Recognition and quality mapping of traditional herbal drugs:way forward towards artificial intelligence

The use of traditional herbal drugs derived from natural sources is on the rise due to their minimal side effects and numerous health benefits.However,a major limitation is the lack of standardized knowledge for identifying and mapping the quality of these herbal medicines.This article aims to provide practical insights into the application of artificial intelligence for quality-based commercialization of raw herbal drugs.It focuses on feature extraction methods,image processing techniques,and the preparation of herbal images for compatibility with machine learning models.The article discusses commonly used image processing tools such as normalization,slicing,cropping,and augmentation to prepare images for artificial intelligence-based models.It also provides an overview of global herbal image databases and the models employed for herbal plant/drug identification.Readers will gain a comprehensive understanding of the potential application of various machine learning models,including artificial neural networks and convolutional neural networks.The article delves into suitable validation parameters like true positive rates,accuracy,precision,and more for the development of artificial intelligence-based identification and authentication techniques for herbal drugs.This article offers valuable insights and a conclusive platform for the further exploration of artificial intelligence in the field of herbal drugs,paving the way for smarter identification and authentication methods.

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.

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.

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.

Advances in research on the efcacy of traditional Chinese herbal medicine in combating African swine fever

African swine fever(ASF)is a highly contagious disease of domestic and wild pigs caused by African swine fever virus(ASFV).The mortality rate associated with ASF is remarkably high,almost approaching 100%.Since the introduction of ASF into China in 2018,its rapid spread has caused marked economic losses in the country’s swine industry.To date,there are no safe and efective commercial vaccines or antiviral drugs against ASF;thus,there is an urgent need to develop novel prevention and control strategies.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),which comprises various herbs that are abundant in various potential functional components,holds great promise for the prevention and control of ASF.Here,we provide a comprehensive review of the advancements in TCM and the efects of its compound formulas against ASF,including the antiviral abilities,immunoregulatory activities,and practical application of these formulas for the prevention and control of ASF.We specifcally examined the potential and constraints of natural product-derived extracts and TCM formulas in combating ASFV.This review aims to ofer insights and ideas for the holistic management and containment of ASF.

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.

Contamination of aflatoxins as threat to the safety of herbal Unani drugs: an overview

Unani medicine is an oldest system of traditional medicine,where drugs of animal,mineral and herbal origin are used for centuries to cure diseases.Unani remedies are now available not only in drug stores,but also in food stores and super markets.Therefore the efficacy and safety of these drugs is very crucial.One of the most serious risks associated with these remedies is,consumer assumes that they are natural,so they are safe.But biological contamination(bacterial,fungal and insect)of herbal medicines is a serious concern.The Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus are the fungal species that occur naturally,release aflatoxins and is a threat to the natural drugs.The World Health Organization has recommended determination of aflatoxins in natural drugs(Unani)as one of the parameter of their safety studies as Aflatoxin contamination is concerned significantly with health and economic loss affecting humans,animals,and agriculture.Aflatoxin B1 is categorized as a group 1 carcinogen by The International Agency for Research on Cancer that causes a variety of health issues.Thus keeping in mind the deleterious health effects of aflatoxins,here,in this review we have made an attempt to summarize the aflatoxins with respect to their origin,occurrence,structure and properties to generate the awareness among the people dealing mainly with Unani herbal drugs.Besides these their toxicity and effects on health have also been discussed.The analytical methods for their determination and some measures to prevent their contamination are also suggested to improve the efficacy and safety of Unani herbal drugs.

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.

Treatment of Neurofibromatosis with Chinese Herbal Drugs

Neurofibromatosis is a dominantly inheriteddefect of the ectoderm,characterized by cafe au laitspots since the childhood and multiple tumorsderived from elements of peripheral and cranialnerves.Hernia-like tumors of various sizes can oftenbe felt under the skin and serve as a valuablecharacteristic in making diagnosis.However,theycan also affect brain,vegetative nerve system or othertissues and lead to bony abnormalities,mentaldisturbances and sometimes,endocrine abnormalities,

PROGRESS IN THE TREATMENT OF NERVE-ROOT-TYPE CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS WITH CHINESE HERBAL DRUGS

With the highest morbidity rate, cervicalspondylosis of the nerve root type is mostcommon among various other types. It is fromthis type of cervical spondylosis that peoplebegan to know the disease. In recent years,conservative treatment for this type of cervicalspondylosis has been adopted by modernmedicine for most patients, while surgicaltreatment has also been used for a smallnumber of patients who were

Efficacy and safety of oral Chinese herbal medicine combined with nucleoside antiviral drugs against recurrent genital herpes:a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:To compare the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine combined with nucleoside antiviral drugs and nucleoside antiviral drugs alone in treating recurrent genital herpes.Methods:PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,Chinese Biomedical Literature Database,China National Knowledge Internet,VIP Database,and Wanfang Data were searched from inception to April 2021.Randomized controlled trials on the efficacy and safety of oral Chinese herbal medicine combined with nucleoside antiviral drugs for recurrent genital herpes were collected.All included trials were independently assessed by two reviewers with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool,and a meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4.Results:Compared with the use of nucleoside antiviral drugs alone,combination therapy with oral Chinese herbal medicine plus nucleoside antiviral drugs effectively reduced the herpes recurrence rate after the end of treatment(3 months:P=0.0002;6 months:P<0.00001;1 year:P<0.00001)and the number of recurrences each year(P<0.00001),improved the recurrent Genital Herpes Quality of Life Questionnaire score(P<0.00001),and regulated the levels of interferon-γ,interleukin-2,tumor necrosis factor-α,and T lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood,and the difference was statistically significant.Different subgroups reported mixed results with respect to the efficacy in the short term.The incidence of adverse reactions and the time of symptom disappearance between the two groups were not significantly different.Conclusion:Chinese herbal medicine combined with nucleoside antiviral drugs can effectively reduce the recurrence rate of recurrent genital herpes,improve the patient’s quality of life and enhance the body’s immunity.Considering the possible risk of publication bias,more high-quality randomized controlled trials are still needed to verify the conclusions of this article.

<i>In-Vitro</i>Inhibitory Effect of Methanol Extracts of Chinese Herbal Drugs on Supercoiling Activity of Bacterial DNA Gyrase

A large number of Chinese herbal drugs (CHDs) exhibit antibacterial activities both in vivo and in vitro, but until now little is known regarding their inhibitory mechanisms. Bacterial DNA gyrase is a proven target for antibacterial agents. Aim of this study was to investigate the in-vitro inhibitory effect of methanol extracts of CHDs against supercoiling activity of bacterial DNA gyrase. Fifteen CHDs were selected and extracted with methanol, respectively. Inhibitory effect of the extracts on DNA gyrase was tested using gel-based DNA supercoiling assay. Among fifteen CHDs tested, methanol extracts of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (S2), Taraxaci Herba (S7), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle (S8) demonstrated an obvious inhibitory effect against supercoiling activity of DNA gyrase, and the others were either less active or could not be determined with the present method. Moreover, it was likely that S7 and S8 inhibit gyrase in a concentration-dependent manner. In conclusion, DNA supercoiling assay is a promising method to study the inhibitory activity of CHDs on bacterial DNA gyrase. Some CHDs do have gyrase-inhibitory activity as proposed. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the inhibition mechanism of these CHDs on supercoiling activity of gyrase.

PROGRESS OF RESEARCH IN THE PREPARATION OF CHINESE TRADITIONAL AND HERBAL DRUGS WITH ANTICANCER ACTIVITY

Research into anticancer substances madefrom Chinese herbal drugs and their clinicalapplication is gaining international attention bythe medical profession of the more than 20analogues of camptothecine isolated from Camp-totheca tree in China, most exhibited anticanceractivity. Among them, 10-hydroxycamptothe-cine has a wide anticancer spectrum and is lesstoxic. In suspension, it exhibits some therapeu-tic effects on primary hepatic cancer, gastriccarcinoma, cancer of the urinary bladder andleukemia.

Effect of Chinese Herbal Feed Additive on Meat Quality of Rex Rabbit

[ Objective] The aim of this study was to provide a theoretical basis for population and application of Chinese herbal feed additive in the rex rabbit breeding. [ Methyl] 108 weaned -rex rabbits aged 40 days were divided into three groups with thirty -six each group. Group A were fed basal diet, while group B were fed basal diet supplemented with 0.3% Chinese herbal feed additive and group C were fed basal diet supplemented with 0.4% Chinese herbal feed additive. The meat quality indexes were measured when feeding to 150 age in days. [ Result] There was significant difference among pH value, water loss rate, storing loss rate and crude protein content in each group （P〈0.05）, but no significant difference was found in tenderness, cooking percentage, moisture content and crude fat content （ P 〉 0.05）. The total content of ami- no acids, essential amino acids and semi essential amino acids as well as main delicious amino acids was highest in group C accounting for 23.84%, 11.47% and 8.32% respectively, next came group B accounting for 20.94%, 10.64% and 6.81% respectively, and lowest in group C （ control group） accounting for 19.06%, 9.61% and 6.46% respectively. [ Conclusion] The Chinese herbal feed additive can improve meat quality of rex rabbit the best addition of 0.4%.

Effects of Salinity and Dietary Chinese Herbal Medicine on Survival and Growth of Juvenile Fenneropenaeus chinensis

[Objective] The aim of this study was to provide theoretical basis for the large-scale breeding of Fenneropenaeus chinensis as well as the promotion of Chinese herbal medicine.[Method] The experiment was conducted to determine the effects of salinity（12‰,20‰ and 28‰）and dietary Chinese herbal medicine（CHM：0%,1%,2% and 4%）on survival and growth of juvenile F.chinensis with the average initial wet body weight of 0.027±0.005 g.The experiment lasted for 5 weeks.[Result] The survival rate,specific growth rate,food consumption and apparent digestibility coefficient was increased with CHM level increasing;when attained the critical value,the survival rate,specific growth rate,food consumption and apparent digestibility coefficient decreased with CHM level increasing.Food conversion ratio decreased with CHM level increasing,and then it increased after attained the critical value.At each CHM level,the survival rate,specific growth rate,food consumption and apparent digestibility coefficient were highest at salinity of 20‰,while food conversion ratio was lowest at salinity 20‰.[Conclusion] Salinity and CHM had a significant effect on growth of F.chinensis,which should be paid more attention in the breeding.

Effects of a Self-made Compound Chinese Herbal Medicine Additive on Growth Performance and Occurrence of Diarrhea in Weaned Piglets

In this study,the effects of compound Chinese herbal medicine on growth performance and occurrence of diarrhea in weaned piglets were investigated.A compound Chinese herbal medicine that consisted of Astragalus membranaceus,Codonopsis pilosula,Epimedium sagittatum,massa medicata fermentata,Atractylodes macrocephala,malt,Glycyrrhiza uralensis,Angelica sinensis and Crataegus pinnatifida,was crushed and then passed through a 500-mesh sieve.The obtained powder was added to the basal diet of weaned piglets.A total of 100 healthy crossbred weaned piglets,aging 26±2 days,were selected.They were randomly divided into 5groups（20 piglets/group） in according to principles of similar parity（3-5）,similar body weight and half male and half female.The piglets in the control group were fed with basal diet.For the piglets in the I,II and III groups,0.4%,0.7% and 1.0%of Chinese herbal medicine additive were added to the basal diets,respectively.The basal diet of piglets in the IV group was added with 30 mg/kg of oxytetracycline.The results showed the incidences of diarrhea in I,II and III groups were4.85%,5.14% and 5.63% lower than that of control groups（P〈0.05）.There was no significant difference in incidence of diarrhea between the control and the IV groups.

Investigation of Heavy Metal Contents in Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine Peristrophe roxburghiana Collected from Northwest of Guangxi

Objective] This study was conducted to evaluate the product quality and safety of Peristrophe roxburghiana_ col ected from different places in Hechi City, northwest of Gunagxi, so as to provide basic data for further development and uti-lization of the characteristic plant resource P. roxburghiana. [Method] Contents of 9 kinds of heavy metals including Cd, Mn, Pb, Zn and Cu in the herb were deter-mined by the method of wet digestion-flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry and atomic fluorescence spectrometry, respectively. [Results] Heavy metal contents of Cd, Mn, Pb, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Hg and Se were 1.62-17.25, 8.93-142.53, 4.37-18.43, 103.7-242.81, 2.55-5.35, 85.40-146.30, 0.07-0.54, 0.00-0.08 and 0.00-0.47 mg/kg, respectively. According to the national food safety standards and Green Trade Standards of lmporting ＆amp; Exporting Medicinal plants ＆amp; Preparations, the heavy metal contents of the P. roxburghiana_samples col ected from different coun-ties in Hechi City exceeded standards or at the critical values. Among which, Cd, Pb and Zn contents of the samples are seriously higher than the standards. [Con-clusion] Therefore, the impact of soil heavy metal pol ution on the safety of edible plants in the northwest of Guangxi should be highly concerned.