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.

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.

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.

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.

The Silk Road and Sources of Chinese Medicine Expansion:Part 2-Formularies

Medicines have been traded along the Silk Road from antiquity until modern times.These products and their associated knowledge have been transferred over the land and sea between Asia,Europe,and Africa.Numerous texts that contain formulas and treatments passed along the Silk Road.Collections of these formulas and treatment methods called formularies contain unique information that informs this transfer of medicine.The texts and information flowed in both directions along these routes and while Chinese medicine influenced foreign medical practices both in history,and today,the incorporation of non-Chinese medicine and information also continues to influence Chinese medicine.

Characterization and Comparison Analysis of WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants and Iso Standards of Chinese Materia Medica

Medicinal plants or Chinese materia medica(CMM)are now attracting worldwide attention as they have increasingly prominent advantages over chemical drugs in disease treatment and healthcare.Since the 1990s,World Health Organization(WHO)and International Organization for Standardization established the Technical Committee of Traditional Chinese Medicine(ISO/TC 249)have carried out the development of quality standards on medicinal plants or CMMs respectively,and a considerable number of monographs and international standards have been published.Since the two international organizations adhere to different principles,the standards they develop naturally have different emphasis.Driven by market demand and international trade,ISO mainly takes quality,efficacy and safety into consideration when developing standards,while WHO pays more attention to clinical practice,quality control and medication guidance.Up to now,there is a lack of comparative analysis on the records,background,principles,basic content,and main requirements of quality standards on medicinal plants or CMMs respectively published by WHO and ISO.Therefore,based on international standards of CMM developed by ISO/TC 249 platform and WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants,this paper systematically compares the purposes,selected principles,standard-developing process,basic content,and main quality requirements to summarize their similarities and differences,and find their merits,aiming to serve as a reference to the development of international standards for CMMs that helps them go global.

Revealing the scientific connotation of compatibility of Chinese medicine medica based on self-assembly technology

Chinese materia medica(CMM) compatibility is one core content in the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM), and elaborating the scientific connotation of CMM compatibility is of great significance to promote the modernization of TCM. Self-assembly is the combination of active ingredients into aggregates through noncovalent bonds, such as hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, ionic interactions, and hydrophobic interactions. The complex properties and special structures of CMM components create the basis for selfassembly. The self-assembled materials formed after CMM compatibility is an important part of the material basis for the efficacy of TCM, which can help explain the scientific connotations of CMM compatibility. This review summarizes the self-assembly phenomenon from the perspective of drug pair combinations in recent decades and explains the scientific connotation of CMM compatibility about the material basis, pharmacodynamic changes, and mechanism of action, providing new ideas and methods for the study of TCM.

Development and Application of Network Toxicology in Safety Research of Chinese Materia Medica

Network toxicology that is an important branch of the network pharmacology emerges on the basis of network biology. It refers to study on the toxicological features of a constructed network model which is used to analyze toxic substances and their interaction and regulation in biological systems, particularly investigate the toxic effects of drugs and/or compatibility of medicines on body, and clarify the mechanism of toxicity. Network toxicology currently develops rapidly in safety prediction of Chinese materia medica （CMM）. The application of network toxicology to safety and toxicology study on CMM is extremely beneficial to identify the toxic components and potential incompatibility of CMM. Since CMM is a complex system with multi-components, multi-targets, and multi-interactions, the network toxicology in safety prediction of CMM faces three great challenges, including integration studies of bioinformatics, innovation of methods, and tools and risk assessment in future development of the network toxicology in CMM research. In this paper, relevant database, approaches and tools that network toxicology utilized in the safety study of CMM were carefully reviewed. Based on the progress made, the scientific development and modernization of CMM will be greatly enhanced.

What Has Been Overlooked on Study of Chinese Materia Medica in the West?

Chinese materia medica （CMM）, including Chinese herbal, animal, and mineral medicine, has been widely researched in the past century for their biological and pharmacological activities. However, their mechanism and clinical efficacy studies did not always give expected results. For example, the most commonly used Chinese herb for menstrual disorders, Radix Angelicae sinensis, showed neither estrogenic nor progesteronic activity in laboratory and clinical studies. Its efficacy should not be denied simply based on such results, because it is mostly used together with other herbs in formulae. Moreover, its regulation on menstruation may take effect through other mechanisms, such as regulation of blood circulation. The key difference of Chinese medicine （CM） from conventional medicine is its unique holistic view on human body and diseases. CMM is mostly applied in clinic in the form of formulae. Study on individual CMM, simply using methods for development of conventional drugs, is unable to thoroughly reveal the power of CMM formulae. The reason may partly result from improper design due to the lack understanding about application principle of CMMs in CM, and/or to current lack of knowledge about the causes of some symptoms and diseases. This paper will introduce the importance of qi and blood in CM etiology and pathology, Zheng differentiation, formulation of CMMs, and explain why one formula can treat different diseases and one disease can be treated with different formulae. Examples in the paper will demonstrate that proper studies on Zheng and its corresponding clinically proven formulae could help scientists find new direction to explain and treat symptoms and diseases that so far modern medicine has been unable to, provided that the designer properly understands CM theories, etiology and pathology of CM, as well as modern medicine. Strategy suggestions about research methods for CMM and its formulae will be given at the end.

Status and Trends of GAP Base Construction of Chinese Materia Medica in Guangdong Province

It is one of the key points for modernization and internationalization of traditional Chinese medicines to construct the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) base of Chinese materia medica (CMM). GAP helps to minimize contamination and improve the quality of CMM during the plantation and the production of Chinese crude drugs. In this article, the status and development of CMM production bases of GAP in Guangdong Province, China, are presented. The suggestions upon the problems during the development of GAP for Chinese crude drugs are also provided.

The 5^(th) Annual Meeting of GP-TCM Research Association-cumSummit on Compendium of Materia Medica and Innovative Drug Discovery in Chinese Medicine

FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT9-10 August 2016Room 103,Dr.Hari Harilela Lecture Theatre,The Wing Lung Bank Building for Business Studies Hong Kong Baptist Universilty(Shaw Campus),34 Renfrrew Road,Kowloon Tong,Hong Kong'The 5th Annual Meeting of GP-TCM Research Association-cum-Summit on Compendium of Materia Medica and Innovative Drug Discovery in Chinese Medicine',jointly organised by GP-TCM Research Association,School of Chinese Medicine of Hong Kong Baptist University,and TCM Chemistry Specialty Committee and TCM Pharmaceutical Analysis

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。

基于中医理法方药融合的中药学课程教学实践与评价

依据首都医科大学中医学及中药学专业培养目标及中药学课程目标,紧密联系前期基础知识及后期临床实践,整合中药学课程内容,结合基于问题的教学方法病案讨论实践,处方训练及课后经典本草学习等教学方法开展中医理法方药融合的中药学教学实践,基于“有效教学”理念以课堂评价说明教学改革效果。结果提示理法方药融合的中药学课程改革有助于提高学生的自主学习能力、课堂主动参与积极性和思考深入程度及对知识的应用能力,为后期方剂学及其他课程的学习奠定了良好的基础。

以本草经典诵读加强中药学专业传承教育的实践

本草是我国传统药学知识的统称,蕴含着我国古代药学的独特理论,以及源于实践的行之有效的治病经验和诸多原创性思维。我国历代保留了大量本草经典文献,抓住了本草经典,也就抓住了传承传统药学知识与技术的重要载体。开展“本草经典诵读”,有利于培养学生的中医药思维,完善学生的知识结构,解决目前中药学专业传承教育弱化的现实问题,提升中药学专业本科人才培养质量。

认知术语学视角下中药材命名研究——以《海药本草》为例

为揭示中药材命名背后的认知机制,促进其翻译的规范化,通过对《海药本草》收录的131种药材命名方式进行分类和量化统计,发现其中86种药材主要基于入药部位、形状、音译、传说、功效、生长环境、生长特性、颜色、产地等单一特征命名,另45种药材则整合“音译+气味”“产地+气味”“形状+气味”等两个或多个特征命名。文章认为药材无论是基于单一特征命名还是整合多个特征命名,都是用突显、易辨认、易感知的部分特征来代替整体,反映了概念转喻在药材命名中的重要作用。当单个特征不足以界定药材时,人们会无意识地整合多个特征来命名,体现出概念整合在中药材命名中的普遍性。此外,人们往往借助所熟知的事物与药材在形状或功效上的相似性来命名,体现了概念隐喻在中草药命名中的作用。入药部位、形状、药效、气味、产地等与药材的功效和辨认密不可分,因此会被突显出来用以命名。《海药本草》以收录海外药为主,在命名中直接音译最为省力,这使得音译命名方式占据比例也较高。

中药及其有效成分防治绝经后骨质疏松症机制研究进展

绝经后骨质疏松症(PMOP)是绝经后女性骨骼系统代谢紊乱导致的疾病之一,发病期间易导致骨折,且存在治疗周期长、一线治疗药物不良反应多、迁延难愈、生活质量严重下降等问题,PMOP临床表现以腰背部及四肢多关节疼痛为主,偶伴随躯干畸形变、全身乏力、腹部不适等症状。本文主要阐述中药及其有效成分可通过调节信号通路、激活相关信号通路关键蛋白分子的表达,促进成骨细胞分化和成骨效应,抑制破骨细胞分化及其生物活性,抑制氧化应激和炎症反应,纠正铁过载,调节肠道菌群及发挥类雌激素效应,逆转骨微结构的破坏,提高骨密度、平衡骨稳态,达到改善骨代谢和免疫作用,进而发挥治疗PMOP的作用。为进一步深度开展中药及其有效成分治疗PMOP机制类研究提供参考。

肌萎缩侧索硬化症个案处方用药规律挖掘

目的为中医临床治疗肌萎缩侧索硬化症(ALS)提供参考。方法计算机检索中国知网中以中药治疗ALS的个案文献,检索时限为自建库起至2022年11月。采用Excel软件统计复方中组方药物的使用频次(率)、四气(性)、五味、归经、功效,并导入中医传承计算平台(V 3.0)进行数据挖掘。结果共纳入个案文献110篇,涉及中药组方139个、中药218味,累计使用频次1946次。常用药物(使用频率>10%)45味,性味归经分别以温性(47.35%)、甘味(42.45%)、归脾经(20.29%)为主,药物功效以补虚类(41.37%)为主。中药组合98个,涉及中药24味,其中以黄芪、白术、党参组合(33次)最常见,药对以黄芪-山药、黄芪-熟地黄最常见(均使用32次);聚类分析提取核心药物组合5类。结论ALS个案用药处方以补虚类中药为核心,分补气、补血、补阳、补肝肾,配以升阳、温里、行气等药味。处方组合以气血双补、阴阳双补、清热化痰和益气活血为主要功效。

基于网络药理学和分子对接探讨清热类中药作用机制

目的运用网络药理学和分子对接探讨清热药作用机制。方法检索TCMSP、TCMID、NPASS数据库获取5类清热中药活性成分,检索DrugBank、NPASS数据库收集对应靶点,使用UniProt数据库规范靶点名称。使用STRING数据库构建交集靶点蛋白相互作用网络,采用Cytoscape3.9.1软件筛选核心靶点。使用在线软件DAVID进行GO功能、KEGG通路及疾病富集分析,使用Metascape数据库分析特有靶点。使用Discovery Studio 4.5.0软件对清热药共有成分与核心靶点进行分子对接。结果获得清热泻火药活性成分297个、清热燥湿药活性成分609个、清热解毒药活性成分1196个、清热凉血药活性成分224个、清虚热药活性成分为389个,对应靶点分别为117、241、402、87和260个;获得共有活性成分7个,对应靶点196个。GO功能、KEGG通路及疾病富集分析显示,清热药可能通过调节外源代谢过程、单碳代谢过程中的代谢途径对乳腺癌和肿瘤发挥治疗作用。分子对接结果表明,清热药发挥抗肿瘤、抗乳腺癌的核心化学成分可能为棕榈酸、槲皮素、亚油酸。结论清热类中药可通过多途径发挥治疗作用,其中,清热泻火药、清热燥湿药、清热解毒药的生物过程及信号通路较为相似,均可通过调节外源代谢过程、单碳代谢过程、葡萄糖醛酸基转移酶活性的负调控、细胞葡萄糖醛酸化的负调控、雌激素代谢过程、细胞葡萄糖醛酸化中的新陈代谢类信号通路发挥治疗乳腺癌的作用。

胡荽法象药理、名称源流及临床应用文献研究

胡荽的药象特点突出,在“象-性”与“象-效”方面的关联性较大,其形态特征、生长习性等药象特点,形成了其特殊的药理作用。胡荽播种于夏月“热浮长”之时,得以“秉阳热而速生”,又于早春“风升生”时节采收,得春月温煦升发之气,共成其辛温香窜之性效,是其用于治疗风寒束表致无汗、小便不利的法象药理。现代临床依托药理学手段对胡荽进行了全新赋能,通过对胡荽挥发油成分的提取与分析,发现了其抗氧化、抗铝沉积、抗焦虑、抗肿瘤、利尿、抗菌抗炎、促进毛发生长以及促进排卵等全新功效,这些新功效的发现,正是基于中医象思维,对胡荽进行“象性合参”的意义所在。