Trollius chinensis Bunge: A Comprehensive Review of Research on Botany, Materia Medica, Ethnopharmacological Use, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Quality Control.

Trollius chinensis Bunge, a perennial herb belonging to the Ranunculaceae family, has been extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine. Documented in the Supplements to the Compendium of Materia Medica, its medicinal properties encompass a spectrum of applications, including heat clearance, detoxification, alleviation of oral/throat sores, earaches, eye pain, cold-induced fever, and vision improvement. Furthermore, T. chinensis is used in clinical settings to treat upper respiratory infections, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, esoenteritis, canker, bronchitis, etc. It is mainly used to treat inflammation, such as inflammation of the upper respiratory tract and nasal mucosa. This comprehensive review explores the evolving scientific understanding of T. chinensis, covering facets of botany, materia medica, ethnopharmacological use, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and quality control. In particular, the chemical constituents and pharmacological research are reviewed. Polyphenols, mainly flavonoids and phenolic acids, are highly abundant among T. chinensis and are responsible for antiviral, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities. The flower additionally harbors trace amounts of volatile oil, polysaccharides, and other bioactive compounds. The active ingredients of the flower have fewer side effects, and it is used in children because of its minimal side effects, which has great research potential. These findings validate the traditional uses of T. chinensis and lay the groundwork for further scientific exploration. The sources utilized in this study encompass Web of Science, Pubmed, CNKI site, classic monographs, Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Chinese Medicine Dictionary, and doctoral and master's theses.

The complete chloroplast genome of Aegle marmelos and its phylogenetic analysis.

Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa 1800, a plant belonging to the Rutaceae family, is extensively used in Tibetan medicine. We employed Illumina HiSeq reads to assemble the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of A. marmelos, which spans 144,538 bp. The genome comprises 114 genes, including 75 protein-coding genes, 31 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. It is characterized by four regions: The large single-copy (LSC) region (74,253 bp), the inverted repeat A (IRa) region (26,015 bp), the small single-copy (SSC) region (18,255 bp), and the inverted repeat B (IRb) region (26,015 bp). Phylogenomic analysis demonstrated a close relationship between A. marmelos and Citrus. The assembly of The cp genome in this study serves as a foundation for conservation efforts and phylogenetic investigations of A. marmelos, paving the way for future experimentation.

Synthesis of CaO from waste shells for microwave-assisted catalytic pyrolysis of waste cooking oil to produce aromatic-rich bio-oil.

Energy shortage and environmental pollution have attracted long-term attention. In this study, CaO were prepared from waste eggshell (EGC), preserved egg shell (PEC), clam shell (CLC) and crab shell (CRC), which were then compared with commercial CaO (CMC) to catalyze microwave-assisted pyrolysis of waste cooking oil (WCO) for enrichment of aromatics in bio-oil. The characterization results indicated that EGC and CLC contained 95.54% and 95.61% CaO respectively, which were higher than that of CMC (95.11%), and the pore properties of EGC were the best. In addition, the effects of CaO type and catalytic mode on pyrolysis were studied. In CaO catalytic pyrolysis, CMC and CLC in-situ catalysis produced more aromatics than ex-situ catalysis, and PEC and CRC were more conducive to aromatics formation in ex-situ condition. EGC was conducive to produce benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) both in in-situ (19.04%) and ex-situ (20.76%) catalytic pyrolysis. In CaO/HZSM-5 catalysis, the optimal dual catalytic mode for generating monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs) was Mode A (CaO separated from HZSM-5 for ex-situ catalysis), and EGC/HZSM-5 performed well in benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) production.

Determinants of Household Energy Choice for Cooking in Northern Sudan: A Multinomial Logit Estimation.

Traditional biomass utilization is connected with negative environmental and human health impacts. However, its transition to cleaner cooking fuels is still low where the household's fuels preferences play an important role in the process. To examine the factors that influence the household's cooking fuel choice in Northern Sudan, a multinomial logit model (MNL) was used to analyze data collected from Kassala state in two selected districts, New Halfa and Nahr Atabara. The findings show that the most utilized fuels are still firewood and charcoal, which are used by 63.4% of all respondents. The results also revealed that socioeconomic factors have an impact on household fuel choice, where one additional unit of credit access may boost the possibility of choosing LPG by 22.7%. Furthermore, one additional level of education would reduce 5.4% of charcoal users while simultaneously raising 10% of current liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) users. Therefore, the study suggests initiating mobilization and training programs to raise awareness and encourage the usage of cleaner fuels. This study will provide policymakers with information on household cooking energy utilization while designing and developing policies related to energy. It will also contribute to the expanding body of literature concerning the transition to clean cooking fuels from traditional biomass.

Efficacy and safety of Zuogui Pill in treating osteoporosis: Study protocol of a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis (OP) is a common skeletal disorder worldwide, resulting in increased bone fragility and high risk of fractures. The Zuogui Pill (ZGP), a classic Chinese herbal formulation, has played a vital role in the clinical practice of OP in China for centuries. Increasing studies have been performed for clarifying its anti-osteoporotic mechanisms. However, this treatment still lacks a systematic review for its efficacy and safety in the treatment of OP. METHODS: Eight electronic databases will be searched from inception to November 2018 by 2 independent researchers, in order to collect qualified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the ZGP treatment for OP. The therapeutic effects according to bone mineral density (BMD) will be adopted as the primary outcomes. RevMan V.5.3 software will be used for the data synthesis and the Cochrane's risk of bias assessment tool will be used to assess the risk of bias. RESULTS: This review will conduct a high-quality synthesis on present evidence of ZGP for OP. CONCLUSION: The conclusion of the study will indicate whether ZGP is an effective treatment for OP by providing updated evidence.PROSPERO registration number: PROSPERO CRD 42018114366.

Efficacy and safety of Yinchen Sini decoction in treating biliary atresia patients after Kasai portoenterostomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

BACKGROUND: Biliary atresia (BA) is a neonatal obstructive biliary tract disease in which the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts are obstructed and can lead to congenital biliary atresia of cholestatic cirrhosis and eventually liver failure. It has been confirmed that the Kasai portoenterostomy is an effective treatment for BA. But most patients still face complications, such as cholangitis and liver fibrosis. Yinchen Sini decoction (YCSND), a traditional herbal formula, is used as a treatment for BA after Kasai portoenterostomy. And it is supported that YCSND can improve jaundice and liver fibrosis through multiple targets and pathways. Based on the published literature, this study aims to evaluate the current situation in the treatment of BA in children with YCSND. METHODS: The following databases will be searched until October 2018: PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese biomedical literature database (CBM), Wan Fang Database, Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP) and other sources such as Hand searching, Conference proceeding, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and Chinese Clinical Trials Registry. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of YCSND or related formula as a treatment for postoperative patients of Kasai portoenterostomy for BA will be collected. Data extraction and risk of bias assessments will be carried out by 2 verifiers independently. The risk of bias will be evaluated through the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Review Manager software (RevMan V.5.3.0) and STATA 15 will be used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: This study will provide a high-quality synthesis of current evidence of YCSND in treating children undergoing Kasai portoenterostomy for BA from several aspects. CONCLUSION: The conclusion of the meta-analysis will offer evidence for deciding whether YCSND is an effective measure for children undergoing Kasai portoenterostomy for BA. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Not only will this systematic review be published in a peer-reviewed journal, but it will also be propagated electronically and in print. The review will bring patients benefit and provide practitioners reference in the fields of conventional medicine. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD 42018111321.