Application of Classical Prescriptions of Rhizome Chinese Herbal Medicines for Medicine and Food Homology and Development Status of Its Modern Food

The efficacy,application and compatibility of five kinds of Chinese Herbal Medicines medicine(including yam,licorice,Platyc-odonisi Radix,Polygonati Rhizoma,and Pueraria Lobata)for medicine and food homology in the past five years were systematically searched and summarized,and the current situation of their food development was reviewed to provide theoretical basis for the research and development of this kind of CHMs for health care.

Subcellular Distribution and Chemical Forms of Cadmium in the Medicine Food Homology Plant Platycodon grandiflorum(Jacq.)A.DC.

Although Platycodon grandiflorum(Jacq.)A.DC.is a renowned medicine food homology plant,reports of excessive cadmium(Cd)levels are common,which affects its safety for clinical use and food consumption.To enable its Cd levels to be regulated or reduced,it is necessary to first elucidate the mechanism of Cd uptake and accumulation in the plant,in addition to its detoxification mechanisms.This present study used inductively couple plasma-mass-spectrometry to analyze the subcellular distribution and chemical forms of Cd in different tissues of P.grandiflorum.The experimental results showed that Cd was mainly accumulated in the roots[predominantly in the cell wall(50.96%-61.42%)],and it was found primarily in hypomobile and hypotoxic forms.The proportion of Cd in the soluble fraction increased after Cd exposure,and the proportion of insoluble phosphate Cd and oxalate Cd increased in roots and leaves,with a higher increase in oxalate Cd.Therefore,it is likely that root retention mechanisms,cell wall deposition,vacuole sequestration,and the formation of low mobility and low toxicity forms are tolerance strategies for Cd detoxification used by P.grandiflorum.The results of this study provide a theoretical grounding for the study of Cd accumulation and detoxification mechanisms in P.grandiflorum,and they can be used as a reference for developing Cd limits and standards for other medicine food homology plants.

Mendelian Randomization Study of Causal Relationship between Inflammatory Factors and Vascular Dementia and Chinese Herbal Medicines Screening for Prevention and Treatment

Objective: This study aims to examine the causal relationship between inflammatory factors and the probability of developing vascular dementia (VD) using Mendelian Randomization (MR) and Chinese herbal medicine prediction method, and to screen potential Chinese herbal medicines for the prevention and treatment of VD. Methods: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that exhibit a strong association with vascular dementia (VD) were identified as instrumental variables from the summary statistics of genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The primary analytical method employed was inverse variance weighting (IVW), while auxiliary analyses included the MR-Egger method, weighted median method, simple model, and weighted model. A two-way Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted to assess the causal relationship between inflammatory factors and the risk of VD, thereby identifying the key inflammatory factors involved. The MR-Egger intercept test and Cochran’s Q test were employed to assess the horizontal polymorphism and heterogeneity of instrumental variables. A sensitivity analysis was conducted by excluding one method at a time. Ultimately, based on key inflammatory factors, predictions for the prevention and treatment using traditional Chinese medicine were made, along with the screening of homologous herbal remedies. Results: Based on the results of the forward MR, the probability of developing VD was elevated when the inflammatory factors CXCL10 and CXCL5 were expressed at higher levels, whereas the probability of developing VD decreased as the expression levels of IL-13 and IL-20RA increased. These findings were supported by the assessment of pleiotropy, heterogeneity, and sensitivity. The results of the reverse MR analysis showed that there was no causal relationship between VD, as an exposure dataset, and these four inflammatory factors. According to the key inflammatory factors, 37 Chinese herbal medicines such as Siraitia grosvenorii were selected. Their characteristics including four natures, five flavors, channel tropism and treatment efficiency were cold, warm, neutral, pungent, sweet, bitter, lung meridian, spleen meridian, liver meridian, kidney meridian and clearing heat. Among them, Siraitia grosvenorii, Poria with hostwood, Perilla frutescens, and Radix Platycodi were all medicine and food homologous Chinese herbal medicines. Conclusions: The increase of CXCL10 and CXCL5 expression levels can increase the risk of VD, and the increase of IL-13 and IL-20 RA expression levels can reduce the risk of VD. Siraitia grosvenorii and other Chinese herbal medicines might be potential sources of therapeutic drugs for the treatment of VD. Medicine and food homologous Chinese herbal medicines, such as Siraitia grosvenorii, Poria with hostwood, Perilla frutescens, and Radix Platycodi, may help the elderly population with corresponding Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) constitutions to prevent VD.

The Protective Effect of Jiujiuguiyi, a Medicine and Food Homologous Formula, on Acute Alcohol Poisoning Mice

Background: Nowadays, acute alcoholic intoxication has become the third public problem in China, and the anti-inebriation products mainly aimed at increasing the activity of enzyme involved in the alcohol metabolism, which is a single mechanism that can accelerate alcohol metabolism. Thus, a new formula, Jiujiuguiyi (JJGY) which could protect liver, relieve the abnormal excitability of the center and improve muscle retardation at the same time is designed by us. Methods: The model of acute alcoholic intoxication was established by intragastric administration with 0.12 ml/10g 50% alcohol in mice. JJGY was orally administrated (gavage) once a day for 20 consecutive days before the establishment of acute alcoholic model. Mice were randomly divided into 8 groups with 8 each: blank control group (CON), model group (M), Haiwangjinzun positive control group (HWJZ), experimental groups (AL, AH, BL, BH, AB). Giant, crawling time on the rota-rod, the activities of aspartate amino trans- ferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in both liver and serum, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in liver as well as the HE staining of liver slices, the formation of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum were determined after acute alcoholic intoxication. Results: Compared with model group, JJGY significantly decreased the AST and ALT activity in liver and serum and MDA activity in serum. Meanwhile, it enhanced the ADH and ALDH level in liver as well as the hepatic and serous SOD activity, indicating more efficient metabolism of alcohol and less hepatic injury. HE staining results also proved that JJGY could reduce alcoholic liver cell injury, and the effect was more obvious in the group medicated before alcohol administration. Moreover, JJGY significantly prolonged the crawling time on the rota-rod and improved the gait of mice and the effect was proved to be better than the widely used health product Haiwangjinzun. Conclusions: This study suggests that JJGY is able to protect liver, relieve the abnormal excitability of the center and improve muscle retardation after acute alcoholic intoxication. Its liver protection effect is likely related to its modulation on the alcohol metabolizing and antioxidant enzymes.

Clinical Application of Radix Notoginseng and Its Homology of Medicine and Food

Clinical application of Radix Notoginseng in the last ten years is summarized,such as Radix Notoginseng powder,compatibility of Radix Notoginseng with other traditional Chinese medicines,and related preparations of Radix Notoginseng,as well as application of Radix Notoginseng in homology of medicine and food,such as preventing and controlling gynecological diseases,rheumatoid arthritis,hypertension,gastric cancer,arthritis,and anemia.

Analysis on patents of health care products with substances of medicine food homology in China

Objective:The concept of substances of medicine food homology(SMFH)has garnered significant attention in recent years.This study conducts a systematic analysis of patent literature related to SMFH,and elucidates the development trends,technical hotspots,and the overall patent protection landscape of SMFH in China over the past two decades.Methods:The patent search focused on the SMFH varieties as the objects of inquiry,with retrieval conducted in patent databases.Subsequently,the acquired data underwent processing,analysis,and visualization.Results:While the technical threshold for pharmaceutical applications surpasses that of the food service sector,the former may assume a prominent role in the future.Research and development(R&D)activities in the southeast of China demonstrate robust activity than other regions.Colleges and scientific research institutions exhibit substantial advantages in patent applications compared with individuals and hold greater potential for future development.Conclusion:The findings of this patent analysis indicate that China’s SMFH industry are presently undergoing a transition from an extensive model to a high-quality model.The quality and technical standards of SMFH products are consistently improving.Consequently,there is a need for more stringent patent application requirements to align with the evolving development needs.

Perilla frutescens:A traditional medicine and food homologous plant

Perilla frutescens,an annual herb of the Labiatae family,has been cultivated in China for more than 2000 years.P.frutescens is the one of the first medicinal and edible plant published by the Ministry of Health.Its leaves,stems and seeds can be used as medicine and edible food.Because of the abundant nutrients and bioactive components in this plant,P.frutescens has been studied extensively in medicine,food,health care and chemical fields with great prospects for development.This paper reviews the cultivation history,chemical compositions and pharmacological activities of P.frutescens,which provides a reference for the development and utilization of P.frutescens resources.

East to west:research progress in traditional Chinese medicine for antiaging strategies

Delaying the onset of aging is considered an important tool for dealing with the global crisis of the aging population.Accordingly,several antiaging studies have been conducted using strategies of modern medicine and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).In this review,we summarize the current state of antiaging research related to both modern medicine and TCM and provide suggestions for further research.Various theories related to the aging process have been proposed,including the free radical theory,mitochondrial DNA damage theory,telomere theory,cross-linking theory,and intestinal flora theory,and a number of antiaging chemical treatments have been developed using modern medicine.These theories and achievements have resulted in major advancements in antiaging research.TCM is based on practical experience and has a long history with unique advantages in antiaging research.Some antiaging practices such as moderate diet consumption,acupuncture,Tai Chi(a traditional Chinese martial art that can relax the nerves to slow down the aging process),and Wuqin Xi(a traditional Chinese exercise to strengthen the body)have been adopted to maintain health.Several TCMs and prescriptions,particularly those related to medicine food homology,have been used in antiaging treatment,and their antiaging properties have been demonstrated to be effective based on pharmacological experiments and clinical applications.

Research progress of ginger in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors

Cancer seriously endangers human health.Gastrointestinal cancer is the most common and major malignant tumor,and its morbidity and mortality are gradually increasing.Although there are effective treatments such as radio-therapy and chemotherapy for gastrointestinal tumors,they are often accom-panied by serious side effects.According to the traditional Chinese medicine and food homology theory,many materials are both food and medicine.Moreover,food is just as capable of preventing and treating diseases as medicine.Medicine and food homologous herbs not only have excellent pharmacological effects and activities but also have few side effects.As a typical medicinal herb with both medicinal and edible uses,some components of ginger have been shown to have good efficacy and safety against cancer.A mass of evidence has also shown that ginger has anti-tumor effects on digestive tract cancers(such as gastric cancer,colorectal cancer,liver cancer,laryngeal cancer,and pancreatic cancer)through a variety of pathways.The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms of action of the main components of ginger and their potential clinical applications in treating gastrointestinal tumors.

Phyllanthi Fructus:A modal medicinal and food homologous item in quality evaluation

Phyllanthi Fructus is a highly unique medicine and food homologous item,which exhibits distinctive flavor,notable nutritional value,and abundant pharmacological activity.It has enormous potential in the creation of health products and pharmaceuticals.However,due to the unique laws of quality formation and transfer of Phyllanthi Fructus,its appearance,shape,chemical compositions,nutrients,and sensory flavors are frequently greatly influenced by botanical resources,the processing and storage conditions.As a result,the current quality evaluation model is difficult to meet the needs of Phyllanthi Fructus as a medicine and food homologous item in the development of diversified products.This paper constructs the hierarchical utilization mode of Phyllanthi Fructus based on its unique quality formation and transmission laws,explores the quality evaluation model for food-oriented use and medicinal-oriented use,respectively,and systematically describes the quality evaluation idea under diversified application scenarios.This paper aims to serve as a reference for the construction of a quality evaluation model suitable for the medicine and food homologous item of Phyllanthi Fructus.

Interaction between Gut Microbiota and Medicinal Food Homology in Depression

Depression can be counted as the most severe mental disease in the world nowadays, which lacks effective curing treatments. With an increasing number of patients, developing effective treatments with fewer side effects is essential. Medicinal food homology has been proven to influence the pathogenesis of depression positively. Gut microbiota plays a vital role in exerting the antidepressant effect of substances from the medicinal food homology, as they facilitate different chemical processes and increase the bioavailability of the substances. This review summarizes the correlation between gut microbiota and depression and provides new pathways for effective treatments of depression.

Understanding “medicine and food homology”,developing utilization in medicine functions

Chinese medicine is a very big concept of medicine. In Shennong era, medicine and food do not divide.＂Medicine and food homology＂, which is called ＂Chinese medicine and dietary application＂, refers to that many foods are drugs, and there is no absolute demarcation line between them.

Plant diversity in herbal tea and its traditional knowledge in Qingtian County, Zhejiang Province, China

Herbal teas composed of locally occurring plant species have long been used as the primary form of health care in Qingtian County,Zhejiang Province,China.However,large-scale emigration overseas and an aging population threaten the conservation of traditional knowledge of these herbal teas.Traditional knowledge about the plants used for these herbal teas is not well documented in Qingtian,despite their widespread use.The aim of this study was to assess the plant-cultural diversity of plants used as herbal teas,and to point out the prospective value of herbal teas used by Qingtian people.This study was conducted using semi-structured interviews,as well as field and market surveys.Forty-three local informants were interviewed.We recorded plant resources,plant parts used,local names,and medicinal uses.Quantitative ethnobotanical indices,including cognitive salience(CS),frequency of citation(FC),index of informant consensus(Fic)and use value(UV),were calculated to analyze the level of representativeness and relative importance of plants used in herbal teas.One hundred and twenty-nine species belonging to 75 families and 113 genera were reported to be used in herbal tea,with Compositae being the richest family.Whole plants are most commonly used to make herbal teas(66.7%).In this study,informants reported that 92.2%of plant species used in herbal teas are wild.The most utilized herbal preparation form is dry/fresh.Informants reported that herbal teas are used to treat 31 ailments.Our results show that the highest representativeness,based on CS and FC,was recorded for species Actinidia eriantha.Based on UV,the top five most used species are Goodyera schlechtendaliana,Plantago asiatica,Prunella vulgaris,Lophatherum gracile and Leonurus japonicus.The highest Fic was cited for dental medicine.This study helps document the status of current herbal teas in Qingtian.The use value and traditional knowledge of herbal teas have provided basic data for further research focused on bioactivity studies and sustainable utilization of the most important species.

Ethnopharmacology,phytochemistry,pharmacology and product application of Platycodon grandiflorum:A review

Platycodonis Radix(Jiegeng in Chinese)is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine used for both medicinal and culinary purposes.Its historical use as an antitussive and expectorant has been extensively documented.Researchers,to date,have identified 219 chemical constituents in Platycodon grandiflorum(Jacq.)A.DC,encompassing 89 saponins,11 flavonoids,21 polysaccharides,14 phenolic acids,six polyacetylenes,five sterols,34 fatty acids,17 amino acids,and 22 trace elements.Jiegeng exhibits diverse pharmacological effects,including antitussive and anti-phlegm properties,anti-cancer activity,anti-inflammatory effects,immune regulation,antioxidant properties,anti-obesity,and antidiabetic effects.Additionally,Jiegeng shows potential in protecting the heart and liver.Beyond its medicinal benefits,Jiegeng is highly esteemed in culinary applications,and its global demand is on the rise.Its utilization has expanded beyond medicine and food to encompass daily necessities,cosmetics,agricultural supplies,and other fields.Currently,there are 18272 patents related to P.grandiflorum.This comprehensive review summarizes the latest research published over the past 20 years,providing a robust foundation for further exploration of the medicinal and health benefits of P.grandiflorum.

Ethnopharmacology,chemical composition and functions of Cymbopogon citratus

Cymbopogon citratus in the gramineous family,also known as lemongrass(LG),is a perennial herb.LG,a drug and food homologous medicine,has a widely recorded medicinal value and food applications.To date,158 LG compounds have been reported,including terpenoids,flavonoids,phenolic acids.Pharmacological and clinical studies have indicated that LG has antibacterial,neuroprotective,hypoglycemic,hypotensive,anti-inflammatory,and anti-tumor effects.This article reviews LG in ethnopharmacology,chemical composition,pharmacology,food,medicine,and daily chemical applications to provide a basis for the subsequent development of food and medicine.

Ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Benincasae Exocarpium: A review

Benincasae Exocarpium(BE,Dongguapi in Chinese),as the dried outer pericarp of Benincasa hispida(wax gourd)in Cucurbitaceae family,is one of traditional Chinese medicines with the same origin as medicine and food.Up to now,43 compounds were isolated from BE,including flavonoids,alkaloids,tannins,phenolic acids,soluble fiber and carbohydrates.Modern pharmacological studies and clinical practice showed that BE has diuretic,hypolipidemic effects,hypoglycemic,antioxidant,antibacterial,and other effects.The folk uses,functional factors,pharmacological activities,patents and clinical applications of BE were reviewed in this paper.In addition,the paper also discussed the current problems for the further studies.The information summarized in this paper provides valuable clues for the comprehensive utilization of medicine and food resources and gives a scientific basis for the development of medicinal plants of BE.

Five Rutaceae family ethanol extracts alleviate H2O2 and LPS-induced inflammation via NF-κB and JAK-STAT3 pathway in HaCaT cells

This study was designed to investigate the effects of five Rutaceae family ethanol extracts(FRFEE):Citrus medica Linn(CML),Citrus aurantium L.Cv.Daidai(CAD),Citrus medica Linn.var.sarcodactylis(Noot.)Swingle(CMS),Citrus sinensis L.Osbeck(CSO)and Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim(ZBM)on retarding the progression of H_(2)O_(2) and LPS-induced HaCaT cells.Cell inflammatory injury model was established by H_(2)O_(2) and LPS.The alleviative effects of FRFEE were evaluated by detecting the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione(GSH)and the generation of reactive oxygen species(ROS).The inflammatory signaling pathways of NF-κB and JAK-STAT3 were detected by Western blotting,the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors and skin barrier factors were detected by RT-PCR.50%ethanol extracts of five medicinal and food homologous herbs of Rutaceae family showed different levels of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.The FRFEE effectively improved SOD and GSH content and decreased ROS levels.Meanwhile,FRFEE strongly suppressed two inflammatory signaling pathways NF-κB and JAK-STAT3.The RT-PCR examination of inflammatory factors and skin barrier factor revealed significant anti-inflammatory effects of FRFEE.It was worth noting that among the five extracts,Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim extract had the best anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation effects.In addition,it could strongly inhibit the expression of psoriasis factor CCL20.In summary,these results suggested that Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim extract could be used as an anti-psoriatic agent in the treatment of psoriasis among FRFEE.

Chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of medicinal plants from Rosa genus

The genus Rosa(Rosaceae family)includes about 200 species spread in the world,and this genus shows unique advantages in medicine and food.To date,several scholars concentrated on compounds belonging to flavonoids,triterpenes,tannins,polysaccharide,phenolic acids,fatty acids,organic acids,carotenoids,and vitamins.Pharmacological effects such as antineoplastic and anti-cancer properties,antiinflammatory,antioxidant,liver protection,regulate blood sugar,antimicrobial activity,antiviral activity,as well as nervous system protection and cardiovascular protection were wildly reported.This article reviews the chemical constituents,pharmacological effects,applications and safety evaluations of Rosa plants,which provides a reference for the comprehensive utilization of medicine and food resources and gives a scientific basis for the development of medicinal plants of the genus Rosa.