Effect of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Eupolyphaga Steleophaga on liver protection mechanism based on pharmacokinetics and metabonomicsOA

Objective: Based on metabonomics technology of high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS/MS) and hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy(¹H NMR), the pharmacokinetic characteristics and therapeutic mechanism of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma(RhRR, Dahuang in Chinese), Eupolyphaga Steleophaga(EuS, Tubiechong in Chinese) combined with RhRR acting on acute liver injury were explored.Methods: Models of acute liver injury were established, and the pharmacokinetic met...     

The riddles of number nine in Chinese medicine processing method

The“nine cycles of steaming and shining”,“nine making”,“nine turns”and“nine cycles of calcining and quenching”methods that are recorded and used since ancient times are merely one aspect of the unique processing methods of traditional Chinese medicine.Inducing the Chinese medicine processing method“nine cycles of steaming and shining”from historical review and summarizing the practical wisdom based on the canonical aspects of traditional Chinese medicine and the experiences of ancient Chinese medicine sages to promote the new development of traditional Chinese medicine.After the long-term and multiple“nine”processing,the materials of traditional Chinese medicine exhibit significant beneficial changes in terms of taste,efficacy,and chemical composition contents,thus emphasizing that Chinese medicine processing plays a significant role in their efficacy enhancement and toxicity reduction.Heshouwu(Polygoni Multiflori Radix),Dihuang(Rehmanniae Radix),Huangjing(Rhizoma Polygonati),Dahuang(Radix et Rhizoma Rhei),and Xixiancao(Herba Siegesbeckiae)are representatives of Chinese medicinal materials prepared using the“nine-system”processing method.This review discovers the aim and the molecular mechanism of“nine”processing of the abovementioned herbs from the viewpoints of modern pharmacochemistry and pharmacology to provide a theoretical support for the“nine”processing method of traditional Chinese medicine and to promote the international market of traditional Chinese medicine.     

Effects of drying process of Yuanzhi （Radix Palygalae） on its bioactire ingredients

OBJECTIVE： To study the effects of the drying processing in terms operational parameters on the bio- active constituents of six YuanzhJ （Radix Palygalae） samples across China. METHODS： Six Yuanzhi （Radix Palygalae） samples were investigated using thermogravimetry analysis. The heating courses were set in two ways： the temperature-programmed process from room temperature to 150℃ ,and the constant-temperature course at 50℃, 70℃ and 90℃. RESULTS： The peak temperature of six Yuanzhi （Radix Palygalae） samples ranged from 78℃ to 88℃. The mass loss rate of Yuanzhi （Radix Palygalae） alcohol-soluble extract was significantly increased when heated at 90℃. Four types of bioactive ingredients were detected in volatile oils of Yuanzhi （Radix Palygalae） sample from Shanxi province by Gas Chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy results showed that the drying temperature exerted a great influence on types and amount of ingredients of Yuanzhi （Radix Palygalae）. The kinetic study showed that the constant-temperature drying process of Yuanzhi Radix Palygalae） samples could be well de- scribed by the Page Model, especially for the drying process at 50~C, in which R2 and SD values were more than 0.98 and less than 0.04, respectively.The drying constant k of three Yuanzhi （Radix Palygalae） samples from Shanxi, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces in China was corresponding to the Arrhenius equation, and their activation energies were 28.07, 2.5.38 and 21.48 kJ/mol, respectively. CONCLUSION： The drying process of Yuanzhi （Radix Palygalae） was very important for bioactive ingredients improvement in Yuanzhi （Radix Palygalae）. Temperature was a thermodynamic property significantly affecting the process.     

Network Pharmacology-based Study of the Active Constituents of Chinese Medicinal Formulae for Antitumor Mechanism

Objective:To investigate the network pharmacology of anti-tumor Chinese medicinal formulae and explain the synergistic mechanism of various active ingredients of Chinese medicinal formulae.Methods:We collected the anti?tumor Chinese medicinal formulae and chose several single herbs with the top frequency for further study.The chemical constituents of these herbs were downloaded from databases CNPC and Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology and were analyzed to set up the anti-tumor material basis.The genes regulated by these constituents were retrieved in Traditional Chinese Medicine integrated database and Comparative Toxicogenomics database.Results:We collected 65 anti-tumor Chinese medicinal formulae,and 4 single herbs were selected,including Licorice,Radix astragali,Panax ginseng,and Radix scutellariae,which consist of 172,70,293,and 92 known constituents,respectively.The constituent–gene network,protein–protein interaction network,gene–pathway enrichment network,and gene–disease network were constructed.Moreover,molecular docking was employed to clarify the interactions between active constituents and key drug targets(PTG2,epidermal growth factor receptor,peroxisome proliferator?activated receptor gamma,estrogen receptor 1,mammalian target of rapamycin,AKT1,mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 [MAPK1],peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha,and MAPK8).Most of the constituents could act on multiple targets,whose structures mainly belong to alkaloids,flavonoids,and their glycosides,organic acids,or dianthrone,and their representative chemical constituents include narcissus glycosides,rutin,dauricine,scutellarin,baicalin,isoschaftoside,and leucovorin.Conclusion:The network mechanism of the effective constituents from traditional Chinese medicines(TCMs) for anti-tumor therapy was partially uncovered by using statistical methods,network pharmacology methods,and molecular docking methods.This study will provide important information for new drug design with multiple targets for anti-tumor therapy.     

Effects of processing technology on essential oil and pharmacological action of frankincense

Background:According to the traditional Chinese medicine theory,the common processing methods for Ruxiang(frankincense)include stir-frying processing and vinegar processing.Methods:With network pharmacology and thermal analysis methods,we selected and identified the main and irritating ingredients,established the pyrolysis characteristic parameters for identifying frankincense quality,quantified the starting and optimum temperature limits for processing frankincense,and analyzed the influences of processing adjuvants(vinegar)on combustion pyrolysis characteristics of frankincense.By applying Fourier transformation infrared spectrometry,high performance liquid chromatography,gas chromatography and UV-visible spectrometry,we evaluated the processing technology developed in our study of frankincense and its processed products.Results:Based on network pharmacology,we can find that the classical compounds of essential oil are the main pharmacodynamics components of frankincense possessing the anti-inflammatory,analgesia,anti-tumor,anti-ulcer and ant-inflammatory bowel disease effects.The pyrolysis combustion rate peaks of frankincense at 285.27±7.05℃and 476.99±13.46℃were the characteristic peaks used to identify frankincense quality.The specific temperature of slow-fire processing,including the vinegar processing and stir-frying processing,was 148.72±5.09℃.Heating for 5.67±0.98 min after reaching processing temperature was needed for processing frankincense with vinegar.The kinetics analysis showed that both frankincense and its vinegar mixture exhibited good linear relationships.The feasibility and practicability for our processing technology were verified through the determination of medicinal compounds by Fourier transformation infrared spectrometry,high performance liquid chromatography,gas chromatography and UV.Conclusion:Frankincense essential oils were the main active components of frankincense,which also can be taken as the internal chemical control indexes to judge the quality control and to optimize the processing technology of frankincense.The pyrolysis combustion rate peaks of frankincense at 285.27±7.05℃and 476.99±13.46℃were the characteristic peaks that can be used to identify frankincense quality.The optimum processing conditions of vinegar-processed frankincense with were as follows:with vinegar,20%;heating temperature,148.72±5.09℃;and heating time,5.67±0.98 min.Under these conditions,frankincense essential oil could cause a moderate effect on combustion pyrolysis characteristics to exert its corresponding pharmacological effects.     

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of essential oils from five parts of Chaihu （Radix Bupleuri Chinensis）

OBJECTIVE： To analyze the essential oils from flowers, leaves, stems, roots, and fruits of Chaihu（Radix Bupleuri Chinensis）.METHODS： We extracted essential oils from different parts of Chaihu（Radix Bupleuri Chinensis） using a steam distillation method. The essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry（GC-MS）. Data were collected in full scan mode（m/z 60-600）. Volatile components were identified based on their retention indices and by comparing their mass spectra with those in the National Institute of Standards and Technology 2005 database assisted by tandem mass spectrometry information. The relative content of each constituent wasdetermined by area normalization.RESULTS： We identified 111 components, of which12 were common to all 5 parts, 30 were found only in roots, 14 were found only in flowers, 6 were found only in leaves, 4 were found only in stems,and 17 were found only in fruits.CONCLUSION： Our results show that the stems,flowers, leaves, and fruits of Chaihu（Radix Bupleuri Chinensis）contain a high concentration of essential oils, and that the exact composition of the essential oils differs among the plant parts. To develop new medicines and make full use of the Chaihu（Radix Bupleuri Chinensis）resource, it is important to characterize the essential oils from different parts of the plant. In future research, it will be important to determine the pharmacological effects of the various components and the essential oil mixtures.     

A Quantitative Method for Simultaneous Determination of Four Anthraquinones with One Marker in Rhei Radix et Rhizoma

Objective To develop a quantitative method for simultaneously determining multi-components in Rhei Radix et Rhizoma using one chemical reference substance.Methods The contents of multi-components were calculated by the UV relative correction factors(RCFs)of chrysophanol,physcion,and rhein to emodin.Results The values of RCFs at 274 nm for rhein,chrysophanol,and physcion to emodin were 0.712,0.674,and 1.051.The calibration curves were linear over the ranges of 0.02-4.08,0.02-4.12,0.07-12.92,and 0.02-3.68μg/mL for rhein,emodin, chrysophanol,and physcion,respectively.The contents of emodin in 18 samples were determined by the external standard method,and the contents of the other three anthraquinone aglycones were calculated according to their RCFs. Conclusion No significant difference is found in comparison with the classical method,indicating that the RCFs have high reliability within their linear ranges and could be used in quality control of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma.The quantitative analysis of multi-component with a single marker is especially suitable for herbal medicines containing unstable or hard to be purified components as quality control markers.     

Mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicines in the treatment of allergic rhinitis using a network biology approach

Objective:To systematically explore the effect and mechanism of traditional Chinese herbs in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.Methods:Magnolia flower,xanthium fruit,astragalus root,paniculate cynanchum,scutellaria root,cicada molting,stephania root,small centipeda herb,and licorice root as traditional Chinese herbs are widely used to treat allergic rhinitis.With multiple database integration and entity grammar systems,a molecular interaction network of traditional Chinese herbs for treating allergic rhinitis was established.Bioinformatics approaches were adopted to integrate relevant data and biological information by multiple databases.Molecular interaction network of Chinese herbs for treating allergic rhinitis was constructed based on entity grammar systems model.The network was then used for elucidating the antiallergic rhinitis mechanism of the Chinese herbs on the molecular level.The subnetworks were also extracted to explicitly display the pathway and targets where effective components acted on.Results:Traditional Chinese herbs could influence various pathological aspects in allergic rhinitis including the production of pro-inflammatory substances,such as histamine and cytokine interleukin-4(IL-4),interleukin-13(IL-13),lowering immunoglobulin E(IgE)level or blocking antigen binding,altering the biological processes of IgE,modulating the balance of T helper(Th)or other cells by cell proliferation and differentiation,mediating cellecell signaling and second-messenger-mediated signaling,stabilizing the cell membrane,and affecting regulation of cellular defense response.Conclusion:The research theoretically confirms the mechanism of anti-allergic rhinitis by traditional Chinese herbs,provides important fundamental research information for treatment of allergic rhinitis,and may serve as a reference for new drug development and effective ingredients of compatibility.     

Effect of acupuncture anesthesia on acne vulgaris of pricking-blood- letting cupping： a single-blind randomized clinical trail

OBJECTIVE： To evaluate the effect on acne vul- garis of pricking-bloodletting cupping at Dazhui （GV 14） under acupuncture anesthesia, and estab- lish whether providing anesthesia to the treat- ment area by manipulating Hegu （LI 4） and Quchi （LI 11） might have an additional therapeutic bene- fit. METHODS： Thirty-eight patients were recruited and randomized into a control group and an inter- vention group with a single-blind （observer-blind） method. The control group was treated by prick- ing-bloodletting cupping at Dazhui （GV 14） and the studied group by pricking-bloodletting cupping at Dazhui （GV 14） under acupuncture anesthesia at Hegu （LI 4） and Quchi （LI 11）. Both groups were treated twice weekly for 6 weeks. The analgesic and therapeutic effects of acupuncture were evaluated on a visual analog scale （VAS） and global acne grad- ing system （GAGS）, respectively.RESULTS： There were differences in the VAS scores of pain on pricking and in the pricked area, and the duration of pain between the groups. After 12 treat- ments, there was a significant reduction in GAGS scores from baseline in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSION： Acupuncture anesthesia at Hegu （LI 4） and Quchi （LI 11） is an effective means of alleviat- ing the pain of pricking-bloodletting cupping and reducing the duration of pain in the treatment ar- ea. Pricking-bloodletting cupping at Dazhui （GV 14） improves the skin lesions of patients with moder- ate acne vulgaris, but acupuncture anesthesia does not appear to have an additional therapeutic effect.     

In vitro and in vivo antioxidant potentials of an ethanolic extract of Ganoderma lucidum in rat mammary carcinogenesis

AIM： Considering the importance of diet in the prevention of cellular damage caused by reactive oxygen species which has been implicated for several diseases, this present study was undertaken to evaluvate the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant potential of the ethanolic extract of the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum on 7, 12-dimethylbenz（a）anthracene （DMBA）-induced mammary carcinogenesis in Sprague Dawley rats. METHODS： Ganoderrna lucidum extract was tested for in vitro antioxidant and radical scav- enging assays, such as （ABTS^-1） radical cation decolorization assay, DPPH radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical, and superoxide radical scavenging assays. The in vivo antioxidant potentials were analyzed by SOD, CAT, and GPx in plasma, mammary, and liver tissues. RESULTS： In all the in vitro antioxidant and radical scavenging assays the extract exhibited good scavenging activity. In vivo enzy- matic antioxidant levels, such as SOD, CAT, and GPx were decreased in DMBA-induced animals. Moreover, pretreatment with G. lucidum （500 mg.kg-1 bw） to DMBA-induced animals significantly （P 〈 0.05） increased the levels of SOD, CAT, and GPx in plasma, mammary, and liver tissues compared to DMBA induced animals. CONCLUSIONS： From these findings, it is suggested that G. lu- cidum extract could be considered as a potential source of natural antioxidants and can be used as an effective chemopreventive agent against mammary cancer.     

Forty Cases of Insomnia Treated by Suspended Moxibustion at Baihui （GV 20）

Objective： To observe the therapeutic effect of suspended moxibustion at Baihui （GV 20） for insomnia. Methods： 75 cases were divided randomly into two groups, with 40 cases in the treatment group treated by suspended moxibustion over Baihui （GV 20） and 35 cases in the control group treated by oral administration of Estazolam. Results： The difference in therapeutic effect between the two groups was not statistically significant （P〉0.1）. Conelusion： It was concluded that suspended moxibustion at Baihui （GV 20） is as effective as Estazolam for insomnia.     

Autotetraploidy induced in Nianmaohuangqin （Radix Scutellariae viscidulae） with colchicine in vitro

OBJECTIVE： To establish and optimize the propaga- tion of Nianmaohuangqin （Radix Scutellariae Viscid- ulae） and induce and characterize polyploidy of Nianmaohuangqin （Radix Scutellariae Viscidulae）. METHODS： Buds from germinating seed-derived explants were induced by tissue culture. With an or- thogonal test, different concentrations of 6-benzyl- aminopurine （BAP）, indole-3-acetic acid （IAA） and kinetin （KT） were used to determine the optimal concentrations for the propagation of Nianmaohuangqin （Radix Scutellariae Viscidulae）. The differ- ent concentrations of IAA and rooting powder （ABT） were used to induce rooting. A 0.3% w/v col- chicine solution was used to induce polyploidy and the induced buds was identified by root-tip chromosome determination and stomatal apparatus ob- servation. RESULTS： A large number of buds could be in- duced directly from epicotyl and hypocotyl ex- plants on Murashige and Skoog （MS） （Murashige and Skoog 1962） medium supplemented with 1.1-1.3 mg/L BAP and 0.2 mg/L IAA. Root induction and development could be observed within 20 days of inoculation on 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/L IAA and 0.1 mg/L ABTo Furthermore, 27 lines of autotetraploid individuals were ob- tained with a plantlet chromosome number of 2n= 4x=36. CONCLUSION： Autotetraploid lines could be ob- tained through induction with colchicine in vitro, proving that this method might be used for plant selection and breeding.     

Study of anti-myocardial cell oxidative stress action and effect of tanshinone IIA on prohibitin expression

Objective:To investigate the protective action of tanshinone IIA (TSN) on myocardial apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and its effect on prohibitin (PHB) expression to probe the role of PHB in the oxidation stress of myocardial cells. Methods: Primary cultured neonate rat myocardial cells were cultured with TSN (1×10-4 mol/L) for 24 hours, and then the medium was supplemented with 200 μmol/L hydrogen peroxide for 2 h to initiate myocardial cell oxidative stress injury. PHB in myocardial cells was knocked down by small interfering RNA (siRNA), and the expression level of PHB was determined by western blot analysis. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rate, intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Results: The PHB expression, [Ca2+]i and the apoptotic rate significantly increased, and the MMP significantly decreased in the oxidative stress group compared with the control. The PHB expression, apoptosis rate and [Ca2+]i decreased, and MMP increased significantly in the TSN group compared with the oxidative stress group. Compared with the siRNA negative control group, the PHB expression level in myocardial cells was down-regulated, and the apoptosis rate and [Ca2+]i increased, and MMP decreased significantly in the siRNA group. Conclusion: TSN can reduce PHB expression in oxidative stress-injured myocardial cells hence protecting the myocardial cells.     

仝小林从络辨治阳痿验案1则

阳痿病从肾虚论治、补肾壮阳的治疗思路始终占有主导地位,而从络辨治、补气活血通络治疗鲜有论述。仝小林教授临证数十年,精于辨证,擅长从络辨治疑难杂病。现将其以补阳还五汤合抵当汤为主方治疗阳痿病的1则验案总结介绍如下,以供同道参考。 1 病案实录 牛某,男,46岁。初诊日期：2008年2月28日。     

Capillary blood flow in patients with dysmenorrhea treated with acupuncture

OBJECTIVE; To observe capillary blood flow at acu- points during acupuncture treatment of primary dysmenorrhea and gain new insights into its anal- gesic mechanism. METHODS： Patients with primary dysmenorrhea were enrolled and randomly assigned to a treat- ment or control group. Subjects＇ symptoms were differentiated into various Traditional Chinese Medi- cine （TCM） syndromes and treated for 10 sessions with puncturing acupuncture or self-pressing right-hand Hegu （LI 4）, adding other acupoints based on syndrome. Laser speckle was used tocompare the change in the vasomotor amplitude and perfusion of the capillaries in Hegu （LI 4） be- fore and during the treatment. Each subject was re- quired to finish the period pain symptoms observa- tion form, verbal rating scales, numerical rating scale, pain rating index, face rating scale, Zung self-rating depression scale, Zung self-rating anxi- ety scale, and numerical rating scale before and af- ter treatments. RESULTS： After 10 sessions, the symptom scores, pain index （PI）, and visual analog scale （VAS） de- creased significantly in treatment group. The vol- ume of blood flow in Hegu （LI 4） declined slightly. No significant evidence supported that needling caused capillary contraction, but the capillary vaso- motor amplitude at Hegu （LI 4） increased remark- ably. CONCLUSION： Acupuncture can increase the capil- lary blood flow, thus promoting the flow of Qi and blood in terms of TCM theory, which facilitates pain relief.     

Ursolic acid induces U937 cells differentiation by PI3K/Akt pathway activation简

AIM： Ursolic acid （UA）, a pentacyclic triterpenoid, is used as an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agent. There were few studies on the effects of UA on differentiation, and this is the first time to elucidate the potential effect and molecular mechanism of UA on inducing differentiation in the human leukemia cell line U937. METHODS： Wright-Giemsa staining, nitroblue tetrazolium reduction assay and flow cytometric analysis were utilized to demonstrate the differentiation of U937 cells induced by UA. Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay were used to investigate the possible mechanism. RESULTS： It was found that UA could induce the differentiation of U937cells and Akt-activity was significantly increased during differentiation. Additionally, LY294002, a PI3K-Akt inhibitor, could block the differentiation of U937 cells induced by UA. CONCLUSION： UA could induce the differentiation of U937 cells by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway, and it could be a potential candidate as a differentiation-inducing agent for the therapy of leukemia.