From religious manual to herbal pharmacopoeia:a textual study of the formation and transformation of Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica

The earliest Ben Cao Jing(Classics of Materia Medica;25 C.E.–220 C.E.)appeared during the reign of the Han Dynasty(202 B.C.E.–220 C.E.);their origins are traceable to the religious group called Fang Xian Dao.In addition to their use as a medical reference,the Ben Cao Jing works were also used for religious purposes.Tao Hongjing(456 C.E.–536 C.E.),a famous doctor and Daoist(one member of the Chinese local religion,Daoism)of the Liang Dynasty(502 C.E.–557 C.E.),compiled the Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu(Variorum of Classics of Materia Medica;456 C.E.–536 C.E.)based on the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing(Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica;25 C.E.–220 C.E.).During the compilation of this book,Tao made a radical medical revision to the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing,by reducing its religious contents while complementing its medical contents.After such revisions,the ancient Ben Cao Jing was transformed from a religious manual into an herbal pharmacopoeia.

Achievements of the Compendium Bencao Tujing(Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica):A Preliminary Study

Bencao Tujing(Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica)is a brilliant and monumental compendium of materia medica by Su Song,which was published in 1061 and gathered ancestral knowledge from the Song dynasty as a legacy for posterity.The compendium emphasized the clinical applications of medicinal materials collected nationwide,which used illustrated atlases as references.The descriptions for each medicinal material subsumed the prescriptions containing it and were supplemented with relevant medical cases.Medical prescriptions predating the Song dynasty were included,which enhanced the clinical usefulness of the pharmacopoeia.The ancestral knowledge of materia medica was extensively merged with natural history throughout the compendium,which also made extensive reference to more than 200 Chinese classics,local gazetteers,and published works from the social and natural sciences.The inclusion of natural history and literature works changed the convention used in earlier pharmacopoeias to present medicines based solely on pharmacological analyses.The compendium also pioneered the inclusion of natural history in pharmacopoeia.Bencao Tujing helped establish China’s leading position in the field of materia medica.Su Song’s meticulous nature,truth-seeking attitude,and adherence to scientific thinking are truly worthy of emulation and promotion.

Philosophy and Philology:Two Approaches of Commentating the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing(Shen Nong's Classic of the Materia Medica)in the Ming and Qing Dynasties

This paper tests the hypothesis that the commentary trend of the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing(Shen Nong’s Classic of the Materia Medica)arises alongside the fashionable philology of the time,or the aversion against the Jin-Yuan medical philosophy.After surveying 12 major commentaries,it is concluded that the situation is more complicated than a simple assertion.The seemingly opposite philosophy and philology approaches have been used eclectically to innovate the understanding of ancient traditional Chinese medicine texts.

Comments on Ben Cao Gang Mu Cai Se Yao Tu(《本草纲目彩色药图》Colored Illustrations of Compendium of Chinese Materia Medica)

This article gives a brief introduction of Ben Cao GangMu Cai Se Yao Tu(《本草纲目彩色药图》ColoredHerb Illustrations of Compendium of Materia Medico)and explains the history of herb illustrations in each dynasty,the illustration of Ben Cao Gang Mu(《本草纲目》Compendium of Materia Me died)and the value and the significance of Ben Cao GangMu Cai Se Yao Tu in detail.

RECENT ADVANCES IN STUDIES ON TRADITIONAL CHINESE ANTI-AGING MATERIA MEDICA

Presented in this paper is a report of our studies on 386 traditional effective anti-agingmedications,the effects of which on cell generation,survival time,immunomodulation,im-provement of visceral and metabolic functions,and anti-infection,and their trace elementcontents were further summarized and analysed.This suggests that the investigations of tra-ditional anti-aging materia medica in China are now well under way and some effectivedrugs and compound prescriptions have been explored,such as Ginseng,Radix Astragali seuHedysari,Radix Angelicae Sinensis,Herba Epimedii,Cordyceps,Ganoderma Lucidum seuJaponicum,Radix Polygoni Multiflori,Radix Acanthopanacis Senticosi,RhizomaPolygonati,Fructus Lycii,and Poria.However,all of these preliminary results remain to befurther investigated.

Property theory of Chinese materia medica: Clinical pharmacodynamics of traditional Chinese medicine

The property theory of Chinese materia medica is one of the foundations of traditional Chinese medicine.The property of Chinese materia medica(PCMM)is a multi-dimensional expression of the effect of Chinese materia medica(CMM),and it is related to the clinical prescription that fully reflects the clinical effect evaluation of CMM in a holistic,systematic,and scientific way.This paper discusses the source,development,and application of the PCMM by considering not only the five dimensions that constitute the PCMM but also the recognition of the human body and disease as given in traditional Chinese medicine.This paper aims to provide theoretical guidance for the rational use and development of CMM.

SCREENING ANTI-HIV CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA WITH HIV AND EQUINE INFECTIOUS ANEMIC VIRUS REVERSE TRANSCRIPT ASE

The inhibitory activities of human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase (HIV-RT) inhibitors PFA and Suramine against HIV-RT and equine infectious anemic virus reverse transcritptase (EIAV-RT) were studied in this paper. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of HIV-RT and EIAV-RT treated by PFA and Suramine were 0.2 μmol, 9.8 μmol and 17 μmol, 19.9 μmol, respectively. More than thirty Chinese medicines, including recipes, herbs, extracts of traditional materia medica and isolated compounds were tested using HIV-RT and EIAV-RT as target enzymes. It was found that 5 crude extracts such as Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati, and Radix Notoginseng, 7 isolated compounds like Flavone of Ramulus Visci, Flavone of Ajuga Decumbens Thumb, and Aristolochic acid, as well as the extract of the complex prescription Xiao Chai Hu Tang (小柴胡汤) have shown various inhibitory actions on these two enzymes. The activities of the two enzymes were comparable, but HIV-RT was more sensitive, suggesting that HIV-RT can be used as index for the screening of anti-aids drugs.

From Hai Yao, Yang Yao to Xi Yao: Sinification of Material Medical from the West

In ancient China, Daoist philosophers developed the concepts of qi(energy), Wu Xing(five elements), and yin(feminine, dark, negative) and yang(masculine, bright, positive) opposite forces between 200 and 600 BCE. Based on these philosophies, Zhen Jiu(acupuncture), Ben Cao(materia medica), and the practice of Qi Gong(energy optimization movements) evolved as the three interrelated therapeutic regimens of Chinese medicine(Note 1). Since the time of Zhang Qian, who discovered China's western regions in the 1st century BCE, Hai Yao(the exotic elements of materia medica from the maritime Silk Road countries), had been transmitted from the ancient land and maritime routes of the Silk Road to China in the past two millennia(Note 2). Since the late 17th century, the English East India Company, later called the British East India Company, introduced Yang Yao(opium) to the Manchu Qing Empire to balance a growing trade deficit for tea export from China to the British Empire. After the First Opium War ended in 1842, enterprising expatriate chemists and druggists in the treaty ports imported Xi Yao(modern medicines from the Western world) for sale to the merchant navy and the local market. From the second half of the 19th century onwards, both Hai Yao and Xi Yao have become a fully integrated part of modern China's armamentarium for the Chinese medicine and Western hospitals and retail pharmacy sectors. This paper articulates the journey of adoption of exotic elements of materia medica from the ancient land and sea routes of the Silk Road, including the western regions and the rest of the world in the past two millennia. Opium traders, ship surgeons, medical and pharmaceutical missionaries, enterprising traders, and policymakers together transformed Ben Cao into Xi Yao during the late Manchu Qing dynasty and the early Nationalist Era.

The inheritance path research of the processing of Chinese materia medica in Anguo herbs market

Anguo,known as Qizhou in ancient time,its herbs industry began in Song Dynasty,boomed in Ming,and flourished in Qing.During the development of Qizhou herbs industry,a number of special processing techniques of Chinese Materia Medicine were produced."Qizhou's Four Uniqueness",of which,the most representative medicine includes"Hundred pieces areca","Cicada feather of Qingxia","Yunpian deer antler"and"Pound Rhinoceros unicornis L".To investigate the present inheritance situation of the traditional processing technology of Chinese Materia Medicine in Anguo herbs market,we will consult literature including the ancient books and records,Anguo local chronicles and visit the inheritors of the traditional processing technology in Anguo,and research the processing technology historical origin.This study aims to create the Anguo herbs cultural card,and enrich the cultural heritage of Chinese medicine industry of Anguo country even Hebei province.

P-glycoprotein mediated interactions between Chinese materia medica and pharmaceutical drugs

P-glycoprotein(P-gp)is an important transmembrane ATP-binding cassette(ABC)drug efflux transporter expressed in various human tissues such as the intestines,liver,kidneys,and bloodbrain barrier.It limits the intracellular concentration of xenobiotics by pumping them out of the cells,affecting drug pharmacokinetics and therapeutic effects.With its broad substrate specificity,it has the potential to remove a wide range of drugs from Chinese materia medica(CMM),including conventional medicines and active compounds.Increasing evidence has confirmed the superior therapeutic effectiveness of CMM in treating a wide range of diseases worldwide,as well as in conjunction with western drugs.As a result,herbal medicine-drug compounds have prompted widespread concern,with the majority of these interactions involving transporters such as P-gp.This review systematically summarizes the inhibition or induction of P-gp expression/function by active CMM compounds and the underlying regulatory mechanisms.It will aid in improving understanding of the synergistic or inhibiting effects associated with transporter P-gp as well as rational safety concerns for using CMM,particularly in combination with drugs.

Bio-characteristic profiling related to clinic:A new technology platform for quality evaluation of Chinese materia medica

Quality evaluation is a bottleneck restricting the modernization and internationalization of Chinese materia medica (CMM). Due to characteristics of multi-component, multi-efficacy, multi-target, the existing quality evaluation system still cannot fully meet quality control needs of CMM. Hence, the author put forward “Bio-characteristic profiling related to clinic, BPRC” academic concept, meanwhile, fully take the advantage of analysis method with clinical monitoring superiority or profiling characteristics, build up “BPRC” new technology platform, in order to realize “real-time, dynamic and full-range monitoring” new technologies of CMM quality evaluation system and promote the further development of CMM industry.

Based on FP-Growth Algorithm to Excavate Medication Rule of Chinese Materia Medica for Radiation Esophagitis

Objective:To find the medication rule of Chinese materia medica for treating radiation esophagitis through FP-Growth algorithm.Methods:By searching the three major literature databases such as Chinese Journal Full-text Database,VIP Chinese Sci-tech Journals Database,Wanfang Data,etc.from the database establishment to May 10,2020,88 effective documents and 91 prescriptions were screened.The medication frequency of prescription in the paper was extracted and sorted.Results:The frequency of medicinal property from high to low were:slightly cold,cold,balance,warm,cool,slightly warm,and great cold.The frequency of medicinal taste from high to low were:sweet,bitter,pungent,slightly bitter,salty,slightly pungent,sour,light,astringent.The frequency of channel tropism from high to low were:lung,stomach,liver,heart,spleen,etc.,and 10 herbal combinations with clinical significance were obtained.There was one prescription with good correlation strength in the clinical treatment of radiation esophagitis.Conclusion:The medication rule of Chinese materia medica for the treatment of radiation esophagitis is based on the principles of clearing away heat and detoxification,benefiting Qi(气)and nourishing Yin(阴),and stopping bleeding and removing phlegm.Heat-clearing medicine,tonic medicine,phlegmresolving,cough–relieving medicine and asthma-relieving medicine,blood-activating and stasis removing medicine were highly frequent used.The high-frequency association rules are nourishing Yin–clearing heat–generating fluid,removing toxin–cooling blood–benefiting Qi,benefiting Qi–invigorating spleen–stopping bleeding.It is stable and feasible to use FP-Growth algorithm to mine traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)to treat diseases.

RECENT ADVANCES IN STUDIES ON TRADITIONAL CHINESE ANTI-AGING MATERIA MEDICA (Continued)

IMPROVEMENT OF METABOLISM 1.Influences on the metabolites ot ag-ing and their related enzymes:In recentyears,one of the important studies in thefield of anti—aging has been conducted onthe antagonistic action of traditionalaging-retarding materia medica on

RECENT ADVANCES IN STUDIES ON TRADITIONAL CHINESE ANTI-AGING MATERIA MEDICA (Continued)

IMPROVEMENT OF VISCERAL FUNCTIONS 1.Drugs acting on brain,heart andkidneys: 1.1 Of the traditional medicationsmentioned in this paper,about 46 drugs(11.7％)act on the brain.The most com-monly used are:1)Semen Ginseng,whichcan improve cerebral function in the

TREATMENT OF AIDS BY TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE AND MATERIA MEDICA

AIDS,as one of the fatal diseases,hasthe potential to be the greatest natural pesti-lence in human history.It has now been esti-mated that about 150 patients die of this dis-ease every day.If it is not well controlled bythe end of this century,thousands

Textual Research on Dioscorides and De Materia Medica

The Greek pharmacologist Dioscorides’s De Materia Medica is one of the greatest works in the history of Greek-Arabic Traditional Medicine, and also is an essential medical textbook and pharmacological standard in Europe. This paper studied the historical background, academic characteristics, editions, and significant contributions to traditional medicine of De Materia Medica and Dioscorides. It was concluded that the book has substantial scientific importance and remarkable cultural attributes. De Materia Medica of Dioscorides has both nourished world traditional medicine and promoted the communication and development of medicinal knowledge worldwide. It is significant for us to explore further the related understanding of traditional medicine, history, society, and culture.

Identification of the material basis of the medicinal properties in Curcuma Longa L. to enhance targeted clinical application

Objective:To identify the relationship between the active compounds in turmeric(Curcuma Longa L.,C.Longa)and their medicinal properties,and clarify the chemical material basis of the medicinal properties in C.Longa.Methods:High throughput screening models of the thermo-transient receptor potentials(thermo-TRPs)and human taste type 2 receptors(hTAS2Rs)were established to evaluate the activity of the active compounds in C.Longa.The biological processes and distributions of the related targets of the active compounds were acquired by data mining.The above results were then used as basic data to comprehensively analyze the material basis of the medicinal properties of turmeric.Results:Curcumin inhibited TRPV1,TRPV2,TRPV3,and TRPA1,while demethoxycurcumin(DMC)inhibited TRPV3,TRPA1,and TRPM8.In terms of the 21 hTAS2Rs,the response values of hTAS2R38,hTAS2R16,and hTAS2R44 intervened by curcumin were ranked top three;the response values of hTAS2R3,hTAS2R1,and hTAS2R9 by DMC were in top three;the response values of hTAS2R47,hTAS2R39,and hTAS2R43 by bisdemethoxycurcumin(BDMC)were in top three.The biological processes related to active compounds primarily involved blood circulation,ossification,and regulation of the inflammatory response.Conclusion:Curcumin,DMC,and BDMC were identified as the material basis of the property of Chinese materia medica of C.Longa.Among these,curcumin and DMC may contribute to its warming effect in the four qi.Curcumin,DMC,and BDMC may lead to its bitter flavor,and the three active compounds were consistent with the meridian entry of C.Longa.Although different compounds play diverse roles in the four qi,five flavors,and meridian entry,they all were relevant to the efficacy of C.Longa.It is helpful to further understand the important role of the property of Chinese materia medica for the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine.

A Textual Research on Materia Medica of Origin of Orthonym and Synonym of Cuscutae Semen

A textual research on materia medica of origin of orthonym and synonym of Cuscutae Semen and synonym of Nu Luo was conducted in this study,and the trade name,regional synonym and nickname of Cuscutae Semen were reviewed.The records of orthonym and synonym of Cuscutae Semen in the past dynasties,and the first published literature and writing date of orthodox and synonym were summarized.The textual research showed that Nu Luo and Cuscutae Semen were not the same plant,which had positive significance for the identification of the origin and modern application of Cuscutae Semen.

Discrimination of 11 Chinese Materia Medica from <i>Umbelliferae</i>by Electronic Nose

In this paper, electronic nose (E-nose) was used to discriminate the 11 Chinese Materia Medica (CMM) from Umbelliferae by the difference of their odors. The E-nose generated data were analyzed by discriminant function analysis (DFA) and the responses of 18 sensors of E-nose were evaluated by CA analysis. Results showed that a rapid evaluation of complex response of the samples could be obtained, in combination with DFA, SQC and the CA analysis of the E-nose was given better results in the recognition values of the odor of the 11 CMM. All the 11 CMM could be distinguished by E-nose coupled with DFA, sensor 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 13 and 15 were found to be able to better discriminate between the CMM samples. The CMM from Umbelliferae produced from different areas and processed with different methods could be distinguished by the E-nose, too. The results of the similarity of fingerprints of the E-nose are fitted with the TCM records about the property (yaoxing), channel tropism (guijing), function and usage of the CMM. The E-nose is a technology that can reflect the holistic odor of a CMM and is relevant to the TCM doctor’s practical identification. The odor of CMM can be expressed by objective data instead of subjective sense by human nose. Based on the sensor`s intensity of E-nose, the fingerprint of a CMM can be established, too. Although the E-nose has so many advantages, only use E-nose technology is not enough to control the quality of a CMM. It must be combined with the other macroscopic discriminating technology, such as the E-tongue, the E-eye, to have a holistic evaluation of a CMM.

The Silk Road and Sources of Chinese Medicine Expansion: Part 1 – Materia Medica

The Silk Road stretched over land and across seas connecting Europe,Africa,and Asia.The trade of medicine along these routes has had profound impacts on the populations and traditions they have come into contact with.Chinese Medicine is no exception as it has taken numerous nonnative products and incorporated them into the unique philosophical construct of systematic correspondences that govern its practice.By looking at the four categories of primary source materials and studying the history of medical exchange along the Silk Road,we can determine how and where this information is used in Chinese Medicine.The Materia Medica(ben cao本草)texts are the first source of information for this study that will explore multiple sources to better understand the development of Chinese Medicine in relation to the rest of the world.