Latest ArticlesDayuan Decoction (达原饮), a classic prescription, comes from The Theory ofEpidemic Fever written by WU Youke, a famous doctor in the Ming Dynasty. It is a representative prescription for treating epidemic diseases, which has the effects of opening onto the pleurodiaphragmatic interspace and repelling filth and transforming turbidity. It is widely used in modern clinic to treat viral infectious diseases, acute liver and lung injury, fever, insomnia and pediatric diseases. The chemical composition, pharmacological action and clinical application of Dayuan Decoction in recent years were summarized and the quality marker (Q-Marker) of this formula was predicted and analyzed according to the concept of Q-Marker. The results showed that arecoline, quercetin, magnolol, honokiol, epicatechin, protocatechuic acid, mangiferin, timosaponin AⅢ, paeoniflorin, albiflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin, baicalin, baicalein, liquiritin, glycyrrhizicacid, glycyrrhetinic acid and isoliquiritigenin can be used as the Q-Markers, which could provide a reference for the quality control system and the development of Dayuan Decoction.
Rhubarb is one of the commonly used drugs in clinic, which is a good medicine for purging fire and laxative, cooling blood and detoxification. This paper summarizes the effective components of anthraquinones, anthrones, rhein, emodin and chrysophanol. In clinical application, rhubarb and its drug pairs have different mechanisms in the treatment of various diseases. It has pharmacological effects such as regulating gastrointestinal tract, anti-tumor, anti-fibrosis, anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation, involving Wnt1/β-catenin, AMPK/TXNIP/NLRP3, TLR4/NF-κB/c-myc and other signaling pathways. In clinical application, rhubarb is often combined with Danshen, Taoren, Huanglian, Huangqi, Mahuang, Fuzi and other drugs, which has a certain effect on chronic kidney disease, adenomyosis, diabetes, pneumonia and other diseases. According to the different processing methods, the pharmacological effects of rhubarb change with the content of anthraquinone glycosides and monomer tannins. Modern research shows that the chemical composition of rhubarb before and after compatibility has a significant change. When the ratio of rhubarb to Salvia miltiorrhiza, Gardenia jasminoides, Centella asiatica, and Astragalus is 1∶2, 1∶1, 1∶5, 1∶1, respectively, it can maximize the drug efficacy, reduce toxic and side effects, and improve the effectiveness and safety of medication. This article focuses on the pharmacological effects of rhubarb and its compatibility research in network pharmacology, clinical compatibility application, and chemical composition changes before and after compatibility, in order to provide reference for the further development and utilization of rhubarb and its drug pairs, in order to better play the clinical value of traditional Chinese medicine rhubarb.
This article reviewed the historical evolution of Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) processing in ancient Chinese literature by reviewing previous works on herbal medicine. It summarized the collection of Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) processing methods in various provinces and cities'traditional Chinese medicine processing standards, and modern scientific research achievements such as Magnolia officinalis processing technology, processing effects on chemical composition and pharmacological effects, providing a basis for the standardized development of Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) processed products. According to ancient texts, the processing of Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) was first recorded in ZHANG Ji's Jinkui Yuhan Jing during the Han Dynasty. Later, different processing methods such as ginger processing (ginger roasting, ginger boiling, ginger soaking, ginger steaming, ginger roasting, etc.), wine processing and salt processing appeared. At present, the changes occur in processed Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) include phenols, volatile oils, alkaloids, glycosides and so on in literature records. The pharmacological effects of processed products of Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) include anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, anti ulcer effects, and regulation of the gastrointestinal tract. However, there is a lack of research on the correlation between changes in content and pharmacological effects in the study of processing pharmacology. Subsequent research can further explore the relationship between changes in component content and pharmacological effects in different processing methods of Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), laying the foundation for the standardization and pharmacological application of Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) processed slices in the future.
To evaluate the effects of Siwu Decoction (四物汤) on endometrial thickness, blood flow resistance index (RI) and estrogen receptor (ER) expression in patients with endometrial hyperplasia.
A total of137 cases of endometrial hyperplasia patients treated from March 2022 to March 2024 were selected, and all patients were randomly divided into experimental group and control group. The experimental group was treated with Siwu Decoction, and the control group was treated with conventional treatment for 3 months. Endometrial thickness and blood flow RI were measured by ultrasonography. The expression of ER was detected by immunohistochemistry method. Serum estradiol (E2) levels were measured before and after treatment.
The endometrial thickness of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group after treatment (P<0.05). The blood flow RI of the experimental group was significantly decreased and the blood flow was increased after treatment, which was better than that of the control group (P<0.05) . ER expression and E2 level in the experimental group were significantly decreased after treatment, and were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The menstrual cycle, menstrual volume and dysmenorrhea symptoms of the experimental group were significantly improved, and the differences were statistically significant compared with those of the control group (P<0.05) .
Siwu Decoction can effectively treat endometrial hyperplasia and relieve the clinical symptoms by adjusting endometrial thickness, improving hemodynamics and inhibiting estrogen receptor expression, and has significant clinical efficacy.
To observe the effect of Modified Huoxue Tongqiao Decoction (活血通窍汤加减方) combined with hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the clinical prognosis and peripheral blood levels of microRNA-193b-3p (miR-193b-3p) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 α (HIF-1 α) in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).
Ninety-four patients with aSAH admitted from January 2022 to February 2024 were selected and divided into a hyperbaric oxygen group (47 cases) and a traditional Chinese medicine group (47 cases) using a lottery method. Both groups were treated with endovascular intervention or craniotomy clipping surgery. The hyperbaric oxygen group was treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy after surgery, while the traditional Chinese medicine group was treated with Modified Huoxue Tongqiao Decoction on the basis of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The thromboelastography parameters, relative expression levels of miR-193b-3p and miR-27a, HIF-1 α, oxidative stress markers, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores, Barthel (BI) index and short-term prognosis of two groups were compared.
After treatment, the levels of maximal amplitude (MA) and coagulation index (CI) and alpha angle of the hyperbaric oxygen group and traditional Chinese medicine group were lower than those before treatment, and these indexes of the traditional Chinese medicine group were lower than those of hyperbaric oxygen group (P<0.05) . After treatment, the miR-193b-3p levels were lower in the hyperbaric oxygen group and traditional Chinese medicine group than those before treatment, and the level in the traditional Chinese medicine group was higher than that in the hyperbaric oxygen group (P<0.05). The relative expression of miR-27a was higher in the hyperbaric oxygen group and traditional Chinese medicine group than those before treatment and the expression in the traditional Chinese medicine group was higher than that in the hyperbaric oxygen group (P<0.05) . After treatment, the levels of HIF-1 αand malondialdehyde (MDA) in the hyperbaric oxygen group and traditional Chinese medicine group were lower than those before treatment, and the levels of the traditional Chinese medicine group were lower than those of the hyperbaric oxygen group (P<0.05). The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the hyperbaric oxygen group and traditional Chinese medicine group were higher than those in the hyperbaric oxygen group, and the levels of the traditional Chinese medicine group were higher than those of the hyperbaric oxygen group (P<0.05) . After treatment, NIHSS scores and traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores of the hyperbaric oxygen group and traditional Chinese medicine group were lower than those before treatment, and the scores of the traditional Chinese medicine group were lower than those of the hyperbaric oxygen group (P<0.05) . BI indexes of the hyperbaric oxygen group and traditional Chinese medicine group were higher than those before treatment, and the index of the traditional Chinese medicine group was higher than that of the hyperbaric oxygen group (P<0.05). The short-term prognosis of the traditional Chinese medicine group was better than that of the hyperbaric oxygen group (P<0.05) . Comparison of adverse reactions between the two groups showed no difference (P>0.05) .
The combination of Modified Huoxue Tongqiao Decoction and hyperbaric oxygen therapy can alleviate the oxidative stress damage and improve the neurological function and short-term prognosis in patients with aSAH.
To explore the effect of Modified Ruangan Decoction (加味软肝饮) on the efficacy and survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis.
A hundred and ten patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis were divided into two groups by random number table method. The control group (55 cases) was treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), and the observation group (55 cases) was treated with Modified Ruangan Decoction on this basis. Two groups were treated continuously for 3 months. The clinical effects of the two groups were recorded and compared. Liver function test kit was used to detect the liver function indexes［alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil) ］of the patients before and after treatment. The tumor markers of alpha-fetoprotein anisoplast 3 (AFP-L3), enolase-1 (ENO1) and abnormal prothrombin (PIVKA-Ⅱ) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The adverse events were recorded and compared, including gastrointestinal reactions, renal dysfunction, peripheral nerve injury and myelosuppression. After treatment, the patients were followed up for 1 to 3 years, and the survival rate of the two groups was recorded and compared.
The disease control rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05) . In terms of the specific concentration levels of ALT, AST and TBil, there was no difference between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05) . After treatment, the specific concentration levels of ALT, AST and TBil of the two groups decreased (P<0.05), and compared with those in the control group, these indicators were significantly lower in the observation group (P<0.05) . In terms of the specific concentration levels of AFP-L3, ENO1 and PIVKA-Ⅱ, there was no difference between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05) . After treatment, the specific concentration levels of AFP-L3, ENO1 and PIVKA-Ⅱ in the two groups decreased (P<0.05), and compared with those in the control group, these indexes were significantly lower in the observation group (P<0.05) . After treatment, the incidence of adverse reactions in observation group was lower than that in control group (P<0.05) . There was no difference in the survival rate between the two groups during 1-year follow-up (P>0.05), and the survival rate in the 2-year and 3-year follow-up groups was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05) .
Modified Ruangan Decoction has good efficacy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis. It can improve liver function and reduce tumor marker levels, prolong the survival period, and is highly safe.
To explore the influence of Modified Bazhen Decoction (八珍汤加减) on skeletal muscle index and lower limb function in patients with stroke complicated with sarcopenia.
A total of196 stroke patients with sarcopenia in the hospital were selected from March 2021 to March 2024, and were randomly divided into study group and control group by using the random number table method, with 98 cases in each group. The control group was treated with daily rehabilitation therapy, while the study group was combined with oral administration of Modified Bazhen Decoction on the basis of the control group. The changes of TCMsyndromes scores, skeletal muscle index and grip strength were compared between groups before and after treatment. Timed Up and Go test (TUG) was used to evaluate the walking ability of the two groups before and after treatment. Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA) was adopted to evaluate the lower limb balance ability of the two groups before and after treatment, and the lower limb exercise tolerance in the two groups was recorded before and after treatment.
After treatment, the scores of hemiplegia, limb weakness, hemianesthesia, hand and foot swelling, shortness of breath, and palpitation and spontaneous sweating in the two groups were decreased (P<0.05), the TUG was shortened (P<0.05), and the skeletal muscle index, grip strength, POMA and maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max), maximum power and the exhaustion time of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) were increased (P<0.05). The scores of hemiplegia, limb weakness, hemianesthesia, hand and foot swelling, shortness of breath, and palpitation and spontaneous sweating in the study group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05), the TUG was shorter (P<0.05), and the skeletal muscle index, grip strength, POMA and VO2 max, maximum power and the exhaustion time of CPET were higher (P<0.05) .
Modified Bazhen Decoction has the exact efficacy in the treatment of stroke with sarcopenia. It can effectively improve the muscle strength level and lower limb walking function and balance function, and enhance the exercise tolerance of patients.
To investigate the effects of Mahuang Xixin Fuzi Decoction (麻黄细辛附子汤) on cardiac function, exercise tolerance and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with heart failure with Yang deficiency and water diffusion type.
Eighty-two patients with heart failure of Yang deficiency and water diffusion type were selected and divided into the control group and treatment group according to the randomized numerical table method with the ratio of 1∶1. The control group was treated with conventional western medicines as well as herbal placebo on the basis of the general treatment, and the treatment group was treated with Mahuang Xixin Fuzi Decoction on the basis of the general treatment and conventional western medicines. The two groups were treated for 4 weeks. The changes of clinical efficacy, TCM syndrome points, adverse reactions, cardiac function indicators［left atrial diameter (LAD), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESD), left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF) ］, exercise endurance profile (6MWT), biomarkers［interleukin-6 (IL-6), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), NT-proBNP］, and Minnesota Heart Failure Life Quality Questionnaire (MLHFQ) before and after the treatment of the two groups were observed.
The differences between the two groups in the pre-treatment observation indicators were not statistically significant (P>0.05) . After receiving treatment, the clinical efficacy of the treatment group was significantly improved compared with that of the control group (P<0.05) . After treatment, the TCMsyndrome scores of the two groups, such as palpitations, chest tightness, fatigue, chills and edema, were improved, and the improvement in the treatment group was more obvious (P<0.05), but the difference in chest tightness symptoms in the control group was not obvious compared with that before treatment, and was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The treatment group showed significant improvement in cardiac function (LAD, LVEDD, LVESD, LVEF) and greater walking distance (6MWT) than the control group (P<0.05) . After the treatment, the levels of inflammatory factors (IL-6, hs-CRP) and NT-proBNP were reduced in the treatment group compared to those in the control group (P<0.05). The MLHFQ scores also improved in the treatment group compared to those in the control group (P<0.05) .
Mahuang Xixin Fuzi Decoction can significantly improve the cardiac function, exercise tolerance and NT-proBNP content of the patients with heart failure of Yang deficiency and water diffusion type, which can effectively improve the quality of life.
Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma) has a long history of research and application as a traditional Chinese medicinal material. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that it has the effect of calming liver Yang, dispelling wind and dredging collateral, relieving wind and arresting convulsion, and is a Chinese herbal medicine often used in the treatment of ischemic stroke in clinical practice. The etiology and pathogenesis of ischemic stroke are complex, the clinical symptoms are recurrent, and the condition is lingering and difficult to heal, which seriously endangers the life, health and quality of life of the patients. Modern pharmacological studies have found that Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma) and its active ingredients not only have anti-platelet aggregation, inhibit blood coagulation, reduce blood pressure, regulate blood lipids, protect nerve cells, vegetative tissue nerves and resist depression, but also can play the role of antioxidant stress, regulate immune inflammation and protect neurons through multiple pathways, so as to prevent and treat ischemic stroke. This article reviewed the mechanism and research of Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma) and its active components in ischemic stroke, in order to provide reference for the clinical application and basic research of Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma) in ischemic stroke.
Qianghuo (Notopterygium incisum) has been used in medicine for thousands of years, and its chemical composition is complex with a wide range of pharmacological effects. In recent years, due to the favorable development prospect of Qianghuo (Notopterygium incisum), a great deal of research has been carried out at home and abroad on the chemical composition and physiological activity of this plant. In this paper, the literature on Qianghuo (Notopterygium incisum) at home and abroad was studied and organized, and the main chemical components of Qianghuo (Notopterygium incisum), such as volatile oils, coumarins, carbohydrates and glucosides, polyyneses, phenolic acids, alkaloids, and other chemical components, such as amino acids, flavonoids, steroids, etc., were reviewed, and the Chinese and English names of each main compound were listed. Based on the modern pharmacological activity of Qianghuo (Notopterygium incisum) and the latest research progress of the theoretical basis of Chinese medicine, the authors have compiled a wide range of biological activities of Qianghuo (Notopterygium incisum) in antithrombotic, antiepileptic, antidepressant, improvement of learning and memory disorders, antioxidant, treatment of diabetes mellitus, as well as anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, antiseptic, antimicrobial, and antiviral activities and their related mechanisms of action, as well as some applications about Qianghuo (Notopterygium incisum) in the clinical field. It provides reference for the deeper research and rational development and utilization of Qianghuo (Notopterygium incisum) as well as the theoretical basis for its pharmacological material basis and development and utilization.
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