Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs

Network Meta-analysis of various Chinese patent medicines combined with guideline-directed medicine in treatment of patients with chronic heart failure

Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs. 2026, 57(6): 2246-2264.

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.

Cloning, prokaryotic expression, and activity analysis of two MAPK genes in Aquilaria sinensis

Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs. 2026, 57(6): 2265-2277.

Objective AsMAPK1 and AsMAPK2 are two mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) genes with unknown functions in Aquilaria sinensis. To investigate their fundamental characteristics and potential functions in wound-induced agarwood formation, in this study, we performed cloning, expression analysis, and preliminary in vitro functional assays on the two genes. Methods Using cDNA from subcultured A. sinensis callus as the template, the coding sequences of AsMAPK1 and AsMAPK2 were obtained by PCR amplification. Bioinformatics analysis was performed using relevant online tools and softwares. The prokaryotic expression vectors pGEX4T-1-AsMAPK1/2 were constructed, transformed into E. coli BL21 for expression, and induction conditions were optimized. The AsMAPK1-GFP and AsMAPK2-GFP fusion expression vectors were constructed and transformed into Arabidopsis thaliana protoplasts to observe their subcellular localization using confocal microscopy. The kinase activity of the purified proteins was detected using an in vitro phosphorylation assay. Results The AsMAPK1 (1 188 bp) and AsMAPK2 (1 128 bp) genes were successfully cloned. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that both encoded proteins contain typical kinase domains and belong to the MAPK family. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that AsMAPK1 is most closely related to the AtMAPK6 homolog in A. thaliana and belongs to Group A, while AsMAPK2 clusters with Group B AtMAPK13. SDS-PAGE detection showed successful induction of soluble recombinant proteins of approximately 71 000 and 69 000. Subcellular localization results demonstrated that both AsMAPK1-GFP and AsMAPK2-GFP are localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Further kinase activity analysis confirmed that both AsMAPK1 and AsMAPK2 undergo autophosphorylation and can phosphorylate the universal substrate MBP. Conclusion This study confirms that AsMAPK1 and AsMAPK2 are active protein kinases localized in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. The cloning, expression analysis, and kinase activity detection of the two AsMAPKs provide a foundation for further elucidating their roles in the signal transduction mechanism underlying wound-induced agarwood formation in A. sinensis.

Identification and development of SSR molecular markers in the Platostoma palustre genome and analysis of germplasm genetic diversity

Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs. 2026, 57(6): 2278-2288.

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.

Analysis of structural characteristics, screening of molecular markers and phylogenetic study of chloroplast genome in Thalictrum

Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs. 2026, 57(6): 2289-2301.

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.

Effects of methyl jasmonate treatment on key genes in biosynthesis of gastrodin and parishin E in Gastrodia elata

CHEN Li, LIU Xiangyu, HE Yuanfeng, XIANG Guisheng, DAO Liping, TIAN Menghua, HAO Bing

Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs. 2026, 57(6): 2302-2315.

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.

Shotgun metagenomic decoding of impaired functional aynergy in Crocus sativus rhizosphere microbiome during corm rot and targeted SynComs design

Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs. 2026, 57(6): 2316-2325.

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.

Research progress on traditional Chinese medicine intervention in colorectal cancer based on metabolic reprogramming and related signal pathways

WANG Dunfang, FENG Xue, ZHANG Caijuan, LIU Haifan, LIU Jianyao, LIU Bin, ZHU Lin, SUN Qiyue, MA Xuran, YANG Weipeng

Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs. 2026, 57(6): 2326-2336.

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.

Research progress on pharmacokinetics and pharmacological effects of loganin

LIU Bo, JIN Jing, GUO Jinpeng, HE Yi, MA Xuan, ZHANG Yan, WANG Feng

Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs. 2026, 57(6): 2337-2355.

Loganin, a representative iridoid glycoside derived from Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus), has attracted increasing attention due to its significant multi-target biological activities, including neuroprotective, antitumor, metabolic regulatory, and osteoarticular protective effects. Despite substantial progress in pharmacodynamic validation and the exploration of individual signaling pathways, critical scientific issues remain unresolved, particularly regarding its complex in vivo mechanisms, limited bioavailability, and unclear effects of its metabolites. By systematically reviewing the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion characteristics of loganin in vivo, this review elucidates the coordinated regulation of its pharmacokinetic behavior by multidrug resistance transporters, gut microbiota, and pathological states. Furthermore, we comprehensively summarize its pharmacological mechanisms in neurological disorders, cancer, metabolic diseases, and osteoarticular conditions, highlighting its multi-layered regulatory effects mediated through key signaling networks involved in anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, and reconstruction of metabolic homeostasis via multiple key signaling pathways. From a systems pharmacology perspective, this work provides an integrated framework for understanding the mechanistic basis of bioactive constituents derived from traditional Chinese medicine.

Toxic mechanisms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and strategies for prevention and treatment with traditional Chinese medicine

Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs. 2026, 57(6): 2356-2367.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common peripheral nervous system injury in cancer treatment, specifically manifested as sensory abnormalities, neuropathic pain, and motor dysfunction, which significantly affects patients’ quality of life and chemotherapy progression. The core mechanism of CIPN involves the induction of mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to mitochondrial oxidative stress and metabolic dysfunction, followed by aberrant sodium/calcium channel function, resulting in neuronal apoptosis and nerve fiber degeneration. CIPN is classified as the “Xuebi” category in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), results from drug toxicity, causing qi and blood deficiency and meridian obstruction. TCM interventions, based on “tonifying vital energy, activating meridians, and integrating internal-external therapy” aim to reduce nerve damage. This review summaries CIPN’s toxicological mechanisms and TCM-based pathogenesis, focusing on TCM therapeutic strategies. A treatment protocol, including “formula-based reinforcement, synergistic enhancement, external meridian penetration, and acupuncture regulation”, is proposed to improve chemotherapeutic outcomes and patient survival.

Research progress on Morchella polysaccharides regulating gut microbiota and intervening in body function

Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs. 2026, 57(6): 2368-2380.

Morchella spp. are a group of precious edible and medicinal fungi. Their polysaccharides have become a research hotspot in the field of natural products in recent years due to their excellent biological safety and diverse physiological activities. In recent years, many studies have revealed the mechanism by which Morchella polysaccharides (MPs) can regulate host body function by influencing the composition and metabolism of gut microbiota. MPs can selectively promote the proliferation of beneficial commensal bacteria in the gut while inhibiting potential pathogenic bacteria, thereby alleviating diseases associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis. Moreover, MPs can be degraded by the gut microbiota into biologically active metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These metabolites not only promote the absorption of polysaccharides, but also play essential roles in maintaining the intestinal barrier function, regulating immune responses, and inhibiting inflammation. The current review summarizes the isolation and purification methods of MPs, the degradation of MPs in intestine, the impacts of MPs on gut microbiota community and SCFAs productivity, as well as the beneficial effects of MPs to host by targeting gut microbiota, and reveals the interaction mechanism among MPs, gut microbiota and host body function. We hope this article can offer some theoretical bases and inspirations for the clinical application of MPs and the development of functional foods.