Chemical constituents in Dolomiaea plants and their pharmacological activities: a review / 中国中药杂志

Dolomiaea plants are perennial herbs in the Asteraceae family with a long medicinal history. They are rich in chemical constituents, mainly including sesquiterpenes, phenylpropanoids, triterpenes, and steroids. The extracts and chemical constituents of Dolomiaea plants have various pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antitumor, anti-gastric ulcer, hepatoprotective and choleretic effects. However, there are few reports on Dolomiaea plants. This study systematically reviewed the research progress on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of Dolomiaea plants to provide references for the further development and research of Dolomiaea plants.

Metabonomics and its application in Chinese medicine processing / 中国中药杂志

Chinese medicine processing is a procedure to process medicinal materials under the guidance of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) theories by using unique methods in China. The medicinal materials can only be used clinically after proper processing. With the development of the modernization of TCM, it is difficult to solve the problems in the inheritance, development, and internationalization of Chinese medicine processing. Metabonomics, a new omics technology developed at the end of the last century, is used to infer the physiological or pathological conditions of the organism with the methods such as NMR and LC-MS via investigating the changes in endogenous small molecule metabolic network after the organism is stimulated by external environment. Metabonomics coincides with the holistic view of TCM because it displays the characteristics of integrity, comprehensiveness, and dynamics, and it has been widely applied in the field of Chinese medicine processing in recent years. This study summarized the application of metabonomics in the processing mechanism and quality control of Chinese medicine processing and prospected the development of this technology in the field of Chinese medicine processing.

Application of metabonomics in study of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome:a review / 中国中药杂志

Syndrome is a nonlinear "internal-excess external-deficiency", "dynamic spatial-temporal" and "multi-dimensional" complex system and thus only by using a versatile method can the connotation be expounded. Metabonomics, which is dynamic, holistic, and systematic, is consistent with the overall mode of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)(holistic view and syndrome differentiation and treatment). Therefore, metabonomics is very important for the research on the differentiation, material basis, and metabolic pathways of syndromes, and efficacy on syndromes. This study reviewed the application of metabonomics in the study of TCM syndromes in recent years, which is expected to objectify the research on TCM syndromes.

Effect of modified zhenzhu tiaozhi capsule on lipid peroxidation and endothelial functions in atherosclerotic rabbits / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the anti-atherosclerotic effect and its possible mechanisms of Modified Zhenzhu Tiaozhi Capsule (MZTC) in rabbits.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>50 rabbits were divided into five groups, i.e., the normal group, the model group, the simvastatin group (3 mg/kg), the high dose MZTC group (1.6 g crude drug/kg), and the low dose MZTC group (1.6 g crude drug/kg), respectively, ten in each group. The atherosclerosis (AS) model was established by feeding rabbits with high fat diet. Corresponding medicines were administrated on the basis of high fat diet for twelve successive weeks. Levels of blood lipids, serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO) were detected. The area of the aortic tunica intima plaque was determined. The pathological changes of the aorta were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the model group, serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), MDA, and atherosclerotic index (AI) were significantly lowered in the MZTC groups (P<0.05, P<0.01), while serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), SOD, and NO obviously increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, and in the MZTC groups were obviously higher than those of the simvastatin group (P<0.01), and there was insignificant difference in other indices. The ratio of the aortic tunica intima plaque percentage to the total tunica intima area was also markedly lower than that of the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Results under light microscope indicated the pathological changes of the aorta was obviously attenuated.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MZTC could inhibit the formation and development of AS plaque. Its mechanism might be associated with regulating lipids metabolism, antioxidation, and improving endothelial functions.</p>