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.

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.

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.

Breast cancer, one of the most prevalent malignancies among women globally, involves multiple mechanisms in its pathogenesis and progression. Clinical treatment continues to face challenges such as recurrence and metastasis. Ezhu (Curcumae Rhizoma), a traditional Chinese medicine for promoting blood circulation and resolving stasis, is warm in nature, with pungent and bitter flavors, and acts on the liver and spleen meridians. It contains various active components, including volatile oils, curcuminoids, and other compounds, and functions to break blood stasis, promote qi movement, eliminate accumulation, and relieve pain. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that Curcumae Rhizoma and its active components exert anti-breast cancer effects through multiple mechanisms, such as inhibiting cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis, preventing tumor metastasis, suppressing angiogenesis, and regulating autophagy. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, Curcumae Rhizoma addresses the pathogenesis of “qi stagnation and blood stasis, toxic accumulation and masses” by strongly activating blood circulation, dispersing stagnation, and resolving masses, thereby alleviating breast masses (including breast cancer) caused by phlegm-stasis binding and qi obstruction. In compound formulations, the efficacy of Curcumae Rhizoma can be enhanced through different herb pairings. For example, when combined with qi-tonifying herbs like Huangqi (Astragali Radix), it reinforces healthy qi to eliminate pathogens and reduces chemotherapy resistance. When paired with blood-activating and stasis-resolving herbs such as Sanleng (Sparganii Rhizoma), it enhances the effect of dispersing masses and combating toxins, reflecting the compatibility strategy of “simultaneously eliminating pathogens and reinforcing healthy qi”. This article reviews the pharmacological mechanisms and research progress of Curcumae Rhizoma and its active components in anti-breast cancer studies in recent years, aiming to provide references for further research and clinical applications in breast cancer treatment.

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease, and its prevalence is increasing annually owing to the influence of lifestyle and diet structure. Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) is a widely used natural medicine and food commonly used in condiments, spices, agriculture, medicine, and other fields. Cinnamomi Cortex exerts a regulatory effect on blood glucose. To promote its better and safer application in medical practice and daily life, this article reviews the role and mechanism of Cinnamomi Cortex in regulating blood glucose, as well as its potential toxic and side effects. It is found that the chemical components of cinnamon responsible for lowering blood glucose include cinnamon polyphenols, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamon polysaccharides, hydroxycinnamic acid, trans-cinnamic acid, flavonoids, camphor, etc. As a supplement, it may regulate blood glucose through multiple pathways such as regulating glycogen metabolism, glycolipid metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammatory response, incretins, and digestive enzyme activity. Cinnamomi Cortex is a relatively safe supplement, but toxic reactions may still occur at higher doses, including hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and skin allergies.

Objective Study on the chemical components of Chishui Dendrobium nobile (Orchidaceae).Methods A systematic chemical study was conducted on the n-butanol fraction of the 95% ethanol extract of Chishui D. nobile using methods and techniques such as silica gel, Toyopearl HW-40C, and semi-preparative liquid chromatography, with structural identification carried out through HRESIMS, NMR, IR, UV, and other spectroscopic methods. Results A total of six compounds were isolated and identified as 6,7-dimethyl-1-[(2S,3R,4R)-2,3,5-trihydroxy-4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-1,4-dihydroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (1), 2-phenylethyl 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), diospyrososide (3), benzyl-β-D-glucoside (4), icariside D₂ (5), 2-methoxyphenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (6). Conclusion Compound 1 was identified as a new alkaloid, named dendronobiline A1, while compound 2 was identified as a new phenylethanoid glycoside, named dendronobiside A1. Compounds 3—6 are isolated from the plant for the first time.

Objective To study the chemical constituents from the ethyl acetate extract of Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. Methods The compounds were isolated and purified by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS column chromatography, and semi‑preparative HPLC, and their structures were identified by modern spectroscopic techniques. The anti‑cervical cancer activities of the compounds against human HeLa cells were evaluated by the MTT assay. Results Fifteen compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of A. sparsifolia and identified as 1-{1-[4-(4-hydroxyphenethoxy)phenethyl]-1H-pyrrol-2-l}ethan-1-one(1), 5,7-dihydroxy-6-methoxyflavone (2), callyspongidipeptide A (3), cyclo-(D-proline-D-valine) (4), 7-O-ethylguaiacyl glycerol (5), 7-O-ethylguaiacyl glycerol (6), isololiolide (7), N-phenethylacetamide (8), skullcapflavone II (9), 4-hydroxyphenethyl alcohol (10), N-phenethylformamide (11), 3′-methoxydaidzein (12), cyclo(alanine-proline) (13), N-(p-hydroxyphenethyl)formamide (14), and N-acetyltyramine (15). Conclusions Compound 1 is a new compound and named as alhagipyrrolizidine A. Compounds 1, 5 and 6 showed significant activity against human HeLa cells, with IC₅₀ values of 31.4, 26.6 and 37.3 μmol/L, respectively.

Objective To investigate the chemical constituents of Urtica cannabina and their hypoglycemic activity in vitro. Methods The compounds were isolated and purified by column chromatography of HPD-600 macroporous resin, silica gel, preparative TLC, and semi-preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by physicochemical properties and spectral analyses. The hypoglycemic activity was evaluated in vitro through their inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase, sucrase, and maltase. Results Twenty compounds were isolated and identified from the 70% ethanol extract of U. cannabina, including cis-p-hydroxycinnamic acid (1), trans-p-hydroxycinnamic acid (2), dimethyl glansreginate (3), kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), caffeic acid (5), chlorogenic acid methyl ester (6), 4-O-feruloylquinic methyl ester (7), hydroxycinnamic acid methyl ester (8), (E)-p-coumaroyl dimethyl malate (9), fraxidin (10), trans-caffeic acid methyl ester (11), trans-caffeic acid ethyl ester (12), 3,4-dihydroxy-acetophenone (13), 4-caffeoylquinic acid (14), 3-O-p-coumaroyl quinic acid methyl ester (15), 3-O-feruloylquinic methyl ester (16), hydroxybenzoic acid (17), phaseic acid (18), 5-O-p-coumaroylquinic methyl ester (19), 5-O-feruloylquinic methyl ester (20). The in vitro activity screening revealed that compounds 5 and 7 exhibited significant inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase, while compounds 5, 6, 11, 12 and 14 displayed considerable inhibitory effects on both sucrase and maltase. Conclusion Compounds 1, 2, 5—12, and 14—20 are phenolic acids, compound 4 is a flavonoid, and compound 13 is a ketophenol. Among these, compounds 3, 7, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, and 18—20 were isolated from U. cannabina for the first time. Compound 5 demonstrated notable inhibitory activity against all three enzymes, suggesting that it may serve as the core pharmacophoric structure for the hypoglycemic effect. Structure-activity relationship analysis indicated that the catechol structure and the caffeic acid esterification motif collectively constitute the key structural basis for the glycosidase inhibitory activity of these phenolic acids.

Objective To investigate the chemical constituents of the taproots of Brassica rapa (Qiamagu) and evaluate their anti-inflammatory activity. Methods The chemical constituents were systematically isolated and purified using silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, including NMR, MS, and UV. The cytotoxicity of the isolates against RAW264.7 murine macrophages was assessed using the CCK-8 assay. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated via the Griess method. Results Twenty-five compounds were isolated from the 70% ethanol extract of B. rapa taproots and identified as 2-C-β-D-glucosyl-indole-3-acetonitrile (1), sinapic acid (2), p-coumaric acid (3), ferulic acid (4), methyl sinapate (5), methyl 4-hydroxycinnamate (6), trans-4-methoxycinnamic acid (7), dimethyl feruloyl malate (8), sinapoyl dimethyl malate (9), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (10), phenylacetic acid (11), phenylethane-1, 2-diol (12), 3-phenylpropanamide (13), phenylethyl-β-D-glucoside (14), 4-(3-hydroxypropyl) phenyl β-D-glucopyranoside (15), idaeusinol B (16), syringaresinol-4-O-β-D-glucoside (17), equiselignan A (18), phaseic acid (19), abscisic acid (20), roseoside (21), bergapten (22), methylthioadenosine (23), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (24), and rabdosia acid B (25). The CCK-8 assay demonstrated the cytotoxicity of compounds 16, 22, and 25. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity in vitro, the Griess method was employed. The results demonstrated that all tested compounds exhibited varying degrees of inhibitory activity. Conclusion Compound 1 is an indole glucosinolate; compounds 2—9 and 16—18 are phenylpropanoids, compounds 10—12, 14 and 15 are benzene ring derivatives, and compounds 13 and 23 are nitrogen-containing compounds. Among them, compounds 1, 6—9, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, and 23 are isolated from B. rapa for the first time. In the anti-inflammatory assay, with compounds 8 and 9 demonstrating significant effects, yielding IC₅₀ values of 6.95 and 6.46 μmol/L.

Objective To establish an objective endpoint criterion for the nine cycles of steaming and sun-drying in the processing of Shudihuɑng (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, RRP), to quantitatively characterize the dynamic changes in “morphology, color, and taste”, and to elucidate the correlation between chemical component transformations and the Maillard reaction. Methods Samples subjected to one through nine cycles of conventional steaming and wine-assisted steaming were prepared. An integrated analytical approach combining electronic tongue, electronic nose, electronic eye, mass spectrometry imaging, and infrared spectroscopy was employed to obtain quantitative parameters related to taste, odor, and chromaticity. These data were used to analyze the spatial distribution and dynamic variation of chemical constituents, as well as the migration patterns of characteristic functional groups. Results The electronic sensory data exhibited strong concordance with the results of manual sensory evaluation and demonstrated high discriminative capability among RRP samples subjected to varying cycles of re-hydration and re-drying. A pronounced shift in taste profile was observed at the third cycle of re-hydration and re-drying, identified as the critical inflection point for sensory deterioration. Concurrently, the color value decreased progressively with increasing reprocessing cycles—a trend consistent with the traditional quality benchmark “black as lacquer, sweet as honey”, wherein darker coloration correlates with superior quality. Volatile propane-type compounds were identified as key odor discriminants across treatment groups. Mass spectrometry imaging revealed that with increasing processing intensity, the levels of iridoid compounds, amino acids, and non-reducing sugars progressively declined, whereas those of reducing sugars and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural increased steadily. In contrast, phenethyl alcohol exhibited a triphasic trend—initially increasing, subsequently decreasing, and finally rising again. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy further demonstrated characteristic shifts in absorption peaks corresponding to sugar-derived hydroxyl groups and conjugated carbonyl moieties, consistent with hallmark spectral features of the Maillard reaction. Notably, organic acids present in the wine-steaming medium exerted a catalytic effect, advancing the onset of quality inflection points by one steaming cycle relative to the clear-steaming control group; However, no statistically significant difference in final product quality was observed between the two processing modalities. Conclusion The proposed multi-dimensional evaluation system objectively captures the evolutionary patterns of “morphology, color, and taste” throughout the nine-cycle steaming and sun-drying process of processed RRP. These findings provide a quantitative foundation for determining the optimal processing endpoint and offer a technical framework for quality control in the production of steamed and sun-dried traditional Chinese medicines.