Progress in clinical research on the integration of Chinese and Western medicines for treating primary liver cancer

Primary liver cancer(PLC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in China. PLC is characterized by insidious onset, rapid progress, poor quality of life, and short survival time. Notably, current treatment strategies remain unsatisfactory. Traditional Chinese medicines(TCM) have been used to treat a variety of diseases, including liver diseases, for more than 2000 years. In this study, we performed a review of the use frequency and clinical efficacy of TCM in treating PLC. Relevant literature from January 1, 2009, to January 1, 2021 was retrieved from network databases of China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI), Chongqing VIP, Wanfang, PubMed, and SinoMed. The most frequently used TCM and their efficacy in PLC treatment were summarized. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 33 articles were selected. Overall, the efficacy of the combination of TCM and Western medicines in the treatment of PLC was higher than that in the control groups(i.e. treatment with Western medicines alone)(65.11% vs.44.31%, P <.05). Among the 33 selected articles, 11 were investigated for TCM preparation(marketed drugs) and 22 for TCM formulas. In total, 102 types of TCM(single herbs) were used to treat PLC. The top five most frequently used TCM were Poria(14.71%), Astragali radix(13.73%), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma(12.75%), Bupleuri radix(12.75%), and Glycyrrhizae radix et Rhizoma(11.76%). Of the 102 types of TCM, tonics were the most frequently used categories, followed by heat-clearing medicines, blood-invigorating medicines, and stasis-resolving medicines. Of 207 papers, 174(84.06%) could not be subjected to statistical analysis due to research quality. Further high-quality research on herb sources, formula components and dosage, toxicology, and ethics of TCM is necessary. In conclusion, TCM play a promising role in the treatment and management of PLC, although further investigations are warranted.

Botany,Traditional Uses,and Pharmacology of Polygonati Rhizoma

Huang Jing (黄精 Polygonati Rhizoma, PR) was first documented as a herbal medicine in Ming Yi Bie Lu (《名医别录》 Miscellaneous Records of Famous Physicians) in China. However, there was no comprehensive review on the botany, traditional uses, and pharmacological effects of PR till now. In this study, the botany, traditional uses including Taoist medicine, and pharmacological effects of PR were reviewed and summarized to provide insights on drug development of PR. In Taoist medicine, PR maintains agerasia and helps prolong human life-span, and is used for fasting (Bigu). In the Zhong Guo Yao Dian (《中国药典》Chinese Pharmacopeia) version 2020, PR exerts replenishing qi and nourishing yin, invigorating the spleen, moistening the lung, and strengthening the kidney. Pharmacological studies show that PR has effects of anti-oxidation, anti-diabetes, anti-osteoporosis, anti-cancer, anti-hyperlipidemia, cardiomyocyte protection, immunomodulatory, and thus can be used for treatment of infertility, anti-microorganisms, and improving sleep and memory. In conclusion, PR may play a potential role for chronic disease management and health preservation and this very role deserves a more in-depth research.

Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Antitumor Activities of 2-Acyl-β-lactam-2-carboxamides

A series of 2-acyl-β-lactam-2-carboxamides was prepared through a tandem Ugi 4 CC/SN cyclization of bromoacetic acid, primary amine, arylglyoxal, and isocyanide. All of them were characterized by NMR, IR, MS and elemental analysis. Meanwhile, the single crystal of compound 5 a, C_(19)H_(25)ClN_2 O_3, was also obtained and determined by X-ray crystallography. Crystal data: triclinic system, space group P_1, a = 8.1318(15), b = 11.931(2), c = 12.027(2) ?, α = 67.361(3)°, β = 73.009(3)°, γ = 85.663(3)°, V = 1029.1(3) ?3, Z = 2, F(000) = 388, Dc = 1.178 g/cm3, μ = 0.204 mm^(-1), R = 0.0786 and w R = 0.2212 for 3585 independent reflections(Rint = 0.0214) and 2960 observed ones(I > 2σ(I)). Intermolecular N–H···O stacking interactions contributed to the stability of the structure. The antitumor abilities of 5 were analyzed with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazo-liumbromide(MTT) standard method; 5 c stood out as the most potent showing an IC_(50) of 1.70 μmol/L against human tumor cell lines(HepG2).

Chinese medicines for prevention and treatment of human hepatocellular carcinoma: current progress on pharmacological actions and mechanisms

Hepatocellular carcinoma（HCC） is one of leading causes of death in the world. Although various treatments have been developed, the therapeutic side effects are far from desirable. Chinese medicines（CMs, including plants, animal parts and minerals） have drawn a great deal of attention in recent years for their potential in the treatment of HCC. Most studies have shown that CMs may be able to retard HCC progression with multiple actions, either alone or in combination with other conventional therapies to improve quality of life in HCC patients. Additionally, CMs are used for preventing HCC occurrence. The aim of this study is to review the potential prophylactic and curative effects of CMs on human HCC and the possible mechanisms that underlie these pharmacological actions. Publications were collected and reviewed from Pub Med and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from 2000 to 2014. Keywords for literature searches include ＂Chinese medicine＂, ＂Chinese herb＂, ＂traditional Chinese Medicine＂, ＂hepatocellular carcinoma＂ and ＂liver cancer＂. CMs in forms of pure compounds, isolated fractions, and composite formulas are included. Combination therapies are also considered. Both in vitro and in vivo efficacies of CMs are being discussed and the translational potential to bedside is to be discussed with clinical cases, which show the actions of CMs on HCC may include tumor growth inhibition, antimetastatic activities, anti-inflammation, anti-liver cancer stem cells, reversal on multi-drug resistance and induction/reduction of oxidative stress. Multiple types of molecules are found to contribute in the above actions. The review paper indicated that CMs might have potential to both prevent HCC occurrence and retard HCC progression with several molecular targets involved.