Latest ArticlesThis paper systematically compared the differences between Neijing and Nanjing in the argument of disease and syndrome through discussing the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis system, syndrome differentiation and treatment and practical application in Ming and Qing dynasties. Neijing is based on the theory of five Yun and six Qi, Yin and Yang theory, positive and evil theory, while Nanjing puts forward the theory of“five evils”and the theory of five elements. The doctors of Ming and Qing Dynasties perfected the eight-principle syndrome differentiation theory, and further perfected the theories of Zang-Fu organs syndrome identification and meridians syndrome differentiation according to Neijing. The system of pulse diagnosis and needle method based on Nanjing was improved. In terms of sydnrome differentiation treatment, the theory of Neijing was further matured by the doctors. In the meantime, the aspects of meridians, collaterals and acupoints in Nanjing had been greatly developed. This study presents the differences of the disease and syndrome differentiation between Neijing and Nanjing, which helps to broaden the horizon of traditional Chinese medicine theory and clinical research, and provide references for the practice and development of traditional Chinese medicine.
To investigate the dynamic change of chroma and viscosity during the nine times steamed and processed Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix) and the correlation with its intrinsic quality, and to explore the optimal processing end point by establishing a comprehensive quality index (QI), so as to provide reference for the quality control and processing end point judgment of Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix).
The chroma and viscosity of Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix) samples were quantified objectively by thin layer imager, MATLAB and viscometer. The polysaccharide content was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry, and the contents of Rehmannium D, veronin, iso-veronin, motheronin and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) . SPSS 26.0 and SIMCA software were used to conduct multivariate statistical analysis of the results, and the correlation and change rule of chroma, viscosity and their internal chemical composition were analyzed. Then, the QI of nine times steamed and processed Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix) was established by triangle area method to predict the optimal processing end point.
During the process of steaming process of nine times steamed and processed Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), the color of the prepared product turned black and the viscosity increased. There were correlations between chroma and viscosity and different processing degrees, indicating that chroma and viscosity could be used as the evaluation indexes for processing end points. There was a correlation between the color of decoction pieces and the color of powder, and the first or second steaming may be the main stage of the color change of Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix). The correlation between chroma, viscosity and intrinsic chemical composition can be established, and a better regression model can be established, and the change of chemical composition content in the processing process can be objectively predicted by measuring chroma value I and viscosity to a certain extent. The principal component analysis of intrinsic chemical composition showed that the first to fourth steaming may be the main stage of the change of chemical composition content of Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix) . The quality index QI value was the highest when the seven-steaming system was used, which suggested that the seven-steaming system might be the best processing end point of Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix) .
The color and appearance of Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix) can be quantified objectively based on chroma and viscosity, and the correlation between them and component content is analyzed and a regression model is established, which can objectively predict the changes of internal chemical component content in the processing of Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix) to a certain extent. The establishment of comprehensive quality index QI can predict the optimal processing endpoint. It provided reference for the quality control and processing end point determination of Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix) processing process.
Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) is a particularly important medicinal material in the treasure trove of traditional Chinese medicine, with properties such as clearing heat and drying dampness, purging fire and removing toxin, stopping bleeding and tranquilizing the fetus. The main components in Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) are flavonoids, volatile oils, organic acids and other compounds, with antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor, liver protection, immunomodulation, neuroprotection and other pharmacological effects. This paper summarized the research progress on the chemical composition and pharmacological effects of Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), and its quality markers (Q-markers) were predicted and analyzed based on the research of plant genetics and chemical composition specificity, correlation between traditional medicinal properties and efficacy, measurability of chemical composition, correlation between processing and chemical composition, pharmacokinetics and so on. The studies have shown that the main Q-markers of Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) may include baicalin, baicalein, wogonoside, wogonin and other flavonoids, and these components are considered as the important indicators to evaluate the quality of Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) due to their stable existence in Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), clear pharmacological effects and reliable detection methods, which provide reference for the establishment of Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) quality control system and clinical medication.
As a traditional Chinese medicine, Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) has a long medicinal history and has pharmacological effects such as relieving heat and sweating, anti-inflammation and relieving asthma, promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, anti-coagulation, lowering blood glucose and lipids, anti-allergy, promoting urination, regulating blood pressure, etc. Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) is often used in clinic with Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Gancao (GLycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) and other drugs in the form of drug pairs. In this paper, the pharmacological effects of Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) and the clinical application of its common drug pairs were reviewed, and the mechanism was discussed, and the rules of use and compatibility theory of Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) drug pairs were studied and summarized, so as to provide references for better development and utilization of Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) drug pairs.
IgA nephropathy (IgAN), the most common primary glomerular disease, is characterized by hematuria, proteinuria and renal dysfunction, with a subset progressing to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) . This study evaluated the effects of Modified Xiaoji Yinzi (小蓟饮子) on hematuria remission, proteinuria reduction, eGFR decline rate and long-term endpoints in IgAN patients, while assessing predictive accuracy through Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Cox regression and Random Survival Forest (RSF) models.
A single-center retrospective cohort study enrolled 200 IgAN patients. The treatment group (100 cases) received Modified Xiaoji Yinzi combined with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) /angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) therapy, while the control group (100 cases) received ACEI/ARB alone. All patients received at least 6 months of treatment, with the latest follow-up endpoint being October 31, 2023. Primary outcomes included hematuria remission rate, 24-hour urine protein, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline rate, serum creatinine, urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) . Renal endpoints［eGFR decline≥50%, progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 4～5, dialysis/transplantation］were analyzed via Kaplan-Meier, Cox regression and RSF.
The treatment group exhibited superior hematuria remission rates (80% vs. 55%, P<0.001) and lower 24-hour proteinuria (1.2 vs 1.8 g/24 h, P<0.001) . Slower eGFR decline was observed［-1.2 vs-2.5 mL/ (min·year), P<0.001］. The treatment group demonstrated higher 5-year survival rate (80%vs 58%, P<0.01), with reduced risks of eGFR decline≥50% (18%vs 38%), CKD 4～5 progression (12%vs 32%) and dialysis/transplantation (6%vs 21%) (P<0.01 for all) . Cox regression confirmed Modified Xiaoji Yinzi reduced endpoint risk (HR=0.65, P=0.002) . RSF-enhanced models identified baseline eGFR<60 mL/min, proteinuria>1 g/day, persistent hematuria and elevated IL-6 as the key prognostic predictors.
Modified Xiaoji Yinzi significantly improved hematuria and proteinuria, attenuated eGFR decline and reduced long-term renal endpoint risks in IgAN patients, suggesting durable nephroprotective effects. Integration of RSF with Cox regression further enhanced predictive accuracy for renal endpoints. This study provided novel evidence for integrative IgAN management, warranting validation through multicenter RCTs.
Baihuasheshecao (Herba Hedyotidis Diffusae) belongs to the genus Baihuasheshecao (Hedyotis diffusa) of the family Rubiaceae. It was first recorded in Luchuan Bencao. This herb has the effects of clearing away heat and detoxifying, reducing swelling and relieving pain. Baihuasheshecao (Herba Hedyotidis Diffusae) is clinically used for treating bruises, venomous snake bites and so on. Modern studies indicate that Baihuasheshecao (Herba Hedyotidis Diffusae) also exhibits anti-tumor pharmacological effects. Clinically, it is often employed to treat liver cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, intestinal cancer and gastric cancer, particularly for digestive system tumors. The terpenoids, flavonoids and anthraquinones in Baihuasheshecao (Herba Hedyotidis Diffusae) could inhibit the malignant proliferation, invasion and metastasis of tumor cells, induce the apoptosis of tumor cells, block the signal pathway conduction and inhibit the angiogenesis. Moreover, Baihuasheshecao (Herba Hedyotidis Diffusae) can play an anti-tumor role by enhancing the body's immunity. In this manuscript, the active ingredients, pharmacological mechanisms and clinical applications of drug combinations of Baihuasheshecao (Herba Hedyotidis Diffusae) in the treatment of digestive system tumors were briefly reviewed, laying a foundation for the research and development of new drugs of Baihuasheshecao (Herba Hedyotidis Diffusae) for treating digestive system tumors.
Macrophages acquire specific functional phenotypes secrete different cytokines and participate in the process of coronary microvascular dysfunction through polarization processes. The theory of healthy Qi and pathogenic factors in traditional Chinese medicine is an important guiding theory for clinical practice, closely related to the occurrence and development of coronary microvascular dysfunction. This article mainly discussed the role of macrophage polarization in coronary microvascular dysfunction, the relationship between the theory of healthy Qi and pathogenic factors and coronary microvascular dysfunction, the correlation between the theory of healthy Qi and pathogenic factors and macrophage polarization, and traditional Chinese medicine intervention. From the perspective of the theory of healthy Qi and pathogenic factors, it explored the role of macrophage polarization in coronary microvascular dysfunction, in order to explain the pathogenesis of coronary microvascular dysfunction and provide theoretical references for the clinical treatment of coronary microvascular dysfunction.
To obtain the differential genes of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) -idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and related pathways by bioinformatics methods, and to match and predict the potential Chinese medicines for treating pSS-IPF.
The gene chip data of training data set and validation data set were downloaded from GEO database, and the interaction networks of differential genes and proteins in pSS-IPF samples were determined. The key genes were identified by CytoHubba plug-in, and the disease-related functional modules were clustered and analyzed by MCODE plug-in. The transcription factors of common differentially expressed genes were predicted by TRRUST database. The GO function and KEGG pathway of key genes were analyzed to clarify the biological process of key genes. At the same time, the results of the previous analysis were verified by the differential gene expression in the verification set. Finally, the Coremine Medical database was used to predict the traditional Chinese medicine with significant regulatory effect on key genes.
A total of 136 differentially expressed genes of pSS-IPF were obtained from GEO database, and 127 nodes and 474 edge groups were obtained by importing them into STRING database. The MCODE plug-in performs cluster analysis on the PPI network and mines five disease-related functional modules. The CytoHubba plug-in searched 25 Hub genes in the relational network data and uploaded them to the GeneMANIA database, and obtained 10 genes which were most closely related to Hub genes, such as MX1, IFI44L, ISG15 and RSAD2. Then, the Hub genes were annotated by GO and analyzed by KEGG pathway. The results of enrichment analysis showed that the protein processing of endoplasmic reticulum, signal pathway related to virus infection, lipid and atherosclerosis, amino acid biosynthesis and cytoplasmic DNA sensing pathway were very important for the pathogenesis of pSS-IPF. TRRUST analysis showed that IRF1, SP1 and E2F1 were the three main transcription factors, and CASP7, TNFSF10, HSPA5 and PHGDH were also regulated by transcription factors. COREMINE was used to predict the key genes and pathways. The results showed that Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Tusizi (Cuscutae Semen), Leigongteng (Radix et Rhizoma Tripterygii), Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix), Gouqi (Lycii Fructus), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Dongchongxiacao (Ophiocordyceps) and Renshenye (Ginseng Folium) were the core Chinese medicines for pSS-IPF.
In this study, the core genes and gene-enriched pathways of pSS-IPF were identified, the biological processes involved in pSS-IPF were discussed, and the Hub gene was verified by the verification data set, which provided the support for the selection of new targets for pSS-IPF treatment, predicted the therapeutic Chinese medicine for Hub gene, and provided a basis for the treatment and research of pSS-IPF.
Cancer is still a major public health problem in the world, and it has become a serious threat to human health due to its refractory and high fatality rate. Traditional Chinese Medicine and its active ingredients have accumulated a lot of theoretical basis and practical experience in the treatment of malignant tumors. Bufalin is a cardiac glycoside compound isolated from the skin of Zhonghua Dachanchu (Bufo gargarizans) or Heikuang Chanchu (Bufo melanostictus) . Modern studies have proved that bufalin has broad-spectrum anti-cancer pharmacological activity against liver cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer and other tumors. Its anti-cancer mechanism mainly includes inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis, angiogenesis, cancer stem cancer, induction of apoptosis and autophagy, reversal of drug resistance, enhancement of chemotherapy sensitivity and immune function. The application and development of omics technology provide a new vision and strategy for studying the anti-tumor mechanism of bufalin. Therefore, this review included the latest research literature, updated the anti-cancer mechanism of bufalin, focused on the mechanism of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics technology in the regulation of bufalin in the development of malignant tumors for the first time, and summarized the anti-cancer molecular mechanism of bufalin and the experimental results of traditional Chinese medicine based on related mechanisms and omics technology. The aim was to provide reference for further mechanism research and application of multiomics.
To observe the effect of Anchang Decoction (安肠汤, ACD) on mitophagy in intestinal epithelial cells of the rats with ulcerative colitis (UC) through PTEN inducing putative kinase 1 (PINK1) /Parkinson's disease protein (Parkin) /antiproliferative protein 2 (PHB2) /phosphoglycinate mutase 5 (PGAM5) signaling axis.
Forty-eight Wistar rats were randomly divided into Control group, Model group, Mesalazine group (0.42 g·kg-1) and ACD low, medium and high groups (ACD-L, ACD-M, ACD-H; 11.55, 23.1, 46.2 g·kg-1), 8 rats in each group. Except for the Control group, the UC model was established by 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) . After the model was successfully established, the blank group and the model group were given the normal saline by gavage, and the other groups were given the corresponding drugs by gavage for 14 days. After the intervention, the general condition of the rats in each group was observed and the body weight was recorded, the disease activity index (DAI) score was calculated, the pathological changes of intestinal tract were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mitochondrial ultrastructure of colonic epithelial cells (IECs) was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The expressions of mitochondrial microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and selective autophagy receptor (p62) were detected by immunofluorescence. The protein expression levels of PHB2, PGAM5, PINK1, Parkin, LC3 and p62 in colon tissues were detected by Western Blot. The mRNA expression levels of PHB2, PGAM5, PINK1 and Parkin in colon tissues were detected by Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
Compared with those of the Control group, the general condition of the Model group was worse, the body weight was significantly decreased, the DAI score was significantly increased (P<0.01), the pathological changes of colon tissue were obvious, the serum levels of IL-6 and IL-18 were increased (P<0.01), the mitochondrial structure of IECs was obviously missing, the number of Iecs was decreased, and the mitochondrial cristae was broken. The mitochondrial morphology was swollen and vacuolated, the protein and mRNA expression levels of LC3, PHB2, PGAM5, PINK1 and Parkin were decreased, and the protein expression level of p62 was increased in the treatment group (P<0.05, P<0.01) . Compared with those in the Model group, the rats in the Mesalazine group and each dose group of ACD were significantly improved, the body weight increased, the DAI score increased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01), the colonic mucosal structure recovered to varying degrees, and the serum levels of IL-6 and IL-18 decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01) . The mitochondrial membrane of IECs was more complete, the number was increased, the swelling degree was decreased, and the structure of mitochondrial cristae was improved. ACD-Mand ACD-H showed more obvious autophagosomes or autolysosomes. The expression levels of LC3 protein, PHB2, PGAM5, PINK1 and Parkin protein and mRNA were increased in varying degrees. The p62 protein levels were decreased in different degrees (P<0.05, P<0.01) .
ACD reduces inflammatory response and promotes intestinal mucosal recovery to improve UC symptoms possibly by regulating the PHB2/PGAM5/PINK1/Parkin axis to promote mitophagy in IECs.
No. 86 Xueyuan South Road, Haidian District, Beijing
010-62662699(Operation and Technical Support)
qkjq@cast.org.cn
Copyright © 2025 China Association for Science and Technology. All rights reserved. For all open access content, the relevant licensing terms apply.
Sponsored by the Office of the Leading Group for Cybersecurity and Informatization of CAST, and supported by Science and Technology Review Publishing House
