Traditional Chinese Medicine: A promising strategy to regulate the imbalance of bacterial flora, impaired intestinal barrier and immune function attributed to ulcerative colitis through intestinal microecology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Globally, plant materials are widely used as an additional and alternative therapy for the treating of diverse diseases. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, recurrent and nonspecific inflammation of the bowel, referred to as "modern intractable disease" according to the World Health Organization. With the continuous development of theoretical research in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the advantages of TCM in terms of low side effects, TCM has shown great progress in the research of treating UC.

AIM OF THIS REVIEW

This review aimed to explore the correlation between intestinal microbiota and UC, summarize research advances in TCM for treating UC, and discuss the mechanism of action of TCM remedies in regulating intestinal microbiota and repairing damaged intestinal barrier, which will provide a theoretical basis for future studies to elucidate the mechanism of TCM remedies based on gut microbiota and provide novel ideas for the clinical treatment of UC.

METHODS

We have collected and collated relevant articles from different scientific databases in recent years on the use of TCM in treating UC in relation to intestinal microecology. Based on the available studies, the therapeutic effects of TCM are analysed and the correlation between the pathogenesis of UC and intestinal microecology is explored.

RESULTS

TCM is used to further protect the intestinal epithelium and tight junctions, regulate immunity and intestinal flora by regulating intestinal microecology, thereby achieving the effect of treating UC. Additionally, TCM remedies can effectively increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids, decrease the abundance of pathogenic bacteria, restore the balance of intestinal microbiota, and indirectly alleviate intestinal mucosal immune barrier dysfunction and promote the repair of damaged colorectal mucosa.

CONCLUSION

Intestinal microbiota is closely related to UC pathogenesis. The alleviation of intestinal dysbiosis can be a potential novel therapeutic strategy for UC. TCM remedies can exert protective and therapeutic effects on UC through various mechanisms. Although intestinal microbiota can aid in the identification of different TCM syndromes types, further studies are needed using modern medical technology. This will improve the clinical therapeutic efficacy of TCM remedies in UC and promote the application of precision medicine.

Clinical efficacy, pharmacodynamic components, and molecular mechanisms of antiviral granules in the treatment of influenza: A systematic review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The Antiviral Granules (AG) are derived from the classical famous prescription, which is composed of 9 traditional Chinese medicines, namely Radix Isatidis (called Banlangen, BLG in Chinese), Forsythiae Fructus (called Lianqiao, LQ in Chinese), Gypsum fibrosum, Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (called Zhimu, ZM in Chinese), Phragmitis Rhizoma (called Lugen, LG in Chinese), Rehmanniae Radix (called Dihuang, DH in Chinese), Pogostemonis Herba (called Guanghuoxiang, GHX in Chinese), Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma (called Shichangpu, SCP in Chinese), and Curcumae Radix (called Yujin, YJ in Chinese), and has shown an excellent therapeutic effect in clinical treatment of influenza. However, there are few studies on the anti-influenza mechanism of AG, and the mechanism of action is still unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The purpose is to provide the latest information about the clinical efficacy, pharmacodynamic composition and mechanism of AG based on scientific literature, so as to enhance the utilization of AG in the treatment of influenza and related diseases, and promote the development and innovation of novel anti-influenza drugs targeting the influenza virus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Enter the data retrieval room, search for Antiviral Granules, as well as the scientific names, common names, and Chinese names of each Chinese medicine. Additionally, search for the relevant clinical applications, pharmacodynamic composition, pharmacological action, and molecular mechanism of both Antiviral Granules and single-ingredient medicines. Keywords includes terms such as "antiviral granules", "influenza", "Isatis indigotica Fort.", "Radix Isatidis", "Banlangeng", "pharmacology", "clinical application", "pharmacologic action", etc. and their combinations. Obtain results from the Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Sci Finder Scholar, CNKI and other resources.

RESULTS

AG is effective in the treatment of influenza and is often used in combination with other drugs to treat viral diseases. Its chemical composition is complex, including alkaloids, polysaccharides, volatile oils, steroid saponins, phenylpropanoids, terpenoids and other compounds. These compounds have a variety of pharmacological activities, which can interfere with the replication cycle of the influenza virus, regulate RIG-I-MAVS, JAK/STAT, TLRs/MyD88, NF-κB signaling pathways and related cytokines, regulate intestinal microorganisms, and protect both the lungs and extrapulmonary organs.

CONCLUSIONS

AG can overcome the limitations of traditional antiviral drug therapy, play a synergistic role in fighting influenza virus with the characteristics of multi-component, multi-pathway and multi-target therapy, and reverse the bodily function damage caused by influenza virus. AG may be a potential drug in the prevention and treatment of influenza and related diseases.

Therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine for interstitial lung disease

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a chronic lung dysfunction disease with a poor prognosis and poor recovery. The clinically used therapeutic drugs, such as glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants, have no significant therapeutic effect and are accompanied with severe side effects. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in exploring and applying natural herb components for treating ILD. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) possesses innate, non-toxic characteristics and offers advantages in preventing and treating pulmonary ailments. However, a comprehensive study of TCM on ILD therapy has not yet been reviewed.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review aimed to provide a comprehensive summary of the monomer components, total extracts, and prescriptions of TCM for ILD therapy, elucidating their molecular mechanisms to serve as a reference in treating ILD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The literature information was searched in the PubMed, Web of Science databases. The search keywords included 'interstitial lung disease', 'lung fibrosis' or 'pulmonary fibrosis', and 'traditional Chinese medicine', 'traditional herbal medicine', or 'herb medicine'.

RESULTS

The active components of single herbs, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols, and quinones, have potential therapeutic effects on ILD. The active extracts and prescriptions were also summarized and analyzed. The herbs, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. (Gancao), Astragalus membranaceus Fisch. Bunge. (Huangqi) and Angelicasinensis (Oliv.) Diels (Danggui), play significant roles in the treatment of ILD. The mechanisms involve the inhibition of inflammatory factor release, anti-oxidative injury, and interference with collagen production, etc. CONCLUSION: This review examines the therapeutic potential of TCM for ILD and elucidates its molecular mechanisms, demonstrating that mitigating inflammation and oxidative stress, modulating the immune system, and promoting tissue repair are efficacious strategies for ILD therapy. The depth research will yield both theoretical and practical implications.

Chinese herbal medicines: The modulator of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease targeting oxidative stress

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Plants are a natural treasure trove; their secondary metabolites participate in several pharmacological processes, making them a crucial component in the synthesis of novel pharmaceuticals and serving as a reserve resource foundation in this process. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with the risk of progression to hepatitis and liver cancer. The "Treatise on Febrile Diseases," "Compendium of Materia Medica," and "Thousand Golden Prescriptions" have listed herbal remedies to treat liver diseases.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

Chinese herbal medicines have been widely used for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD owing to their efficacy and low side effects. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during NAFLD, and the impact and potential mechanism of ROS on the pathogenesis of NAFLD are discussed in this review. Furthermore, common foods and herbs that can be used to prevent NAFLD, as well as the structure-activity relationships and potential mechanisms, are discussed.

METHODS

Web of Science, PubMed, CNKI database, Google Scholar, and WanFang database were searched for natural products that have been used to treat or prevent NAFLD in the past five years. The primary search was performed using the following keywords in different combinations in full articles: NAFLD, herb, natural products, medicine, and ROS. More than 400 research papers and review articles were found and analyzed in this review.

RESULTS

By classifying and discussing the literature, we obtained 86 herbaceous plants, 28 of which were derived from food and 58 from Chinese herbal medicines. The mechanism of NAFLD was proposed through experimental studies on thirteen natural compounds (quercetin, hesperidin, rutin, curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, salvianolic acid B, paeoniflorin, ginsenoside Rg1, ursolic acid, berberine, honokiol, emodin). The occurrence and progression of NAFLD could be prevented by natural antioxidants through several pathways to prevent ROS accumulation and reduce hepatic cell injuries caused by excessive ROS.

CONCLUSION

This review summarizes the natural products and routinely used herbs (prescription) in the prevention and treatment of NAFLD. Firstly, the mechanisms by which natural products improve NAFLD through antioxidant pathways are elucidated. Secondly, the potential of traditional Chinese medicine theory in improving NAFLD is discussed, highlighting the safety of food-medicine homology and the broader clinical potential of multi-component formulations in improving NAFLD. Aiming to provide theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.

N-acetyldopamine oligomers from Periplaneta americana with anti-inflammatory and vasorelaxant effects and their spatial distribution visualized by mass spectrometry imaging

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Periplaneta americana is a medicinal insect that has been applied to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for a long time. Its modern preparation, Xinmailong injection, was adopted for the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF). The bioactive constituents of P. americana and their correlation with its traditional uses need further investigation.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to elucidate the N-acetyldopamine (NADA) oligomers from P. american, determine their spatial distribution, and investigate their anti-inflammatory and vasorelaxant effects to provide scientific evidence supporting the clinical use of this medicinal insect.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

NADA oligomers were isolated from the CH2Cl2: CH3OH (2:1) extract of P. americana, through sequential chromatographic methods including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, preparative HPLC, and chiral-phase separation. Their structures were determined by HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis, chiral resolution, and calculated electronic circular dichroism analysis. With the aid of atmospheric pressure scanning matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (AP-SMALDI MSI), the isolated compounds in a spatial profile within P. americana were identified. NO production was measured to assess anti-inflammatory activity. Vasorelaxant activity assessments were performed on the norepinephrine-precontracted 3rd-order mesenteric arteries.

RESULTS

Seven new NADA trimers, peridopamines A-G (1-7), two new NADA dimers, peridopamines H and I (8 and 9), and six known NADA derivatives (10-15), were obtained from P. americana. The trimers and dimers were detected and showed similar pattern of distribution with accumulation in peripheral and rigid parts of P. americana, based on quasimolecular ion AP-SMALDI MS images of sections from the whole body and dissected areas of the insect. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory and vasorelaxant effects of isolated compounds were investigated. Compounds 8 and 9 presented significant and moderate anti-inflammatory potentials, respectively. Compounds 8, 10, 12 and 15 possess significant vasorelaxant potentials at concentrations correlated with EC50 values of 6.7-23.7 μM.

CONCLUSION

Fifteen NADA oligomers were isolated from P. americana. The distribution of these compounds was visualized by AP-SMALDI imaging experiments and NADA oligomers were mainly observed in peripheral parts. Bioassays showed that the tested compounds had anti-inflammatory and vasorelaxant activities, which indicated that NADA oligomers are active ingredients of this insect-based TCM and have potential for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Buddleja officinalis Maxim.: A review of its botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and therapeutic potential for ophthalmic diseases

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Buddleja officinalis Maxim. (B. officinalis), commonly known as "Menghua" "Yangerduo" is a widely recognized traditional herbal medicine in China, Korea, and Vietnam. For thousands of years, it has been used to treat dry eye disease, conjunctivitis, keratitis, eye ulcers, eye pain, cough, asthma, hemoptysis, and other medical conditions.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review article aims to provide a concise summary of the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, medicinal potential, and application of B. officinalis in treating ophthalmic diseases and critically evaluates the existing literature to establish a scientific basis for its reasonable utilization and further investigation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The information reviewed in this study was collected from various electronic resources, including the Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar.

RESULTS

To date, 80 structurally diverse compounds have been isolated and characterized from B. officinalis, primarily flavonoids, phenylethanoids, triterpenoids, and monoterpenes. Extracts and compounds derived from B. officinalis have been reported to possess broad pharmacological effects including anti-dry eye disease, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-diabetes, anti-obesity, improving osteoporosis and treatment of skin diseases. This review provides a reference for the future studies on of B. officinalis.

CONCLUSIONS

As a natural medicinal plant, B. officinalis is worthy of further development in botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and therapeutic potential for ophthalmic diseases. Although some components have demonstrated multiple pharmacological activities, their mechanisms of action remain unclear. Further studies on the underlying molecular basis and mechanism of action are warranted.

Huzhangqingmaiyin protected vascular endothelial cells against cerebral small vessel disease through inhibiting inflammation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Huzhangqingmaiyin (HZQMY) is a Chinese medicine formula used to treat small vessel disease, but the mechanism is unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to reveal the protective effects of HZQMY on human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) and explore the potential targets and mechanistic pathways using network pharmacology on treating cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HBMECs were cultured in vitro and an endothelial cell injury model was constructed by hypoxia for 12 h followed by reoxygenation for 8 h (H/R). Cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay, migration ability of cells was detected by scratch assay, angiogenesis ability of endothelial cells was detected by tubulogenesis assay. Meanwhile, JC-1 staining was employed to determine the alteration of mitochondrial membrane potential, and finally, cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. To further explore the mechanism of action of HZQMY, the target proteins of a candidate active compound was first collected from the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database with analytical platform and Swiss target prediction database (www.swisstargetprediction.ch) by HPLC/MS determination of its main active components. CSVD associated targets were retrieved from four disease associated targets databases, OMIM, DisGenNET, GeneCards and GeneCLip, respectively. Using the website String, the genes overlapped between HZQMY and CSVD were imported into the database, PPI network plots were drawn using Cytoscape software. GO and KEGG analyses were performed to explore the possible pathways and targets of HZQMY. Its most probable targets were further explored with molecular docking and verified.

RESULTS

HZQMY at 0.5-2 μg/mL concentration range could promote cell proliferation, cell migration, angiogenesis, reduce mitochondrial membrane potential damage as well as inhibit apoptosis. Besides that, 29 active compounds were detected from HZQMY, including key components such as quercetin, polydatin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin and resveratrol. Core targets that might include IL-1β、ICAM-1、VCAM-1 and VEGF and so on.

CONCLUSIONS

HZQMY could regulate the levels of key targets such as IL-1β、ICAM-1、VCAM-1 and VEGF, so as to achieve the purpose of treating CSVD.

Extraction, purification, structural characteristics and biological properties of the polysaccharides from Radix Saposhnikoviae: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Radix Saposhnikoviae (R. Saposhnikoviae), commonly known as FangFeng, is a renowned medicinal herb in China extensively utilized in traditional Chinese medicine. It expels pathogenic wind from the body surface, alleviates pain by removing dampness, and relieves convulsion. Therefore, it is mainly used for treating exterior syndrome, itchy wind papules, rheumatic arthralgia, and splenic asthenia-induced dampness. R. saposhnikoviae has important medicinal value, and the polysaccharide component is one of its important active ingredients.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review summarizes the factors influencing the content of polysaccharides in R. Saposhnikoviae (PRSs), the techniques employed for their extraction, separation, and purification, their structural characterization, and their biological activities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant research reports on PRSs were collected from the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Web of Science, PubMed, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, China Master Theses Full-text Database, and China Doctoral Dissertations Full-text Database.

RESULTS

The content of PRSs can vary depending on cultivation methods and harvesting time. PRSs were extracted using various extraction techniques such as hot water, ultrasonic-assisted, microwave-assisted, and enzymatic extractions, as well as water extraction and alcohol precipitation. Effective purification methods involve protein removal using trifluoro-trichloroethane and the decolorization of the polysaccharide using column chromatography with D280 anion exchange resins. Current research highlights the significant pharmacological activities of PRSs in R. Saposhnikoviae, including immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-allergic, anti-cancer, and anti-osteoporotic effects as well as prevention of calcium loss and maintenance of mucosal function.

CONCLUSIONS

PRSs play a crucial role as bioactive constituents of R. Saposhnikoviae, exhibiting diverse biological activities and promising applications. A deeper understanding of PRSs will contribute to the improved utilization of R. Saposhnikoviae and the development of related derivatives of the active ingredients.

A systematic review of traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicity of Epimedium koreanum Nakai

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Epimedium koreanum Nakai (E. koreanum), a member of the genus Epimedium in the family Berberidaceae, is a well-known and well-liked traditional herb used as a "kidney tonic". For thousands of years, it has been utilized for renal yang deficiency, impotence, spermatorrhea, impotence, weakness of tendons and bones, rheumatic paralysis and discomfort, numbness, and constriction.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The paper aims to comprehensively in-depth, and methodically review the most recent research on the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity of E. koreanum.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Scientific databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Elsevier, Springer, ScienceDirect, Baidu Scholar, and CNKI and medicine books in China were searched for relevant information on E. koreanum.

RESULTS

In traditional uses, E. koreanum is frequently used to treat various diseases like erectile dysfunction, infertility, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, asthma, kidney-yang deficiency syndrome, etc. To date, more than 379 compounds have been discovered from various parts of E. koreanum, including flavonoids, lignans, organic acids, terpenoids, hydrocarbons, dihydrophenanthrene derivatives, alkaloids, and others. Research has revealed that the compounds and crude extracts have a wide range of pharmacological effects on the reproductive, cardiovascular, and nervous systems, as well as anti-osteoporosis, anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, and antiviral properties. Besides, the crude extracts show potential hepatotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

Based on recent domestic and international research investigations, E. koreanum contains a wealth of chemical components with pronounced pharmacological activities. Its traditional uses are numerous, and the majority of these traditional uses have been supported by contemporary pharmacological investigations. Crude extracts, on the other hand, can result in hepatotoxicity. Therefore, additional in vivo and in vitro experimental research on the pharmacology and toxicology of E. koreanum are required in the future to assess its safety and efficacy. This will give a firmer scientific foundation for its safe application and the development of new drugs in the future.

Study on toxicity/efficacy related substances and metabolic mechanism of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f based on O2LPS correlation analysis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f (TwHF) has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and nephritis for hundreds of years.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Although the efficacy of TwHF in the treatment of RA is definite, its serious side effects and toxicity have also received close attention from domestic and international researchers, so the clinical application of TwHF has been controversial. Most of the current TwHF toxicity studies have been conducted with animals in normal body states, but ignore the effects in pathological states. In this study, we aimed to find out the material basis and metabolic mechanism of the "toxicity/effectiveness" of TwHF on rat kidneys in different body states by using two-way orthogonal partial least squares (O2PLS) method.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the present study, TwHF was extracted by reflux extraction method using ethanol as the extraction solvent. Firstly, the effects of TwHF on rat kidneys in different body states were first evaluated by detecting creatinine and urea nitrogen levels and morphological changes in kidney pathology identified the components of TwHF in rats in different body states using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS technique. Serum and urine metabolomics were used to search for biomarkers and metabolic pathways by which TwHF exerts renal injury and protection, and finally, O2PLS correlation analysis was used to correlate the components with renal protective and injury biomarkers.

RESULTS

TwHF was found to have a protective effect on the kidney of RA rats and an injurious effect on the kidney of normal rats at a dose of 11.25 g/kg/d. The UPLC-Q-TOF/MS technique was used to identify 34 components in TwHF extracts; 23 components and 57 metabolites were identified in the administered rats. O2PLS screened three substances as both toxic and pharmacodynamic components of TwHF, namely 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl-2-propenl-ol, kaurane-16,19,20-triol, and demethylzeylasteral + O, and found that these three components may exert nephrotoxic effects via the nicotinic acid and nicotinamide metabolic pathways and nephroprotective effects via the tryptophan metabolic pathway.

CONCLUSION

In this study, O2PLS analysis was used for the first time to combine biomarkers and components in vivo and found the material basis and metabolic mechanism of nephrotoxicity and efficacy of TwHF, which provided key clues for further study on the biological mechanism of toxicity and efficacy of TwHF.

Smilax china L.: A review of its botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, actual and potential applications

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Smilax china L., an extensively used traditional Chinese medicine, is known as Baqia in China. It has been used to treat various inflammatory disorders, particularly pelvic inflammation.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The present paper aims to provide an up-to-date review at the advancements of the investigations on the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacological effect and actual and potential applications of S. china. Besides, the possible tendency and perspective for future research of this plant are discussed, as well.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This article uses "Smilax china L." "S. china" as the keyword and collects relevant information on Smilax china L. plants through electronic searches (Elsevier, PubMed, ACS, CNKI, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, Web of Science), relevant books, and classic literature about Chinese herb.

RESULTS

134 chemical constituents, among which steroid saponins and flavonoids are the predominant groups, have been isolated and identified from S. china. S. china with its active compounds is possessed of wide-reaching biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, detoxify nicotine, anti-diabetes, anti-obesity, anti-hyperuricaemia, anti-hypertension, promoting skin wound and barrier repair and anti-bacterial activity. Besides, S. china is also applied to other fields, such as food industry and detection technology.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the review of the existing phytochemical studies on Smilax china L., the structural characterization of Smilax china L. extract can continue to be the focus of future research. Pharmacological studies in vitro and in vivo have demonstrated some of the traditional uses of Smilax china L. extract, while other traditional uses still need to be confirmed by research.

The catalogue of the Westhoff collection of Chinese materia medica (c. 1870): Evidence of interaction between a Chinese medicine practitioner and the Dutch in Indonesia

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The Westhoff collection of Chinese materia medica (c. 1870) at the Utrecht University Museum in Utrecht, the Netherlands, contains an original, handwritten catalogue, which was putatively ascribed to a Chinese medicine practitioner. It provides a detailed record of the Chinese names, plant parts, preparations, and applications of the specimens contained in glass bottles, which probably reflects the physician's personal interpretation of Chinese medicine in Indonesia at the end of the 19th century. Such individual catalogues can reveal historical changes and regional variations in the use of traditional Chinese medicine, which can lead to a better understanding of the history and development of this field.

AIM OF THE STUDY

We addressed the following questions: 1) What are the contents of the Westhoff catalogue? 2) What medicinal preparations and applications were recorded in the catalogue, and which ones are dominant? 3) How similar is the use of Chinese materia medica in Westhoff catalogue compared to the modern Chinese Pharmacopeia? 4) What other specific information is contained in the Westhoff catalogue?

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The catalogue had been digitized previously, and all handwritten Dutch text has been transcribed and translated into English. The information for each entry was summarized and analyzed, the medicinal applications were compared to modern Chinese pharmacopeia or other monographs on Chinese materia medica.

RESULTS

The catalogue contains 436 entries, for which 395 corresponding specimens still exist in the Westhoff collection of Chinese materia medica. Each entry contains a serial number, a Chinese name, a phonetic Dutch transcription of the Chinese name, a description of the plant, animal, or mineral origin of the medicinal product, the preparation method, and the medical indication for which it should be used. The dominant preparation method is decoction (79% of the entries). The most frequently mentioned applications are fever, skin diseases, strengthening and wounds. Around 80% of the medicinal applications in the catalogue were also listed for the same CMM in modern monographs. The catalogue also sheds light on typical characteristics of popular medicine, their geographic origin, and social aspects of traditional Chinese medicine in Indonesia around 1870.

CONCLUSIONS

The Westhoff catalogue is a valuable record of Chinese materia medica and its practice in a specific time and space. It reflects an individual physician's interpretation of Chinese medicine, shows the difficulties in the interpretation of cultural-bound health issues between the Dutch and the Chinese, and provides evidence that traditional Chinese medicine spread not only in East Asia but also to the distant Western world.

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacological mechanism of Moluodan concentrated pill in the treatment of atrophic gastritis: A network pharmacological study and in vivo experiments

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Moluodan concentrated pill (MLD) is a traditional herbal formula used in China for the treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). However, its pharmacological mechanism of action remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of action of MLD in the treatment of CAG using network pharmacology and in vivo experiments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The active compounds of MLD were determined using network pharmacology, utilizing various Chinese medicine databases such as the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform, Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database, Integrative Pharmacology-based Research Platform of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and a comprehensive database of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Immuno-Oncology. The compounds found in the root of Anemone altaica Fisch. were extracted from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure literature database. Additionally, the Swiss Target Prediction database and Similarity Ensemble Approach were employed to identify the potential targets of these components. CAG-related targets were gathered from the GeneCards and DisGeNET databases. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) of the genes associated with the drug-disease crossover were examined, and a core PPI network was constructed using the STRING database (version 11.5) and Cytoscape (version 3.7.2). A gene-pathway network was established to identify significant target genes and pathways through Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. Finally, based on these findings and existing data, the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway was selected for further validation through in vivo experiments.

RESULTS

A total of 724 active molecules in MLD yielded 961 identified target genes, of which 179 were found to be potentially associated with CAG. From the common targets, a PPI network revealed ten core targets. Enrichment analysis suggested that MLD may primarily target TNF and AKT in the treatment of CAG. Essential signaling pathways, such as the PI3K-AKT and TNF pathways, were found to be crucial for the therapeutic effects of MLD on CAG. Furthermore, potential interactions and crosstalk between these pathways were identified. Moreover, we confirmed that MLD effectively improved gastric mucosa atrophy and cellular ultrastructural damage, while increasing pepsinogen secretion and decreasing gastrin, somatostatin, and motilin levels. Subsequent molecular biology studies in rat models of CAG demonstrated that MLD treatment significantly reduced the expression levels of TNF-α, phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K), and phosphorylated Akt (P < 0.05). Notably, the expression of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) exhibited a contrasting trend (P < 0.05), potentially associated with the crucial tumor suppressor role of NF-κB p105.

CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence that MLD effectively alleviates stomach mucosal atrophy through modulation of the TNF/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These findings establish a solid theoretical foundation for the practical management of CAG.