Traditional Medicine In China Research Articles

Effect of Eriobotrya japonica Leaf Supplements on Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms and Skin Conditions in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

Eriobotrya japonica (E. japonica) leaves have been used as an herbal traditional medicine in China and Japan owing to their anti-inflammatory and protective effects against skin conditions and allergy symptoms. These beneficial effects are likely mediated by the various triterpenoids present in E. japonica leaves. However, the efficacy of E. japonica leaves in the treatment of allergic rhinitis has not been evaluated in humans. Therefore, in the present study, a randomized, controlled, double-blind trial was performed on healthy adults of age >20 (n = 27) who were randomly assigned to receive either 2.5 g of placebo or E. japonica leaf supplements once daily for 4 weeks. The Japanese Allergic Rhinitis Quality of Life Standard Questionnaire (JRQLQ), dermatological allergy symptoms, Dermatology Life Quality Index, and skin condition parameters were assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks. Significant differences were observed in the variability of the itchy nose, itchy eyes, and eye symptoms between the E. japonica supplementation and placebo groups after 4 weeks. Arm skin transepidermal water loss was improved only in the E. japonica supplementation group. This study suggests that E. japonica leaves can be used as a functional food ingredient to relieve allergic symptoms.

Nuezhenoside G13 from Osmanthus fragrans fruit ameliorates Concanavalin A–induced autoimmune hepatitis by regulating the NF-κB/MAPK pathway

Ethnopharmacological relevanceOsmanthus fragrans fruit (OFF) exhibits hepatoprotective function, and it is consumed as food and used in traditional medicine in China. Nuezhenoside G13 (G13) is present in the highest levels in OFF. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a manifestation of liver disease and seriously endangers health. However, it remains unclear whether G13 affects AIH. Aim of the studyTo clarify the effect of G13 on AIH and its exact underlying mechanism from a new perspective. Materials and methodsWe used a Concanavalin A–induced AIH mouse model and lipopolysaccharide-treated Raw264.7 cells to quantify serum biochemical indicators and confirm whether G13 exhibited protective effects in the AIH mice. Furthermore, we evaluated the effect of G13 via hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining. We used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction to quantify the inflammatory factors. We confirmed that G13 inhibited apoptosis via terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining. Molecular docking, immunofluorescence, and western blotting experiments of G13 and key proteins of the NF-κB/MAPK pathway revealed that G13 alleviated inflammation. In addition, Cell Counting Kit-8, ELISA, NO detection, and western blotting assays were performed. Finally, we used an inhibitor of the p38 MAPK to verify that G13 reduced inflammation through the NF-κB/MAPK pathway in Raw264.7 cells. ResultsThe in vivo experiments revealed that G13 improved oxidative stress and apoptosis. In addition, G13 decreased the expression levels of CD4+, CD8+, F4/80+, and Ly6G and the secretion of inflammatory factors. Interestingly, G13 reduced the phosphorylation levels of IκBα, NF-κB, JNK, ERK1/2, and p38. Additionally, the in vitro experiments revealed that G13 alleviated inflammation through the NF-κB/MAPK pathway in lipopolysaccharide-treated Raw264.7 cells. Furthermore, molecular docking demonstrated that the binding fraction of G13 with these proteins was high. ConclusionG13 suppressed oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation in a Concanavalin A–induced AIH mouse model. Furthermore, G13 exerted its effect through the NF-κB/MAPK pathway.

Morphological and molecular identification of Colletotrichum siamense associated with Cayratia japonica anthracnose in China

Cayratia japonica is widely used as a traditional medicine in China. Recently, it has been affected by anthracnose disease, which influences its growth and medicinal value. This disease has occurred extensively in Nanchang, Jiangxi, China, but the causal agent of anthracnose on this host is unknown. Colletotrichum-isolates were obtained from the diseased leaves. On PDA, the fungus produced white, mycelium on the surface and light gray at the bottom with dark-green pigmentation around the inoculation point. The fungal isolate was classified as Colletotrichum siamense based on morphological features and multi-genes phylogenetic analyses. Pathogenicity tests were conducted by inoculating with conidial suspensions on leaves, and Koch's postulates were confirmed. This is the first report that C. siamense causes anthracnose on C. japonica in China.

Network pharmacology prediction and experimental verification of Rhubarb-Peach Kernel promoting apoptosis in endometriosis

Background“Rhubarb-Peach Kernel” herb pair (RP) one of the most frequently used drug pairs, has been used in traditional medicine in China to treat inflammation and diseases associated with pain. Although it is widely used clinically and has a remarkable curative effect, the mechanism of RP treatment for endometriosis (EMs) remains unclear due to its complicated components. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-endometriosis effect of RP, with emphasis on apoptosis via network pharmacology prediction, molecular docking and experimental verification.MethodsThe related ingredients and targets of RP in treating EMs were screened out using Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP), Tool for Molecular mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine (BATMAN-TCM), and GeneCards database. The data of the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was obtained by the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interaction Gene/Proteins (STRING) Database. The Metascape database was adopt for Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. After that, the molecular docking of the main active ingredients and apoptosis targets was performed. Finally, the pro-apoptotic effect of RP was verified in hEM15a cells.ResultsA total of 32 RP compounds were collected. Forty-two matching targets were picked out as the correlative targets of RP in treating EMs. Among these, 18 hub targets including P53, CASP3 were recognized by the PPI network. KEGG enrichment analysis discovered that the regulation of apoptosis was one of the potential mechanisms of RP against EMs. Anthraquinone compounds, flavonoids, and triterpenes in RP were identified as crucial active ingredients, involved in the pro-apoptotic effect, which were confirmed subsequently by molecular docking. Additionally, it was verified that RP treatment promoted apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation of EMs cells (assessed by MTT and Flow cytometry). Moreover, the induction of apoptosis in treated EMs cells may be due to the regulation of apoptosis-related protein expression, including P53, BAX, and CASP3.ConclusionsThe results of our study demonstrated that RP may exert its therapeutic effects on EMs through the potential mechanism of promoting apoptosis. Anthraquinones, flavonoids and triterpenoids are the possible pro-apoptotic components in RP.

Isolation and characterization of dihydropyran-ring containing meroterpenoids from Ganoderma lucidum and their inhibitory activity against renal fibrosis-related protein expression

The Ganoderma lucidum mushroom, which has been used as a traditional medicine in China for more than 2000 years, is a source of many interesting natural product. In this study, the five undescribed minor meroterpenoids baoslingzhines F–J (1−5), containing a dihydropyran moiety, were isolated as racemic mixtures from the fruiting bodies of G. lucidum. These substances were structurally and stereochemically characterized by using spectroscopic and computational methods. Chiral HPLC was employed to separate the (+)- and (−)-antipodes. A survey of the activities against kidney fibrosis showed that both enantiomers of baoslingzhines F–J inhibit expression of renal fibrosis-related proteins, including fibronectin, collagen I and ɑ-SMA in TGF-β1-induced rat kidney proximal tubular cells.

Monochasma savatieri Inhibits the Migration of the Breast Cancer Cell Line MDA- MB-231.

Monochasma savatieri, a hemiparasite of mosses, has been used as a traditional medicine in China. Currently, there is a worldwide interest in identifying novel sources of anti-cancer agents. This study aimed to assay the aqueous extract of M. savatieri to investigate its cytotoxicity and anti-migratory effect on breast cancer cells. MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity by crystal violet staining and cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry. MDA-MB-231 cells were used to analyze cell migration by the wound-healing and the Transwell® assays. In addition, the capacity of cell adhesion and spreading was tested. Activation of PARP-1, Erk and Akt, and the levels of snail, vimentin, and caveolin-1 were determined by Western blot. No significant effect was observed on survival or cell cycle studies with doses up to 500 µg/mL in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Transwell and wound-healing assays showed that M. savatieri inhibited the migration of MDA-MB-231 cells. Western blot analysis showed a slight decrease in protein expression of factors related to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (snail and vimentin) and a strong decrease in the expression of caveolin-1 when cells were exposed to M. savatieri. In addition, phosphorylation levels of Erk and Akt were also deregulated due to M. savatieri. The findings of this study suggest that the aqueous extract of M. savatieri possesses anti-metastatic compounds that merit further investigation for treating breast cancer malignancy.

An Analysis of the Potential Regulatory Mechanisms of Sophora Flower Development and Nutritional Component Formation Using RNA Sequencing

Sophora flower (Huaihua) is the flower of Sophora japonica L., which is used in ethnic food and traditional medicine in China. Unfortunately, the molecular mechanism related to the nutritional quality and regulation of floral organ development has yet to be elucidated in Huaihua. To understand the molecular mechanism of the different developmental stages of Huaihua, this study evaluated the transcriptome analyses of five different developmental periods from Huaihua. A total of 84,699 unigenes were reassembled from approximate 50 million high-quality clean reads. The results showed that the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, starch and sucrose metabolism, and fatty acid elongation process pathways were strongly induced at different developmental stage genes in Huaihua. During this study, 394 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified for further studies, which included 13 phenylpropanoid biosynthesis-related genes, 186 plant hormone signal transduction-related genes, and 195 starch and sucrose metabolism response genes. Regarding the peroxidase in the lignin synthesis pathway, CCoAOMT was significantly upregulated with the development of Huaihua. The enzyme genes in flavonoid synthesis, such as PAL, 4CL, flavonol reductase, and 3 GT, were significantly downregulated during Huaihua development. In addition, the results also indicated that the enrichment key genes in these pathways of Huaihua can be divided into two distinct parts at developmental stages. In the floral bud stage, flavonoid, auxin, and cytokine synthesis-related genes were highly expressed. In the mature bud and full flowering stage, the expression level of genes related to lignin, gibberellin, abscisic acid, and salicylic acid synthesis was high, while, for other genes related to flavonoid synthesis, it was lower. Furthermore, the DEGs in the starch and sucrose metabolism pathway were also significantly upregulated in the later stage of flower development. This study provides a preliminary and comprehensive assessment of the quality formation and flowering regulation mechanism in Sophora japonica L. by investigating the expression profiles of the critical flowering-related genes at different developmental stages. The results indicate that the regulatory genes in these key biological pathways could be crucial factors involved in Huaihua development, which can provide a reference and new insights with which to further understand the molecular mechanisms of flower development in Sophora japonica L.

Whole-genome identification and expression profiling of growth-regulating factor (GRF) and GRF-interacting factor (GIF) gene families in Panax ginseng

BackgroundPanax ginseng is a perennial herb and one of the most widely used traditional medicines in China. During its long growth period, it is affected by various environmental factors. Past studies have shown that growth-regulating factors (GRFs) and GRF-interacting factors (GIFs) are involved in regulating plant growth and development, responding to environmental stress, and responding to the induction of exogenous hormones. However, GRF and GIF transcription factors in ginseng have not been reported.ResultsIn this study, 20 GRF gene members of ginseng were systematically identified and found to be distributed on 13 chromosomes. The ginseng GIF gene family has only ten members, which are distributed on ten chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis divided these PgGRFs into six clades and PgGIFs into two clades. In total, 18 of the 20 PgGRFs and eight of the ten PgGIFs are segmental duplications. Most PgGRF and PgGIF gene promoters contain some hormone- and stress- related cis-regulatory elements. Based on the available public RNA-Seq data, the expression patterns of PgGRF and PgGIF genes were analysed from 14 different tissues. The responses of the PgGRF gene to different hormones (6-BA, ABA, GA3, IAA) and abiotic stresses (cold, heat, drought, and salt) were studied. The expression of the PgGRF gene was significantly upregulated under GA3 induction and three weeks of heat treatment. The expression level of the PgGIF gene changed only slightly after one week of heat treatment.ConclusionsThe results of this study may be helpful for further study of the function of PgGRF and PgGIF genes and lay a foundation for further study of their role in the growth and development of Panax ginseng.

Swertia L.: A comprehensive review of its genetic relationship, chemical compositions, pharmacological effects, toxicities, and applications.

Swertia L., as a commonly used ethnic medicine, is widely distributed in Sichuan, Yunnan, and Xizang in China. Moreover, the medicinal plants of Swertia L. have been widely used and constitute one of the most important sources of various traditional medicines in China due to their prominent activities. In this review, the information on the classification, distribution, genetic relationship, chemical composition, pharmacological effects, toxicities, and applications of the medicinal plants in Swertia L. was summarized based on the scientific literature. The results indicated that the medicinal plants of Swertia L. mainly contained chemical components including triterpenes, xanthones, and iridoids. These compounds exert pharmacological effects including ameliorating diseases related to the liver and gallbladder. They also exert antiviral and antibacterial effects and can alleviate the increase in blood glucose levels. Especially, prescriptions related to Swertia L. have been widely adopted in preclinical and clinical studies to protect against diseases affecting the liver and the gallbladder, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and cholecystitis. In addition, it also discusses toxicity studies and future perspectives and provides a reference for their clinical development and utilization.

Transcriptome analysis reveals insight into the protective effect of N-acetylcysteine against cadmium toxicity in Ganoderma lucidum (Polyporales: Polyporaceae)

Ganoderma lucidum is widely cultivated and used as traditional medicine in China and other Asian countries. As a member of macrofungi, Ganoderma lucidum is also prone to bioaccumulation of cadmium and other heavy metals in a polluted environment, which affects the growth and production of Ganoderma lucidum, as well as human health. N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) is considered a general antioxidant and free radical scavenger that is involved in the regulation of various stress responses in plants and animals. However, whether NAC could regulate cadmium stress responses in macrofungi, particularly edible fungi, is still unknown. In this work, we found that the exogenous NAC could alleviate Cd-induced growth inhibition and reduce the cadmium accumulation in Ganoderma lucidum. The application of the NAC cloud also inhibit cadmium-induced H2O2 production in the mycelia. By using transcriptome analysis, 2920 and 1046 differentially expressed unigenes were identified in "Cd100 vs CK" and "NAC_Cd100 vs Cd100," respectively. These differential unigenes were classified into a set of functional categories and pathways, which indicated that various biological pathways may play critical roles in the protective effect of NAC against Cd‑induced toxicity in Ganoderma lucidum. Furthermore, it suggested that the ATP-binding cassette transporter, ZIP transporter, heat shock protein, glutathione transferases, and Cytochrome P450 genes contributed to the increased tolerance to cadmium stress after NAC application in Ganoderma lucidum. These results provide new insight into the physiological and molecular response of Ganoderma lucidum to cadmium stress and the protective role of NAC against cadmium toxicity.

Identification of phytochemical compounds of Fagopyrum dibotrys and their targets by metabolomics, network pharmacology and molecular docking studies

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a clinically severe lung illness with high incidence rate and mortality. Especially, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses a serious threat to world wide governmental fitness. It has distributed to almost from corner to corner of the universe, and the situation in the prevention and control of COVID-19 remains grave. Traditional Chinese medicine plays a vital role in the precaution and therapy of sicknesses. At present, there is a lack of drugs for treating these diseases, so it is necessary to develop drugs for treating COVID-19 related ALI. Fagopyrum dibotrys (D. Don) Hara is an annual plant of the Polygonaceae family and one of the long-history used traditional medicine in China. In recent years, its rhizomes (medicinal parts) have attracted the attention of scholars at home and abroad due to their significant anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anticancer activities. It can work on SARS-COV-2 with numerous components, targets, and pathways, and has a certain effect on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related acute lung injury (ALI). However, there are few systematic studies on its aerial parts (including stems and leaves) and its potential therapeutic mechanism has not been studied. The phytochemical constituents of rhizome of F. dibotrys were collected using TCMSP database. And metabolites of F. dibotrys' s aerial parts were detected by metabonomics. The phytochemical targets of F. dibotrys were predicted by the PharmMapper website tool. COVID-19 and ALI-related genes were retrieved from GeneCards. Cross targets and active phytochemicals of COVID-19 and ALI related genes in F. dibotrys were enriched by gene ontology (GO) and KEGG by metscape bioinformatics tools. The interplay network entre active phytochemicals and anti COVID-19 and ALI targets was established and broke down using Cytoscape software. Discovery Studio (version 2019) was used to perform molecular docking of crux active plant chemicals with anti COVID-19 and ALI targets. We identified 1136 chemicals from the aerial parts of F. dibotrys, among which 47 were active flavonoids and phenolic chemicals. A total of 61 chemicals were searched from the rhizome of F. dibotrys, and 15 of them were active chemicals. So there are 6 commonly key active chemicals at the aerial parts and the rhizome of F. dibotrys, 89 these phytochemicals's potential targets, and 211 COVID-19 and ALI related genes. GO enrichment bespoken that F. dibotrys might be involved in influencing gene targets contained numerous biological processes, for instance, negative regulation of megakaryocyte differentiation, regulation of DNA metabolic process, which could be put down to its anti COVID-19 associated ALI effects. KEGG pathway indicated that viral carcinogenesis, spliceosome, salmonella infection, coronavirus disease - COVID-19, legionellosis and human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection pathway are the primary pathways obsessed in the anti COVID-19 associated ALI effects of F. dibotrys. Molecular docking confirmed that the 6 critical active phytochemicals of F. dibotrys, such as luteolin, (+) -epicatechin, quercetin, isorhamnetin, (+) -catechin, and (−) -catechin gallate, can combine with kernel therapeutic targets NEDD8, SRPK1, DCUN1D1, and PARP1. In vitro activity experiments showed that the total antioxidant capacity of the aerial parts and rhizomes of F. dibotrys increased with the increase of concentration in a certain range. In addition, as a whole, the antioxidant capacity of the aerial part of F. dibotrys was stronger than that of the rhizome. Our research afford cues for farther exploration of the anti COVID-19 associated ALI chemical compositions and mechanisms of F. dibotrys and afford scientific foundation for progressing modern anti COVID-19 associated ALI drugs based on phytochemicals in F. dibotrys. We also fully developed the medicinal value of F. dibotrys' s aerial parts, which can effectively avoid the waste of resources. Meanwhile, our work provides a new strategy for integrating metabonomics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking techniques which was an efficient way for recognizing effective constituents and mechanisms valid to the pharmacologic actions of traditional Chinese medicine.

Traditional Tibetan medicine to fight against COVID-19: Basic theory and therapeutic drugs.

The Coronavirus Diseases 2019 (COVID-19) has been rapidly spreading globally and has caused severe harm to the health of people and a substantial social burden. In response to this situation, experts around the world have considered various treatments, including the use of traditional medicine. Traditional Tibetan medicine (TTM), one of the traditional medicines in China, has played an important role in the treatment of infectious diseases in history. It has formed a solid theoretical foundation and accumulated rich experience in the treatment of infectious diseases. In this review, we provide a comprehensive introduction to the basic theory, treatment strategies, and commonly used drugs of TTM for the treatment of COVID-19. In addition, the efficacies and potential mechanisms of these TTM drugs against COVID-19 are discussed based on available experimental data. This review may provide important information for the basic research, clinical application and drug development of traditional medicines for the treatment of COVID-19 or other infectious diseases. More pharmacological studies are needed to reveal the therapeutic mechanisms and active ingredients of TTM drugs in the treatment of COVID-19.

Flavonoid Components, Distribution, and Biological Activities in Taxus: A review

Taxus, also known as "gold in plants" because of the famous agents with emphases on Taxol and Docetaxel, is a genus of the family Taxaceae, distributed almost around the world. The plants hold an important place in traditional medicine in China, and its products are used for treating treat dysuria, swelling and pain, diabetes, and irregular menstruation in women. In order to make a further study and better application of Taxus plants for the future, cited references from between 1958 and 2022 were collected from the Web of Science, the China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI), SciFinder, and Google Scholar, and the chemical structures, distribution, and bioactivity of flavonoids identified from Taxus samples were summed up in the research. So far, 59 flavonoids in total with different skeletons were identified from Taxus plants, presenting special characteristics of compound distribution. These compounds have been reported to display significant antibacterial, antiaging, anti-Alzheimer's, antidiabetes, anticancer, antidepressant, antileishmaniasis, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antiallergic, antivirus, antilipase, neuronal protective, and hepatic-protective activities, as well as promotion of melanogenesis. Flavonoids represent a good example of the utilization of the Taxus species. In the future, further pharmacological and clinical experiments for flavonoids could be accomplished to promote the preparation of relative drugs.

Five undescribed plant-derived bisphenols from Artemisia capillaris aerial parts: Structure elucidation, anti-hepatoma activities and plausible biogenetic pathway

Yin-Chen, which belongs to the Asteraceae family and the genus Artemisia, is among the most abundantly used traditional medicines in China for the treatment of hepatitis and bilious disorder. Herein, five undescribed plant-derived bisphenols, capillarisenols A–E (13, 15, 25, 29, 31), and one undescribed phenolic compound (32), together with 32 known phenolic compounds (1–12, 14, 16–24, 26–28, 30, 33–38), were isolated and identified based on spectroscopic evidence from aerial parts of Artemisia capillaris Thunb. Capillarisenols A–E are the type of bisphenols firstly isolated from this plant. The plausible biogenetic pathway of new compounds was also proposed. In addition, the potential anti-hepatoma effects on Huh7 and HepG2 cell lines of all isolated compounds were evaluated in vitro. Capillarisenol C (25) showed significant anti-hepatoma activity in Huh7 and HepG 2 cells, with IC50 values of 4.96 and 8.58 μM, better than the positive control drug (Lenvatinib). This study provided phytochemical evidence for further development and utilisation of A. capillaris in health products.

A chromosome-scale genome assembly of Artemisia argyi reveals unbiased subgenome evolution and key contributions of gene duplication to volatile terpenoid diversity

Artemisia argyi Lévl. et Vant., a perennial Artemisia herb with an intense fragrance, is widely used in traditional medicine in China and many other Asian countries. Here, we present a chromosome-scale genome assembly of A. argyi comprising 3.89 Gb assembled into 17 pseudochromosomes. Phylogenetic and comparative genomic analyses revealed that A. argyi underwent a recent lineage-specific whole-genome duplication (WGD) event after divergence from Artemisia annua, resulting in two subgenomes. We deciphered the diploid ancestral genome of A. argyi, and unbiased subgenome evolution was observed. The recent WGD led to a large number of duplicated genes in the A. argyi genome. Expansion of the terpene synthase (TPS) gene family through various types of gene duplication may have greatly contributed to the diversity of volatile terpenoids in A. argyi. In particular, we identified a typical germacrene D synthase gene cluster within the expanded TPS gene family. The entire biosynthetic pathways of germacrenes, (+)-borneol, and (+)-camphor were elucidated in A. argyi. In addition, partial deletion of the amorpha-4,11-diene synthase (ADS) gene and loss of function of ADS homologs may have resulted in the lack of artemisinin production in A. argyi. Our study provides new insights into the genome evolution of Artemisia and lays a foundation for further improvement of the quality of this important medicinal plant.

Nanowired Delivery of Curcumin Attenuates Methamphetamine Neurotoxicity and Elevates Levels of Dopamine and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor.

Curcumin is a well-known antioxidant used as traditional medicine in China and India since ages to treat variety of inflammatory ailments as a food supplement. Curcumin has antitumor properties with neuroprotective effects in Alzheimer's disease. Curcumin elevates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and dopamine (DA) levels in the brain indicating its role in substance abuse. Methamphetamine (METH) is one of the most abused substances in the world that induces profound neurotoxicity by inducing breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), vasogenic edema and cellular injuries. However, influence of curcumin on METH-induced neurotoxicity is still not well investigated. In this investigation, METH neurotoxicity and neuroprotective effects of curcumin nanodelivery were examined in a rat model. METH (20mg/kg, i.p.) neurotoxicity is evident 4h after its administration exhibiting breakdown of BBB to Evans blue albumin in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, thalamus and hypothalamus associated with vasogenic brain edema as seen measured using water content in all these regions. Nissl attaining exhibited profound neuronal injuries in the regions of BBB damage. Normal curcumin (50mg/kg, i.v.) 30min after METH administration was able to reduce BBB breakdown and brain edema partially in some of the above brain regions. However, TiO2 nanowired delivery of curcumin (25mg/kg, i.v.) significantly attenuated brain edema, neuronal injuries and the BBB leakage in all the brain areas. BDNF level showed a significant higher level in METH-treated rats as compared to saline-treated METH group. Significantly enhanced DA levels in METH-treated rats were also observed with nanowired delivery of curcumin. Normal curcumin was able to slightly elevate DA and BDNF levels in the selected brain regions. Taken together, our observations are the first to show that nanodelivery of curcumin induces superior neuroprotection in METH neurotoxicity probable by enhancing BDNF and DA levels in the brain, not reported earlier.

Processing of Real World Data in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a unique traditional medicine in China and has been passed down to the present day with its unique theoretical basis and treatment model. The introduction of the concept of evidence-based medicine into traditional Chinese medicine and the scientific evaluation of its clinical efficacy are essential for the better development and transmission of TCM. Randomised controlled trials have always been the "gold standard" of clinical trial evidence due to their strict inclusion and exclusion criteria and strict control of the data collection process, but the specificity of the TCM treatment model, the holistic, ambiguous, diverse and complex nature of the data, and the concomitant events in the research process make it difficult to conduct randomized ontrolled trials in TCM. Real World Study (RWS), which is conducted in actual clinical settings with broad inclusion and exclusion criteria to obtain treatment effects and long-term clinical outcomes as endpoints, can be used for long-term evaluation of treatment measures based on patients' preference. Real world studies allow for the long-term evaluation of treatment measures based on patients' preference, and are able to evaluate the overall effects, adapting to the holistic concept of Chinese medicine and the characteristics of evidence-based treatment. This paper summaries the data characteristics and data processing methods of real world studies in TCM, with a view to providing a reference for real world studies in TCM.

Genotypic and Phenotypic Diversity of Endemic Golden Camellias Collected from the North of Vietnam.

Golden Camellias have recently been used as a food, cosmetic, and traditional medicine in China and Vietnam. Forty-two species have natural distribution in Vietnam, of which thirty-two species were considered endemic species of this country. The morphology of leaves and flowers of these species were similar; therefore, their taxonomic identification usually needed experts and the authentication has often been confused among species. Our study aims to describe the genetic diversity and the relationship of six species Camellia phanii, Camellia tamdaoensis, Camellia tienii, Camellia flava, Camellia petelotii and Camellia euphlebia by using three chloroplast DNA-barcodes: matK, rbcL and trnH-psbA. We also clarified the significant differences in anatomical characteristics of midvein and blade of their leaves, which suggested the possibility to use these criteria in taxonomy. In addition, preliminary chemical profiles of the methanolic extracts of leaves from six Golden Camellias such as total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total anthocyanin content (TAC) and chlorogenic acids content (TCGAs) also showed the diversity among them. Interestingly, the discrimination on the catechins profile among six species followed the same tendency with the genetic distance on the phylogeny tree suggesting that catechins (i. e., discriminative catechins) can be biomarkers for the chemotaxonomy of these six Golden Camellias.

The Ethnopharmacological Uses, Metabolite Diversity, and Bioactivity of Rhaponticum uniflorum (Leuzea uniflora): A Comprehensive Review.

Rhaponticum uniflorum (L.) DC. (syn. Leuzea uniflora (L.) Holub) is a plant species of the Compositae (Asteraceae) family that is widely used in Asian traditional medicines in China, Siberia, and Mongolia as an anti-inflammatory and stimulant remedy. Currently, R. uniflorum is of scientific interest to chemists, biologists, and pharmacologists, and this review includes information from the scientific literature from 1991 to 2022. The study of the chemodiversity of R. uniflorum revealed the presence of 225 compounds, including sesquiterpenes, ecdysteroids, triterpenes, sterols, thiophenes, hydroxycinnamates, flavonoids, lignans, nucleosides and vitamins, alkanes, fatty acids, and carbohydrates. The most studied groups of substances are phenolics (76 compounds) and triterpenoids (69 compounds). Information on the methods of chromatographic analysis of selected compounds, as well as on the quantitative content of some components in various organs of R. uniflorum, is summarized in this work. It has been shown that the extracts and some compounds of R. uniflorum have a wide range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antitumor, immunostimulatory, anxiolytic, stress-protective, actoprotective, antihypoxic, anabolic, hepatoprotective, inhibition of PPARγ receptors, anti-atherosclerotic, and hypolipidemic. Published research on the metabolites and bioactivity of R. uniflorum does not include clinical studies of extracts and pure compounds; therefore, an accurate study of this traditional medicinal plant is needed.

THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS L. ON CELLULAR PARAMETERS AND STEROIDOGENESIS IN VITRO

Tribulus terrestris L. is an herbaceous plant native to India, widely used as a natural sexual stimulant by traditional medicine in China, India, and Greece, and also for the treatment of various diseases for example low blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, kidney, and skin diseases, etc. Tribulus extracts are rich in numerous biologically active compounds, such as steroidal saponins, alkaloids, lignan amides, and flavonoids, which are useful for the effective treatment of sexual performance, hormonal and sexual problems. The main goal of our in vitro study was to demonstrate the potential consequences of Tribulus terrestris L. extract on TM3 cell parameters such as cell viability, membrane integrity, lysosomal activity, and steroid hormone secretion. The extract was applied to mice Leydig cells at various concentrations (ranging from 37.5 µg/mL to 600 µg/mL) for 24 h. Based on the obtained data, we may claim statistically significant inhibition of cell viability at 300 µg/mL (P < 0.0001) and 600 µg/mL (P < 0.0001). At the same concentrations, there was a statistically significant decline in both cell membrane integrity (P < 0.05; P < 0,0001) and lysosomal activity (P < 0.05; P < 0.001). Hormone secretion was significantly increased at 200 µg/mL (P < 0.05). To better understand how Tribulus terrestris L. affects the reproductive systems of animals or humans, further research must be done.