Developments in the study of Chinese herbal medicine's assessment index and action mechanism for diabetes mellitus

In traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),based on various pathogenic symptoms and the‘golden chamber’medical text,Huangdi Neijing,diabetes mellitus falls under the category‘collateral disease’.TCM,with its wealth of experience,has been treating diabetes for over two millennia.Different antidiabetic Chinese herbal medicines re-duce blood sugar,with their effective ingredients exerting unique advantages.As well as a glucose lowering effect,TCM also regulates bodily functions to prevent diabetes associated complications,with reduced side effects compared to western synthetic drugs.Chinese herbal medicine is usually composed of polysaccharides,saponins,al-kaloids,flavonoids,and terpenoids.These active ingredients reduce blood sugar via various mechanism of actions that include boosting endogenous insulin secretion,enhancing insulin sensitivity and adjusting key enzyme activity and scavenging free radicals.These actions regulate glycolipid metabolism in the body,eventually achiev-ing the goal of normalizing blood glucose.Using different animal models,a number of molecular markers are available for the detection of diabetes induction and the molecular pathology of the disease is becoming clearer.Nonetheless,there is a dearth of scientific data about the pharmacology,dose-effect relationship,and structure-activity relationship of TCM and its constituents.Further research into the efficacy,toxicity and mode of action of TCM,using different metabolic and molecular markers,is key to developing novel TCM antidiabetic formulations.

Model informed precision medicine of Chinese herbal medicines formulas-A multi-scale mechanistic intelligent model

Recent trends suggest that Chinese herbal medicine formulas(CHM formulas)are promising treatments for complex diseases.To characterize the precise syndromes,precise diseases and precise targets of the precise targets between complex diseases and CHM formulas,we developed an artificial intelligence-based quantitative predictive algorithm(DeepTCM).DeepTCM has gone through multilevel model calibration and validation against a comprehensive set of herb and disease data so that it accurately captures the complex cellular signaling,molecular and theoretical levels of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).As an example,our model simulated the optimal CHM formulas for the treatment of coronary heart disease(CHD)with depression,and through model sensitivity analysis,we calculated the balanced scoring of the formulas.Furthermore,we constructed a biological knowledge graph representing interactions by associating herb-target and gene-disease interactions.Finally,we experimentally confirmed the therapeutic effect and pharmacological mechanism of a novel model-predicted intervention in humans and mice.This novel multiscale model opened up a new avenue to combine“disease syndrome”and“macro micro”system modeling to facilitate translational research in CHM formulas.

Unveiling the anticancer effect of traditional Chinese herbal medicine

In this issue of World Journal of Gastroenterology,Huang et al reported that Calculus bovis(CB),a traditional Chinese herbal medicine,impedes the growth of liver cancers in vivo.Through further in vitro studies,they showed that CB suppressed the M2 polarization of tumor-associated macrophages by suppressing the Wnt signaling pathway,which consequently inhibited the growth of liver cancer.Although the effects of traditional Chinese herbal medicine are often not scientifically proven,Huang et al successfully identified the molecular mechanism involved in the anticancer effect of CB,and it is anticipated that the molecular mechanisms involved in the effects of other traditional Chinese herbal medicines will be scientifically elucidated,as demonstrated in this article.

Chinese herbal medicine combined with Western medicine for Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children:An overview of systematic reviews

Objective:To summarize the characteristics and evaluate the quality of the methodology and evidence within systematic reviews(SRs)of Chinese herbal medicine(CHM)for Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP)inchildren.Methods:SRs of randomized controlled trials were searched using PubMed,the Cochrane Library,Embase,the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Databases(CNKI),the Chinese Scientific Journals Database(VIP),Wanfang,and the SinoMed Database.SRs on the use of CHM alone or in combination with Western medications for MPP in children were included.The study compared the effects of Western medicine alone with those of CHM.The evidence quality using the A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews(AMSTAR)2,the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA)2020,and the Grading of Recommendations,Assessment,Development,and Evaluation(GRADE)criteria.The primary indicators were the total effective rate,fever subsidence time,and cough disappearance time.The secondary outcomes were pulmonary rale disappearance time,average hospitalization time,lung X-ray infiltrate disappearance time,immunological indices,and inflammatory cytokine levels.Results:Twelve relevant SRs were included;75%(9/12)were assessed as very low quality,and 25%(3/12)Were rated as low quality using the AMSTAR 2 criteria.According to the PRISMA 2020 checklist,the average SR score was 20.3 out of a 27 point maximum.In all SRs,CHM demonstrated improvement in symptoms and signs among children with MPP.The evidence quality using the GRADE criteria ranged from"very low"(>50%)to"moderate"(<5%).The most common downgrading factor was imprecision,followed by publication bias and inconsistency.Conclusion:This overview highlights the limited quality of the methodology and evidence of the included SRs.Although the included studies showed the beneficial effects of CHM on MPP in children,it was difficult to draw firm conclusions owing to methodological flaws.

Integration of 1H-NMR-Based Metabolomics Approach with Traditional Chinese Pulse Diagnosis to Evaluate the Qi-Enhancing Activity of Herbal Tea

Human metabolism is intricately linked to an individual’s health status. Regardless of living habits, it will be reflected in the metabolic characteristics of urine. The utilization of the 1H NMR-based metabolomics method has enabled examine the metabolomic changes in urine under various physiology conditions, providing valuable insights into metabolites. In this particular study, volunteers were divided into two groups based on the strength of their spleen pulses, using the pulse diagnosis method employed in traditional Chinese medicine. Subsequently, their urine samples were analyzed, revealing notable variances in urea, creatinine, citric acid, succinic acid, trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), alanine, hippuric acid, and glycine between the two groups. Interestingly, individuals with weak spleen pulses showed significant improvements after consuming herbal tea. Furthermore, we conducted LC-MS analysis on herbal tea and performed adenosine triphosphate (ATP) activity tests on the C2C12 mouse skeletal muscle cell line. The results indicated that within a reasonable concentration range, exposure to herbal tea led to an increase in the mitochondrial ATP production capacity of C2C12 cells. These findings shed light on the relationship between traditional Chinese medicine pulse diagnosis and urine metabolites, highlighting their potential as non-invasive and straightforward health assessment indicators. They can aid in the preliminary determination of necessary dietary and lifestyle changes to enhance overall bodily health.

The potential of Chinese herbal medicines in treating anxiety disorders

In recent years,there has not been much progress in developing anxiolytic drugs.Amongst the barriers are the lack of clarity on the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders,low product conversion rates for developing drugs targeting the receptors,and species variability.Some scientists have focused on natural medicines,especially herbal medicines in traditional Chinese medicine.New drugs with excellent anxiolytic activity are hoped to be found in herbal medicines with anxiolytic effects.This mini-review summarised three Chinese herbal medicines with anxiolytic effects and anxiolytic herbal formulas used in the traditional Chinese medicine clinic.Several key issues that block the development of new anxiolytic drugs are also discussed.We hope to provide some ideas for researching and developing new anxiolytic drugs and studying anxiolytic components in traditional Chinese medicine.

The Chinese Herbal Formula Weichang’an Reduces the Proliferation of Human Gastric Cancer Cells via Mitochondrial Apoptosis

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of Chinese herbal formula Weichang’an(WCA)on the proliferation and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells.Methods Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK8)was used to evaluate the antiproliferative activity ofWCA on MKN45 cells;Giemsa staining was used to investigate cell colony formation;flow cytometry was used to analyze cell cycle,apoptosis rate,and caspases activation;and Hoechst staining was used to analyze the morphology of cell nuclei.The mitochondrial membrane potential was analyzed by both flow cytometric measurements and fluorescence microscopy.Western blot was used to analyze the protein levels of pro-caspase-3,Bcl-2,Bax,and Bcl-X.MKN45 cells were subcutaneously injected into the right forelimb of 16 nude mice to establish the tumor xenograft model,and a total of 12 nude mouse tumor xenograft models were successfully created.The nude mice were divided into the control group and the WCA-treated group.The two groups received normal saline and WCA treatment at 35.49 g/kg by a single daily oral gavage for 21 days.The body weight and tumor size of the nude mice were measured twice a week.The ultrastructural changes of subcutaneous tumors were observed by a transmission electron microscope.Results WCA can suppress cell proliferation and colony formation.It can also induce changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential and increase the activities of caspases-3,caspases-8,and caspases-9 in MKN45 cells.WCA induced S-phase arrest and apoptosis in MKN45 cells,and decreased the expression levels of antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-X in MKN45 cells,while increasing the expression levels of the proapoptotic proteins Bax and pro-caspase-3 compared with the control group.WCA inhibited the growth of a xenografted MKN45 tumor in nude mice,and the protein levels of Bax and pro-caspase-3 were significantly increased,while Bcl-X and Bcl-2 were reduced compared with the control group.The differences are statistically significant(p<0.05).Conclusion WCA could suppress the proliferation of gastric cancer cells via mitochondrial apoptosis.

Molecular mechanism and research progress of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer(PCa)is one of the most common malignant tumors in the male genitourinary system,ranking second in incidence worldwide.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),as an important component of complementary and alternative medicine,shows unique advantages in cancer treatment.Chinese herbal medicine is usually composed of multiple ingredients and involves multiple signaling pathways,which showed function of inducing apoptosis of cancer cells,arresting the cell cycle,inhibiting invasion and metastasis,reducing drug resistance,and regulating immune function.Physical therapy is also an important treatment of TCM.Currently,Physical therapy such as acupuncture or Tai Chi and Qigong are gaining increased recognition in the management of PCa,particularly in addressing issues like urinary incontinence and bone metastasis-related pain.This article reviews the TCM treatment and therapy of PCa,in order to provide new research avenues and treatment options for the treatment of PCa with TCM and improve the quality of life of patients.

In Silico Screening of Potential Inhibitors against dPLA2 from Named Chinese Herbs for Identification of Compounds with Antivenom Effects Due to Deinagkistrodon acutus Snake Bites

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is the key enzyme to the venom from Deinagkistrodon acutus which is one of the highly venomous snakes in China. In addition to being a catalyst for the hydrolysis of phospholipases A2 from snake venom, its well known that it possesses a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, such as myotoxicity, neurotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, and hemolytic, anticoagulant and antiplatelet activities. However, snakebites are not efficiently treated by conventional serum therapy. Acute wounds can still cause poisoning and death. In order to find effective inhibitors of Deinagkistrodon venom acid phospholipase A2 (dPLA2), we obtained 385 compounds in 9 Chinese herbs from the TCMSP. These compounds were further performed to virtual screen using in silico tools like ADMET analysis, molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. After Pharmacokinetics analysis, we found 7 candidate compounds. Besides, analysis of small molecule interactions with dPLA2 confirmed that the amino acid residues HIS47 and GLY29 are key targets. Because they bind not only to the natural substrate phosphatidylcholine and compounds known for having inhibitory functions, but also for combining with potential antidote molecules in Chinese herbal medicine. This study is the first to report experience with virtual screening for possible inhibitor of dPLA2, such as the interaction spatial structure, binding energy and binding interaction analysis, these experiences not only provide reference for further experimental research, but also have a guideline for the study of drug molecular mechanism of action.

Integration of traditional,complementary,and alternative medicine with modern biomedicine:the scientization,evidence,and challenges for integration of traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional medicine has garnered significant global recognition,with an estimated 80%of the global population using it.Therefore,it is essential to fully understand the integration of traditional medicines into current healthcare systems.This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the standard process to modernize traditional medicine scientifically in the context of modern biomedicine,further termed here as“scientization”.Specifically,we aim to summarize the advancements made in understanding the efficacy,effectiveness,and underlying mechanisms of herbal medicine.We also examined the transition from experience-to evidence-based medicine during acupuncture.Furthermore,we explore the development of universal safety and quality control standards.Finally,we discuss international trade and export markets for Chinese medical products.The development and integration of traditional medicine have allowed it to further improve human health,resulting in a more comprehensive health solution for the global population.

Clinical study on microscopic syndrome differentiation and traditional Chinese medicine treatment for liver stomach disharmony in chronic gastritis

BACKGROUND Chronic gastritis(CG)is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by inflammation of the stomach lining.Liver-stomach disharmony(LSD)syndrome is believed to contribute to CG symptoms.AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of microcosmic syndrome differentiation and Chinese herbal medicine(CHM)treatment in patients with CG and LSD syndrome.METHODS Sixty-four patients with CG and LSD syndrome were randomly divided into two groups:The treatment group received CHM based on microcosmic syndrome differentiation and the control group received conventional Western medicine.The treatment course lasted 12 wk.The primary outcome was improvement in dyspeptic symptoms,measured using the Nepean Dyspepsia Index.The secondary outcomes included the improvement rate of endoscopic findings,histopathological findings,and microcosmic syndrome scores and the incidence of adverse events.RESULTS After 12 wk of treatment,the treatment group showed significantly greater improvement in dyspeptic symptoms than the control group(93.75%vs 65.63%,P<0.01).The treatment group also showed a significantly higher improvement rate in endoscopic findings than the control group(81.25%vs 53.13%,P<0.05).The improvement rates of histopathological findings and microcosmic syndrome scores were not significantly different between the two groups(P>0.05).No serious adverse events were observed in either group.CONCLUSION Microcosmic syndrome differentiation and CHM treatment can effectively improve dyspeptic symptoms and endoscopic findings in patients with CG and LSD syndrome and have a good safety profile.Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are required to confirm the long-term efficacy and mechanism of action of this treatment.

Transplanted: Chinese Herbal Medicine in the United States, 1800-1911

Chinese medicine has a long history in the United States, dating back to its colonial period and extending up to the present. This essay focuses on the earliest generation of practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine in the United States. Although acupuncture is the modality most commonly associated with Chinese medicine in today's medical marketplace, up until the 1970s, Chinese healers in the United States typically specialized in herbalism. Well before mass emigration from China to the United States began, Chinese material medica crossed the oceans, in both directions: Chinese medicinal teas and herbs came west while Appalachian ginseng went east. Beginning in the 1850s, Chinese immigrants came to the United States and transplanted their health practices, sometimes quite literally by propagating medicinal plants in their adopted home. Over time, Chinese doctors learned how to sell their services to non-Chinese patients by presenting herbalism as “nature's remedies.”

Comparative efficacy of traditional Chinese herbal injection for chronic renal failure:A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Objective: To conduct a systematic review and network meta-analysis(NMA) for the comparison of the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal injection(CHI) combined with Western medicine(WM) and WM monotherapy for chronic renal failure(CRF).Methods: Eight databases were searched from inception to August 30, 2022. Randomized controlled trials(RCTs) regarding the comparison of CHI-WM combination therapy and WM monotherapy were included. Literature search, risk-of-bias assessment, and data extraction were conducted by 2 reviewers independently. NMA was performed by Stata 14.0, R 4.0.4 software, and the latest risk of bias assessment tool 2(RoB 2).Results: A total of 53 RCTs were finally included, involving 4445 participants and 16 CHIs. RoB 2 showed that 2 of these studies had a high risk of bias. Tianqi injection(TQ) + WM was the most effective in reducing serum creatinine(Scr) level. Xingding injection(XD) + WM was the most effective in reducing blood urea nitrogen(BUN) and cystatin C(Cys C) levels. Guhong injection(GH) + WM had the highest endogenous creatinine clearance rate(Ccr). Shuxuetong injection(SXT) + WM was the most effective in improving the clinical effective rate. Danhong injection(DH) + WM resulted in the lowest 24-h urinary protein quantity(24 h-UPQ), while Danshen injection(DS) + WM led to the lowest blood uric acid(UA)level. Shenfu injection(SF) + WM was the most effective in increasing hemoglobin(Hb) level.Conclusion: CHIs-WM combination therapy is more effective than WM monotherapy in treating CRF.Considering all of the indicators, SK + WM may be the optimal treatment option for improving renal function in patients with CRF.

Clinical Observation of Chinese Medicinal Prescriptions for Swelling and Pain in The Postoperative Treatment of Mixed Hemorrhoids

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)on reducing swelling and pain in patients with mixed hemorrhoids.Methods:Sixty patients with mixed hemorrhoids who were admitted to the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Qiqihar from January 2023 to January 2024 were selected and divided into two groups.The treatment group(n=30)was treated with mixed hemorrhoid ligation combined with traditional Chinese swelling and pain medicine,and the control group(n=30)was only treated with mixed hemorrhoid ligation.The pain level,edema score,and prognosis of the two groups after the intervention were analyzed.The clinical efficacy was used as the evaluation criterion to compare the clinical effects of different treatment options.Results:After the treatment,the pain score,edema score,and prognostic wound score of the treatment group were all lower than those of the control group(P 0.05).The total clinical effectiveness of the treatment group(100%)was higher than that of the control group(76.67%),(χ^(2)=4.2857,P<0.05).Conclusion:The application of traditional Chinese swelling and pain medicine in treating patients with mixed hemorrhoids effectively reduced the patient’s pain,reduced the degree of wound edema,promoted wound healing,and improved the patient’s prognosis.The curative effect was significant and had a positive impact.

Bioactive Components of Chinese Herbal Medicines in the Treatment of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism Disorders:Evidence and Potential Mechanisms

Disturbed cholesterol and glucose homeostasis play crucial roles in the development of various diseases such as cardiovascular diseases,cerebrovascular diseases,central nervous system diseases,and cancer.An increasing number of studies have shown that excessive body fat accumulation is associated with type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance in a vicious cycle.This vicious cycle promotes the occurrence and development of the aforementioned diseases.Therefore,stabilizing the blood lipids and blood glucose of patients is the predominant strategy for improving the symptoms of patients with cardiovascular,cerebrovascular,and central nervous system diseases.Traditional Chinese medicine,mainly Chinese herbal medicine(CHM),has a history of more than 2000 years in China,which has established a unique theory and accumulated a great wealth of clinical experience.Moreover,CHM has been widely used in China and other countries for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases,with the advantages of preventing and curing hyperlipidemia,diabetes,hypertension,and other diseases.However,the use of CHM in Western countries remains rather limited,partly because of the incomplete understanding of multiple complex components and uncertain pharmacological mechanisms.Herein,we review and discuss the benefits,molecular mechanisms,and clinical research progress of bioactive components of CHM and their preparations as therapeutics for hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia.

Comparing the effectiveness of pattern differentiation treatment and fixed formula treatment for perimenopausal syndrome with Chinese herbal medicine:A study protocol

Objective:To further understand and compare the effectiveness of pattern differentiation treatment and fixed prescription treatment in perimenopausal syndrome.Methods:The study will be conducted in the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions Workers'Medical Clinics,Hong Kong Baptist University Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Training and Research Centre(Hong Kong,China).One hundred Chinese women,aged 45-55 years,will be recruited.The participants will be randomized into 2 groups.The intervention group will be administered medication,based on pattern differentiation,by qualified traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)practitioners.After each evaluation,TCM practitioners will evaluate and revise the prescription,based on the participants'patterns.The control group will be given the standard formula,i.e.,the Erxian decoction,which contains 6 herbs.The treatment period and the follow-up period will be 8 weeks each.The primary assessment outcome measure will be the Kupperman Index,and the secondary outcome measure will be the Menopause-specific Quality of Life Questionnaire score.Conclusion:Pattern-differentiated treatment is the basic principle of TCM to understand and treat diseases.The study will show the pattern-differentiated treatment is effectiveness than the fixed prescription.

Reduced risk of dementia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using Chinese herbal medicine:A nested case-control study

BACKGROUND Dementia is a prevalent condition in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)patients.While Chinese herbal medicine(CHM)is often employed as complementary therapy for glycemic control,its effect in controlling likelihood of dementia has not yet been fully elucidated.AIM To compare the risk of dementia between T2DM patients with and without CHM treatment.METHODS We undertook a nested case-control study and obtained data on patients 20-70 years of age who received medical care for T2DM between 2001 and 2010 from the National Health Insurance Research database in Taiwan.Cases,defined as those with dementia that occurred at least one year after the diagnosis of T2DM,were randomly matched to controls without dementia from the study cohort at a 1:1 ratio.We applied conditional logistic regression to explore the associations between CHM treatment and dementia.RESULTS A total of 11699 dementia cases were matched to 11699 non-dementia controls.We found that adding CHM to conventional care was related to a lower risk of dementia[adjusted odds ratio(OR)=0.51],and high-intensity CHM treatment was associated with an adjusted OR of 0.22.CONCLUSION This study shows that the cumulative CHM exposure was inversely associated with dementia risk in an exposureresponse manner,implying that CHM treatment may be embraced as a disease management approach for diabetic patients to prevent dementia.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of endometrial thickening during endocrine therapy combined with Chinese herbal medicine intervention after breast cancer surgery

Objective:To systematically evaluate the endometrial thickening and Chinese herbal medicine intervention effects during endocrine therapy following breast cancer surgery.Methods:Computerized searches were performed on CNKI,CBM,Wanfang,VIP,Pub Med,Embase,and Cochrane to gather randomized controlled trials(RCTs)of endometrial thickening combined with Chinese herbal medicine intervention during endocrine therapy after breast cancer surgery.The meta analysis is done using Rev Man 5.4,and the retrieval range is from the database's creation to January 2023.Results:There were 710 patients enrolled in a total of 12 RCTs.The results of Meta-analysis were as follows:combined with Chinese herbal medicine treatment for 3 months of endometrial thickness(MD=-1.12,95%CI[-1.47,0.77],P<0.00001);6 months endometrial thickness(MD=-1.90,95%CI[-2.38,-1.42],P<0.00001);endometrial thickness at 12 months(MD=-2.24,95%CI[-2.96,-1.52],P<0.00001);modified Kupperman score(MD=-10.45,95%CI[-19.10,-1.80],P=0.02);TCM syndrome score(SMD=-1.53,95%CI[-1.84,-1.22],P<0.00001);KPS score(MD=3.75,95%CI[2.81,4.68],P<0.00001);there was no significant difference in CA153,CEA,FSH and E2 between the two groups.Conclusion:After breast cancer surgery,endocrine therapy combined with Chinese herbal medicine can significantly lessen endometrial thickening and enhance patient quality of life.

Discovering the efficacy and mechanism of Chinese herbal medicine for distal symmetric polyneuropathy via integrating meta-analysis and network pharmacology analysis

Objective Chinese herbal medicine(CHM)has been commonly used in Distal Symmetric Polyneuropathy(DSPN)treatment with satisfactory clinical effects,but the underlying pharmacological mechanism of CHM on DSPN remains unclear.We aimed to identify frequently used clinically effective CHM and its potential pharmacological mechanisms for DSPN by conducting meta-analysis and network pharmacology analysis.Methods We searched both Chinese and English databases from March 1990 to October 2022.Studies that met the inclusion criteria were selected for meta-analysis.After extracting the relevant data,we performed meta-analysis and frequency analysis.The active compounds and predicted targets of high-frequency herbs and DSPN-related targets were extracted from public databases.Then we conducted network construction,Gene Ontology(GO)enrichment,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis to discover the potential pharmacological mechanisms.Results Sixteen articles were selected for meta-analysis,and nine high-frequency CHMs were identified,including Radix Astragali seu Hedysari,Rhizoma Ligustici,Caulis Spatholobi,Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae,Radix Paeoniae Alba,Flos Carthami,Radix Notoginseng,Radix Rehmanniae Recens,Rhizoma Corydalis.Fourteen hub targets including STAT3,CTNNB1,MAPK14,SRC,AKT1,TP53,EGFR,JUN,RELA,MAPK1,FOS,CCND1,HSP90AA1,MYC,and ten active compounds including Quercetin,Kaempferol,Luteolin,Apigenin,beta-sitosterol,Stigmasterol,Caffeic Acid,Aeginetic Acid,Vanillin,and Lauric Acid were identified by network analysis.Enrichment analysis showed that the biological process of hub targets included transcriptional regulation,cell proliferation,redox processes,apoptosis processes,ERK1 and ERK2 cascades,hypoxia reactions,MAPK cascades,and inflammatory responses.The main signalling pathways included HIF,TNF,and PI3K-AKT pathways.Conclusion Nine herbs were involved in the clinical therapeutic effect of CHM on DSPN treatment,and they may exert an anti-DSPN effect by regulating cell proliferation,apoptosis,and redox processes.

Integration of Chinese herbal medicines and exercise for insomnia:a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:As a disease,insomnia is often ignored by the general public.Insomnia,which not directly fatal,may be equivalent to chronic suicide if it is not paid attention to.However,there are many theories on how to treat insomnia,and researchers have been searching for a cure.Chinese herbal medicine(CHM)and exercise therapy(ET)are relatively effective,and have been used since ancient times to treat insomnia.This study aimed to examine the effect of CHM combined with ET(CHM-ET)on patients with insomnia.Methods:We searched eight electronic databases including PubMed,Web of Science,EMBASE,the Cochrane Library,the China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),the China Biology Medicine disc(CBMdisc),the China Science and Technology Journal Database(VIP),the Wanfang Database to find randomized controlled trials(RCTs)evaluating CHM-ET in the treatment of insomnia patients up to September 13,2022.Two researchers read and screened the publications to extract data.We used the pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI)as the evaluation indicators for each study,and the other was the total effective rate(TER).The Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool was used to assess the risk of bias of the included literature.The level of evidence for this result was assessed by GARDE method.The meta-analysis was performed using STATA 14 software and RevMan 5.3.The research method was registered with PROSPERO(CRD42022350926).Results:We included fourteen randomized controlled trials,which including a total of 1,126 participants.Compared with the control group,the experimental group showed significantly improvements in sleep effect as reflected by the reduced PSQI score[mean difference(MD)=-2.47,95%confidence interval(CI)(-3.15,-1.78),I^(2)=92%]with low quality of evidence,and increased TER[risk ratio(RR)=1.23,95%CI(1.14,1.33),I^(2)=40%]with moderate quality of evidence.Compared with hypnotic drugs,CHM-ET significantly reduced the PSQI score[mean difference(MD)=-3.18,95%CI(-5.48,-0.89),I^(2)=73%]with low quality of evidence.The PSQI of CHM-ET significantly decreased compared with single CHM[mean difference(MD)=-3.04,95%CI(-5.84,-0.25),I^(2)=98%]with low quality of evidence,and ET[mean difference(MD)=-2.44,95%CI(-2.87,-2.02),I^(2)=0%]with moderate quality of evidence.No serious adverse reactions were observed.Conclusion:This review suggested that CHM-ET may be an effective treatment for insomnia.However,given the limited quality of the studies and methodologies included in the trials,further rigorous randomized controlled trials are needed for more accurate results.