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.

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.

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.

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.

Survey of dose-effect relationship in Chinese materia medica

The research on the dose-effect relationship in Chinese materia medica is delayed due to the complexity of its composition, multi-efficacy, multi-targeting and other factors. Many experts put forward relevant research ideas and methods and worked out more and more research results in literature, experimental and clinical categories because of the progress of statistical methods and scientific and technological means in recent years. In this paper, these results were preliminarily combed to show the basic situation of dose-effect relationship research in Chinese materia medica.

Clinical metabolic analysis combined with traceability of biosynthetic pathway:a new approach to quality marker of Chinese materia medica

Quality marker(Q-marker)of Chinese materia medica(CMM)plays an important role in quality control of CMM products.However,its research strategy and technique remain unclear.Based on the fact that quality standard of CMM should be associated with clinical efficacy,taking Jinqi Jiangtang tablet treating type 2 diabetes as an example,the Q-marker related to activity via the reverse analysis of drug metabolism in clinic and traceability of botanic biosynthetic pathways is discovered and validated.Therefore,we proposed a new research strategy of Q-marker of CMM with"Discovery of clinical active constituents as guidance,Reverse analysis of metabolic transformations as link,and Traceability of biosynthesis pathways as key",to improve quality control of CMM products.

Enlightenment from WHO Pharmacovigilance in Construction of Chinese Materia Medica Pharmacovigilance System

With the widespread concern about the safety of Chinese materia medica, China urgently needs to build a Chinese materia medica pharmacovigilance system that conforms to the national development policy and has the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). A good job of pharmacovigilance of Chinese materia medica not only helps Chinese pharmaceutical companies to control their risks, but also guides them to use drugs safely and rationally. And it is also of great significance to the national drug regulatory work. Based on the monitoring of herbal safety in WHO pharmacovigilance system, the establishment of a Chinese materia medica pharmacovigilance system was explored in order to provide a valuable reference for the risk control of Chinese pharmaceutical companies, the clinical use of Chinese materia medica, and the national drug regulatory work.

Research progress in mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis(KOA)is a chronic degenerative Osteoarthritis disease.The majority of patients with knee osteoarthritis were elderly patients.The disease not only greatly affects the work and life of patients but also brings serious burden to families and society.The traditional Chinese medicine has a long history in China,which has shown a multi-pathway and multitarget mechanism for the prevention and treatment of knee osteoarthritis.According to the properties of Chinese medicine,it was divided into four categories:drugs to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis,drugs to clear heat,drugs to dispel wind dampness and drugs to tonify deficiency.In addition,the relevant literatures at home and abroad in recent five years were reviewed to summarize and generalize the mechanism of traditionalChinese medicine in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis,in order to provide reference for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis with traditional Chinese medicine.

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.

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.

Analysis of the Application of“Jing(精)”in Ben Cao Gang Mu(《本草纲自〉Compendium of Materia Medica)

Taking the Ben Cao Gang Mu(《本草纲目》Compendium of Materia Medica)(Jinling edition金陵本)as the research object and“Jing”as the search term,this article summarizes the quantity of medicinals containing“Jing”in Ben Cao Gang Mu,analyzes the connotation and application of“Jing”in traditional Chinese medicine,and finds that the application of“Jing”in medicine does not deviate from the original meaning of“Jing,”but endows it with the concepts of medicine and pharmacy,and expands the application scope of“Jing.”This study is helpful to understand and use spermicide more reasonably.

First ISO International Standard on Chinese Materia Medica

ISO 18662-1：2017, Traditional Chinese medicine - Vocabulary - Part 1： Chinese Materia Medica （CMM） was officially released recently. The standard is the first terminology standard published by ISO/TC 249, Traditional Chinese medicine, which provides an important basis to standardize and uniform the terminology of traditional Chinese medicine in the international community.

中药复方干预肥胖型多囊卵巢综合征糖脂代谢异常的Meta分析

目的:通过文献研究阐述中药干预肥胖型多囊卵巢综合征(polycystic ovary syndrome,PCOS)患者代谢异常的有效性及安全性。方法:计算机检索国内外主流医药数据库中关于中医、中西医结合对比单纯西药治疗PCOS的随机对照试验(randomized controlled trial,RCT)。参照Cochrane系统评价手册对全文的设计方案进行质量评价,采用RevMan 5.4软件进行Meta分析。结果:纳入22项RCT进行Meta分析,中药或中西药联合治疗不仅在提升排卵率这一主要研究指标上优于单纯西药治疗(P<0.05),还在改善胰岛素抵抗指数(homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance,HOMA-IR)、空腹胰岛素(fasting insulin,FINS)、体质量指数(body mass index,BMI)、三酰甘油(triglyceride,TG)、总胆固醇(total cholesterol,TC)、低密度脂蛋白(low density lipoprotein,LDL)、高密度脂蛋白(high density lipoprotein,HDL)等方面优于单纯西药治疗(均P<0.05),但在调节空腹血糖(fasting blood glucose,FBG)和腰臀比(waist-to-hip ratio,WHR)方面与西药治疗差异无统计学意义(均P>0.05)。结论:中药或中西药联合干预肥胖型PCOS糖脂代谢异常,具有多途径、多靶点调控作用,无严重不良反应,优于单纯西药治疗。

Discovery of the relationship between bitter taste and bitter flavor (efficacy) based on hTAS2Rs

Objective:To explore the relationship between bitter taste and bitter flavor(efficacy),their character-istics were analyzed at the target and pharmacodynamic points.Methods:Compounds with bitter receptor activity were obtained by high-throughput screening models of the human bitter taste receptors(hTAS2Rs),which were used to analyze bitter taste.The efficacy of anti-asthma medications was used as an example to research bitter flavor(efficacy).The pharmacological effects of bitter taste and bitter flavor(efficacy)were classified according to the functional modules.The coverage for the same targets or pharmacological effects in the overall protein interaction network(PIN)of bitter taste and bitter flavor(efficacy)was analyzed to reveal their relationship.The effect of the compound polydatin with anti-asthma activation on hTAS2R14 was studied to verify the reliability of the aforementioned idea.Results:A total of 121 Chinese materia medica(CMM)compounds that activate hTAS2R10,hTAS2R14,and hTAS2R49 were obtained.The analysis results indicated that 108 same targets for bitter taste and bitter flavor(efficacy)were obtained,accounting for 13.9%in the PIN of bitter taste and 72.5%in the PIN of bitter flavor(efficacy).The pharmacological effects shared by bitter taste and bitter flavor(efficacy)accounted for 79%of the PIN of bitter taste and 81%of the PIN of bitter flavor(efficacy).The activating effect of the anti-asthma compound polydatin on hTAS2R14 was dose-dependent with EC 50 of 4.3 m M.Conclusion:In this study,the relationship between bitter taste and bitter flavor(efficacy)has been demonstrated from the target and pharmacodynamic points,which are based on hTAS2Rs and anti-asthma effect.Bitter taste and bitter flavor(efficacy)exhibited a high correlation.This study provides a theoretical and scientific basis for the hypothesis that“the property theory of CMM is the clinical pharmacodynamics of CMM.”

Study on the interaction between volatile oil components and skin lipids based on molecular docking techniques

Objective To analyze the interactions between different structural types of volatile oil compo-nents(VOCs)and skin lipid molecules;and investigate the mechanism of volatile oil in Chi-nese materia medica(VOCMM)as penetration enhancers.Methods In this study;210 different structural types of VOCs were selected from the VOCMM penetration enhancer database;and the molecular docking experiments were conducted with three main lipid molecules of skin:ceramide 2(CER2);cholesterol(CHL);and free fatty acid(FFA).Each VOC was docked individually with each lipid molecule.Cluster analysis was used to explore the relationship between the binding energy of VOCs and their molecular struc-tures.Nine specific pathogen-free(SPF)Sprague Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided in-to Control;Nootkatone;and 3-Butylidenephthalide groups for in vitro percutaneous experi-ments;with three rats in each group.The donor pool solutions were 3%gastrodin;3%gas-trodin+3%nootkatone;and 3%gastrodin+3%3-butylidenephthalide;respectively.The pen-etration enhancing effects of VOCs with higher binding energy were evaluated by comparing the 12-hour cumulative percutaneous absorption of gastrodin(Q12;µg/cm²).Results(i)Most of the VOCs were non-hydrogen bonded to the hydrophobic parts of CHL and FFA;and hydrogen bonded to the head group of CER2.Among them;sesquiterpene ox-ides showed the most pronounced binding affinity to CER2.The VOCs with 2-4 rings(in-cluding carbon rings;benzene rings;and heterocycles)demonstrated stronger binding affini-ty for three skin lipid molecules compared with the VOCs without intramolecular rings(P<0.01).(ii)According to the cluster analysis;most of the VOCs that bond well to CER2 had 2-3 intramolecular rings.The non-oxygenated VOCs were bonded to CER2 in a hydrophobic manner.The oxygenated VOCs were mostly bonded to CER2 by hydrogen bonding.(iii)The results of Franz diffusion cell experiment showed that the Q12 of Control group was 260.60±25.09µg/cm2;and the transdermal absorption of gastrodin was significantly increased in Nootkatone group(Q12=5503.00±1080.00µg/cm²;P<0.01).The transdermal absorption of gastrodin was also increased in 3-Butylidenephthalide group(Q12=495.40±56.98µg/cm²;P>0.05).(iv)The type of oxygen-containing functional groups in VOCs was also an influencing factor of binding affinity to CER2.Conclusion The interactions between different types of VOCs with different structures in the VOCMM and three skin lipid molecules in the stratum corneum were investigated at the molecular level in this paper.This research provided theoretical guidance and data support for the screening of volatile oil-based penetration enhancers;and a simple and rapid method for studying the penetration-enhancing mechanism of volatile oils.

The Antagonistic Action of Heat-Clearing and Detoxifying Chinese Drugs on Endotoxins

In the recent decade, interest in treatment and prevention of many critical, severe and acute diseases caused by bacterial endotoxins has been aroused along with the advance of the knowledge on the nature of the endotoxin and the conditions involved. In abroad, attention has been mainly payed to raising antisera and monocolonal antibodies against the endotoxin and the induced mediators. However, the allergic reactions and the cost are still the problems. Till now, there is no drug that can antagonize endotoxin with high effectiveness and low toxicity. Clinical treatments are still confined in inhibiting or killing the pathogen, and correcting the internal environmental disturbance. Being less toxic and rich in resources with low cost and less side-effects, screening of effective Chinese drugs for antagonizing endotoxin is of important and practical significance. Endotoxin belongs to the category of toxic evils, or more precisely, the heat toxin in TCM. Therefore the application of heat-clearing and detoxifying Chinese drugs to antagonizing endotoxins is consistent with the theory of TCM. Some achievements in this field are reported as follows.

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.

Production of Chinese Medicinal Herbs in North America:Challenge and Reconciliation

As the practice of traditional Chinese medicine developed in the United States since the 1970s,evidence has accumulated suggesting that an undetermined number of the herbs of the Chinese Materia Medica could be produced in North America.While some attempts have been made to establish production,growers are inhibited by lack of access to capital and technical support.The evidence in support of US domestic production–including(1)historical,(2)sociological,(3)ecological,and(4)agronomic factors–is reviewed.Economic obstacles to this type of production are described,as directly experienced by the farmers,Chinese herbal medicine practitioners,and organizers involved.When analyzed in reference to current trends,however,these economic obstacles appear,at least potentially,as temporary.Because popular demand supported the rise of traditional Chinese medicine practice and the growth of organic food production,these social movements could expand and promote conditions that favor domestic production of Chinese herbs.