Reform practice of first-class undergraduate personnel training in pharmacy specialty of colleges and universities of traditional Chinese medicine: with Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine as example / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Based on the requirements of first-class undergraduate talents training in pharmacy in the new era, this paper summarizes and analyzes the law, current situation and actual situation of pharmaceutical talents training in TCM colleges and universities in China, and discusses the reform and practice of first-class pharmaceutical talents training in terms of talent training mode reform, teaching staff construction, curriculum system optimization, teaching mode innovation, quality assurance system construction and innovation and entrepreneurship education in combination with the construction experience of national first-class undergraduate specialty construction point in the pharmacy of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, so as to further improve the quality of personnel training and provide a reference for excellent pharmaceutical personnel training.

Deciphering the pharmacological mechanism of Guan-Jie-Kang in treating rat adjuvant-induced arthritis using omics analysis / 医学前沿

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas have attracted increasing attention worldwide in the past few years for treating complex disease including rheumatoid arthritis. However, their mechanisms are complex and remain unclear. Guan-Jie-Kang (GJK), a prescription modified from "Wu Tou Decoction," was found to significantly relieve arthritis symptoms in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis after 30-day treatment, especially in the 24 g/kg/day group. By analyzing 1749 targets related to 358 compounds in the five herbs of GJK, we identified the possible anti-arthritis pathways of GJK, including the calcium signaling and metabolic pathways. Bone damage levels were assessed by micro-computed tomography, and greater bone protective effect was observed with GJK treatment than with methotrexate. Receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL)-RANK signaling, which is related to calcium signaling, was significantly regulated by GJK. Moreover, a target metabolomics assay of serum was conducted; 17 metabolic biomarkers showed significant correlations with treatment. An integrated pathway analysis revealed that pyruvate metabolism, purine metabolism, and glycolysis metabolism were significantly associated with the effects of GJK in arthritis treatment. Thus, this study establishes a new omics analytical method integrated with bioinformatics analysis for elucidating the multi-pathway mechanisms of TCM.

Preparation and evaluation of sustained-release solid dispersions co-loading gastrodin with borneol as an oral brain-targeting enhancer

Borneol is a traditional Chinese medicine that can promote drug absorption from the gastrointestinal tract and distribution to the brain. However, stomach irritation may occur when high doses of borneol are used. In the present work, gastrodin, the main bioactive ingredient of the traditional Chinese drug "Tianma" (Rhizoma Gastrodiae) was used as a model drug to explore reasonable application of borneol. Sustained-release solid dispersions (SRSDs) for co-loading gastrodin and borneol were prepared using ethylcellulose as a sustained release matrix and hydroxy-propyl methylcellulose as a retarder. The dispersion state of drug within the SRSDs was analyzed by using scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and powder X-ray diffractometry. The results indicated that both gastrodin and borneol were molecularly dispersed in an amorphous form. Assay of in vitro drug release demonstrated that the dissolution profiles of gastrodin and borneol from the SRSDs both fitted the Higuchi model. Subsequently, gastric mucosa irritation and the brain targeting of the SRSDs were evaluated. Compared with the free mixture of gastrodin and borneol, brain targeting of SRSDs was slightly weaker (brain targeting index: 1.83 vs. 2.09), but stomach irritation obviously reduced. Sustained-release technology can be used to reduce stomach irritation caused by borneol while preserving sufficient transport capacity for oral brain-targeting drug delivery.

Effect of aconiti laterlis radix compatibility of glycyrrhizae radix on CYP3A4 in vivo / 中国中药杂志

The primary objective was to develope a UPLC method for determine the concentration of buspirone hydroxychloride in plasma and to evaluate the effects of Aconiti Laterlis Radix and Aconiti Laterlis Radix compatibility of Glycyrrhizae Radix on CYP3A4 in vivo. ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 mm x 10 mm, 1.7 microm) was used for the gradient elution with a 2.0 mmol x L(-1) ammonium acetate (pH 7.4, A)-acetonitrile (B) solution, 0-2.2 min, 10% - 60% B, 2.2-2.5 min, 60% B, 2.5-3.0 min, 60%-75% B, 3.0-3.5 min, 75% B, 3.5-4.0 min, 75%-10% B, at the flow rate of 0.3 mL x min(-1) at room temperature. The UV wavelenght was detected at 243 nm. The linear calibration curve ranged between 0.078 125-20.0 microg (r = 0.9975). The average recovery (n = 6) of buspirone hydroxychloride was 85.62% (RSD 6.8%). The results showed that this method has good specificity and repeatability, and which can be used for the determination of buspirone hydrochlorid in serum. In animial studies, single dose Aconiti Laterlis Radix extract treatment (0.5 g x kg(-1)) decreased buspirone hydroxychloride AUC(0-2 h) (52.8%, P = 0.020), increased CL/F (122%, P = 0.045). Compared to the saline treatment group, Aconiti Laterlis Radix compatibility of Glycyrrhizae Radix extract treatment has no effect on CYP3A4 in rat. The results indicated that Aconiti Laterlis Radix extract induced CYP3A4 while Aconiti Laterlis Radix compatibility of Glycyrrhizae Radix extract had no effect on CYP3A4 in vivo. Aconiti Laterlis Radix had been detoxified when be used as compatibility of Glycyrrhizae Radix.

Intestinal absorption characteristics of gastrodigenin in rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the intestinal absorption characteristics of gastrodigenin.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>In vitro everted gut sac model and in situ rat single-pass intestinal perfusion model were used to evaluate the absorption characteristics of gastrodigenin in the different intestinal segments. The concentrations of gastrodigenin in the samples were determined by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) method, and the relevant absorption parameters were calculated.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>In the everted gut sac tests, no significant difference of absorption among the four segments was observed. A positive correlation was found between drug concentration and the accumulated absorption amount (Q). At the concentration of 400 mg x L(-1), the Q of gastrodigenin in the duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon were 224.33, 225.81, 233.18 and 189.25 microg, respectively. The in situ rat single-pass intestinal perfusion tests showed that there was also no significant difference of absorption among the four segments. The absorption rates (A) of gastrodigenin in the duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon were 45.8%, 48.39%, 47.00%, 54.35%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Gastrodigenin can be well absorbed via passive diffusion in the intestine. The absorption rates of gastrodigenin in the different intestinal segments show no regioselectivity.</p>