Curcumin (CUR), an acidic polyphenolic natural compound extracted from plants of the Zingiberaceae family, exhibits remarkable pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, its strong hydrophobicity, poor membrane permeability, and low bioavailability severely limit its therapeutic application. In this study, glycyrrhizic acid (GA), a natural compound with surfactant properties, was employed as a carrier to construct curcumin-glycyrrhizic acid self-assembled micelles (CUR-GMS) in order to enhance the solubility and bioavailability of CUR and improve its therapeutic efficacy against ulcerative colitis (UC). Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that GA and CUR spontaneously formed core-shell structured micelle via hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding, providing theoretical evidence for the feasibility of self-assembly. CUR-GMS were prepared via the thin-film dispersion method and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The micelles exhibited a spherical morphology with a particle size of 46.33 ± 0.63 nm, a zeta potential of 59.76 ± 2.54 mV, an encapsulation efficiency of (98.82 ± 0.41)%, and a drug-loading capacity of (28.24 ± 0.11)%. CUR and GA were present in an amorphous state within the micelles. Compared with the raw drug, CUR solubility was markedly improved; the cumulative in vitro release within 48 h was increased by 2.33 to 3.98-fold, and oral bioavailability was enhanced by 6.36-fold. In vivo pharmacodynamic studies demonstrated that CUR-GMS significantly alleviated symptoms of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in mice, with the underlying mechanism potentially related to the regulation of macrophage polarization. In conclusion, CUR-GMS constructed with GA significantly improved the oral bioavailability of CUR and enhanced its therapeutic efficacy against UC. All animal experiments were approved by the Ethics Committee of the Animal Experimentation Science and Technology Center, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine (No: JZLLSC20230350).

To facilitate the intelligent transformation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) manufacturing, this study addresses the challenges in the honey refining process—namely, the reliance on manual experience, difficulties in quantifying multi-dimensional quality attributes, and unclear quality transfer mechanisms. This study, using real-world samples from the production of Tongren Niuhuang Qingxin Pills, established a digital measurement system for physical and chemical quality attributes of the refining process and constructed a pilot-scale quality transfer model. For physical characterization, optimized parameters were determined for dual-mode rheological testing (rotation: shear rate 50 s^-1; oscillation: frequency 5 Hz, strain 50%) to measure honey viscosity. For chemical attributes, a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed to quantify pH, moisture, fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). Based on 984 data points from both atmospheric and vacuum refining processes, a kinetic model of quality transfer was constructed. The dynamic viscosity (η) showed strong correlations with moisture (S) and temperature (T) (R² > 0.998 3), effectively representing the evolution of physical properties. Additionally, the chemical kinetic model indicated that vacuum refining at low temperature, combined with honey sources low in fructose and monosaccharide/disaccharide ratios, can significantly inhibit Maillard reaction rates. This study presents a systematic digital measurement and modeling framework for the honey refining process, providing technical support for process optimization and quality consistency in TCM manufacturing under the paradigm of intelligent production.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection poses a major obstacle to skin wound healing, often accompanied by persistent inflammation and excessive scar formation. There is an urgent clinical need for more effective localized therapeutic strategies. In this study, we developed a responsive nano-oleogel system based on natural bioactive compounds for the synergistic treatment of MRSA-infected wounds. This system consists of self-assembled nanoparticles of hinokitiol and verteporfin (VP), embedded within an oleogel matrix constructed using β-sitosterol. The oleogel conforms well to irregular wound surfaces and enables stimuli-responsive drug release in the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the infection site. Hinokitiol chelates Fe³⁺ locally, disrupting bacterial iron metabolism and inducing membrane damage and DNA disruption, thereby achieving non-antibiotic bactericidal effects. β-Sitosterol contributes inherent anti-inflammatory activity, helping to modulate early immune responses. VP exerts its effects by inhibiting the Yes-associated protein/transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (YAP/TAZ) signaling pathway. This multifunctional formulation demonstrates synergistic antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and scar-modulating effects, offering a promising strategy for the treatment of infected chronic wounds. The animal experiments were approved by the Animal Experimental Research Center of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University and were conducted in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations (approval No. IACUC-20241125-07).

With the widespread use of antibiotics, the emergence and spread of drug-resistant bacteria have become a major threat in the global public health field. Small-molecule photodynamic antimicrobial therapy has shown great potential in the treatment of drug-resistant bacteria due to its unique mechanism of action, but small-molecule photosensitizers with near-infrared absorption, which have higher tissue penetration, are still rarely reported. In this study, a cationic small-molecule photosensitizer coumarin-flavylium (CF) with near-infrared absorption was developed, which exhibits excellent anti-drug-resistant bacteria performance. The structure of CF was characterized by ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence emission spectroscopy, etc. The antibacterial effect of CF against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was evaluated by the plate coating method, and the antibacterial effect of CF against MRSA was also assessed by experiments such as scanning electron microscopy and LIVE/DEAD^TM staining. The experimental results show that CF has low cytotoxicity, and under the conditions of near-infrared light irradiation (660 nm), low dose (0.5 μmol·L^-1) and low light intensity (20 mW·cm^-2), it exhibits significant antibacterial effect (sterilization efficiency > 99%) and can effectively remove biofilms. This photosensitizer is expected to become a powerful tool to deal with drug-resistant bacterial infections.

This study aims to investigate the compositional characteristics of fresh Panax notoginseng-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (PN-ELNs) and their potential therapeutic effects on psoriasis, providing experimental evidence for plant exosome-based therapeutic strategies to ameliorate psoriasis. PN-ELNs were isolated using differential centrifugation and characterized for morphology and size distribution via transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis. Their compositional profiles and enriched signaling pathways were analyzed through integrated lipidomics, proteomics, and small RNA sequencing. The in vitro effects on angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and apoptosis in human keratinocytes (HaCaT) were evaluated. The regulatory effects on lesional symptoms, epidermal hyperplasia, angiogenesis, and immune cell subsets were observed in an imiquimod (IMQ)-induced mouse model of psoriasis. All animal experiments were conducted in accordance with the "Regulations on Laboratory Animals" issued by the National Science and Technology Commission of China and the protocol approved by the Animal Experiment Ethics Committee of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (approval No. 2020DL-126). Results demonstrated the successful isolation of PN-ELNs from fresh Panax notoginseng rhizomes, exhibiting a characteristic bilayer membrane structure with an average diameter of 143.9 nm. Multi-omics analyses identified 30 lipid subclasses, 196 proteins, and 6 056 miRNAs, with enriched pathways such as oxidative phosphorylation and amino acid metabolism being closely associated with psoriasis pathogenesis. PN-ELNs significantly inhibited HUVEC angiogenesis and promoted HaCaT cell apoptosis (P < 0.05). In the psoriatic mouse model, PN-ELNs significantly ameliorated skin lesions [reduced psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) scores], attenuated epidermal thickening, suppressed angiogenesis, and modulated the CD4⁺/CD8⁺ immune balance. In conclusion, PN-ELNs exert anti-psoriatic effects through multi-target mechanisms (inhibiting angiogenesis, promoting keratinocyte apoptosis, and improving the immune microenvironment). This study provides the first systematic elucidation of the compositional characteristics of PN-ELNs and their anti-psoriasis potential, offering theoretical support and experimental evidence for developing novel therapeutic strategies based on plant-derived exosomes.

Natural starch granules exhibit limited stability in Pickering emulsions due to their strong surface hydrophilicity. In this study, debranched Smilax glabra starch was used as a matrix to prepare starch-fatty acid complexes (SGS-LA, SGS-LOA, and SGS-SA) by complexation with lauric acid (LA), linoleic acid (LOA), and stearic acid (SA), respectively. Their physicochemical properties and emulsification performance were systematically evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses indicated that these complexes formed Ⅴ-type crystalline structure through non-covalent interactions. Among them, SGS-LA exhibited the highest complex index (46.07%), with an average particle size of 114.30 μm and a contact angle of 68.71°. In the Pickering emulsions system, SGS-LA demonstrated the best emulsifying performance. Under the conditions of 80% oil phase volume fraction and 2% particle concentration, the emulsion stabilized by SGS-LA had the smallest droplet size (approximately 10 μm) and the highest emulsification index (82.87%). Environmental stability evaluation further revealed that neutral pH and low ionic strength (0-25 mmol·L^-1) were conducive to emulsion stability. This study demonstrates that short-chain fatty acids facilitate the formation of starch-fatty acid complexes with small particle size and good emulsification performance, while also highlighting the important influence of environmental conditions on emulsion stability. These findings provide new insights for developing sustainable natural emulsifiers.

The property theory of Chinese medicine is a distinctive feature and essence of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, among which the five-flavor property theory serves as its core component. The five-flavor property theory originated from imagery thinking and was developed through deductive reasoning. It has a long history of formation, with complex and diverse content, and its systems and concepts vary greatly, lacking systematic sorting and analysis. For a long time, there has been a lack of modern research. Therefore, establishing an overall research approach and technical methods for modern research on the five-flavor property is of great significance for promoting modern research on TCM. With the support of the key project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, this paper has established a systematic modern research approach and method for the five-flavor property of TCM. Based on specific research work, modern research approach and characterization methods were proposed from aspects such as the original semantics, functional attributes, relationship with meridians, separation of properties and effects, and compatibility rules. Finally, based on the basic understanding of the historical, dynamic and universal connections of the theory of five-flavor property, a research approach combining systems theory and reductionism and a research model of the "property-efficacy-component" ternary theory were proposed.

The theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is fundamentally grounded in a holistic perspective, wherein the properties and effects of crude drugs illustrate its action mechanisms at different levels. However, a notable discrepancy persists between the traditional theory of drug properties and modern research on drug efficacy, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary approaches to elucidate their scientific connections. This article reviews research approaches and case studies that utilize systems biology methods to analyze the core network and key modules of drug properties, as well as employ chemical biology techniques to elucidate the interaction mechanisms between active components and their targets. Herein, a chemobiological research paradigm integrating systems theory with reductionism was proposed, leveraging the unique advantages of TCM and its properties and effects. By integrating molecular probe tracing and identification, multi-omics analysis, network prediction, and dynamic regulatory network interpretation of drug properties, this approach overcomes the limitations of single-target or efficacy research and establishes a framework for mutual validation between "the whole" and "the part". The dual methodology serves as a critical entry point for tackling medical challenges, facilitating a transition from observing phenomena to uncovering essence and from dealing with ambiguity to achieving precision. This approach effectively illuminates the fundamental nature of the medicinal properties and pharmacodynamic effects. Simultaneously, by refining the evaluation system for TCM property theories and constructing a "properties-effects-compositions" correlation framework, the bottleneck in quality control of TCM can be effectively addressed, thereby highlighting the critical role of chemical biology in driving innovative research in TCM.

The "unclear substances and mechanisms" underlying the efficacy of Chinese material medica is a bottleneck limiting its modernization and internationalization. As the fundamental attribute that reflects the efficacy of Chinese material medica, the concept of "Five flavors" serves as the theoretical basis guiding its clinical application. Chemical biology, utilizing target fishing technology and molecular interaction analysis, has become a comprehensive approach to elucidate the targets and underlying molecular mechanisms of Chinese material medica. This review focuses on studies of the effective substances found in bitter-propertied Chinese material medica as an example to explore chemical biology strategies based on the flavors of Chinese material medica, providing a research perspective for interpreting effective substances through the lenses of the "Five flavors" theory.

The properties of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) include five main aspects: four Qi, five flavors, ascending and descending, floating and sinking, and channel tropism and toxicity. Through processing, the properties can be enhanced, moderated, or altered to satisfy different clinical needs. Previous analyses of changes in the properties of traditional Chinese medicine caused by processing have mostly been based on traditional Chinese medicine theory; limited research has examined these changes using modern scientific methods. Using "traditional Chinese medicine processing chemical biology" as a guide, a strategy of "target identification-ligand fishing" is used to establish a chemical biology-driven platform to study the chemical basis, and direct target and molecular mechanism of differences in efficacy of traditional Chinese medicines caused by processing, so as to reveal the scientific connotation of the changes in the properties of traditional Chinese medicine processing. It would provide guidance to enrich processing theory, decipher the processing technique, develop the industry, and also to provide strong support to optimize the processing technology, establish decoction pieces quality standards, and ensure clinical efficacy. Ultimately, it helps to expand the paradigm of traditional Chinese medicine processing research in the new era.