[Research progress and maturity assessment of continuous manufacturing of traditional Chinese medicine].

The pharmaceutical manufacturing model is gradually changing from intermittent manufacturing to continuous manufacturing and intelligent manufacturing. This paper briefly reviewed the supervision and research progress in continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing in China and abroad and described the definition and advantages of continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing. The continuous manufacturing of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) at the current stage was summarized in the following three terms: the enhancement of the continuity of intermittent manufacturing operations, the integration of continuous equipment to improve physical continuity between units, and the application of advanced process control strategies to improve process continuity. To achieve continuous manufacturing of TCM, the corresponding key technologies, such as material property characterization, process modeling and simulation, process analysis technology, and system integration, were analyzed from the process and equipment, respectively. It was proposed that the continuous manufacturing equipment system should have the characteristics of high speed, high response, and high reliability, "three high(H~3)" for short. Considering the characteristics and current situation of TCM manufacturing, based on the two dimensions of product quality control and production efficiency, a maturity assessment model for continuous manufacturing of TCM, consisting of operation continuity, equipment continuity, process continuity, and quality control continuity, was proposed to provide references for the application of continuous manufacturing technology for TCM. The implementation of continuous manufacturing or the application of key continuous manufacturing technologies in TCM can help to systematically integrate advanced pharmaceutical technology elements and promote the uniformity of TCM quality and the improvement of production efficiency.

[Formulation of technical guidelines in line with characteristics and principles of traditional Chinese medicine changes to improve quality of such preparations--interpretation of Technical guidelines for the study of pharmaceutical changes in traditional Chinese medicines].

In leading the high-quality development of Chinese medicine preparations, it is an important link to formulate the scientific, reasonable, and feasible guidelines for the change of Chinese medicines in accordance with the change characteristics and principles of the Chinese medicines is an important work to promote the Technical guidelines for the study of pharmaceutical changes in traditional Chinese medicines was formed by a broad consensus based on the characteristics and research results of the pharmaceutical changes in Traditional Chinese Medicines(TCM)with the principles of science and risk management. This guideline has clarified the basic principles and requirements for the evaluation of changes in TCM, specified the research and verification work of common change scenarios, defined the boundaries of changes in TCM, and proposed to encourage the use of new technologies, new methods, and new excipients that meet product characteristics. It will definitely promote the quality improvement and the secondary development of TCM. In this article, the revision background and main content of the guideline were introduced, and the main features of the Guideline were analyzed, in order to provide references for the industry.

Extracts of Cordyceps sinensis inhibit breast cancer growth through promoting M1 macrophage polarization via NF-κB pathway activation.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cordyceps sinensis is a traditional Chinese medicine. It is widely reported that Cordyceps sinensis has inhibitory effect on tumor growth and immunoregulation effect on macrophages. However, the exact mechanism of Cordyceps sinensis on macrophage polarization in tumor progression is not known. AIM OF STUDY: We aimed to investigate the role of extracts of Cordyceps sinensis on macrophage polarization and its underlying mechanism in antitumor activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 4T1 orthotopic xenograft mouse model and immunohistochemical staining were used to investigate the effect of Cordyceps sinensis on breast tumor and the change of the macrophages phenotype in the tumor, respectively. A 3D co-culture assay was used to confirm the activity in vitro. Measurement of cytokines and NO, quantitative real-time PCR and flow cytometry assays were used to investigate the effect of Cordyceps sinensis on the macrophage polarization in vitro. The mechanism of the effect of Cordyceps sinensis on macrophages was investigated by using western blot assays. RESULTS: In the orthotopic mouse tumor model, Cordyceps sinensis inhibited the 4T1 tumor growth in a dose dependent manner, and the immunohistochemical staining analysis showed that there is a positive correlation between tumor growth inhibition and macrophage M1-like polarized phenotype. The cytokines and NO measurement, quantitative real-time PCR assay and flow cytometry assays confirmed that Cordyceps sinensis could promote macrophage differentiation toward the M1 phenotype. The 3D co-culture assay and western blot assay showed that Cordyceps sinensis could inhibit tumor growth by promoting macrophage polarization and enhance its activity by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that Cordyceps sinensis could potently suppress TNBC progression by promoting M1 phenotypic differentiation of macrophages via activation NF-κB signaling pathway in tumor microenvironment.

Considerations for the Quality Control of Newly Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine in China: A Review.

Background: The quality control of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been essential for the development of TCM industry. In recent years, with the acceleration of TCM modernization, research on the quality control of TCM has reached a higher level. Objective: This article suggested a comprehensive approach to the quality control of TCM and proposed specific requirements for the quality control of newly registered TCM in various phases of development. Method: The views in this article are mainly derived from the laws and regulations of China and the authors' experiences. Results: It pointed out that the investigation on the quality control of TCM should be led by Chinese traditional medicine theory and guided by the clinical value. Moreover, it should follow the basic principle of "quality by design" and in-process control to establish a quality control system that embodies the characteristics of TCM and accurately reflects the safety, efficacy, and quality consistency. Given that TCM is a natural resource-dependent industry, the quality control of TCM should also focus on the protection and sustainable use of resources. Conclusions: TCM quality control should organically combine Chinese traditional medicine theory with modern science and technology, be guided by clinical value, pay attention to the protection and sustainable use of resources, fully embody the characteristics of quality by design (QbD) and in-process quality control, and gradually establish a quality control system in accordance with the features of Chinese traditional medicine. Highlights: The article has guiding significance for the research and development of newly registered TCM.

Cyclic bisbibenzyls induce growth arrest and apoptosis of human prostate cancer PC3 cells.

AIM: To investigate the cytotoxic effects of four cyclic bisbibenzyls, Riccardin C (Ric), Pakyonol (Pak), Marchantin M (Mar), and Plagiochin E (Pla) against chemoresistant prostate cancer PC3 cells. METHODS: Cell growth was assayed by MTT method, and apoptotic related protein Bcl-2 and Bax, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were examined by Western blotting. Cell cycle and apoptosis of PC3 cells were evaluated with flow cytometry and morphologic examinations. RESULTS: The four compounds inhibited proliferation and elicited cell death in a dose- and time-dependent manner with IC(50) values of 3.22 micromol/L for Ric, 7.98 micromol/L for Pak, 5.45 micromol/L for Mar, and 5.99 micromol/L for Pla, respectively. Furthermore, exposed to these chemicals caused a decrease in the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and an increase in proapoptotic Bax expression. PARP cleavage and caspase-3 activity were also observed. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that cyclic bisbibenzyls could be used for the development of novel therapeutic chemicals against prostate cancer.

Secondary metabolites from the liverwort Ptilidium pulcherrimum.

A new trinortriterpenoid, diospyrolide acetate (1) and a new diphenylmethane derivative, pulcherrimumin (12), together with ten known pentacyclic triterpenoids (2-11) and four aromatic compounds (13-16), were isolated from the liverwort Ptilidium pulcherrimum. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive analysis of NMR data and by chemical methods. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1-16 was evaluated against the PC3, MDA-MB-231, and Hela cells lines. Ursane triterpenoids 8-10 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against PC3 cells with IC50 values ranging from 10.1 to 39.7 microM.

Rapid screening for bisbibenzyls in bryophyte crude extracts using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

A simple and rapid qualitative liquid chromatography-diode-array detection/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-DAD/MS/MS) method was developed and validated for screening bisbibenzyl compounds in bryophyte crude extracts at sub-ppm levels. After simple extraction with ethanol and analyte concentration with diethyl ether, the extracts were subjected to LC-DAD/MS/MS analysis. The overall instrument turnaround time was 50 min to obtain baseline separation of bisbibenzyl isomers in bryophytes. MS full scan, MS/MS precursor ion scan and MS/MS product ion scan modes were used for the screening. The bisbibenzyl standards studied gave limits of detection (LODs) at or below 10 ng/mL. The results also indicated that the method had acceptable precision to be used on a day-to-day basis for qualitative identification. The bisbibenzyl types, i.e. one biphenyl ether bond (A-type), two biphenyl ether bonds (B-type), one biphenyl ether and one biphenyl bond (C-type), or other biphenyl types can be differentiated by their ESI-MS/MS product profiles, and the number of alkoxyl substituents can also be identified. The linkage sites of biphenyl and biphenyl ether bonds cannot be identified for an unknown bisbibenzyl solely from its mass spectra. This system was used to support three screening assays of bryophytes including Marchantia polymorpha L., Ptagiochasm intermedium L. and Asterella angusta, which were collected from different places in China. From them, 7/12, 8/5 and 8/9 confirmed/unconfirmed bisbibenzyls were identified, respectively, based on their MS/MS data, UV spectra and the retention behavior. The screening method considerably reduced the time and the cost for the qualitative analyses, and the structure-fragmentation-UV relationships will facilitate the high-throughput screening (HTS) of bisbibenzyl compounds in bryophytes. It is also intended as a simple and convenient way for the determination of other structural families of natural products.

Study of bis(bibenzyls) in bryophytes using electron ionization time-of-flight and electrospray ionization triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry.

A detailed analysis of mass spectra generated from bis(bibenzyl) compounds in bryophytes under electron ionization time-of-flight (EI-TOF) and electrospray ionization triple-quadrupole (ESI-TQ) mass spectrometry conditions is reported. Proposed structures of the fragment ions were obtained by tracking the functional groups of 15 bis(bibenzyls), the structures of which are similar except for some alkoxyl substituents and linkage sites of biphenyl ether bonds. The elucidation was aided by the use of accurate mass measurements. Attempts have been made to provide rational pathways for the formation of these fragment ions, and a generalized fragmentation mechanism is proposed. The bis(bibenzyls) mentioned in this study include three types according to their structure characteristics, i.e. one biphenyl ether bond (A-type), two biphenyl ether bonds (B-type), one biphenyl ether and one biphenyl bond (C-type). The three types display different EI-MS and ESI-MS/MS product profiles, by which the bis(bibenzyl) type and the number of alkoxyl substituents can be identified. Isomers of bis(bibenzyls) can be differentiated to some extent, while the linkage sites of biphenyl ether bonds are difficult to identify. The structure-fragmentation relationships will facilitate the characterization of other bis(bibenzyls) and this will be of value for the high-throughput screening of novel bis(bibenzyls) in bryophytes.

Antifungal bis[bibenzyls] from the Chinese liverwort Marchantia polymorpha L.

Bioassay-guided separation of the antifungal constituents of the Chinese liverwort Marchantia polymorpha L. (Marchantiaceae) led to the isolation of seven bis[bibenzyl]-type macrocycles. On the basis of NMR and MS analyses, the three new compounds plagiochin E (1), 13,13'-O-isoproylidenericcardin D (4), and riccardin H (7) were identified, together with four known compounds: marchantin E (2), neomarchantin A (3), marchantin A (5), and marchantin B (6). Their antifungal activities against Candida albicans were determined by TLC bioautography.