Network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis on the mechanism of Baihe Zhimu decoction in the treatment of postpartum depression.

Baihe Zhimu decoction (BZD) has significant antidepressant properties and is widely used to treat mental diseases. However, the multitarget mechanism of BZD in postpartum depression (PPD) remains to be elucidated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the molecular mechanisms of BDZ in treating PPD using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Active components and their target proteins were screened from the traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). The PPD-related targets were obtained from the OMIM, CTD, and GeneCards databases. After overlap, the targets of BZD against PPD were collected. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and core target analyses were conducted using the STRING network platform and Cytoscape software. Moreover, molecular docking methods were used to confirm the high affinity between BZD and targets. Finally, the DAVID online tool was used to perform gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of overlapping targets. The TCMSP database showed that BZD contained 23 active ingredients in PPD. KEGG analysis showed that overlapping genes were mainly enriched in HIF-1, dopaminergic synapses, estrogen, and serotonergic synaptic signalling pathways. Combining the PPI network and KEGG enrichment analysis, we found that ESR1, MAOA, NR3C1, VEGFA, and mTOR were the key targets of PPD. In addition, molecular docking confirmed the high affinity between BZD and the PPD target. Verified by a network pharmacology approach based on data mining and molecular docking methods, the multi-target drug BZD may serve as a promising therapeutic candidate for PPD, but further in vivo/in vitro experiments are needed.

Complete chloroplast genome of Plantago asiatica and its phylogenetic position in Plantaginaceae.

Plantago asiatica, an herbaceous perennial species of Plantaginaceae, has been used as a traditional herbal medicine plant in China. In this study, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of P. asiatica was sequenced and assembled using genome skimming data. The cp genome was 165,045 bp in length including the large single-copy (LSC, 82,964 bp) and small single-copy (SSC, 4,633 bp) regions separated by two copies of inverted region (IR, 38,724 bp). The cp genome encoded 113 unique genes, consisting of 79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes, additionally with 27 duplicated genes in the IR regions. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the representative species from Plantago was monophyletic and they were divided into four subgenera. P. asiatica belongs to the subgenus Plantago and was sister to P. rigida with high bootstrap value support.

Quality ecotype of Panax quinquefolium L. based on heredity-chemistry-ecology characteristics / 药学学报

Medicinal materials in China differ in quality by different ecological types. Our research group found that there were two ecotypes of domestic Panax quinquefolium L. according to the characteristics of ginsenosides, inside versus outside Shanhaiguan. The genetic and ecological mechanisms of quality variation of Panax quinquefolium L. is unknown. Based on the genetic-chemical-ecological strategy, transcriptome and HPLC technology were used for comprehensive correlation analyses of transcriptomic data, ginsenoside content and environmental climate ecological factors. The transcriptomic results showed that key genes of ginsenoside biosynthesis, such as HMGR, AS and FPS, were significantly down-regulated in the inside Shanhaiguan ecotype. HPLC results showed that the quality of outside Shanhaiguan ecotype Panax quinquefolium L. was higher than that of the inside ecotype, with the content of ginsenosides in outside Panax quinquefolium L. was higher than that of inside ecotype except Rb2. Correlation analyses revealed that content of Panax quinquefolium L. ginsenoside is positively related to the expression levels of ginsenoside biosynthesis key genes (MK, HMGS, HMGR, and AS), and negatively related to the expression of glycosyl transferase (GT). The content of ginsenosides is negative related with climate factors, such as temperature, sunshine, and is positively related with moisture in both ecological environments. This study has provided a new mechanistic insight into the quality variations of two ecotypes for Panax quinquefolium L. and established a scientific basis for studying the ecological factors for the quality of traditional Chinese medicine.

[Identification of radix et rhizoma clematidis and its adulterants using DNA barcoding].

This study provides the candidate sequences in the identification of Radix et Rhizoma Clematidis and its adulterants using DNA barcoding. We amplified and sequenced the region psbA-trnH, with the data of 284 sequences from GenBank, the differential intra- and inter-specific divergences, genetic distance, barcoding gap were used to evaluate five barcodes, and the identification efficiency was assessed using BLAST1 and Nearest Distance methods. The results showed that psbA-trnH barcodes performed high identification efficiency and inter-specific divergences among the five different DNA barcodes. Analysis of the barcoding gap and NJ tree showed psbA-trnH was superior to other barcodes. Based on the identification and PCR amplification efficiency, psbA-trnH can be the ideal barcode to identify Radix et Rhizoma Clematidis and its adulterants accurately.

Identification of radix et rhizoma clematidis and its adulterants using DNA barcoding / 药学学报

This study provides the candidate sequences in the identification of Radix et Rhizoma Clematidis and its adulterants using DNA barcoding. We amplified and sequenced the region psbA-trnH, with the data of 284 sequences from GenBank, the differential intra- and inter-specific divergences, genetic distance, barcoding gap were used to evaluate five barcodes, and the identification efficiency was assessed using BLAST1 and Nearest Distance methods. The results showed that psbA-trnH barcodes performed high identification efficiency and inter-specific divergences among the five different DNA barcodes. Analysis of the barcoding gap and NJ tree showed psbA-trnH was superior to other barcodes. Based on the identification and PCR amplification efficiency, psbA-trnH can be the ideal barcode to identify Radix et Rhizoma Clematidis and its adulterants accurately.

Sulfur fumigation, a better or worse choice in preservation of Traditional Chinese Medicine?

Sulfur fumigation (SF) in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a highly efficient and important traditional preservation method in China. This method has generated a great deal of concern and has been disputed in the last few years because of its uncertain safety. SF can alter the quality of TCMs by damaging the bioactive compounds, changing chemical profiles, and generating detrimental exogenous materials. However, SF is still widely used in the herbal medicinal industry because of its various benefits, such as its pesticidal and anti-bacterial effects, easy operation, and low-cost. This review contains the current situation, chemical mechanism and reactions during SF, the pharmacological and pharmacokinetic research, and the influence of quality caused by SF. In addition, a quantification-operation sulfur fumigation device (QOSFD), which can maintain the quality of TCMs by controlling the SF processing parameters, has been designed and introduced. The key technologies of this device involve controlling the O(2) content and the temperature of SO(2) as well as the quantification of sulfur in SF. This device can reduce the possibility of reaction between bioactive compounds and sulfur/sulfurous acid, as well as control the limitation of SO(2) residues. The QOSFD is regarded as a promising preservation technique in the field of TCM, medicinal materials, agriculture, and fruit industry.

Lead powder use for skin care and elevated blood lead level among children in a Chinese rural area.

To investigate the association between lead powder use, as folk skin care, and blood lead level (BLL) in children, we studied 222 children up to 14-years old living in a Chinese rural area and administered a face to face interview with their parents to collect information on lead powder use and other potential exposure. We measured children's BLL at baseline and 2 years later after an intervention. The children were divided into three categories according to their use of lead powder: regular use, irregular use and never use. We applied multivariate linear regression to determine the association between lead powder use and elevated BLL. The average BLL of all children was 18 µg/dl; 56% of them had BLL of 10 µg/dl or higher. Lead powder use was significantly associated with elevated BLL. After adjusting for potential confounders the BLL of regular and irregular users was higher than non-users by 3.11 µg/dl and 1.47 µg/dl, respectively. Duration of lead powder use was positively associated with BLL, but the time since last use was inversely associated. A significant BLL reduction was observed 2 years later, and the greatest reduction (21 µg/dl) was seen in the youngest group of regular users. This study showed that traditional use of lead powder for a skin care purpose was a major contributor to elevated BLL in these children.

[Identification of gentianae macrophyllae radix using the ITS2 barcodes].

DNA barcoding is a rapidly developing frontier technology in the world and will be useful in promoting the quality control and standardization of traditional Chinese medicine. Until now, many studies concerning DNA barcoding have focused on leaf samples but rarely on Chinese herbal medicine. There are three issues involved in DNA barcoding for traditional Chinese medicinal materials: (1) the extraction methods for total DNA of the rhizomes of the medicinal materials; (2) intra-specific variation among samples from different places of origin; (3) accuracy and stability of this method. In this study, Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix was used to verify the stability and accuracy of DNA barcoding technology. Five regions (ITS2, psbA-trnH, matK, rbcL, and ITS) were tested for their ability to identify 86 samples of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix and their adulterants. After improving the DNA extraction method, genomic DNA from all samples was successfully obtained. To evaluate each barcode's utility for species authentication, PCR amplification efficiency, genetic divergence, and species authentication were assessed. Among all tested regions only ITS2 locus showed 100% of PCR amplification and identification efficiencies. Based on the established method, we successfully identified two samples of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix bought in pharmacy to the original species.

Identification of gentianae macrophyllae radix using the ITS2 barcodes / 药学学报

DNA barcoding is a rapidly developing frontier technology in the world and will be useful in promoting the quality control and standardization of traditional Chinese medicine. Until now, many studies concerning DNA barcoding have focused on leaf samples but rarely on Chinese herbal medicine. There are three issues involved in DNA barcoding for traditional Chinese medicinal materials: (1) the extraction methods for total DNA of the rhizomes of the medicinal materials; (2) intra-specific variation among samples from different places of origin; (3) accuracy and stability of this method. In this study, Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix was used to verify the stability and accuracy of DNA barcoding technology. Five regions (ITS2, psbA-trnH, matK, rbcL, and ITS) were tested for their ability to identify 86 samples of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix and their adulterants. After improving the DNA extraction method, genomic DNA from all samples was successfully obtained. To evaluate each barcode's utility for species authentication, PCR amplification efficiency, genetic divergence, and species authentication were assessed. Among all tested regions only ITS2 locus showed 100% of PCR amplification and identification efficiencies. Based on the established method, we successfully identified two samples of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix bought in pharmacy to the original species.