Traditional Chinese medicine and Western psychopharmacology: building bridges

Effects of traditional Chinese medicine combined with modern rehabilitation therapies on motor function in children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has considerable experience in the treatment of cerebral palsy (CP), but little evidence shows the effect of a combination of TCM and modern rehabilitation therapies on CP. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effect of integrated TCM and modern rehabilitation therapies on motor development in children with CP.

Methods

We systematically searched five databases up to June 2022, including PubMed, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science. Gross motor function measure (GMFM) and Peabody Development Motor Scales-II were the primary outcomes to evaluate motor development. Secondary outcomes included the joint range of motion, the Modified Ashworth scale (MAS), the Berg balance scale, and Activities of Daily living (ADL). Weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to determine intergroup differences.

Results

A total of 2,211 participants from 22 trials were enrolled in this study. Among these, one study was at a low risk of bias and seven studies showed a high risk of bias. Significant improvements were found in GMFM-66 (WMD 9.33; 95% CI 0.14-18.52, P < 0.05, I ² = 92.1%), GMFM-88 (WMD 8.24; 95% CI 3.25-13.24, P < 0.01, I ² = 0.0%), Berg balance scale (WMD 4.42; 95% CI 1.21-7.63, P < 0.01, I ² = 96.7%), and ADL (WMD 3.78; 95% CI 2.12-5.43, P < 0.01, I ² = 58.8%). No adverse events were reported during the TCM intervention in the included studies. The quality of evidence was high to low.

Conclusion

Integrated TCM and modern rehabilitation therapies may be an effective and safe intervention protocol to improve gross motor function, muscle tone, and the functional independence of children with CP. However, our results should be interpreted carefully because of the heterogeneity between the included studies.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42022345470.

Why Are the Majority of Active Compounds in the CNS Domain Natural Products? A Critical Analysis

Small-molecule natural products (NPs) have a long and successful track record of providing first-in-class drugs and pharmacophore (scaffolds) in all therapeutic areas, serving as a bridge between modern and traditional medicine. This trajectory has been remarkably successful in three key areas of modern therapeutics: cancers, infections, and CNS diseases. Beginning with the discovery of morphine 200 years ago, natural products have remained the primary source of new drugs/scaffolds for CNS diseases. In this perspective, we address the question: why are the majority of active compounds in the CNS domain natural products? Our analysis indicates that ∼84% approved drugs for CNS diseases are NPs or NP-inspired, and interestingly, 20 natural products provided more than 400 clinically approved CNS drugs. We have discussed unique physicochemical properties of NPs and NP-inspired vis-à-vis synthetic drugs, isoform selectivity, and evolutionary relationship, providing a rationale for increasing focus on natural product driven discovery for next-generation drugs for neurodegenerative diseases.

Antitumor constituents of the wetland plant Nymphoides peltata: a case study for the potential utilization of constructed wetland plant resources

The efficient utilization of plant resources is a necessary and important measure for sustainable management of constructed wetlands. Screening bioactive metabolites from wetland plants could reveal potential solutions for the utilization of constructed wetland plant resources. In this study, the constructed wetland macrophyte Nymphoides peltata was screened for constituents with antitumor activity. The secondary metabolites of N. peltata were extracted and separated by MCI gel, silica gel, and Sephadex gel column chromatography. Antitumor tests were then carried out with MTT assay against the human prostate cancer cell PC3 and the human osteosarcoma cell U2OS. The secondary metabolite group with the most significant antitumor activity was further examined, and four constituents were obtained and identified. This study provides a scientific basis for the potential efficient utilization of N. peltata and other constructed wetland plant resources.