Objective To systematically identify the R2R3-MYB transcription factor family in Xuanmugua(Chaenomeles speciose) based on transcriptomic and metabolomic data, and to screen key candidate genes potentially involved in the regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis. Methods Transcriptome and metabolome databases were constructed using different tissues of C. speciosa. The R2R3-MYB transcription factor family was systematically identified based on full-length transcriptome data. Subsequently, the sequence characteristics, phylogenetic relationships, and tissue-specific expression patterns of these genes were analyzed. Results A total of 31 R2R3-type CsMYB genes were identified from the transcriptome data of C. speciosa. Based on phylogenetic analysis with Ninanjie(Arabidopsis thaliana) and Yueji (Rosa chinensis), we classified these genes into 11 subfamilies. Members within the same subfamily showed similar conserved motifs and gene structures. Flavonoids, including catechin and epicatechin, were significantly enriched in the pulp and peel. The 31 CsMYB genes exhibited differential expression patterns across various tissues of C. speciosa, among which 14 CsMYB genes, such as CsMYB1, CsMYB21, and CsMYB25, were highly expressed in the peel or pulp. Further correlation analysis revealed that six candidate genes, including CsMYB1, CsMYB2, and CsMYB14, were significantly and positively correlated with the accumulation of multiple flavonoids, such as catechin and epicatechin. These results were further validated by RT-qPCR. Conclusion This study provides the first systematic identification of the R2R3-MYB transcription factor family in C. speciosa and screens key CsMYB genes potentially involved in the regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis. These findings provide a reference for subsequent functional verification of candidate genes and lay a foundation for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the quality formation of C. speciosa.

Objective To investigate the chemical constituents of Fissistigma bracteolatum. Methods The 95% ethanol extract of F. bracteolatum was successively separated by solvent partitioning, macroporous resin, silica gel, MCI, Sephadex LH-20, ODS column chromatography, and semi-preparative HPLC to obtain individual compounds. Their structures were elucidated using modern spectroscopic techniques such as NMR and MS. An in vitro inflammatory model was established using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the isolated compounds. Results A total of 22 compounds were isolated from F. bracteolatum, comprising of 12 flavonoids, 8 amides, 1 lignan, and 1 lactone. These were determined as: 5,7-dihydroxy-6,8-dimethoxyflavone (1), 5-hydroxy-7,8-dimethoxyflavone (2), quercetin (3), rutin (4), 5,7,8-trimethoxydihydroflavone (5), 5,6,8-trimethoxy-7-hydroxydihydroflavone (6), 6,7-dimethoxy-8-hydroxydihydroflavone (7), (2S)-7-hydroxy-6,8-dimethoxydihydroflavone (8), dihydroquercetin (9), aromadendrin (10), 4,2',6'-trihydroxy-3',4'-dimethoxy- dihydrochalcone (11), 2',6'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxydihydrochalcone (12), N-trans-sinapoylmethoxytyramine (13), N-[2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-3-phenyl-2-propenamide (14), (E)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-N-phenethyl-acrylamide (15), N-trans-feruloyltyramine (16), N-trans-p-coumaroyltyramine (17), N-cis-feruloyltyramine (18), cis-N-feruloyl-3-O-methyldopamine (19), cannabisin D (20), 3-caffeoyl-2-methyl-D-erythronic acid-1,4-lactone (21), and (-)-syringaresinol (22). Conclusion Compounds 1, 7, 9—11, 13—15, 17, 19, and 21 were isolated from the genus Fissistigma for the first time.The anti-inflammatory activity results demonstrated that compounds 5 , 9 , 13 , and 16 significantly inhibited the release of nitric oxide in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages.

Objective A comprehensive analysis of the research hotspots and prospective trends of Croton tiglium from the perspectives of knowledge graphs and global patents is conducted to provide theoretical basis and reference direction for clinical practice and subsequent in-depth exploration of C. tiglium. Methods C. tiglium was used as the keyword to search four databases: CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and Web of Science (WOS), and the literature was imported into the NoteExpress literature management software for duplication checking and screening. Excel, CiteSpace, VOSviewer and other softwares were used to conduct a visual analysis of the current status and development trends of C. tiglium research at home and abroad from the dimensions of publication trends, publishing countries, institutions, authors, and keywords. The Incopat patent database was used to search and analyze C. tiglium-related global patent applications from aspects such as patent application trends, global geographical distribution, patent applicants and patent technology fields. Results A total of 1 320 Chinese literature and 1 528 English literature that met the criteria were retrieved. After a preliminary search, a total of 11 004 patents were obtained in the Incopat patent database. After the merger process, 5 196 patents were finally retained. Among them, there are 2 346 domestic patents, accounting for 45.15% of the total, occupying a leading position. In general, the research heat in the field of C. tiglium continues to rise, the number of Chinese and English publications is comparable, and the academic influence at home and abroad is balanced. Among them, the United States has the highest number of publication volume in the world, and China is in the forefront, which are important research force in this field. In terms of scientific research cooperation, Chinese medicine colleges and affiliated medical institutions are the main body at home, with a single research structure and loose institutional cooperation, and there are obvious research barriers. International research relies on transnational scientific research subjects, with close cooperation networks and mature collaboration systems. In terms of research content, the domestic focus is on the traditional pharmacology and clinical application of C. tiglium, with an emphasis on the inheritance of traditional medicinal properties. The international focus is on fundamental and cutting-edge research such as active ingredients and mechanisms of action On the whole, C. tiglium research continues to break through the traditional category, relying on multidisciplinary cross to achieve innovative development, forming a development trend of inheritance and innovation. Conclusion Research in the field of C. tiglium is constantly expanding and deepening. Its research paradigm is undergoing a significant transformation, gradually shifting from the application of traditional Chinese medicine to multi-disciplinary interdisciplinary research and in-depth analysis of molecular mechanisms. China dominates the patent layout among various countries in the C. tiglium field. However, its patent system has significant weaknesses, mainly manifested in the premature expiration of a large number of patents, low technology industrialization, and insufficient commercial expansion capabilities. The research hotspots in Chinese literature focus on the anti-inflammatory pharmacological effects and processing techniques for reducing toxicity of C. tiglium, gradually extending to agricultural applications. Meanwhile, English research hotspots are concentrated on antioxidant activity, chemical taxonomy, and natural product chemistry, with antioxidant research showing significant growth in recent years.

Objective To investigate the effect of andrographolide on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and reveal its potential anti-tumor mechanism from the perspective of ferroptophagy through lipidomics. Methods CAL27 cells were cultured in vitro. CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay were used to detect the inhibitory effect of andrographolide on cell proliferation, and flow cytometry was used to detect the cell apoptosis. A patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse model of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma was established. Control group and andrographolide (10 mg/kg) group were set up, and after intervention with administration, the tumor growth was observed dynamically, and the expression of proliferation-related index Ki67 in tumor tissues was detected. Lipidomics technology was used to analyze the metabolic profile changes of CAL27 cells after andrographolide treatment, and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was performed. Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of ferroptophagy-related proteins in cells. Results The in vitro experimental results showed that andrographolide could significantly inhibit the proliferation of CAL27 cells and induce cell apoptosis (P < 0.01, 0.001), and showed a dose-dependent effect. The results of in vivo PDX model experiment showed that andrographolide could significantly inhibit the growth of tumors in vivo (P < 0.001), and the positive expression of Ki67 in tumor tissues was significantly reduced compared to the control group (P < 0.001). The lipidomics analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment results showed that the differential metabolic pathways of cells treated with andrographolide were enriched in ferroptosis and autophagy-related pathways. Western blotting results confirmed that andrographolide could significantly regulate the expressions of ferroptophagy-related proteins (P < 0.05, 0.01, 0.001), indicating that andrographolide could effectively induce ferroptophagy in CAL27 cells. Further validation with the nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4) targeted degrader and ferroptosis inhibitor demonstrated that both agents markedly reversed the effects of andrographolide (P < 0.05, 0.01, 0.001), verifying that its antitumor effect depends on the ferroptophagy signaling pathway. Conclusion Andrographolide could significantly inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in vitro and in vivo. Its anti-tumor mechanism is related to inducing ferroptophagy in tumor cells.

Objective To study the chemical constituents of Salvia miltiorrhiza and their anti-asthma activity. Methods The compounds were isolated and purified by silica gel column chromatography, gel column chromatography and preparative liquid chromatography. Their structures were identified based on spectroscopic data and physicochemical properties. The anti-asthma activity of the obtained compounds was evaluated using β-hexosaminidase release assay and RBL-2H3 cell degranulation model. Results Seven compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of S. miltiorrhiza and identified as (S)-3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methoxy-1-oxopropan-2-yl (2S,3S)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4-((E)-3-(((S)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-1-ethoxy-1-oxopropan-2-yl)oxy)-3-oxoprop-1-en-1-yl)-7-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-3-carboxylate (1), rosmarinic acid (2), methyl linoleate (3), 4-oxononanoic acid (4), (Z)-9-octadecenoic acid (5), (9Z,12Z)-nonadeca-9,12-dienoic acid (6), and n-13,16-nonadecadienoic acid (7). The bioactivity results showed that compound 1 inhibited the release of β-hexosaminidase, reduced the levels of mouse mast cell protease-1 (mMCP-1), β-mast cell tryptase (β-MCT), histamine (HIS) and leukotriene C4 (LTC4), and significantly ameliorated the degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells. Conclusion Compound 1 is a new water-soluble phenolic acid, named 9′ʺ-ethyl salvianolate B, that may exert anti-asthma effect by inhibiting mast cell degranulation.

Psycho-cardiological disease refers to a clinical syndrome involving the coexistence of cardiovascular diseases and psychological disorders. It maintains a consistently high prevalence and seriously affects patients’ quality of life as well as long-term prognosis. Treatments with Western medicine present limitations including risks of drug interactions and a shortage of psychological intervention resources. Huanglian Wendan Decoction (黄连温胆汤, HLWDT), derived from Liu Yin Tiao Bian of the Qing dynasty, has the effects of clearing heat and resolving phlegm, regulating the stomach and benefiting the gallbladder, and tranquilizing the mind. It conforms to the core pathogenesis of psycho-cardiological disease: phlegm-heat disturbing the heart. By systematically reviewing mechanistic studies on HLWDT against psycho-cardiological disease in recent years, this paper summarizes the active components of HLWDT and its mechanisms in preventing and treating psycho-cardiological disease. It is found that this prescription exerts effects through multiple pathways, such as ameliorating immune inflammatory responses, regulating neurotransmitter metabolism, upregulating the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, alleviating oxidative stress injury, and inhibiting hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, thus illustrating its advantages in multi-component and multi-target improvement of related psycho-cardiological diseases including coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, heart failure and hypertension. This provides a reference for the clinical promotion and in-depth research of HLWDT in treatment of psycho-cardiological disease.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) solid preparations represent the primary dosage form in the TCM industry, and their manufacturing model rapidly transitioning from traditional batch production to continuous manufacturing. The complex composition of TCM ingredients, significant variability in material properties, and highly nonlinear process characteristics pose substantial challenges for online monitoring and dynamic quality evaluation. This paper systematically examines the developmental bottlenecks currently faced by online monitoring and dynamic quality evaluation in the context of continuous manufacturing of TCM solid preparations, focusing on their technical features. It provides a comprehensive review of approaches such as the construction of multidimensional process-quality databases, integration of mechanistic models with data-driven models, application of process analysis techniques at critical stages, and the implementation of digital twin and closed-loop control platforms. Future research should further explore the deep integration of “data-model-control” frameworks to transform passive monitoring into proactive prediction and adaptive regulation, thereby establishing a dynamic quality evaluation system tailored to the unique characteristics of TCM. This will provide theoretical foundations and technical references for standardizing, intelligentizing, and enhancing the quality of TCM solid preparation manufacturing.

Pugongying (Taraxaci Herba) is a well-established medicinal and edible herb with a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine, known for its heat-clearing, detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, and swelling-reducing properties. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia defines Taraxaci Herba as the dried whole plant of Taraxacum mongolicum, Taraxacum borealisinense, or several other closely related species within the genus Taraxacum (Asteraceae), making it a typical multi-origin herbal medicine. Taraxaci Herba comprises numerous species with highly similar interspecific morphological characteristics. Coupled with diverse ecological conditions across producing areas, this has led to mixed botanical origins in the marketplace and inconsistent quality of medicinal materials, thereby compromising the efficacy and safety of clinical use. This review summarizes recent advances in molecular identification technologies and quality evaluation methods for Taraxaci Herba, outlines the current status of quality control and comprehensive quality assessment research, and proposes future research perspectives. The aim is to provide a scientific reference for the standardization of medicinal materials, the selection of high-quality germplasm resources, and the high-quality development of the Taraxaci Herba industry.

Objective To optimize the optimal processing methods for two different preparations of Huaimi (Sophorae Japonicae, SJ) and establish a method for determining the content of marker components and analyzing their correlation with color values using UPLC. Methods UPLC was employed to determine nine components in SJ (5-hydroxymethylfurfural, protocatechuic acid, rutin, isoquercitrin, quercetin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, narcissin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin) and alcohol-soluble extract content as evaluation indicators. A single-factor experiment combined with Box-Behnken design-response surface methodology (BBD-RSM) was employed to investigate three factors: roasting power, roasting time, and feedstock quantity. The weighting coefficient of the 10 indicators was calculated using the criteria importance through inter-criteria correlation (CRITIC) method. Both approaches were integrated to analyze and optimize the processing techniques for the two prepared forms of SJ. The IRIS electronic eye was employed to measure color changes in SJ at different processing levels. SPSS 20.0 and Origin 2024 software were used to analyze the correlation between color and indicator components. Results The optimal processing conditions for stir-fried SJ were determined as frying power 900 W, 5 min processing time, and 115 g batch size. For charred SJ, the optimal conditions were frying power 1 600 W, 3 min processing time, and 100 g batch size. Three batches of samples were prepared for validation, yielding average composite scores of 67.33 and 78.98 with RSD of 2.29% and 0.70%, respectively. These values closely matched predicted values, indicating process stability. Correlation analysis between color values and nine components revealed that both L^* and b^* values showed significant positive correlations with rutin, kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside, and narcissin, while exhibiting significant negative correlations with kaempferol, quercetin, and isorhamnetin. The a^* value demonstrated significant positive correlations with protocatechuic acid, isoquercitrin, quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin, indicating a correlation between color and changes in internal components of SJ. Conclusion The processing methods for stir-fried SJ and charred SJ optimized through BBD-RSM and CRITIC weighting are stable and feasible. Changes in intrinsic components during processing showed significant correlation with color values, providing a simple and intuitive basis for assessing the degree of processing and the relationship between intrinsic component changes in stir-fried SJ and charred SJ, and offering reference for their quality evaluation and clinical application.

Objective FAD enzymes introduce double bonds at specific positions in fatty acids, converting saturated fatty acids into unsaturated fatty acids, playing crucial roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses. This study aimed to systematically identify the FAD gene family in Panax ginseng and verify the function of PgFAD2-56, so as to elucidate the functions and stress response mechanisms of ginseng FAD genes. Methods Using bioinformatics approaches, 98 PgFAD genes were identified from the P. ginseng T2T genome, and their physicochemical properties, phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal localization, gene structures, conserved motifs, cis-acting regulatory elements, collinearity, and expression patterns under stress conditions were analyzed. Molecular docking was performed to predict the binding affinity of highly expressed FAD2 proteins with oleic acid, and the function of PgFAD2-56 was verified using a yeast heterologous expression system. Results The results showed that the 98 PgFAD genes could be classified into six subfamilies (ADS, SLD, FAD3/FAD7/FAD8, FAD6, FAD2, and FAB) based on amino acid sequence similarity, which was consistently supported by their gene structures and conserved motifs. Numerous hormone- and stress-responsive cis-acting elements and transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) were identified in the promoters of PgFAD genes. Collinearity analysis revealed significant expansion of the FAD2 subfamily in P. ginseng. Gene expression analysis demonstrated that some PgFADs displayed significant differential expression under stress conditions. Molecular docking indicated that FAD2-56 exhibited the lowest binding energy with oleic acid (−6.5 kcal/mol) among the highly expressed FAD2 proteins. Heterologous expression in yeast confirmed that PgFAD2-56 altered fatty acid composition by producing linoleic acid and enhanced cold stress resistance. Conclusion This study demonstrates that the ginseng FAD gene family exhibits strong subfamily specificity and plays a vital role in stress resistance, with the expansion of the FAD2 subfamily and functional characterization of PgFAD2-56 providing potential targets for stress-resistant molecular breeding in P. ginseng.