Objective To explore the genetic causal relationship between gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis based on the theory of “gather in stomach and focus on lung”, and to predict potential Chinese herbal medicines that may intervene in GERD-related COPD. Methods The genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets for GERD and COPD were obtained from the IEU Open GWAS database. A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was applied to evaluate the causal relationship between the two conditions, followed by a series of quality control procedures. Subsequently, proximal genes of the instrumental variables were extracted using the Ensembl database, and functional enrichment analysis was performed to explore the potential mechanisms by which GERD influences COPD risk. Furthermore, protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis was conducted on these proximal genes to identify core genes involved in this process. Potential intervention chemical components and Chinese herbal medicines were predicted using the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) and the Coremine Medical database, respectively, and statistical analysis was carried out on the medicinal properties and functions of the identified herbs. The CytoNCA plugin was used to screen core Chinese herbal medicines, and molecular docking of traditional Chinese medicine components with core genes to preliminarily verify the prediction results. Results Forward MR analysis indicated that GERD was causally associated with a significantly increased risk of COPD onset; quality control results confirmed the robustness of this finding. Reverse MR analysis did not reveal evidence supporting a causal effect of COPD on GERD. A total of 135 proximal genes of the instrumental variables were identified, which were primarily enriched in biological pathways such as the regulation of Nuclear Factor-Kappa B (NF-κB) signal transduction, the Interleukin-17 (IL-17) signaling pathway, the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) signaling pathway, the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase-Protein Kinase B (PI3K-Akt) signaling pathway, and natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity. The top five genes identified through PPI analysis were determined as core genes. Using the CTD and Coremine Medical databases, 163 chemical components and 167 Chinese herbal medicines were predicted. Statistical analysis of the medicinal properties of the herbs showed that among the Four Natures, cold and warm properties predominated, followed by neutral; among the five flavors, bitter, sweet, and pungent were most common; the primary meridian tropism was the lung meridian, followed by the liver, spleen, and stomach meridians; in terms of functions, tonifying deficiency and resolving phlegm, relieving cough and asthma were primary, followed by clearing heat, relieving exterior syndrome, and regulating qi. After calculation with CytoNCA, key herbs were screened out, including Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba), Baiguo (Ginkgo Semen), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Fuling (Poria), and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma). Molecular docking demonstrated favorable binding affinity between the core genes and the key components of these Chinese herbal medicines. Conclusion Based on the theory of "accumulation in the stomach and its connection with the lungs," this study not only confirms from a genetic perspective that GERD is a risk factor for COPD, but also reveals that its potential mechanisms are closely associated with inflammatory and immune signaling pathways such as NF-κB, IL-17, TNF, and PI3K-Akt. The predicted Chinese herbal treatment strategies primarily focus on tonifying deficiency, resolving phlegm, relieving cough, and calming asthma.

Objective To systematically analyze the global patent landscape of berberine and its major derivatives, including berberine hydrochloride, dihydroberberine, and tetrahydroberberine, to identify technological development trends and research hotspots and provide references for innovative drug development, strategic patent layout, and the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. Methods Based on global patent databases, patents related to berberine and its derivatives were retrieved and expanded by patent families. Keyword extraction and clustering analysis were applied to analyze diversified technological themes, application areas, and geographical distributions of different categories of berberine-related patent families. Results A total of 1 155 berberine, 494 berberine hydrochloride, and 65 dihydroberberine or tetrahydroberberine patent families were identified. China was the primary market for research and application. Patents mainly focused on pharmaceutical preparations and covered multiple indications, including metabolic syndrome, liver diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. Conclusion Technological innovation in berberine and its derivatives remains active, with research hotspots concentrated on formulation optimization, expansion of therapeutic indications, and improvement of safety. Some enterprises have actively deployed patents in cocrystals, liposomes, nanoformulations, and compound preparations, indicating a continuous expansion from traditional active components of Chinese medicine toward modern pharmaceutical technologies and international applications.

Objective Drawing on bibliometric and visualization techniques, this study systematically maps the current landscape and emerging hotspots of polysaccharide–gut microbiota research, offering an evidence-based roadmap for future investigations. Methods China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP, Wanfang and Web of Science (WOS) were searched for Chinese- and English-language publications on “gut microbiota AND polysaccharides”. CiteSpace, VOSviewer and Microsoft Excel were employed to visualize and quantify annual output, leading institutes, prolific authors, highly cited journals, keyword clusters and burst terms. Results A total of 1 684 Chinese and 872 English articles were retained. Over the past decade, the field exhibited an “ascend-descend” pattern, entering a rapid-growth phase after 2017. China (Nanchang University and Nanjing Agricultural University as hubs) and the USA dominate the output; China ranks first globally, benefiting from abundant traditional-Chinese-medicine polysaccharide resources and strong policy support. Chinese and English literatures evolved differently: Chinese papers initially focused on single polysaccharides (e.g., Astragali Radix or Lycium barbarum polysaccharides) modulating microbial abundance, then shifted to structure–activity relationships and veterinary/clinical applications, whereas English papers moved from gut-barrier function to ulcerative colitis mechanisms, with in vitro fermentation models advancing studies linking metabolic syndrome to short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Keyword clustering and burst detection identified immunomodulation, structural characterization, metabolic syndrome and SCFAs as core topics, while “high-fat diet” and “precision regulation” emerged after 2022. Conclusion Interactions between polysaccharides and gut microbiota, their structure–activity relationships, and applications in metabolic diseases such as obesity constitute the central research agenda. Complementary Chinese-English collaboration will propel the field toward precision and clinical translation.

Objective To clone the SmABCG34 gene from the Salvia miltiorrhiza genome and analyze its bioinformatics and expression characteristics. Methods The SmABCG34 gene was cloned from the S. miltiorrhiza genome, and the Conservative Domain and physicochemical properties of the gene and its encoded protein were analyzed by Bioinformatics Online Website. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the tissue expression specificity of SmABCG34 gene and its response to stress induced by abscisic acid (ABA), trans-zeatin (tZ), and polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG-6000). Results The CDS of the SmABCG34 gene is 4 347 bp in size and encodes 1 448 amino acids; This protein contains a typical NBD-TMD-NBD-TMD structure and belongs to the full-molecule transporter of the ABCG subfamily; subcellular localization shows that this protein was localizted to the cell membrane. Phylogenetic analysis showed that SmABCG34 was closely related to S. hispanica, with a protein homology of up to 91.23 %. The expression pattern analysis revealed that the SmABCG34 gene was expressed in the roots, stems, leaves and flowers of S. miltiorrhiza with the highest expression in the flowers, followed by the leaves. After treatment with ABA, tZ, and PEG-6000, compared to 0 h, the expression of the SmABCG34 gene was significantly upregulated at 12 h. Conclusion The SmABCG34 gene belongs to the ABCG subfamily and shows a significant response to hormone and stress treatments, providing a scientific basis for further exploration of the function of the SmABCG34 gene.

Objective To systematically define the composition and structural features of the AP2/ERF family in Oplopanax elatus and to characterize its transcriptional responses to methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Methods Using bioinformatics tools such as HMM, TBtools, and MAFFT to conduct genome-wide identification of AP2/ERF family members, phylogenetic inference, and analyses of protein physicochemical properties, gene structures, and promoter cis-acting elements. In vitro–cultured adventitious roots were treated with 75 μmol/L MeJA for 0–12 h, followed by RNA-seq to profile time-resolved expression patterns of AP2/ERF genes. Results We identified 167 AP2/ERF genes, classified into five subfamilies—ERF, DREB, AP2, RAV, and B3—distributed across 12 chromosomes. Members exhibited broad variation in protein properties (amino acid length, 100—699 aa; molecular mass, 11 410—76 697; isoelectric point, 4.45—11.22; instability index, 23.47—78.46; aliphatic index, 45.52—83.15; grand average of hydropathicity [GRAVY], -1.245 to -0.240). Promoter analysis revealed enrichment of cis-elements associated with light responsiveness, hormone signaling, and stress regulation. RNA-seq showed that MeJA treatment markedly upregulated root-expressed genes encoding enzymes in the triterpenoid saponin pathway. Thirty-two OeAP2/ERF members were MeJA-inducible, among which OeAP2/ERF4, OeAP2/ERF48, OeAP2/ERF131, and OeAP2/ERF143 maintained high expression levels in roots. Conclusion This work delineates the composition and structural characteristics of the AP2/ERF family in O. elatus and defines its time-resolved transcriptional responses to MeJA. Four root-preferential, positively MeJA-responsive transcription factors (OeAP2/ERF4, OeAP2/ERF48, OeAP2/ERF131, and OeAP2/ERF143) are prioritized as key candidates, providing a foundation for functional dissection of AP2/ERF-mediated regulation of triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis and for subsequent metabolic engineering.

Objective Light is one of the important ecological factors for the growth, development, and secondary metabolism of leaf-using medicinal plants. To conduct genome-wide identification and expression characterization analysis of the MYB transcription factor family (EpMYB) in Epimedium pubescens, and to deeply explore the biological functions of EpMYB in response to light factors. Methods Based on the published genome of E. pubescens, bioinformatics methods were used to identify members of the EpMYB gene family, and analyze their physicochemical properties, chromosomal distribution, phylogenetic evolution, gene structure, and cis-acting elements. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was applied to analyze the expression characteristics of EpMYB in E. pubescens leaves under different light qualities. Results A total of 87 EpMYB genes (EpMYB1 to EpMYB87) were identified, which were subdivided into 14 subfamilies. The encoded amino acids ranged from 150 to 561 aa, with relative molecular weights of proteins from 17 857.76 to 61 369.56 and isoelectric points between 4.62 and 10.75. Gene structure analysis showed that all EpMYB genes contained similar conserved domains. Cis-element prediction indicated that light-responsive elements, methyl jasmonate, and auxin elements were widely distributed in the promoter regions of the EpMYB gene family. Genome-wide collinearity analysis revealed that whole-genome duplication and segmental duplication played crucial roles in the evolution of the EpMYB gene family, and strong purifying selection occurred after duplication. RT-qPCR analysis of the expression characteristics of 24 potential light-responsive EpMYB genes showed that the number of EpMYB genes significantly upregulated under yellow and blue light was much higher than that under red light. Blue light significantly upregulated the expression of 14 EpMYB genes such as EpMYB25, yellow light significantly upregulated seven EpMYB genes such as EpMYB16, and only EpMYB54 and EpMYB57 were significantly upregulated under red light. Conclusion Genome-wide identification and bioinformatics analysis of the EpMYB gene family in E. pubescens revealed that EpMYB genes respond more actively to blue light regulation, laying a foundation for further clarification of the functions of EpMYB genes in E. pubescens.

Objective This study focused on the root of Polygala tenuifolia by distinguishing the root, root bark (after removal of the heartwood), and heartwood from roots of different diameters, a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint was established. Combined with chemical pattern recognition and multi-index component content determination methods, the quality differences were systematically evaluated to provide a scientific basis for the traditional “Quality Assessment Based on Morphological Characteristics” theory, specifically the principle that “thicker bark indicates better quality”. Methods P. tenuifolia samples were collected from Yulin, Shaanxi, and grouped according to root diameter (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 mm). The root, root bark, and heartwood samples were prepared separately. HPLC was used to establish fingerprints, calibrate common peaks, and identify the main components. The contents of seven indicator components, such as tenuifolin, were determined. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were performed using SIMCA 14.0 software, and cluster heat-map analysis was conducted on the Metware Cloud platform. Results HPLC fingerprints of 18 batches of samples were established, with 23 common peaks calibrated and seven of them identified. Similarity ranged from 0.748 to 0.943. PCA and OPLS-DA clearly distinguished three sample types (root, root bark, heartwood) and screened nine differential components, including 3,6′-disinapoyl sucrose and onjisaponin B. Overall, the content of active components followed the order: root bark > root > heartwood. 3,6′-disinapoyl sucrose showed significant differences between root bark and heartwood, while polygalaxanthone III varied markedly between root and root bark. The total content of indicator components increased with root diameter and bark thickness, but the individual content fluctuated irregularly with diameter, which may be related to the ratio of bark to heartwood. Conclusion The established HPLC fingerprint, combined with chemical pattern recognition and multi-index content determination, is stable and reliable. It can be used to systematically evaluate the quality differences of P. tenuifolia roots, root barks, and heartwoods of different diameters, providing a scientific reference for quality control and rational utilization of P. tenuifolia medicinal materials.

Objective To compare the contents of saponins, flavonoids and polysaccharides in the extracts of stems and leaves of Panax notoginseng from different sources and different processes (DRNJE) and to study their lipid-regulating effects. Methods The solvent gradient extraction method was used to remove protein by degreasing with petroleum ether, extracting flavonoids with ethyl acetate, extracting saponins with water-saturated n-butanol and adjusting the ratio of chloroform to n-butanol to 25∶4∶1. The contents of saponins, flavonoids and polysaccharides in the stem and leaf extracts of P. notoginseng were determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometer, and the contents of monomer saponins Rb₃, Rb₁ and Rc were simultaneously detected by HPLC. HepG2 cells induced by pancreatic lipase and oleic acid were used to study the lipid-regulating effect of DRNJE. Results After decolorization by macroporous resin/ion exchange, the contents of total saponins, monomer saponins and overall functional components of P. notoginseng stem and leaf extracts Y0729, J0801, J1020, Y1114, J1031 and R1001 were high. The inhibitory activity of lipase from high to low is: Y0729 > J1031 > J1020 > R1001 > Y1114 > J0801 > Q0901 > Q1001 > W1107 > W1101. According to the results of oil red O staining, DRNJE has lipid-regulating effect, among which Y0729, J1020, J1031 and R1001 have better effects. Conclusion After decolorization by macroporous resin/ion exchange, the extract of P. notoginseng stems and leaves has high content of saponins, flavonoids and polysaccharides, among which the extract of P. notoginseng stems and leaves with high saponin content has a significant effect on lipid regulation of HepG2 cells induced by lipase and oleic acid.

Chuanbeimu (Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus) is a representative species of rare and endangered medicinal plants in China. Due to overharvesting of wild resources and habitat fragmentation and degradation, its wild populations are nearing depletion and are currently listed as a national second-level protected plant. Artificial propagation has become the core method to alleviate the crisis of wild Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus resources and ensure the supply of medicinal materials for clinical use. However, challenges remain, including its high dependence on specific high-altitude habitats, narrow ecological adaptability, mixed seed sources and genetic degradation, long seedling cycles, frequent pest and disease outbreaks, and high seedling mortality rates. These issues still pose significant challenges to variety selection and large-scale cultivation of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus. This paper systematically reviews the current status of key areas such as genetic resource innovation and high-quality seed breeding, cultivation habitat adaptation optimization, pest and disease green control, and standardized harvesting and processing. It also outlines the recent research progress and technological breakthroughs in these fields. Based on this, the paper proposes a development strategy focused on genetic resource innovation and high-quality seed breeding, and the establishment of a comprehensive technical system for Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus covering resource protection, genetic innovation, variety selection, quality control, and intelligent processing. This strategy aims to provide a theoretical foundation and technical support for the sustainable use of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus resources and promote high-quality industry development.

The solution environment involved in the pharmaceutical process of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is complex, with components coexisting in multiple states—including molecular, ionic, aggregated, and composite forms. This leads to diverse mass transfer patterns during manufacturing and poses challenges in controlling the uniformity and stability of the final preparations. This review summarizes existing analytical techniques for characterizing component states. By establishing the correlation between component states and the solution environment, a confined mass transfer mathematical model is developed to quantitatively describe component states and association coefficients in complex TCM solutions. Combined with strategies for modulating the solution environment and ultrasonic-assisted delamination techniques, this approach provides a methodological framework for resolving supramolecular assemblies in TCM systems. Furthermore, based on the intrinsic relationship among production parameters, component states, and mass transfer behavior, a new concept for regulating TCM preparation processes is proposed, aiming to enhance the orderliness and controllability of TCM production.