistent, and were further substantiated by chemometric analysis. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study utilizing the morphology, VCs, and TGs for quality evaluation purpose of these five TCM species.

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

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

Relationship between frailty index and drug use situation in elderly patients

Objective To analyse the relationship between frailty index(FI) and drug use situation in elderly patients. Methods For the cross-sectional study, data from participants aged 75 and over (n=88, male=46) of Fuxing Hospital. Demographic data, co-morbidity, patients′ healthy condition were evaluated by fIrating scale according to Rockwood. Demographics data, co-morbidity and medication compliance (the types and amounts of the drugs) were recorded. Frailty was quantified as deficits accumulated in a frailty index (FI). Individuals were separated into three groups according to FI: frail (0.45≤FI<1), pre-frail (0.20<FI<0.45), and non-frail (0<FI≤0.20). Results The 88 patients, on average, use 8.00(5.00) drug species and 12.25(11.75) pills of western medicine. The drug species and pills were higher in frail group than that in non-frail group and pre-frail group (P<0.05), there was no significant difference in these three groups. Spearman correlation analysis showed that FI was positively correlated with western medicine species and pills, traditional Chinese medicine species, age, heart disease, stroke, COPD or chronic bronchitis, cancer, BPH, peptic ulcer, arthritis. Conclusions The frail index increased with age in elderly patients. Generally, frail patients had a variety of chronic diseases, they used more drug species and pills, which reminded clinical nurses to pay more attention to clinical treatment, adverse drug reaction and side effect of drugs in frail patients. Key words: Elderly patients; Medication; Frailty

A Two-Dimensional DNA Barcode System for Circulation Regulation of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Circulation regulation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is challenging because of the complex varieties of TCM. As a matter of public health, the quality of TCM should be monitored. In our study, a two-dimensional DNA barcode system was constructed for circulation regulation of TCM. This system consisted of DNA barcode sequences and the cross-platform conversion of DNA barcode information. A total of 109 samples belonging to five medicinal materials, namely, Lini Semen, Sesami Semen Nigrum, Cannabis Semen, Ricini Semen, and Abutili Semen, were used for the construction of the system. Firstly, the sequences were obtained according to the DNA barcoding standard operating procedure (SOP). Secondly, the sequences were converted into quick response code (QR Code) images based on the open source PHP QR code. Finally, the species information was captured by scanning the QR code image using a mobile terminal and submitted to the system for confirmation. This combination of QR code and DNA barcode allows for the transfer of DNA sequence information across different platforms and provides standard QR code images for each TCM species. This study provides the theoretical basis for the application of two-dimensional DNA barcode technology for circulation regulation of TCM. This novel system allows for the effective monitoring of quality and promotes the modernization and internationalization of TCM.

Nobel Prize for Artemisinin Inspires Modern TCM Research

Half of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Chinese scientist Youyou Tu in recognition of her pioneering work on the antimalarial artemisinin, extracted from Artemisia annua, a traditional Chinese herbal remedy used to treat fever. This is clearly a great encouragement for scientists who engage traditional medicine research. As Youyou Tu stated in her Nobel Prize awarding lecture, artemisinin is a gift from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to the world, this definitely will generate great interest in not only TCM but also other traditional medicine systems from other parts of the world, including Europe, Africa, India, Americas, etc. Though the Nobel Prize selection committee did not confess that the prize is to award traditional Chinese medicine, rather a new drug discovery inspired from TCM, this is indeed the exciting and encouraging event for Chinese TCM scientists. In my opinion, it is meaningless to dispute if artemisinin is still belonging to TCMor westernmedicine. Any contribution or new discovery derived from TCM to benefit for the human health should be recognized and respected. TCM needs to be developed and modernized. Any standpoint that developed or modernized TCM does not belong to TCM may drastically hinder the TCM modernization and integration with modern medicine process, or even deepen the gap between TCM and modern medicine. Evidence-based medicine is the future of TCM by means of modern biomedicine advances and novel approaches. In the past 20 years, TCM has undergone rapid development period evidenced by a number of achievements including the geometric growth of TCM research papers, booming TCM industry, TCM new drug research and development, etc. However, TCM is still facing grand challenges in the future development. Shortage of modern scientific evidence for safety, effectiveness, quality and mode of action should be emphasized and dealt with solutions. TCM experienced-based feature should be turned into evidence-based and science-based one. Following several aspects are suggested for the future modern TCM research: a) TCM-based new drug discovery. TCM is still a non-fully explored treasure house for new drug discovery and development. According to TCM resource survey, there are over 12000 TCM species, among which majority are herbs. Apart from artemisinin and its derivatives, a number of single chemical entity drugs have been developed and successfully marketed, such as arsenic trioxide, ginsenoside Rg3, bifendate, β-elemene, indirubin, etc. It is anticipated that more new drugs could be discovered from this vast TCM resource with modern drug discovery technology and methodology. b) Research on the holistic TCM quality control. The current quality control approach is more focused on a single marker or a few marker determinations, which follows the western drug quality control model and hence, could not really monitor the quality of TCM products. Systemic and comprehensive quality control method should be developed for the TCM crude drugs, prepared slices and finished products, especially for those multiple-ingredient herbal products. c) Research on TCM processing. All TCM crude drugs should be processed in different extent before they can be used either for decoction or for herbal production. TCM processing method is mainly based on the traditional knowledge or experience. Mechanism of processing either for the purpose of enhancing efficacy or eliminating toxicity should be thoroughly investigated and clarified. d) TCM efficacy and safety research. During the development of TCM, greater attention needs to be paid to the integrated evaluation of the effectiveness and safety based on TCM theory and modern scientific research. New evaluation methodology fit for TCM complex feature should be developed with international collaborations. Globally recognized evaluation criteria should be constructed. Other TCM research focuses include pharmacokinetics, geo-authenticity, active principles and giant data library. It is firmly believed that TCM will contribute more than ever to the human health along with the rapid advances of biomedicine science and eventually developed into an evidence-based medicine system.