Journal of Holistic Integrative Pharmacy最新文献

ISSR technology can provide detailed data on the genetic information of species. In this study, ISSR was used to find dominant bands at the DNA level to stably identify Cinnamomum cassia Presl and Cinnamomum cassia Presl var. macrophyllum Chu, and Cinnamomum cassia Presl from different production areas. The results showed that primer UBC834 had dominant bands for Cinnamomum cassia Presl and Cinnamomum cassia Presl var. macrophyllum Chu samples, and primer UBC876 had dominant bands for Cinnamomum cassia Presl samples from different production areas. By analyzing the data of ISSR, it was found that the clustering results and the results of principal component analysis were consistent with the results of electropherograms and were divided into five categories. At the same time, the polymorphism analysis showed that Cinnamomum cassia Presl germplasm resources were rich in genetic diversity. In addition, the results of genetic clustering analysis showed that when the GS was higher than 0.88, it was possible to distinguish Cinnamomum cassia Presl and Cinnamomum cassia Presl var. macrophyllum Chu. As the genetic similarity coefficient increased, Cinnamomum cassia Presl from different production areas could be distinguished. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for the development and utilization of the germplasm resources of Cinnamomum cassia Presl and Cinnamomum cassia Presl var. macrophyllum Chu, which can meet the economic and ecological needs. It also provides a new perspective for the conservation of biodiversity and biological evolution.

Objectives

This study constructed an evaluation index system of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) service capacity of county-level TCM hospitals, investigated the status quo of TCM service capacity of county-level TCM hospitals in Zhejiang Province, aiming to provide suggestions and references for the high-quality development of TCM hospitals in China.

Methods

Delphi expert consultation method and analytic hierarchy process were used to construct the comprehensive evaluation index system and its weight. Field investigation method was used to conduct a cross-sectional survey of 71 county-level TCM hospitals in Zhejiang Province, to calculate the scores of each index, and to compare the service capacity of county-level TCM hospitals.

Results

The evaluation index system includes 6 first-level indicators, 15 ​second-level indicators and 42 third-level indicators. The average score of service capacity of 71 county-level TCM hospitals was 60.73 points, among which the highest score was 80.72 points, and the lowest score was only 33.52 points. There are great differences in TCM service capacity among hospitals.

Conclusions

We have come to the conclusions that the index system can evaluate the service capacity of TCM hospitals effectively. In addition, there are still problems in the development of county-level TCM hospitals in Zhejiang Province, such as insufficient service capacity, great gap of development between regions, and inadequate development of characteristic advantages of TCM. Thus, it is necessary to consolidate the development foundation, pay more attention to the balance of regional development, and improve the service capacity of county-level TCM hospitals.

Aging is a complex physiological process, accompanied by metabolic and immune disorders leading to aging. The aging process yields dramatic alterations in the gut microbiota. However, there is limited evidence for a mechanistic role of the gut microbiota in aging processes. We conducted fecal microbiota transplantation from either young (4 months) or aged (22 months) donor mice into aged recipient mice (22 months) or young (4 months). Aged mice receiving young donor gut microbiota reversed aging-associated inflammation in serum and issues, and the behavioral characteristics with spontaneous activities, standing times, the number of falls, and the latency time in aged mice were alleviated. Conversely, young mice receiving aged donor gut microbiota promoted the development of inflammation, and the behavioral characteristics of aging were intensified. The relative abundance of Odoribacter, Flexispira, Veillonella, and Prevotellaceae_Prevotella were significantly enriched in aged mice, while changes were reversed in aged mice receiving young donor gut microbiota. The metabolites including indole acrylic acid, LPC (18:1/0:0), LPC (15:0/0:0), LPC (0:0/15:0) were up-regulated, and xanthine, inosine, allopurinol, N6-methyladenosine metabolites were down-regulated. After aged mice receiving young donor gut microbiota, these metabolite changes were reversed too. Analysis of the correlation between the microbiota, metabolites, and inflammatory cytokines showed indoleacrylic acid, LPC (18:1/0:0), LPC (15:0/0:0), and LPC (0:0/15:0) were negatively associated with Adlercreutzia, while positively correlated with Veillonella, Prevotellaceae_Prevotella, Streptococcus, and Odoribacter. 1-methylinosine, L-methyladenosine, allopurinol, and N6-methyladenosine were positively correlated with Desulfovibrio, and negatively correlated with Veillonella and Prevotellaceae_Prevotella. Indoleacrylic acid was negatively correlated with TGF-β. LPC (18:1/0:0), LPC (15:0/0:0), and LPC (0:0/15:0) were positively correlated with IL-10. 1-methylinosine, L-methyladenosine, N6-methyladenosine and inosine were negatively correlated with IL-6 and LPS. Our findings suggest that modulating the gut microbiome may be an appropriate treatment to promote healthy aging.

Purpose

Cancer is the second leading cause of human mortality and has rapidly become a major global issue. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, the primary pathogenesis of cancer is the deficiency of "vital Qi". Licorice (Gancao in Chinese, GC) one of the oldest and the most frequently used herbs for tonifying Qi, is commonly integrated with other Chinese medicines to treat cancer in TCM clinical practice. GC extract, or its chemical components, are often utilized in cancer treatment. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying GC's therapeutic effects on cancer remain unclear. Our current study aimed to elucidate these mechanisms from the perspective of network pharmacology and experimental validation.

Methods

We employed network pharmacology and bioinformatics to explore the anti-cancer mechanism, crucial targets, and kernel ingredients of GC. The significant targets and key ingredients (quercetin, glycyrrhetinic acid, and glucyrin) were substantiated using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) viability assay, respectively.

Results

Our findings identified eight critical targets and key ingredients (quercetin, glycyrrhetinic acid, glucyrin) and suggested that GC's anti-cancer effects are primarily associated with modulation of the immune system, signal transduction, cell cycle, and gene expression. The efficacy of quercetin, glycyrrhetinic acid, glucyrin against Human A549 lung cancer cells was confirmed.

Conclusion

This study comprehensively elucidates the mechanisms through which GC addresses cancer, leveraging network pharmacology and experimental validation. These insights contribute to identifying principal compounds and developing innovative drugs for cancer therapy.

Objective

Systematically evaluate the efficacy of (1) isosorbide mononitrate sustained-release capsules combined with conventional therapy and (2) conventional therapy alone in the treatment of angina pectoris and analyze their economic value to provide evidence and a reference for clinical medication and decision-making.

Methods

Randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of isosorbide mononitrate sustained-release capsules combined with conventional therapy and conventional therapy in the treatment of angina pectoris were searched and abstracted from major Chinese and English literature databases from August 26, 2003 to August 26, 2023, to calculate the rate of improvement in clinical symptoms using isosorbide mononitrate sustained-release capsules combined with conventional therapy (observation group) and using conventional therapy alone (control group). Review Manager 5.4 software was used for meta-analysis, and an economic evaluation was performed using cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA).

Results

The effectiveness rates for clinical symptom improvement were 95% in the observation group and 78% in the control group. According to the meta-analysis results, the efficiency of clinical symptom improvement in the observation group, which received the combination therapy with isosorbide mononitrate sustained-release capsules, was significantly better than that of the control group (OR ​= ​3.38, 95% CI: 2.28 to 4.99, P ​< ​0.001). The CEA indicated an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of 434.12 yuan, and the sensitivity analysis results demonstrated that the evaluation outcomes were stable, suggesting a robust foundation for the study's conclusions.

Conclusions

Compared with conventional therapy alone, isosorbide mononitrate sustained-release capsules combined with traditional treatment have good efficacy and safety in the treatment of angina pectoris and have certain economic advantages.

Objective

Previous studies have shown that Danhong injection (DHI) has a protective effect on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) function after ischemic stroke. However, the role of DHI in protecting the integrity of the BBB after ischemic stroke through endothelial cells is still unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the role and mechanism of DHI in protecting BBB by interfering with endothelial cells.

Methods

We used network pharmacology technology to determine the potential pathways and mechanisms of DHI in treating ischemic stroke through endothelial cells. On account of the network pharmacology results, we assessed the effects of DHI in oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model of mouse brain-derived endothelial (bEnd.3) cells via MTT, and validated the molecular mechanisms of DHI improving BBB injury through Western blot.

Results

Network pharmacology analysis suggested that DHI may regulate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway of endothelial cells in the treatment of ischemic stroke. Cellular experiments showed that DHI stimulates endothelial cell migration and reduces OGD-induced BBB damage via VEGFR2/PI3K/AKT pathway.

Conclusion

Network pharmacology analysis and cellular experiments have shown that DHI alleviated the BBB damage by activating the VEGFR2/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway on endothelial cells.

To provide a scientific basis for identification of Spermacoce species, including Spermacoce remota Lamarck, Spermacoce exilis (L. O. Williams) C. D. Adams, and Spermacoce alata Aubl., the current study was carried out for pharmacognostical parameters. Roots, stems, and leaves of plants were collected for pharmacognostical studies involving source identification, microscopic evaluation, character observation, phytochemical screening, ultraviolet spectrum and molecular pharmacognosy analysis. S. remota, S. alata, and S. exilis belong to the same genus, and the morphology of the plants was similar. Powder microscopy showed the presence of fibers, needle crystal bundles, spiral vessels, and near spherical pollen grains in all the plants. Phytochemical investigation demonstrated that S. remota, S. alata, and S. exilis all contained glycosides, proteins and volatile oils. In addition, the extracts of S. alata and S. exilis revealed the presence of flavonoids and tannins. In this study, the ITS sequence of S. exilis was found for the first time which had been submitted to NCBI to obtain the GenBank registration number. The results of neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree showed that S. exilis, S. remota and S. alata could be distinguished accurately. The study will be beneficial to the identification, resource conservation and quality control of Spermacoce species.

The proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a key pathogenic characteristic of vascular remodeling diseases. The signal transducers and activators of transcription-3 (STAT3) signaling pathway is crucial for VSMCs growth, and its role in cytokine-induced VSMCs proliferation, calcification, and phenotypic switching is essential for developing new treatment targets. VSMCs can transform from contractile to synthetic phenotypes in response to stimuli, such as mechanical forces, growth factors, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and vascular injury. Understanding the mechanism of VSMCs proliferation triggered by the STAT3 pathway is important for identifying potential therapeutic targets for vascular remodeling diseases.

Objectives

This study analyzed the synergistic development of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) service trade within the Greater Bay Area (GBA) in China, aiming to provide suggestions and references for the development of TCM service trade around the world.

Methods

Taking the typical and representative Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Greater Bay Area as the research object, this paper focused on four modes of “cross-border supply, offshore consumption, commercial presence, and movement of natural persons”, and explored the current situation of TCM service trade from four macroscopic aspects: political, economic, social, and technological, through case studies. The challenges in the development of TCM service trade were analyzed.

Results

Our study found that the degree of synergistic openness of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao needs to be improved. The integration of trade in TCM services is the integration of TCM services with tourism. However, there is a relative lack of human resources in TCM in Hong Kong and Macao, with weak competitiveness of service bases. The resources of TCM services are still under-utilized, and the GBA market of TCM services lacks momentum.

Conclusions

We have come to the conclusion that the GBA need to promptly improve the unified standard system of TCM service trade. Actively building cultivating a “Bay Area GBA brand” for TCM service trade, steadily building a social climate in support of TCM service trade and vigorously promote the development of TCM service trade through digital technology, thus promoting the synergistic development of TCM service trade within the GBA.