A Multilayer Network Constructed for Herb and Prescription Efficacy Analysis

Chinese Medicine(CM)has been widely used as an important avenue for disease prevention and treatment in China especially in the form of CM prescriptions combining sets of herbs to address patients’symptoms and syndromes.However,the selection and compatibility of herbs are complex and abstract due to intrinsic relationships between herbal properties and their overall functions.Network analysis is applied to demonstrate the complex relationships between individual herbal efficacy and the overall function of CM prescriptions.To illustrate their connections and correlations,prescription function(PF),prescription herb(PH),and herbal efficacy(HE)intranetworks are proposed based on CM theory to identify relationships between herbs and prescriptions.These three networks are then connected by PF-PH and PH-HE interlayer networks adopting herb dosage to form a multidimensional heterogeneous network,a Prescription-Herb-Function Network(PHFN).The network is applied to 112 classic prescriptions from Treatise on Exogenous Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases to illustrate the application of PHFN.The PHFN is constructed including 146 functions in PF intra network,89 herbs in the PH intra network,and 163 herbal efficacies in the HE intra network.The results show that herb pairs with synergistic actions have stronger relevance,such as licorice-cassia twig,licorice-Chinese date,fresh ginger-Chinese date,etc.The integration of dosage to the network helps to indicate the main herbs for cluster analysis and automatic formulation.PHFN also reveals the internal relationships between the functions of prescriptions and composed herbal efficacies.

Chinese herbal medicine decreases incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in diabetes mellitus patients with regular insulin management

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus(DM)is an independent risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),while insulin is a potent mitogen.Identifying a new therapeutic modality for preventing insulin users from developing HCC is a critical goal for researchers.AIM To investigate whether regular herbal medicine use can decrease HCC risk in DM patients with regular insulin control.METHODS We used data acquired from the Taiwan,Chinaese National Health Insurance research database between 2000 and 2017.We identified patients with DM who were prescribed insulin for>3 months.The herb user group was further defined as patients prescribed herbal medication for DM for>3 months per annum during RESULTS We initially enrolled 657144 DM patients with regular insulin use from 2000 to 2017.Among these,46849 patients had used a herbal treatment for DM,and 140547 patients were included as the matched control group.The baseline variables were similar between the herb users and nonusers.DM patients with regular herb use had a 12%decreased risk of HCC compared with the control group[adjusted hazard ratio(aHR)=0.88,95%CI=0.80–0.97].The cumulative incidence of HCC in the herb users was significantly lower than that of the nonusers.Patients with a herb use of>5 years cumulatively exhibited a protective effect against development of HCC(aHR=0.82,P<0.05).Of patients who developed HCC,herb users exhibited a longer survival time than nonusers(aHR=0.78,P=0.0001).Additionally,we report the top 10 herbs and formulas in prescriptions and summarize the potential pharmacological effects of the constituents.Our analysis indicated that Astragalus propinquus(Huang Qi)plus Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge(Dan Shen),and Astragalus propinquus(Huang Qi)plus Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim.(Tian Hua Fen)were the most frequent combination of single herbs.Meanwhile,Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan plus Dan Shen was the most frequent combination of herbs and formulas.CONCLUSION This large-scale retrospective cohort study reveals that herbal medicine may decrease HCC risk by 12%in DM patients with regular insulin use.

Exploring the mechanism of action of herb pair Pinellia Ternata-Magnolia Officinalis in the treatment of liver cancer based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

Background:Explore the anti-tumor mechanism of herb pair Pinellia ternate-Magnolia officinalis(BX-HP)in liver cancer through network pharmacology using molecular docking methods.Method:The active ingredients and corresponding targets of the herb pair Pinellia ternate-Magnolia officinalis were obtained from the HERB database.The relevant targets for liver cancer were obtained from GeneCards,DisGeNET,TTD,and Drugbank databases.Obtain common targets between herb pair Pinellia ternate-Magnolia officinalis and liver cancer through the Bioinformatics platform,establish a PPI network diagram using STRING software,and perform GO functional enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis on the DAVID platform.AutoDockTools 1.5.7 software and molecular dynamics simulation analysis are used to evaluate the binding of components to target proteins.HERB database,SwissTargetPrediction database,SwissADME database,UniProt database,GeneCards database,TTD database,DRUGBANK database,DisGeNET database,String,DAVID.Bioinformatics platform,PDB database,PubChem and TCMSP database.Result:A total of 22 active ingredients with a Probability>0.1 targets in Magnolia officinalis were screened,26 active ingredients with a Probability>0.1 targets in Pinellia ternata,ten vital active ingredients,corresponding to 979 and 803 targets with a Probability>0.1 targets,2536 liver cancer-related targets,and 279 targets in the herb pair Pinellia ternata-Magnolia officinalis.The GO functional enrichment analysis resulted in 1297 entries,namely 971 biological process entries,118 cell localization entries,and 208 molecular function entries.Three signaling pathways were annotated through the KEGG pathway.Based on molecular docking,ten vital active ingredients and five target proteins were validated to exhibit an excellent binding affinity.The above data indicates that combining the herb pair Pinellia ternata-Magnolia officinalis may treat liver cancer through specific targets and signaling pathways.Conclusion:Herb pair Pinellia ternata-Magnolia officinalis has a synergistic effect on treating liver cancer through multicomponent,multitarget,and multi-pathway approaches.This study provides a sufficient theoretical basis for subsequent research.

石蒜(Lycoris radiate.Herb)鳞茎浆料流体特性及其用于酒精发酵的研究

通过分析石蒜鳞茎制浆所得浆料的静态及动态流体学特性,讨论该浆料用于酒精发酵的可行性。结果表明,鳞茎浆料具备典型粘弹性流体性质以及其粘性起主导作用。分别利用葡聚糖酶、木聚糖酶及果胶酶与浆料反应以降低其粘性,均表现出有效降粘效果。并探讨了这三种不同酶预处理分别对同步糖化发酵工艺利用浆料发酵酒精过程的影响,结果显示,浆料经果胶酶预处理后,酿酒酵母培养70h产酒精1.9%(w/w)为最高。浆料中石蒜生物碱可能对酵母某些代谢途径产生抑制。文章最后提出对石蒜属植物的综合生物炼制策略,以期实现对本属植物的高效开发。

Structure and Properties of PLA Composite Enhanced with Biomass Fillers from Herbaceous Plants

PLA composites containing biomass fillers from the three herbaceous plants such as reed,wheat stalk,and coco-nut fiber with length and diameter at the scale of several millimeters were prepared without using additives.The reinforcement effect on the properties of PLA/biomass filler composites is investigated.The research results show that the PLA/biomass filler composites exhibit good stiffness,flexural strength,and impact toughness.Among the three kinds of biomass fillers,reed reinforced PLA composites show optimal mechanical properties.When filled with 40%–50%reed,the flexural moduli of the composites are over 7000 MPa.Flexural strength retains at the same level of pure PLA.The notch impact strength reaches to 4.50±0.73 kJ/m^(2),which is 2.06 times higher than that of pure PLA.Furthermore,the introduction of biomass fillers increases the crystallization ability of PLA and does not increase the water absorption of the composites.This research demonstrated that PLA composites prepared with biomass fillers from the herbaceous plants(namely herb plastic composites,HPCs)is a material with good comprehensive mechanical properties while retaining the intrinsic particularity of biological sources.

Mechanism of Herbal Medicine and Food Dandelion Effects May be Related to RNA or DNA Regulation: A Review

Background: A dandelion is a common plant with a global growth distribution that has been used as a medicinal and food with no adverse effects. Purpose: In this article, the products and effects of dandelions are reviewed to help further in-depth studies and develop more products derived from dandelions in the future. Method: The literature about dandelion in various databases such as Pubmed is searched. Results: Dandelions have many effects, such as virus inhibition, anti-tumor activity, nutritional value, anti-aging, potential as a vaccine and alleviation of heat stress. The mechanism underlying these effects is analyzed and it was found that dandelions were regulated by RNA or DNA. Conclusion: As a medicinal and food, dandelions are safe and have many effects. Many products derived from dandelions have been developed. The metabolic regulation is related with ribonucleic acid or possibly deoxynucleic acid. Further in-depth studies should be conducted on the regulation of dandelions through RNA or DNA. There will likely be more products derived from dandelions in the future.

Cell-Based Biological Markers for Blood-Enriching Chinese Herbs: Erythropoietin Production in HepG2 Cells and Nitric Oxide Release in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs)

Chinese tonifying herbs, which are classified into four functional categories (namely, Yang, Qi, Yin, Blood) are commonly used for restoring normal body function and the prevention of diseases. To explore cell-based biological markers for Blood-enriching Chinese herbs, we investigate the effect of 11 commonly used Blood-enriching herbs on erythropoietin (EPO) production in HepG2 cells. Herbs for nourishing Yin were tested for determining the specificity of Blood-enriching herbs in inducing EPO production. In addition, the effects of Blood-enriching herbs on nitric oxide (NO) production in both HepG2 cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were also investigated. The results indicated that methanolic extracts of Blood-enriching herbs (but not Yin-nourishing herbs) showed characteristic pharmacological activity in inducing EPO production in HepG2 cells and NO release in HUVECs. The experimental findings, therefore, support the use of cell-based EPO production and NO release as biological markers for Blood-enriching Chinese tonifying herbs.

Efficacy and Safety of the Chinese Herbal Compound TJAOA101 in Treating Diminished Ovarian Reserve: A Protocol for Multicenter, Prospective, and Pre-Post Study

Objective Diminished ovarian reserve(DOR)can lead to early menopause,poor fecundity,and an increased risk of disorders such as osteoporosis,cardiovascular disease,and cognitive impairment,seriously affecting the physical and mental health of women.There is still no safe and effective strategy or method to combat DOR.We have developed a novel Chinese herbal formula,Tongji anti-ovarian aging 101(TJAOA101),to treat DOR.However,its safety and efficacy need to be further validated.Methods In this prospective and pre-post clinical trial,100 eligible patients aged 18–45 diagnosed with DOR will be recruited.All participants receive TJAOA101 twice a day for 3 months.Then,comparisons before and after treatment will be analyzed,and the outcomes,including anti-mullerian hormone(AMH)and follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)levels and the antral follicle count(AFC),the recovery rate of menopause,and the Kupperman index(KMI),will be assessed at baseline,every month during medication(the intervention period),and 1,3 months after medication(the follow-up period).Assessments for adverse events will be performed during the intervention and follow-up periods.Conclusion A multicenter,prospective study will be conducted to further confirm the safety and efficacy of TJAOA101 in treating DOR and to provide new therapeutic strategies for improving the quality of life in DOR patients.

Herbs and management of hypertension:Claims,criticism,and challenges

Hypertension(HTN)is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting over 30%of the adult population globally,with a growing incidence rate.This article aims to identify the commonly used herbs for HTN treatment and examine their claims,criticisms,and challenges.It further aims to provide useful recommendations regarding the use of herbs for HTN treatment.HTN complications,such as coronary heart disease,stroke,peripheral vascular disease,vision impairment,and renal failure can result in morbidity and mortality.The high cost of conventional medications,which sometimes may not even be available or easily accessible with their unfavorable side effects as well as taking more than one pill per day,has led hypertensive patients,particularly those in rural areas,to explore alternative treatments such as herbal therapies.It is crucial to determine the different modes of action,doses,safety,and efficacy of herbal remedies used in combination with conventional medications to improve treatment adherence and enhance patient outcomes.

Traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions and herbs for the treatment of hypothyroidism:a narrative review

The increasing prevalence of hypothyroidism,which can cause endocrine dysfunction,abnormal neurological function,and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular injuries,poses serious health problems.Thyroid hormone supplementation constitutes the current main therapeutic method for hypothyroidism,yet it has many limitations and risks and is not suitable for everyone.Therefore,it is necessary to seek alternative and complementary treatment methods.It has been proven in practice that traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)possesses multi-channel comprehensive characteristics for the treatment of hypothyroidism and has more advantages than single thyroid hormone supplementation.Through a comprehensive examination of existing literature about TCM efficacy in addressing hypothyroidism,we have meticulously consolidated the most recent research findings on prescriptions and herbal substances employed in the treatment of this condition.Furthermore,we have explicated their respective functions in the management of hypothyroidism,thereby offering valuable perspectives and recommendations for the prospective utilization of natural remedies in its treatment.

Topology and Semantic Information Fusion Classification Network Based on Hyperspectral Images of Chinese Herbs

Most methods for classifying hyperspectral data only consider the local spatial relation-ship among samples,ignoring the important non-local topological relationship.However,the non-local topological relationship is better at representing the structure of hyperspectral data.This paper proposes a deep learning model called Topology and semantic information fusion classification network(TSFnet)that incorporates a topology structure and semantic information transmis-sion network to accurately classify traditional Chinese medicine in hyperspectral images.TSFnet uses a convolutional neural network(CNN)to extract features and a graph convolution network(GCN)to capture potential topological relationships among different types of Chinese herbal medicines.The results show that TSFnet outperforms other state-of-the-art deep learning classification algorithms in two different scenarios of herbal medicine datasets.Additionally,the proposed TSFnet model is lightweight and can be easily deployed for mobile herbal medicine classification.

Quality Standard of Qiang Herb Sophora davidii var.chuansiensis

[Objectives]To establish the quality standard of common clinical folk herb Sophora davidii var.chuansiensis.[Methods]The qualitative identification was performed by microscopic method and thin-layer chromatography(TLC).The contents of moisture,total ash,acid insoluble ash and extract were determined according to the methods of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020).High performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)was used to determine the contents of oxymatrine and oxysophocarpine.[Results]The microscopic characteristics were obvious,including crystal sheath fiber,calcium oxalate square crystal,non glandular hair,stone cells,epidermal cells,stomata,cork cells,vessels with marginal pits and so on.TLC spots were clear,and the resolution was good.The contents of moisture,total ash,acid insoluble ash and extract from 10 batches of samples were 4.70%-8.33%,3.43%-4.19%,0.65%-1.02%and 14.67%-22.04%respectively.The determination results of oxymatrine were between 0.10%-0.33%,with an average value of 0.19%.The determination results of sophocarpine oxide were between 0.30%-0.38%,with an average value of 0.34%.[Conclusions]The established quality standard of S.davidii var.chuansiensis had good specificity and accuracy,and could be used for the quality control of herb S.davidii var.chuansiensis.

“Astragali Radix−Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix Et Rhizoma”herb pair in the treatment of liver cirrhosis and its pharmacological mechanisms

Objective:Liver cirrhosis is a disease that seriously damages human health.Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)formulae have a good therapeutic effect on cirrhosis,and the herb pair is the smallest unit in formula compatibility,which is important for improving the therapeutic effect.Therefore,identifying core herb pairs among TCM formulae is key.Methods:We mined the data of TCM formulae for the treatment of cirrhosis in the China National Intellectual Property Administration for the first time and analyzed their herb characteristics and association rules.We screened 405 patented TCM formulae,including 953 herbs.Based on frequency statistics and association rules,we determined“Astragali Radix-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix Et Rhizoma”as the core herb pair.Results:Six active compounds,Isorhamnetin,Formononetin,Calycosin,Cryptotanshinone,Dihydrotanshinone I,and Tanshinone II A,were screened out based on previous studies and network pharmacology.We found that SRC,TP53,HSP90AA1,MAPK3,MAPK1,and STAT3 played pivotal roles in treating cirrhosis.Interestingly,molecular docking indicated that MAPK3 might be a potential pharmacological target for cirrhosis.Conclusion:We preliminarily predicted and verified the pharmacological and molecular mechanism of“Astragali Radix-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix Et Rhizoma”in treating cirrhosis.This can expand the scope of TCM in the treatment of cirrhosis,guide people to use clinical formulae,and provide valuable insights for further drug discovery studies.

传统文化术语英译路径探究——以杨、霍英译《红楼梦》中Herb一词的选择为例

如何翻译好具有中国传统特色术语是推动中国优秀传统文化走出去的关键。通过评析杨宪益、戴乃迭以及大卫·霍克斯、约翰·闵福德两个《红楼梦》经典译本,对选用herb一词所体现出的传统文化术语英译需考虑因素和可借鉴方法等方面加以分析,以期对中华文化内涵的科技术语翻译有所启示。

彝药苦刺化学成分和生物活性的研究进展

目的总结近年来彝族民族药苦刺的化学成分和生物活性的研究进展,为进一步开发利用该民族药提供参考。方法通过万方、维普、CNKI、SCI finder、PubMed等数据库查阅国内外有关苦刺的文献,对其化学成分和药理活性研究结果进行归纳和总结。结果苦刺的根、茎、叶、花和种子皆可入药;该植物所含成分结构类型多样,其中以生物碱和黄酮为主;苦刺具有抗炎、抗糖尿病、抗肿瘤、抗胃溃疡等多种药理作用。结论苦刺是一种富含生物碱和黄酮且生物活性多样的民族药,具有进一步研究开发的价值。

基于数据挖掘探究补肾益髓法治疗阿尔茨海默病的用药规律

目的运用数据挖掘分析方法总结归纳补肾益髓类中药复方治疗阿尔茨海默病(alzheimer′s disease,AD)的核心药物及用药规律。方法将自数据库建立起至2022年4月于中文数据库中国知网、万方、维普,中国临床试验注册中心,英文数据库PubMed、Web of science中检索到的补肾益髓法治疗AD的临床研究文献作为数据来源,利用SPSS modeler 18.0和SPSS Statistic 25.0软件对纳入文献中记载的复方药物进行频次统计、关联分析、系统聚类分析和因子分析;通过Cytoscape 3.8.0构建中药核心复杂网络,并对网络中的中药进行拓扑分析。结果经筛选,得到69篇文献共计70首处方,108味中药;单味药物属熟地黄应用次数最高;补虚药、活血化瘀药、安神药应用最为广泛;网络拓扑学筛选得到包括熟地黄、石菖蒲、枸杞子、远志在内的12味核心中药;关联分析得到常用药物关联规则37条,最为常见的药对为“熟地黄-枸杞子”“石菖蒲-远志”等,使用频次最高的药物组合为“熟地黄-石菖蒲-远志”;系统聚类分析在欧式平方距离为15时可归纳为3个潜在聚类方,因子分析共提取4个公因子,其药物组成体现了地黄饮子、六味地黄丸、左归丸等补肾经方的药物配伍规律。结论补肾益髓法治疗AD以补肾填精益髓为主体,辅以活血祛瘀、宁心安神、豁痰开窍;针对AD病机治疗标本兼顾,体现了中医药整体观念、辨证施治的诊疗特点。

不同来源芦荟药材品质评价研究

目的:对不同来源的24份芦荟药材品质进行分析及评价,为芦荟后期开发利用提供参考。方法:参照2020年版《中华人民共和国药典》的检测方法和含量要求及相关文献,测定不同来源的24份芦荟药材的性状、杂质、水分、总灰分、浸出物以及芦荟苷、芦荟大黄素含量。结果:进口芦荟药材性状主要是不规则块状,少部分粉末状;表面棕褐色,较粗糙,较有光泽;断面棕褐色,较光滑,较有光泽。国产芦荟药材性状主要是圆饼状,表面较粗糙,呈黑褐色,略有光泽,断面粗糙,呈黑褐色,略有光泽。杂质含量在0.00%~0.05%之间。水分含量均符合规定,达标率为100.00%。总灰分含量只有9份符合规定,达标率为37.50%(9/24)。浸出物含量范围在2.82%~93.57%之间。大部分芦荟苷含量测定未达到2020年版《中华人民共和国药典》中的标准(芦荟苷含量库拉索芦荟不得少于16.00%,好望角芦荟不得少于6.00%),仅有7份芦荟苷含量符合规定,达标率为29.17%(7/24)。13份无法检出芦荟大黄素,11份芦荟大黄素含量范围为0.07%~0.63%。结论:当前药材市场上芦荟主要为进口芦荟和国产芦荟,质量参差不齐,进口芦荟药材品质较为优良,在以后的生产、销售过程中应注意加强产地初加工监督管理,进一步提高药材品质。

基于生物信息学分析干燥综合征伴发疲劳机制及中药预测研究

目的 从生物信息学角度分析干燥综合征(sjogren's syndrome,SS)伴发疲劳相关的生物标记物,探讨SS伴发疲劳的发病机制,并通过差异基因预测治疗SS伴发疲劳的潜在中药。方法 从基因表达数据库(gene expression omnibus,GEO)下载GSE66795数据集,使用R语言分析得到差异表达基因(differentially expressed genes,DEGs),对其进行基因本体(gene ontology,GO)及京都基因与基因组百科全书(Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes,KEGG)富集分析,后通过STRING数据库、Cytoscape软件及其插件得到关键基因,将关键基因与医学本体信息检索平台相互映射,筛选出治疗SS伴发疲劳的中药。结果 共得到48个DEGs,包括46个上调基因和2个下调基因,并筛选出10个关键基因。GO和KEGG富集分析显示,这些基因多富集甲型流感、丙型肝炎、麻疹、冠状病毒-COVID-19等多条病毒感染通路。筛选出3类潜在中药,分别为清肝、补肾、清热解毒类药物。结论 通过对DEGs的分析加深了对SS伴发疲劳发生机制的认识,并为中药治疗本病提供了潜在基因靶标及思路。

黄元御运用浮萍治疗疫病理论及应用探微

清代医家黄元御,学识渊博,医术精湛,尤其擅长运用六经辨证诊治疫病。他在《玉楸药解》和《四圣悬枢》中详细阐述了浮萍的性味、功效及其在六经疫病中的应用,强调其在治疗疫病中的重要作用。在治疗疫病时,根据六经证候特点,黄元御以浮萍为君药,常与芍药、葛根、石膏、地黄等药物配伍。同时,根据病情轻重和个体差异,对药物剂量进行精细调整,以达到最佳治疗效果。黄元御运用浮萍治疗疫病的经验在当时医界具有较大影响,对后世的疫病防治产生了积极影响。在当今疫情频发的背景下,深入研究黄元御的疫病防治思想和方法,对于提高中医药防治疫病的疗效具有重要意义。

益气活血中药防治化疗心脏毒性的临床研究

目的探讨益气活血中药对恶性肿瘤患者心功能及化疗心脏毒性的影响。方法选取2019年1月至2023年1月泰安市肿瘤防治院收治的60例恶性肿瘤患者作为研究对象,按照随机数字表法分为治疗组与对照组,每组30例。对照组行氟尿嘧啶类+铂类化疗方案治疗,治疗组在对照组基础上给予益气活血中药治疗,比较两组治疗前后心肌酶谱[α-羟丁酸脱氢酶(α-HBDH)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、肌酸激酶(CK)、肌酸激酶同工酶(CK-MB)、谷草转氨酶(AST)]、B型脑钠肽(BNP)、心肌肌钙蛋白(cTnI)水平及治疗后心电图异常改变、心血管不良事件发生情况和左心室射血分数(LVEF)。结果治疗后,两组AST、α-HBDH水平均高于治疗前,对照组CK、LDH、BNP水平均高于治疗前,治疗组BNP水平低于治疗前和对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),两组其他指标组间及组内治疗前后比较差异无统计学意义。治疗组治疗后心电图异常改变、心血管不良事件发生率均低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);治疗后,对照组LVEF水平低于治疗前,但治疗组LVEF高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);治疗组治疗前后LVEF比较差异无统计学意义。结论益气活血中药具有一定程度预防化疗心脏毒性的作用,可改善患者心功能,尤其在改善BNP、预防LVEF降低方面优势明显,心肌酶谱、BNP、LVEF可能作为化疗心脏毒性的早期预测指标。