The theory of five flavors serves as a core component of medicinal property system in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The “flavor-effect” association is closely linked with the functional substances through the medicinal properties such as “pungent dispersion and sour astringency”, thereby providing a critical bridge for screening, mechanistic interpretation, and modern research on effective components. This paper systematically outlines the developmental trajectory of five-flavor theory and constructs a “taste-component-meridian tropism-effect” research framework. By analyzing characteristic components of five flavors and their multi-target regulatory effects on visceral functions, it reveals the molecular basis underlying the traditional efficacy of TCM. Furthermore, a flavor theory-guided strategy for studying effective components is proposed, integrating interdisciplinary technologies such as electronic tongue/nose bionic sensing, chromatography-mass spectrometry, network pharmacology, and artificial intelligence to establish a systematic pathway from material analysis to mechanistic verification. This framework deeply integrates traditional TCM theory with modern scientific techniques, strengthening the guiding role of five-flavor theory in discovering effective components and enhancing scientific rigor and reproducibility of mechanistic explanations for TCM actions. It aims to deeply reveal the scientific connotations and integrated action rules of the effective components in TCM, expand the research ideas of effective components, and contribute to the modernization research of TCM.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of treating human diseases with proven efficacy. However, due to the inherent complexity of TCM, significant challenges remain in scientifically elucidating its chemical composition, processing mechanisms, pharmacological and toxicological effects, and related mechanisms. Currently, commonly used qualitative and quantitative analytical instruments, such as ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS), have made substantial contributions to the scientific interpretation of the complex chemical components and pharmacological mechanisms of TCM. Nevertheless, these methods often fail to provide information on the spatial distribution and localization of target chemical components. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is an emerging molecular visualization technique. It not only possesses the qualitative identification capabilities of mass spectrometry but also enables the intuitive visualization of the spatial distribution of various chemical components within a sample, allowing simultaneous qualitative, quantitative, and spatial analyses. Currently, MSI has achieved a series of research outcomes in the field of TCM research. Firstiy, several commonly used MSI techniques are introduced. It then focuses on reviewing the research progress of MSI in the field of TCM analysis in recent years. Furthermore, it summarizes the technical bottlenecks encountered in MSI applications and corresponding solutions. Finally, it discusses the future development trends of this technology in TCM research, aiming to provide reference for enhancing the application of MSI in field of TCM analysis.

Quality evaluation of traditional Chinese medicinal materials, a critical link in the inheritance and innovation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is currently confronted with structural dilemmas including fragmented standard system, data silos, intergenerational talent gaps, and conflicts between technical and ethics. From the collaborative “humanities-science” perspective, this study systematically reviews the evolution and inherent contradictions of TCM medicinal materials quality evaluation from an experience-led paradigm to digital-intelligent governance. To address the prominent issues of “replacing quality with quantity” and the absence of value rationality, this study constructs a four-dimensional collaborative governance framework underpinned by digital-intelligent technologies, which encompasses the core dimensions of quality, yield, humanities, and ecology. Through such implementation paths as full industrial chain traceability, intelligent modeling, and human-machine collaborative processing, the framework facilitates the explicitization of tacit knowledge and the quantification of ecological and cultural values. This study argues that the quality evaluation system for traditional Chinese medicinal materials should shift from the monism of technical rationality to the dual parallel emphasis of both value rationality and technical rationality. It emphasizes that the application of relevant technologies should be guided and regulated by humanities, so as to advance the transformation of TCM medicinal materials quality evaluation towards digital-intelligent governance.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of Qingyan Dropping Pills (清咽滴丸, QDP) in alleviating pulmonary inflammation based on NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)/cystein-asparate protease-1 (Caspase-1) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways. Methods A total of 50 male Balb/C mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, dexamethasone (5 mg/kg) group, QDP low-, high-dose (0.2, 0.8 g/kg) groups, and mice were intervened with drugs for 7 d. One hour after the last administration, except for the control group, all other mice were induced with lipopolysaccharide (5 mg/kg) to form an acute inflammatory injury model. After 4 h of modeling, serum and lung tissue were collected to calculate the wet dry weight ratio of lung tissue. Levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18), IL-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in serum were measured by ELISA. Histopathological changes in lung were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Expression of p-p38 MAPK was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Western blotting was employed to analyze protein levels of p-p38 MAPK, p-JNK, Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), NLRP3, B-cell lymphoma-3 (Bcl-3), thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) and Caspase-1 in lung tissue. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was evaluated by dihydroethidium (DHE) staining. Pyroptosis level in lung tissue was detected by TUNEL staining. Results Compared with model group, QDP could significantly reduce the wet dry weight ratio of lung tissue in LPS-induced mice (P < 0.05), improve lung injury, significantly down-regulate the levels of IL-18, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β in serum (P < 0.05, 0.01), reduce the phosphorylation levels of p38 MAPK and JNK in lung tissue (P < 0.01, 0.001), significantly down-regulate the protein expressions of Bax, NLRP3, Bcl-3, TXNIP and Caspase-1 in lung tissue (P < 0.001), reduce the excessive accumulation of ROS (P < 0.01, 0.001), and inhibit cell apoptosis (P < 0.05, 0.01, 0.001). Conclusion QDP could significantly improve LPS-induced lung inflammation in mice, and its mechanism is related to synergistically exert anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway mediated cell apoptosis and p38 MAPK/JNK pathway activation.

Gynostemma pentaphyllum is a medicinal and edible plant belonging to the genus Gynostemma of the family Cucurbitaceae and has a long history of medicinal use. Its dried aerial parts are used medicinally. G. pentaphyllum is rich in various active components such as saponins, flavonoids and polysaccharides, and exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities, such as lipid-regulating and hepatoprotective effects, adjuvant effects in cancer treatment, and amelioration of atherosclerosis.. This review systematically summarizes the research status and progress of marketed drugs containing G. pentaphyllum as the principal medicinal ingredient, with a focus on their pharmacological effects, basic research, clinical application and quality standards. It aims to provide theoretical support for the popularization, application and further development of G. pentaphyllum in clinical medicine, promote the development of the G. pentaphyllum industry towards standardization, modernization and internationalization, and support the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine.

Wine-processed Huangjing (Polygonati Rhizoma) is one of the primary processed products of the Polygonati Rhizoma, its preparation technology has seen important progress in recent years. Literature research and the latest research results indicate that the chemical composition undergoes notable changes during the wine-processing of Polygonati Rhizoma, particularly generating substances that pose potential health risks to humans, such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one, acrylamide. Following processing, the pharmacological activities such as immunomodulation, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic effects are markedly enhanced. Current research on wine-processed Polygonati Rhizoma faces challenges such as inconsistent processing standards, unclear process parameters and difficulties in quality control. This paper systematically summarizes research progress of wine-processed Polygonati Rhizoma, including the historical evolution, modern processing techniques, chemical composition, and pharmacological effects. Future research should focus on standardizing processing techniques, modernizing mechanism analysis, and applying technological innovations to further promote the comprehensive and rapid development of the wine-processed Polygonati Rhizoma industry.

Objective To establish the HPLC chromatograms of the classic prescription Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction (HGWD, 黄芪桂枝五物汤) of its decoction and freeze-dried powder, as well as quantitative determination methods for nine marker components, in order to characterize the law of quantitative transfer. Methods According to the “Technical Guidance for Pharmaceutical Research of Traditional Chinese Compound Preparations Managed According to Ancient Classic Formula Catalogue (Trial)”, HPLC finger printing profiles and a simultaneous quantitative method for eight active components, along with a separate assay for astragaloside A, were developed. Fifteen batches of HGWD decoction and freeze-dried powder were prepared using an optimized process. The value transfer process from medicinal materials to decoction pieces, decoctions, and finally freeze-dried powders was systematically characterized by evaluating the characteristic peak area of the unit mass compound yinpian (equivalent characteristic peak area) and/or quantitative levels of multiple constituents. Results The established HPLC methods both met the requirements stipulated in the 2025 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The intra-batch similarity of the characteristic chromatograms for the 15 batches of HGWD and its freeze-dried powder was ≥ 0.983, while the inter-batch similarity was ≥ 0.909, indicating good consistency of sample quality both within and between batches. The 15 characteristic peaks in common covered all the herbal components of HGWD, among which seven peaks were identified. Among the 15 batches of HGWD decoctions, the contents of nine quality indicators-astragaloside IV, gallic acid, albiflorin, paeoniflorin, calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, cinnamic acid, cinnamaldehyde, formononetin, 6-gingerol-were calculated based on the corresponding dosage of the herbs, ranging from 0.14 to 0.32, 1.33 to 1.84, 2.26 to 7.57, 11.57 to 15.01, 0.11 to 0.26, 0.17 to 0.32, 0.45 to 0.97, 0.01 to 0.02, and 0.21 to 0.32 mg/g respectively. The content ranges were mostly within the mean ± 30%. For the 15 equivalent characteristic peaks across the 15 batches of HGWD, the intra-batch transfer rates from decoction to freeze-dried powder ranged from 73% to 129% for 14 peaks, except for cinnamaldehyde in some batches, which showed a transfer rate of 45% to 71%. The mean inter-batch transfer rates ranged from 62% to 101%. Conclusion The decoction form is determined as the reference substance for HGWD. The established quality control indicators are comprehensive and reasonable. The method for characterizing the transfer of equivalent characteristic peak area is relatively scientific. It can provide new evaluation and quality control indicators for the research and development of benchmark samples of other classic prescriptions. These findings provide a basis for establishing quality standards for HGWD reference samples and for supporting the development of granule formulations.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic synovitis and progressive joint destruction. Current clinical therapy drugs are limited by significant adverse effects and the development of drug resistance. Qinjiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix), a well-known herb for dispelling wind-dampness in traditional Chinese medicine, has been historically used to treat RA with confirmed efficacy. Phytochemical studies have identified iridoids, triterpenoids, and flavonoids as the primary anti-RA constituents, with gentiopicroside, swertiamarin, ursolic acid, and kaempferol serving as key active monomers. These compounds exert multifaceted pharmacological effects through modulation of core signaling pathways including nuclear factor--κB (NF-κB), Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), leading to anti-inflammatory activity, immune regulation, inhibition of fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS) proliferation and invasion, antioxidant effects, suppression of angiogenesis, and protection against bone destruction and cartilage damage. In clinical practice, Qinjiao is commonly combined with other botanicals such as Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix), Sangjisheng (Taxilli Herba), and Duhuo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix) in composite formulas (e.g., Juanbi Tang and Compound Qixiong Granules), achieving synergistic multi-component and multi-target effects tailored to different TCM syndromes of RA. This review summarizes the comprehensive regulatory mechanisms through which Qinjiao intervenes in RA pathogenesis via multiple pathways, highlighting its promising therapeutic potential and providing a theoretical basis for further investigation of its pharmacodynamic material basis and clinical development.

The blood-brain barrier is the core bottleneck for drug delivery to the central nervous system. Bingpian (Borneolum Syntheticum), as a traditional “guide” drug, can reversibly modulate blood-brain barrier permeability, thereby providing a unique natural efficacy-enhancing tool for brain-targeted delivery. Therefore, integrating Borneolum Syntheticum into the construction strategies of modern drug delivery systems is a powerful approach to achieve synergistic enhancement. By retrieving relevant literature on Borneolum Syntheticum-mediated brain-targeted drug delivery systems published since 2018 from CNKI and PubMed databases, focusing on the construction strategies of such drug delivery systems, this study summarized them into three categories: physical loading, chemical conjugation, and biological fusion. The design principles, carrier characteristics, and representative systems of each strategy are elaborated in detail. The influence rules between construction strategies and key properties of drug delivery systems, including stability, release capacity, blood-brain barrier crossing ability, and delivery efficacy, are deeply analyzed. Finally, the core decision-making principle of “treatment needs-strategy matching-process evaluation” is distilled, providing scientific basis and strategic references for the design, performance optimization, and clinical translation of such systems.

Objective To clone the leucoanthocyanidin reductase gene SsLAR2 from Spatholobi Caulis (dried rattan stem of Spatholobus suberectus), and conduct bioinformatics and function verification, in order to elucidate the role of SsLAR2 gene in the biosynthesis of catechin. Methods SsLAR2 was amplified from the cDNA of Spatholobi Caulisvia RT-PCR and conducted systematic bioinformatics analysis. The SsLAR2 overexpression vector was constructed and genetically transformed into Nicotiana benthamiana. The total flavonoid content, catechin content, and the expression levels of key enzyme genes in the catechin synthesis pathway were determined in the transgenic plants. Results The full length of SsLAR2 gene was 1 092 bp in length, encoding 363 amino acids. The molecular weight of SsLAR2 protein was 40 513.75, and the isoelectric point was 5.75. The SsLAR2 protein was a hydrophilic protein with a transmembrane region, showing high homology with LAR proteins from various plants such as Cajanus cajan, Gastrolobium bilobum and Abrus precatorius. The promoter sequence of SsLAR2 contained photoresponsive elements, as well as responsive elements for multiple plant hormones such as methyl jasmonate, gibberellin, and salicylic acid. Gene functional analysis revealed that overexpression of SsLAR2 significantly increased the total flavonoid and catechin contents, as well as the expression levels of key enzyme genes in the catechin biosynthetic pathway in the transgenic plants. Conclusion Heterologous expression of SsLAR2 can promote catechin biosynthesis in plants. This gene provides important genetic materials and a theoretical basis for in-depth dissection of the regulatory mechanisms underlying catechin biosynthesis and targeted molecular breeding of Spatholobi Caulis.