Effect of Xiaobailing Decoction on Melanocytes in Vitro

To observe the effect of Xiaobailing Decoction （消白灵汤） on murine melanocytes in vitro and to explore the mechanism of Xiaobailing Decoction in the treatment of vitiligo. Methods： B-16F10 murine melanoma cells were cultured in 1640 medium and treated respectively with different concentrations （lmg/ml, 2mg/ml, 3mg/ml） of the Chinese drug Xiaobailing Decoction and its main components, the drugs for replenishing the lddney-yang, and the drugs for nourishing blood and activating blood circulation, etc. for 7 days. MMT assay was used to determine the proliferation of B-16F10 murine melanoma cells. NaOH cleavage assay was adopted to measure the melanogenesis of melanocytes. Results：Xiaobailing Decoction, the drugs for replenishing the kidney-yang and the drugs for nourishing blood and activating blood circulation at different concentrations significantly improved the proliferation of B-16F10 murine melanoma cells from the 3rd day to the 5th day （P〈0.05）, with Xiaobailing Decoction at the concentrations of lmg/ml having the most distinct action on promoting the proliferation of melanocytes on the 3rd day （P〈0.001）; And the drugs for replenishing the lodney-yang at the concentrations of 2mg/ml and 3mg/ml and the drugs for nourishing blood and activating blood circulation at 3mg/ml significantly increased melanogenesis of melanocytes （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Xiaobailing Decoction can promote melanocytic proliferation and melanogenesis in vitro, and it is indicated that the drugs for replenishing the kidney-yang and the drugs for nourishing blood and activating blood circulation play an important role in treating vitiligo.

How Do Precision Medicine and System Biology Response to Human Body's Complex Adaptability？

In the field of life sciences, although system biology and ＂precision medicine＂ introduce some complex scientific methods and techniques, it is still based on the ＂analysis–reconstruction＂ of reductionist theory as a whole. Adaptability of complex system increase system behaviour uncertainty as well as the difficulties of precise identification and control. It also put systems biology research into trouble. To grasp the behaviour and characteristics of organism fundamentally, systems biology has to abandon the ＂analysis–reconstruction＂ concept. In accordance with the guidelines of complexity science, systems biology should build organism model from holistic level, just like the Chinese medicine did in dealing with human body and disease. When we study the living body from the holistic level, we will find the adaptability of complex system is not the obstacle that increases the difficulty of problem solving. It is the ＂exceptional＂, ＂right-hand man＂ that helping us to deal with the complexity of life more effectively.

NOVEL APPROACHES FOR THE DETERMINATION OF MULTIPLE PARTICULAR PESTICIDES IN TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINES WITH COMPLEX MATRICES

The pesticide contamination of Traditional Chinese Medicines(TCMs)takes different ways,which caused the complexity of pesticide residues.The effective control of pesticide residues and the establishment of relevant detection methods are very important for ensuring the safety of TCMs.Our group has been committed to the determination of pesticide residues in TCMs for years.

Exploring Traditional Chinese Medicine by A Novel Therapeutic Concept of Network Target

Traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） holds a holistic theory, and specializes in balancing disordered human body using numerous natural products, particularly Chinese herbal formulae. TCM has certain treatment advantages for patients suffering from various complex diseases. However, due to the complex nature of TCM, it remains difficult to unveil such holistic medicine by the current reductionism research strategies, which treat both herbal ingredients and targets in isolation. Recently, an emerging network pharmacology approach has been introduced to tackle this bottleneck problem. A TCM-derived novel therapeutic concept, ＂network target＂, which is different from the Western medicine＇s ＂onetarget＂ concept, has been proposed from China. The network target strategy is able to illustrate the complex interactions among the biological systems, drugs, and complex diseases from a network perspective, and thus provides an innovative approach to access ancient remedies in a precision manner and at a systematic level, which also highlights TCM＇s potential in current medical systems.

A quantification model of Traditional Chinese Medicine syndromes in children with idiopathic precocious puberty and early puberty

OBJECTIVE:To establish a quantification model of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)syndromes by sampling patients undergoing idiopathic precocious puberty(IPP)and early puberty.METHODS:A questionnaire for classifying and quantifying TCM syndromes was designed and administered.All the results were analyzed;the relationship between 3 types of syndrome and 47symptoms were summated.Meanwhile,the frequency distribution of each symptom or sign was aggregated.Fuzzy mathematics was used to develop a quantification model ofTCM syndromes.RESULTS:We found that precocious puberty had 3types of syndrome,including hyperactivity of fire due to Yin deficiency(Syndrome I),depressed liver Qi transforming into fire(Syndrome II),and end retention of damp heat(Syndrome III).In the IPP group,Syndrome I was the most common principal syndrome(100%).Forty-six patients(43.81%)werediagnosed with Syndrome I accompanied by Syndrome II and 11(10.48%)were diagnosed with Syndrome I accompanied by Syndrome III.In the early puberty group,Syndrome I was also the main syndrome(98.39%).The degrees of most symptoms were mild to moderate.Reddened tongue was the most common tongue manifestation(62.86%prevalence)in the IPP group.The most common pulse manifestations were slippery pulse,thread pulse,and taut pulse.The Asymptotic Normalization Coefficient(ANC)method was used to quantify the TCM syndromes in 167 cases.Diagnostic accuracy rate reached 91%,comparable to expert diagnosis.CONCLUSION:We find that there are 3 types of syndrome in the IPP group and in the early puberty group.Syndrome I(hyperactivity of fire due to Yin deficiency)is the main syndrome in the two groups.ANC may be an appropriate for quantification model ofTCM syndromes.

Study on the Complex Prescription Compatibility Law of the Cold and Hot Nature of Mahuang Decoction(麻黄汤) and Its Categorized Formulae Based on the Cold-Hot Pad Differentiating Assay

Objective：To explore the complex prescription compatibility law of the cold and hot nature of Mahuang Decoction（麻黄汤,MHD） and Maxing Shigan Decoction（麻杏石甘汤,MXSGD）,both categorized formulas but with different hot/cold natures.Methods：Oxygen consumption of mice was determined among three groups：MHD,MXSGD and the control;a cold-hot pad differentiating assay was used to observe the variability of temperature tropism among the groups of mice which was treated with MHD,MXSGD,and their compositions. Meanwhile,the total anti-oxidant capability（T-AOC） activity were detected.Results：After administration of MHD, the mice showed increased oxygen consumption（P0.01）.Compared with MHD group,the remaining rate of MXSGD mice on the hot pad was found to be significantly increased with the cold-hot pad differentiating assay （P0.05）.There was no significant difference（P0.05） among the remaining rates of MXSGD,MXSGD with high dose Gypsum Fibrosum（MXHGF） group,and MXSGD with low dose Gypsum Fibrosum（MXLGF） group mice.Compared with the MHD group,T-AOC activity of the mice in the Consensus Compositons group was significantly decreased（P=0.0494）.Compared with the MXSGD group,T-AOC activity of Gypsum Fibrosum （GF） group was increased significantly（P=0.0013）.Conclusions：The differences in cold and hot nature could be represented objectively between MHD with a hot nature and MXSGD with a cold nature.The reason may be the Gypsum Fibrosum which decreased the efficacy of the consensus compositions.However,increasing or decreasing the dose of Gypsum Fibrosum will not change the cold and hot nature of MXSGD.

RESEARCH OF COMPLEX AND BIOACTIVE TERPENOIDS FROM MEDICINAL PLANTS OF MELIACEAE FAMILY

In China,many plants of Meliaceae,distributed mainly in Southern China,were well-known Chinese folk medicines using to treat dysentery and fever.Recently,plants from Meliaceae were the research focus of natural products because of their diverse structures and interesting biological properties.In order to discover novel and bioactive natural products from Chinese folk medicinal plants,we have investigated the chemical constituents and bioactivity