Chinese Herbal Medicines最新文献

{"title":"Microbiota basis of antidepressant effects of Zhi-zi-chi Decoction: Lactobacillus rhamnosus and gut microbiota metabolism","authors":"Jing He ,&nbsp;Zixin Zhao ,&nbsp;Ying Ye ,&nbsp;Yujia Zhai ,&nbsp;Dexun Yu ,&nbsp;Fangyuan Gao ,&nbsp;Jianlin Wu ,&nbsp;Jun Wen ,&nbsp;Tingting Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.05.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.05.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Zhi-zi-chi Decoction (ZZCD) is a classical antidepressant traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula. However, the microbiological basis of its antidepressant effects remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the microbial basis of ZZCD.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The bacteria that exhibit enhanced growth in ZZCD extracts were identified through <em>in vitro</em> culture. A depressed rat model was subsequently established to assess the antidepressant effects of the bacteria. A GC–MS-based metabolomics approach and molecular docking simulation were employed to investigate the potential mechanism of the antidepressant effects of the bacteria from the perspective of changes in the metabolic profile of the gut microbiota. Finally, the antioxidant effects of gut microbial metabolites following <em>Lactobacillus rhamnosus</em> treatment were validated through cellular experimentation.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>ZZCD was able to promote the growth of <em>L. rhamnosus</em>. Furthermore, <em>L. rhamnosus</em> was demonstrated to increase the percentage of sucrose preference, reduce the immobility time in tail suspension and forced swimming tests, and alleviate depressive symptoms in rats. Additionally, <em>L. rhamnosus</em> was shown to alter the metabolic profile of gut microbiota. A total of six metabolites (ethanamin, butyric acid, 2-methylbutanoic acid, behenic acid, 3-methylvaleric acid and 1-hexadecanol) associated with depressive behavior in rats were identified. All six metabolites demonstrated the capacity to bind to kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap 1) in molecular docking simulations. Gut microbial metabolites after <em>L. rhamnosus</em> treatment increased nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) levels in HT22 cells.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div><em>L. rhamnosus</em> may be one of the microbial bases for the antidepressant effects of ZZCD. Its effects may be related to the regulation of gut microbiota metabolism and anti-oxidative stress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9916,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Herbal Medicines","volume":"17 4","pages":"Pages 798-807"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145340584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring new therapeutic potential of five commonly used Pteris medicinal plants through pharmaphylogenomics and network pharmacology","authors":"Yuwen Guan ,&nbsp;Jilong Cheng ,&nbsp;Qiuyue Lv ,&nbsp;Xueping Wei ,&nbsp;Baoping Jiang ,&nbsp;Peigen Xiao","doi":"10.1016/j.chmed.2024.09.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chmed.2024.09.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study investigates the novel medicinal potential of five commonly used <em>Pteris</em> genus plants, including <em>Pteris cretica</em>, <em>P. multifida</em>, <em>P. wallichiana</em>, <em>P. semipinnata</em>, and <em>P. vittata</em>, by analyzing their chloroplast genomes, chemical compositions, and pharmacological activities.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a rigorous phylogenetic analysis of these five pteridophytes to elucidate their evolutionary relationships. Chemical constituents were subjected to network pharmacology analysis to investigate their potential medicinal properties. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks and compounds-disease target networks were constructed using Cytoscape 3.7.2. Functional annotations, including Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, were conducted by the Metascape platform. Finally, molecular docking simulations were carried out with AutoDock software to validate key findings.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Our study revealed a close phylogenetic relationship between <em>P. cretica</em> and <em>P. multifida</em>, with <em>P. cretica</em> exhibiting a higher enrichment score for COVID-19-related pathways. Network pharmacology analysis of <em>P. cretica</em> identified 21 compounds and 540 targets, including 69 associated with COVID-19. The potential therapeutic effects of <em>P. cretica</em> were linked to virus infection, inflammation, and immune response modulation. Core pathways included “coronavirus disease-COVID-19”, “JAK-STAT signaling pathway”, and “Toll-like receptor signaling pathway”. Molecular docking identified (22<em>E</em>)<em>-</em>5<em>α,</em>8<em>α-</em>epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien<em>-</em>3<em>β</em>-ol, notholaenic acid, 2<em>β,</em>15<em>α-</em>diol-ent-kaur-16-ene, and multikaurane A as vital compounds for COVID-19 treatment in <em>P. cretica</em>.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study highlights <em>P. cretica</em> as a potential candidate for COVID-19 prevention and treatment, identifying its key active components and mechanisms. These findings provide a scientific basis for further development of potential therapeutic agents based on <em>P. cretica</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9916,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Herbal Medicines","volume":"17 4","pages":"Pages 808-821"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145340588","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of different drying degrees on content of various chemical components and in vitro bioactivity of Chrysanthemi Indici Flos","authors":"Tao Wang ,&nbsp;Shuting Dong ,&nbsp;Qiaosheng Guo ,&nbsp;Qingjun Zou ,&nbsp;Feng Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.08.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.08.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div><em>Chrysanthemi Indici Flos</em> (CIF), the inflorescence of <em>Chrysanthemum indicum</em> L., is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Traditionally, the content of active components in Chinese medicinal materials often changes during processing. However, the variation patterns of main active components in CIF during drying remain largely unknown. This study aims to investigate the contents of multiple chemical components and <em>in vitro</em> bioactivity of CIF with different drying degrees, so as to provide an optimized scheme for its origin processing.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Fresh CIF were dried at 60 °C to obtain samples with different water contents (80%WC, 60%WC, 40%WC, 20%WC and DS). HPLC was used to determine eight chemical components (chlorogenic acid, 3,5-<em>O</em>-dicaffeoylquinic acid, galuteolin, linarin, luteolin, naringenin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin). <em>In vitro</em> assays evaluated antioxidant activity (radical scavenging), anti-inflammatory activity (enzyme inhibition) and antibacterial activity (disk diffusion, MIC) against several strains.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among eight chemical components, chlorogenic acid and linarin decreased significantly with drying, luteolin and kaempferol first increased then decreased (peaking at 40%WC), and naringenin was highest in 80%WC. HPLC fingerprint similarity was lowest (0.559) between 80%WC and DS samples. Antioxidant (Total reducing capacity/DPPH/ABTS/·OH IC50: 80%WC &gt; DS) and anti-inflammatory (XOD/LOX IC50: 80%WC &gt; DS) activities strengthened with drying. Extracts inhibited Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 1.560–3.125 mg/mL), Listeria monocytogenes (DS group inhibition zone larger) and <em>Escherichia coli</em> (MIC 3.125 mg/mL), but not <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> or <em>Salmonella paratyphoid</em>.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Drying degree significantly affects CIF’s chemical profiles and <em>in vitro</em> bioactivities, with dry samples showing superior antioxidant/anti-inflammatory properties and specific antibacterial effects. These findings offer targeted guidance for optimizing primary processing parameters of CIF.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9916,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Herbal Medicines","volume":"17 4","pages":"Pages 734-743"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145340579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Human cytochrome P450 enzymes catalyze oxidative metabolism of pectolinarigenin to generate a more active Nrf2 agonist","authors":"Peiqi Liu ,&nbsp;Yanyan Deng ,&nbsp;Dongzhu Tu ,&nbsp;Jiahao Gong ,&nbsp;Feng Zhang ,&nbsp;Huixin Liu ,&nbsp;Qian Li ,&nbsp;Jing Hu ,&nbsp;Guangbo Ge","doi":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.04.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.04.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To characterize the oxidative metabolic pathway(s) of pectolinarigenin (PEC) and reveal the effect of PEC oxidative metabolism on its biological activities including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) agonist effects, as well as the anti-oxidative and hepatoprotective activities.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The oxidative metabolites of PEC were identified by liquid chromatography-time of flight-mass spectrometry (LC-TOF-MS/MS). The key enzymes involved in oxidative metabolism of PEC were assigned by P450 reaction phenotyping assays and enzymatic kinetics assays. Luciferase reporter assays and western blotting analysis were used to evaluate the Nrf2 and PPAR agonist effects of PEC and its oxidative metabolites. The intracellular levels of total reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutathione (GSH) in acetaminophen (APAP)-challenged hepatocytes were also tested.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>PEC could be readily metabolized to form two <em>O</em>-demethylated metabolites including hispidulin (HIS, 4′-<em>O</em>-demethylated PEC) and 6-<em>O</em>-demethylated PEC in human liver microsomes (HLM) in the presence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), while HIS was identified as the major oxidative metabolite of PEC. At least nine human cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP) enzymes could catalyze PEC-4′-<em>O</em>-demethylation, while CYP1A2 and CYP2D6 showed the highest binding affinities and rapid metabolic clearance rates in the oxidative metabolism of PEC. Biological assays showed that PEC 4′-<em>O</em>-demethylation slightly decreased the PPAR agonist effects of PEC, while HIS showed more potent Nrf2 agonist effect. Compared with PEC, HIS showed more efficacious hepatoprotective effect against APAP-induced hepatocyte injury, evidenced by more potent ability to reduce intracellular ROS and LDH levels, as well as more effective ability to elevate the intracellular levels of both MPP and GSH in APAP-challenged hepatocytes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>CYPs catalyze PEC-4′-<em>O</em>-demethylation to generate a more active Nrf2 agonist (HIS), which shows more efficacious hepatoprotective effects against APAP-induced hepatocyte injury.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9916,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Herbal Medicines","volume":"17 4","pages":"Pages 779-789"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145340582","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Decoding natural products for neuroprotection: Pathway networks and structural insights for drug development","authors":"Suman Ghosh ,&nbsp;Ishita Debnath ,&nbsp;Sobhanjan Bhunia ,&nbsp;Sumit Nandi ,&nbsp;Sumel Ashique ,&nbsp;Aditi Nayak ,&nbsp;Susmita Mallick ,&nbsp;Souvik Basak","doi":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.09.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.09.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, are progressive disorders marked by neuronal dysfunction and death, driven by pathological mechanisms such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, apoptosis, and protein misfolding. Despite scientific advances, current treatments remain largely palliative, underscoring the need for multitargeted therapeutic strategies. This narrative review synthesizes preclinical and clinical evidence to explore the neuroprotective potential of natural products, with a focus on their ability to modulate key molecular pathways implicated in NDs. A comprehensive literature search across Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, MDPI, and Web of Science identified relevant studies. Bioactive compounds such as curcumin, resveratrol, ginsenosides, quercetin, and marine-derived molecules like fucoxanthin and phlorotannin demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-amyloidogenic, and mitochondrial-protective effects by modulating pathways including PI3K/Akt, NF-<em>κ</em>B, and Nrf2/ARE, thereby mitigating neuronal damage and promoting cell survival. Natural products from diverse sources, including honey, ginseng, marine macroalgae, and cyanobacteria, exhibited broad-spectrum neuroprotective properties, with advances in nano-formulations improving bioavailability and brain penetration. Furthermore, emerging approaches such as gene-drug interaction studies and scaffold-based drug design offer promising avenues for enhancing clinical translation. While natural products provide a holistic, multitargeted approach to combat NDs, challenges related to bioavailability and therapeutic translation persist, necessitating future research that integrates advanced drug delivery systems, precision medicine, and synthetic modifications to develop innovative and effective treatment paradigms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9916,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Herbal Medicines","volume":"17 4","pages":"Pages 643-672"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145340095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rapid identification of Astragalus membranaceus processing with rice water based on intelligent color recognition and multi-source information fusion technology","authors":"Dongmei Guo ,&nbsp;Yijing Pan ,&nbsp;Shunshun Wang ,&nbsp;Kehong Ming ,&nbsp;Qingjia Chi ,&nbsp;Chunli Wang ,&nbsp;Kang Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.01.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.01.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study seeks to optimize the processing parameters for <em>Astragalus membranaceus</em> with rice water (AM-RW), establish quality evaluation standards, and develop a rapid multilayer perceptron (MLP) model for classification. This model facilitates accurate identification of AM-RW at various processing stages, providing a scientific reference for the quality assessment of traditional Chinese medicine products.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Optimization of AM-RW was achieved using a single-factor test and Box-Behnken design response surface methodology to determine the optimal process parameters. The Watershed Algorithm was applied to segment images of AM tablets, and the numpy and pandas libraries were used to collect color data from these tablets. The study also explored the correlation between R, G, B, and L color values and calycosin-7-glucoside content. A rapid classification model based on MLP was developed, utilizing color values, hardness values, and calycosin-7-glucoside content of AM-RW with various processing degrees.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The study identified the optimal parameters for AM-RW as 20 mL of rice water, a frying temperature of 180 °C, and a frying time of 7 min. The average color values for the best-processed products fell within the normal distribution range: R value (94.83 ± 8.57), G value (96.1 ± 19.37), B value (36.84 ± 5.93), and L value (89.55 ± 12.24). The rapid identification model using MLP demonstrated high accuracy and reliability, achieving an accuracy rate of 94% in the classification process.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The response surface method effectively optimizes the precise processing parameters of AM-RW. Furthermore, the MLP-based model can accurately classify AM-RW with varying degrees of processing, providing a valuable reference for the expedited identification of processing quality in traditional Chinese medicine products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9916,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Herbal Medicines","volume":"17 4","pages":"Pages 724-733"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145340099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Challenges of regenerative medicine: New strategies from traditional Chinese medicine","authors":"Jiuhong Kang","doi":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.09.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.09.006","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9916,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Herbal Medicines","volume":"17 4","pages":"Pages 609-610"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145340092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioactive phytochemicals, pharmacological, and therapeutic potential of Dillenia indica: A comprehensive review of current research","authors":"Lutfun Nahar ,&nbsp;Emran Habibi ,&nbsp;Chuanchom Khuniad ,&nbsp;Kulyash Kalieva ,&nbsp;Daijie Wang ,&nbsp;Hesamoddin Arabnozari ,&nbsp;Phanuphong Chaiwut ,&nbsp;Sarita Sangthong ,&nbsp;Tinnakorn Theansungnoen ,&nbsp;Rajat Nath ,&nbsp;Anupam Das Talukdar ,&nbsp;Satyajit D. Sarker","doi":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.09.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.09.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Dillenia indica</em>, commonly known as “elephant apple”, is a tropical fruit-bearing tree with a rich history of medicinal use in traditional medicine across Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. This review comprehensively examines current research on the pharmacological properties of <em>D. indica</em>, focusing on its diverse bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and triterpenoids, which underpin its key biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, and hepatoprotective properties. Flavonoids and tannins exhibit potent antioxidant activity, effectively scavenging free radicals and reducing oxidative stress; a mechanism implicated in metabolic disorders, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, the plant demonstrates considerable anti-inflammatory effects by modulating key inflammatory pathways, including the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-<em>α</em> (TNF-<em>α</em>) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Saponins and triterpenoids enhance its antimicrobial activity, supporting traditional uses for treating infections. Preclinical studies indicate that <em>D. indica</em> extracts can inhibit cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in various cancer types, including breast, colorectal, and liver cancers. Furthermore, specific formulations may improve the bioavailability and targeted delivery of active constituents, thereby increasing therapeutic efficacy. Despite the promising findings <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em>, there is a notable lack of well-designed clinical trials to validate these effects in humans. The plant is generally considered safe when consumed at recommended doses. However, excessive intake may lead to gastrointestinal discomfort and, in rare cases, hepatotoxicity. This review describes the therapeutic potential of <em>D. indica</em> as a natural agent while emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive clinical trials, particularly those investigating pharmacodynamics profiles, to confirm its efficacy and safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9916,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Herbal Medicines","volume":"17 4","pages":"Pages 628-642"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145340094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potential of Panax ginseng for bone health and osteoporosis management","authors":"Wenjie Fang,&nbsp;Kaisong Huang,&nbsp;Jinlian Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.06.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.06.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Panax ginseng</em> is a medicinal and food-homologous herb with a long-standing reputation as a tonic. Extensive research has explored its potential in improving osteoporosis, a condition characterized by progressive bone loss that increases the risk of fractures. In this review, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Medical Journal Database are searched with no lower time limit up to August 2024. This review offers a comprehensive overview of how <em>P. ginseng</em> and its formulations can enhance bone health and alleviate osteoporosis. It also explores the signaling pathways influenced by compounds derived from <em>P. ginseng</em> in bone turnover. <em>P. ginseng</em> shows promise in regulating sex hormones, exerting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and enhancing bone turnover. It suppresses MAPKs and NF-κB pathways to inhibit bone resorption, while activating pathways like Wnt/<em>β</em>-catenin, AMPK, PI3K/Akt, and BMP/Smad to promote bone formation. In addition, this review describes the global production and trade of ginseng, the metabolism of <em>P. ginseng</em> after oral ingestion, and network pharmacology studies. Given its multi-target mechanisms, <em>P. ginseng</em> shows promise in the clinical management of osteoporosis. At doses below 10 g with sustained use (several months to one year), it may serve as a viable daily supplement for bone health maintenance. Furthermore, its synergistic interactions with conventional anti-osteoporosis drugs (e.g., bisphosphonates) could enhance therapeutic efficacy, positioning it as a complementary adjunct in clinical treatment regimens.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9916,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Herbal Medicines","volume":"17 4","pages":"Pages 673-684"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145340088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Target deconvolution strategies in TCM: Bridging medicinal properties with therapeutic efficacies","authors":"Yuanyuan Hou,&nbsp;Min Jiang,&nbsp;Gang Bai","doi":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.08.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.08.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The discovery and characterization of molecular targets from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) represents a paradigm shift in contemporary drug development. This approach systematically bridges empirical TCM knowledge with modern pharmacological principles, establishing a robust framework for rational drug design. Through integrative systems-chemical biology approaches, we can now mechanistically elucidate the therapeutic basis of TCM’s bioactive properties, facilitating the accelerated identification of both novel molecular targets and conserved pharmacological pathways. This multidisciplinary strategy significantly enhances drug development efficiency while advancing therapeutic innovation to address critical unmet medical needs. With the rapid advancement of next-generation target deconvolution technologies and AI-driven computational platforms, TCM is poised to make increasingly substantial contributions to modern pharmacotherapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9916,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Herbal Medicines","volume":"17 4","pages":"Pages 720-723"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145340098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}