Analysis of the phytochemical components of Prunella vulgaris using high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with molecular networking and assessment of their antioxidant and anti-α-glucosidase activities.

Prunella vulgaris has long been used in traditional medicine and is consumed as a tea in China. Here, the total phenolic and flavonoid concentrations of plants from different geographical regions were measured. It was found that the total phenolic acid concentration ranged from 4.15 to 8.82 g of gallic acid equivalent per 100 g of dry weight (DW), and the total flavonoid concentration was 4.67-7.33 g of rutin equivalent per 100 g DW. Antioxidant activities were measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt, and the results ranged from 73.47% to 94.43% and 74.54% to 93.39%, respectively, whereas α-glucosidase inhibition was between 75.31% and 95.49%. Correlation analysis showed that the total flavonoids in P. vulgaris had superior antioxidant and anti-α-glucosidase activities compared to the total phenolic compounds. The active components of P. vulgaris were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with both classical molecular networking and feature-based molecular networking on the Global Natural Products Social platform, identifying 32 compounds, namely 14 flavonoids, 12 phenolic compounds, and 6 other chemical components. These results could provide useful information on the use of P. vulgaris as a functional tea.

Research trends of acupuncture therapy on postoperative nausea and vomiting from 2011 to 2023: A bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: The utilization of acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention for the management of postoperative nausea and vomiting has experienced a notable increase in its popularity, and the purpose of this analysis is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the level of concern within the academic discipline and the main contributors and their partnership, as well as to identify research focal points and trends. METHODS: A comprehensive search was carried out to identify relevant articles on the topic of acupuncture therapy for PONV in the Web of Science and China National Knowledge Internet. The search spanned from January 1, 2011, to June 6, 2023. The annual publications were count to see the degree of scholarly attention devoted to the discipline and how it has changed over time. A statistical analysis of article distribution across various journals was conducted to serve a rough indicator for assessing the quality of articles. And a bibliometric analysis was conducted using the software CiteSpace to visually analyze various aspects of the literature. Analyze authors, institutions and countries to identify the main contributors and their collaborative relationship; and analyze keywords and references to explore research hotspots and trends. RESULTS: This study examined a comprehensive collection of 819 articles focused on acupuncture therapy for PONV, demonstrating a varying upward trend in the quantity of publications. Notably, the most productive author and institution were identified as Zheng Man and Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, respectively. While China had the highest number of publications, the United States held a greater prominence in this specific field. Collaboration among contributors was found to be weak. High-frequency keywords in the publications included "transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation," "electroacupuncture," "pain," and so forth. The literature with the highest citation count pertained to "Stimulation of the wrist acupuncture point PC6 for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting," while the article with the highest centrality was "Consensus Guidelines for the Management of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting." Several large clusters obtained from the references are also included "postoperative pain," "transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation". Nothing pertaining to mechanism study was found in the analysis results. CONCLUSION: The utilization of acupuncture for the treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting has been gaining increasing recognition, although there remains room for improvement in the quality of research conducted in this area. Chinese authors and institutions have emerged as significant contributors to this field, while the United States has demonstrated greater proficiency in fostering collaborative efforts. It is imperative to enhance collaboration among these contributors. The current focal points of acupuncture for PONV encompass pain management, electroacupuncture, auricular acupuncture, and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation. Additionally, TEA and enhanced recovery after surgery have been identified as the forefronts of research in this particular domain. In addition, there is still much room for research in the aspect of mechanism and insurance coverage. This study provides an in-depth perspective on acupuncture for PONV, which offers reference material for clinicians with rational choice of therapeutic scheme, educators with hot topics, and researchers with valuable research directions.

Tartary buckwheat root polysaccharides ameliorate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease via the IL6-SOCS3-SREBP1c pathway.

Our previous study demonstrated that Tartary buckwheat root polysaccharides (TBRP) could reduce insulin resistance in diabetes mellitus by inhibiting SOCS3-stimulated IRS1 protein degradation. However, whether TBRP has the efficiency to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is still undetermined. This investigation aimed to examine the effects of TBRP on a high-fat diet (HFD)-triggered NAFLD, and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Briefly, TBRP toxicity in hepatoma (BEL7404) and pancreatic cancer (BxPC3) cells and zebrafish embryos developmental models, were evaluated in-vitro and in-vivo, respectively. TBRP inhibited cellular lipid accumulation by suppressing fat synthesis, furthermore, it improved body weight gain, liver weight, liver-to-body weight ratio, serum lipids triglyceride, total cholesterol, ALT, LDL-C, HDL-C, and AST levels in the NAFLD mice model. Additionally, TBRP treatment also lowered the nitric oxide content. The qPCR assay revealed that mRNA expression of TNF, IL1ß, and IL6 was also markedly reduced in TBRP-treated NAFLD mice. The expression of SOCS3, SREBP1c, and STAT3 was elucidated by western blot analysis, which indicated that TBRP markedly decreased the gene expression for de novo fat synthesis by the SOCS3-SREBP1c pathway. These findings reveal that TBRP ameliorates NAFLD via the IL6-SOCS3-SREBP1c signaling pathway and therefore, may represent a promising approach for NAFLD treatment.

[Inhibitory effect of three strains of biocontrol microbes on pathogens causing rhizome rot of Polygonatum cyrtonema].

Rhizome rot is one of the main disease in the cultivation of Polygonatum cyrtonema, and it is also a global disease which seriously occurs on the perennial medicinal plants such as Panax notoginseng and P. ginseng. There is no effective control method at present. To identify the effects of three biocontrol microbes(Penicillium oxalicum QZ8, Trichoderma asperellum QZ2, and Brevibacillus amyloliquefaciens WK1) on the pathogens causing rhizome rot of P. cyrtonema, this study verified six suspected pathogens for their pathogenicity on P. cyrtonema. The result showed that Fusarium sp. HJ4, Colletotrichum sp. HJ4-1, and Phomopsis sp. HJ15 were the pathogens of rhizome rot of P. cyrtonema, and it was found for the first time that Phomopsis sp. could cause rhizome rot P. cyrtonema. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of biocontrol microbes and their secondary metabolites on three pathogens were determined by confrontation culture. The results showed that the three tested biocontrol microbes significantly inhibited the growth of three pathogens. Moreover, the secondary metabolites of T. asperellum QZ2 and B. amyloliquefaciens WK1 showed significant inhibition against the three pathogens(P<0.05), and the effect of B. amyloliquefaciens WK1 sterile filtrate was significantly higher than that of high tempe-rature sterilized filtrate(P<0.05). B. amyloliquefaciens WK1 produced antibacterial metabolites to inhibit the growth of pathogens, and the growth inhibition rate of its sterile filtrate against three pathogens ranged from 87.84% to 93.14%. T. asperellum QZ2 inhibited the growth of pathogens through competition and antagonism, and P. oxalicum QZ8 exerted the inhibitory effect through competition. The research provides new ideas for the prevention and treatment of rhizome rot of P. cyrtonema and provides a basis for the di-sease control in other crops.

Inhibitory effect of three strains of biocontrol microbes on pathogens causing rhizome rot of Polygonatum cyrtonema / 中国中药杂志

Rhizome rot is one of the main disease in the cultivation of Polygonatum cyrtonema, and it is also a global disease which seriously occurs on the perennial medicinal plants such as Panax notoginseng and P. ginseng. There is no effective control method at present. To identify the effects of three biocontrol microbes(Penicillium oxalicum QZ8, Trichoderma asperellum QZ2, and Brevibacillus amyloliquefaciens WK1) on the pathogens causing rhizome rot of P. cyrtonema, this study verified six suspected pathogens for their pathogenicity on P. cyrtonema. The result showed that Fusarium sp. HJ4, Colletotrichum sp. HJ4-1, and Phomopsis sp. HJ15 were the pathogens of rhizome rot of P. cyrtonema, and it was found for the first time that Phomopsis sp. could cause rhizome rot P. cyrtonema. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of biocontrol microbes and their secondary metabolites on three pathogens were determined by confrontation culture. The results showed that the three tested biocontrol microbes significantly inhibited the growth of three pathogens. Moreover, the secondary metabolites of T. asperellum QZ2 and B. amyloliquefaciens WK1 showed significant inhibition against the three pathogens(P<0.05), and the effect of B. amyloliquefaciens WK1 sterile filtrate was significantly higher than that of high tempe-rature sterilized filtrate(P<0.05). B. amyloliquefaciens WK1 produced antibacterial metabolites to inhibit the growth of pathogens, and the growth inhibition rate of its sterile filtrate against three pathogens ranged from 87.84% to 93.14%. T. asperellum QZ2 inhibited the growth of pathogens through competition and antagonism, and P. oxalicum QZ8 exerted the inhibitory effect through competition. The research provides new ideas for the prevention and treatment of rhizome rot of P. cyrtonema and provides a basis for the di-sease control in other crops.

Integrated Experimental Approach, Phytochemistry, and Network Pharmacology to Explore the Potential Mechanisms of Cinnamomi Ramulus for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Cinnamomi Ramulus (CR) has been extensively used as a remedy for inflammatory diseases in China. This study adopted an integrative approach of experimental research, phytochemistry, and network pharmacology to investigate its alleviative effects on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the underlying potential mechanisms. CR extract (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) and methotrexate (MTX) significantly ameliorated RA symptoms in the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model. They also reduced paw volume, arthritis index, proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-17A, IL-6, and IL-1ß), and oxidative damage. Sixty-three compounds were systematically identified as the basic components of CR. Fifty-five common genes obtained from compounds and GEO databases were employed to construct the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Among them, 20 hub genes were identified via the cytoHubba. Enrichment analysis of the common genes indicated that the TNF signaling pathway and IL-17 signaling pathway might be the potential key pathways. Moreover, molecular docking methods confirmed the high affinity between the top 10 bioactive components of CR and the top 10 targets. In addition, in vitro results showed that CR extract (0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mg/mL) inhibited inflammation and oxidative damage in MH7A cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In summary, this study adopted multiple approaches to elucidate the protective effect and potential mechanisms of CR on RA, indicating that CR might be a promising herbal candidate for further investigation of RA treatment.

Purification, structural characterization, and anticoagulant activity evaluation of chondroitin sulfate from codfish (Gadus macrocephalus) bones.

Chondroitin sulfate (CCS) was purified from discarded codfish (Gadus macrocephalus) bones, and its chemical structure and anticoagulant activity were assessed. CCS was obtained via enzymatic lysis and ion-exchange column chromatography, with a yield of approximately 0.15%. High-performance gel performance chromatography revealed CCS to be a largely homogeneous polysaccharide with a relatively low molecular weight of 12.3 kDa. FT-IR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, and SAX-HPLC indicated that CCS was composed of monosulfated disaccharides (ΔDi4S 73.85% and ΔDi6S 19.06%) and nonsulfated disaccharides (ΔDi0S 7.09%). In vitro anticoagulation analyses revealed that CCS was able to significantly prolong activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and thrombin time (TT) (p < 0.05). At a CCS concentration of 5 µg/mL and 25 µg/mL, APTT and TT were approximately 1.08 and 1.12 times higher, respectively, compared to the negative control group. The results indicated that CCS might offer value as a dietary fiber supplement with the potential to prevent the incidence of coagulation-related thrombosis.

Natural drug sources for respiratory diseases from Fritillaria: chemical and biological analyses.

Fritillaria naturally grows in the temperate region of Northern Hemisphere and mainly distributes in Central Asia, Mediterranean region, and North America. The dried bulbs from a dozen species of this genus have been usually used as herbal medicine, named Beimu in China. Beimu had rich sources of phytochemicals and have extensively applied to respiratory diseases including coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Fritillaria species have alkaloids that act as the main active components that contribute multiple biological activities, including anti-tussive, expectorant, and anti-asthmatic effects, especially against certain respiratory diseases. Other compounds (terpenoids, steroidal saponins, and phenylpropanoids) have also been identified in species of Fritillaria. In this review, readers will discover a brief summary of traditional uses and a comprehensive description of the chemical profiles, biological properties, and analytical techniques used for quality control. In general, the detailed summary reveals 293 specialized metabolites that have been isolated and analyzed in Fritillaria species. This review may provide a scientific basis for the chemical ecology and metabolomics in which compound identification of certain species remains a limiting step.

Guizhi-Shaoyao-Zhimu decoction attenuates bone erosion in rats that have collagen-induced arthritis via modulating NF-κB signalling to suppress osteoclastogenesis.

CONTEXT: Guizhi-Shaoyao-Zhimu decoction (GSZD) is commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but its mechanism is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of GSZD on bone erosion in type II collagen (CII)-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats and to identify the underlying mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CIA model was prepared in male Wistar rats by two subcutaneous injections of CII, 1 mg/mL. Fifty CIA rats were randomized equally into the control group given saline daily, the positive group given saline daily and methotrexate 0.75 mg/kg once a week, and three GSZD-treated groups gavaged daily with 800, 1600 and 3200 mg/kg of GSZD for 21 days. GSZD effects were assessed by paw volume, arthritic severity index and histopathology. Cytokine levels were determined by ELISA. The effects of GSZD on RAW264.7 cells were evaluated by receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption assay. Expression of IκB-α and p65 was measured by Western blotting. Major components of GSZD were identified by HPLC. RESULTS: Arthritis index score, paw volume and bone destruction score showed that GSZD improved inflammatory symptoms and reduced joint tissue erosion (p < 0.01). GSZD decreased RANKL, and the number of osteoclasts (OCs) in joint tissues (p < 0.01) and increased osteoprotegerin levels (p < 0.01). GSZD inhibited RANKL-induced RAW264.7 differentiation and reduced bone resorption by OCs. GSZD upregulated IκB (p < 0.01) and p65 (p < 0.01) in the cytoplasm and downregulated p65 (p < 0.01) in the cell nucleus. CONCLUSIONS: Guizhi-Shaoyao-Zhimu decoction has an anti-RA effect, suggesting its possible use as a supplement and alternative drug therapy for RA.

Identification and characterization of the chemical components of Iris tectorum Maxim. and evaluation of their nitric oxide inhibitory activity.

RATIONALE: Iris tectorum Maxim. is a traditional medicinal herb that is commonly used to treat inflammatory conditions. The present study investigated the fragmentation patterns of isoflavone glycosides and their qualitative analysis. In addition, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of I. tectorum Maxim. samples collected at different time points during the year. METHODS: High-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/QTOF-MS/MS) and HPLC with diode-array detection were employed for qualitative and quantitative analysis. The fragmentation patterns of the isoflavones were observed in negative electrospray ionization mode with collision-induced dissociation (CID). Their anti-inflammatory activity was assessed via nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-treated RAW264.7 macrophages. RESULTS: A total of 15 chemical components were observed and tentatively identified using HPLC/QTOF-MS/MS. At low collision energy, the relative abundances of the aglycone radical anions Y0 - , [Y0 - H]-• , [Y0 - CH3 ]-• and [Y0 - H- CH2 ]-• were used for the structural characterization of tectoridin and tectorigenin-4'-O-ß-D-glucoside. The radical ions [Y0 - CH3 ]-• and [Y0 - H - 2CH3 ]-• were also employed to differentiate between iristectorin A and iristectorin B based upon their high-energy CID spectra. Levels of 9.02 mg/g of tectoridin and 1.04 mg/g of tectorigenin were found in samples collected in June, which exhibited 69.7% NO inhibitory activity. CONCLUSIONS: The characteristic fragmentation patterns enabled us to reliably identify isoflavone glycosides. The results of the quantitative determination and NO inhibitory activity offer insight into the optimal I. tectorum Maxim. harvesting time.

Polysaccharides of Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl.: Extraction, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Evaluation.

The roots of Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. are a famous traditional Chinese medicinal herb and are also used as health food. However, information about polysaccharides from S. ningpoensis (SNPS) is very limited. We applied the ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) process to extract SNPS. The UAE conditions were optimized using single-factor experiments and response surface analysis. Under the optimized conditions of ultrasonic power of 550 W, extraction time of 26 min, and extraction temperature at 50°C, the highest yield of 13.47% ± 1.63% was obtained, which was in accordance with the predicted value of 13.71%. In comparison with traditional hot water extraction, the optimized UAE method significantly increased the extraction yield with lower extraction temperature and shorter extraction time. Furthermore, the in vitro antioxidant evaluation showed that EC50 values of SNPS were 2.43 ± 0.21, 4.40 ± 0.35, and 0.56 ± 0.062 mg/mL for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) radical, hydroxyl free radical, and 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assay, respectively. The anti-inflammatory potential of SNPS was detected in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced ICR mice. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that SNPS significantly improved LPS-stimulated inflammatory response by decreasing mRNA and protein expression of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, the extraction process of SNPS established in this study is reliable, and SNPS possesses potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, which will provide a theoretical basis for guiding the clinical application of S. ningpoensis.

Terpenes isolated from Polyalthia simiarum and their cytotoxic activities.

Two new C31 triterpenes, polysimiaric acid A (1) and B (2) as well as one new clerodane diterpenoid, 16,16-dimethoxy-cleroda-3,13Z-dien-15-oic acid (3), together with six known compounds were isolated from Polyalthia simiarum. Their structures were determined by analysis of 1D and 2D NMR data. Three new compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity against five human tumour cell lines. Compound 3 showed cytotoxic activities against SMMC-7721 with the IC50 value of 22.43 µM.

[Analysis on new research and development ideas and technical points of traditional Chinese medicine for prevention and treatment of chronic heart failure].

Chronic heart failure(CHF), a serious and end stage of various heart diseases, is a common chronic cardiovascular disease in the 21 st century. Literature data show that the 5-year mortality rate of hospitalized patients with heart failure is as high as 50%. Nowadays, the development of drugs treating heart failure has become a hot spot, meanwhile, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has shown the advantages in the treatment of chronic heart failure. In this article, four stages to develop traditional Chinese medicine for chronic heart failure were proposed. Firstly, discuss and screen ideas and methods with regard to the development of TCM and its prescriptions based on clinical needs. Secondly, study the preparation process and quality control method by referring to the existing clinical background of TCM prescriptions and analyzing the chemical compositions and pharmacological action characteristics of each herb in the prescription. Then, design non-clinical evaluation programs and carry out researches on pharmacodynamics and toxicology by combining the experience of clinical use of TCM prescriptions and future clinical positioning, and gradually adjust and improve the programs during implementation. Finally, conduct clinical trial application(IND) by submitting registration application data which are base on the clinical drug experience, preclinical research pharmacy, main pharmacodynamics, safety test results of the prescription, clinical positioning, and reasonable clinical trial plan designed by the theory of TCM. After passing the IND technical review, the clinical trial study shall be officially launched to achieve the desired results and obtain effective Chinese patent medicines for heart failure treatment.

Immunomodulatory and Antioxidant Activities of a Polysaccharide from Ligustrum vicaryi L. Fruit.

Ligustrum vicaryi L. is a hybrid of Ligustrum ovalifolium Hassk. var. aureo-marginatum and Ligustrum vulgale L., belonging to the Oleaceae family. It is often used as an ornamental shrub due to its golden leaves. However, its medical value is yet to be discovered. Recently, plant polysaccharides have attracted comprehensive attention owing to their biological properties, including immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities. This study aimed to extract, purify, and characterize the polysaccharide from the Ligustrum vicaryi L. fruit and investigate its immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities. The Ligustrum vicaryi L. fruit polysaccharide (LVFP) was obtained by ultrasonic extraction, ethanol precipitation, macroporous resin separation, and dialysis bag purification. The physicochemical properties of the LVFP were elucidated using Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry, high-performance ion chromatography, and high-performance gel filtration chromatography. The results indicated that the LVFP consisted of rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, and glucose in a ratio of 1.79 : 7.55 : 4.58 : 1.54, and its molecular weight was 88,949 Da. The immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities of the LVFP were investigated using a cyclophosphamide- (Cy-) induced immunosuppressed mouse model. The results demonstrated that the LVFP significantly increased spleen and thymus indexes, enhanced the phagocytic function of neutrophils, activated B and T lymphocytes, and upregulated serum levels of IL-10 and TNF-α. Moreover, we observed that the LVFP relieved Cy-induced liver damage by increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) levels. These results suggested that the LVFP has the immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities, therefore laying a foundation for the application of the LVFP in the pharmaceutical and functional food industries.

Sesquiterpenoids from the roots of Daphne genkwa Siebold et Zucc. With potential anti-inflammatory activity.

Six undescribed sesquiterpenoids, including three acorane-type sesquiterpenoids (daphneaines A-C), three guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids (daphneaines E-G) and three known analogues were isolated from the roots of Daphne genkwa Siebold et Zucc. Their gross structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses. The relative configurations of daphneaines A-C were determined by NOESY experiments. In addition, the relative configuration of daphneaine G was elucidated by performing a quantum chemical calculation of the NMR chemical shifts coupled with an advanced statistical procedure DP4+. The comparison of experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data led to the establishment of the absolute configurations of daphneaines A-G. All isolates were tested for their inhibitory activity towards the LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages, and daphneaine F showed inhibitory effect on NO production with an IC50 value of 35.68 ± 3.18 µM.

Phytochemical identification of Lithocarpus polystachyus extracts by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight-MS and their protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B and α-glucosidase activities.

Lithocarpus polystachyus leaves exhibit antidiabetic activity and is consumed as a herbal tea in China. In this study, phytochemical profiles of L. polystachyus leaves were identified and characterized by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight-MS in both positive and negative ion modes. A total of 17 compounds were tentatively characterized and identified by accurate mass and characteristic fragment ions. The total phenolic contents in the leaf extracts ranged from 9.0 to 13.4 g gallic acid equivalents/100 g of dry weight (DW). In addition, the effect of these extracts on inhibiting the activities of α-glucosidase and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) were evaluated. L. polystachyus extracts demonstrated significant inhibition of α-glucosidase (more than 88.1% at a concentration of 1.25 mg/mL) and acarbose (93.6% at a concentration of 5 mg/mL) while the PTP1B inhibition rate was over 84.3%. The antioxidant capacities of the leaf extracts were determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, ABTS, and ferric reducing ability of plasma methods and ranged from 50.5 to 72.5 g trolox, from 43.2 to 77.7 g trolox, and from 5.0 to 10.6 g butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT; equaling trolox or BHT per 100 g of DW), respectively. Based on these results, L. polystachyus can be considered as a functional food owing to its antidiabetic and antioxidative activities, which are attributed to its rich phenolic and dihydrochalcone contents.

Analysis on new research and development ideas and technical points of traditional Chinese medicine for prevention and treatment of chronic heart failure / 中国中药杂志

Chronic heart failure(CHF), a serious and end stage of various heart diseases, is a common chronic cardiovascular disease in the 21 st century. Literature data show that the 5-year mortality rate of hospitalized patients with heart failure is as high as 50%. Nowadays, the development of drugs treating heart failure has become a hot spot, meanwhile, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has shown the advantages in the treatment of chronic heart failure. In this article, four stages to develop traditional Chinese medicine for chronic heart failure were proposed. Firstly, discuss and screen ideas and methods with regard to the development of TCM and its prescriptions based on clinical needs. Secondly, study the preparation process and quality control method by referring to the existing clinical background of TCM prescriptions and analyzing the chemical compositions and pharmacological action characteristics of each herb in the prescription. Then, design non-clinical evaluation programs and carry out researches on pharmacodynamics and toxicology by combining the experience of clinical use of TCM prescriptions and future clinical positioning, and gradually adjust and improve the programs during implementation. Finally, conduct clinical trial application(IND) by submitting registration application data which are base on the clinical drug experience, preclinical research pharmacy, main pharmacodynamics, safety test results of the prescription, clinical positioning, and reasonable clinical trial plan designed by the theory of TCM. After passing the IND technical review, the clinical trial study shall be officially launched to achieve the desired results and obtain effective Chinese patent medicines for heart failure treatment.

Raw Garlic Consumption and Risk of Liver Cancer: A Population-Based Case-Control Study in Eastern China.

Although the major risk factors for liver cancer have been established, preventive factors for liver cancer have not been fully explored. We evaluated the association between raw garlic consumption and liver cancer in a large population-based case-control study in Eastern China. The study was conducted in Jiangsu, China, from 2003 to 2010. A total of 2011 incident liver cancer cases and 7933 randomly selected population-controls were interviewed. Epidemiological data including raw garlic intake and other exposures were collected, and serum markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were assayed. Overall, eating raw garlic twice or more per week was inversely associated with liver cancer, with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 0.77 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.62-0.96) compared to those ingesting no raw garlic or less than twice per week. In stratified analyses, high intake of raw garlic was inversely associated with liver cancer among Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative individuals, frequent alcohol drinkers, those having history of eating mold-contaminated food or drinking raw water, and those without family history of liver cancer. Marginal interactions on an additive scale were observed between low raw garlic intake and HBsAg positivity (attributable proportion due to interaction (AP) = 0.31, 95% CI: -0.01-0.62) and heavy alcohol drinking (AP = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.00-0.57). Raw garlic consumption is inversely associated with liver cancer. Such an association shed some light on the potential etiologic role of garlic intake on liver cancer, which in turn might provide a possible dietary intervention to reduce liver cancer in Chinese population.

Assignment of the stereostructures of sesquiterpenoids from the roots of Daphne genkwa via quantum chemical calculations.

Five new guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids were obtained from the roots of Daphne genkwa. Their gross structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analyses. Attempts on the assignment of the relative configurations were unsuccessful when based on the NOESY correlations. Therefore, NMR chemical shift calculations based on the gauge independent atomic orbital (GIAO) method in combination with the statistical method DP4+ were employed to establish their relative configurations. Furthermore, the absolute configurations were determined by comparing the experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The isolated compounds were screened for their cytotoxicity in vitro against two human hepatocellular carcinoma, HepG2 and Hep3B cell lines.

Consumption of garlic and its interactions with tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking on esophageal cancer in a Chinese population.

Garlic consumption has been associated inversely with esophageal cancer (EC); however, its interactions with tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption have never been evaluated in an epidemiological study. We evaluated the potential interactions between garlic intake and tobacco smoking as well as alcohol consumption in a population-based case-control study with 2969 incident EC cases and 8019 healthy controls. Epidemiologic data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated and additive and multiplicative interactions were evaluated using unconditional logistic regression models, adjusting for potential confounding factors. Semi-Bayes (SB) adjustments were used to reduce potential false-positive findings. EC was associated inversely with raw garlic intake [SB-adjusted OR for more than once a week=0.68, 95% CI: 0.57-0.80], with a strong dose-response pattern in the overall analysis and in the stratified analyses by smoking and drinking. EC was associated positively with smoking and alcohol drinking, with SB-adjusted OR of 1.73 (95% CI: 1.62-1.85) and 1.37 (95% CI: 1.28-1.46) in dose-response effects of increased intensity and longer duration of smoking/drinking. Moreover, garlic intake interacts with smoking [synergy index (S)=0.83, 95% CI: 0.67-1.02; ratio of OR=0.88, 95% CI: 0.80-0.98] and alcohol drinking (S=0.73, 95% CI: 0.57-0.93; ratio of OR=0.86, 95% CI: 0.77-0.95) both multiplicatively and additively. Our findings suggested that high intake of raw garlic may reduce EC risk and may interact with tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption, which might shed a light on the development of EC as well as a potential dietary intervention among high-risk smokers and drinkers for EC prevention in the Chinese population.