Traditional Chinese Medicine In China Research Articles

First Report of Didymella pomorum Causing Leaf Blight on Angelica sinensis in China.

Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Umbelliferae family. It has a long history of cultivation and is highly valued as a traditional Chinese medicine in China (Zhang et al. 2012). In September 2023, leaf blight on A. sinensis with an average disease incidence of 56% was recorded in an approximately 6.7-ha production field in Lijiang, Yunnan province, China (26.8215°N, 100.2369°E). At first, small, chlorotic lesions appeared on the leaves. They subsequently increased in density and gradually merged, causing leaves to yellow and wither. Ultimately the blight casused death of the entire foliage. In order to identify the causal agent, cross-sectional segments (5×5 mm2) were cut from the edge of leaf lesions, surface disinfected with a 1% sodium hypochlorite solution for 3 min and rinsed three times with sterile distilled water. They were subsequently placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates and incubated for 3 days under a 12-h photoperiod at 28℃. A total of ten isolates with similar morphological characteristics were obtained by single spore isolation. After 10 days of incubation on PDA, the colony morphology of these isolates was characterized by a brownish central area with a white edge. Aged colonies became wrinkled in the center of the colony. Conidia (n = 30) were elliptical and brown, with a size range of 4.11 to 6.55 μm (average 5.37±0.74 μm) × 3.17 to 4.62 μm (average 3.92±0.43 μm). Chlamydospores (n = 30) formed chains in series, spherical or elliptical in shape, ranging from yellow-brown to dark brown, with a size range of 12.30 to 13.70 μm (average 12.98±0.46 μm) × 4.20 to 5.30 μm (average 4.63±0.26 μm). The nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2), and the 28S nuclear ribosomal large subunit rRNA (LSU) region of two isolates were amplified with the primer pairs ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), fRPB2-5F/fRPB2-7cR (Liu et al. 1999), and LR0R/LR5 (Schoch et al. 2012), respectively. These amplicons were sequenced bidirectionally and assembled. The two isolates produced the same nucleotide sequences, and the sequences of a representative isolate (AsDp1) were deposited in GenBank. BLASTn analyses showed that the ITS (PP510616), RPB2 (PP526010), and LSU (PP550143) sequences of isolate AsDp1 were 100%, 99.66%, and 100% identical with those of Didymella pomorum ex-type isolate CBS 354.52 (MH857081, KT389616, and MH868616), respectively. A phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the ITS, RPB2, and LSU concatenated nucleotide sequences using the maximum likelihood method in MEGAX. Isolate AsDp1 was clustered with four D. pomorum isolates. According to the morphological and nucleotide sequences analyses, isolate AsDp1 was identified as D. pomorum (Chen et al. 2015). To determine pathogenicity, 1-year-old A. sinensis plants (approximately 20 cm tall) grown in 7-liter pots filled with sterilized field soil were sprayed until runoff with a 1×106 conidia/ml suspension of isolate AsDp1 onto the foliage, while control plants were sprayed with sterile water. All plants were cultivated under a 12-h photoperiod at 25℃. The pathogenicity tests were performed in triplicate with ten plants in each treatment. After fifteen days, numerous chlorotic lesions appeared on the leaves of all inoculated plants. The symptoms were similar to those found on naturally infected plants in the field, while the control plants remained asymptomatic. Subsequently, D. pomorum was reisolated from the diseased leaves, and the identity was confirmed based on its ITS sequence and morphological characteristics. D. pomorum causing stem canker on Rosa spp. was reported in Canada (Ilyukhin 2022). To our knowledge, this is the first report of D. pomorum causing leaf blight on A. sinensis in China. This etiological finding will potentially pave the way for the development of control strategies of this disease.

Effectiveness of seven oral traditional Chinese medicines against mild or moderate COVID-19: An updated systematic review and network meta-analysis

BackgroundSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China. As a highly infectious epidemic, SARS-CoV-2 rapidly evolves. Presently, COVID-19 coexists with humans, mainly with mild or moderate disease. The latest Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of COVID-19 (trial version of the 10th Edition) recommend several oral traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) for treatment. This study aims to evaluate the evidence-based benefits of these TCMs as adjunctive therapies to conventional western medicine (CWM) for patients with mild or moderate COVID-19. MethodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, utilizing the PRISMA checklist. We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, and Wan-Fang databases to retrieve randomized controlled trials and retrospective cohort studies of TCM in combination with CWM on the treatment of mild or moderate COVID-19 that were published as of December 25, 2023. A network meta-analysis using the frequency model was employed to evaluate the benefits of different interventions. ResultsA total of 30 eligible studies, enrolling 4144 participants, utilized 7 marketed oral TCMs in China. Compared with CWM alone, the integration of TCMs with CWM can significantly reduce severe conversion rate. This combined approach also enhances the clinical effective rate, shortens the negative conversion time of nucleic acid, and improves both symptoms and blood biochemical markers in patients. The network meta-analysis provided preliminary evidence of the superiority of specific TCMs for various outcomes: Qingfei Paidu for raising the CT improvement rate and clinical effective rate, and shortening the negative conversion time of nucleic acid; Huashi Baidu for reducing severe conversion and improving cough; Xuanfei Baidu for improving fatigue; Jinhua Qinggan for improving fever; Lianhua Qingwen for shortening the recovery time of fatigue and cough; and Shufeng Jiedu for shortening the recovery time of fever. ConclusionsTCM in combination with CWM may be beneficial for patients with mild or moderate COVID-19. Each TCM may have distinct benefits in COVID-19.

Characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the complete chloroplast genome of Carpesium lipskyi (Asteraceae, Inuleae)

The species of Carpesium lipskyi C.Winkl. 1998 is an important traditional Chinese medicine in China. In this study, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of C. lipskyi was determined and analyzed. The result showed that the complete cp genome of C. lipskyi was 151,244 bp in length, consisting of a large single-copy (LSC) region of 82,908 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,430 bp, and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 24,953 bp. The overall GC content of the C. lipskyi is 37.68%. The species of C. lipskyi possessed 127 genes, including 83 protein-coding genes, 36 transfer RNA genes, and eight ribosomal RNA genes. The present study found that Inula is sister groups with the closest genetic relationship. The obtained knowledge could provide useful information for future phylogenetic, taxonomic, and evolutionary studies on Inuleae.

Effects of a therapeutic lifestyle modification intervention on cardiometabolic health, sexual functioning and health-related quality of life in perimenopausal Chinese women: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

IntroductionPerimenopause is a critical transitional period in reproductive ageing. A set of physiological and psychological changes can affect perimenopausal women’s quality of life and further threaten their older adult health...

First Report of Pseudocercospora oenotherae Causing Leaf Spot in Rhinacanthus nasutus in China

Rhinacanthus nasutus (L.) Kurz is a traditional Chinese medicine in China. In August 2022, leaf spots were observed on R. nasutus in a Chinese herbal garden in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, China (21°17′30″N, 110°18′25″E). Disease incidence was 90% (n = 100 investigated plants from about 800 plants). The yellow spots were round, gray in the center and scattered on the leaves. The coalescence of the individual spot eventually led to leaf wilt. Ten symptomatic leaves from 10 plants were sampled. The margins of the samples were cut into 2 mm × 2 mm pieces. The tissue surface was disinfected with 75% ethanol for 30 s and 2% sodium hypochlorite for 60 s. Thereafter, the samples were rinsed three times in sterile water, placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated at 28 °C. Pure cultures were obtained by transferring hyphal tips to new PDA plates. Twenty-eight isolates were obtained (isolation frequency = 28/4 × 10 = 70%). Three representative single-spore isolates (RNPO-1, RNPO-2, and RNPO-3) by a single-spore isolation method (Fang. 1998) were used for further study. The colonies of isolates on PDA were olive green in 7 days at 28 °C. Conidiogenous cells were unbranched, geniculate–sinuous, tapered toward the apex, and 10 to 20 × 3 μm (n = 20). Conidia were solitary, smooth, straight or curved, pale brown, 3 to 8-septate, apex acute, base truncate, and 50.5 to 88.5 × 2.0 to 3.5 μm (n = 50). For molecular identification, the colony PCR method with Taq DNA polymerase and MightyAmp DNA Polymerase (Lu et al. 2012) was used to amplify the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1), actin (ACT) , and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) loci of the isolates using primer pairs ITS1/ITS4, EF1/EF2, ACT-512F/ACT-783R, and RPB2-7CF/fRPB2-11aR, respectively (O’Donnell et al. 1998; O’Donnell et al. 2010). Their sequences were deposited in GenBank under nos. OP963568 to OP963570 (ITS), OP998376 to OP998378 (TEF1), OP998373 to OP998375 (ACT), and OP998379 to OP998381 (RPB2). By using the Maximum Likelihood method, a phylogenetic tree was generated on the basis of the concatenated data from the sequences of ITS, TEF1, ACT, and RPB2 that clustered the isolates with P. oenotherae (the type strain CBS 131920). The fungus was thus identified as P. oenotherae basing on these morphological and molecular characteristics (Guo and Liu. 1992; Kirschner. 2015). Pathogenicity testing was performed in a greenhouse with 80% relative humidity at 28 °C to 30 °C. Healthy plants of R. nasutus were grown in pots, with one plant in each pot. Sterile cotton balls were immersed in the spore suspension (1 × 105 per mL) of the isolates for about 15 s before they were adhered to the leaves for 3 days. Each isolate was inoculated with three plants (2 month old), and each plant was inoculated with five leaves. Sterile distilled water was as the control and same treatment. The test was performed three times. Symptom were found on the inoculated plants after 2 weeks with the disease incidence 100%, whereas the control plants remained healthy. The fungus was re-isolated from the infected leaves and confirmed as the same isolates by morphological and ITS analyses. No pathogen was isolated from the control plants. P. oenotherae caused leaf spot on Oenothera biennis L. (Guo and Liu. 1992). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that R. nasutus is the new host of P. oenotherae (Crous et al. 2013). Thus, this work provides an important reference for the control of this disease in the future.

The Textual Relationship between Zhongguo Yixue Dacidian and YiJi ZhiJin

Zhongguo Yixue Dacidian(The Dictionary of Chinese Medicine,«») is the first comprehensive dictionary of traditional Chinese medicine in China. The dictionary, edited by Xie Guan()and compiled for several years by the teachers and students of Shanghai Special School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, was first published by The Commercial Press in 1921. In 1919, Lu Simian() joined The Commercial Press to assist Xie Guan who is his old friend in compiling the contents on medical books for the dictionary . In the same year, Lu Simian wrote a book called YiJi ZhiJin(«»). Recently, some scholars believe that Xie Guan disassembled YiJi ZhiJin and compiled it into Zhongguo Yixue Dacidian. Through a comparative study of these two, it can be seen that YiJi ZhiJin and Zhongguo Yixue Dacidian do use homologous materials in the interpretation of some medical books, but YiJi ZhiJin as a whole is not compiled into Zhongguo Yixue Dacidian, and the idea of there is a plagiarism relationship between them is incorrect.

Ginsenoside Rg1 modulates PI3K/AKT pathway for enhanced osteogenesis via GPER

BackgroundOsteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by decreased bone density and the degradation of bone tissue microarchitecture. Ginsenoside Rg1, derived from Panax ginseng, has been a part of traditional Chinese medicine in China for centuries, particularly for treating osteoporosis. However, there remains limited research on the osteogenic potential of Rg1 within the glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) model and its specific mechanisms. PurposeThe primary objective of this study is to investigate the osteogenic potential of Rg1 within the GIOP model and explore the signaling pathways associated with its in vivo and in vitro effects. MethodsCell proliferation, differentiation and mineralization were evaluated by the Cell counting kit 8(CCK8) assay, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test and Alizarin Red S staining, respectively. The qPCR technique was used to determine the relative expression of mRNA and the western blot was used to determine the relative expression of protein. In vivo experiments, spinal vertebrae staining in zebrafish larvae was accomplished by alizarin red S staining. ResultsZebrafish larvae's hatching, survival, malformation, and heart rate were unaffected by 50 μM of Rg1 in vivo, while the MEC3T3-E1 cell line's proliferation was unaffected by 50 μM of Rg1 in vitro. Meanwhile, Rg1 was shown to improve osteogenic differentiation or bone formation as well as the level of mRNA expression of osteogenic markers in vivo and in vitro. Treatment with Rg1 significantly increased the expression of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) and pAKT. In addition, the GPER inhibitor G15 could significantly reduce the mRNA and protein expression levels of GPER and phosphorylated AKT, LY294002, a PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor, markedly suppresses the expression of phosphorylated AKT, yet shows no significant impact on GPER expression. Both G15 and LY294002 can significantly blocked the Rg1-mediated enhancement of osteogenesis capacity in the GIOP model. In contrast, when both the agonists G1 of GPER and LY294002 were added, G1 increased the relative expression of mRNA and protein of GPER, but not the expression of osteogenic capacity and osteogenic markers. ConclusionsThis study investigates the mineralization effects and mechanisms of Ginsenoside Rg1 both in vitro and in vivo. For the first time, we propose that Rg1 might regulate osteogenesis by modulating AKT phosphorylation through mediating GPER expression within the PI3K/AKT pathway in the GIOP model. This discovery introduces novel targets and avenues for osteoporosis treatment.

Effects of four soil types on growth responses and nutrient stoichiometry in Phellodendron chinense seedlings

Abstract Phellodendron chinense is an extraordinary medicinal plant, and its stem bark is a famous traditional Chinese medicine in China, containing a number of phytochemicals with biological and pharmacological functions. Studies have shown that the medicinal ingredients in P. chinense from various regions are different, as soil types might be important factors affecting the growth and quality of P. chinense. In this study, the effects of acidic purple soil, alkaline purple soil, yellow soil and red soil on the growth, nutrient element accumulation and partitioning in P. chinense seedlings were studied. Our results showed that the biomass of leaves and stems in acidic purple soil was significantly higher than in other soils, and the root biomass was significantly lower than that in yellow soil. C, N, P and Ca contents cultured in acidic purple soil were the highest compared to other soils, and K and Mg content were the highest in yellow soil and red soil, respectively. The distribution of carbon between different organs can reflect environmental stress. N has become a limiting factor for the growth and development of P. chinense seedlings. C:N and C:P ratios in the leaves were significantly lower than those in the stem and roots. Among four soil types, the highest N:P ratio was 1.65 in P. chinense seedlings. These results suggest that four soil types may significantly affect the accumulation and distribution of biomass and nutrient elements in P. chinense seedlings. The characteristic patterns in different organs have different responses. Acidic purple soil is more suitable for the growth of P. chinense. These findings will help to understand the distribution characteristics and requirements of nutrient elements in P. chinense seedlings, and further provide a theoretical basis and reference for site selection and cultivation strategy.

Investigation of the response of Platycodongrandiflorus (Jacq.) A. DC to salt stress using combined transcriptomics and metabolomics

BackgroundPlatycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.) A. DC is a famous traditional Chinese medicine in China and an authentic medicine in Inner Mongolia. It has been traditionally used as an expectorant in cough and also has anti-inflammatory and other pharmacological effects. As a homologous plant of medicine and food, P. grandiflorus is widely planted in Northeast China. Soil salinity isa limiting factor for its cultivation. In this study, we comprehensively described the physiological characteristics of P. grandiflorus and combined transcriptomics and metabolomics to study the response of roots of P. grandiflorus to salt stress.ResultsOverall, 8,988 differentially expressed genes were activated and significantly altered the metabolic processes. In total, 428 differentially abundant metabolites were affected by salt stress. After moderate and severe salt stress, most of the differentially abundant metabolites were enriched in the L-phenylalanine metabolic pathway. Through the comprehensive analysis of the interaction between key genes and metabolites, the main pathways such as lignin compound biosynthesis and triterpene saponin biosynthesis were completed. The relative content of compounds related to lignin biosynthesis, such as caffeic acid, coniferin, and syringing, increased under salt stress, and the related genes such as PAL, C4H, and the key enzyme gene UGT72E2 were activated to adapt to the salt stress. Platycodon saponin is one of the major triterpene saponins in P. grandiflorus, and Platycodin D is its most abundant major bioactive component. Under severe salt stress, Platycodin D level increased by nearly 1.77-fold compared with the control group. Most of the genes involved insynthetic pathway of Platycodin D, such as HMGCR, GGPS, SE, and LUP, were upregulated under salt stress.ConclusionSalt stress led to a decrease in the biomass and affected the activities of antioxidant enzymes and contents of osmotic regulators in the plant. These results provided not only novel insights into the underlying mechanisms of response of P. grandiflorus to salt stress but also a foundation for future studies on the function of genes related to salt tolerance in the triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis pathway.

More Than Just Cultural Nationalism: A History of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China’s Manned Space Program

More Than Just Cultural Nationalism: A History of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China’s Manned Space Program

Translation Studies of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China: Achievements and Prospects

Given the accelerated pace of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) translation studies and their increasing popularity in China, it is necessary to make a comprehensive review. This study explores the recent development and hotspots on TCM translation studies, based on research articles published between 1992 and 2020 in key journals in China National Knowledge Infrastructure database, and it employs bibliometric methods to analyze the status quo, hotspots, and future trends of TCM translation studies. The study identifies the main researchers, their affiliations, and frequently cited papers and examined them from the perspective of keywords and burst terms. We find that TCM translation studies are rapidly increasing, topics and fields are increasingly covered, and cultural elements and their significance are increasingly considered. More perspectives and topics should remain to be considered. Thus, the TCM-related corpus should be expanded to enable in-depth studies. Further, more studies should be conducted on the training of TCM translators and interpreters.

Research progress on active ingredients of animal-derived traditional Chinese medicine in treatment of allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis(AR) is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the upper respiratory tract. Due to its high prevalence, high recurrence rate, and lack of a definitive cure, it is considered a global health issue by the World Health Organization. The pathogenesis of AR is complex and mainly involves B cells, helper T cells, eosinophils, basophils, macrophages, as well as the cytokines and inflammatory mediators they secrete. Clinical treatment primarily focuses on inhibiting inflammatory mediators such as histamine and leukotrienes. In recent years, active ingredients of animal-derived traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) have shown unique advantages and potential in AR treatment thanks to their high safety, specificity, selectivity, and biopotency. This study systematically reviewed the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of active ingredients and mixed extracts from animal-derived TCM, such as bovine spleen, honeycomb, bee venom, maggot, and human placenta, which have been shown by modern pharmacological research to regulate the immune function in AR, providing a reference for further exploration and clinical development of active ingredients from animal-derived TCM. Studies have found that the active ingredients from animal-derived TCM can produce definite therapeutic effects in AR by modulating multiple immune balances in the body, with great clinical prospects. However, their mechanisms of action still require further investigation, and the quality control techniques for effective ingredients need to be improved. Currently, the research on active ingredients from animal-derived TCM in China has adopted an interactive system consisting of "traditional medical experience-based research, bioinformatics and artificial intelligence predictions, and validation and development through new experimental techniques". Based on this system, animal-derived TCM can combine modern scientific and technological means to maximize the therapeutic effects of active ingredients and serve the clinical application of AR in a more efficient and innovative manner.

First Report of 16SrI-B Subgroup Related Phytoplasma Associated with Yellows Symptoms of Rubus cochinchinensis in China.

Rubus cochinchinensis, an important traditional Chinese medicine in China is used to treat rheumatic arthralgia, bruises and lumbocrural pain (He et al.2005). In January 2022, yellow leaves of R. cochinchinensis were found in Tunchang City, Hainan Province, a tropical island in China. Chlorosis spread along the direction of vascular tissue while the leaf veins remain green (Fig. 1). In addition, the leaves were slightly shrunken and the growth vigor is poor (Fig. 1). By survey, we found the incidence of this disease was about 30%. Three etiolated samples and three healthy samples (0.1g each) were used to extract total DNA (TIANGEN plant genomic DNA extraction kit). Using nested PCR method, phytoplasma universal primers P1 / P7 (Schneider et al., 1995) and R16F2n / R16R2 (Lee et al. 1993) were used to amplified phytoplasma 16S rDNA gene. Primers rp F1 / R1 (Lee et al. 1998) and rp F2 / R2 (Martini et al. 2007) were used to amplified rp gene. 16S rDNA gene and rp gene fragments were amplified from three leaf etiolated samples, but not from healthy samples. The amplified fragments were cloned and sequenced, and the sequences were assembled by DNASTAR11. By sequence alignment, we found the obtained 16S rDNA and rp gene sequences of three leaf etiolated samples were same. The length of 16S rDNA fragment was 1237 bp (accession number: ON944105) and the length of rp gene fragment was 1212 bp (accession number: ON960069). The phytoplasma strain was named as 'R. cochinchinensis' yellows leaf phytoplasma (RcT), RcT-HN1 strain. The 16S rDNA gene sequence of RcT-HN1is 99.8% consistent with 16SrI-B subgroup members such as the 'Brassica napus' dwarf phytoplasma strain WH3 (MG599470.1), Chinaberry yellows phytoplasma strain LJM-1(KX683297.1) and Arecanut yellow leaf disease phytoplasma strain B165 (FJ694685.1). The rp gene sequence of RcT-HN1 is 100% consistent with rpI-B subgroup members such as the 'Salix tetradenia' witches'-broom phytoplasma strain YM-1 (KC117314.1) and Chinaberry witches'-broom phytoplasma strain Hainan (EU348781.1). The phylogenetic tree analysis, based on concatenated 16S rDNA-rp gene sequence of same group phytoplasma by MEGA 7.0 employing neighbor-joining (NJ) method with 1000 bootstrap value, were performed (Kumar et al., 2016). The results showed that RcT-HN1 phytoplasma strain formed a subclade in aster yellows group B subgroup (Fig. 2). The virtual RFLP analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene fragment of RcT-HN1 phytoplasma strain was performed by the interactive online phytoplasma classification tool iPhyClassifier (Zhao et al., 2009). The results showed that the phytoplasma strain was same as the reference pattern of the onion yellows phytoplasma of 16SrI-B (GenBank accession: AP006628), and the similarity coefficient was 1.00. This is the first report that 16SrI-B subgroup related phytoplasma infected R. cochinchinensis and caused yellows symptoms in China. The discovery of the disease is helpful to the study of the spread of phytoplasma-related diseases and protect R. cochinchinensis resources.

Bavachin induces liver injury and cell apoptosis by targeting Wnt/β-catenin/DRP1 signaling pathway mediated mitochondrial dysfunction

Psraleae Fructus (PF) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine in China. While numerous liver injury reports caused by PF limits its clinical application. Bavachin, a flavonoid compound isolated from the fruits of Psoralea corylifolia L., has been validated to induce direct apoptosis in hepatocytes and liver tissues in our previous studies. However, the subcellular mechanisms of bavachin induced liver injury is still elusive. Here, utilizing 6-week-old C57BL/6 J mice and human embryonic hepatocytes (L02 cells), we report that bavachin activates dynamic-related protein 1 (DRP1) mediated excess mitochondrial fission and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress related apoptosis via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Notably, DRP1 knockdown or XAV-939 induced Wnt/β-catenin inhibition decreased bavachin-induced ER stress and cell apoptosis in L02 cells. In addition, bavachin impaired mitochondrial structural and function in the mice liver tissues. Mdivi-1, a mitochondrial fission inhibitor targeting DRP1, prevented bavachin-induced mitochondrial and ER structural damage, ER stress, and liver injury. Our results demonstrated that bavachin induced mitochondrial fission plays a crucial role in bavachin induced ER stress related liver injury, via the mechanism that involved activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Equity and prediction of health resource allocation of traditional Chinese medicine in China.

To analyze the equity of health resource allocation of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) and predict its development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, and to provide a scientific basis for promoting the improvement of TCM service capacity. The Chinese Mainland (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) was divided into the Northeast, Eastern, Central and Western regions, and the number of TCM medical institutions, the number of TCM beds, practitioners (assistants) of TCM and Chinese pharmacists from 2016 to 2020 were selected as evaluation indicators, and the equity of health resource allocation of TCM was evaluated by Concentration index(CI), Theil index(T) and Health resource agglomeration degree (HRAD), and the development of health resource of TCM during the 14th Five-Year Plan period was predicted by grey prediction model GM (1,1). The Concentration index of the number of TCM medical institutions and TCM beds is negative, and the allocation tends to the regions with low economic development level. The Concentration index of practitioners (assistants) of TCM and Chinese pharmacists is positive, and the allocation tends to the regions with higher economic development level. The number of TCM medical institutions, TCM beds, practitioners (assistants) of TCM and Chinese pharmacists' Theil index allocated by geography is larger than that allocated by population, which indicates that the equity of TCM health resources allocated by population is better than that allocated by geography. The number of TCM medical institutions, practitioners (assistants) of TCM and Chinese pharmacists in between regions by population contributed more than 72% to the Theil index, indicating that the inequity mainly comes from between regions. The number of TCM medical institutions, TCM beds, practitioners (assistants) of TCM and Chinese pharmacists in within regions by geography contributed more than 80% to the Theil index, indicating that the inequity mainly comes from within regions. The HRAD in the Eastern and Central regions is greater than 1, indicating that the equity is better by geography. The HRAD in the Western region is less than 1, indicating insufficient equity by geography. The HRAD/PAD of the Central region (except for the number of TCM beds in 2020) is less than 1, indicating that it cannot meet the medical needs of the agglomerated population. The HRAD/PAD of the Western region (excluding for the Chinese pharmacists) is greater than 1, indicating that the equity is better than that of the agglomeration population. The number of TCM medical institutions and TCM beds tends to regions with low economic development levels, while the number of practitioners (assistants) of TCM and Chinese pharmacists tends to regions with high economic development levels. The equity of the allocation of TCM health resources by population is better than that by geography, and the inequity of the allocation by geography mainly comes from within region. The allocation of health resources of TCM in the four regions is different, and there is a contradiction between equity and actual medical needs.

Ayurvedic Herbs Advised for COVID-19 Management: Therapeutic Potential and Clinical Relevance

Abstract: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread worldwide. There is no effective medication for COVID- 19 as of now, so it would be good to take preventive measures that not only boost our immunity but also fight against infections. The use of traditional Chinese medicine in China to treat COVID-19 patients sets the prototype demonstrating that traditional medicines can contribute to prevention and treatment successfully. In India, the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy) released a self-care advisory during the COVID-19 crisis as a preventive aspect. This review article discusses the therapeutic potential and clinical relevance of some herbs [(Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Tvaka (Cinnamon), Maricha (Piper longum), Shunthi (Zingiber officinale), Munakka (Dried grapes), Lavang (Syzigiumaromaticum), Pudina (Mentha arvensis), and Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi)] advised by AUYSH to take during COVID-19 infection. They are effective in COVID-19 management, therefore, authors have discussed their detailed traditional uses as therapeutics and spotted scientific insight and clinical significance of the herbs mentioned above along with their mechanistic viewpoint, adequately, on a single platform. Provided information could be a treasure to open up a new research arena on natural products to manage human health crises effectively, caused not only by COVID-19 but also by other infectious diseases.

Traditional application and modern research progress on new foreign medicinal resources

Chinese medicinal resources are the material basis for the survival and development of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)and the sustainable development of Chinese medicinal resources is also an important project for the modernization of TCM in China. With the increasing demand for Chinese medicinal resources in China, over-exploitation has destroyed Chinese medicinal resources, resulting in a shortage of many natural medicinal resources in China and making the sustainable development of TCM in trouble. The introduced new foreign medicinal resources have become effective supplement and replacement for Chinese medicinal resources to some extent. However, the development and utilization of new foreign medicinal resources in China are different. To fully understand the development of new foreign medicinal resources in China, this paper, taking 43 new foreign medicinal resources such as Acacia nilotica as objects, sorted out the introduction forms and policies of new foreign medicinal resources, overviewed its current development status in China, summarized the application experience of new foreign medicinal resources in the place of origin, as well as the research progress and problems of new foreign medicinal resources in China and abroad, and analyzed the research situation, which can enrich Chinese medicinal resources and other uses, promote the sustainable development of Chinese medicinal resources, and provide ideas for further development and research of new foreign medicinal resources.

Astragaloside IV ameliorates radiation-induced nerve cell damage by activating the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway.

Radiation can induce nerve cell damage. Synapse connectivity and functionality are thought to be the essential foundation of all cognitive functions. Therefore, treating and preventing damage to synaptic structure and function is an urgent challenge. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is a glycoside extracted from Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.). Bunge is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine in China with various pharmacological properties, including protective effects on the central nervous system (CNS). In this study, the effect of AS-IV on synapse damage and BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway in radiated C57BL/6 mice with X-rays was investigated. PC12 cells and primary cortical neurons were exposed to UVA in vitro. Open field test and rotarod test were used to observe the effects of AS-IV on the motor and explore the abilities of radiated mice. The pathological changes in the brain were observed by hematoxylin and eosin and Nissl staining. Immunofluorescence analysis was used to detect the synapse damage. The expressions of the BDNF/TrkB pathway and neuroprotection-related molecules were detected by Western blotting and Quantitative-RTPCR, respectively. The results showed that AS-IV could improve the motor and explore abilities of radiated mice, reduce pathological damage to the cortex, enhance neuroprotection functions, and activate BDNF/TrkB pathway. In conclusion, AS-IV could relieve radiation-induced synapse damage, at least partly through the BDNF/TrkB pathway.

A review of the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, analysis method and quality control, processing methods, pharmacological effects, pharmacokinetics and toxicity of codonopsis radix.

Codonopsis Radix, a traditional Chinese medicine in China, has great medicinal and scientific value. Moreover, it can also be used as a health product in daily diet. This paper reviews the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, analysis method and quality control, processing methods, pharmacological effects, pharmacokinetics and toxicity related to Codonopsis Radix. The information of Codonopsis Radix is obtained from scientific databases (such as Baidu Scholar, CNKI, Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and SciFinder Scholar), Chinese herbal classics, Chinese Pharmacopoeia, PhD and MSc dissertations, and so on. The chemical components mainly include alkaloids, alkynes and polyacetylenes, flavonoids, lignans, steroids, terpenoids, organic acids, volatile oils, saccharides and other components, which have a wide range of neuroprotective effects, protection of gastrointestinal mucosa and anti-ulcer, regulation of body immunity, anti-tumor, endocrine regulation, improvement of hematopoietic function, cardiovascular protection, anti-aging and antioxidant effects. In conclusion, this paper summarizes in depth the shortcomings of the current research on Codonopsis Radix and proposes corresponding solutions. At the same time, this paper provides theoretical support for further research on the biological function and potential clinical efficacy of Codonopsis Radix.

Transcriptomics explores the potential of flavonoid in non-medicinal parts of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk.

Saposhnikovia divaricata is a traditional Chinese medicine in China, which is widely used in clinic. The root of S. divaricata is often used as medicine, but little research has been done on its other tissues. In this study, the contents of root and leaf of S. divaricata were determined by HPLC, the differentially expressed genes were screened by transcriptome sequencing at molecular level, and then verified by network pharmacology. The results showed that the content of 4'-O-β-D-glucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol in the leaves was significantly higher than that in the roots, which was about 3 times higher than that in the roots. In addition, 10 differentially expressed key enzyme genes were screened in plant hormone signal transduction, phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways. C4H and CYP98A were up-regulated in root, while F3H was down-regulated in root. They can be used as important candidate genes for the mechanism of quality difference of S. divaricata. Finally, network pharmacological validation showed that 5-O-methylvesamitol plays an important role in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. These findings not only provide insight into flavonoid biosynthesis in S. divaricata associated molecular regulation, but also provide a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of S. divaricata.