Identification of Andrographis Herba and its common products using mini-barcode / 中国天然药物

Andrographis Herba, the aerial part of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees (Acanthaceae), has a wide geographic distribution and has been used for the treatment of fever, cold, inflammation, and other infectious diseases. In markets, sellers and buyers commonly inadvertently confuse with related species. In addition, most Chinese medicinal herbs are subjected to traditional processing procedures, such as steaming and boiling, before they are sold at dispensaries; therefore, it is very difficult to identify Andrographis Herba when it is processed into Chinese medicines. The identification of species and processed medicinal materials is a growing issue in the marketplace. However, conventional methods of identification have limitations, while DNA barcoding has received considerable attention as a new potential means to identify species and processed medicinal materials. In this study, 17 standard reference materials of A. paniculata, 2 standard decoctions, 27 commercial products and two adulterants were collected. Based on the ITS2 sequence, it could successfully identify A. paniculata and adulterants. Moreover, a nucleotide signature consisting of 71 bp was designed, this sequence is highly conserved and specific within A. paniculata while divergent among other species. Then, we used these new primers to amplify the nucleotide signature region from processed materials. In conclusion, the DNA barcoding method developed in the present study for authenticating A. paniculata is rapid and cost-effective. It can be used in the future to guarantee the quality of Andrographis Herba of each regulatory link for clinical use.

Identification of Cyanidin-3-arabinoside Extracted from Blueberry as a Selective Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B Inhibitor.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is an important target for type 2 diabetes. PTP1B inhibitors can reduce blood glucose levels by increasing insulin sensitivity. Anthocyanins often play a hypoglycemic effect, but the research about them have mainly focused on glucosidase. At present, the research about protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) target is less, and the corresponding molecular mechanism is still unclear. Therefore, in this present study, anthocyanins isolated from blueberry were used to study the inhibitory activity on PTP1B. The isolated cyanidin-3-arabinoside (Cya-3-Ara) exhibited a better inhibitory activity with IC50 = 8.91 ± 0.63 µM, which was higher than the positive control (oleanolic acid, IC50 = 13.9 ± 1.01 µM), and the mechanism of PTP1B inhibition was reversible mixed pattern. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) between anthocyanins and PTP1B inhibition was investigated. The enzyme activity inhibition and molecular docking showed that anthocyanins had high selectivity for PTP1B inhibition. Further study showed that Cya-3-Ara could promote glycogen synthesis through ameliorating PTP1B-involved IRS-1/PI3K/Akt/GSK3ß pathways. Cya-3-Ara could also be regarded as a synergistic inhibitor (CI ≤ 0.54) of oleanolic acid to obtain a better inhibitory effect on PTP1B. Taken together, our study clearly illustrates the SAR between anthocyanins and PTP1B inhibition and the mechanism of Cya-3-Ara in the insulin signaling pathway.

A "Green" Homogenate Extraction Coupled with UHPLC-MS for the Rapid Determination of Diterpenoids in Croton Crassifolius.

Clerodane diterpenoids are the main bioactive constituents of Croton crassifolius and are proved to have multiple biological activities. However, quality control (QC) research on the constituents are rare. Thus, the major research purpose of the current study was to establish an efficient homogenate extraction (HGE) process combined with a sensitive and specific ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC⁻MS) technique together for the rapid extraction and determination of clerodane diterpenoids in C. crassifolius. All calibration curves showed good linearity (r > 0.9943) within the test ranges and the intra- and inter-day precisions and repeatability were all within required limits. This modified HGE⁻UHPLC⁻MS method only took 5 min to extract nine clerodane diterpenoids in C. crassifolius and another 12 min to quantify these components. The results indicated that the quantitative analysis based on UHPLC⁻MS was a feasible method for QC of clerodane diterpenoids in C. crassifolius, and the findings outlined in the current study also inferred the potential of the method in the QC of clerodane diterpenoids in other complex species of plants.

High-throughput screen for inhibitors of protein-protein interactions in a reconstituted heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) complex.

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are an important category of putative drug targets. Improvements in high-throughput screening (HTS) have significantly accelerated the discovery of inhibitors for some categories of PPIs. However, methods suitable for screening multiprotein complexes (e.g. those composed of three or more different components) have been slower to emerge. Here, we explored an approach that uses reconstituted multiprotein complexes (RMPCs). As a model system, we chose heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), which is an ATP-dependent molecular chaperone that interacts with co-chaperones, including DnaJA2 and BAG2. The PPIs between Hsp70 and its co-chaperones stimulate nucleotide cycling. Thus, to re-create this ternary protein system, we combined purified human Hsp70 with DnaJA2 and BAG2 and then screened 100,000 diverse compounds for those that inhibited co-chaperone-stimulated ATPase activity. This HTS campaign yielded two compounds with promising inhibitory activity. Interestingly, one inhibited the PPI between Hsp70 and DnaJA2, whereas the other seemed to inhibit the Hsp70-BAG2 complex. Using secondary assays, we found that both compounds inhibited the PPIs through binding to allosteric sites on Hsp70, but neither affected Hsp70's intrinsic ATPase activity. Our RMPC approach expands the toolbox of biochemical HTS methods available for studying difficult-to-target PPIs in multiprotein complexes. The results may also provide a starting point for new chemical probes of the Hsp70 system.

Advantages of Chinese Medicine for Patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome in Rural Central China / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the effect of Chinese medicine (CM) on mortality and quality of life (QOL) of acquired immunodefificiency syndrome (AIDS) patients treated with combined antiretroviral therapy (cART).@*METHODS@#A random sample of AIDS patients enrolled in the National Chinese Medicine Treatment Trial Program (NCMTP) that met the inclusion criteria was included in this study. NCMTP patients were included as the CM+cART group, and those not in the NCMTP were included as the cART group. Survival from September 2004 to September 2012 was analyzed by retrospective cohort study. QOL was analyzed by cross-sectional study.@*RESULTS@#The retrospective cohort study included 528 AIDS patients, 322 in the CM+cART group and 206 in the cART group. After 8 years, the mortality in the CM+cART group was 3.3/100 person-years, which was lower than the cART group of 5.3/100 person-years (P<0.05). The hazard ratio (HR) for mortality in the cART group was 1.6 times that of the CM+cART group by Cox proportional hazard model analysis. After controlling for gender, age, marital status, education, and CD4 T-cell count, the HR was 1.9 times higher in the cART group compared with the CM+cART group (P<0.05). The cross-sectional study investigated 275 AIDS patients. The mean scores of all QOL domains except spirituality/personal beliefs were higher in the CM+cART group than in the cART group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#For AIDS patients, CM could help to prolong life, decrease mortality, and improve QOL. However, there were limitations in the study, so prospective studies should be carried out to confifirm our primary results.

Analysis of global ecology of Acanthopanax senticosus in suitability and quality / 药学学报

Geographic information system for global medicinal plants (GMPGIS) and MaxEnt modeling are adopted to analyze the ecological suitability of the endangered plant Acanthopanax senticosus. Response curves were created by the raster data of 6 ecological factors, including mean annual temperature, mean temperature of warmest quarter, mean temperature of coldest quarter, mean annual precipitation, mean annual humidity, and mean annual radiation. The relationship between the syringin content of this plant and these ecological factors was analyzed using a redundancy analysis method (RDA), which could be used to predict the most relevant ecological factors influencing the active constituents of Acanthopanax senticosus plants. GMPGIS and MaxEnt results suggest that China, Russia, Japan, and North Korea, are the main producing areas in the world for Acanthopanax senticosus, while there are also other potential areas with maximum similarities of ecological distribution in the United States, Canada, Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, Germany and 22 other countries. In addition, the genuine producing areas in China mainly include Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning, while there are the maximum similarities of ecological distribution of Acanthopanax senticosus in Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Sichuan. RDA results suggest that the mean annual humidity, precipitation, temperature are the most important eco-factors positively affecting the content of syringin in Acanthopanax senticosus. Our research provides scientific support to the utilization of ecological suitability areas for endangered plant Acanthopanax senticosus and the resource regeneration.

Governor vessel moxibustion: Ancient Chinese medical technology with new vitality / 中国结合医学杂志

Moxibustion is an ancient therapeutic technique used in Chinese medicine. Governor Vessel moxibustion (GVM) was developed from long snake moxibustion, a popular technique used in China's Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces, and is significantly more effective than general moxibustion. We aimed to review GVM, including its theoretical basis, choices of moxibustion points and materials, operation procedures, clinical applications, and contraindications. This information could increase the appropriate use of GVM and support further in-depth research.

Huangzhi Oral Liquid Prevents Arrhythmias by Upregulating Caspase-3 and Apoptosis Network Proteins in Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats.

To study the effect of Huangzhi oral liquid (HZOL) on I/R after 2 h and 4 h and determine its regulatory function on caspase-3 and protein networks. 70 SD male rats were randomly divided into seven groups and established myocardial I/R injury model by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. Myocardial infarction model was defined by TTC staining and color of the heart. The levels of CK-MB, CTnI, C-RPL, SOD, and MDA were tested at 2 h and 4 h after reperfusion. HE staining and ultramicrostructural were used to observe the pathological changes. The apoptotic index (AI) of cardiomyocyte was marked by TUNEL. The expression levels of caspase-3, p53, fas, Bcl-2, and Bax were tested by immunohistochemistry and western blot. HZOL corrected arrhythmia, improved the pathologic abnormalities, decreased CK-MB, CTnI, C-RPL, MDA, AI, caspase-3, p53, fas, and Bax, and increased SOD ans Bcl-2 with different times of myocardial reperfusion; this result was similar to the ISMOC (P > 0.05). HZOL could inhibit arrhythmia at 2 and 4 h after I/R and ameliorate cardiac function, which was more significant at 4 h after reperfusion. This result may be related to decreased expression of caspase-3, p53, and fas and increased Bcl-2/Bax ratio.

Unified-planning, graded-administration, and centralized-controlling: a management modality for treating acquired immune deficiency syndrome with Chinese medicine in Henan Province of China / 中国结合医学杂志

Henan Province in China has a major epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Chinese medicine (CM) has been used throughout the last decade, and a management modality was developed, which can be described by unified-planning, graded-administration, and centralized-controlling (UGC). The UGC modality has one primary concept (patient-centered medicine from CM theory), four basic foundations (classifying administrative region, characteristics of CM on disease treatment, health resource conditions, and distribution of patients living with HIV), six important relationships (the "three uniformities and three combinations," and the six relationships therein guide the treatment of AIDS with CM), and four key sections (management, operation, records, and evaluation). In this article, the authors introduce the UGC modality, which could be beneficial to developing countries or resource-limited areas for the management of chronic infectious disease.

A new bufadienolide with cytotoxic activity from the Chinese traditional drug Ch'an Su / 中国天然药物

AIM@#To study the bufadienolides in the Chinese traditional drug "Ch'an Su" and their cytotoxic activity.@*METHOD@#Various chromatographic techniques were used to isolate the constituents, and their structures were elucidated through physical and spectroscopic data.@*RESULTS@#Twenty compounds were isolated, and eighteen were evaluated in vitro for their cytotoxic activity against A-549 and K-562 cells.@*CONCLUSION@#Compound 1 (bufalin 3β-acrylic ester) was a new bufadienolide and exhibited the most potent activity against the two tumor cell lines with IC50 values of 7.16 and 6.83 nmol · L(-1). The relationships between structure and activity are discussed.

Complementary treatment of 141 HIV/AIDS patients with pulmonary infection by qingfei peiyuan micro-pill: a clinical observation / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Qingfei Peiyuan Micro-pill (QPM) on HIV/AIDS patients with pulmonary infection of phlegm heat obstructing lung syndrome (PHOLS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 141 HIV/AIDS patients with pulmonary infection of PHOLS were randomly assigned to the treatment group (94 cases) and the control group (47cases). On the basis of Western medicine, patients in the treatment group took QPM. The therapeutic course for all was 28 days. The improvement of symptoms and signs was observed. The body temperature (BT), chest X ray, and white blood cells (WBCs) were detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The Chinese medical syndrome score was lower in the treatment group than in the control group at the 7th, 21st, and 28th day of treatment, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The efficacy was better in the treatment group than in the control group at the 7th, 21st, and 28th day of treatment, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The BT was lower in the treatment group than in the control group on the 7th day. There was no statistical difference in the patient number with normal WBCs on the 7th day (P > 0.05). But there was statistical difference in the patient number with normal WBCs on the 14th, 21st, and 28th day of treatment (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the patient number with normal chest X ray on the 7th and 28th day of treatment (P > 0.05). But there was statistical difference in the patient number with normal chest X ray on the 14th and 21 st day of treatment (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>QPM had certain complementary effect on HIV/AIDS patients with pulmonary infection of PHOLS.</p>

Research on Chinese medicine syndrome distribution of asymptomatic HIV infection patients / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore Chinese medicine syndrome distribution laws of asymptomatic HIV infection patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using Chi-square test, Chinese medicine syndrome distribution laws were compared and analyzed in 1 156 asymptomatic HIV infection patients from March 2009 to October 2011 from four aspects, i.e., age, possible infection time, disease duration, and different routes of infection.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Qi deficiency syndrome (QDS) and internal dampness-heat accumulation syndrome (IDHAS) were dominant in all syndrome types. Along with aging, QDS showed a growing tendency, while IDHAS showed obvious declining tendency. There was no obvious change in other syndrome types. There was statistical difference in the distribution of each syndrome type among each age period (P < 0.01). Within 15 years, along with the increase of infection time, QDS showed a growing tendency, while IDHAS ratio showed an obvious declining tendency. No obvious laws were found in other syndrome types. There was statistical difference in the distribution of each syndrome type (P < 0.01). Along with the prolongation of disease duration, the case number of each syndrome showed a decreasing trend, but QDS and IDHAS still accounted for higher ratios in each stage. There was statistical difference in the distribution of each syndrome type (P < 0.01). As for infection routes, QDS was predominant in paid blood donation, blood transfusion infection, intravenous drugs. IDHAS was predominant in sexual transmit. No obvious laws were found in other syndrome types. There was statistical difference in the distribution of each syndrome type (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>DIS, IDHAS, and no confirmable syndrome typing were dominant in asymptomatic HIV infection patients. Deficiency and dampness were important pathological factors for them.</p>

Preliminary study on features of syndrome distribution and cluster analysis for AIDS patients with pulmonary infection / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate Chinese medical features of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients with pulmonary infection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using cluster analysis method, Chinese medical syndromes of 196 AIDS patients with pulmonary infection were analyzed. The distribution features of each syndrome type were analyzed according to the severity and CD4+ numerical analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Basic Chinese medical syndrome types could be summed up as three kinds: exterior invasion of wind heat and phlegm heat obstructing Fei syndrome (61 cases, 31.1%), Fei-Pi deficiency and Fei stagnation of phlegm syndrome (64 cases, 32.7%), Fei-Shen deficiency and yin deficiency induced inner heat syndrome (71 cases, 36.2%). There was statistical difference in the severity degree and the distribution of CD4 among the three syndrome types (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>AIDS patients with pulmonary infection involve Fei, Shen, and Pi. The pathogenic factors were related to "wind", "heat", "phlegm", and "xu". The Chinese medical syndrome distribution was closely correlated with patients' immunity.</p>

Data mining analysis of professor Li Fa-zhi AIDS herpes zoster medical record / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Analysis of professor Li Fa-zhi in the treatment of AIDS drug laws of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia, provide reference for the use of Chinese medicine treatment of AIDS, herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>By using the method of analyzing the complex network of Weishi county, Henan in 2007 October to 2011 July during an interview with professor Li Fa-zhi treatment of AIDS of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia patients, patients are input structured clinical information collection system, into the analysis of the data, carries on the research analysis theory of traditional Chinese medicine compatibility system algorithm and complex network analysis the use of complex networks.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The use of multi-dimensional query analysis of AIDS drugs, the core of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia treated in this study are Scutellariae Radix, Glucyrrhizae Radix, Carthame Flos, Plantaginis Semen, Trichosamthis Fructus, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Gentianae Radix; core prescription for Longdan Xiegan decoction and Trichosanthes red liquorice decoction.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Professor Li Fa-zhi treatment of AIDS, herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia by clearing heat and removing dampness and activating blood circulation to.</p>

Data mining analysis of professor Li Fa-zhi AIDS itchy skin medical record / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Analysis of professor Li Fa-zhi in the treatment of AIDS drug laws of itchy skin, provide the corresponding drug reference basis for Chinese medicine treatment of AIDS, skin itching.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>By using the method of analyzing the complex network of Weishi county, Henan in 2007 October to 2011 July during an interview with professor Li Fa-zhi treatment of AIDS patients with skin pruritus, etiology and pathogenesis analysis, skin itching AIDS syndrome differentiation of old Chinese medicine treatment and medication rule.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The use of multi-dimensional query analysis, core drug skin itching AIDS treatment in this study as a windbreak, cicada slough, bupleurum, Qufeng solution table drug, licorice detoxification efficacy of drugs, Radix Scutellariae, Kochia scoparia, clearing away heat and promoting diuresis medicine; core prescription for Jingfang San streak virus.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Professor Li Fa-zhi treatment of AIDS in the skin itching Qufeng solution table dehumidification antipruritic treatment.</p>

Study on quality of life of asymptomatic HIV infected persons with traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Study on quality of life of asymptomatic HIV infected persons with traditional Chinese medical, which can provide the clinical basis for improving the quality of life.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>This study applied a randomized, double-blind, and placeb-parallel control designed method to select 1 200 persons in the asymptomatic period of HIV infection as the subjects. The subjects were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group at the ratio of about 2:1. According to the results of monthly differential diagnosis of TCM, the test group and the control group were given homologue Chinese drugs preparations and model Chinese drugs. The total study period was 18 months. Using PRO scale and the world health organization AIDS determination of quality of life short scale form (WHOQOL-HIV-BREF) to investigate asymptomatic HIV infected persons, according to different times, we calculated the total score and each domain score of quality of life of the treatment group and control group, we did statistical analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Form the PRO scale,we can see that the treatment group showed a trend of stability, compared with the control group with significant statistical difference (P < 0.05) after 6 months; from the WHOQOL-HIV scale analysis, we can see that compared with before treatment, the quality of life of the treatment group was increased, the difference was significant (P < 0.05), but the quality of life of the control quality of life was decreased, the differences was significant (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Dialectical therapy of Chinese medicine can significantly improve the patient's quality of life, which can provide the basis for the prevention and control policy formulation and implementation with asymptomatic HIV infected persons.</p>

Randomized controlled study of integrated treatment of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine on AIDS with pulmonary inflammation patients / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare effects of integrated treatment traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine (TCM-WM) and simple western medicine on TCM clincal symptoms in the patient of AIDS with pulmonary inflammation.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>A multicenter randomized controlled trials of 164 subjects evaluated the effects of clinical symptoms of AIDS with pulmonary inflammation of TWO regimens: the TCM-WM group (n = 111) and western medicine treatment group (n = 53), while incidence of TCM symptoms in different time points in two groups were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Twenty eight days after treatment, the cured and markedly effective rate of TCM symptoms in the TCM-WM group significantly exceeding that in the western medicine treatment group (cured and markedly effective rate significant efficiency 44.55% vs 20.00%), while the incidence rate for the TCM symptoms of fever and headache in the TCM-WM group was significantly lower than that in western medicine group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The integrated treatment of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine helps to alleviate the TCM clinical symptoms of AIDS with pulmonary inflammation.</p>

Treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome with Chinese medicine in China: opportunity, advancement and challenges / 中国结合医学杂志

Chinese medicine (CM) has been used in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) for 30 years and the demonstrated therapeutic effects of CM, such as reducing plasma HIV viral load, increasing CD4(+)T cell counts, promoting immunity reconstitution, ameliorating symptoms and signs, improving the health related quality of life (HRQOL) and counteracting against the effects of anti-retroviral drugs, were summarized and reviewed in this article. The authors point out that it had been a good opportunity to use CM for the treatment of HIV infection and AIDS in the past and also there are huge challenges ahead for CM research and clinicians to discover more effective CM and its underlying mechanisms for treatment of AIDS.

A new cardiac glycoside from Periploca forrestii / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents of Periploca forrestii.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The constituents were separate using such various column chromatographic techniques as silica gel, RP-18 silica gel, MCI and Sephadex LH-20. Their structures were identified by such methods as spectral analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Ten compounds were isolated and identified as periforgenin A-3-O-beta-digitoxopyranoside (1), beta-sitosterol (2), periforoside I (3), ursolic acid (4), periplogenin (5), periplocin (6), glycoside E (7), periplocoside M (8) , daucosterol (9), 2alpha, 3alpha, 23-trihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (10).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compound 1 was a new cardiac glycoside and compound 8 was reported for the first time from this plant.</p>

HPLC-MS3 analysis of chemical constituents in Epimedium brevicornum / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the chemical constituents of effective part of Epimedium brevicornum.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The sample was extracted with ethanol and purified by macroporous resin. The structures were identified by HPLC-MS3 experiments.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Nine compounds were identified from the effective part of E. brevicornum.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method is simple and rapid for the identification of the flavonoids from E. brevicornum.</p>