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 ...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.展开更多
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 b...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.展开更多
The increasing prevalence of hypothyroidism,which can cause endocrine dysfunction,abnormal neurological function,and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular injuries,poses serious health problems.Thyroid hormone supplement...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.展开更多
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 b...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.展开更多
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 develop...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.展开更多
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 corre...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.展开更多
Ulcerative colitis(UC), an idiopathic inflammatory disorder in the colon, has become a clinical challenge, owing to the increasing incidence and poor prognosis. The conventional treatments for UC including aminosalicy...Ulcerative colitis(UC), an idiopathic inflammatory disorder in the colon, has become a clinical challenge, owing to the increasing incidence and poor prognosis. The conventional treatments for UC including aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants, induce remission in only half of patients. Meanwhile, the treatments often come with serious side effects which can be life-threatening. Herbal medicine, one of the most common traditional Chinese medicine modalities, has been introduced for centuries into clinical treatment of many human diseases such as infections and functional disorders. Recently, the potential effectiveness of herbs has been suggested as the treatment of UC, as shown by a variety of clinical trials and experimental studies. The herbs reported in the literature include aloe vera gel, butyrate, tormentil extracts, wheat grass juice, and curcumin. In the review, bioactivity of the herbs and their involvement in UC treatment are discussed.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate in ritro antimicrobial activities of selected 58 ethno-medicinal plant extracts with a view to assess their therapeutic potential.Methods:A total of 58 traditional Chinese medicinal plants were c...Objective:To evaluate in ritro antimicrobial activities of selected 58 ethno-medicinal plant extracts with a view to assess their therapeutic potential.Methods:A total of 58 traditional Chinese medicinal plants were carefully selected based on the literature review and their traditional use.The antimicrobial activities of ethanol extracts of these medicinal plants were tested against fungi(Aspergillus funigaius),yeast(Candida albicans),gram-negative(Acirelobacter haumannii and Pseudornnruis aeruginosa)and gram-positive bacteria(Staphglococcus aureus).The activities were tested at three different concentrations of 1.00,0.10 and 0.01 mg/mL.The data was analysed using Gene data Screener program.Results:The measured antimicrobial activities indicated that out of the 58 plant extracts,15 extracts showed anti-fungal activity and 23 extracts exhibited anti-bacterial activity.Eight plant extracts have exhibited both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities.For instance,Eucommia ulmoides,Pohgonum cuspidcrtum,Poria cocas and Uncaria rhineophylla showed activity against both bacterial and fungal strains,indicating their broad spectrum of activity.Conclusions:The results revealed that the ethanol extracts of 30 plants out of the selected 58 possess significant antimicrobial activities.It is interesting to note that the findings from the current study are consistent with the traditional use.A clear correlation has also been found between the antimicrobial activity and the flavonoid content of the plant extracts which is in agreement with the literature.Hence.the results presented here can be used to guide the selection of potential plant species for the isolation and structure elucidation of novel antimicrobial compounds in order to establish the structure-activity relationship.This in turn is expected to lead the way to the discovery of novel antimicrobial agents for therapeutic use.展开更多
As total life expectancy increases, the prevalence of age-related diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer's disease is also increasing. Many hypotheses about Alzheimer's disease have been developed, including ...As total life expectancy increases, the prevalence of age-related diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer's disease is also increasing. Many hypotheses about Alzheimer's disease have been developed, including cholinergic neuron damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Acetylcholine is a major neurotransmitter in the brain and cholinergic deficits leads to cognitive dysfunction and decline. Recent studies have linked diabetes as a risk factor in developing Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. The incidence of patients with type II diabetes and increased levels and activity of α-amylase is higher in patients with dementia. It has been shown that aromatherapy with essential oils from the mint family can improve cognitive performance in Alzheimer's disease patients. Selected monoterpenoids from these essential oils are reported to inhibit acetylcholinesterase, both in vitro and in vivo. Terpenoids are small, fat-soluble organic molecules that can transfer across nasal mucosa if inhaled, or penetrate through the skin after topical application, enter into the blood and cross the blood-brain barrier. Recent evidence supports the idea that the common constituents of essential oils also inhibit α-amylase, a starch digestive enzyme that plays an important role in the control of diabetes. The mint family is a fragrant plant family that contains most of the culinary herbs found in the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet is considered to be one of the healthiest diets in the world, and is found to be beneficial not only for the heart but also for the brain. Herbs used in this diet are rich in antioxidants that can prevent oxidative damage caused by free radicals. However, our study shows that they also contain biologically active compounds with potent α-amylase and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. Consumption of fresh herbs can help boost memory and reduce sugar levels in the body. The use of herbs as a functional food could lead to significant improvements in health. Cognitive stimulation with medical food and medical herbs could delay development of cognitive decline, and improve the quality of life of Alzheimer's disease patients. This effect can be enhanced if combined with aromatherapy, topically or by inhalation, and/or by ingestion. Terpenes and terpenoids, the primary constituents of these essential oils are small, lipid soluble organic molecules that can be absorbed through the skin or across nasal mucosa into the systemic blood circulation. Many terpenes can also cross the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, topical application or inhalation of essential oils will also produce a systemic effect.展开更多
Abnormally increased levels of iron in the brain trigger cascade amplification in Alzheimer's dis- ease patients, resulting in neuronal death. This study investigated whether components extracted from the Chinese her...Abnormally increased levels of iron in the brain trigger cascade amplification in Alzheimer's dis- ease patients, resulting in neuronal death. This study investigated whether components extracted from the Chinese herbs epimedium herb, milkvetch root and kudzuvine root could relieve the abnormal expression of iron metabolism-related protein in Alzheimer's disease patients. An APPs,~JPSI^E9 double transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease was used. The intragas- tric administration of compounds from epimedium herb, milkvetch root and kudzuvine root improved pathological alterations such as neuronal edema, increased the number of neurons, downregulated divalent metal transporter 1 expression, upregulated ferroportin 1 expression, and inhibited iron overload in the cerebral cortex of mice with Alzheimer's disease. These com- pounds reduced iron overload-induced impairment of the central nervous system, indicating a new strategy for developing novel drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.展开更多
Objective:To screen the effect of 28 medicinal plants on inhibition of pancreatic lipase and evaluate the phytochemical contents of extracts.Methods:The ethanolic extracts of 28 traditional Thai herbal medicines were ...Objective:To screen the effect of 28 medicinal plants on inhibition of pancreatic lipase and evaluate the phytochemical contents of extracts.Methods:The ethanolic extracts of 28 traditional Thai herbal medicines were assayed for their in vitro activities against porcine pancreatic lipase using p-nitrophenyl butyrate as a substrate.Quantitative estimation of flavonoids,phenolics,and alkaloids was done.Results:Extracts from four herbs,Memecylon edule Roxb.,Garcinia vilersiana Pierre,Cryptolepis elegans Wall.and Phyllanthus chamaepeuce Ridl.,at a concentration of100 mg/m L,strongly inhibited porcine pancreatic lipase by 90.97%,92.04%,94.64%and95.38%,respectively.There was a significant positive correlation between phenolic content and inhibition activity.Inhibition activity was significantly correlated with flavonoid and with alkaloid contents.Conclusions:From this result,it could be concluded that herbs represent a rich of antipancreatic lipase compounds,in particular,Cryptolepis elegans Wall.and Phyllanthus chamaepeuce Ridl.It is suggested that the phytochemical compounds from these plants may be applied for the prevention and treatment of obesity or hyperlipidemia.展开更多
An experiment was conducted to study the effects of different Chinese herbs on lactation in the rat. Seventy-two Sprague Dawley female rats at gestation day 18 were assigned to 9 groups randomly, with 8 rats each. Con...An experiment was conducted to study the effects of different Chinese herbs on lactation in the rat. Seventy-two Sprague Dawley female rats at gestation day 18 were assigned to 9 groups randomly, with 8 rats each. Control rats were offered basal diets until the end of the weaning period. Rats in the other 8 groups were administered diets supplemented with 1% Medulla tetmpanacis (MT), Astragalus membranacens (AM), Vaccaria segetalis (VS), Leonurus heterophyllus sweet (LHS), Radix rehmarmiae preparata (RRP), Squama man/t/s (SM), Schisandra chinensis (SC), Ligustrum lucidum (LL), respectively. After parturition, the litter size was culled to 8 pups per dam. Pup weight and milk yield were significantly higher in the VS, LHS, AM and SM groups than these in the control group during middle and late lactation (P〈0.05 or P〈0.01). The weight and feed intake were not different in the dams fed either diet.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate the effect of Chinese herbs decoction Shu-Gan-Liang-Xue on endocrine therapy-associated hot flashes symptom in breast cancer patients.Methods:Sixty-six patients with breast cancer receiving adj...Objective:To evaluate the effect of Chinese herbs decoction Shu-Gan-Liang-Xue on endocrine therapy-associated hot flashes symptom in breast cancer patients.Methods:Sixty-six patients with breast cancer receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy were categorized to two groups,the control group received endocrine therapy alone,the other group is administered with Chinese herbs decoction Shu-Gan-Liang-Xue besides the endocrine therapy:Shu-Gan-Liang-Xue decoction was administered above 6 months per year for more than 2 years.Frequency of hot flashes per day was recorded,and the effect of Shu-Gan-Liang-Xue decoction on hot flashes symptom being assessed with Kupperman Scoring Index.Results:Sixty cases were analyzed,32 cases in endocrine therapy combining Chinese herbs decoction group,28 cases in mere endocrine therapy group.For hot flashes symptom,in Chinese herbs decoction administration group,7 cases(21.9%) reported symptom disappeared,22 cases(68.7%) reported symptom alleviated,3 cases(9.4%) reported symptom not changed;in endocrine therapy alone group,5 cases(17.9%) reported symptom disappeared,13 cases(46.4%) reported symptom alleviated,10 cases(10/28,35.7%) reported symptom not changed.The difference between two groups was statistically significant(P=0.013).For sleeping disorder,in Chinese herbs decoction administration group,27 cases(84.4%) reported symptom improved,5 cases(15.6%) reported no change;in endocrine therapy alone group,16 cases(57.1%) symptom improved,12 cases(42.9%) reported no change in sleeping disorder(P=0.019),the difference was also of significance statistically.Conclusion:Long-term Chinese herbs decoction administration remarkably improved hot flashes symptom and sleeping disorder associated with endocrine therapy,meanwhile without definite toxicity and influence on the risk of recurrence of tumor.展开更多
A simple method was developed for rapid and direct profiling of alkaloids in medical herbs via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF MS). The dry herbs were first gro...A simple method was developed for rapid and direct profiling of alkaloids in medical herbs via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF MS). The dry herbs were first ground to powder and passed through a stainless steel sieve, mixed with the matrix solution to form a homogeneous suspension, which was then directly applied to MALDI analysis. Several matrices were investigated and 2,5- dihydroxybenzoic acid(DHB) was chosen as the optimized one, and the particle with small size was found to favor the analysis. Using this method, the profiles of alkaloids in several medical herbs were readily obtained, and the toxicities of crude and processed Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata were compared via the relative intensities of the peaks of the corresponding toxic components shown in their MALDI spectra. This method therefore provides a rapid and reliable protocol for obtaining profiles of alkaloids in medical herbs by using MALDI-TOF MS.展开更多
Tropical diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, trypanosomiasis, and leishmaniasis, account for a large number of deaths annually. Herbs are an excellent source of tropical medicines. Many advancements and discoverie...Tropical diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, trypanosomiasis, and leishmaniasis, account for a large number of deaths annually. Herbs are an excellent source of tropical medicines. Many advancements and discoveries have taken place in the field of drug discovery but still, a major population of tropical diseases relies on herbal traditional medicine. There are some challenges related to policy implementation, efficacy, resistance and toxicity of tropical medicines. There are many tropical diseases such as such as schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, African sleeping sickness, filariasis and chagas disease which are neglected because very few pharmaceutical companies have shown their interest in developing therapeutics against these diseases of poor people. There are many benefits associated with herbal medicine such as the cost of production, patient tolerance, large scale availability, efficacy, safety, potency, recyclability, and environment friendly. A large number of natural extracts such as curcumin, artemisinin, morphine, reserpine, and hypericin, are in use for treatment of different tropical diseases for a long time. The current review is to discuss the overview of tropical medicinal herbs, its scope and limitations in the modern drug discovery process.展开更多
Although most people believe that herbal remedies are relatively safe to use, some are toxic or possess adverse reactions, especially when used incorrectly.Commonly used TCM herbs with known adverse reactions, as well...Although most people believe that herbal remedies are relatively safe to use, some are toxic or possess adverse reactions, especially when used incorrectly.Commonly used TCM herbs with known adverse reactions, as well as the most toxic herbs in the Pharmacopoeia of People’s Republic of China are listed as follows:展开更多
Objective:To explore the antibacterial effect of Chinese crude drugs against clinical strains of Ureaplasma urealyticum(UU), including eight pure herbs and three compound herbs, and determine their minimal inhibito...Objective:To explore the antibacterial effect of Chinese crude drugs against clinical strains of Ureaplasma urealyticum(UU), including eight pure herbs and three compound herbs, and determine their minimal inhibitory concentrations(MICs). Methods:Isolates were collected from clinical patients with UU infection, and cultured in UU broth. In order to test the different effects on clinical strains of UU, the assays were performed by microdilution inhibition tests, and MICs of the herbs against the clinical strains of UU were calculated. Results:The MICs of eight pure herbs against clinical strains of UU were as follows: Galla Chinensis:0.313-1.25 g/L; Fructus Forsythiae: 1.25-5.00 g/L; Cortex Phellodendri: 1.25-5.00 g/L; Radix Paeoniae Rubra: 1.25-2.50 g/L; Semen Plantaginis:2.50-10.00 g/L; Herba Lysimachiae: 5.00-20.00 g/L; Rhizoma Coptidis: 5.00-20.00g/L, Herba Houttuyniae: 10.00-20.00 g/L. The MICs of compound herbs were: Liuheji: 0.625-2.50 g/L; Bazhengsan: 5.00-20.00 g/L; Wulinsan:2.50-20.0 g/L.Conclusion:Galla Chinensis, Fructus Forsythiae, Cortex Phellodendrim, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, and Semen Plantaginis, exerted the stronger antibacterial effect against clinical strains of UU, whereas Herba Lysimachiae, Rhizoma Coptidis and Herba Houttuyniae, had relatively weaker activity against UU. Compound herbs, Bazhengsan and Wulinsan, and particularly Liuheji, also had antibacterial effects against UU. Further studies of the effects and mechanisms of action of Chinese crude drugs against UU infections are worthwhile.展开更多
Tonic Chinese herbs Pseudostellaria heterophylla has complex components,which has both medicinal and nutritional effects,and the clinical research on anti-oxidation of P.heterophylla has become a hotspot.By searching ...Tonic Chinese herbs Pseudostellaria heterophylla has complex components,which has both medicinal and nutritional effects,and the clinical research on anti-oxidation of P.heterophylla has become a hotspot.By searching domestic and foreign databases,the antioxidant literatures of P.heterophylla were searched,consulted,sorted,classified and analyzed,and systematic reevaluation of antioxidant function was conducted from three aspects of P.heterophylla extract in vitro chemical method,biological method and animal test method according to evaluation criteria for antioxidant activity of traditional Chinese medicine and Meta analysis statistical methods.The results would provide systematic reference for further research and development of P.heterophylla,especially for forage value excavation and development of P.heterophylla in the field of modern animal breeding.展开更多
The linkage between Qi and mitochondria was investigated by exploring the effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Qi-invigorating herbs on mitochondrial function at the biochemical and molecular levels. Three Chi...The linkage between Qi and mitochondria was investigated by exploring the effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Qi-invigorating herbs on mitochondrial function at the biochemical and molecular levels. Three Chinese herbs (<i></span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Astragali radix</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">,</span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Herba cistanche</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Panax ginseng</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></i>) were used to treat cultured mouse kidney cells and the generation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was measured. The Qi-invigorating herb, <i></span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Astragali radix</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></i>, was selected for further </span></span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">study using additional biological and molecular parameters, including ATP, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP),</span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> mtDNA copies, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), cell growth, cell viability and transcriptomes. We also chose two concentrations of <i></span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Astragali radix</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></i> to study the hormetic effect. The results indicated that: 1) Qi-invigorating herbs have significant effects on the function of mitochondria, with ATP production and the antioxidant capacity being significantly enhanced, and ROS le</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">vels being reduced, allowing for a more optimal oxidation environment. The effect of the herbs followed a hormetic curve with a stimulating effect at lower</span><span> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">doses but an inhibiting effect at high doses;2) The growth of the cells was not</span><span> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">affected despite numerous biochemical changes associated with mitochondrial</span><span> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">function, indicating the powerful ability of mitochondria to maintain cellular homeostasis;3) The up-regulation of NOCT gene, related to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) synthesis, offers a molecular basis for the ATP-promoting effect of the Qi-invigorating herbs. This work provides additional insight into the efficacy of TCM herbs from a western perspective.展开更多
文摘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.
文摘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.
文摘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.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.62001023)Beijing Natural Science Foundation(No.JQ20021)。
文摘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.
基金the National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan,China,No.NSC112-2320-B-039-045-China Medical University Hospital,No.DMR-111-013,No.DMR-111-195,No.DMR-112-004 and No.DMR-112-177Department of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy and Ministry of Health and Welfare,No.MOHW-112-CMC-03.
文摘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.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82204250)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2021M693961)+2 种基金Young and Middle-Aged Talent Project of Hubei Provincial Department of Education(No.Q20222808)Hubei University of Science and Technology Doctoral Startup Fund Project(No.BK202029)Outstanding Young and Middle-Aged Scientific and Technological Innovation Team in Colleges and Universities in Hubei Province(No.T2021022).
文摘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.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81470828,No.81270472 and No.81070310Science and Tech-nology Program of Education Department of Jiangxi Province,No.GJJ13138Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province,No.20142BAB205048
文摘Ulcerative colitis(UC), an idiopathic inflammatory disorder in the colon, has become a clinical challenge, owing to the increasing incidence and poor prognosis. The conventional treatments for UC including aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants, induce remission in only half of patients. Meanwhile, the treatments often come with serious side effects which can be life-threatening. Herbal medicine, one of the most common traditional Chinese medicine modalities, has been introduced for centuries into clinical treatment of many human diseases such as infections and functional disorders. Recently, the potential effectiveness of herbs has been suggested as the treatment of UC, as shown by a variety of clinical trials and experimental studies. The herbs reported in the literature include aloe vera gel, butyrate, tormentil extracts, wheat grass juice, and curcumin. In the review, bioactivity of the herbs and their involvement in UC treatment are discussed.
基金funded by the University of Western Sydney and the Fundacion MEDINAa public-private partnership of Merck Sharp&Dohme de Espana S.A./Universidad de Granada/Junta de Andalucia
文摘Objective:To evaluate in ritro antimicrobial activities of selected 58 ethno-medicinal plant extracts with a view to assess their therapeutic potential.Methods:A total of 58 traditional Chinese medicinal plants were carefully selected based on the literature review and their traditional use.The antimicrobial activities of ethanol extracts of these medicinal plants were tested against fungi(Aspergillus funigaius),yeast(Candida albicans),gram-negative(Acirelobacter haumannii and Pseudornnruis aeruginosa)and gram-positive bacteria(Staphglococcus aureus).The activities were tested at three different concentrations of 1.00,0.10 and 0.01 mg/mL.The data was analysed using Gene data Screener program.Results:The measured antimicrobial activities indicated that out of the 58 plant extracts,15 extracts showed anti-fungal activity and 23 extracts exhibited anti-bacterial activity.Eight plant extracts have exhibited both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities.For instance,Eucommia ulmoides,Pohgonum cuspidcrtum,Poria cocas and Uncaria rhineophylla showed activity against both bacterial and fungal strains,indicating their broad spectrum of activity.Conclusions:The results revealed that the ethanol extracts of 30 plants out of the selected 58 possess significant antimicrobial activities.It is interesting to note that the findings from the current study are consistent with the traditional use.A clear correlation has also been found between the antimicrobial activity and the flavonoid content of the plant extracts which is in agreement with the literature.Hence.the results presented here can be used to guide the selection of potential plant species for the isolation and structure elucidation of novel antimicrobial compounds in order to establish the structure-activity relationship.This in turn is expected to lead the way to the discovery of novel antimicrobial agents for therapeutic use.
文摘As total life expectancy increases, the prevalence of age-related diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer's disease is also increasing. Many hypotheses about Alzheimer's disease have been developed, including cholinergic neuron damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Acetylcholine is a major neurotransmitter in the brain and cholinergic deficits leads to cognitive dysfunction and decline. Recent studies have linked diabetes as a risk factor in developing Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. The incidence of patients with type II diabetes and increased levels and activity of α-amylase is higher in patients with dementia. It has been shown that aromatherapy with essential oils from the mint family can improve cognitive performance in Alzheimer's disease patients. Selected monoterpenoids from these essential oils are reported to inhibit acetylcholinesterase, both in vitro and in vivo. Terpenoids are small, fat-soluble organic molecules that can transfer across nasal mucosa if inhaled, or penetrate through the skin after topical application, enter into the blood and cross the blood-brain barrier. Recent evidence supports the idea that the common constituents of essential oils also inhibit α-amylase, a starch digestive enzyme that plays an important role in the control of diabetes. The mint family is a fragrant plant family that contains most of the culinary herbs found in the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet is considered to be one of the healthiest diets in the world, and is found to be beneficial not only for the heart but also for the brain. Herbs used in this diet are rich in antioxidants that can prevent oxidative damage caused by free radicals. However, our study shows that they also contain biologically active compounds with potent α-amylase and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. Consumption of fresh herbs can help boost memory and reduce sugar levels in the body. The use of herbs as a functional food could lead to significant improvements in health. Cognitive stimulation with medical food and medical herbs could delay development of cognitive decline, and improve the quality of life of Alzheimer's disease patients. This effect can be enhanced if combined with aromatherapy, topically or by inhalation, and/or by ingestion. Terpenes and terpenoids, the primary constituents of these essential oils are small, lipid soluble organic molecules that can be absorbed through the skin or across nasal mucosa into the systemic blood circulation. Many terpenes can also cross the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, topical application or inhalation of essential oils will also produce a systemic effect.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81273983the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province in China,No.C2010001471+1 种基金the Scientific and Technological Research Youth Foundation of Colleges and Universities in Hebei Province of China,No.Q2012036the Hebei Provincial Food and Drug Administration in China,No.PT2014053
文摘Abnormally increased levels of iron in the brain trigger cascade amplification in Alzheimer's dis- ease patients, resulting in neuronal death. This study investigated whether components extracted from the Chinese herbs epimedium herb, milkvetch root and kudzuvine root could relieve the abnormal expression of iron metabolism-related protein in Alzheimer's disease patients. An APPs,~JPSI^E9 double transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease was used. The intragas- tric administration of compounds from epimedium herb, milkvetch root and kudzuvine root improved pathological alterations such as neuronal edema, increased the number of neurons, downregulated divalent metal transporter 1 expression, upregulated ferroportin 1 expression, and inhibited iron overload in the cerebral cortex of mice with Alzheimer's disease. These com- pounds reduced iron overload-induced impairment of the central nervous system, indicating a new strategy for developing novel drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
基金Supported by Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University through Plant Genetic Conservation Project Under The Royal Initiative of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Program(Grant No.UBRU_RSPG_2556)
文摘Objective:To screen the effect of 28 medicinal plants on inhibition of pancreatic lipase and evaluate the phytochemical contents of extracts.Methods:The ethanolic extracts of 28 traditional Thai herbal medicines were assayed for their in vitro activities against porcine pancreatic lipase using p-nitrophenyl butyrate as a substrate.Quantitative estimation of flavonoids,phenolics,and alkaloids was done.Results:Extracts from four herbs,Memecylon edule Roxb.,Garcinia vilersiana Pierre,Cryptolepis elegans Wall.and Phyllanthus chamaepeuce Ridl.,at a concentration of100 mg/m L,strongly inhibited porcine pancreatic lipase by 90.97%,92.04%,94.64%and95.38%,respectively.There was a significant positive correlation between phenolic content and inhibition activity.Inhibition activity was significantly correlated with flavonoid and with alkaloid contents.Conclusions:From this result,it could be concluded that herbs represent a rich of antipancreatic lipase compounds,in particular,Cryptolepis elegans Wall.and Phyllanthus chamaepeuce Ridl.It is suggested that the phytochemical compounds from these plants may be applied for the prevention and treatment of obesity or hyperlipidemia.
基金Supported by NationalBasicResearchProgramof China(2004CB11750-5)
文摘An experiment was conducted to study the effects of different Chinese herbs on lactation in the rat. Seventy-two Sprague Dawley female rats at gestation day 18 were assigned to 9 groups randomly, with 8 rats each. Control rats were offered basal diets until the end of the weaning period. Rats in the other 8 groups were administered diets supplemented with 1% Medulla tetmpanacis (MT), Astragalus membranacens (AM), Vaccaria segetalis (VS), Leonurus heterophyllus sweet (LHS), Radix rehmarmiae preparata (RRP), Squama man/t/s (SM), Schisandra chinensis (SC), Ligustrum lucidum (LL), respectively. After parturition, the litter size was culled to 8 pups per dam. Pup weight and milk yield were significantly higher in the VS, LHS, AM and SM groups than these in the control group during middle and late lactation (P〈0.05 or P〈0.01). The weight and feed intake were not different in the dams fed either diet.
文摘Objective:To evaluate the effect of Chinese herbs decoction Shu-Gan-Liang-Xue on endocrine therapy-associated hot flashes symptom in breast cancer patients.Methods:Sixty-six patients with breast cancer receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy were categorized to two groups,the control group received endocrine therapy alone,the other group is administered with Chinese herbs decoction Shu-Gan-Liang-Xue besides the endocrine therapy:Shu-Gan-Liang-Xue decoction was administered above 6 months per year for more than 2 years.Frequency of hot flashes per day was recorded,and the effect of Shu-Gan-Liang-Xue decoction on hot flashes symptom being assessed with Kupperman Scoring Index.Results:Sixty cases were analyzed,32 cases in endocrine therapy combining Chinese herbs decoction group,28 cases in mere endocrine therapy group.For hot flashes symptom,in Chinese herbs decoction administration group,7 cases(21.9%) reported symptom disappeared,22 cases(68.7%) reported symptom alleviated,3 cases(9.4%) reported symptom not changed;in endocrine therapy alone group,5 cases(17.9%) reported symptom disappeared,13 cases(46.4%) reported symptom alleviated,10 cases(10/28,35.7%) reported symptom not changed.The difference between two groups was statistically significant(P=0.013).For sleeping disorder,in Chinese herbs decoction administration group,27 cases(84.4%) reported symptom improved,5 cases(15.6%) reported no change;in endocrine therapy alone group,16 cases(57.1%) symptom improved,12 cases(42.9%) reported no change in sleeping disorder(P=0.019),the difference was also of significance statistically.Conclusion:Long-term Chinese herbs decoction administration remarkably improved hot flashes symptom and sleeping disorder associated with endocrine therapy,meanwhile without definite toxicity and influence on the risk of recurrence of tumor.
基金Supported by the Major State Basic Research Development Program of China(No.2006CB5047060)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.30672600, 30772721)the Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province, China (No.20060902)
文摘A simple method was developed for rapid and direct profiling of alkaloids in medical herbs via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF MS). The dry herbs were first ground to powder and passed through a stainless steel sieve, mixed with the matrix solution to form a homogeneous suspension, which was then directly applied to MALDI analysis. Several matrices were investigated and 2,5- dihydroxybenzoic acid(DHB) was chosen as the optimized one, and the particle with small size was found to favor the analysis. Using this method, the profiles of alkaloids in several medical herbs were readily obtained, and the toxicities of crude and processed Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata were compared via the relative intensities of the peaks of the corresponding toxic components shown in their MALDI spectra. This method therefore provides a rapid and reliable protocol for obtaining profiles of alkaloids in medical herbs by using MALDI-TOF MS.
文摘Tropical diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, trypanosomiasis, and leishmaniasis, account for a large number of deaths annually. Herbs are an excellent source of tropical medicines. Many advancements and discoveries have taken place in the field of drug discovery but still, a major population of tropical diseases relies on herbal traditional medicine. There are some challenges related to policy implementation, efficacy, resistance and toxicity of tropical medicines. There are many tropical diseases such as such as schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, African sleeping sickness, filariasis and chagas disease which are neglected because very few pharmaceutical companies have shown their interest in developing therapeutics against these diseases of poor people. There are many benefits associated with herbal medicine such as the cost of production, patient tolerance, large scale availability, efficacy, safety, potency, recyclability, and environment friendly. A large number of natural extracts such as curcumin, artemisinin, morphine, reserpine, and hypericin, are in use for treatment of different tropical diseases for a long time. The current review is to discuss the overview of tropical medicinal herbs, its scope and limitations in the modern drug discovery process.
文摘Although most people believe that herbal remedies are relatively safe to use, some are toxic or possess adverse reactions, especially when used incorrectly.Commonly used TCM herbs with known adverse reactions, as well as the most toxic herbs in the Pharmacopoeia of People’s Republic of China are listed as follows:
文摘Objective:To explore the antibacterial effect of Chinese crude drugs against clinical strains of Ureaplasma urealyticum(UU), including eight pure herbs and three compound herbs, and determine their minimal inhibitory concentrations(MICs). Methods:Isolates were collected from clinical patients with UU infection, and cultured in UU broth. In order to test the different effects on clinical strains of UU, the assays were performed by microdilution inhibition tests, and MICs of the herbs against the clinical strains of UU were calculated. Results:The MICs of eight pure herbs against clinical strains of UU were as follows: Galla Chinensis:0.313-1.25 g/L; Fructus Forsythiae: 1.25-5.00 g/L; Cortex Phellodendri: 1.25-5.00 g/L; Radix Paeoniae Rubra: 1.25-2.50 g/L; Semen Plantaginis:2.50-10.00 g/L; Herba Lysimachiae: 5.00-20.00 g/L; Rhizoma Coptidis: 5.00-20.00g/L, Herba Houttuyniae: 10.00-20.00 g/L. The MICs of compound herbs were: Liuheji: 0.625-2.50 g/L; Bazhengsan: 5.00-20.00 g/L; Wulinsan:2.50-20.0 g/L.Conclusion:Galla Chinensis, Fructus Forsythiae, Cortex Phellodendrim, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, and Semen Plantaginis, exerted the stronger antibacterial effect against clinical strains of UU, whereas Herba Lysimachiae, Rhizoma Coptidis and Herba Houttuyniae, had relatively weaker activity against UU. Compound herbs, Bazhengsan and Wulinsan, and particularly Liuheji, also had antibacterial effects against UU. Further studies of the effects and mechanisms of action of Chinese crude drugs against UU infections are worthwhile.
基金Leading Project of Fujian Science and Technology Plan(2019Y6005)Innovation Fund Project of Fujian Provincial Department of Science and Technology(2018C0041)+1 种基金Fujian Soft Science Research Project(2018ER019)Horizontal Project of School-enterprise Cooperation(104/KH180151A).
文摘Tonic Chinese herbs Pseudostellaria heterophylla has complex components,which has both medicinal and nutritional effects,and the clinical research on anti-oxidation of P.heterophylla has become a hotspot.By searching domestic and foreign databases,the antioxidant literatures of P.heterophylla were searched,consulted,sorted,classified and analyzed,and systematic reevaluation of antioxidant function was conducted from three aspects of P.heterophylla extract in vitro chemical method,biological method and animal test method according to evaluation criteria for antioxidant activity of traditional Chinese medicine and Meta analysis statistical methods.The results would provide systematic reference for further research and development of P.heterophylla,especially for forage value excavation and development of P.heterophylla in the field of modern animal breeding.
文摘The linkage between Qi and mitochondria was investigated by exploring the effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Qi-invigorating herbs on mitochondrial function at the biochemical and molecular levels. Three Chinese herbs (<i></span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Astragali radix</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">,</span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Herba cistanche</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Panax ginseng</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></i>) were used to treat cultured mouse kidney cells and the generation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was measured. The Qi-invigorating herb, <i></span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Astragali radix</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></i>, was selected for further </span></span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">study using additional biological and molecular parameters, including ATP, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP),</span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> mtDNA copies, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), cell growth, cell viability and transcriptomes. We also chose two concentrations of <i></span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Astragali radix</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></i> to study the hormetic effect. The results indicated that: 1) Qi-invigorating herbs have significant effects on the function of mitochondria, with ATP production and the antioxidant capacity being significantly enhanced, and ROS le</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">vels being reduced, allowing for a more optimal oxidation environment. The effect of the herbs followed a hormetic curve with a stimulating effect at lower</span><span> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">doses but an inhibiting effect at high doses;2) The growth of the cells was not</span><span> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">affected despite numerous biochemical changes associated with mitochondrial</span><span> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">function, indicating the powerful ability of mitochondria to maintain cellular homeostasis;3) The up-regulation of NOCT gene, related to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) synthesis, offers a molecular basis for the ATP-promoting effect of the Qi-invigorating herbs. This work provides additional insight into the efficacy of TCM herbs from a western perspective.