A Review of the Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Application, Quality Control, Processing, Toxicology, and Pharmacokinetics of the Dried Rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala

Atramacronoid A induces the PANoptosis-like cell death of human breast cancer cells through the CASP-3/PARP-GSDMD-MLKL pathways

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor and a major cause of mortality among women worldwide. Atramacronoid A (AM-A) is a unique natural sesquiterpene lactone isolated from the rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz (known as Baizhu in Chinese). Our study demonstrated that AM-A triggers a specific form of cell death resembling PANoptosis-like cell death. Further analysis indicated that AM-A-induced PANoptosis-like cell death is associated with the CASP-3/PARP-GSDMD-MLKL pathways, which are mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction. These results suggest the potential of AM-A as a lead compound and offer insights for the development of therapeutic agents for breast cancer from natural products.

Study on the active components and mechanism of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma for invigorating the spleen and tonifying qi based on spectrum-effect relationship and network pharmacology

Spleen deficiency can lead to various abnormal physiological functions of the spleen. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (AMR) is a traditional Chinese medicine used to invigorate the spleen and tonify qi. The study aimed to identify the primary active components influencing the efficacy of AMR in strengthening the spleen and replenishing qi through spectrum-effect relationship and chemometrics. Network pharmacology was used to investigate the mechanism by which AMR strengthens the spleen and replenishes qi, with molecular docking utilized for validation purposes. The findings indicated that bran-fried AMR exhibited superior efficacy, with atractylenolides and atractylone identified as the primary active constituents. Atractylenolide II emerged as the most influential component impacting the effectiveness of AMR, while the key target was androgen receptor. Furthermore, crucial pathways implicated included the mitogen-activated protein cascade (MAPK) cascade, RNA polymerase II transcription factor activity, ligand-activated sequence-specific DNA binding, and RNA polymerase II sequence-specific DNA-binding transcription factor binding. In summary, our study has identified the primary active components associated with the efficacy of AMR and has provided an initial exploration of its mechanism of action. This offers a theoretical foundation for future investigations into the material basis and molecular mechanisms underlying the pharmacodynamics of AMR.

Topic Modeling Analysis of Chinese Medicine Literature on Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Insights into Potential Treatment

OBJECTIVE

To analyze Chinese medicine (CM) prescriptions for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), we model topics on GERD-related classical CM literature, providing insights into the potential treatment.

METHODS

Clinical guidelines were used to identify symptom terms for GERD, and CM literature from the database "Imedbooks" was retrieved for related prescriptions and their corresponding sources, indications, and other information. BERTopic was applied to identify the main topics and visualize the data.

RESULTS

A total of 36,207 entries are queried and 1,938 valid entries were acquired after manually filtering. Eight topics were identified by BERTopic, including digestion function abate, stomach flu, respiratory-related symptoms, gastric dysfunction, regurgitation and gastrointestinal dysfunction in pediatric patients, vomiting, stroke and alcohol accumulation are associated with the risk of GERD, vomiting and its causes, regurgitation, epigastric pain, and symptoms of heartburn.

CONCLUSIONS

Topic modeling provides an unbiased analysis of classical CM literature on GERD in a time-efficient and scale-efficient manner. Based on this analysis, we present a range of treatment options for relieving symptoms, including herbal remedies and non-pharmacological interventions such as acupuncture and dietary therapy.

Molecular targets associated with ulcerative colitis and the benefits of atractylenolides-based therapy

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines that can significantly impact quality of life and lead to various complications. Currently, 5-aminosalicylic acid derivatives, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and biologics are the major treatment strategies for UC, but their limitations have raised concerns. Atractylenolides (ATs), sesquiterpene metabolites found in Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz., have shown promising effects in treating UC by exerting immune barrier modulation, alleviating oxidative stress, gut microbiota regulation, improving mitochondrial dysfunction and repairing the intestinal barrier. Furthermore, ATs have been shown to possess remarkable anti-fibrosis, anti-thrombus, anti-angiogenesis and anti-cancer. These findings suggest that ATs hold important potential in treating UC and its complications. Therefore, this review systematically summarizes the efficacy and potential mechanisms of ATs in treating UC and its complications, providing the latest insights for further research and clinical applications.

NcRNA Regulated Pyroptosis in Liver Diseases and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention: A Narrative Review

Pyroptosis is a novel pro-inflammatory mode of programmed cell death that differs from ferroptosis, necrosis, and apoptosis in terms of its onset and regulatory mechanisms. Pyroptosis is dependent on cysteine aspartate protein hydrolase (caspase)-mediated activation of GSDMD, NLRP3, and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1 (IL-1β), and interleukin-18 (IL-18), ultimately leading to cell death. Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) is a type of RNA that does not encode proteins in gene transcription but plays an important regulatory role in other post-transcriptional links. NcRNA mediates pyroptosis by regulating various related pyroptosis factors, which we termed the pyroptosis signaling pathway. Previous researches have manifested that pyroptosis is closely related to the development of liver diseases, and is essential for liver injury, alcoholic fatty liver disease (ALD), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), liver fibrosis, and liver cancer. In this review, we attempt to address the role of the ncRNA-mediated pyroptosis pathway in the above liver diseases and their pathogenesis in recent years, and briefly outline that TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) intervene in liver diseases by modulating ncRNA-mediated pyroptosis, which will provide a strategy to find new therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases in the future.

Cycasin derivative: a potential embryotoxic component of Atractylodes macrocephala rhizome for limb malformation

Objective

The rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. (Asteraceae), called Atractylodes macrocephala rhizome (AMR) and known by its traditional name Bai Zhu, is a prominent Chinese herbal medicine employed for preventing miscarriage. However, our previous study revealed that high dosages of AMR administered during pregnancy could cause embryotoxicity but the specific embryotoxic components and their underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to screen and identify the potential embryotoxic components of AMR.

Methods

The AMR extracts and sub-fractions were analyzed by thin layer chromatography and subsequently screened by in vitro mouse limb bud micromass and mouse whole embryo culture bioassays. The embryotoxic fractions from AMR were further evaluated in vivo using a pregnant mouse model. The structures of the potential embryotoxic components were analyzed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS).

Results

In vitro and in vivo bioassays revealed that AMR glycoside-enriched sub-fractions (AMR-A-IIa and AMR-A-IIb) exhibited potential embryotoxicity. These sub-fractions, when administered to pregnant animals, increased the incidence of stillbirth and congenital limb malformations. MS spectrometry analysis identified cycasin derivatives in both sub-fractions, suggesting their possible role in the observed limb malformations. However, further experiments are necessary to validate this hypothesis and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Conclusions

Our study provides significant scientific evidence on the pharmacotoxicity of AMR, which is important for the safe clinical application of commonly used Chinese herbal medicines during pregnancy.

Impact of Baizhu, Daqingye, and Hehuanhua extracts on the human gut microbiome

Introduction

In traditional Chinese medicine, the rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala (Baizhu), the leaves of Isatis indigotica (Daqingye), and the flowers of Albizia julibrissin (Hehuanhua) have been used to treat gastrointestinal illnesses, epidemics, and mental health issues. Modern researchers are now exploring the underlying mechanisms responsible for their efficacy. Previous studies often focused on the impact of purified chemicals or mixed extracts from these plants on cells in tissue culture or in rodent models.

Methods

As modulation of the human gut microbiome has been linked to host health status both within the gastrointestinal tract and in distant tissues, the effects of lipid-free ethanol extracts of Baizhu, Daqingye, and Hehuanhua on the human adult gut microbiome were assessed using Systemic Intestinal Fermentation Research (SIFR®) technology (n=6).

Results and discussion

Baizhu and Daqingye extracts similarly impacted microbial community structure and function, with the extent of effects being more pronounced for Baizhu. These effects included decreases in the Bacteroidetes phylum and increases in health-related Bifidobacterium spp. and short chain fatty acids which may contribute to Baizhu's efficacy against gastrointestinal ailments. The changes upon Hehuanhua treatment were larger and included increases in multiple bacterial species, including Agathobaculum butyriciproducens, Adlercreutzia equolifaciens, and Gordonibacter pamelaeae, known to produce secondary metabolites beneficial to mental health. In addition, many of the changes induced by Hehuanhua correlated with a rise in Enterobacteriaceae spp., which may make the tested dose of this herb contraindicated for some individuals. Overall, there is some evidence to suggest that the palliative effect of these herbs may be mediated, in part, by their impact on the gut microbiome, but more research is needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms.

The role and mechanism of TCM in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases

The constant presence of infectious diseases poses an everlasting threat to the entire world. In recent years, there has been an increased attention toward the application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of emerging infectious diseases, as it has played a significant role. The aim of this article is to provide a concise overview of the roles and mechanisms of TCM in treating infectious diseases. TCM possesses the ability to modulate relevant factors, impede signaling pathways, and inhibit microbial growth, thereby exhibiting potent antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects that demonstrate remarkable efficacy against viral and bacterial infections. This article concludes that the comprehensive regulatory features of Chinese herbal medicines, with their various components, targets, and pathways, result in synergistic effects. The significance of Chinese herbal medicines in the context of infectious diseases should not be underestimated; however, it is crucial to also acknowledge their underutilization. This paper presents constructive suggestions regarding the challenges and opportunities faced by Chinese medicines. Particularly, it emphasizes the effectiveness and characteristics of Chinese medicines in the treatment of infectious diseases, specifying how these medicines' active substances can be utilized to target infectious diseases. This perspective is advantageous in facilitating researchers' pharmacological studies on Chinese medicines, focusing on the specific points of action. The mechanism of action of Chinese herbal medicines in the treatment of infectious diseases is comprehensively elucidated in this paper, providing compelling evidence for the superior treatment of infectious diseases through Chinese medicine. This information is favorable for advancing the development of TCM and its potential applications in the field of infectious diseases.

Potential herb‒drug interactions between anti-COVID-19 drugs and traditional Chinese medicine

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread worldwide. Effective treatments against COVID-19 remain urgently in need although vaccination significantly reduces the incidence, hospitalization, and mortality. At present, antiviral drugs including Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir (Paxlovid^TM), Remdesivir, and Molnupiravir have been authorized to treat COVID-19 and become more globally available. On the other hand, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for the treatment of epidemic diseases for a long history. Currently, various TCM formulae against COVID-19 such as Qingfei Paidu decoction, Xuanfei Baidu granule, Huashi Baidu granule, Jinhua Qinggan granule, Lianhua Qingwen capsule, and Xuebijing injection have been widely used in clinical practice in China, which may cause potential herb-drug interactions (HDIs) in patients under treatment with antiviral drugs and affect the efficacy and safety of medicines. However, information on potential HDIs between the above anti-COVID-19 drugs and TCM formulae is lacking, and thus this work seeks to summarize and highlight potential HDIs between antiviral drugs and TCM formulae against COVID-19, and especially pharmacokinetic HDIs mediated by metabolizing enzymes and/or transporters. These well-characterized HDIs could provide useful information on clinical concomitant medicine use to maximize clinical outcomes and minimize adverse and toxic effects.

Identifying Crude Drugs in Kampo Medicines Associated with Drug-Induced Liver Injury Using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report Database: A Comprehensive Survey

The current study aimed to identify the crude drugs associated with drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in 148 Kampo medicines prescribed throughout Japan using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database, a large-scale spontaneous reporting system in Japan. First, we tabulated the number of DILI reports from the report-based dataset and the background information from the patient-based dataset. Thereafter, we combined the 126 crude drugs into 104 crude drug groups to examine multicollinearity. Finally, the reporting odds ratios (RORs), 95% confidence intervals, p values for Fisher's exact test, and number of reports were calculated for each crude group to identify those associated with DILI. Notably, the number of adverse event reports for DILI (63,955) exceeded that for interstitial lung disease (51,347), the most common adverse event. In total, 78 crude drug groups (90 crude drugs) were reported to have an ROR > 1, a p < 0.05, and ≥10 reported cases. Our results highlight DILI as an essential issue, given that it was among the most frequently reported adverse drug reactions. We were able to clearly identify the crude drugs associated with DILI, which could help manage adverse drug reactions attributed to Kampo medicines and crude drugs.

Efficacy and Safety of Longyizhengqi Granule in Treatment of Mild COVID-19 Patients Caused by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant: A Prospective Study

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Longyizhengqi granule, a traditional Chinese medicine, in patients with mild COVID-19.

Patients and Methods

We conducted a prospective study including mild COVID-19 participants conducted at Mobile Cabin Hospital in Shanghai, China. Participants were assigned to receive Longyizhengqi granule or conventional treatment. The primary outcome was the time for nucleic acid to turn negative and the secondary outcomes are hospital stay and changes in cycle threshold (Ct) values for N gene and Orf gene. Multilevel random-intercept model was performed to analyze the effects of treatment.

Results

A total of 3243 patients were included in this study (Longyizhengqi granule 667 patients; conventional treatment 2576 patients). Age (43.5 vs 42.1, p<0.01) and vaccination doses (not vaccinated: 15.8% vs 21.7%, 1 dose: 3.5% vs 2.9%, 2 doses: 27.9% vs 25.6%, 3 doses: 52.8% vs 49.8%. p<0.01) show statistical difference between Conventional treatment group and LYZQ granules group. The use of Longyizhengqi granule could significantly reduce the time for nucleic acid to turn negative (14.2 days vs 10.7 days, p<0.01), shorten hospital stay (12.5 days vs 9.9 days, p<0.01), and increase the changes in Ct value for N gene (8.44 vs 10.33, p<0.01) and Orf gene (7.31 vs 8.44, p<0.01) to approximately 1.5. Moreover, the difference in the changes of Ct values on the 4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th days seem to increase between two groups. No serious adverse events were reported.

Conclusion

Longyizhengqi granule might be a promising drug for the treatment of mild COVID-19, and it might be beneficial to effectively shorten the negative transition time of nucleic acid, the total days of hospitalization, and increase the changes of Ct values. Long-term randomized controlled trials with follow-up evaluations are required to confirm its long-term efficacy.

Diversity and structural analysis of rhizosphere soil microbial communities in wild and cultivated Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae and their effects on the accumulation of active components

Rhizosphere microorganisms are the main factors affecting the formation of high quality medicinal materials and promoting the accumulation of secondary metabolites. However, the composition, diversity, and function of rhizosphere microbial communities in endangered wild and cultivated Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (RAM) and their relationships with active component accumulation have remained unclear. In this study, high-throughput sequencing and correlation analysis were used to study the rhizosphere microbial community diversity (bacteria and fungi) of three RAM species and its correlation with the accumulation of polysaccharides, atractylone, and lactones (I, II, and III). A total of 24 phyla, 46 classes, and 110 genera were detected. The dominant taxa were Proteobacteria, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota. The microbial communities in both wild and artificially cultivated soil samples were extremely species-rich, but there were some differences in their structure and the relative abundances of microorganism taxa. Meanwhile, the contents of effective components in wild RAM were significantly higher than those in cultivated RAM. Correlation analysis showed that 16 bacterial and 10 fungal genera were positively or negatively correlated with active ingredient accumulation. These results showed that rhizosphere microorganisms could play an important role in component accumulation and might lay a foundation for future research on endangered materials.

Assessment of heavy metals contamination and human health risk assessment of the commonly consumed medicinal herbs in China

This study investigates heavy metal contamination of commonly consumed medicinal herbs and human health risks to the Chinese population arising from the consumption of herbs that contain potentially harmful elements. Food safety standards for Chinese residents are becoming stricter, and much work in this field needs to be performed. This study examines Co, Ba, Fe, Cr, Mn, Ni, Zn, As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Be, Sb, and Bi concentrations in four regularly consumed Chinese herb species: Radix Paeoniae Alba (RPA), Radix Angelicae Dahuricae (RAD), Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (RAM), and Radix Puerariae (RP). A pollution status examination and evaluation of heavy metals in RPA, RAD, RAM, and RP were performed. The human health risk assessment associated with the intake of potentially harmful elements in herbs was calculated in terms of the estimated daily intake (EDI), the target hazard quotient (THQ), the estimated hazard index (HI), and the lifetime cancer risk (CR). The mean single-factor pollution index (PI) showed that in the RPA, RAD, RAM, and RP samples, approximately 10.0%, 10.0%, 30.0%, and 10.0%, respectively, were polluted by Cd. The present study indicated that the pattern of consumption of the studied herbs in China does not seem to suggest an excessive health hazard associated with any of the toxic elements studied.

Zhizhu Kuanzhong, a traditional Chinese medicine, alleviates gastric hypersensitivity and motor dysfunction on a rat model of functional dyspepsia

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Zhizhu Kuanzhong (ZZKZ) is a traditional Chinese medicine modified from classic formula Zhizhu decoction in "Synopsis of Golden Chamber" (Han Dynasty in the 3rd century) and the Zhizhu pill in "Differentiation on Endogenous" in Jin Dynasty (1,115-1,234). ZZKZ contains four botanical drugs, including Citrus × Aurantium L [Rutaceae; Aurantii Fructus Immaturus], Atractylodes Macrocephala Koidz. [Compositae; Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae], Bupleurum Chinense DC [Apiaceae; Radix Bupleuri Chinensis], and Crataegus Pinnatifida Bunge [Rosaceae; Fructus Crataegi Pinnatifidae], which have been widely used in clinical therapy for functional dyspepsia (FD). Aim of the study: This study aimed to evaluate the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of action of ZZKZ on gastric hypersensitivity and motor dysfunction in a rat model of FD. Materials and methods: FD was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by neonatal gastric irritation with 0.1% iodoacetamide. The FD rats were treated with ZZKZ (0.5 g/kg, 1.0 g/kg, or 1.5 g/kg respectively) by gavage for 7 days, while domperidone (3 mg/kg) acted as treatment control. Body weight gain, food intake, gastric emptying, and intestinal propulsion were also measured. Ex vivo gastric smooth muscle activity recordings and greater splanchnic afferent (GSN) firing recordings were employed to evaluate gastric motility and sensation. Particularly, the role of 5-HT in the action of ZZKZ in improving gastric dysmotility and hypersensitivity was explored. Results: ZZKZ promoted weight gain, food intake, gastric emptying, and intestinal propulsion in FD rats. ZZKZ promoted spontaneous and ACh-induced contractions of gastric smooth muscle strips in FD rats, alleviated spontaneous activity, and chemical (acid perfusion) and mechanical (intragastric distension) stimulated GSN firing in FD rats. ZZKZ ameliorated gastric smooth muscle contraction and GSN firing induced by 5-HT in FD rats. ZZKZ stimulated the release of serum 5-HT, with reduced 5-HT3 receptor and increased 5-HT4 receptor mRNA expression in the guts of FD rats. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that ZZKZ improves FD-related gastric hypersensitivity and motor dysfunction and should be an effective compound for relieving FD symptoms. The gastric 5-HT system with lower 5-HT3 activity and increased 5-HT4 distribution is involved in the mechanisms of ZZKZ underlying the treatment of FD.

Efficacy and Safety of Zhenwu Decoction in the Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To perform a systematic evaluation of the clinical efficacy and safety of Zhenwu decoction (ZWD) for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN).

METHODS

PubMed, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), the China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and the WanFang databases were searched, and a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were subsequently conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of ZWD combined with conventional Western medicine (CWM) to conventional therapy alone in the treatment of DN. The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and GRADE criteria were utilized to assess the quality of the included literature, and RevMan 5.3 software was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

13 randomized controlled trials were included, involving 1347 patients with diabetic nephropathy assigned into two subgroups according to the disease duration. The results revealed that compared with conventional therapy alone, ZWD combined with CWM treatment significantly improved the total effective rate (OR = 3.88, 95% CI = (2.87, 5.26), P < 0.00001). Furthermore, ZWD combination therapy also decreased fasting blood glucose (MD = -0.72, 95% CI = (-0.97, -0.48), P < 0.00001), BUN (MD = -1.92, 95% CI = (-3.19, -0.64), P = 0.003), 24-hour urine protein (MD = -0.48, 95% CI = (-0.57, -0.39), P < 0.00001), and serum creatinine levels (MD = -51.17, 95% CI = (-66.95, -35.39), P < 0.00001). However,there was no statistical significance in the effect of combination therapy on creatinine clearance (MD = -0.64, 95% CI = [-8.21,6.92], P = 0.87). However, there was no statistical significance in the effect of combination therapy oncreatinine clearance (MD =-0.64, 95% CI=[-8.21,6.92], P=0.87).

CONCLUSION

ZWD combined with CWM outperformed conventional Western medicine in DN treatment. However, further investigations via multicenter RCTs with rigorous designs and higher quality are still warranted.

Polysaccharide from Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. ameliorates DSS-induced colitis in mice by regulating the Th17/Treg cell balance

Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. is one of the most frequently used traditional Chinese medicines for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). The beneficial effect of polysaccharide from Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. (PAMK) on UC has been reported, while the underlying mechanism and target remain unclear. In this study, we systematically investigated the therapeutic effect and the underlying mechanism of PAMK in UC based on a mouse model of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. PAMK treatment (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) significantly ameliorated DSS-induced colitis, manifested as a reduction in weight loss, disease activity index (DAI), colon shortening, spleen index and histological score. Moreover, PAMK treatment inhibited inflammation and improved the integrity of the intestinal barrier in colitis mice. Mechanistically, microarray analysis determined the critical role of the immunoregulatory effect of PAMK in alleviating UC. Flow cytometry analysis further demonstrated that PAMK treatment regulated the balance between T helper (Th) 17 and regulatory T (Treg) cells in the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and spleen in mice with colitis. In addition, PAMK treatment downregulated the expression of IL-6 and suppressed the phosphorylation of STAT3. Together, these data revealed that PAMK treatment alleviated DSS-induced colitis by regulating the Th17/Treg cell balance, which may be dependent on the inhibition of the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway. Our study is the first to elucidate that the underlying mechanism by which PAMK treatment alleviates DSS-induced colitis is associated with an improved the Th17/Treg cell balance. Collectively, the study provides evidence for the potential of PAMK to treat UC.

The chemistry and efficacy benefits of polysaccharides from Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz

Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz (AM), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with many medicinal values, has a long usage history in China and other oriental countries. The phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of volatile oils, polysaccharides, lactones, flavonoids, and others. The polysaccharides from AM are important medicinal components, mainly composed of glucose (Glc), galactose (Gal), rhamnose (Rha), arabinose (Ara), mannose (Man), galacturonic acid (GalA) and xylose (Xyl). It also showed valuable bioactivities, such as immunomodulatory, antitumour, gastroprotective and intestinal health-promoting, hepatoprotective, hypoglycaemic as well as other activities. At the same time, based on its special structure and pharmacological activity, it can also be used as immune adjuvant, natural plant supplement and vaccine adjuvant. The aim of this review is to summarize and critically analyze up-to-data on the chemical compositions, biological activities and applications of polysaccharide from AM based on scientific literatures in recent years.

Polysaccharides from Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae: A Review on Their Extraction, Purification, Structure, and Bioactivities

Rhizoma Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharide (RAMP), the main bioactive compound extracted from Rhizoma Atractylodes macrocephala (RAM), exhibits various biological activities in in vivo and in vitro methods, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective effects, and other functions. This review systematically summarizes the recent research progress on the extraction, purification, structural characteristics, and biological activities of RAMP. We hope to provide a theoretical basis for further research on the application of RAMP in the fields of biomedicine and food.

Tolerance Assessment of Atractylodes macrocephala Polysaccharide in the Diet of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)

Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharide (AMP) can enhance antioxidant defense and anti-inflammation, as the tolerance levels of AMP in aquaculture is important for additive utilization. However, the tolerance dose of AMP is unknown. We assess the tolerance levels of AMP in juvenile largemouth bass (3.38 ± 0.11 g) by feeding them a 0, 400, 4000, or 8000 mg/kg AMP supplemented diet for 10 weeks. The 400 mg/kg AMP dose increased growth performance. The Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway was activated, as indicated by Keap1 and Nrf2 protein levels in the liver. Enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx), together with increased mRNA levels of antioxidant genes (sod, gpx) and decreased accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MDA, was found in the liver, implying the antioxidant effect of AMP. Nutrient absorption was enhanced by AMP, as reflected by the increased length of intestinal villi and microvilli. However, 4000 and 8000 mg/kg AMP induced oxidant stress, as indicated by increased plasma ALT and AST content and decreased mRNA levels of antioxidant genes (sod, gpx) in the liver and intestinal tissues. Inflammatory reactions were also induced by high doses of AMP, as reflected by enhanced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tnfα, nfκb) in the liver, intestinal, and kidney tissues and inhibited levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (tgfβ, iκb). Histological analysis reveals inflammatory cell infiltration and tissue damage. Thus, the safe tolerance margin of AMP supplement for largemouth bass was 400–4000 mg/kg.

Sesquiterpene Lactams and Lactones With Antioxidant Potentials From Atractylodes macrocephala Discovered by Molecular Networking Strategy

Atractylodes macrocephala rhizome (called Bái-zhú in China) has a long history as a functional food and herbal medicine in East Asia, especially China. Sesquiterpenoids are one of the main active compounds of Atractylodes macrocephala rhizome. This study aimed to explore the unknown sesquiterpenoids of A. macrocephala rhizome using a molecular networking strategy. Two new nitrogen-containing sesquiterpenoids, atractylenolactam A (1) and atractylenolactam B (2), and 2 new sesquiterpene lactones, 8-methoxy-atractylenolide V (6) and 15-acetoxyl atractylenolide III (7), along with 12 known analogs (3-5 and 8-16) were discovered and isolated. All the structures were assigned based on detailed spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configurations of 1, 2, 6, and 7 were established by time-dependent density functional theory ECD (TDDFT-ECD) calculations. All these compounds had different degrees of concentration-dependent activating effects on nuclear-factor-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2).

Gut Microbiota: The Potential Key Target of TCM’s Therapeutic Effect of Treating Different Diseases Using the Same Method—UC and T2DM as Examples

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine often exerts the therapeutic effect of “treating different diseases with the same method” in clinical practice; in other words, it is a kind of herbal medicine that can often treat two or even multiple diseases; however, the biological mechanism underlying its multi-path and multi-target pharmacological effects remains unclear. Growing evidence has demonstrated that gut microbiota dysbiosis plays a vital role in the occurrence and development of several diseases, and that the root cause of herbal medicine plays a therapeutic role in different diseases, a phenomenon potentially related to the improvement of the gut microbiota. We used local intestinal diseases, such as ulcerative colitis, and systemic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, as examples; comprehensively searched databases, such as PubMed, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure; and summarized the related studies. The results indicate that multiple individual Chinese herbal medicines, such as Rhizoma coptidis (Huang Lian), Curcuma longa L (Jiang Huang), and Radix Scutellariae (Huang Qin), and Chinese medicinal compounds, such as Gegen Qinlian Decoction, Banxia Xiexin Decoction, and Shenling Baizhu Powder, potentially treat these two diseases by enriching the diversity of the gut microbiota, increasing beneficial bacteria and butyrate-producing bacteria, reducing pathogenic bacteria, improving the intestinal mucosal barrier, and inhibiting intestinal and systemic inflammation. In conclusion, this study found that a variety of traditional Chinese herbal medicines can simultaneously treat ulcerative colitis and type 2 diabetes, and the gut microbiota may be a significant target for herbal medicine as it exerts its therapeutic effect of “treating different diseases with the same method”.