Botanical characteristics, phytochemistry and related biological activities of Rosa roxburghii Tratt fruit, and its potential use in functional foods: a review.

Due to the growing global population, reduction in arable land and effects of climate change, incongruity between food supply and demand has become increasingly severe. Nowadays, with awareness of the elementary nutrients required for human growth, increasing attention is being paid to the health and medical functions of food. Along with increased food production achieved by modern agricultural techniques, underutilised functional foods are an important strategy for solving food security problems and maintaining the nutritional quality of the human diet. Rosa roxburghii Tratt (RRT) is a natural fruit that contains unique functional and nutritional constituents, which are characterised by a high anti-oxidant potential. This review summarises the biological characteristics, chemical composition, health-promoting properties and development status of RRT products to inspire investigations on the use of RRT fruit as a functional food, dietary supplement and pharmaceutical additive. The nutrients and functional ingredients of RRT fruit are described in detail to provide more reference information for nutritionists and pharmacists.

Chinese Expert's Perspectives on Andrological Diseases Responding Specifically to Traditional Chinese Medicine / 中国实验方剂学杂志

In recent years， the incidence rate of andrological diseases has shown a significant growth trend. Considering the unavailability of a perfect theoretical system for andrology in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and the complex pathogenesis despite of the limited types of andrological diseases， it is necessary to improve the clinical efficacy of andrological diseases so as to satisfy the needs of patients. Therefore， the China Association of Chinese Medicine （CACM） organized the andrologists of TCM and western medicine and the outstanding young clinicians to discuss the andrological diseases responding specifically to TCM or integrated TCM and western medicine， such as chronic prostatitis， male infertility， benign prostatic hyperplasia， erectile dysfunction， and premature ejaculation， determine their diagnostic criteria in western medicine， and standardize the specifications for TCM diagnosis and treatment based on syndrome differentiation， thus formulating recognized and integrated diagnosis and treatment protocols. Apart from proposing suggestions on the treatment of such andrological diseases with TCM and western medicine， the experts have also figured out the andrological diseases responding specifically to TCM， the optimal intervention time of TCM and western medicine， and the suitable measures including surgery. The resulting consensus helps to better guide the formulation of accurate， personalized， and optimized treatment plans in clinical practice and improve the diagnosis and treatment effects of andrological diseases by giving full play to the advantages of TCM， which will in turn contribute to further innovation and development of TCM.

Expert Consensus on Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Diseases Responding Specifically to Traditional Chinese Medicine / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and western medicine have their respective advantages and limitations in the diagnosis and treatment of common otorhinolaryngology head and neck diseases. Although the integrated TCM and western medicine exhibits definite curative effects， there is no consensus on the otorhinolaryngology head and neck diseases responding specifically to TCM or integrated TCM and western medicine， as well as the diagnosis and treatment schemes. The China Association of Chinese Medicine （CACM） thus organized the otorhinolaryngology head and neck specialists of both TCM and western medicine to discuss the etiology， pathogenesis， and clinical diagnosis and treatment methods of common otorhinolaryngology head and neck diseases with the results of multiple clinical trials taken into account. The acute pharyngitis， chronic pharyngolaryngitis， paraesthesia pharyngis， hysterical aphasia， allergic rhinitis， subjective tinnitus， and otogenic vertigo were confirmed to respond specifically to TCM or integrated TCM and western medicine. Then a mutually agreed diagnosis and treatment scheme and recommendation with integrated TCM and western medicine was formulated as a reference for clinical practice， thus benefiting more patients.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Neochlorogenic Acid Extract from Mulberry Leaf (Morus alba L.) Against LPS-Stimulated Inflammatory Response through Mediating the AMPK/Nrf2 Signaling Pathway in A549 Cells.

Neochlorogenic acid (nCGA) is a phenolic compound isolated from mulberry leaf (Morus alba L.), which possesses multiple pharmacological activities containing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the role of nCGA in the treatment of acute pneumonia and the underlying molecular mechanism are still unclear. Hence, the aim of study is to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of nCGA on LPS-stimulated inflammation in A549 cells. In the present study, results reported that nCGA without cytotoxicity significantly reduced the production of TNF-α, IL-6, and NO, and further suppressed the proteins of iNOS, COX2, TNF-α, IL-6 expression. Furthermore, nCGA also inhibited NF-κB activation and blocked MAPKs signaling pathway phosphorylation. In addition, we found nCGA significantly increased the expression of HO-1 via activating the AMPK/Nrf2 signaling pathway to attenuate the inflammatory response, whereas this protective effect of nCGA was reversed by pre-treatment with compound C (C.C, an AMPK inhibitor). Therefore, all these results indicated that nCGA might act as a natural anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of acute pneumonia.

Effects of Erbium:Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet Laser Irradiation on Bovine Dentin Contaminated by Cariogenic Bacteria.

Objective: This study was performed to determine the bactericidal effects of erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser irradiation and the morphological and chemical composition changes in bovine dentin. Methods: Dentin slabs were prepared from bovine incisors, and then cultured with Streptococcus mutans to produce bacteria-infected dentin samples. The samples were randomly divided into five groups with Er:YAG laser irradiation energy densities of 0, 6.37, 12.73, 19.11, and 25.47 J/cm2. After irradiation, samples were stained and observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The bactericidal abilities were measured using live/dead staining. The morphology and chemical components were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectrometry. Results: After irradiation, the elimination of bacteria and the smear layer were significantly better in the high energy density groups (19.11, 25.47 J/cm2) than in the low energy density groups (6.37, 12.73 J/cm2; p < 0.001). On morphological examination, the group with minimum energy density (6.37 J/cm2) showed superficial melting. In the high energy density groups (12.73, 19.11, and 25.47 J/cm2), laser-irradiated dentin showed a clean surface with open orifices. Significant increases were observed in the weight percentages of calcium (from 19.75 ± 0.69 to 34.47 ± 2.91, p < 0.001) and phosphate (from 8.58 ± 0.43 to 15.10 ± 1.81, p < 0.001), whereas significant decreases were observed for oxygen (from 49.84 ± 0.69 to 36.39 ± 2.86, p < 0.001) and carbon (from 26.06 ± 3.58 to 12.80 ± 2.26, p < 0.01) with increasing energy density. Conclusions: This study confirmed that Er:YAG laser irradiation has bactericidal and dentin conditioning effects.

Inotodiol inhibits cells migration and invasion and induces apoptosis via p53-dependent pathway in HeLa cells.

BACKGROUND: Inonotus obliquus, namely as Chaga mushroom, is a medicinal and edible fungus, which is widely used in food and medical fields. Inotodiol, a natural lanostane-type triterpenoid with remarkable pharmacological activities, was isolated from Inonotus obliquus, which its potential anti-tumor molecular mechanism was elaborated poorly. PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Inotodiol on HeLa cell migration, invasion and apoptosis through p53-dependent pathway. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The potential mechanisms of Inotodiol on HeLa cell anti-metastatic and pro-apoptosis via wound healing assay, trans-well invasion assay, flow cytometry, caspase-3 activity assay and western blot analysis were studied, as well as the involvement of p53 signaling pathway in anti-metastatic and pro-apoptosis of Inotodiol. Besides, the function of tumor suppressor p53 was further verified by small interfering RNA. RESULTS: Firstly, the cell viability assay showed that low-concentration of Inotodiol had no cytotoxicity to HeLa cells and whereas the concentration above 25 µM significantly inhibited HeLa cell growth and even induced apoptosis. This result was further demonstrated by cell proliferation and morphology assay. Secondly, in vitro wound healing and trans-well invasion assays reported that low-concentration treatment of Inotodiol significantly inhibited cells migration and invasion in a dose-dependent manner, the western blot analysis of matrix mettalloprotinase-2 (MMP2) and matrix mettalloprotinase-9 (MMP9) levels were also decreased. Moreover, Inotodiol notably induced tumor cell apoptosis by Annexin-V-FITC apoptosis assay, which is associated with activation pro-apoptotic proteins of PARP, cleaved caspase-3 and Bax expression, inhibition anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 expression. Finally, the anti-tumor activity of Inotodiol was attenuated by silencing p53 tumor suppressor, the result revealed that pre-treatment with p53-specific small interfering RNA (si-p53) markedly inhibited Intodiol-indeuced HeLa cell apoptosis and decreased the caspase-3 activity. What is more, the inhibitory effect of Inotodiol on tumor migration and invasion was blocked under p53 knockdown. CONCLUSION: To sum up, the present study indicated that Inotodiol possessed the potential to prevent malignant tumor migration and invasion, and it might be a natural active compound candidate for clinical treatment of human cervical cancer.

[Xiamen Professional School of Traditional Chinese Medicine in modern Times].

Established in 1932, the Xiamen Professional School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, was the leading educational institution of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the Fujian region in modern times. Without the support of government, Wu Rui-fu and his partners self-funded for running the school hardly, insisted strictly the idea of converging TCM and western medicine, paid attention to the academic construction, launched the academic journals, including the Ten-day Periodical of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Xiamen Medicine, and set up a TCM library. Through the 6 years of painstaking works, the school trained many TCM talents, and accumulated practical experience for exploring the model of TCM education in modern times.

[Exploring the opium prohibition campaign led by LIN Ze-xu, a medical perspective].

Opium destruction in Humen, a feat of the national hero, LIN Ze-xu turned a new page of modern history of China. In the past researches, the campaign always basically studied under a political historical background. In fact, it was also related closely to medicine. During the reign of the Dao Guang Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, there was always mentioning of the risk of doping opium and its addiction process and mechanism in his serial reports and letters to the imperial government. During this inhibition process, he took measures, such as providing the medicines to conquer the addiction of opium, asking the effective prescriptions for prohibiting opium from physicians and strove to popularize them. As viewed from a medical and historical perspective, the opium prohibition campaign led by LIN Ze-xu still reveals some enlightening significance even for the current society.

[Epitome of social work in hospitals in modern China-Social Work in Hospitals].

As the first theoretical monograph about social work in hospitals in China, Social Work in Hospitals was published by Chung Hwa Book Co. in 1946 and was an exposition on the concept, methods and measures of social work in hospitals in detail. The book analyzed the cultivation of quality in the staff and localization of social work in hospitals by introducing cases the author experienced, which made the book an epitome of observation of social work in hospitals in modern China. The social medical idea and case treatment method advocated in the book had their historical inspirational function in establishing a harmonious doctor-patient relationship, improving medical service quality and strengthening humane care.

[Epidemic research in the south of Fujian Province in modern times from the viewpoints of overseas communication].

Under the particular geographical environment and social structure, different spatiality of epidemics was observed in the south of Fujian Province. Some important factors cannot be ignored in the study of local epidemics, such as its developed overseas communication, prosperous commercial activities between the East and the West and deep-rooted overseas emigration tradition. In modern times, public health ideas, therapies and prevention measures of west medicine were introduced, taking epidemic disease prevention as a turning point in this area, which promoted medical development of this area objectively, and valuable experience in disease prevention was accumulated.

[Analysis of governmental administration on medical advertisements in modern China].

The huge medical market in modern China brought about prosperity and then an uncontrolled medical advertising industry. In order to standardize the market, the health institution resorted to laws and regulations. Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau began the work in 1928 and Shanghai Provisional Rules of Banning Obscene Drug Advertising was issued in 1929. In 1930, Provisional Rules of Chinese and Western Medicine Advertising of the Beiping Health Bureau was carried out and then Rules of Chinese and Western Medicine Advertising of Beiping in 1935. From then on, various parts of the country kept on developing and perfecting their own rules on the basis of Rules of Chinese and Western Medicine Advertising of Beiping and the local situation. Among the rules, Provisional Rules of Chinese and Western Medicine Advertising of Shanghai (1936), Rules of Administrating and Correcting Chinese and Western Medicine Advertising of Beiping (1946) and Rules of Medicine Advertising of Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau (1947) were representatives. Those rules embodied the modern government's principle on administrating advertising by legal means and restraining excess illegal medicine advertising. There were also some weak points in the supervision of medicine advertising, such as sluggish supervision, ineffective supervision and light punishment.

[Sanshan Medical Training School of Fujian in modern times].

TCM education in Fujian started at Sanshan Medical Training School in modern times. Approved by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in November 1911 and opened on October 5, 1917, the school was established by CHEN Dengkai, a famous doctor in Fujian. CHEN had begun to compile the texts before its establishment. The school had a 4-year education system (3 school terms in a year) and offered 23 courses including TCM and western medicine. Both the course and texts embodied CHEN's TCM-oriented, western medicine-assisted concept, which was also the contemporary trend of confluence of Chinese and western medicine.

Effect of abdominal acupuncture on pain of pelvic cavity in patients with endometriosis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effect of abdominal acupuncture and Chinese medicine on pain relieving in pelvic cavity in patients with endometriosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-eight cases were randomly divided into 2 groups. Thirty cases were in abdominal acupuncture group and 28 cases in Chinese medicine group. Abdominal acupuncture points such as Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan (CV 10) and Qihai (CV 6), etc. were adopted for the abdominal acupuncture group, and Tianqi Tongjing Capsule (radix notoginseng capsule for dysmenorrhea) was taken by the Chinese medicine group. After a 3-month treatment, the scores of McGill pain questionaire, level of serum CA125, average value of the radial line of endometrial cyst of ovary and the sum of 3 radial lines of the uterus of patients with adenomyosis as the complication of both groups were observed before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The McGill estimation of 6 items for both groups improved obviously after treatment (all P < 0.01, except numbers of selected deseriptors in Chinese medicine group). The differences of the result of McGill estimation of 6 items after treatment had statistical significance, the scores in the abdominal acupuncture group were obviously better than those in the Chinese medicine group (all P < 0.01). The differences of CA125 levels within one group or between 2 groups had statistical significance (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The difference of the radial lines of patients with endometrial cyst of ovary within one group or between 2 groups after treatment had not statistical significance (all P > 0.05). For the value of 3 radial lines of the uterus of patients with adenomyosis within one group before and after treatment, only the difference in the abdominal acupuncture group had statistical significance (P < 0.01). The differences before and after treatment in the Chinese medicine group and the difference between 2 groups after treatment had no statistical significance (all P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Effect of abdominal acupuncture on relieving pain of pelvic cavity caused by endometriosis, reducing the level of serum CA125 is obverious than Tianqi Tongjing Capsule (radix notoginseng capsule for dysmenorrhea). However, the effects on reducing the size of the ovarian endometrial cyst and the size of uterus with adenomyosis are not significant. Therefore, it is concluded that abdominal acupuncture is a better choice for endometriosis with pain as the chief complaints.</p>

DNA barcoding provides distinction between Radix Astragali and its adulterants.

Based on variable nuclear and/or organellar DNA sequences among vastly divergent species as well as morphologically indistinguishable species, DNA barcoding is widely applicable in species identification, biodiversity studies, forensic analyses, and authentication of medicinal plants. The roots of Astragalus membranaceus and A. membranaceus var. mongholica are commonly used as Radix Astragali in several Asian countries, including China, Japan, and Korea. However, in addition to the two species recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, there are twenty-three species from different genera including Astragalus, Oxytropis, Hedysarum, and Glycyrrhiza, which have been used as adulterants not only in trading markets but also by the herbal medicine industry. Therefore, a simple, reliable, and accurate classification method is important for distinguishing authentic Radix Astragali from its adulterants. In this study, we acquired data for 37 samples from four related genera within the family Fabaceae. Then we compared four candidate DNA barcoding markers using ITS, matK, rbcL, and coxI sequences from nuclear, chloroplast, and mitochondrial genomes, all commonly used for plants to identify genetic variations among genera, intraspecies, and interspecies. We observed higher divergences among genera and interspecies for ITS, which have the average Kimura 2-parameter distances of 4.5% and 14.1%, respectively, whereas matK was found to have sufficient divergence at the intraspecific level. Moreover, two indels detected in the matK sequence are useful for PCR studies in distinguishing Radix Astragali from its adulterants. This study suggests that the combined barcoding regions of ITS and matK are superior barcodes for Radix Astragali and further studies should focus on evaluating the applicability and accuracy of such combined markers for a wide range of traditional Chinese herbs.

Biomass structure analysis of Atractylodes lancea in different ecological environments / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the ecological environments of Atractylodes lancea by biomass structural analysis.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Through the scientific investigation in Maoshan, the sampling spots were set up, the relation between growth and ecological environments was researched and the ecological environments of A. lancea were divided as following: the vegetation layer, the shrub layer, the shrub-weed layer and the weed layer. The ramet biomass, height, leaves and coverage of A. lancea were studied.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The several factors (ramet biomass, height, leaves and coverage) showed the regular change. Among maximum, minimum and average, the shrub layer was the biggest, the shrub and weed layer was the second biggest and the vegetation layer and the weed layer was the least.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A. lancea tends to distribute in the shrub layer and the shrub-weed layer.</p>

Comparing of different methods on habitat adaptive division of Chinese material medica / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To comparing two kinds habitat adaptive division of Chinese material medica with different models.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The habitat adaptive divisions of A. lancea according essential oil accumulation with two kinds pattern, model pattern and template pattern were carrid and compared.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Two habitat adaptive divisions of A. lancea maps according essential oil accumulation were gotten.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both model pattern and template pattern were efficient on habitat adaptive division of Chinese material medica, but they shoud bu used with different processesd and based different background [corrected]</p>

Statistical analysis of residues of heavy metals in Chinese crude drugs / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the residues of heavy metals in Chinese crude drugs.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The SPSS 13.0 software was used to analyze the data of Cu, Pb, As, Cd, Hg collected in literatures. And, Green Trade Standards of Importing & Exporting Medicinal Plants & Preparations was used as the standard to evaluate the pollution condition of Cu, Pb, As, Cd, Hg in Chinese crude drugs.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Chinese crude drugs were contaminated by heavy metals in different levels. The content of Cu, Pb, As, Cd, Hg exceeded the limit of the standard and the percentage was 21.0%, 12.0%, 9.7%, 28.5%, 6.9%, respectively; the phenomena of two, three and four metals exceeding limited standard simultaneity in a drug were also found and the percentage was 4.6%, 1.5%, 0.7%, respectively; the content of heavy metals in Radix Platycodi, Radix Asari and Rhizoma Coptidis was higher among the thirty-six Chinese crude drugs; All of the content of five heavy metals in Barbary Fructus Lycii Rhizoma Anemones Raddeanae, Radix Panacis Quiquefolii and Fructus Aurantii were below the limit; The pollution levels of heavy metals in different locality were different; The content of Cu, Pb in cultivated Chinese crude drugs was higher than that in wild Chinese crude drugs, while the content of As in wild Chinese crude drugs was higher than that in cultivated Chinese crude drugs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The pollution levels of heavy metals in Chinese crude drugs were detailed reported in this paper. And it provided ways for the further study of heavy metals in Chinese crude drugs.</p>

Study on climate regionalization of Artemisia annuua in Guangxi / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the major effective factors under the climatic conditions of Guangxi which influence artemisinin content, in order to determine the best planting region.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The correlation, the gradually regression analysis with the statistical analysis system, the geography space analysis and the regionalization with GIS were used for the study.</p><p><b>RESULT AND CONCLUSION</b>The temperature and the sunshine-hour were the major effective factors to artemisinin content, followed by the rainfall amount, the humidity showed less influence, and wind speed had no effect; And the climatic factors of seedling stage and the flowering season were the most influences to the artemisinin content. The artemisinin content was higher during the flowering season, in the region of temperature relatively lower and the rainfall amount smaller. The knoll and the mountainous region in northeast and southwest of Guangxi is the best suitable region for the Artemisia annua planting. The plain area in the southeast and middle of Guangxi is the not suitable region; Other areas are suitable regions for the A. annua planting.</p>

Study on Modified Xiaoyao Decoction combining Clomipramine treating depression / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the efficacy of Modified Xiaoyao Decoction (MXD) combining clomipramine in treatment of depression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and five depression patients were randomly assigned to two groups. The treated group (53 patients), all were differentiated as Gan-qi stagnation syndrome type and treated with MXD combining clomipramine 25-50 mg/d. The control group (52 patients) treated with clomipramine 75-225 mg/d alone. The treatment lasted for 8 weeks in both groups. Scores of depression was assessed with Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) before treatment and at the 2nd, 4th, 8th week of the treatment, efficacy and adverse reactions were evaluated with Global Impression of Change (CGI) and Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment the scores in both groups were significantly different from those before treatment (P < 0.01), but no significant difference was found between the two groups (P > 0.05). Main adverse reactions were dry mouth, constipation in the treated group, much less than those in the control group, which were mainly dry mouth, constipation, dizziness, insomnia, blurred vision and prolonged Q-T interval (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MXD combining clomipramine has the efficacy on depression similar to clomipramine, but has less adverse reactions.</p>

Study on dynamical changes of Ginkgo biloba resources in Pizhou city of Jiangsu Province base on RS and GIS / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyse the dynamical changes of the Ginkgo biloba's resources from 2001 to 2006, in Pizhou city, Jiangshu province by useing spatial analytical function of GIS and RS technology.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Use the GIS and RS technology, extracted the information of G. biloba by scientific investigation, researched the spatial distribution and dynamical changes of G. biloba based on landsat 5 TM: the Apr. 3rd, 2001; Jan. 16th, 2005; July 30th, 2006.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Ginkgo biloba's resource was 1.61 x 10(5) hm2 in 2001, 1.84 x 10(5) hm2 in 2005, 1.88 x 10(5) hm2 in 2006.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ginkgo biloba's resource rised from 1.61 x 10(5) hm2 to 1.88 x 10(5) hm2 from 2001 to 2006, showed the gradually rise.</p>