1
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Kudo Y, Ando H, Kaneda A, Ito H, Umemoto K, Ni SR, Mikage M, Sasaki Y. Evaluation of rooting characteristics of Ephedra cuttings by anatomy and promising strain selection based on rooting characteristics and alkaloid content. J Nat Med 2023; 77:327-342. [PMID: 36680565 PMCID: PMC10987359 DOI: 10.1007/s11418-023-01680-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The differences in rooting characteristics of cuttings prepared from E. sinica strains were investigated and found that cuttings prepared from strains with high rooting characteristics showed approximately 90% of the cuttings were rooted, whereas cuttings prepared from low rooting characteristics did not root. To understand the reason for this substantial difference, the anatomy of nodes was examined and found that adventitious roots were generated from the cortex and parenchyma in pith. Calculations of the correlation coefficients between the rooting rate and the value of anatomy indicated that the rooting rate was positively correlated with the parenchyma in pith in the node. On the basis of the positive correlation, it is possible to estimate the rooting characteristics of new strains without having to prepare cuttings. Next, we conducted a screening for E. sinica strains on the basis of total alkaloids content [ephedrine (E) + pseudoephedrine (PE)] and selected strains having no less than 0.7% total alkaloids content as defined by the Japanese Pharmacopoeia 18th edition. Strains having characteristic E or PE content were uncovered: E-rich strains had 100% E content and PE-rich strains had 99% PE content. We were able to select E. sinica strains on the basis of two factors: high rooting rate of cuttings and high or characteristic alkaloid content. These strains are valuable for breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitomi Kudo
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacognosy, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-Machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Ando
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacognosy, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-Machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-1192, Japan.
| | - Ai Kaneda
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacognosy, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-Machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Honoka Ito
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacognosy, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-Machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Kazuki Umemoto
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacognosy, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-Machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Si-Ran Ni
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Resources, Department of Bio-Resource Development, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1737 Funako, Atsugi, Kanagawa, 243-0034, Japan
| | - Masayuki Mikage
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Resources, Department of Bio-Resource Development, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1737 Funako, Atsugi, Kanagawa, 243-0034, Japan
| | - Yohei Sasaki
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacognosy, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-Machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-1192, Japan
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2
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Gad MZ, Azab SS, Khattab AR, Farag MA. Over a century since ephedrine discovery: an updated revisit to its pharmacological aspects, functionality and toxicity in comparison to its herbal extracts. Food Funct 2021; 12:9563-9582. [PMID: 34533553 DOI: 10.1039/d1fo02093e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Ephedrine, a sympathomimetic amine that exhibits several adrenaline actions, is a plant alkaloid that is a common ingredient in several cold, asthma and narcolepsy treatment preparations, and in obesity management and sport medicine. Its principal action mechanism relies on its direct adrenergic actions as well as indirect role that involves the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine, thus increasing the activity of epinephrine and norepinephrine at the postsynaptic α and β receptors. Nevertheless, its serious side effects, including stroke, heart attack, drug abuse and interactions, have never been comprehensively reviewed. We conducted a systematic review of data on ephedrine, including its occurrence in functional foods, pharmacological aspects, metabolism, pharmaco/toxicokinetics and clinical features. Furthermore, a review of ephedrine natural structural analogues with regards to their differential adrenergic receptor binding affinities, food interaction, and their impact on the pharmacokinetics and effects relative to ephedrine are presented for the first time, and in comparison to its action when present in herbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Z Gad
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology, The German University in Cairo, Egypt
| | - Samar S Azab
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Amira R Khattab
- Pharmacognosy Department, College of Pharmacy, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Alexandria 1029, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A Farag
- Pharmacognosy Department, College of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El Aini St, P.B. 11562, Cairo, Egypt. .,Chemistry Department, School of Sciences & Engineering, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
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3
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Duan S, Xie L, Zheng L, Huang J, Guo R, Sun Z, Xie Y, Lv J, Lin Z, Ma S. Long-term exposure to ephedrine leads to neurotoxicity and neurobehavioral disorders accompanied by up-regulation of CRF in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in rhesus macaques. Behav Brain Res 2020; 393:112796. [PMID: 32634541 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Drug addiction continues to threaten the health and welfare of people worldwide, and ephedrine abuse is a serious drug problem in many areas of the world. Ephedrine toxicity is thought to induce behavioral effects primarily through actions on the central nervous system. The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system plays an important role in regulating behavioral effects induced by addictive drugs, but whether CRF is related to ephedrine toxicity remains unclear. This study seeks to examine whether there is a correlation between the CRF and chronic ephedrine neurotoxicity. To this end, we established a chronic ephedrine (0.4-1.6 mg/kg/d) exposure model in rhesus macaques, assessed its effects on body weight and behavior, examined neuronal changes in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, and measured the CRF expression in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. After 8-weeks of exposure to ephedrine, the toxic effects of ephedrine included significant weight loss and induction of behavioral changes in rhesus macaques. In particular, in the modeling group, the abnormal behavioral changes mainly manifested as irritability and behavioral sensitization. Meanwhile, the histological abnormalities included neuronal morphological changes, pyknosis and irregular shapes of neurons in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. In addition, the expression levels of CRF mRNA and protein were increased in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of ephedrine-treated animals. In summary, the finding of this study indicated that ephedrine neurotoxicity can cause neuronal damage in cerebral cortex, which in turn can result in certain neurobehavioral abnormalities, and that CRF expression in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus is elevated in response to ephedrine exposure. These observations suggested that long-term exposure to ephedrine might be causing neurotoxicity and leading to neurobehavioral disorders accompanied by up-regulation of CRF in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shouxing Duan
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 57 Changping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, No. 57 Changping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Lei Xie
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 57 Changping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, No. 57 Changping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Lian Zheng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 57 Changping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - JinZhuang Huang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 57 Changping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, No. 57 Changping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - RuiWei Guo
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 57 Changping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, No. 57 Changping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - ZongBo Sun
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 57 Changping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, No. 57 Changping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Yao Xie
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 57 Changping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, No. 57 Changping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - JunYao Lv
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - ZhiRong Lin
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 57 Changping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, No. 57 Changping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Shuhua Ma
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 57 Changping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, No. 57 Changping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China.
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4
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Sriwijitalai W, Wiwanitkit V. Herbs that might be effective for the management of COVID-19: A bioinformatics analysis on anti-tyrosine kinase property. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN MEDICAL SCIENCES 2020; 25:44. [PMID: 32582350 PMCID: PMC7306235 DOI: 10.4103/jrms.jrms_312_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Viroj Wiwanitkit
- Department of Community Medicine, Dr. DY Patil University, Pune, Maharashtra, India.,Department of Tropical Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China.,Department of Biological Science, Joseph Ayobabalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Nigeria
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5
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Ephedrannin B exerts anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties in BEAS-2B cells infected with respiratory syncytial virus. J Biosci 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12038-020-0016-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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6
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Wen Y, Cai X, Chen S, Fu W, Chai D, Zhang H, Zhang Y. 7-Methoxy-1-Tetralone Induces Apoptosis, Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Migration in Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Regulating c-Met, p-AKT, NF-κB, MMP2, and MMP9 Expression. Front Oncol 2020; 10:58. [PMID: 32117722 PMCID: PMC7020565 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the anti-proliferative and anti-migratory effects of 7-methoxy-1-tetralone (MT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. MTT assay assessed HCC cell viability; cell apoptosis of HCC cells was determined by flow cytometry; wound healing assay evaluated HCC cell migratory ability; protein expression levels were assessed using western blot assay; the in vivo antitumor effects of MT were tested in BALB/c nude mice and the pathological changes within the tumor tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. MT treatment significantly suppressed the cell proliferative and migratory potentials of HepG2 cells, and induced HepG2 cell apoptosis. The western blot assay showed that MT treatment caused a suppression on c-Met, phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT), NF-κB, matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2)/MMP9 protein levels in HepG2 cells. Further in vivo animal studies deciphered that MT treatment suppressed tumor growth of HepG2 cells in the nude mice, but had no effect on the body weight and the organ index of liver and spleen. Further immunohistochemistry analysis of the dissected tumor tissues showed that MT treatment significantly suppressed the protein expression levels of NF-κB, MMP9, MMP2, and p-AKT. In summary, the present study demonstrated the anti-tumor effects of MT on the HCC, and MT suppressed HCC progression possibly via regulating proliferation- and migration-related mediators including c-Met, p-AKT, NF-κB, MMP2, and MMP9 in HepG2 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wen
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Construction and Application of New Drug Screening Model Systems, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyan Cai
- Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shaolian Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Fu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Construction and Application of New Drug Screening Model Systems, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dong Chai
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Construction and Application of New Drug Screening Model Systems, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huainian Zhang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Construction and Application of New Drug Screening Model Systems, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongli Zhang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Construction and Application of New Drug Screening Model Systems, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
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7
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Odaguchi H, Hyuga S, Sekine M, Nakamori S, Takemoto H, Huang X, Oshima N, Shimada N, Yang J, Amakura Y, Hyuga M, Uchiyama N, Kobayashi Y, Hakamatsuka T, Goda Y, Hanawa T. The Adverse Effects of Ephedra Herb and the Safety of Ephedrine Alkaloids-free Ephedra Herb Extract (EFE). YAKUGAKU ZASSHI 2019; 139:1417-1425. [DOI: 10.1248/yakushi.19-00122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sumiko Hyuga
- Oriental Medicine Research Center, Kitasato University
| | - Mariko Sekine
- Oriental Medicine Research Center, Kitasato University
| | - Shunsuke Nakamori
- Oriental Medicine Research Center, Kitasato University
- School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University
| | - Hiroaki Takemoto
- Oriental Medicine Research Center, Kitasato University
- School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University
| | - Xuedan Huang
- Oriental Medicine Research Center, Kitasato University
- School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University
| | - Naohiro Oshima
- Tokyo University of Science Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | | | | | - Yoshiaki Amakura
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Matsuyama University
| | | | | | - Yoshinori Kobayashi
- Oriental Medicine Research Center, Kitasato University
- School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University
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8
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Zhang Y, Ding Y, Zhang T, Jiang X, Yi Y, Zhang L, Chen Y, Li T, Kang P, Tian J. Quantitative Analysis of Twelve Active Components Combined With Chromatographic Fingerprint for Comprehensive Evaluation of Qinma Prescription by Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled With Diode Array Detection. J Chromatogr Sci 2019; 57:855-865. [PMID: 31560746 DOI: 10.1093/chromsci/bmz060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 03/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
A combination method of ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with diode array detection has been developed for quality evaluation of Qinma prescription (QMP), based on chromatographic fingerprint technology with the similarity analysis (SA) and the quantitative analysis of 12 components by hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). The established method has been validated by linearity, precision, repeatability, stability and recovery tests. The UPLC fingerprints with 17 common peaks of 5 QMP samples prepared by different extraction methods including water decoction extraction, water extraction-ethanol precipitation method, ethanol reflux extraction, ethanol extraction-water precipitation method and methanol ultrasonic extraction were obtained, and the SA results indicated that similarity index was greatly influenced by the large peak. The similarity index ranged from 0.816 to 0.999 basing on 17 peaks, which has been decreased to 0.683-0.999 basing on 16 peaks without the large peak of baicalin (BA). The results of simultaneous quantification of 12 components in these 5 QMP samples proved that BA, gallic acid (GA), wogonoside (WOG) and gentiopicroside (GEN) were the major ingredients in QMP with high contents >1.44 (mg/g), indicating that ethanol reflux was the most effective extraction method. Integrating fingerprint analysis, simultaneous determination and HCA, the established method is rapid, sensitive, accurate and readily applicable. All the results indicated that the combination method can control the quality of QMP and its related traditional Chinese medicinal compounds more comprehensively and scientifically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiang Hi-TechPark, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Yue Ding
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiang Hi-TechPark, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, PR China.,Experiment Center for Teaching and Learning, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiang Hi-TechPark, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Experiment Center for Teaching and Learning, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiang Hi-TechPark, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Xiaoyi Jiang
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiang Hi-TechPark, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Yaxiong Yi
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiang Hi-TechPark, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Lijuan Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiang Hi-TechPark, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Yi Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiang Hi-TechPark, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Ting Li
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiang Hi-TechPark, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, PR China.,Experiment Center for Teaching and Learning, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiang Hi-TechPark, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Ping Kang
- Headmaster's Office, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiang Hi-TechPark, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Juanjuan Tian
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiang Hi-TechPark, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, PR China
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9
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Eng YS, Lee CH, Lee WC, Huang CC, Chang JS. Unraveling the Molecular Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Formulas Against Acute Airway Viral Infections as Examples. Molecules 2019; 24:E3505. [PMID: 31569633 PMCID: PMC6804036 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24193505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Herbal medicine, including traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is widely used worldwide. Herbs and TCM formulas contain numerous active molecules. Basically, they are a kind of cocktail therapy. Herb-drug, herb-food, herb-herb, herb-microbiome, and herb-disease interactions are complex. There is potential for both benefit and harm, so only after understanding more of their mechanisms and clinical effects can herbal medicine and TCM be helpful to users. Many pharmacologic studies have been performed to unravel the molecular mechanisms; however, basic and clinical studies of good validity are still not enough to translate experimental results into clinical understanding and to provide tough evidence for better use of herbal medicines. There are still issues regarding the conflicting pharmacologic effects, pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, adverse and clinical effects of herbal medicine and TCM. Understanding study validation, pharmacologic effects, drug interactions, indications and clinical effects, adverse effects and limitations, can all help clinicians in providing adequate suggestions to patients. At present, it would be better to use herbs and TCM formulas according to their traditional indications matching the disease pathophysiology and their molecular mechanisms. To unravel the molecular mechanisms and understand the benefits and harms of herbal medicine and TCM, there is still much work to be done.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Shin Eng
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan.
| | - Chien Hsing Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan.
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan.
| | - Wei Chang Lee
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 0708, Taiwan.
| | - Ching Chun Huang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan.
| | - Jung San Chang
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan.
- Department of Renal Care, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan.
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