Effects of Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent. fruits water extract on hippocampal neurogenesis in the treatment of APP/PS1 transgenic mice.

Background: Adult neurogenesis plays an important role in repairing damaged neurons and improving cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD). B. Papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent. fruits (BL), a traditional Chinese medicine for tonifying the kidney, has been reported to improve cognitive function in AD mice, but the underlying mechanisms have not been clearly illuminated. This study aimed to provide an overview of the differential compounds in the brain of APP/PS1 mice after BL water extract (BLWE) treatment through metabolomics technology and to elucidate whether the therapeutic effect and mechanism are through the enhancement of neurogenesis. Methods: APP/PS1 transgenic mice were treated with different doses of BLWE. After 6 weeks of intragastric injection, the therapeutic effects of BLWE on APP/PS1 transgenic mice were determined by the Morris water maze test, immunohistochemistry, hematoxylin & eosin and Nissl staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining. Subsequently, metabolomics technology was used to analyze the regulatory effect of BLWE on differential compounds in the brain of APP/PS1 mice, and on this basis, its molecular mechanism of BLWE was screened. Finally, the protein expression of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway was detected by Western blotting. Results: After BLWE treatment, the learning and memory function of APP/PS1 mice were significantly improved, which was related to the increase in the number of Nestin+/BrdU+ and NeuN+/BrdU+ cells, and the decrease in the number of apoptotic cells in the hippocampus. BLWE treatment could also up-regulate the expression of synapse-associated proteins. Moreover, BLWE could modulate endogenous metabolic compounds in the brains of AD mice, including N-acetyl-aspartate, glutamine, etc. Furthermore, BLWE inhibited the phosphorylation of Tyr216-GSK-3ß and ß-catenin protein while increased CyclinD1 protein expression. Conclusion: We demonstrated that BLWE can enhance neural stem cells proliferation and improve neurogenesis, thereby efficiently repairing damaged neurons in the hippocampus and ameliorating cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. The mechanism is at least partly through activating the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Comparisons of the anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and hemostatic activities and chemical profiles of raw and charred Schizonepetae Spica.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: A common view in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory is that "processing can alter the efficacy of crude drugs". The clinical usage of some processed products may have already changed greatly over time during the development of modern scientific analysis. Therefore, the view of "processing can alter the efficacy of crude drugs" should be confirmed by comparative studies. Schizonepetae Spica (SS), a Chinese medicinal herb, is the dried spike of Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq. It is available in two forms: raw products and charred products (Schizonepetae Spica Carbonisata, SSC; raw SS processed by stir-frying until carbonization). Raw SS is commonly used to treat TCM symptoms that resemble common cold, fever, respiratory tract infection and allergic dermatitis, while SSC has long been used as a remedy for TCM symptoms that resemble bloody stool and metrorrhagia. AIM OF THE STUDY: We aimed to examine whether stir-fry processing alters the anti-inflammatory, antiviral and hemostatic activities of SS and explore the chemical profile behind the potential changes in medicinal properties caused by stir-fry processing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used cell models to examine the anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects of raw SS and SSC. The bleeding time of the tail bleeding model and clotting time of the capillary method in mice were used to compare the hemostasis properties of raw SS and SSC. The chemical profiles of SS and SSC were compared using a method combining gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC/Q-TOF-MS) analysis. RESULTS: The anti-inflammatory effects of SSC were less potent than those of raw SS. Both raw SS and SSC effectively inhibited viral infection in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 96.30 and 9.73 µg/mL and selectivity index (SI) values of >1.56 and 7.78, respectively. Interestingly, SSC showed more potent antiviral activities than raw SS. Intragastric administration of raw SS and SSC to mice demonstrated that the hemostatic effects of SSC were more potent than those of raw SS. By comparing the volatile chemical profiles of SSC, we found that twenty-nine constituents disappeared and that fifty-four new constituents were formed while the relative contents of five other components decreased and three other components increased. Additionally, the nonvolatile chemical profiles of raw SS and SSC differed, with thirty-two lower peaks and seven higher peaks in SSC than in SS. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that raw SS and SSC support traditional practice for the clinical applications of these two products except for raw SS used for the treatment of viral infection. It is a fascinating challenge to form SSCs with both traditional hemostatic activities and antiviral properties after stir-fry processing. In addition, the volatile and nonvolatile chemical constituents of raw SS changed dramatically during processing. Further studies are warranted to explore whether the change in chemical constituents is in accordance with the purpose of processing.

[Herbalogical study on original plant and medicinal and edible values of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus].

Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus is a both medicinal and edible species specified by the China Ministry of Health, with a long history in China. According to the ancient monographs about materia medica, it was found that the records of the Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus on the original plants were confused. This paper reviewed the ancient monographs about materia medica, and made a summarization and textual research on the name, origin, habitat, processing methods, medicinal properties and clinicacy efficacy of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus based the comprehensive analysis on modern literatures and authoritative books of Chinese herbal medicine. The results indicated that there were many bynames of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus. Before the Yuan Dynasty, there was a mixed use of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus and Citri Fructus, which were not distinguished from each other in terms of nature and taste until the Yuan dynasty. Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus was a varietas of Citri Fructus. The main shape of the original plant of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus is "like a human hand with fingers" as recorded in ancient monographs about materia medica. The main places of origin of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus were Guangdong, Zhejiang, Fujian, Sichuan, which were relatively stable. There were fewer records about medicinal proces-sing methods of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus. Only steaming and baking methods were found in ancient monographs about materia medica, and the steaming method could reduce the irritability of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus. The processing of therapeutic dietary of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus was widely used in folk, which was represented by Chaozhou Laoxianghuang, a traditional succade made of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus. According to the 2015 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus had effects in soothing liver and regulating gas, relieving pain in the stomach, eliminating dampness and resolving phlegm, which was basically consistent with the descriptions in ancient monographs about materia medica. This paper defined the original plant of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus, and sorted out and summarized the processing methods, nature and taste of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus, so as to provide data support for the standardization of the processing technology and the development and utilization of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus.

The scientific elucidation of daodi medicinal materials.

Daodi medicinal materials (DMMs), with unique characteristics and specific ecological growing environments, are recognized as high-quality medicinal products of Chinese medicinal materials (CMMs). The quality evaluation of CMMs is fundamental for standardization. The concept and application of DMMs have a long history as described in records in ancient books and rooted in practice and experience over generations. DMM is the specific term for pure, superior medicinal herbs with the following characteristics: optimum harvest season (reflecting the appropriate developmental stage of the plant), scrupulous processing, traditional preparation technology, etc. As DMM and high-quality medicinal products are traditionally thought to be closely related, modern scientific studies that confirm the association of these products are described. This article aims to clarify the scientific elucidation of DMMs.

[Historical evolution of Coicis Semen processing methods].

Coicis Semen is widely used as a raw material which can be used as both medicine and food among people. According to the ancient monographs on materia medica and relevant documents on the processing specifications in various provinces and cities, herba logical study on the historical evolution of the processing methods of Coicis Semen was conducted in this paper from the aspects of collecting and processing methods of Coicis Semen, the processing methods in the past dynasties and the nature, flavour and efficacy of Coicis Semen. The results showed that the processing methods of Coicis Semen recorded in monographs on materia medica mainly included stir-frying, glutinous rice stir-frying, salt processing(including salt cooking and salt stir-frying), stir-frying with the earth scraped from the wall facing east, and ginger juice stir-frying, etc. Among them, stir-frying, and stir-frying with the earth scraped from the wall facing east are still used nowadays. The bran stir-frying is the improved version of glutinous rice stir-frying in order to be adaptive to the modern-day situation and the needs of the present. In addition, the ancient shell removal and kernel keeping method are also included in the processing procedures in modern local processing specifications, which are combined with frying to form a new method named "Fazhi" processing( "Fazhi" means a processing method of multiple procedures). The 2015 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia records that Coicis Semen is helpful to clear dampness and promote diuresis, strengthen the spleen and prevent diarrhea, eliminate impediment, discharge pus, resolve toxin and a mass, etc., which are consistent with those contained in ancient monographs on materia medica. After the "Fazhi" processing, the cold nature of Coicis Semen has been removed and its nature,flavour and meridian tropism have been changed, so its application scopes expanded. The results of this study clearly traced the history of the collecting and proces-sing of Coicis Semen, summarized the nature, flavour and efficacy of Coicis Semen contained in both ancient and modern literature, and provided a historical basis for the standardization of the subsequent processing technology of Coicis Semen, the clinical application of various processed products, and the further development and utilization of medicinal materials.