Effects of extraction methods on the physicochemical properties and functionalities of pectic polysaccharides from burdock (Arctium lappa L.).

In this work, the effects of four different extraction methods, acid (HCl), alkali (NaOH), enzymes (cellulase/pectinase), and buffer (pH 7.0) on the physicochemical properties and functionalities of burdock pectin were systematically investigated and compared. Buffer extraction gave a low yield (2.8 %) and is therefore limited in its application. The acid treatment hydrolyzed the neutral sidechains and gave a homogalacturonan content of 72.6 %. By contrast, alkali and enzymes preserved the sidechains while degrading the polygalacturonan backbone, creating a rhamnogalacturonan-I dominant structure. The branched structure, low molecular weight, and high degree of methylation (42.3 %) contributed to the interfacial adsorption, emulsifying capacity, and cellular antioxidant activity of the enzyme-extracted product. For the acid-extracted product, the strong intramolecular electrostatic repulsion restricted the formation of a contact interface to prevent coalescence of the emulsion. In addition, they did not have sufficient reducing ends to scavenge free radicals. Although a high branching size (5.0) was adopted, the low degree of methylation (19.5 %) affected the emulsifying capacity of the alkali-extracted products. These results provide useful information for pectic polysaccharides production with tailored properties.

Oxidative stress, the blood-brain barrier and neurodegenerative diseases: The critical beneficial role of dietary antioxidants.

In recent years, growing awareness of the role of oxidative stress in brain health has prompted antioxidants, especially dietary antioxidants, to receive growing attention as possible treatments strategies for patients with neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). The most widely studied dietary antioxidants include active substances such as vitamins, carotenoids, flavonoids and polyphenols. Dietary antioxidants are found in usually consumed foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and oils and are gaining popularity due to recently growing awareness of their potential for preventive and protective agents against NDs, as well as their abundant natural sources, generally non-toxic nature, and ease of long-term consumption. This review article examines the role of oxidative stress in the development of NDs, explores the 'two-sidedness' of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) as a protective barrier to the nervous system and an impeding barrier to the use of antioxidants as drug medicinal products and/or dietary antioxidants supplements for prevention and therapy and reviews the BBB permeability of common dietary antioxidant suplements and their potential efficacy in the prevention and treatment of NDs. Finally, current challenges and future directions for the prevention and treatment of NDs using dietary antioxidants are discussed, and useful information on the prevention and treatment of NDs is provided.

Serum metabolomics analysis of biomarkers and metabolic pathways in patients with colorectal cancer associated with spleen-deficiency and qi-stagnation syndrome or damp-heat syndrome: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: To profile the serum metabolites and metabolic pathways in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients associated with spleen-deficiency and qi-stagnation syndrome (SDQSS) or damp-heat syndrome (DHS). Methods: From May 2020 to January 2021, CRC patients diagnosed with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes of SDQSS or DHS were enrolled. The clinicopathological data of the SDQSS and DHS groups were compared. The serum samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The variable importance in the projection >1, fold change ≥3 or ≤0.333, and P value ≤0.05 were used to identify differential metabolites between the two groups. Furthermore, areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve > 0.9 were applied to select biomarkers with good predictive performance. The enrichment metabolic pathways were searched through the database of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. Results: 60 CRC patients were included (30 SDQSS and 30 DHS). The level of alanine aminotransferase was marginally significantly higher in the DHS group than the SDQSS group (P = 0.051). The other baseline clinicopathological characteristics were all comparable between the two groups. 23 differential serum metabolites were identified, among which 16 were significantly up-regulated and 7 were significantly down-regulated in the SDQSS group compared with the DHS group. ROC curve analysis showed that (S)-3-methyl-2-oxopentanoic acid, neocembrene, 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid, 3-methyl-3-hydroxypentanedioate, and nicotine were symbolic differential metabolites with higher predictive power. The top five enrichment signalling pathways were valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis; lysosome; nicotine addiction; fructose and mannose metabolism; and pertussis. Conclusion: Our study identifies the differential metabolites and characteristic metabolic pathways among CRC patients with SDQSS or DHS, offering the possibility of accurate and objective syndrome differentiation and TCM treatment for CRC patients.

Ethanolic extract of root from Arctium lappa L ameliorates obesity and hepatic steatosis in rats by regulating the AMPK/ACC/CPT-1 pathway.

Burdock (Arctium lappa L) root is eaten as a vegetable in many countries and used as an ethnomedicine because of its various pharmacological effects. The objective of this study was to investigate the underlying mechanisms of ethanolic extract of root from Arctium lappa L root (ALE) to lose weight and regulate lipid metabolism. The results showed that ALE can regulate lipid metabolism level and inhibit the weight gain of rats induced by the high-sugar and high-fat diet. The contents of triglyceride and cholesterol in the liver of obese rats significantly reduced, and hepatic steatosis was ameliorated. In addition, this study identified that ALE enhanced hepatic fatty acid ß-oxidation and ameliorated hepatic steatosis by activating AMPK/ACC/CPT-1 pathway. These results indicated that ALE has a potential preventive and therapeutic effect on metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and obesity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Obesity is already a global health problem. Obesity causes accumulation of triglycerides, which leads to hepatic steatosis. Long-term steatosis causes liver damage and metabolic fatty liver disease. Plant-derived functional foods or herbal medicines have better effects on weight loss and liver protection, which are more conducive to long-term use with less toxic side effects. As a medicinal and edible plant material, Arctium lappa L root has the effect in losing weight. Our study showed that ethanolic extract of Arctium lappa L root effectively regulates lipid metabolism and inhibits hepatic steatosis. Arctium lappa L root may be used as a therapeutic drug and functional food raw material for obesity and fatty liver disease.

Comparison of Different Drying Methods for Asparagus [Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr.] Root Volatile Compounds as Revealed Using Gas Chromatography Ion Mobility Spectrometry.

Asparagus [Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr.] is a traditional herbal medicine plant commonly used to nourish yin, moisten dryness, and clear fire cough symptoms. Drying is an excellent option to conserve food materials, i.e., grains, fruits, vegetables, and herbs, reducing the raw materials volume and weight. This study aims to evaluate different drying approaches that could increase the value of asparagus, particularly as an ingredient in fast foods or as nutraceutical byproducts. The volatile components of asparagus roots were analyzed by using headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectroscopy under different drying conditions, i.e., natural drying (ND) at ambient air temperature in the dark, well-ventilated room, temperature range 28-32°C, blast or oven drying at 50°C, heat pump or hot-air drying at temperature 50°C and air velocity at 1.5 ms-1 and vacuum freeze-drying at the temperature of -45°C and vacuum pressure of 10-30 Pa for 24 h. The findings revealed that the various drying processes had multiple effects on the color, odor index, and volatile compounds of the asparagus roots. As a result of the investigations, multiple characteristics of components, therefore, exploitation and comparison of various flavors; a total of 22 compounds were identified, such as alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, acids, esters, heterocyclic, and terpene. The present findings may help understand the flavor of the processed asparagus roots and find a better option for drying and processing.

Glutamine relieves the hypermetabolic response and reduces organ damage in severe burn patients: A multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Severe burns can cause a hypermetabolic response and organ damage. Glutamine is a conditionally essential amino acid with various pharmacological effects. In this study, whether glutamine could alleviate the hypermetabolic response and maintain organ function after burn injury was analyzed. METHODS: A multicenter, randomized, single-blind, parallel controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of glutamine in decreasing hypermetabolism after burn injury. Physiological and biochemical indexes, such as vital signs, metabolic hormones, metabolic rate, and organ damage, were recorded on the 7th and 14th days after treatment. RESULTS: In total, 55 adult burn patients with a total burn surface area (TBSA) of 30-70% were included in this study and randomly divided into the burn control (B, 28 patients) and burn+glutamine (B+G, 27 patients) groups. Except for the glutamine administration, the groups did not differ in the other treatments and nutrition supplements. The levels of diamine oxidase (DAO), lactulose/mannitol (L/M), ß2-microglobulin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBD) and cardiac troponin l (cTnl) in the B+G group were significantly lower than those in the B group (p < 0.05 or 0.01). The levels of resting energy expenditure (REE), serum catecholamines, glucagon, lactate and Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) in the B+G group were significantly lower than those in the B group (p < 0.05 or 0.01). No significant difference was found in the length of hospitalization or the mortality rate between the two groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Glutamine moderately alleviates the hypermetabolic response and reduces organ damage after severe burns. Therefore, the early application of glutamine, which is effective and safe, should be used as an active intervention as early as possible.

Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of blueberry anthocyanins by AMPK activation: In vitro and in vivo studies.

Blueberries are rich in bioactive anthocyanins, with a high level of malvidin, which is associated with antioxidant benefits that contribute to reducing the risk of diabetes. The objective of this study was to investigate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of blueberry anthocyanin extract (BAE), malvidin (Mv), malvidin-3-glucoside (Mv-3-glc), and malvidin-3-galactoside (Mv-3-gal) in both human hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2 and in a high-fat diet combining streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. High glucose treatment significantly increased hepatic oxidative stress up to 6-fold and decreased HepG2 cell viability. Pretreatment with BAE, Mv, Mv-3-glc and Mlv-3-gal significantly mitigated these damages by lowering the reactive oxygen species (ROS) by 87, 80, 76, and 91%, and increasing cell viability by 88, 79, 73, and 98%, respectively. These pretreatments also effectively inhibited hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, respectively by reducing the expression levels of enzymes participating in gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis and enhancing those involved in glycogenolysis and lipolysis, via adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway in HepG2 cells. To determinate the role of AMPK in BAE-induced reaction of glucose and lipid metabolism in vivo, doses of 100 mg/kg (blueberry anthocyanin extracts - low concentration, BAE-L) and 400 mg/kg (blueberry anthocyanin extracts - high concentration, BAE-H) were administrated per day to diabetic mice for 5 weeks. BAE treatments had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on body weight and increased the AMPK activity, achieving the decrease of blood- and urine-glucose, as well as triglyceride and total cholesterol. This research suggested that anthocyanins contributed to the blueberry extract-induced hypoglycemia and hypolipidemia effects in diabetes and BAE could be a promising functional food or medicine for diabetes treatment.

Metal-Protein Nanoparticles Facilitate Anti-VSV and H1N1 Viruses Through the Coordinative Actions on Innate Immune Responses and METTL14.

Host defense systems can invade viral infection through immune responses and cellular metabolism. Recently, many studies have shown that cellular metabolism can be reprogrammed through N6 -methyladenosine (m6 A) modifications during viral infection. Among of them, methyltransferase like-14 enzyme (METTL14) plays an important role in m6 A RNA modification, yet its antiviral function still remains unclear. In this work, it is uncovered that metal-protein nanoparticles designated GSTP1-MT3(Fe2+ ) (MPNP) can polarize macrophages toward the M1 phenotype and activate immune responses to induce Interferon-beta (IFN-ß) production in vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-infected macrophages. Further investigation elucidates that a high dose of IFN-ß can promote the expression of METTL14, which has a well anti-VSV capacity. Moreover, it is found that other negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses, such as influenza viruses (H1N1(WSN)), can also be inhibited through either immune responses or METTL14. Collectively, these findings provide insights into the antiviral function of METTL14 and suggest that the manipulation of METTL14 may be a potential strategy to intervene with other negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses infections.

High-dose omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation might be more superior than low-dose for major depressive disorder in early therapy period: a network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The application of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (n-3 PUFAs) supplementation for major depressive disorder (MDD) has been widely discussed in recent years, but its efficacy and application are still controversial. This network meta-analysis was conducted to compare the efficacy of different dosages of n-3 PUFAs on MDD patients in the early period of treatment. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) exploring the efficacy of n-3 PUFA supplementation for patients with MDD were retrieved from the databases of Pubmed, Embase and the Cochrane Library. RCTs comparing the efficacy of n-3 PUFA for adult (≥18 years) MDD patients without comorbidity were eligible for our study. The score of depressive symptoms in early therapy period of the treatment (≤9 weeks) was extracted. Standardized mean deviations (SMDs) of all the sores from the eligible RCTs were synthesized in a pairwise meta-analysis in frequentist framework and a random-effects network meta-analysis in Bayesian framework for the overall and subgroups (high- and low-dose) efficacy of n-3 PUFAs. RESULTS: A total of 910 MDD patients in 10 trials with 3 adjuvant therapy strategies (high-dose n-3 PUFAs, low-dose n-3 PUFAs and placebo) were included. Results of pairwise meta-analysis showed that n-3 PUFAs were superior to placebo (SMD: 1.243 ± 0.596; 95% CI: 0.060 ~ 2.414). Results of the network meta-analysis showed that both the high (SMD: 0.908 ± 0.331; 95% CI: 0.262 ~ 1.581) and the low-dose (SMD: 0.601 ± 0.286; 95% CI: 0.034 ~ 1.18) n-3 PUFAs were superior to placebo, and the efficacy of high-dose n-3 PUFAs is superior to that of low-dose. CONCLUSIONS: High-dose n-3 PUFAs supplementation might be more superior than low-dose in the early therapy period for MDD. More head-to-head clinical trials need to be carried out to provide more direct comparison and enhance the evidence of the efficacy of n-3PUFAs for MDD.

Nanocopper-loaded Black phosphorus nanocomposites for efficient synergistic antibacterial application.

Novel nanocopper-loaded black phosphorus (BP/Cu) nanocomposites were synthesized to synergistically exert enhanced antibacterial activities aimed at reducing antibiotics abuse. First, both BP and Cu display low biotoxicity, broadening their application in the microbiological field. Second, the unique electronic properties of BP enable BP/Cu nanocomposites to amplify antibacterial effects via interfacial charge transfer, resulting in a surge of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Third, BP/Cu nanocomposites are relatively stable, which helps to avoid the problem that nanocopper alone is highly oxidized. Finally, BP/Cu was synthesized in an environmentally-friendly manner by a one-step reduction method. The BP/Cu nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Their antibacterial properties were investigated comprehensively and discussed in detail by inhibition zone assays, dynamic growth curves, membrane potential assays, and live/dead baclight bacterial viability assays, all of which revealed the antimicrobial activities of BP/Cu nanocomposites. Absorption spectra were measured to determine which ROS species were responsible for the bactericidal mechanisms. In summary, our results demonstrated the potential of nanocomposites based on BP in antibacterial therapy due to its excellent electronic properties and outstanding biological performance. This will pave the way for avoiding antibiotic overuse and for providing security to humans and the environment.

Sesquiterpenoids from Artemisia vestita and Their Antifeedant and Antifungal Activities.

Four new sesquiterpenoids, named artemivestinolide D-G (1-4) and three known sesquiterpenoids (5-7), were isolated from Artemisia vestita. The structures of these new compounds were determined based on extensive spectroscopic data analyses. Furthermore, the electronic circular dichroism data determined the absolute configurations of the new compounds. The antifeedant and antifungal activities of the isolates were evaluated against third-instar larvae of Plutella xylostella and three plant pathogenic fungi. Compounds 1-7 showed moderate antifeedant activities and compounds 1-4 and 6-7 exhibited antifungal activities.

Polyphenols and Alkaloids in Byproducts of Longan Fruits (Dimocarpus Longan Lour.) and Their Bioactivities.

The longan industry produces a large amount of byproducts such as pericarp and seed, resulting in environmental pollution and resource wastage. The present study was performed to systematically evaluate functional components, i.e., polyphenols (phenolics and flavonoids) and alkaloids, in longan byproducts and their bioactivities, including antioxidant activities, nitrite scavenging activities in simulated gastric fluid and anti-hyperglycemic activities in vitro. Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents in pericarp were slightly higher than those in seeds, but seeds possessed higher alkaloid content than pericarp. Four polyphenolic substances, i.e., gallic acid, ethyl gallate, corilagin and ellagic acid, were identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography. Among these polyphenolic components, corilagin was the major one in both pericarp and seed. Alkaloid extract in seed showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity and oxygen radical absorbance capacity. Nitrite scavenging activities were improved with extract concentration and reaction time increasing. Flavonoids in seed and alkaloids in pericarp had potential to be developed as anti-hyperglycemic agents. The research result was a good reference for exploring longan byproducts into various valuable health-care products.

Research progress and new ideas in circadian gene Bmal1 and oncotherapy / 中国肿瘤临床

Circadian rhythm plays a role in regulating life activities and contributes to periodicity, orderliness, and synergy in organ-isms . The Bmal1 gene is one of the core components of the circadian rhythm system; the level of Bmal1 expression differs between tu-mor and normal tissues. Studies have shown that Bmal1 plays different roles in different tumors. Therefore, understanding the role of Bmal1 in different tumorigenesis could provide a new theoretical basis for early detection or effective treatment of tumors. In recent years, with the in-depth studies on time-based approaches, chrono-chemotherapy, which combines pharmacokinetics and biotic rhythm, has become one of the important methods of tumor treatment. Radiotherapy at different times can lead to differences in ra-diosensitivity, which makes chrono-radiotherapy increasingly prominent in tumor treatment. In-depth studies on circadian rhythm in cancer biology could provide new perspectives for tumor treatment.

Real experience of perioperative period in patients with gynecomastia / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To understand the real experience of male patients with gynecomastia before and after breast endoscopic surgery,and to provide evidence for the development of perioperative nursing strategies.Methods A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to conduct in-depth interviews with 14 male patients undergoing endoscopic mastectomy.Results Fourteen male patients with gynecomastia were interviewed during the course of treatment and during the perioperative period of endoscopic surgery.Four themes were summarized:(1) self-image disorder (inferiority complex,sensitive psychology,dissatisfaction with body shape);(2) anxiety and confusion about the disease before surgery;(3) desire to obtain professional knowledge from medical staff.(4) cognitive differences in the treatment of breast endoscopic surgery (repeated worries about the disease,improvement of health-related cognitive ability).Conclusions Gynecomastia patients with low self-esteem,sensitive psychological status and lack of knowledge of breast endoscopic surgery may lead to anxiety,depression and other psychological problems,seriously affecting their physical health.In order to provide theoretical basis for the nursing of gynecomastia patients under endoscopy,the holistic rehabilitation of heart should update nursing strategy and improve the service mode.

Oleanane-Type Saponins from the Roots of Ligulariopsis shichuana and Their α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities.

Five new oleanane-type saponins, named ligushicosides A-E, and three known oleanane-type saponins were isolated from the roots of Ligulariopsis shichuana. Their structures were established by a combination of spectroscopic techniques, including 1D and 2D NMR and high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (HR-ESI-MS). Furthermore, all isolates were evaluated for their yeast α-glucosidase inhibitory effects and exhibited potent inhibition against α-glucosidase, while compounds 1 and 2 showed excellent inhibitory activities. The 3-O-glycoside moiety in oleanane-type saponin is important for the α-glucosidase inhibitory effects.

COE inhibits vasculogenic mimicry in hepatocellular carcinoma via suppressing Notch1 signaling.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) has been suggested to be present in various malignant tumors and associated with tumor nutrition supply and metastasis, leading to poor prognosis of patients. Notch1 has been demonstrated to contribute to VM formation in hepathocellular carcinoma (HCC). Celastrus orbiculatus extract (COE), a mixture of 11 terpenoids isolated from the Chinese Herb Celastrus orbiculatus Vine, has been suggested to be effective in cancer treatment. AIM OF THE STUDY: In the current study, experiments were carried out to examine the effect of COE on VM formation and HCC tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CCK-8 assay and Nikon live-work station were used to observe the viability of malignant cells treated with COE. Cell invasion was examined using Transwell. Matrigel was used to establish a 3-D culture condition for VM formation. Changes of mRNA and protein expression were examined by RT-PCR and Western Blot respectively. Tumor growth in vivo was monitored using in vivo fluorescence imaging device. PAS-CD34 dual staining and electron microscopy were used to observe VM formation. Immunohistochemical staining (IHC) was used to examine Notch1 and Hes1 expression in tumor tissues. RESULTS: Results showed that COE can inhibit HCC cells proliferation and invasion in a concentration-dependent manner. VM formation induced by TGF-ß1 was blocked by COE. In mouse xenograft model, COE inhibited tumor growth and VM formation. Both in vitro and in vivo studies showed that COE can downregulate expression of Notch1 and Hes1. CONCLUSION: The current results indicate that COE can inhibit VM formation and HCC tumor growth by downregulating Notch1 signaling. This study demonstrates that COE is superior to other anti-angiogenesis agents and can be considered as a promising candidate in HCC treatment.

Dai-Huang-Fu-Zi-Tang alleviates pulmonary and intestinal injury with severe acute pancreatitis via regulating aquaporins in rats.

BACKGROUND: Dai-Huang-Fu-Zi-Tang (DHFZT) is a famous traditional Chinese prescription with intestinal obstruction, acute pancreatitis and cholecystalgia for thousands of years. Our previous work found that DHFZT could act against pulmonary and intestinal pathological injury in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). But the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. The aim of present study was to investigate whether DHFZT could relieve pulmonary and intestinal injury by regulating aquaporins after SAP induced by sodium taurocholate in rats. METHODS: Forty of SD rats were used for dose dependant experiments of DHFZT.Accurate-mass Time-of-flight liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for qualitative screening of chemical compositions of DHFZT. Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham group (n = 8), model group (SAP, n = 8), DHFZT group (SAP with DHFZT treatment, n = 8). SAP models were established by retrograde injections of 5% sodium taurocholate solutions into rat pancreaticobiliary ducts. Blood samples were taken at 0, 12, 24, 48 h post-operation for detecting serum amylase, lipase, endotoxin, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10. Protein expression and location of aquaporin (AQP)1, 5, 8 and 9 were assessed by immunohistochemistry, western blot and immunofluorescence respectively. RESULTS: The study showed that 27 kinds of chemical composition were identified, including 10 kinds in positive ion mode and 17 kinds in negative ion mode. The results showed that AQP1, AQP5 of lung, and AQP1, AQP5, AQP8 of intestine in model group were significantly lower than that of sham group (P < 0.05), and which were obviously reversed by treatment with DHFZT. In addition, protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6 and endotoxin in peripheral blood were significantly suppressed by DHFZT, and that anti-inflammatory cytokine like IL-10 was just opposite. Finally, we also noted that DHFZT reduced serum levels of amylase, lipase and endotoxin, and also improved edema and pathological scores of lung and intestine after SAP. CONCLUSIONS: DHFZT ameliorated the pulmonary and intestinal edema and injury induced by SAP via the upregulation of different AQPs in lung and intestine, and suppressed TNF-α, IL-6 expression and enhanced IL-10 expression.

Biosynthesis-Based Quantitative Analysis of 151 Secondary Metabolites of Licorice To Differentiate Medicinal Glycyrrhiza Species and Their Hybrids.

Secondary metabolites are usually the bioactive components of medicinal plants. The difference in the secondary metabolisms of closely related plant species and their hybrids has rarely been addressed. In this study, we conducted a holistic secondary metabolomics analysis of three medicinal Glycyrrhiza species (G. uralensis, G. glabra, and G. inflata), which are used as the popular herbal medicine licorice. The Glycyrrhiza species (genotype) for 95 batches of samples were identified by DNA barcodes of the internal transcribed spacer and trnV-ndhC regions, and the chemotypes were revealed by LC/UV- or LC/MS/MS-based quantitative analysis of 151 bioactive secondary metabolites, including 17 flavonoid glycosides, 24 saponins, and 110 free phenolic compounds. These compounds represented key products in the biosynthetic pathways of licorice. For the 76 homozygous samples, the three Glycyrrhiza species showed significant biosynthetic preferences, especially in coumarins, chalcones, isoflavanes, and flavonols. In total, 27 species-specific chemical markers were discovered. The 19 hybrid samples indicated that hybridization could remarkably alter the chemical composition and that the male parent contributed more to the offspring than the female parent did. This is hitherto the largest-scale targeted secondary metabolomics study of medicinal plants and the first report on uniparental inheritance in plant secondary metabolism. The results are valuable for biosynthesis, inheritance, and quality control studies of licorice and other medicinal plants.

Comparison of biomechanical effect between oblique Ban-pulling manipulation and lumbar erection-rotation manipulation in sitting position for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To compare the biomechanical effects between oblique Ban-pulling manipulation and lumbar erection-rotation manipulation in sitting position in treating lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LIDH). Methods:A three-dimensional finite element model of L3-S1 was developed to carry out a comparative study between oblique Ban-pulling manipulation and lumbar erection and rotation manipulation in sitting position. The disc protrusion was assumed to be on the rear left of L4 disc, and the manipulations were performed on the right side. The loading process was simulated by two steps. In the first step, only the compression loading was imposed, and in the second step, both the compression loading and axial rotation moment were imposed. The displacement and stress distribution in L4 disc were investigated. Results:The values of stress and displacement in the second step were lower than those in the first step in each manipulation. The stress and displacement differences between the two steps were respectively 1.79 times and 3.03 times larger in oblique Ban-pulling manipulation than those in lumbar erection-rotation manipulation in sitting position. Conclusion: Oblique Ban-pulling manipulation may result in a better biomechanical effect than lumbar erection-rotation manipulation in sitting position for LIDH.

Comparison of biomechanical effect between oblique Ban-pulling manipulation and lumbar erection-rotation manipulation in sitting position for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To compare the biomechanical effects between oblique Ban-pulling manipulation and lumbar erection-rotation manipulation in sitting position in treating lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LIDH). Methods:A three-dimensional finite element model of L3-S1 was developed to carry out a comparative study between oblique Ban-pulling manipulation and lumbar erection and rotation manipulation in sitting position. The disc protrusion was assumed to be on the rear left of L4 disc, and the manipulations were performed on the right side. The loading process was simulated by two steps. In the first step, only the compression loading was imposed, and in the second step, both the compression loading and axial rotation moment were imposed. The displacement and stress distribution in L4 disc were investigated. Results:The values of stress and displacement in the second step were lower than those in the first step in each manipulation. The stress and displacement differences between the two steps were respectively 1.79 times and 3.03 times larger in oblique Ban-pulling manipulation than those in lumbar erection-rotation manipulation in sitting position. Conclusion: Oblique Ban-pulling manipulation may result in a better biomechanical effect than lumbar erection-rotation manipulation in sitting position for LIDH.