Objective To explore the research status, trends and hotspots of plant-derived exosomes (PDEs) using bibliometric visualization analysis, so as to provide a theoretical basis for their basic research and practical applications. Methods Utilizing CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Scimago Graphica software, we conducted a comprehensive visualization analysis of Chinese and English literature on PDEs indexed in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC). The analysis encompassed publication trends, geographical distribution, institutional collaboration networks, author contributions, and keyword co-occurrence to identify research frontiers and evolving trajectories in PDEs research. Results A total of 2 815 eligible publications were included in this study, comprising 160 Chinese-language publications (5.68%) and 2 655 English-language publications (94.32%). Research activity in the PDEs field is predominantly concentrated in China and the United States, with global academic attention demonstrating a consistent annual increase. Institutional network analysis revealed distinct modular collaboration patterns, with Chinese institutions—including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang University, Capital Medical University, and Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine—alongside international institutions such as the University of California and the University of Illinois, occupying central positions in collaboration networks. High-frequency keyword co-occurrence analysis identified current research focal points, including PDEs derived from sources such as Jianghuang (Curcumae Longae Rhizoma), Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), tea, Gouqi (Lycii Fructus), and Machixian (Portulacae Herba), with investigations concentrating on molecular mechanisms underlying skin wound healing, neuroprotective effects, oncological therapy, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, and blood-brain barrier modulation. Additionally, sustained research attention is directed toward applied domains including extraction and purification methodologies, establishment of quality evaluation standards, and the development of PDEs as drug delivery vehicles. Conclusion PDEs demonstrate substantial research potential in neuroprotection, oncological therapy, and wound healing applications. Future research trajectories will likely focus on optimizing extraction and purification protocols for PDEs from diverse botanical sources, developing novel formulations tailored to precision medicine requirements, and expanding their therapeutic indications. Furthermore, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and integrating emerging technologies will be essential for fully realizing the translational potential of PDEs.

Objective To conduct a bibliometric analysis of the relevant literature on traditional Chinese medicine with nourishing-yin properties for tumor prevention and treatment published both domestically and internationally over the past 20 years, with the intention of providing references for the pharmacological effects and scientific connotations of such traditional Chinese medicine in tumor prevention and treatment. Methods The relevant literature was obtained from the databases of China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, and Web of Science (WOS). Using bibliometrics and visualization research tools such as NoteExpress, CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Gephi, the publication volume, countries, institutions, authors, and keywords of the selected literature were analyzed to form visualization results and analyze the current research status, hotspots, and trends. Results The analysis of publication volume shows that the research on yin-nourishing traditional Chinese medicine in tumor prevention and treatment has been increasing year by year. Currently, Chinese literature is the main body of research literature in this field. Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis), and Gouqizi (Lycii Fructus) are the most frequently studied yin-nourishing traditional Chinese medicines in this field. The analysis of the countries and institutions that published papers indicates that the country with the most research publications in this field is China, and the dominant forces are Chinese medical colleges and hospital units. The analysis of authors’ publications shows that there is no core author group formed between domestic and international authors, and the research force in this field presents a diversified situation. The keyword analysis indicates that the research in this field mainly focuses on lung cancer, active ingredients, pharmacological effects, etc., while the medication pattern, data mining, mechanism of action, cell cycle regulation, and Lycium barbarum polysaccharides are the research hotspots in recent years. Conclusion Research on the prevention and treatment of tumors with yin-nourishing traditional Chinese medicine is still in an upward development stage at present. The research focus is on the study of the material basis and mechanism of action of yin-nourishing traditional Chinese medicines in preventing and treating tumors, as well as the research on clinical application experience and innovation in research methods.

Objective To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the morphological differences in fruits and seeds of Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa from different sources and to identify key genes influencing the morphological variation in Z. jujuba var. spinosa fruits and seeds. Methods Wild and grafted Z. jujuba var. spinosa fruits and seeds were used as materials. Phenotypic differences in their appearance were analyzed using a phenotypic group approach. Transcriptome sequencing was performed using the Illumina HiSeq platform. After data quality control, assembly, and gene annotation, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed and screened. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to assess the expression levels of key genes in different tissues, under gibberellin (GA₃) and drought stress treatments. Results The transverse and longitudinal diameters, as well as the weight of grafted Z. jujuba var. spinosa fruits, were significantly larger than those of wild Z. jujuba var. spinosa fruits. Similarly, the longitudinal diameter, thickness, and weight of grafted Z. jujuba var. spinosa seeds were significantly higher than those of wild Z. jujuba var. spinosa seeds. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that DEGs between grafted and wild Z. jujuba var. spinosa fruits and seeds were related to stress response, transcriptional regulation, plant hormone signal transduction, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Through qRT-PCR, core DEGs influencing the morphological development of Z. jujuba var. spinosa fruits and seeds were identified, including WRKY53, WRKY40, TIFY9, NCED3, TSJT1, NRT3.1, BZIP9, TEN1, BXL1, and LRX4. After treatment with 150 mg/L GA₃, the expression levels of WRKY53, LRX4, NRT3.1, and TIFY9 were significantly upregulated, whereas BZIP9 and NCED3 were significantly downregulated. Under PEG-6000 drought stress, the expression levels of WRKY53, WRKY40, TEN1, TSJT1, and TIFY9 were significantly upregulated, while those of BZIP9 and LRX4 were significantly down-regulated. Conclusion This study preliminarily elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying the morphological differences between grafted and wild Z. jujuba var. spinosa fruits and seeds. It also identified key candidate genes influencing the morphological development of fruits and seeds and their expression patterns under different stress conditions. These findings provide a theoretical basis and key targets for molecular breeding, environmental adaptability studies, and resource improvement of Z. jujuba var. spinosa.

Objective To investigate the regulatory mechanism underlying the effect of low-temperature treatment on the accumulation of active components in Veronica polita and clarify its regulatory mechanism. Methods Plants subjected to low-temperature treatment were analyzed through phenotypic observation, physiological and biochemical indices, transcriptome and metabolome analyses. Results Prolonged low-temperature treatment significantly increased the plant height, fresh weight and dry weight, as well as the root length of V. polita. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD), as well as the contents of total flavonoids, total phenols and total sugars first rose and then decreased. The contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and chlorophyll increased, whereas chlorophyll fluorescence parameters decreased. The contents of total flavonoids and total phenols also first increased and then decreased. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) exhibited a stage-specific expression patterns. Pathways such as secondary metabolite biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, metabolic pathways, and plant hormone signal transduction were significantly enriched. Three flavonoid synthesis-related genes (GT5, JOX2, HO1) and five phenol synthesis and metabolism-related genes (LAC3, AOX4, LPR2, AS1, MT-CO2) were identified. Metabolomic analysis indicated that the contents of quercetin, myricetin, and benzoic acid showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with the extension of treatment time. Integrated multi-omics analysis demonstrated that the core mechanism by which V. polita responds to low-temperature stress involves the precise reprogramming of the phenylpropanoid/flavonoid metabolic pathway. Conclusion Appropriatelow-temperature treatment promotes the accumulation of secondary metabolites in V. polita, thereby providing a foundation for further research into its functional genes.

Objective To screen high-efficiency phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) in the rhizosphere soil of Fritillaria taipaiensis and provide data support for the development of microbial fertilizers. Methods Rhizosphere soil samples were collected from ten production areas. Strains of inorganic phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (IPSB) and organic phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (OPSB) were isolated and purified. Their phosphate-solubilizing capacities were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively, and the strains were identified based on physiological and biochemical characteristics as well as 16S rDNA sequencing. The effects of selected strains were further verified using pot experiments. Results A total of 42 IPSB and 31 OPSB strains were isolated. Quantitative analysis showed that among the IPSB strains, WP2-2 exhibited the strongest solubilizing capacity, increasing available phosphorus by 231.30 mg/L, followed by WP7-2 (211.05 mg/L). Among the OPSB strains, YP3-1 showed the highest phosphorus solubilization (28.57 mg/L), followed by YP5-1 (22.30 mg/L). Strain WP2-2 was identified as Serratia plymuthica, WP7-2 as Bacillus cereus, and both YP3-1 and YP5-1 were also identified as B. cereus. Pot experiments revealed that inoculation with these PSB strains altered the total phosphorus content in bulbs and fibrous roots, and also influenced the total alkaloid content in the bulbs. Conclusion The strains WP2-2, WP7-2, YP3-1, and YP5-1 show great potential for developing specialized microbial fertilizers for the cultivation of F. taipaiensis.

Objective To evaluate the quality of Urtica laetevirens from different producing areas based on multi-index quantification, combined with chemical pattern recognition technology, weighted TOPSIS and grey relational analysis(GRA) fusion model. Methods A total of 20 batches of U. laetevirens were collected from the main producing areas. The contents of protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, hyperoside, rutin, quercetin, apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin, daucosterol, β-sitosterol were detected by HPLC, and the extract, total ash and acid-insoluble ash were examined. Combined with chemical pattern recognition technology, the differences between U. laetevirens from different producing areas were discussed, and the main landmark components leading to the quality differences of U. laetevirens from different producing areas were screened. The weighted TOPSIS model was constructed with the VIP value of each index as the weight, and then integrated with the GRA method to rank the quality of 20 batches of U. laetevirens. Results Under the established HPLC conditions. The linear ranges of protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, hyperoside, rutin, quercetin, apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin, daucosterol, β-sitosterol showed a good linear relationship within the range of 0.21—10.50, 1.15—57.50, 0.28—14.00, 0.46—23.00, 3.35—167.50, 4.47—223.50, 1.70—85.00, 0.14—7.00, 0.37—18.50, 0.79—39.50, 0.65—32.50, 1.31—65.50 μg/mL, respectively. The established method had good repeatability and high instrument precision. The stability of the sample solution of nettle extracted by 70% methanol ultrasonic extraction was good within 24 h. The average recovery rates of each component were 98.43%, 97.91%, 98.24%, 99.06%, 100.03%, 99.68%, 100.01%, 97.81%, 98.92%, 98.23%, 96.77% and 98.34%, respectively. The RSD was between 0.73% and 1.86%. The contents of various components were 0.66—0.129, 0.270—0.577, 0.093—0.184, 0.164—0.281, 1.440—2.465, 1.911—3.204, 0.331—1.188, 0.036—0.106, 0.078—0.209, 0.187—0.456, 0.196—0.418, 0.383—0.613 mg/g, The contents of extract, total ash and acid-insoluble ash were 14.3%—31.5%, 7.3%—16.2%, 0.5%—3.4%, respectively. It showed that the quality difference between batches was large. The 20 batches of U. laetevirens samples were divided into three groups by chemical pattern recognition technology, among them, S1—S8 from Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan, S9-S14 from Guangxi, Guizhou and Hunan, and S15—S20 from Qinghai and Xizang were each group, showing obvious regional characteristics. The marker components that distinguish the quality differences of each sample were rutin, hyperoside, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, luteolin and β-sitosterol. The analysis results of weighted TOPSIS and GRA fusion model showed that the comprehensive relative closeness of 20 batches of samples was between 0.285 4 and 0.673 6. The comprehensive relative closeness of S15—S20 samples from Qinghai and Xizang were 0.652 2, 0.663 3, 0.628 3, 0.673 6, 0.597 0 and 0.583 7, respectively, which was higher than that of other batches, and the quality was relatively better. Conclusion The established multi-index quantitative method is stable and reliable, which can be used to perfect the quality standard of U. laetevirens. The chemical pattern recognition combined with weighted TOPSIS and GRA fusion model comprehensively and scientifically evaluated the quality of U. laetevirens from different producing areas, laying a foundation for the quality analysis and evaluation of U. laetevirens.

Objective To detect and compare the contents of multiple indexes in Homalomena occulta from different producing areas, and to provide basis for quality evaluation of H. occulta. Methods In this study, 19 batches of H. occulta were collected. An HPLC method was performed on a CenturySIL C₁₈ BDS column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) with acetonitrile-0.3% phosphoric acid as the mobile phase under gradient elution and wavelength switching detection at 260, 330 and 210 nm to simultaneously determine the contents of 11 components (protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, quercetin, apigenin, pinocembrin, daucosterol, β- sitosterol, stigmasterol, ursolic acid, betulinic acid). The content of linalool was determined, and the alcohol-soluble extract, total ash and acid-insoluble ash were examined according to the 2025 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Hierarchical cluster analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), factor analysis (FA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and grey relational analysis (GRA) were comprehensively applied to evaluate the quality of H. occulta from different producing areas and to screen the quality difference markers. Results The contents of each index in 19 batches of H. occulta were protocatechuic acid 0.251—0.903 mg/g, caffeic acid 0.171—0.294 mg/g, ferulic acid 0.041—0.101 mg/g, quercetin 0.265—0.490 mg/g, apigenin 0.144—0.250 mg/g, pinocembrin 0.046-0.088 mg/g, daucosterol 0.237—0.509 mg/g, β-sitosterol 0.394—1.153 mg/g, stigmasterol 0.102—0.218 mg/g, ursolic acid 0.154—0.328 mg/g, betulinic acid 0.071—0.116 mg/g, linalool 3.022—5.079 mg/g, extract 19.5%—33.5%, total ash 2.4%—6.5% and acid-insoluble ash 0.5%—1.2%. Chemical pattern recognition analysis showed that there were some differences in the quality of H. occulta in different producing areas. The 19 batches of samples were divided into 3 groups, and the samples with similar origin were divided into one group. The quality difference markers of each sample were linalool, quercetin, ursolic acid, β-sitosterol and protocatechuic acid. The quality evaluation results of factor analysis and grey correlation analysis were consistent, which showed that the quality of S15—S19 samples from Guangxi was better. Conclusion By analyzing and comparing the contents of multiple indexes in H. occulta from different producing areas, the quality difference markers for distinguishing each sample were determined, which can provide a method reference for the quality evaluation of H. occulta.

With the wide application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) at home and abroad, the problem of toxicity reduction of toxic Chinese materia medica needs to be solved urgently. Rational compatibility of TCM is the basis for safe use of Chinese medicinal formulas, and herb pair is the smallest unit of TCM compatibility. By starting from toxicity reduction through herb pair compatibility, this study summarizes the mechanism of action of “toxic” TCM, the differences between ancient and modern dosages, and the typical theories of herb pair compatibility, to provide ideas and references for research on toxicity reduction in herb pairs. In addition, this study summarizes studies on chemical composition changes of individual herbs after pairing, in vivo pharmacokinetics, and pharmacological mechanisms of herb pair compatibility. It is concluded that under the guidance of basic theories of TCM, herb pairs can be studied at multiple levels and from multiple perspectives by combining multiple methods to investigate the mechanisms of their combinations in reducing toxicity. This approach helps to clarify the compatibility rules of Chinese medicinal formulas and provides a scientific reference for in-depth studies on the mechanisms of compatibility and detoxification of herb pairs, as well as for the clinical safe use of TCM.

The gut-lung axis is an important pathway connecting the respiratory system and the digestive system, playing a key role in maintaining immune homeostasis, regulating inflammatory responses, and protecting the mucosal barrier. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory that “the lung and the large intestine are exterior-interior related” is highly consistent with the modern concept of gut-lung axis, providing a scientific basis for “lung and intestine co-treatment”. Studies have shown that the imbalance of the intestinal flora and the damage of the barrier function can affect the inflammatory immune response in lungs through inflammatory mediators and metabolites, aggravating the occurrence and development of lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and pulmonary fibrosis. TCM can improve the stability of gut-lung axis as a whole by regulating the intestinal flora and metabolic products (such as short-chain fatty acids and tryptophan metabolites), and repairing the mucosal barrier, thereby reducing the inflammatory response and tissue damage in lungs. Therefore, based on gut-lung axis, this paper mainly expounds the research progress of the main therapeutic effect relief links of traditional Chinese medicine throug regulating intestinal flora, flora metabolites and mucosal immunity, protecting lung-intestine barrier and preventing and treating lung diseases, providing a new idea for in-depth explanation of mechanism of “regulating the lung through the intestine” and the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases by TCM.

Type 2 bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs), a subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors, comprise 25 receptor-members. Besides being expressed on taste buds to perceive bitterness, TAS2Rs are also distributed in multiple systems, including the respiratory, digestive, immune systems, where they regulate various physiological processes such as airway defense, gastrointestinal motility, and inflammation regulation. In traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) theory, the bitter TCMs are able to purge, dry and firm. Their functional substances often serve as both taste substances that evoke bitter perception and the key component responsible for the medicinal properties and efficacy of bitter herbs. These components may exert various pharmacological effects, such as regulating glucolipid metabolism and inflammatory responses, by activating TAS2Rs expressed in different tissues and organs. This article systematically expounds the association between the efficacy of bitter TCMs and the function of TAS2Rs, as well as the tissue distribution, physiological functions, structural characteristics and signal transduction mechanisms of TAS2Rs, and analyses the problems and challenges in research between bitter TCMs and TAS2Rs pharmacology. It’s expected to reveal the scientific essence of the “property-effect-substance” correlation of bitter TCMs.