Model exploration for discovering COVID-19 targeted traditional Chinese medicine.

In terms of treatment, a particularly targeted drug is needed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Although there are currently no specific drugs for COVID-19, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is clearly effective. It is recommended that through data analysis and mining of TCM cases (expert experience) and population evidence (RCT and cohort studies), core prescriptions for various efficacy can be obtained. Starting from a multidimensional model of regulating immunity, improving inflammation, and protecting multiple organs, this paper constructs a multidimensional model of targeted drug discovery, integrating molecular, cellular, and animal efficacy evaluation. Through functional activity testing, biophysical detection of compound binding to target proteins, multidimensional pharmacodynamic evaluation systems of cells (Vero E6, Vero, Vero81, Huh7, and caca2) and animals (mice infected with the new coronavirus, rhesus macaques, and hamsters), the effectiveness of effective preparations was evaluated, and various efficacy effects including lung moisturizing, dehumidification and detoxification were obtained. Using modern technology, it is now possible to understand how the immune system is controlled, how inflammation is reduced, and how various organs are protected. Complete early drug characterization and finally obtain effective targeted TCM. This article provides a demonstration resource for the development of new drugs specifically for TCM.

Basis and Design of a Randomized Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Effect of Jinlida Granules on Metabolic Syndrome in Patients With Abnormal Glucose Metabolism.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a powerful risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Although lifestyle intervention reduces several of the symptoms of the syndrome and cardiovascular risks, the lifestyle intervention that yields the benefits is restrictive. Jinlida is a Chinese patent medicine that has shown activity in type 2 diabetes, which has been approved in China. Preclinical studies in Jinlida granules support an improved role of abnormal glucose and lipids metabolism as well as reducing weight. Here, we describe the protocol of an ongoing clinical trial investigating a new therapy for metabolic syndrome in patients with abnormal glucose metabolism. Methods: This study will enroll 880 subjects (aged 18-70 years) who have metabolic syndromes with abnormal glucose metabolism. All the participants in a double-blind, parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, will receive Jinlida or placebo, orally, 9 g/time, three times daily for 2-4 years period on the basis of lifestyle intervention. The primary outcome measure (Incidence of type 2 diabetes) will be assessed during intervention cycles. Adverse events were monitored. All statistical tests will be performed using a two-sided test, and a p ≤ 0.05 (two-sided test) will be considered to be statistically significant results. Discussion: Results from this study will provide evidence on whether incorporating oral Jinlida granules treatment into lifestyle intervention can delay or inhibit the development of diabetes mellitus in metabolic syndrome subjects with abnormal glucose metabolism. Clinical trial registration: Registered at http://www.chictr.org.cn/enIndex.aspx. Trial registration number: ChiCTR1900023241.

The interaction between the gut Microbiota and herbal medicines.

As technologies used to study the gut microbiota have improved, the relationship between the gut microbiota and health has become increasingly obvious. Herbal medicines have been used for thousands of years, and are known to be "simple, convenient, cheap, and effective". However, due to many factors, such as their complex composition, unclear active compounds, and poor knowledge of their underlying mechanisms, the clinical applications of herbal medicines are not widely recognized. Recently, there have been an increasing number of studies which have investigated the interaction between the gut microbiota and herbal medicines. We have found that interactions between the gut microbiota and herbal medicines occur primarily through two pathways. One pathway is that the gut microbiota "digests" the herbal medicines into absorbable active small molecules, which enter the body and induce physiological changes. The other is that herbal medicines regulate the composition of the gut microbiota and its secretions, thereby changed gut microbiota and its secretions inducing physiological changes. In summary, the interactions between the gut microbiota and herbal medicines can be attributed to absorbable active small molecules and changed gut microbiota and its secretions. Our findings will aid the exploration of the mechanisms and pathways underlying the function of herbal medicines in the future. This review also summarizes the direction of future research and the main problems faced by the current researchers.

[Systemic review of Jintiange Capsules in treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis].

To systemically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Jintiange Capsules in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis(PMOP).Seven literature databases were retrieved systematically,and two reviewers independently searched and screened studies,extracted data,and included all the randomized controlled trials on Jintiange Capsules in the treatment of PMOP.Interventions included comparison of Jintiange Capsules with placebo and routine treatment,and the studies on Jintiange Capsules combined with routine treatment versus conventional treatment were also included.The evaluation indicators of the study included at least one of the followings:fracture,quality of life,daily living ability,clinical symptoms,death,adverse events/adverse reactions,bone density,and bone metabolism indexes.The original study quality evaluation was conducted by following the Cochrane Handbook standard and statistical analysis was performed by using Rev Man 5.2.A total of 7 randomized controlled trials were included and the study quality was low.Meta-analysis showed that as compared with conventional treatment alone,Jintiange Capsules combined with conventional treatment showed more obvious effects in pain relief(MD=-0.98,95% CI[-1.55,-0.41],P=0.000 8),increasing blood calcium levels(MD=0.05,95% CI[0.02,0.09],P=0.003) and lowering serum alkaline phosphatase levels(MD=-12.92,95% CI[-24.09,-1.75],P=0.02).In addition,the Chinese patent medicine alone or in combination with conventional treatment was relatively safe.In conclusion,Jintiange Capsules has a certain effect in treating PMOP,but the quality of evidence is low.It is necessary to conduct well designed randomized controlled trials and select recognized evaluation indicators,especially the end outcomes in order to further improve the clinical evidence.

Effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine Jinlida granules as an add-on therapy for type 2 diabetes: A system review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Jinlida granules are a commonly prescribed oral medication in China used in combination with antidiabetic drugs to lower blood glucose. The aim of this study was to systematically identify and pool the findings of randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness and safety of Jinlida granules as add-on therapy for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS: The China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wang Fang, PubMed, China biology medicine (CBM), and VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals (VIP) databases were searched for papers regarding the effects of Jinlida granules in T2D published before 1 July 2018. A pooled analysis of extracted data was performed using random-effects models. RESULTS: In all, data were retrieved for 15 studies including 1810 individuals. Decreases in HbA1c were greater in groups receiving Jinlida granules as add-on therapy compared with control groups (n = 1820; mean difference - 0.66; 95% confidence interval - 0.72, -0.60; P < 0.00001; I2 = 38%). In addition, Jinlida granules reduced body mass index and had beneficial effects on homeostatic model assessment of ß-cell function and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. No obvious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this meta-analysis demonstrate additional benefits of Jinlida granules as an add-on therapy for T2D and that Jinlida granules are generally safe. Treatment with Jinlida granules provided clinically and statistically significant reductions in fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour post-load glucose, and HbA1c levels in patients with T2D. However, the findings should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size and study limitations.

Dietary licorice root supplementation reduces diet-induced weight gain, lipid deposition, and hepatic steatosis in ovariectomized mice without stimulating reproductive tissues and mammary gland.

SCOPE: We studied the impact of dietary supplementation with licorice root components on diet-induced obesity, fat accumulation, and hepatic steatosis in ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice as a menopause model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the molecular and physiological effects of dietary licorice root administered to ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice as root powder (LRP), extracts (LRE), or isolated isoliquiritigenin (ILQ) on reproductive (uterus and mammary gland) and nonreproductive tissues important in regulating metabolism (liver, perigonadal, perirenal, mesenteric, and subcutaneous fat). Quantitative outcome measures including body weight, fat distribution (magnetic resonance imaging), food consumption, bone density and weight (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), and gene expression were assessed by the degree of restoration to the preovariectomized health state. We characterized histological (H&E and oil red O staining) and molecular properties (expression of certain disease markers) of these tissues, and correlated these with metabolic phenotype as well as blood levels of bioactives. CONCLUSION: Although LRE and ILQ provided some benefit, LRP was the most effective in reducing body weight gain, overall fat deposition, liver steatosis, and expression of hepatic lipid synthesis genes following ovariectomy. Our data demonstrate that licorice root provided improvement of multiple metabolic parameters under conditions of low estrogen and high-fat diets without stimulating reproductive tissues.