Uncovering the mechanism of Maxing Ganshi Decoction on asthma from a systematic perspective: A network pharmacology study.

Maxing Ganshi Decoction (MXGSD) is used widely for asthma over thousands of years, but its underlying pharmacological mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, systematic and comprehensive network pharmacology was utilized for the first time to reveal the potential pharmacological mechanisms of MXGSD on asthma. Specifically, we collected 141 bioactive components from the 600 components in MXGSD, which shared 52 targets common to asthma-related ones. In-depth network analysis of these 52 common targets indicated that asthma might be a manifestation of systemic neuro-immuno-inflammatory dysfunction in the respiratory system, and MXGSD could treat asthma through relieving airway inflammation, improving airway remodeling, and increasing drug responsiveness. After further cluster and enrichment analysis of the protein-protein interaction network of MXGSD bioactive component targets and asthma-related targets, we found that the neurotrophin signaling pathway, estrogen signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and ErbB signaling pathway might serve as the key points and principal pathways of MXGSD gene therapy for asthma from a systemic and holistic perspective, and also provides a novel idea for the development of new drugs for asthma.

Analysis of Dietary Related Factors of Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis among College Students.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the occurrence of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) among college students and its potential influence by dietary habits. METHODS: Study of dietary habits and RAS among students in Beijing University of Chinese Medicine was carried by homemade questionnaire. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify RAS risk factors and explore their relations. RESULTS: Among 1011 investigated college students, family history (odds ratio (OR) 1.678, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.192 to 2.364, p < 0.05), bed late (OR 1.515, 95% CI 1.005 to 2.285, p < 0.05), frequent thirst (OR 1.842, 95% CI 1.393 to 2.435, p < 0.001), and frequent drinking carbonated beverages (OR 1.369, 95% CI 1.029 to 1.821, p < 0.05) were independent risk factors for RAS, but preference for nuts (OR 0.607, 95% CI 0.448 to 0.824, p < 0.001) was a protective factor. There was no statistical difference in fruit intake between RAS and non-RAS groups (χ2 = 5.249, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Among college students, frequent drinking carbonated beverages or frequent thirst will increase its possibility, whereas preference for nuts provides protection. In addition, fruit intake does not have a positive effect.

Lepidium meyenii Walp Exhibits Anti-Inflammatory Activity against ConA-Induced Acute Hepatitis.

Strong inflammation is a prominent pathogenesis of acute hepatitis, which can induce hepatocyte death and lead to liver failure. Lepidium meyenii Walp (Maca) is a traditional herbal medicine mostly used in improving sperm motility and serum hormone levels, etc. However, there are no reports that showed Maca was designed for treating hepatitis so far. Therefore, the protective effects and pharmacological mechanisms of Maca are unknown in hepatitis. In this study, we found that the protective effects of Maca extract ameliorate ConA-induced acute hepatitis (CIH) and underlying mechanisms. We determined that pretreatment with Maca extract significantly suppressed the production of aminotransferases and inflammatory cytokines, including IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, and IL-17a, and moderated acute liver injury in CIH. Maca recruited more myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) to the liver and suppressed infiltration of natural killer T cells (NKT cells) and macrophages in the liver. Furthermore, our data indicated the molecular mechanism of the inhibitory inflammatory effects of Maca, which should suppress the activation of NF-κB, IFN-γ/STAT1, and IL-6/STAT3 signalings. Collectively, this present research explores Maca as an effective hepatoprotective medicine to inhibit inflammation and liver injury caused by acute hepatitis.

Blood flow differences in cun-kou (radial) artery and anterior tibial artery: normal people vs patients with chronic gastritis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the blood flow differences in cun-kou (radial) artery and anterior tibial artery between normal people and patients with chronic gastritis. METHODS: Using doppler ultrasonography, blood flow charts [peak systolic velocity (VP), maximum blood flow velocity in diastole (VD), mean blood flow velocity (VM), pulse index (PI), resistance index (RI), blood vessel diameter (D), vessel volume (SV), circulation blood flow periodic time (ET)] measured by at cun-kou (radial) artery and anterior tibial artery in normal group (n = 30) and chronic gastritis group (n = 30) in department of ultrasound, Beijing Anzhen hospital, capital medical university. RESULTS: In the doppler flow charts of the normal group, there were statistically significant differences in VD, VM, D, RI, SV, ET between cun-kou artery and anterior tibial artery (P < 0.05), and there were more statistically significant differences in PI between cun-kou artery and anterior tibial artery (P < 0.01). In the comparison of doppler flow charts in the chronic gastritis group, there were statistically significant differences in VD, VM, D, RI, SV, ET between cun-kou artery and anterior tibial artery (P < 0.05), and there were more statistically significant differences in PI between cun-kou artery and anterior tibial artery (P < 0.01). In the comparison of doppler flow charts between normal group and chronic gastritis group, there were statistically significant differences in SV, ET between normal group and chronic gastritis group (P < 0.05), and there were more statistically significant differences in PI between normal group and chronic gastritis group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Based on the differences in doppler flow charts between the normal group and the chronic gastritis group, the doppler flow charts of cun-kou artery and anterior tibial artery were not only proved to be significantly different, but also provided quantitative objective indexes for the study of cun-kou artery and anterior tibial artery doppler flow charts of normal people and chronic gastritis patients. This study also proves that the doppler flow chart of the anterior tibial pulse is of great significance for the diagnosis of chronic gastritis.

Real-time imaging of apoptosis induction of human breast cancer cells by the traditional Chinese medicinal herb tubeimu.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been used for thousands of years, including treatment for cancer. Use of modern technology and the scientific method to evaluate the efficacy of TCM for cancer should enable its more widespread use. In the present study, the efficacy of the TCM tubeimu, extracted from the tuber of the plant Bolbostemma paniculatum, on the MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell line was evaluated. The MDA-MB-231 cell line was engineered to express red fluorescent protein (RFP) in the cytoplasm and green fluorescent protein (GFP) linked to histone H2B in the nucleus, which allows real-time imaging of nuclear-cytoplasmic dynamics. Apoptosis was readily visualized in these cells by nuclear shape changes and fragmentation. The MDA-MB-231 RFP-GFP cells were cultured either in two-dimensions on plastic or in three-dimensions on Gelfoam®. Cells were treated with a dichloromethane extract of fresh tubeimu. Apoptosis was further monitored by DNA fragmentation determined by gel electrophoresis. Tubeimu induced apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells, as observed by fluorescence microscopy, as early as 24 hours of treatment in vitro in two-dimensional culture. By 48 hours' treatment, DNA fragmentation could be observed. The frequency of apoptosis increased through at least 72 hours' treatment, with most of the cells being killed. Tubeimu also induced apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells in three-dimensional culture on Gelfoam®, but to a lesser extent than in 2D culture. The results of the present study indicate the potential of tubeimu in breast cancer therapy.

Heavy metal and pesticide content in commonly prescribed individual raw Chinese Herbal Medicines.

Heavy metal and pesticide contamination has previously been reported in Chinese Herbal Medicines (CHMs), in some cases at potentially toxic levels. This study was conducted to determine general patterns and toxicological significance of heavy metal and pesticide contamination in a broad sample of raw CHMs. Three-hundred-thirty-four samples representing 126 species of CHMs were collected throughout China and examined for arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury. Of the total, 294 samples representing 112 species were also tested for 162 pesticides. At least 1 metal was detected in all 334 samples (100%) and 115 samples (34%) had detectable levels of all metals. Forty-two different pesticides were detected in 108 samples (36.7%), with 1 to 9 pesticides per sample. Contaminant levels were compared to toxicological reference values in the context of different exposure scenarios. According to a likely scenario of CHM consumption, only 3 samples (1%) with heavy metals and 14 samples (5%) with pesticides were found with concentrations that could contribute to elevated background levels of contaminant exposure. According to the most conservative scenario of CHM consumption, 231 samples (69%) with heavy metals and 81 samples (28%) with pesticides had contaminants that could contribute to elevated levels of exposure. Wild collected plants had higher contaminant levels than cultivated samples. Cadmium, chromium, lead, and chlorpyrifos contamination showed weak correlations with geographic location. Based on our assumptions of the likely mode of consumption of raw CHMs, the vast majority (95%) of the 334 samples in this study contained levels of heavy metals or pesticides that would be of negligible concern. However, given the number of samples with detectable contaminants and the range between the more likely and more conservative scenarios of contaminant exposure, more research and monitoring of heavy metals (especially cadmium and chromium) and pesticide residues (especially chlorpyrifos) in raw CHMs are advised.

Traditional Medicine Collection Tracking System (TM-CTS): a database for ethnobotanically driven drug-discovery programs.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ethnobotanically driven drug-discovery programs include data related to many aspects of the preparation of botanical medicines, from initial plant collection to chemical extraction and fractionation. The Traditional Medicine Collection Tracking System (TM-CTS) was created to organize and store data of this type for an international collaborative project involving the systematic evaluation of commonly used Traditional Chinese Medicinal plants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The system was developed using domain-driven design techniques, and is implemented using Java, Hibernate, PostgreSQL, Business Intelligence and Reporting Tools (BIRT), and Apache Tomcat. RESULTS: The TM-CTS relational database schema contains over 70 data types, comprising over 500 data fields. The system incorporates a number of unique features that are useful in the context of ethnobotanical projects such as support for information about botanical collection, method of processing, quality tests for plants with existing pharmacopoeia standards, chemical extraction and fractionation, and historical uses of the plants. The database also accommodates data provided in multiple languages and integration with a database system built to support high throughput screening based drug discovery efforts. It is accessed via a web-based application that provides extensive, multi-format reporting capabilities. CONCLUSIONS: This new database system was designed to support a project evaluating the bioactivity of Chinese medicinal plants. The software used to create the database is open source, freely available, and could potentially be applied to other ethnobotanically driven natural product collection and drug-discovery programs.

Developing a library of authenticated Traditional Chinese Medicinal (TCM) plants for systematic biological evaluation--rationale, methods and preliminary results from a Sino-American collaboration.

While the popularity of and expenditures for herbal therapies (aka "ethnomedicines") have increased globally in recent years, their efficacy, safety, mechanisms of action, potential as novel therapeutic agents, cost-effectiveness, or lack thereof, remain poorly defined and controversial. Moreover, published clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of herbal therapies have rightfully been criticized, post hoc, for their lack of quality assurance and reproducibility of study materials, as well as a lack of demonstration of plausible mechanisms and dosing effects. In short, clinical botanical investigations have suffered from the lack of a cohesive research strategy which draws on the expertise of all relevant specialties. With this as background, US and Chinese co-investigators with expertise in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), botany, chemistry and drug discovery, have jointly established a prototype library consisting of 202 authenticated medicinal plant and fungal species that collectively represent the therapeutic content of the majority of all commonly prescribed TCM herbal prescriptions. Currently housed at Harvard University, the library consists of duplicate or triplicate kilogram quantities of each authenticated and processed species, as well as "detanninized" extracts and sub-fractions of each mother extract. Each species has been collected at 2-3 sites, each separated geographically by hundreds of miles, with precise GPS documentation, and authenticated visually and chemically prior to testing for heavy metals and/or pesticides contamination. An explicit decision process has been developed whereby samples with the least contamination were selected to undergo ethanol extraction and HPLC sub-fractionation in preparation for high throughput screening across a broad array of biological targets including cancer biology targets. As envisioned, the subfractions in this artisan collection of authenticated medicinal plants will be tested for biological activity individually and in combinations (i.e., "complex mixtures") consistent with traditional ethnomedical practice. This manuscript summarizes the rationale, methods and preliminary "proof of principle" for the establishment of this prototype, authenticated medicinal plant library. It is hoped that these methods will foster scientific discoveries with therapeutic potential and enhance efforts to systematically evaluate commonly used herbal therapies worldwide.