Progress on traditional Chinese medicine in improving hepatic fibrosis through inhibiting oxidative stress

Hepatic fibrosis is a common pathological process that occurs in the development of various chronic liver diseases into cirrhosis and liver cancer,characterized by excessive deposition of the extracellular matrix.In the past,hepatic fibrosis was thought to be a static and irreversible pathological process.In recent years,with the rapid development of molecular biology and the continuous in-depth study of the liver at the microscopic level,more and more evidence has shown that hepatic fibrosis is a dynamic and reversible process.Therefore,it is particularly important to find an effective,simple,and inexpensive method for its prevention and treatment.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)occupies an important position in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis due to its advantages of low adverse reactions,low cost,and multi-target effectiveness.A large number of research results have shown that TCM monomers,single herbal extracts,and TCM formulas play important roles in the prevention and treatment of hepatic fibrosis.Oxidative stress(OS)is one of the key factors in the occurrence and development of hepatic fibrosis.Therefore,this article reviews the progress in the understanding of the mechanisms of TCM monomers,single herbal extracts,and TCM formulas in preventing and treating hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting OS in recent years,in order to provide a reference and basis for drug therapy of hepatic fibrosis.

Chinese medicine monomer intervention reduces amyloid beta-induced nerve cell injury

Totally three articles focusing on the protective effects of Schisandrin B, berberine and curcumin against amyloid beta-induced neuronal toxicity were published in three issues. We hope that our readers find these papers useful to their research.

Chinese medicine active ingredients or monomers increase neuronal synaptic plasticity

Totally three articles focusing on Schisandra N-butanol extract effects on hippocampal CA1 synaptic morphology and plasticity in ovarectomized mice, as well as catalpol and GBE50 effects on neuronal synaptic plasticity in the motor cortex following cerebral ischemia were published in three issues. We hope that our readers find these papers useful to their research.

Research progress on the regulation of androgen receptor signaling pathway in the treatment of prostate cancer by traditional Chinese medicine monomers

The prevalence of prostate cancer in males worldwide is increasing every year.Androgen and androgen receptor drive the development of prostate cancer and are important targets for the treatment of prostate cancer.A growing number of reports indicate that the traditional Chinese medicine has a clear advantage in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.This article provides an overview of the in vitro and in vivo studies of different traditional Chinese medicine monomers acting on the androgen receptor-signaling pathway in prostate cancer.

Research progress of traditional Chinese medicine monomers in intervening colorectal cancer by regulating MAPK signaling pathway

The incidence rate and mortality rate of colorectal cancer in China are increasing year by year.Finding effective therapeutic strategies and interventions,especially exploring“highly effective and low toxic”drugs to prevent“inflammation-cancer”transformation,treat primary tumors,prevent tumor metastasis and reduce the toxicity and increase efficiency of existing therapies has become a hot topic of domestic and foreign scholars.The advantage of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of colorectal cancer is to reduce the postoperative recurrence rate,improve patients’symptoms and the quality of life of“tumor survivors”and prolong the survival time.This paper summarizes the tumor treatment strategies and research prospects of traditional Chinese medicine targeting mitogen activated protein kinase by sorting out the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine extracts or effective components intervening colorectal cancer by regulating mitogen activated protein kinase signal pathway in tumor cells in recent years.

Yizhijiannao Granule and a combination of its effective monomers,icariin and Panax notoginseng saponins,inhibit early PC12 cell apoptosis induced by beta-amyloid(25-35)

One of our previous studies showed that Yizhijiannao Granule,a compound Chinese medicine, effectively improved the clinical symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.In the present study,we established a model of Alzheimer’s disease using beta-amyloid（25-35）in PC12 cells,and treated the cells with Yizhijiannao Granule and its four monomers,i.e.,icariin,catechin,Panax notoginseng saponins,and eleutheroside E.Flow cytometry showed that Yizhijiannao Granule-containing serum, icariin,Panax notoginseng saponins,and icariin＋Panax notoginseng saponins were protective against beta-amyloid（25-35）-induced injury in PC12 cells.Icariin in combination with Panax notoginseng saponins significantly inhibited early apoptosis of PC12 cells with beta-amyloid （25-35）-induced injury compared to icariin or Panax notoginseng saponins alone.The effects of icariin＋Panax notoginseng saponins were similar to the effects of Yizhijiannao Granule.The findings indicate that two of the effective monomers of Yizhijiannao Granule,icariin and Panax notoginseng saponins,can synergistically inhibit early apoptosis of PC12 cells induced by beta-amyloid（25-35）.

Chinese medicine monomers in treating myocardial hypertrophy: Mechanisms and research progress

Background Myocardial hypertrophy is an adaptive and compensatory response to pathological changes caused by circulatory overload and various factors.Myocardial hypertrophy have been a hot research topic in the field of cardiovascular medicine.The research mainly involves the mechanism of myocardial hypertrophy and the development of effective drugs to prevent or slow down myocardial hypertrophy and myocardial remodeling.A large number of studies have shown that many Chinese medicine monomers may play a role in preventing the occurrence of myocardial hypertrophy.In order to understand the perspectives and development of traditional Chinese medicine monomers in the treatment of myocardial hypertrophy,this article reviewed the mechanism of various traditional Chinese medicine monomers in the treatment of myocardial hypertrophy.[S Chin J Cardiol 2021;22(1):65-68]

Iridoids modulate inflammation in diabetic kidney disease: A review

In recent years,preclinical research on diabetic kidney disease (DKD) has surged to the forefront of scientific and clinical attention.DKD has become a pervasive complication of type 2 diabetes.Given the complexity of its etiology and pathological mechanisms,current interventions,including drugs,dietary modifications,exercise,hypoglycemic treatments and lipid-lowering methods,often fall short in achieving desired therapeutic outcomes.Iridoids,primarily derived from the potent components of traditional herbs,have been the subject of long-standing research.Preclinical data suggest that iridoids possess notable renal protective properties;however,there has been no summary of the research on their efficacy in the management and treatment of DKD.This article consolidates findings from in vivo and in vitro research on iridoids in the context of DKD and highlights their shared anti-inflammatory activities in treating this condition.Additionally,it explores how certain iridoid components modify their chemical structures through the regulation of intestinal flora,potentially bolstering their therapeutic effects.This review provides a focused examination of the mechanisms through which iridoids may prevent or treat DKD,offering valuable insights for future research endeavors.

Progress in research on the effects of traditional Chinese medicine on the tumor microenvironment

Tumor microenvironment （TME） has received more and more attention as modern medical research has begun to understand its importance in tumorigenesis. The occurrence, development, metastasis and drug resistance of tumors are closely related to TME. TME is a complicated system, including nontumor cells, their secreted cytokines, extracellular matrix, among other components. The concepts of wholism and multitarget regulation in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） make it well suited to the regulation of TME. in this paper, the authors reviewed the progress of TME research and the effect of TCM on TME, providing some views of Chinese medicine in antitumor research.