Salvianolic acid B from Salvia miltiorrhiza bunge: A potential antitumor agent.

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Lamiaceae) is a perennial herb widely found in China since ancient times with a high economic and medicinal value. Salvianolic acid B (Sal-B) is an important natural product derived from Salvia miltiorrhiza and this review summarizes the anticancer activity of Sal-B. Sal-B inhibits tumor growth and metastasis by targeting multiple cell signaling pathways. This review aims to review experimental studies to describe the possible anticancer mechanisms of Sal-B and confirm its potential as a therapeutic drug.

"Efficacy-Nature-Structure" Relationship of Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on Chemical Structural Data and Bioinformatics Analysis.

Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have wide pharmacological activities, and the ingredients in individual TCMs determine their efficacies. To understand the "efficacy-nature-structure" relationship of TCM, compounds from 2444 kinds of herbs were collected, and the associations between family, structure, nature, and biological activities were mined and analyzed. Bernoulli Naïve Bayes profiling and a data analysis method were used to predict the targets of compounds. The results show that genetic material determined the representation of ingredients from herbs and the nature of TCMs and that the superior scaffolds of compounds of cold nature were 2-phenylochrotinone, anthraquinone, and coumarin, while the compounds of hot nature were cyclohexene. The results of the similarity analysis and distribution for molecular descriptors of compounds show that compounds associated with the same nature were similar and compounds associated with different natures occurred as a transition in part. As for integral compounds from 2-phenylochrotinone, anthraquinone, coumarin, and cyclohexene, the value of the shape index increased, indicating the transition of scaffolds from a spherical structure to a linear structure, with various molecular descriptors decreasing. Three medicines and three recipes prescribed based on "efficacy-nature-structure" had a higher survival rate in the clinic and provided powerful evidence for TCM principles. The research improves the understanding of the "efficacy-nature-structure" relationship and extends TCM applications.

Wake-Promoting Effect of Bloodletting Puncture at Hand Twelve Jing-Well Points in Acute Stroke Patients: A Multi-center Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect and safety of bloodletting puncture at hand twelve Jing-Well points (HTWPs) in acute stroke patients with conscious disturbance. METHODS: In this multi-center and randomized controlled trial, 360 patients suffered from ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke with conscious disturbance within 48 h from the onset of symptom were divided into bloodletting (180 cases) and control (180 cases) groups using a block randomization. Patients in both groups received routine Western medicine, and patients in the bloodletting group received additional bloodletting puncture at HTWPs on admission immediately before conventional treatment. The primary outcome measure was Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score and the secondary outcomes included blood pressure, respiratory rate and pulse rate. All variables were evaluated at baseline (before bloodletting), 0 (after bloodletting immediately), 15, 30, 50 and 80 min post bloodletting. RESULTS: At 80 min post bloodletting, the proportion of patients with improved consciousness in the bloodletting group was greater than the control group (P<0.05). In the separate analysis of moderate consciousness disturbance subgroup, bloodletting therapy benefited ischemic patients, and improved the eye and language response of GCS score at 15, 30, 50, 80 min post bloodletting (P<0.05 or P<0.01). No significant differences were observed regarding the secondary outcomes between two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The bloodletting puncture at HTWPs was safe and could improve conscious levels of ischemic stroke patients, highlighting a first-aid intervention for acute stroke. (Registration No. ChiCTR-INR-16009530).

Identifying potential treatments of COVID-19 from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) by using a data-driven approach.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been widely used as an approach worldwide. Chinese Medicines (CMs) had been used to treat and prevent viral infection pneumonia diseases for thousands of years and had accumulated a large number of clinical experiences and effective prescriptions. AIM OF THE STUDY: This research aimed to systematically excavate the classical prescriptions of Chinese Medicine (CM), which have been used to prevent and treat Pestilence (Wenbing, Wenyi, Shiyi or Yibing) for long history in China, to obtain the potential prescriptions and ingredients to alternatively treat COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We developed the screening system based on data mining, molecular docking and network pharmacology. Data mining and association network were used to mine the high-frequency herbs and formulas from ancient prescriptions. Virtual screening for the effective components of high frequency CMs and compatibility Chinese Medicine was explored by a molecular docking approach. Furthermore, network pharmacology method was used to preliminarily uncover the molecule mechanism. RESULTS: 574 prescriptions were obtained from 96,606 classical prescriptions with the key words to treat "Warm diseases (Wenbing)", "Pestilence (Wenyi or Yibing)" or "Epidemic diseases (Shiyi)". Meanwhile, 40 kinds of CMs, 36 CMs-pairs, 6 triple-CMs-groups existed with high frequency among the 574 prescriptions. Additionally, the key targets of SARS-COV-2, namely 3CL hydrolase (Mpro) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2), were used to dock the main ingredients from the 40 kinds by the LigandFitDock method. A total of 66 compounds components with higher frequency were docked with the COVID-19 targets, which were distributed in 26 kinds of CMs, among which Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix Et Rhizoma), HuangQin (Scutellariae Radix), Dahuang (Rhei Radix Et Rhizome) and Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) contain more potential compounds. Network pharmacology results showed that Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix Et Rhizoma) and HuangQin (Scutellariae Radix) CMs-pairs could also interact with the targets involving in immune and inflammation diseases. CONCLUSIONS: These results we obtained probably provided potential candidate CMs formulas or active ingredients to overcome COVID-19. Prospectively, animal experiment and rigorous clinic studies are needed to confirm the potential preventive and treat effect of these CMs and compounds.

[Analysis of infrared spectra of 60 kinds of plant extract of traditional Chinese medicine and study on the identification and evaluation of characteristics of the regional markers associated with cold and heat nature].

By using the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and linear discriminant analysis (LDA), logistic discriminant analysis (Logistic-DA), principal component analysis-linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA), partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), infrared spectra of 60 kinds of plant extract of Chinese traditional medicine were analyzed and the identification and evaluation of characteristics of the regional markers associated with cold and heat nature were studied. Results indicated that LDA and SVM are suitable for the recognition model of water extract infrared spectral data, LDA is suitable for the identification model of anhydrous ethanol extract infrared spectral data, SVM is suitable for the identification model of chloroform extract infrared spectral data, while petroleum ether extract group recognition effect is not ideal. According to the suitable characteristic parameters identification model, data were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy, and parameters and resistance characteristics of the traditional Chinese drug composition can be obtained. Regional characteristics of these two parameters can be used to identify drug ingredients, and can also be used to indicate different degrees of resistance characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine. Component parameter is model identification coefficient corresponding to the position of spectrum and infrared, with a value greater than zero it is cold nature marker, while with a value less than zero it is heat nature marker; model identification score is a parameter reflecting the degree of cold and heat nature, the greater the score (positive), the more it is cold, while the smaller the score, the more it is hot. a parameter reflecting the degree of cold and heat,the greater the score (positive) is cold more strong, the score is small (negative) heat stronger.

[Effect of 5 warm-hot nature Chinese drugs for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis on 5-HT, NE, and endocrine hormones of rats of cold coagulation and blood stasis syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of warm-hot nature Chinese drugs (WHNCD) for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis (PBCRBS) for intervening model rats of cold coagulation and blood stasis syndrome (CCBSS). METHODS: CCBSS rat model was set up in outbred SD rats using ice water immersion method. Totally 300 successfully modeled CCBSS rats were randomly divided into 5 groups according to the principle of balance weight, 60 in each group. Contents of triothyrone (T3), tetraiodothyroine (T4), progesterone (P), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and noradrenalin (NE) were paralleledly detected in all groups. Then rats in each group were subdivided into 6 subgroups as the model group, the curcuma group, the Ligsticum Chuanxiong group, the safflower group, the Rhizoma Corydalis group, and the Olibanumg group. Besides, 5 normal control groups were set up for 5 indices, 50 rats in total. We need 70 rats (7 groups) to finish observing 1 index, 350 rats in total for 5 indices. Except those in the model group and the normal control group, rats were administered with corresponding decoction at 20 g crude drugs/kg body weight by gastrogavage, 3 mL each time, once daily for 7 successive days. Equal volume of normal saline was given to rats in the normal control group and the model group. Contents of T3, T4, P, 5-HT, and NE were detected before treatment and 1 week after treatment. RESULTS: Compared with before treatment in the same group, T3 increased in the Ligsticum Chuanxiong group and the Olibanumg group, 5-HT increased in the Ligsticum Chuanxiong group, T4, NE, and P increased in all medicated groups (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, contents of T3, T4, 5-HT, NE, and P in the model group decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, contents of T3, T4, 5-HT, and NE increased in each medicated group (P < 0.05). There was statistical difference in contents of P between the Ligsticum Chuanxiong group and the Olibanumg group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: WHNCD for PBCRBS had regulatory roles in serum contents of T3, T4, P, and NE in modeled rats of CCBSS. They could promote the thyroid gland-gonadal axis function, enhance the function of the endocrine system, which might be one of the pharmacodynamic mechanism of WHNCD for PBCRBS in intervening CCBSS.

[Textual research on the literature sources, its related names and medicinal part of Lonicera japonica Thunb].

The "jin yin hua" (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) used in the clinic nowadays is the flower of honeysuckle, excluding its stem, leave, branch, vine or the whole plant. In the early time, the name of "ren dong" (honeysuckle) or "ren dong teng" (Caulis lonicerae) didn't refer exclusively to the flower of honeysuckle. A few early literature, such as Xin xiu ben cao (Newly Revised Materia Medica) recorded briefly the flower, yet only mentions its time of blossom and shape without mentioning the medicinal use of its flower, nor the title of "jin yin hua", as the identification for this plant. Therefore, it cannot be regarded as the primary source of "jin yin hua". This research points out that the first appearance of the name of "jin yin hua" should be in Su shen liang fang (Su-Shen's Effective Prescriptions) of the Song Dynasty, and the first usage of the flower "jin yin hua" as a single drug was in Wai ke jing yao (Essence of External Diseases) of the Song Dynasty. Thus, the conclusion that "jin yin hua" is first seen in Xin xiu ben cao or lv chan yan ben cao (Mountainous Materia Medica) quoted in the ninth edition of teaching material of Traditional Chinese Pharmacology, and Chinese Materia Medica are all wrong and should be corrected accordingly.

Study on the networks of "Nature-Family-Component" of Chinese medicinal herbs based on association rules mining.

OBJECTIVE: To explore appropriate methods for the research of the theory of Chinese medicine nature property and find the relationship between Nature-Family-Component of Chinese herbs. METHODS: From perspective of systems biology, we used Associate Network to identify useful relationships among "Nature-Family-Component" of Herbs. In this work, Associate Network combines association rules mining method and network construction method to evaluate the complicate relationship among "Nature-Family-Component" of herbs screened. RESULTS: The results of association rules mining showed that the families had a close relationship with nature properties of herbs. For example, the families of Magnoliaceae, Araceae had a close relationship with hot nature with confidence of 100%, the families of Cucurbitaceae has a close relationship to cold nature with confidence of 90.91%. Moreover, the results of constructed Associate Network implied that herbs belonging to the same families generally had the same natures. In addition, some herbs belonging to different families may also have same natures when they contain the same main components. CONCLUSION: These results implied that the main components of herbs might affect their natures; the relationships between families and natures were based on the main compounds of herbs.

[Pattern recognition for traditional Chinese medicine nature of 60 kinds of herbal medicine based on high performance capillary electrophoresis fingerprint].

OBJECTIVE: To establish signature pattern recognition model of cold-hot nature of herbal medicine. METHODS: High performance capillary electrophoresis fingerprints of 60 kinds of herbal medicine (30 kinds of cold, 30 of hot) were established, features of wavelength were screened, 6 analysis methods such as linear discriminant analysis (LDA), logistic discriminant analysis (Logistic-DA), principal component and linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA), partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), random forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM) were used to establish and evaluate recognition model of cold-hot nature after data processing. RESULTS: SVM was proved to be a suitable means of recognition model of herbal medicine cold-hot nature based on data of HPCE fingerprints. Characteristic parameters of nature could be screened according to theoretical spectra signature of nature model, the characteristic regions of components of herbs with cold-heat nature could be identified in the HPCE fingerprint. The characteristic parameters of cold-hot nature were the identifying coefficient for specific retention time of the theoretical spectra of recognition model, identification coefficients greater than zero were for the cold marker, while that less than zero for the hot marker. CONCLUSION: The results imply that HPCE is a feasible and effective means for identification of cold-hot nature of Traditional Chinese medicine.

Study of the distribution patterns of the constituent herbs in classical Chinese medicine prescriptions treating respiratory disease by data mining methods.

OBJECTIVE: To provide the distribution pattern and compatibility laws of the constituent herbs in prescriptions, for doctor's convenience to make decision in choosing correct herbs and prescriptions for treating respiratory disease. METHODS: Classical prescriptions treating respiratory disease were selected from authoritative prescription books. Data mining methods (frequent itemsets and association rules) were used to analyze the regular patterns and compatibility laws of the constituent herbs in the selected prescriptions. RESULTS: A total of 562 prescriptions were selected to be studied. The result exhibited that, Radix glycyrrhizae was the most frequently used in 47.2% prescriptions, other frequently used were Semen armeniacae amarum, Fructus schisandrae Chinese, Herba ephedrae, and Radix ginseng. Herbal ephedrae was always coupled with Semen armeniacae amarum with the confidence of 73.3%, and many herbs were always accompanied by Radix glycyrrhizae with high confidence. More over, Fructus schisandrae Chinese, Herba ephedrae and Rhizoma pinelliae was most commonly used to treat cough, dyspnoea and associated sputum respectively besides Radix glycyrrhizae and Semen armeniacae amarum. The prescriptions treating dyspnoea often used double herb group of Herba ephedrae & Radix glycyrrhizae, while prescriptions treating sputum often used double herb group of Rhizoma pinelliae & Radix glycyrrhizae and Rhizoma pinelliae & Semen armeniacae amarum, triple herb groups of Rhizoma pinelliae & Semen armeniacae amarum & Radix glycyrrhizae and Pericarpium citri reticulatae & Rhizoma pinelliae & Radix glycyrrhizae. CONCLUSIONS: The prescriptions treating respiratory disease showed common compatibility laws in using herbs and special compatibility laws for treating different respiratory symptoms. These principle patterns and special compatibility laws reported here could be useful for doctors to choose correct herbs and prescriptions in treating respiratory disease.

[Differences of concept and entity of xiao-named herb between Shennong's Herbal Classic and Song-edition Treatise on Febrile Disease and Golden Chamber].

There are significant differences of the XIAO-named herb between Shennong's Herbal Classic and the Song-edition Treatise on Febrile Disease and Synopsis of the Golden Chamber. The reasons are: (1) With the development of history, differentiation of herb category and effect kept changing from the Han Dynasty to the Song Dynasty, which led to the differences in concept and entity of herbs in different periods. (2) Lin Yi of the Song Dynasty may have redefined some herb's names according to the current situation when he revised Zhang Zhongjing's works.

[A discussion on the reason of differences between property and flavor of Chinese Materia Medica of ancient and modern times].

The property and flavor (four properties of cold, hot, warm, cool and five flavors of spicy, sweet, bitter, sour, salty) which marked the function and efficacy of Chinese Materia Medica had different records in TCM ancient literature, even being completely opposite. By analyzing the reason, it mainly involves such aspects as different properties of soil and water, different harvesting seasons, incorrect nomenclature not corresponding to reality, different angles, double properties and flavors, former mistakes and latter corrections, different processing methods etc.

[Research progress on effect of coumarins compounds in anti-tumor].

Coumarins are a group of important natural compounds, and have been found to have multi-biological activities such as anti-HIV, anti-tumor, anti-hypertension, anti-arrhythmia, anti-osteoporosis, assuaging pain, preventing asthma and antisepsis. One of which is its anti-tumor effect and that is a research focus on. Therefore, we believe that it is necessaryto carry out further studies on the effect of coumarins compounds in anti-tumor. Investigation should emphasize on improving techniques for extraction and separation, searching the effective precursory compound, and synthesizing and screening out courmarin derivatives with high activity and low toxicity. Here the recent research progress in anti-tumor effect of coumarins compounds is reviewed.

[Selection of medical talents under the influence of imperial examination system in the Tang Dynasty.]

The Tang Dynasty was an important period in which China's ancient imperial examination system was formed and perfected. The medical examination at that time was influenced by imperial examination system, too. Medical talents were chosen according to a clear regulation of exam subjects imitating "Examination based on Imperial College law", "Ming Jing" and "Ming Fa" in the Tang Dynasty. The ways of choosing sheng tu, gong jü, zhi jü, dai zhao were also used for choosing medical talents, and the practical subjects of medical examination and qualified standard were also made, which can be used as a reference for TCM education, examination, selecting and checking of TCM talents today.