Ziwan (Asteris Radix et Rhizoma) is a classic traditional Chinese medicine for relieving cough and resolving phlegm. Its application history can be traced back to Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica. Under the background of the Silk Road civilization exchange, the compatibility prescription of Asteris Radix et Rhizoma contained in Dunhuang medical classics P.2882 reflects the integration and dissemination of Eastern and Western medical knowledge. Through the integration of herbal textual research and modern research methods, the chemical composition, pharmacological effects and clinical application of Asteris Radix et Rhizoma were systematically analyzed. Studies have shown that triterpenes such as shionone, cyclic peptide astins and flavonoids in Asteris Radix et Rhizoma are the material basis of its antitussive and expectorant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects. The classical drug pairs formed by its compatibility with Kuandonghua (Farfarae Flos) and Tinglizi (Descurainiae Semen or Lepidii Semen) have shown clear efficacy in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and lung cancer. It provides a scientific basis for the in-depth development of Asteris Radix et Rhizoma, and shows the important value of Silk Road civilization exchange in traditional medicine research.

Objective This study aimed to develop SSR molecular markers for Platostoma palustre and analyze the genetic diversity of its germplasm resources, so as to provide theoretical support for the conservation of P. palustre germplasm resources and the breeding of elite varieties. Methods Based on the whole-genome sequence of P. palustre, the distribution characteristics of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were mined and analyzed, and polymorphic SSR primers were developed to provide a theoretical basis for the evaluation of genetic diversity and analysis of population structure in P. palustre. Results A total of 122,699 SSR loci were identified in the P. palustre genome, with a genomic SSR density of 96.91 loci/Mb and a locus occurrence frequency of 10.32 kb/SSR. Dinucleotide repeat motifs were the dominant type, accounting for 68.3% of all repeat motifs. After polymorphism screening, 15 pairs of SSR primers with good polymorphism were obtained. Their polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0.197 to 0.736, with an average value of 0.425. Genetic diversity analysis of 40 P. palustre germplasms showed that the number of alleles at the 15 SSR loci was higher than the number of effective alleles, and the alleles were unevenly distributed. There were differences in heterozygosity among different loci; the average observed heterozygosity was higher than the average expected heterozygosity with a certain gap between them, indicating that the tested population deviated from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), with genetic variation and favorable overall genetic diversity, and the genotype frequencies of some loci in the population changed. Fixation index (F) analysis showed that F > 0 at 3 loci and F < 0 at 12 loci, indicating that the number of heterozygous individuals was higher than that of homozygous individuals in the population. The Shannon’s information index (I) ranged from 0.449 (TDF191) to 1.628 (TDF166), with an average of 0.887. A phylogenetic tree of the 40 P. palustre germplasms was constructed using Phylip software based on the UPGMA method, which divided the germplasms into two subgroups. A “0/1” DNA fingerprint was successfully constructed by digital assignment coding. Conclusion The abundant SSR loci information obtained in this study can provide important theoretical and technical support for the development of whole-genome SSR markers, molecular marker-assisted breeding, and genetic diversity research of P. palustre.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a highly prevalent malignant tumor of the digestive tract globally, ranking among the top in terms of incidence worldwide. Metabolic reprogramming is a key hallmark of CRC, involving the abnormal remodeling of glucose, lipid, and amino acid metabolism, which is precisely regulated by signaling pathways such as phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin, hypoxia inducible factor-1α, and c-Myc. In recent years, targeting metabolic reprogramming has emerged as a novel strategy for CRC treatment. However, single-target chemical inhibitors face challenges like drug resistance. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) demonstrates unique advantages in intervening in CRC metabolic reprogramming through its multi-component and multi-target characteristics. Based on a brief overview of the core mechanisms of metabolic reprogramming in CRC, this review systematically summarizes the mechanisms by which active TCM components (berberine, ginsenosides, wogonin, etc.) and TCM formulas (Huangqin Decoction, Wumei Wan, etc.) inhibit CRC progression by regulating key metabolic enzymes and signaling pathways, thereby reversing the Warburg effect, inhibiting de novo fatty acid synthesis, and intervening in amino acid metabolism. This article aims to offer new research ideas and a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of CRC with TCM.

The stability and controllability of the quality of Chinese medicinal materials are directly related to the sustainable development of Chinese medicine industry. The construction of a traceability system covering the whole life cycle of Chinese medicinal materials has become a key measure for national policy guidance and industry upgrading. This paper expounds the policy background and practical necessity of the construction of the traceability system of Chinese medicinal materials, and systematically analyzes the key nodes covered by the whole life cycle of Chinese medicinal materials, it also systematically analyzes the integrated application of modern information technologies such as blockchain, internet of things, and big data supported for the traceability system. Practice shows that the effective application of the traceability system can significantly improve the transparency and supervision efficiency of the quality of traditional Chinese medicine and enhance consumer trust. However, the current system construction still faces many difficulties, including the lack of standardization of indicators, the lack of technical maturity in some links, and the problems of data reliability and privacy security. The purpose of this study is to provide theoretical reference and practical direction for the further improvement of the traceability system of Chinese medicinal materials. It is suggested that in the future, taking domestic bulk medicinal materials as a breakthrough point, reducing costs through technical integration, improving policies and regulations, and finally realizing the whole variety traceability network of “source can be traced, whereabouts can be traced, and responsibilities can be investigated”, so as to promote the high-quality development of the industry.

Objective A detailed analysis of the chloroplast (CP) genome structure and sequence characteristics of Thalictrum plants was conducted to screen for candidate molecular markers, laying the foundation for addressing the controversies in species classification and identification of Thalictrum species caused by their wide distribution and complex phenotypic variations. Methods The CP genome sequencing and structural analysis of Thalictrum finetii and Thalictrum cultratum were performed for the first time using the Illumina HiSeq4000 sequencing platform. Subsequently, a comprehensive analysis was performed simple sequence repeats (SSRs), inverted repeat (IR) region boundary structures, nucleotide diversity (Pi) and other characteristics, combined with the chloroplast (CP) genome data of 14 congeneric species published in the NCBI. Finally, by integrating the CP genome data of 45 species from 10 genera within the Ranunculaceae family, an ML phylogenetic tree was constructed and phylogenetic analysis was performed. Results The chloroplast genome lengths of T. finetii and T. cultratum are 155 953 bp and 155 901 bp, respectively, both exhibiting a typical circular quadripartite structure. A total of 131 genes were identified, with codon usage bias showing a predominant preference for A/U endings. While the CP genomes of Thalictrum species demonstrate high conservation in both gene count and genomic structure, specific differences are observed in the lengths of particular genes at the IRs/LSC and IRs/SSC boundaries in certain species. In terms of sequence variation, the divergence in non-coding sequences was significantly higher than that in coding sequences, with the IR regions exhibiting markedly lower variability compared to the LSC and SSC regions. Ultimately, ten hypervariable regions (ndhF-rpl32, ycf1, petN-psbM, ndhC-trnV, trnT-trnL, trnS-psbZ, ndhG-ndhI, ndhD, infA, rpl16) were identified as candidate DNA barcodes for the Thalictrum genus. Through systematic evolutionary analysis, the evolutionary relationships among the species within the genus Thalictrum and the systematic evolutionary position of this genus in the Ranunculaceae family were clarified. Conclusion This study presents the first report of the chloroplast genomes of T. finetii and T. cultratum, with a detailed analysis of the genomic structure and sequence characteristics of the Thalictrum genus. Ten hypervariable regions were identified as candidate DNA barcodes for species identification within Thalictrum. And a more comprehensive and reliable phylogenetic tree of the family Ranunculaceae was established.

Curcumin is a polyphenolic active compound in Jianghuang (Curcumae Longae Rhizoma), exhibiting pharmacological effects such as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and metabolic regulation properties. Existing research indicates that curcumin demonstrates broad biological potential in fields including tumor diseases, inflammatory diseases, and metabolic disorders. However, issues such as poor water solubility and low bioavailability during its pharmacokinetic processes—including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion—have limited further advancement in clinical applications. To address these limitations, researchers worldwide have employed novel delivery technologies such as polymeric nanoparticles, polymeric micelles, and nanoemulsions to enhance curcumin's solubility, stability, targeting efficiency, and bioavailability. This systematic review summarizes the latest advances in curcumin's pharmacology, clinical research, pharmacokinetics, and formulation development by analyzing databases including CNKI, PubMed, and Web of Science. It also discusses the clinical translation potential of novel delivery systems and their design strategies, providing a reference for further research and application of curcumin.

Objective This study aimed to screen key enzyme genes associated with the biosynthesis of gastrodin and parishin E in Gastrodia elata. Through comparative transcriptome sequencing following methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment. Methods Using both the corm (MTE and the symbiotic tuber (IMTC) as experimental materials, different concentrations (100—500 μmol/L) of MeJA were sprayed for varying durations (0—72 h). The content changes of gastrodin and parishins E were determined by HPLC. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were performed on samples treated under the optimal MeJA conditions to mine key genes in the parishin E biosynthetic pathway. Results After 48 h of treatment with 300 μmol/L MeJA, the contents of all six target compounds were significantly increased. Specifically, the content of parishin E increased from 0.21 mg/g to 0.61 mg/g, representing an approximately 2.90-fold enhancement. Transcriptome sequencing generated 432.79 Gb of Clean Data and identified 18 886 expressed genes, including 2 389 novel genes. Differential expression analysis revealed 5 704 differentially expressed genes, with 2 635 up-regulated and 3 069 down-regulated. KEGG enrichment analysis showed significant enrichment in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, plant signal transduction, and other secondary metabolism-related pathways. Through integrated analysis of expression patterns and compound accumulation trends, along with homology comparison, we identified two glycosyltransferase genes GeUGT, two citrate-CoA synthetase genes GeCCS, and two acyltransferase genes GeBAHD potentially involved in parishin E biosynthesis. Conclusion This study demonstrates that MeJA effectively regulates secondary metabolism in G. elata and identifies candidate genes (GeUGTs, GeCCSs, GeBAHDs) potentially associated with the biosynthesis of gastrodin and parishin E, providing a molecular foundation for elucidating the complete biosynthetic pathways of these key active compounds.

Objective To investigate the chemical constituents from the methanol extract of the polyporaceae fungus Ganoderma cochlear and preliminarily evaluate their anti-atherosclerotic activity in vitro. Methods The extract was systematically isolated and purified by D-101 macroporous adsorption resin, silica gel column chromatography, reversed-phase C₁₈ column chromatography, preparative thin layer chromatography and semi-preparative HPLC. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by HR-ESI-MS, IR, and NMR. Meanwhile, the absolute configurations of the new compounds were determined by NMR and ECD calculation. The in vitro anti-atherosclerotic activities of the isolates were assessed using an oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced macrophage lipid deposition model. Results Two novel compounds were isolated and identified from G. cochlear, designated as 7,10-epoxy-3,4-seco-9 (10→19) abeo-25,26,27-trinorlanosta-4,11-dioxo-8-en-3,24-dimethyl ester (1) and 6-hydroxy-2-(4-methylpent-3-en-1-yl)-4H-chromen-4-one (2). In the ox-LDL-induced macrophage model, compounds 1 and 2 did not exhibit significant anti-lipid deposition activity at 40 μmol/L. Conclusion This study successfully isolated and identified two new compounds, and named as ganodeconoid J (1) and ganodeconoid K (2). Compound 1 represents the first Ganoderma triterpenoid possessing a 5β-H, enriching the chemical diversity of Ganoderma fungi. Compounds 1 and 2 did not show significant in vitro anti-atherosclerotic activity.

Objective To decipher the association between corm rot disease in Crocus sativus and the impairment of the functional synergistic network within the rhizosphere microbiome, and to identify core beneficial microorganisms, thereby providing a basis for the targeted design of synthetic microbial communities (SynComs). Methods Rhizosphere soil samples from healthy and diseased saffron plants were collected. Metagenomic sequencing was employed to analyze the microbial community structure and function, while multivariate statistical analyses were used to identify differentially enriched taxa and disease-resistant functional pathways. Results The diseased rhizosphere was characterized by the abnormal proliferation of pathogens such as Fusarium oxysporum (with a combined relative abundance of up to 21%), alongside a significant decrease in the abundance of beneficial microbes like Bacillus and Trichoderma. In contrast, the healthy rhizosphere was enriched with functional pathways related to signal transduction, biosynthesis of antimicrobial compounds (e.g., nonribosomal peptides), and defense mechanisms. Species-function correlation analysis revealed that the core beneficial microorganisms in the healthy rhizosphere were significantly positively correlated with these disease-resistant functions, forming a potential “functional synergistic network”, which collapsed under diseased conditions. Conclusion The occurrence of corm rot is closely related to the disruption of the functional synergistic network in the rhizosphere microbiome. This study reveals the functional synergistic network constituted by core beneficial microbes in the healthy rhizosphere, providing key theoretical foundations and microbial resources for targeted restoration of this network and the design of multi-mechanistic SynCom-based biocontrol strategies.

Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of various Chinese patent medicines (CPMs) combined with guideline-directed medicine (GDM) for chronic heart failure (CHF) using network meta-analysis. Methods The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding CPMs for CHF were searched in CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from inception to July 2025. RevMan 5.4 and Stata16 software were used for quality assessment and network meta-analysis. Results A total of 128 RCTs involving, 15 913cases and seven types of CPMs, with 8 003 cases in the experimental group and 7 910 cases in the control group. Network meta-analysis indicated that CPMs combined with GDM outperformed GDM alone in efficacy without serious adverse reactions. (1) The top CPMs in terms of clinical efficacy were Qili Qiangxin Capsule (芪苈强心胶囊), Shexiang Tongxin Dripping Pill (麝香通心滴丸), and Qishen Yiqi Dripping Pill (芪参益气滴丸). (2) For improving left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), the top three were Shensong Yangxin Capsule (参松养心胶囊), Qili Qiangxin Capsule, and Tongxinluo Capsule (通心络胶囊). (3) In the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), the top three were Qishen Yiqi Dripping Pill, Shexiang Tongxin Dripping Pill, and Wenxin Granule (稳心颗粒). (4) For reducing left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD), the top three were Shexiang Tongxin Dripping Pill, Wenxin Granule, and Qishen Yiqi Dripping Pill. (5) For reduction in left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), the top three were Shensong Yangxin Capsule, Tongxinluo Capsule, and Qili Qiangxin Capsule. (6) In terms of improvement in N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), the top three were Qishen Yiqi Dripping Pill, Shexiang Tongxin Dripping Pill, and Qili Qiangxin Capsule. Conclusion The results indicated that the combination of Chinese patent medicines with GDM for heart failure could effectively improve clinical efficacy, enhance cardiac function and exercise tolerance, delay ventricular remodeling, reduce serum markers of heart failure compared to the GDM alone. However, due to limitations in the quality and number of included studies, the above conclusions need further verification through more high-quality RCTs.