Guidelines for manuscript submission in the peer-reviewed pharmacological literature

Decatastrophizing research irreproducibility

The reported inability to replicate research findings from the published literature precipitated extensive efforts to identify and correct perceived deficiencies in the execution and reporting of biomedical research. Despite these efforts, quantification of the magnitude of irreproducible research or the effectiveness of associated remediation initiatives, across diverse biomedical disciplines, has made little progress over the last decade. The idea that science is self-correcting has been further challenged in recent years by the proliferation of unverified or fraudulent scientific content generated by predatory journals, paper mills, pre-print server postings, and the inappropriate use of artificial intelligence technologies. The degree to which the field of pharmacology has been negatively impacted by these evolving pressures is unknown. Regardless of these ambiguities, pharmacology societies and their associated journals have championed best practices to enhance the experimental rigor and reporting of pharmacological research. The value of transparent and independent validation of raw data generation and its analysis in basic and clinical research is exemplified by the discovery, development, and approval of Highly Effective Modulator Therapy (HEMT) for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients. This provides a didactic counterpoint to concerns regarding the current state of biomedical research. Key features of this important therapeutic advance include objective construction of basic and translational research hypotheses, associated experimental designs, and validation of experimental effect sizes with quantitative alignment to meaningful clinical endpoints with input from the FDA, which enhanced scientific rigor and transparency with real world deliverables for patients in need.

Commentary: Fifty years exploring pharmacology with Sam Enna

The passing of Sam Enna in June of 2023 is major loss to the world of pharmacology. While best known for his extensive research activities in the area of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) pharmacology, Sam devoted much of his professional time to teaching and as an Editor in Chief for the legacy journals - the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (JPET - 1998-2003); Pharmacology & Therapeutics (P & T - 2003-2023) and Biochemical Pharmacology (BCP -2003-2023) - increasing the volume of submissions for all three journals and their Impact Factors while decreasing the time for peer review and publication. Sam was a well-respected consultant in the CNS area for the biopharmaceutical industry and served as Secretary General and President of the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology where his efforts were focused on sustaining research integrity, particularly in the areas of data reproducibility and fraud. This Commentary provides a personal overview of Sam's 50-year career in pharmacology and briefly updates topics that were of keen interest to Sam including: developments on the continuing reproducibility crisis where systematic fraud continues to proliferate now reaching industrial scale proportions, aided and abetted by paper mills, AI and the erosion of meritocratic norms; and the fall and rise of CNS drug discovery.

Orally administered sodium nitrite prevents the increased α-1 adrenergic vasoconstriction induced by hypertension and promotes the S-nitrosylation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II

The unsatisfactory rates of adequate blood pressure control among patients receiving antihypertensive treatment calls for new therapeutic strategies to treat hypertension. Several studies have shown that oral sodium nitrite exerts significant antihypertensive effects, but the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. While these mechanisms may involve nitrite-derived S-nitrosothiols, their implication in important alterations associated with hypertension, such as aberrant α1-adrenergic vasoconstriction, has not yet been investigated. Here, we examined the effects of oral nitrite treatment on vascular responses to the α1-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine in two-kidney, one clip (2K1C) hypertensive rats and investigated the potential underlying mechanisms. Our results show that treatment with oral sodium nitrite decreases blood pressure and prevents the increased α1-adrenergic vasoconstriction in 2K1C hypertensive rats. Interestingly, we found that these effects require vascular protein S-nitrosylation, and to investigate the specific S-nitrosylated proteins we performed an unbiased nitrosoproteomic analysis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) treated with the nitrosylating compound S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). This analysis revealed that GSNO markedly increases the nitrosylation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II γ (CaMKIIγ), a multifunctional protein that mediates the α1-adrenergic receptor signaling. This result was associated with reduced α1-adrenergic receptor-mediated CaMKIIγ activity in VSMCs. We further tested the relevance of these findings in vivo and found that treatment with oral nitrite increases CaMKIIγ S-nitrosylation and blunts the increased CaMKIIγ activity induced by phenylephrine in rat aortas. Collectively, these results are consistent with the idea that oral sodium nitrite treatment increases vascular protein S-nitrosylation, including CaMKIIγ as a target, which may ultimately prevent the increased α1-adrenergic vasoconstriction induced by hypertension. These mechanisms may help to explain the antihypertensive effects of oral nitrite and hold potential implications in the therapy of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases associated with abnormal α1-adrenergic vasoconstriction.

Mechanism-based targeting of cardiac arrhythmias by phytochemicals and medicinal herbs: A comprehensive review of preclinical and clinical evidence

Cardiac arrhythmias, characterized by an irregular heartbeat, are associated with high mortality and morbidity. Because of the narrow therapeutic window of antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs), the management of arrhythmia is still challenging. Therefore, searching for new safe, and effective therapeutic options is unavoidable. In this study, the antiarrhythmic effects of medicinal plants and their active constituents were systematically reviewed to introduce some possible candidates for mechanism-based targeting of cardiac arrhythmias. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library were searched from inception to June 2021 to find the plant extracts, phytochemicals, and multi-component herbal preparations with antiarrhythmic activities. From 7337 identified results, 57 original studies consisting of 49 preclinical and eight clinical studies were finally included. Three plant extracts, eight multi-component herbal preparations, and 26 phytochemicals were found to have antiarrhythmic effects mostly mediated by affecting K+ channels, followed by modulating Ca2+ channels, upstream target pathways, Nav channels, gap junction channels, and autonomic receptors. The most investigated medicinal plants were Rhodiola crenulata and Vitis vinifera. Resveratrol, Oxymatrine, and Curcumin were the most studied phytochemicals found to have multiple mechanisms of antiarrhythmic action. This review emphasized the importance of research on the cardioprotective effect of medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds to guide the future development of new AADs. The most prevalent limitation of the studies was their unqualified methodology. Thus, future well-designed experimental and clinical studies are necessary to provide more reliable evidence.

The Effect of Dicer Knockout on RNA Interference Using Various Dicer Substrate Small Interfering RNA (DsiRNA) Structures

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are artificial molecules used to silence genes of interest through the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, mediated by the endoribonuclease Dicer. Dicer-substrate small interfering RNAs (DsiRNAs) are an alternative to conventional 21-mer siRNAs, with an increased effectiveness of up to 100-fold compared to traditional 21-mer designs. DsiRNAs have a novel asymmetric design that allows them to be processed by Dicer into the desired conventional siRNAs. DsiRNAs are a useful tool for sequence-specific gene silencing, but the molecular mechanism underlying their increased efficacy is not precisely understood. In this study, to gain a deeper understanding of Dicer function in DsiRNAs, we designed nicked DsiRNAs with and without tetra-loops to target a specific mRNA sequence, established a Dicer knockout in the HCT116 cell line, and analyzed the efficacy of various DsiRNAs on RNAi-mediated gene silencing activity. The gene silencing activity of all DsiRNAs was reduced in Dicer knockout cells. We demonstrated that tetra-looped DsiRNAs exhibited increased efficacy for gene silencing, which was mediated by Dicer protein. Thus, this study improves our understanding of Dicer function, a key component of RNAi silencing, which will inform RNAi research and applications.

Ethnobotanical Survey on Skin Whitening Prescriptions of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Taiwan

The increasing interest and demand for skin whitening products globally, particularly in Asia, have necessitated rapid advances in research on skin whitening products used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Herein, we investigated 74 skin whitening prescriptions sold in TCM pharmacies in Taiwan. Commonly used medicinal materials were defined as those with a relative frequency of citation (RFC) > 0.2 and their characteristics were evaluated. Correlation analysis of commonly used medicinal materials was carried out to identify the core component of the medicinal materials. Of the purchased 74 skin whitening prescriptions, 36 were oral prescriptions, 37 were external prescriptions, and one prescription could be used as an oral or external prescription. After analysis, 90 traditional Chinese medicinal materials were obtained. The Apiaceae (10%; 13%) and Leguminosae (9%; 11%) were the main sources of oral and external medicinal materials, respectively. Oral skin whitening prescriptions were found to be mostly warm (46%) and sweet (53%), while external skin whitening prescriptions included cold (43%) and bitter (29%) medicinal materials. Additionally, mainly tonifying and replenishing effects of the materials were noted. Pharmacological analysis indicated that these medicinal materials may promote wound healing, treat inflammatory skin diseases, or anti-hyperpigmentation. According to the Spearman correlation analysis on interactions among medicinal materials with an RFC > 0.2 in the oral skin whitening prescriptions, Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (white) and Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. showed the highest correlation (confidence score = 0.93), followed by Ziziphus jujuba Mill. (red) and Astragalus propinquus Schischkin (confidence score = 0.91). Seven medicinal materials in external skin whitening prescriptions with an RFC > 0.2, were classified as Taiwan qī bái sàn (an herbal preparation), including Angelica dahurica (Hoffm.) Benth. & Hook. f. ex Franch. & Sav., Wolfiporia extensa (Peck) Ginns, Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Rchb. f., Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz., Ampelopsis japonica (Thunb.) Makino, Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (white), and Bombyx mori Linnaeus. Skin whitening prescriptions included multiple traditional Chinese medicinal materials. Despite the long history of use, there is a lack of studies concerning skin whitening products, possibly due to the complex composition of traditional Chinese medicine. Further studies are required to assess the efficacy and safety of these traditional Chinese medicinal materials for inclusion in effective, safe, and functional pharmacological products.

Phytotherapy of Hypertension: An Updated Overview

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disorders are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the globe. Hypertension is the main risk factor that contributes to the development of many diseases. The use of herbal therapies, medicinal plants and their derivatives for the remedy and management of hypertension is well-recognized and popular among a wide part of the world population.

METHODS

The aim of the current review was to collect, treat, and critically analyze the published research studies relative to experimental and clinical investigations which have studied the blood pressure lowering abilities of medicinal plant derivatives in the last decade. This review was organized into three principal axes; the first axis was attributed to the in vivo and in vitro experimental studies; the second treated the clinical trials; while, the last one is devoted to analyze the mechanisms of action underlying the therapeutic antihypertensive effectiveness of phytochemicals.

RESULTS

Different types of extracts and isolated molecules obtained from a large variety of species demonstrated their efficiency in improving the increase of blood pressure either experimentally or clinically. Medicinal species such as garlic (Allium sativum), celery (Apium graveolens), Black Cumin (Nigella sativa) and Ginseng (Panax) are among the most common and therapeutically used plant derivatives for controlling hypertension while Asteraceae, Apiaceae and Rosaceae are among the botanical families which were frequently studied in the last decade. Isolated compounds such as allicin and apigenin have received more interest in this field. Recent evidence from clinical trials suggests that a wide variety of herbal preparations and plant extracts or natural isolated compounds have a favorable therapeutic impact on blood flow. Interestingly, phytochemicals can either act directly on blood vessels via a vasorelaxant effect involving a variety of signaling cascades or indirectly through inhibiting or stimulating diversity of systems such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), renin-angiotensin system (RAS) or the diuretic activity. Hence, based on the findings of the present review medicinal plant derivatives could be used as preventive and curative agents in the case of cardiovascular disorders, particularly hypertension and could play a promoting function for the discovery of new antihypertensive agents.

CONCLUSION

The analysis of the published data shows that a great effort remains to be done to investigate the medicinal plants cited as antihypertensive through published ethnopharmacological surveys. The analysis of the literature in this field shows the lack of standardization at the level of experimental study methods as well as the need to study purified molecules. Moreover, the mechanistic studies when they exist remain in the whole partial. On the other hand, few advanced clinical studies have been conducted. Finally, the determination of the efficacy/safety ratio remains absent in almost all studies.

Medicinal plants as a potential source of Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The prevalence and distress caused by erectile dysfunction (ED) to both male and female partners are increasing at a steady rate. ED has now become the most treated sexual disorder for men among young and old age groups due to varying physical and psychological factors. The treatment with synthetic Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors are cost-effective but due to adverse effects such as priapism, loss of vision, heart attack and syncope, the daily life patterns of these patients are distressed and hence the need for alternative medicaments or sources are of utmost important. Therefore, the exploration of medicinal plants as PDE5 inhibitors will be worthwhile in tackling the problems as many plant extracts and fractions have been long used as aphrodisiacs and sexual stimulants which may be found to be active against PDE5 enzyme.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To provide a review on the different medicinal herbs traditionally used as natural aphrodisiacs, libido or sexual enhancers which are proven for their PDE5 inhibitory effect.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ethnobotanical and scientific information was procured, reviewed and compiled from the literature search of electronic databases and search engines.

RESULTS

A total of 97 medicinal plants exhibiting PDE5 inhibitory effect are reviewed in this paper which is supported by preclinical experimental evidence. Among them, 77 plants have been selected according to their traditional and ethnobotanical uses as aphrodisiacs and the rest are screened according to their effectiveness against predisposing factors responsible for ED and sexual dysfunction such as diabetes and hypertension or due to the presence of phytochemicals having structural similarity towards the identified natural PDE5 inhibitors. In addition, sixteen alkaloids, sixty-one phenolics and eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been isolated or identified from active extracts or fractions that are exhibiting PDE5 inhibitory activity. Among them, isoflavones and biflavones are the major active constituents responsible for action, where the presence of prenyl group for isoflavones; and the methoxy group at C-5 position of flavones are considered essential for the inhibitory effect. However, the prenylated flavonol glycoside, Icariin and Icariside II isolated from Epimedium brevicornum Maxim (hory goat weed) are the most effective inhibitor, till date from natural sources. Traditional medicines or formulations containing extracts of Ginkgo biloba L., Kaempferia parviflora Wall. ex Baker, Clerodendrum colebrookianum Walp., Eurycoma longifolia Jack and Vitis vinifera L. are also found to be inhibitors of PDE5 enzyme.

CONCLUSION

The review suggests and supports the rational use of traditional medicines that can be further studied for the development of potential PDE5 inhibitors. Many traditional medicines are still used in various regions of Africa, Asia and South America that are poorly characterized and experimented. Despite the availability of a vast majority of traditional formulations as aphrodisiacs or sexual stimulants, there exists a need for systemic evaluation on the efficacy as well as the mechanism of action of the herbal constituents for the identification of novel chemical moieties that can be further developed for maximum efficacy.

Metabolic syndrome inhibits store-operated Ca2+ entry and calcium-induced calcium-release mechanism in coronary artery smooth muscle

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Metabolic syndrome causes adverse effects on the coronary circulation including altered vascular responsiveness and the progression of coronary artery disease (CAD). However the underlying mechanisms linking obesity with CAD are intricated. Augmented vasoconstriction, mainly due to impaired Ca²⁺ homeostasis in coronary vascular smooth muscle (VSM), is a critical factor for CAD. Increased calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) mechanism has been associated to pathophysiological conditions presenting persistent vasoconstriction while increased store operated calcium (SOC) entry appears to activate proliferation and migration in coronary vascular smooth muscle (VSM). We analyze here whether metabolic syndrome might alter SOC entry as well as CICR mechanism in coronary arteries, contributing thus to a defective Ca²⁺ handling and therefore accelerating the progression of CAD.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Measurements of intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i) and tension and of Ca²⁺ channels protein expression were performed in coronary arteries (CA) from lean Zucker rats (LZR) and obese Zucker rats (OZR).

KEY RESULTS

SOC entry stimulated by emptying sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca²⁺ store with cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) was decreased and associated to decreased STIM-1 and Orai1 protein expression in OZR CA. Further, CICR mechanism was blunted in these arteries but Ca²⁺ entry through voltage-dependent L-type channels was preserved contributing to maintain depolarization-induced increases in [Ca²⁺]_i and vasoconstriction in OZR CA. These results were associated to increased expression of voltage-operated L-type Ca²⁺ channel alpha 1C subunit (Ca_V1.2) but unaltered ryanodine receptor (RyR) and sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase (SERCA) pump protein content in OZR CA.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

The present manuscript provides evidence of impaired Ca²⁺ handling mechanisms in coronary arteries in metabolic syndrome where a decrease in both SOC entry and CICR mechanism but preserved vasoconstriction are reported in coronary arteries from obese Zucker rats. Remarkably, OZR CA VSM at this state of metabolic syndrome seemed to have developed a compensation mechanism for impaired CICR by overexpressing Ca_V1.2 channels.

Inhibition of notch enhances the anti-atherosclerotic effects of LXR agonists while reducing fatty liver development in ApoE-deficient mice

Liver X receptor (LXR) activation can achieve satisfactory anti-atherosclerotic activity, but can also lead to the development of fatty liver and hypertriglyceridemia. In contrast, Notch inhibition can suppress both atherosclerosis and the hepatic accumulation of lipids. In the present study, we sought to assess whether combining LXR ligand agonists (T317) with Notch receptor inhibitors (DAPT) would lead to enhanced anti-atherosclerotic activity while overcoming the adverse events associated with LXR ligand agonist therapy. The impact of the combined T317 + DAPT therapeutic regimen on atherosclerosis, fatty liver development, and hypertriglyceridemia was assessed using ApoE deficient (ApoE^-/-) mice. The results of this analysis suggested that DAPT was able to improve the anti-atherosclerotic activity of T317 without reducing the stability of lesion plaques while simultaneously reducing blood lipids in treated ApoE^-/- mice. This combination T317 + DAPT treatment was also linked with a significant upregulation of ABCA1 and the stimulation of reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), as well as with decreases in the levels of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and p-p65, and with altered M1/M2 macrophage proportions within atherosclerotic plaques. Importantly, DAPT was also able to reduce T317-mediated lipid accumulation within the liver owing to its ability to reduce SREBP-1 expression while simultaneously increasing that of Pi-AMPKα and PPARα. Together, our results suggest that administering Notch receptor inhibitors to ApoE^-/- mice may be an effective means of enhancing the anti-atherosclerotic activity of LXR ligand agonists while simultaneously limiting associated fatty liver and hypertriglyceridemia development in these animals.

Best practice in research - Overcoming common challenges in phytopharmacological research

BACKGROUND

The pharmacology, toxicology and pharmacokinetics of bioactive preparations derived from natural sources has become a flourishing field of research. However, researching complex extracts and natural products faces numerous challenges. More broadly in recent years the critique of pharmacological research, and specifically its design, the methods used and reporting has intensified.

AIMS

This consensus document provides a perspective on what constitutes best practice in pharmacological research on bioactive preparations derived from natural sources, providing a perspective of what the leading specialist journals in the field consider as the core characteristics of good research.

APPROACH ('METHODS')

The editors-in-chief of seven journals developed this best practice statement in an iterative process. A first draft of the guidelines (prepared by MH) was then discussed and amended by the other editors.

OUTCOMES

Core to this contribution is a table which provides detailed advice including simple points like a use of appropriate controls and the full taxonomic validity of the material under investigation (see also below), to the relevance of the model for the question being researched (e.g., can specific in silico or in vitro models really address the species anti-inflammatory activity?). Therefore, obviously, researchers must pay detailed attention to reporting and discussing such studies. This information must be discussed critically (as much as it is possible based on the published papers) in terms of their scientific quality and validity. While these points are obvious, as editors, we are aware that they are often not properly implemented.

CONCLUSION

We call for an approach which incorporates a careful design, meticulous execution and a detailed reporting of studies focusing on the pharmacology/bioactivity of bioactive preparations. Clearly testable research questions must be developed and investigated experimentally. As the founder of pharmacology Claude Bernard put it already in 1865: '…. either the experimenter's hypothesis will be disproved or it will be proved by experiment. When experiment disproves its preconceived ideas, the experimenter must discard or modify it.'

Metabolites from Bufo gargarizans (Cantor, 1842): A review of traditional uses, pharmacological activity, toxicity and quality control

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Bufo gargarizans (Cantor, 1842) (BGC), a traditional medicinal animal distributed in many provinces of China, is well known for the pharmaceutical value of Chansu and Chanpi. As traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), Chansu and Chanpi, with their broad-spectrum of therapeutic applications, have long been applied to detoxification, anti-inflammation, analgesia, etc. OVERARCHING OBJECTIVE: We critically analyzed the current evidence for the traditional uses, chemical profiles, pharmacological activity, toxicity and quality control of BGC (Bufonidae family) to provide a scientific basis for future in-depth studies and perspectives for the discovery of potential drug candidates.

METHODOLOGY

All of the available information on active constituents and TCMs derived from BGC was obtained using the keywords "Bufo gargarizans", "Chansu", "Chanpi", "Huachansu", or "Cinobufacini" through different electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), the Wanfang Database, and Pharmacopoeia of China. In addition, Chinese medicine books from different times were used to elucidate the traditional uses of BGC. Electronic databases, including the "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species", "American Museum of Natural History" and "AmphibiaWeb Species Lists", were used to validate the scientific name of BGC.

RESULTS

To date, about 118 bufadienolide monomers and 11 indole alkaloids have been identified from BGC in total. The extracts and isolated compounds exhibit a wide range of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological effects. The literature search demonstrated that the ethnomedicinal uses of BGC, such as detoxification, anti-inflammation and the ability to reduce swelling and pain associated with infections, are correlated with its modern pharmacological activities, including antitumor, immunomodulation and attenuation of cancer-derived pain. Bufadienolides and indole alkaloids have been regarded as the main active substances in BGC, among which bufadienolides have significant antitumor activity. Furthermore, the cardiotoxicity of bufadienolides was discussed, and the main molecular mechanism involves in the inhibition of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase. Besides, with the development of modern analytical techniques, the quality control methods of BGC-derived TCMs are being improved constantly.

CONCLUSIONS

An increasing number of reports suggest that BGC can be regarded as an excellent source for exploring the potential antitumor constituents. However, the future antitumor research of BGC needs to follow the standard pharmacology guidelines, so as to provide comprehensive pharmacological information and aid the reproducibility of the data. Besides, to ensure the efficacy and safety of BGC-derived TCMs, it is vital to construct a comprehensive quality evaluation model on the basis of clarifying pharmacodynamic-related and toxicity-related compositions.

Guizhi Fuling Wan for uterine fibroids: A systematic review of in vivo studies

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The therapeutic effects of Guizhi Fuling Wan (GFW) on uterine fibroids have been tested on various animal models, but to date, the findings of these studies have not been comprehensively synthesised. This study aimed to evaluate the preclinical effects of GFW on uterine fibroids in different animal models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty databases were searched from their earliest recorded publications to March 2019 to identify in vivo studies of non-modified GFW compared with no treatment for animal models with uterine fibroids. The methodological quality was assessed using the ARRIVE guidelines. Two groups of outcome measures were evaluated: fibroid characteristics (uterine weight, coefficient or smooth muscle thickness) and sex hormones indexes (oestradiol, progesterone or the gene expression of their receptors).

RESULTS

A total of 21 studies (22 experiments) involving 461 female animals met the eligibility criteria. The quality of the included studies scored at 14.24 ± 1.00 out of 20. Four animal species were used and induced by oestrogen or oestrogen combined with progesterone, including guinea pig (n = 20), rats (n = 385, SD and Wister) and mice (n = 56). Overall, the available evidence suggests that GFW has potentially beneficial effects over placebo on both fibroid characteristics and sex hormones in SD rats (except progesterone), Wister rats (except progesterone receptor [PR] gene expression) and ICR mice (except PR gene expression). GFW appears to reduce uterine weight and smooth muscle thickness in the guinea pig, but no data on sex hormone index was available.

CONCLUSION

Noting the unevenly distributed covariates of animal model types, experimental evidence suggested that GFW may be a promising intervention for the management of uterine fibroids in animal models. Future natural product studies should be optimised by reporting the voucher specimen. More studies on composition and providing evidence of the involvement of relevant cell signalling pathways are required.

The role and mechanism of Asian medicinal plants in treating skin pigmentary disorders

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Chloasma, senile plaques, vitiligo and other pigmentary disorders seriously affect patients' appearance and life quality. Medicinal plant is the product of long-term medical practice worldwide, with the advantages of outstanding curative properties and less side effects. Recently, research were made to explore the value of medicinal plants in the treatment of pigmentary disorders, and remarkable results were achieved.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review outlines the current understanding of the role and potential mechanisms of medicinal plants (including active ingredients, extracts and prescriptions) in pigmentary disorders, especially Chinese medicinal plants, provides the preclinical evidence for the clinical benefits. This study hopes to provide comprehensive information and reliable basis for exploring new therapeutic strategies of plant drugs in the treatment of skin pigmented diseases.

METHODS

The literature information was obtained from the scientific databases (up to Oct, 2017), mainly from the PubMed, Web of Science and CNKI databases, and was to identify the experimental studies on the regulating melanogenesis role of the active agents from herbal medicine and the involved mechanisms. The search keywords for such work included: "pigmentary" or "pigmentation", "melanogenesis", and "traditional Chinese medicine" or "Chinese herbal medicine", "herb", "medicinal plant".

RESULTS

We summarized the function of medicinal plants involved in melanogenesis, especially Chinese medicine. It was reported that the active ingredients, extracts, or prescriptions of medicinal plants can regulate the expression of genes related to melanogenesis by affecting the signaling pathways such as MAPK and PKA, thereby regulating pigment synthesis. Some of them can promote melanogenesis (such as isoliquiritigenin, geniposide; Cornus officinalis Siebold & Zucc., Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.; the Bairesi complex prescription, etc.). While others have the opposite effect (such as biochanin A, Gomisin N; Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Nardostachys chinensis Bat.; Sanbaitang, etc.).

CONCLUSION

Asian medicinal plants, especially their active ingredients, have multilevel effects on melanogenesis by regulating melanogenesis-related genes or signaling pathways. They are of great clinical value for the treatment of skin pigmentary disorders. However, the experimental effect, safety, and functional mechanism of the medicinal plants require further determination before studying their clinical efficacy.

Efficacy of Panax ginseng supplementation on blood lipid profile. A meta-analysis and systematic review of clinical randomized trials

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ginseng is a widely used ingredient in several traditional Chinese medicine formulation, mainly as a prophylactic and restorative agent. Ginseng's Chinese traditional formulations have shown protective effects against atherosclerosis, suggesting that ginseng may be useful for the treatment of metabolic disorders.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate whether the supplementation with Panax ginseng (PG) has an effect on blood lipid profile in humans.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A meta-analysis and a systematic review were conducted to evaluate the effects of PG on blood lipid profile.

RESULTS

A total of 18 studies met the inclusion criteria, from which 10 studies were performed in volunteers with at least one component of metabolic syndrome, 3 in postmenopausal women, 2 in healthy volunteers and 3 with other types of inclusion criteria. The doses employed ranged from 0.2 to 20 g/day (median 3 g/day, 95% CI 1.7, 5.8), while the treatment time ranged from 2 to 12 weeks (median 8 weeks, 95% CI 6, 9). Few studies reported the composition of the PG extract employed. The main ginsenosides reported were Rb1 and Rg1 (content ranging from Rb1 0.023-6.44 mg/g and Rg1 0.028-3.21 mg/g). Significant modification in blood profile was described in 7 studies, in which 5 studies observed a reduction in total cholesterol, 4 in LDL-cholesterol, and 2 in triacylglycerides. The meta-analysis of 10 studies in volunteers with parameters related with metabolic syndrome describes that PG may induce a mean difference compared to a placebo of -2.30 (95% CI -3.79,-0.80) and -1.47 (95% CI -1.90,-1.05) mg/dL per g/day of PG in the levels of total and LDL-cholesterol, with no significant effects in HDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerides.

CONCLUSIONS

PG extract may induce an improvement in blood lipid profile mainly by a reduction in total and LDL-cholesterol levels.

Ethnobotanical uses, biological activities and chemical properties of Kei-apple [Dovyalis caffra (Hook.f. & Harv.) Sim]: An indigenous fruit tree of southern Africa

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Dovyalis caffra (Hook.f. & Harv.) Sim (commonly called Kei-apple) is an indigenous fruit tree that has medicinal values for various ethnic groups in southern Africa.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review aims to provide a critical appraisal of the existing knowledge on the ethnobotanical value, biological activities and phytochemicals of Dovyalis caffra. In addition, the potential of producing a functional health product from Kei-apple due to its therapeutic effects and rich pool of phytochemicals was explored.

METHODS

A detailed literature search was conducted using various online search engines, such as Scopus, Google Scholar, Mendeley and Web of Science. Additional information was sourced from ethnobotanical literature focusing on southern African flora.

RESULTS

Dovyalis caffra has diverse uses in local and popular medicine, specifically for relieving pain and rheumatism in humans. Ethno-veterinary potential of Kei-apple has also been documented in East Africa. Non-medicinal uses of the tree include its role in biological hedging and as a traditional herb for African magical purpose. Regarding its biological activities, polar extracts from the seeds exhibited noteworthy antibacterial (minimum inhibitory concentration of 1 μg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus) activity. Quantitative analysis (e.g. GC-MS, HPLC) indicated the presence of a rich (>80) pool of chemicals, including sterols, phenolic acids and fatty acids from different parts of the plant while 11 compounds have been isolated from its leaves and twigs.

CONCLUSIONS

Dovyalis caffra has been tested for various biological activities and the extracts (seeds in particular) demonstrated promising antibacterial potential. A lack of alignment between the ethno-medicinal uses and existing biological screenings was observed, indicting the need for anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatism potential of Dovyalis caffra to be explored. In vivo validation of antibacterial and anti-parasitic activities against clinical bacterial strains and parasites, respectively is required. Other areas that need investigation are safety evaluations and development of integrated cultivation approach in order to fully explore the plant's potential.

Herbal medicine for epilepsy seizures in Asia, Africa and Latin America: A systematic review

RELEVANCE

More than 70 million people suffer epilepsy worldwide. Low availability of anti-epileptic drugs, side-effects and drug-resistant epilepsy affect the quality of life of persons with epilepsy in countries with a poorly developed health system. Herbal medicine is frequently used for this neurological condition.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective was to provide a detailed analysis of Herbal Medicine used for neurological conditions related with epilepsy in Asia, Africa and Latin America. More broadly, this study aims to highlight species with assessed efficacy (cross-cultural use, pharmacological effects on models of epileptic seizures) and safety (toxicological data in laboratory) information, in order to point out species of interest for further studies. A critical assessment of models used in pharmacological evaluations was done.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The systematic search for Herbal Medicine treatments for epilepsy was performed considering all the articles published until February 2017 through three scientific databases. It was made with MeSH terms and free text defining the epilepsy seizures and plant species. We included studies carried out in Asia, Africa and Latin America. All articles reporting the use of Herbal Medicine to treat epilepsy seizures and/or their pharmacological evaluation were retained for further analysis.

RESULTS

The search yielded 1886 articles, from 30 countries. Hundred and six articles published between 1982 and 2017 were included, corresponding to a total of 497 use reports for 351 plant species belonging to 106 families. Three hundred and seventy seven use reports corresponding to 264 species in ethnopharmacological surveys and 120 evaluation reports corresponding to 107 species were noted. Twenty-nine reports, for 29 species, combined both ethnopharmacological and pharmacological evaluation. Fifty eight studies originated from Africa, 35 studies from Asia and 18 from Latin America. Highest use report was noted for rhizomes of Acorus calamus L. (12 use report in 1 country) and leaves of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. (8 use report in 2 countries). Therefore these species display the highest use convergence. Regarding pharmacological evaluation most studied species were: Leonotis leonurus (L.) R.Br. (4 evaluation reports in 1 country), Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Miq. ex Havil. (3 evaluation reports in 2 countries) and Calotropis gigantea (L.) Dryand. (3 evaluation reports in 1 country). In vivo models of chronic epilepsy were more relevant than in vitro models or chemical models inducing acute seizures for pharmacological assessment.

CONCLUSION

Species with the highest use report were not those with pharmacological evaluation. It will be pertinent to assess the pharmacological effects and safety of medicinal plants used mostly by traditional healers on predictive models of seizures.

Valeriana jatamansi: An herbaceous plant with multiple medicinal uses

Valeriana jatamansi Jones (Family: Caprifoliaceae), a high value medicinal plant, was distributed in many countries of Asia. The species possesses important valepotriates and is a good source of flavones or flavone glycosides, lignans, sesquiterpenoids or sesquiterpenoid glycoside, bakkenolide type sesquiterpenoids, phenolic compounds, terpinoids, etc. The use of the species in traditional and modern medicines is well known. For instance, V. jatamansi is very important for its insect repelling and antihelmethic properties. Similarly, sedative, neurotoxic, cytotoxic, antidepressant, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of the species in various ailments in the indigenous system of medicine, particularly in Asia, are reported. This review focuses on the detailed phytochemical composition, medicinal uses, and pharmacological properties of V. jatamansi along with analysis of botanical errors in published literature and reproducibility of the biomedical researches on this multipurpose herbaceous species.

Statistical Guidance for Reviewers of Toxicologic Pathology

Study design, statistical analysis, interpretation of results, and conclusions should be a part of all research papers. Statistics are integral to each of these components and are therefore necessary to evaluate during manuscript peer review. Research published in Toxicological Pathology is often focused on animal studies that may seek to compare defined treatment groups in randomized controlled experiments or focus on the reliability of measurements and diagnostic accuracy of observed lesions from preexisting studies. Reviewers should distinguish scientific research goals that aim to test sufficient effect size differences (i.e., minimizing false positive rates) from common toxicologic goals of detecting a harmful effect (i.e., minimizing false negative rates). This journal comprises a wide range of study designs that require different kinds of statistical assessments. Therefore, statistical methods should be described in enough detail so that the experiment can be repeated by other research groups. The misuse of statistics will impede reproducibility.

A review of the traditional and modern uses of Salvadora persica L. (Miswak): Toothbrush tree of Prophet Muhammad

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Salvadora persica L., also known as Arak (in Arabic) and Peelu (in Urdu), is the most common traditional source of tooth or chewing stick (miswak) highly recommended by Prophet Muhammad. To date, extensive studies have probed primarily into the validation of its traditional uses in oral care. Nonetheless, there is still a dearth of updated compilation and critical analysis of other potential ethnopharmacological properties of S. persica. This review therefore aims to provide an up-to-date detailed structured description of the traditional uses of S. persica and a critical analysis of its modern uses, highlighting its phytochemistry, pharmacological properties, and bioapplications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Various databases (Science Direct, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, and Google Scholar), books, and relevant primary sources were probed, surveyed, analysed, and included in this review. The literature cited in this review dated from 1979 to 2017.

RESULTS

S. persica was found to possess a plethora of bioactive compounds and broad pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory activity, antiulcer, anticonvulsant, sedative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antiosteoporosis, and antitumor activities. Studies also revealed the potential use of S. persica as a natural food preservative and a novel functional food ingredient. In addition, improvement in growth and reproductive performances have been observed by the introduction of S. persica in animal feed. Lastly, S. persica has also been used in the green synthesis of nanoparticles showing potential biotechnological applications.

CONCLUSION

S. persica showed a wide scope of application and its uses have been extended far beyond the initial traditional uses of its roots, stems, and twigs in oral care. We found a number of other ethnopharmacological uses and potential bioapplications of different parts of S. persica that warrants further investigations. Though widely studied using several in vitro and in vivo models, and tested clinically for oral hygiene mainly, several gaps and research priorities have been identified which needs to be addressed in future.

The academic-industrial complex: navigating the translational and cultural divide

In general, the fruits of academic discoveries can only be realized through joint efforts with industry. However, the poor reproducibility of much academic research has damaged credibility and jeopardized translational efforts that could benefit patients. Meanwhile, journals are rife with articles bemoaning the limited productivity and increasing costs of the biopharmaceutical industry and its resultant predilection for mergers and reorganizations while decreasing internal research efforts. The ensuing disarray and uncertainty has created tremendous opportunities for academia and industry to form even closer ties, and to embrace new operational and financial models to their joint benefit. This review article offers a personal perspective on the opportunities, models and approaches that harness the increased interface and growing interdependency between biomedical research institutes, the biopharmaceutical industry and the technological world.

Traditional Chinese medicine for pulmonary fibrosis therapy: Progress and future prospects

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a chronic, debilitating and often lethal lung disorder. Despite the molecular mechanisms of PF are gradually clear with numerous researchers' efforts, few effective drugs have been developed to reverse human PF or even halt the chronic progression to respiratory failure. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the main component of the medical practice used for more than 5000 years especially in China, often exerts wider action spectrum than previously attempted options in treating human diseases. Recent data have shown the anti-fibrotic benefits of the active ingredients from TCM in this field, which may represent an attractive source of the drug discovery against PF.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review summarizes the pre-clinical and clinical evidence on the benefits of TCM and their active ingredients, and provides a comprehensive information and reliable basis for the exploration of new treatment strategies of botanical drugs in the therapy of PF.

METHODS

The literature information was obtained from the scientific databases on ethnobotany and ethno medicines (up to Aug 2016), mainly from the Pubmed, Web of Science and CNKI databases, and was to identify the experimental studies on the anti-fibrotic role of the active agents from TCM and the involved mechanisms. The search keywords for such work included: "lung fibrosis" or "pulmonary fibrosis", and "traditional Chinese medicine", "extract" or "herb".

RESULTS

A number of studies have shown that the active agents of single herbs and TCM formulas, particularly the flavonoids, glycosides and alkaloids, exhibit potential benefits against PF, the mechanisms of which appear to involve the regulation of inflammation, oxidant stress, and pro-fibrotic signaling pathways, etc. Besides, the processing methods for discovering TCM in treating PF were prospectively discussed.

CONCLUSION

These research work have shown the therapeutic benefits of TCM in the treatment of PF. However, more continued researches should be undertaken to clarify the unconfirmed chemical composition and regulatory mechanisms, conduct standard clinical trials, and evaluate the possible side effects. The insights provided in present review will be needed for further exploration of botanical drugs in the development of PF therapy.

The Researchers' View of Scientific Rigor-Survey on the Conduct and Reporting of In Vivo Research

Reproducibility in animal research is alarmingly low, and a lack of scientific rigor has been proposed as a major cause. Systematic reviews found low reporting rates of measures against risks of bias (e.g., randomization, blinding), and a correlation between low reporting rates and overstated treatment effects. Reporting rates of measures against bias are thus used as a proxy measure for scientific rigor, and reporting guidelines (e.g., ARRIVE) have become a major weapon in the fight against risks of bias in animal research. Surprisingly, animal scientists have never been asked about their use of measures against risks of bias and how they report these in publications. Whether poor reporting reflects poor use of such measures, and whether reporting guidelines may effectively reduce risks of bias has therefore remained elusive. To address these questions, we asked in vivo researchers about their use and reporting of measures against risks of bias and examined how self-reports relate to reporting rates obtained through systematic reviews. An online survey was sent out to all registered in vivo researchers in Switzerland (N = 1891) and was complemented by personal interviews with five representative in vivo researchers to facilitate interpretation of the survey results. Return rate was 28% (N = 530), of which 302 participants (16%) returned fully completed questionnaires that were used for further analysis. According to the researchers' self-report, they use measures against risks of bias to a much greater extent than suggested by reporting rates obtained through systematic reviews. However, the researchers' self-reports are likely biased to some extent. Thus, although they claimed to be reporting measures against risks of bias at much lower rates than they claimed to be using these measures, the self-reported reporting rates were considerably higher than reporting rates found by systematic reviews. Furthermore, participants performed rather poorly when asked to choose effective over ineffective measures against six different biases. Our results further indicate that knowledge of the ARRIVE guidelines had a positive effect on scientific rigor. However, the ARRIVE guidelines were known by less than half of the participants (43.7%); and among those whose latest paper was published in a journal that had endorsed the ARRIVE guidelines, more than half (51%) had never heard of these guidelines. Our results suggest that whereas reporting rates may underestimate the true use of measures against risks of bias, self-reports may overestimate it. To a large extent, this discrepancy can be explained by the researchers' ignorance and lack of knowledge of risks of bias and measures to prevent them. Our analysis thus adds significant new evidence to the assessment of research integrity in animal research. Our findings further question the confidence that the authorities have in scientific rigor, which is taken for granted in the harm-benefit analyses on which approval of animal experiments is based. Furthermore, they suggest that better education on scientific integrity and good research practice is needed. However, they also question reliance on reporting rates as indicators of scientific rigor and highlight a need for more reliable predictors.

Irreproducibility in Preclinical Biomedical Research: Perceptions, Uncertainties, and Knowledge Gaps

Concerns regarding the reliability of biomedical research outcomes were precipitated by two independent reports from the pharmaceutical industry that documented a lack of reproducibility in preclinical research in the areas of oncology, endocrinology, and hematology. Given their potential impact on public health, these concerns have been extensively covered in the media. Assessing the magnitude and scope of irreproducibility is limited by the anecdotal nature of the initial reports and a lack of quantitative data on specific failures to reproduce published research. Nevertheless, remediation activities have focused on needed enhancements in transparency and consistency in the reporting of experimental methodologies and results. While such initiatives can effectively bridge knowledge gaps and facilitate best practices across established and emerging research disciplines and therapeutic areas, concerns remain on how these improve on the historical process of independent replication in validating research findings and their potential to inhibit scientific innovation.

Unknown unknowns in biomedical research: does an inability to deal with ambiguity contribute to issues of irreproducibility?

The credibility and consequent sustainability of the biomedical research "ecosystem" is in jeopardy, in part due to an inability to reproduce data from the peer-reviewed literature. Despite obvious and relatively inexpensive solutions to improve reproducibility-ensuring that experimental reagents, specifically cancer cell lines and antibodies, are authenticated/validated before use and that best practices in statistical usage are incorporated into the design, analysis, and reporting of experiments-these are routinely ignored, a reflection of hubris and a comfort with the status quo on the part of many investigators. New guidelines for the peer review of publications and grant applications introduced in the past year, while well-intended, lack the necessary consequences, e.g., denial of funding, that would result in sustained improvements when scientific rigor is lacking and/or transparency is, at best, opaque. An additional factor contributing to irreproducibility is a reductionist mindset that prioritizes certainty in research outcomes over the ambiguity intrinsic to biological systems that is often reflected in "unknown unknowns". This has resulted in a tendency towards codifying "rules" that can provide "yes-no" outcomes that represent a poor substitute for the intellectual challenge and skepticism that leads to an awareness and consideration of "unknown unknowns". When acknowledged as potential causes of unexpected experimental outcomes, these can often transition into the "knowns" that facilitate positive, disruptive innovation in biomedical research like the human microbiome. Changes in investigator mindset, both in terms of validating reagents and embracing ambiguity, are necessary to aid in reducing issues with reproducibility.