[Herbalogical analysis of Aconiti Carmichaeli Radix].

Tianxiong has been used as a Chinese medicinal in China for thousands of years, and the earliest record can be traced back to the Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica. It is effective in dispersing wind, dissipating cold, and replenishing fire to streng-then yang. To clarify the origin of Tianxiong, the present herbalogical study reviewed the ancient and modern literature from the origin, processing, and clinical efficacy. Before the Tang Dynasty, although the description of Tianxiong was quite superficial, an apparent difference between Tianxiong and Fuzi was recognized. In the Tang and Song Dynasties, Tianxiong and Fuzi were mistakenly recognized to be prepared from a same plant since their raw materials came from artificial cultivation. Medical literature in the Ming and Qing Dynasties mostly followed the previous records, with the origin of Tianxiong remaining controversial. There were three mainstream views about the origin of Tianxiong according the ancient medical books. First, Tianxiong was a kind of Aconiti Radix(Chuanwu) without attachment of Fuzi. Second, Tianxiong was the large Fuzi. Third, Tianxiong derived from Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix(Caowu) about 10 cm in length. By contrast, Fuzi in a large size was simply regarded as Tianxiong in modern times. The processing methods were diversified in the ancient times, and the fire-processing was continuously applied. With the deepening of the research on the efficacy and detoxification mechanism, more methods were discovered, such as processing with ginger juice, child's urine and alcohol. As for modern times, the processing of Tianxiong has not been nearly passed down. The characteristic processing of Tianxiong only handed down in Sichuan province and Lingnan area, which can be discriminated by the last step. The efficacies of Tianxiong can be directly understood from its literal name, including dispersing wind, dissipating cold, and replenishing fire to assist yang. Nowadays, Tianxiong is mostly used to strengthen yang.

[Historical evolution of Coicis Semen processing methods].

Coicis Semen is widely used as a raw material which can be used as both medicine and food among people. According to the ancient monographs on materia medica and relevant documents on the processing specifications in various provinces and cities, herba logical study on the historical evolution of the processing methods of Coicis Semen was conducted in this paper from the aspects of collecting and processing methods of Coicis Semen, the processing methods in the past dynasties and the nature, flavour and efficacy of Coicis Semen. The results showed that the processing methods of Coicis Semen recorded in monographs on materia medica mainly included stir-frying, glutinous rice stir-frying, salt processing(including salt cooking and salt stir-frying), stir-frying with the earth scraped from the wall facing east, and ginger juice stir-frying, etc. Among them, stir-frying, and stir-frying with the earth scraped from the wall facing east are still used nowadays. The bran stir-frying is the improved version of glutinous rice stir-frying in order to be adaptive to the modern-day situation and the needs of the present. In addition, the ancient shell removal and kernel keeping method are also included in the processing procedures in modern local processing specifications, which are combined with frying to form a new method named "Fazhi" processing( "Fazhi" means a processing method of multiple procedures). The 2015 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia records that Coicis Semen is helpful to clear dampness and promote diuresis, strengthen the spleen and prevent diarrhea, eliminate impediment, discharge pus, resolve toxin and a mass, etc., which are consistent with those contained in ancient monographs on materia medica. After the "Fazhi" processing, the cold nature of Coicis Semen has been removed and its nature,flavour and meridian tropism have been changed, so its application scopes expanded. The results of this study clearly traced the history of the collecting and proces-sing of Coicis Semen, summarized the nature, flavour and efficacy of Coicis Semen contained in both ancient and modern literature, and provided a historical basis for the standardization of the subsequent processing technology of Coicis Semen, the clinical application of various processed products, and the further development and utilization of medicinal materials.

A Chinese patent medicine, Shexiang Baoxin Pill, for Non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes: A systematic review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Shexiang Baoxin Pill (SXBXP) is a well-known Chinese patent medicine, widely used for Non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS). It is composed of seven materia medicas or extracts (Moschus, Radix Ginseng, Calculus Bovis, Cortex Cinnamomi, Styrax, Venenum Bufonis and Borneolum Syntheticum). AIM OF THE STUDY: This study is aimed to systematically review the relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to determine the efficacy and safety of SXBXP for long-term management of NSTE-ACS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement. All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing long-term Shexiang Baoxin Pill with conventional treatment, with outcome measures relating to efficacy and safety were selected. Primary clinical outcome was the risk of cardiovascular events, secondary outcomes were hospitalizations, angina symptoms, electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements, and adverse events. RESULTS: Eleven RCTs recruiting 1389 patients were included, the overall risk of bias of the included trials is high and the quality poor. Compared with conventional treatment alone, long-term Shexiang Baoxin Pill plus conventional treatment might be more effective in lowering the risk of cardiovascular events (RR=0.36, 95% CI 0.26-0.49, <0.00001), hospitalizations (RR=0.38, 95% CI 0.21-0.67, P=0.0009), and improving angina symptoms (RR=1.19, 95% CI 1.13-1.26, P<0.00001), ECG measurements (RR=1.25, 95% CI 1.13-1.39, P<0.00001). Overall rate of adverse events was not elevated (P=0.43). CONCLUSIONS: From the available evidence, SXBXP added to conventional treatment may have beneficial effects on the long-term outcomes of NSTE-ACS, without serious adverse events. However, given the high risk of bias and low quality of the included trials, currently, there is no adequate evidence to draw any conclusions about its routine use. Large, methodologically-sound trials are needed to further assess its effects.