The Involvement of the Ventral Tegmental Area in the Electroacupuncture Alleviation of Anxiety-Like Behaviors Induced by Chronic Restraint Stress in Mice.

Emotional stress is a significant environmental risk factor for various mental health disabilities, such as anxiety. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been demonstrated to have pronounced anxiolytic effects. However, the neural mechanisms underlying these effects and their contribution to behavioral deficits remain poorly understood. Here, we addressed these issues using a classical mouse anxiety model induced by chronic restraint stress (CRS).Anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated with the open field test and elevated plus maze. Neuronal activation in various brain regions was marked using c-Fos, followed by calculations of interregional correlation to characterize a network that became functionally active following EA at the HT7 acupoint (EA-HT7). We selected the hub regions and further investigated their functions and connections in regulating anxiety-like behaviors by using a combination of chemogenetic manipulations and behavioral testing. CRS exposure induced anxiety-like behaviors. Interestingly, EA-HT7 mitigated these behavioral abnormalities. The c-Fos expression in 30 brain areas revealed a vital brain network for acupuncture responsiveness in naïve mice. Neural activity in the NAcSh (nucleus accumbens shell), BNST (bed nucleus of the stria terminalis), VMH (Ventromedial Hypothalamus), ARC (arcuate nucleus), dDG (dorsal dentate gyrus), and VTA (ventral tegmental area) was significantly altered following acupuncture. Notably, both c-Fos immunostaining and brain functional connectivity analysis revealed the significant activation of VTA following EA-HT7. Interestingly, blocking the VTA eliminated the anxiolytic effects of EA-HT7, whereas chemogenetic activation of the VTA replicated the therapeutic effects of EA-HT7. EA-HT7 has demonstrated benefits in treating anxiety and enhances brain functional connectivity. The VTA is functionally associated with the anxiolytic effects of EA-HT7.

[Role of lymphatic system in coronary heart disease based on theory of combined phlegm and stasis].

According to the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) theory, coronary heart disease(CHD) is mainly caused by heart vessel obstruction due to Qi stagnation, blood stasis, and phlegm turbidity. Chest impediment with combined phlegm and stasis is a common syndrome of CHD, with the manifestations of chest tightness, chest pain, and asthma. Lymphatic system is one of the important immune systems in the human body and has a close relationship with the Qi and blood movement in TCM. The dysfunction of the lymphatic system may lead to metabolism disorders, the generation of dampness pathogen which turns into sticky and difficult-to-dissolve phlegm turbidity. Moreover, it can affect blood circulation and coagulation, causing slow blood flow, increased blood viscosity, and microcirculation disorders. Alterations in lymphatic hydrodynamics may affect the interaction between blood circulation and the lymphatic system. A variety of small molecule drugs and TCM can treat cardiovascular diseases by targeting the lymphatic system. This review discusses the role of the lymphatic system in CHD based on the theory of combined phlegm and stasis, involving the influences of mechanical factors on lymphatic function and the effects and pharmacological mechanisms of TCM and chemicals that target lymphocyte function and lymphatic circulation. By expounding the development process of combined phlegm and stasis in CHD from the lymphatic system, this paper aims to provide new ideas for deciphering pharmacological mechanisms of TCM for resolving phlegm and stasis.

[Discussion on discipline of herbalism].

Since the emergence of the term "materia medica", scholars have proposed different opinions on its concept. This term has been used to refer to traditional Chinese medicines, or medical books, or traditional pharmacology. Due to the differences in the concept of materia medica, scholars also have controversies about the concept of herbalism. Herbalism is usually understood as traditional Chinese pharmacology. After years of evolution, the term "herbalism" has now possessed the characteristics of an independent discipline, which can be defined as an applied basic discipline that comprehensively utilizes traditional and modern technological methods to study the formation, development, and changes of traditional pharmacology and reveal the basic theories and application laws of traditional medicine. At present, the research content of herbalism mainly includes three aspects: materia medica history, materia medica literature, and traditional pharmacology. This study explores the disciplinary concepts and main research content of herbalism based on a systematic review of the literature about the concepts of materia medica and herbalism, with the aim of attracting more attention to promote the establishment and development of the discipline of herbalism.

Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, relapsing disease that severely affects patients' quality of life. The exact cause of IBD is uncertain, but current studies suggest that abnormal activation of the immune system, genetic susceptibility, and altered intestinal flora due to mucosal barrier defects may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of IBD. Unfortunately, IBD is currently difficult to be wholly cured. Thus, more treatment options are needed for different patients. Stem cell therapy, mainly including hematopoietic stem cell therapy and mesenchymal stem cell therapy, has shown the potential to improve the clinical disease activity of patients when conventional treatments are not effective. Stem cell therapy, an emerging therapy for IBD, can alleviate mucosal inflammation through mechanisms such as immunomodulation and colonization repair. Clinical studies have confirmed the effectiveness of stem cell transplantation in refractory IBD and the ability to maintain long-term remission in some patients. However, stem cell therapy is still in the research stage, and its safety and long-term efficacy remain to be further evaluated. This article reviews the upcoming stem cell transplantation methods for clinical application and the results of ongoing clinical trials to provide ideas for the clinical use of stem cell transplantation as a potential treatment for IBD.

[An optimization method of weighted network module partition based on TCM theory of "monarch, minister, assistant and guide"].

The disease-gene-drug multi-level network constructed by network pharmacology can predict drug targets and has been widely used in the study of material basis and mechanism of action of Chinese medicinal prescriptions. However, most of the current studies have normalized the efficacies of Chinese herbal medicines in the compounds during the construction of the network. There is also a lack of in-depth exploration of the mechanism of synergy among multiple components. This study proposed a network module partition method based on group collaboration and the pharmacological network was weighed according to the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) theory of "monarch, minister, assistant and guide". Taking the Tanyu Tongzhi Prescription as an example, we constructed its pharmacological network for the treatment of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. The group collaboration module in the network was identified and the network changes before and after the weighting were compared based on the network topology analysis to explore a new method to find the core nodes of the network as well as the core drugs that affected the efficacy of the compounds. The results showed that the module partition method based on group collaboration could be used to identify and partition group collaboration mo-dules in pharmacological networks of compounds. The proposed weighted network based on the TCM theory of "monarch, minister, assistant, and guide" could identify and partition the modules based on the characteristics of the pharmacological network. The identification and partition results of modules of Tanyu Tongzhi Prescription in the weighted network were superior to those in the unweighted network. The weighted closeness centrality(WCC) evaluation method was conducive to finding key nodes and relations in the network as compared with traditional methods, thereby providing a basis for analyzing the core components of drugs and extracting more accurate drug components and targets.

[Hotspots and trends of Ophiopogonis Radix based on CiteSpace knowledge map].

Ophiopogonis Radix is an important Yin-nourishing drug in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), with the effects of nourishing Yin, promoting fluid production, clearing away heart-fire, and relieving restlessness. It is widely used in clinical practice due to its multiple chemical components and pharmacological effects. The technique "mapping knowledge domains" is an effective tool to quantitatively and objectively visualize the development frontiers and trends of certain disciplines. In this study, TCM research papers related to Ophiopogonis Radix were retrieved from Web of Science(WoS) and CNKI, and the research institutions, journals, and keywords involved were visualized and analyzed using the scientometric software CiteSpace. The co-occurrence network of related research on Ophiopogonis Radix was constructed, and the Ophiopogonis Radix-disease-target network was plotted using Cytoscape 3.8.2. The hot topics in Chinese and English papers were analyzed and the shortcomings in the research on Ophiopogonis Radix were summed up. Furthermore, the development trends were discussed. A total of 1 403 Chinese papers and 292 English papers were included in this study. The analysis of research institutions showed that Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and China Pharmaceutical University were the two research institutions with the largest numbers of papers published. The analysis of journals showed that Hebei Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Journal of Asian Natural Products Research were the two journals with the highest numbers of papers concerning Ophiopogonis Radix. The keyword analysis showed that the research contents of Chinese papers focused on the analysis of medication regularity and clinical observation trials, while the English papers focused on component analysis and pharmacological investigation. Data mining and apoptosis-based pharmacological mechanism might be the research trends in the future.

[Textual research principles and suggestions on function and indication of ancient classical formulas].

Indication and functions is an important key information in the research and development of the ancient classical formulas, which directly affects the clinical positioning of the compound formulas and their reasonable, effective and safe use after marke-ting. It is also the embodiment of the ultimate vitality of ancient classical formulas. Due to the particularity of ancient classical formulas, it is of great significance to accurately define and describe the functions and indications of classical formulas to exert their unqiue advantages. Based on the analysis of the provenances, classification of clinical indications, and functions of 100 prescriptions in the Catalogue of Ancient Classical Formulas(First Batch), this paper summarized the incompleteness, irregularity and inconsistency in the original text, the differences in terminology between ancient and modern times, and the evolution of the meanings of prescriptions in different dynasties. In addition, under the guidance of the general principle of textual researh on ancient classical formulas, which is to inherit the essence, make the past serve the present, link up the past and the present, and bulid consensus, this paper proposed the following ideas: respecting the original meanings and provenances of ancient classical formulas, taking full consideration of the development and evolution, serving the current clinical application and health needs, accurately linking up the ancient and modern terminologies, standardizing the expression of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) terminology, highlighting the characteristics of TCM, attaching importance to the textual research principles and suggestions of post-marketing evidence-based and clinical positioning research, so as to determine the the functions and indications of the ancient classical formulas in a scientific, standardized and reasonable way and better guide the clinical application of the classical formulas.

[Textual research on "Gui" in Chinese classical prescriptions].

Through consulting the ancient herbs and medical books, combining with modern literature, this paper makes textual research on herbal medicine, and textual research on the name, origin, position and harvest and processing changes of the medicinal herbs in ancient classical prescriptions. According to research, Cinnamon medicinal materials were first listed in the Shennong's Herbal Classic, as the name of "Jungui" and "Mugui". Among them, Jungui has undergone the evolution of "Qungui-Jungui-Tonggui-Jungui". After the Northern and Southern Dynasties, a half-volume fatty "Gui" was added, but the usage of the three was no different. The names of Cinnamomi Ramulus and Cinnamomi Cortex did not appear until the Tang Dynasty, and they were preferably thick-skinned and with no cork cambium, and they were mostly used in the name of "Guixin"; Since the Song and Yuan Dynasties, the medicinal parts of cassia have gradually separated. Cinnamomi Cortex is the trunk bark of sapling or branch bark, the twig is Cinnamomi Ramulus, and the tenderest twig is Liugui, Song Dynasty unified the name as "Guizhi"; After the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Cinnamomi Cortex was used as the trunk bark, and Cinnamomi Ramulus was used as the tender twig; In modern times, the Chinese Pharmacopoeia stipulates that the Cinnamomi Ramulus is the young branch of C. cassia, which is Cinnamomum, and Cinnamomi Cortex was the dried trunk bark. From the plant morphology recorded in the previous herbals and the drawings, combined with the distribution of the origins described in the previous herbals, the mainstream plant used as a medicine in the past generations should be C. cassia, but there are other sect. Cinnamomum plants that are also used in medicine everywhere, such as C. chekiangensis, C. bejolghota, C. wilsonii, etc. Throughout the ages, different plant morphologies and medicinal traits have been used to distinguish different categories. The origins of the past dynasties are mostly present in Guangdong, Guangxi province and Vietnam, and are regarded as authentic. The methods for the harvest and processing of cinnamon medicinal materials are basically the same from ancient to modern times.

Polyphyllin VII Promotes Apoptosis in Breast Cancer by Inhibiting MAPK/ERK Signaling Pathway through Downregulation of SOS1.

Polyphyllin VII is a biologically active herbal monomer extracted from the traditional Chinese herbal medicine Chonglou. Many studies have demonstrated the anticancer activity of polyphyllin VII against various types of cancers, such as colon, liver, and lung cancer, but its effect on breast cancer has not been elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that polyphyllin VII inhibited proliferation, increased production of intracellular reactive oxygen species, and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential in breast cancer cells. Notably, polyphyllin VII also induced apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway. Transcriptome sequencing was used to analyze the targets of PPVII in regulating breast cancer cells. Mechanistic studies showed that polyphyllin VII downregulated Son of Sevenless1 (SOS1) and inhibited the MAPK/ERK pathway. Furthermore, PPVII exerted strong antitumor effects in vivo in nude mice injected with breast cancer cells. Our results suggest that PPVII may promote apoptosis through regulating the SOS1/MAPK/ERK pathway, making it a possible candidate target for the treatment of breast cancer.

[Effects of Tanyu Tongzhi recipe on hemorheology, blood lipid and inflammatory factors in rats with mycardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and hyperlipidemia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of Tanyu Tongzhi (TYTZ) recipe on chemorheology, blood lipid and inflammatory factors of hyperlipidemia and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. METHOD: Sixty SD male rats were divided into 5 groups randomly, sham-operated group, model group, high dose group of reproduced by ligation of left descending artery for 30 min followed by releasing the TYTZ and low group of TYTZ. The model of MI/RI injury of the myocardium was ligation for 2 hours in rats. Serum contents of CHO, TG, HDL-L, LDL-L and whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity and ICAM-1, TNF-alpha, IL-10 were measured after myocardial reperfusion injury. RESULT: Compared with sham-operated group, the levels of CHO, TG, LDL-L, whole blood viscosity (1.0,3.0) plasma viscosity and the contents of ICAM-1 were significantly higher, however, HDL-L, IL-10 levels were lower in model group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). CHO, TG, whole blood viscosity (1.0, 3.0, 30) and expression of ICAM-1, TNF-alpha were obviously lower in low group than the model group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The TYTZ recipe can relieve reperfusion injury through regulating blood lipid, improving hemorheological characteristic and inhibiting inflammatory reaction.

Electroacupuncture alleviates depression-like behaviours via a neural mechanism involving activation of Nucleus Accumbens Shell.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the depression-like behaviours in a mouse model of chronic restraint stress (CRS) and explored the underlying neural mechanisms. METHODS: Depression-like behaviours including sucrose preference test (SPT), open field test (OFT) and tail suspension test (TST) were carried out to evaluate the effects of CRS and EA treatment. Using immunohistochemistry to measure the expression of c-Fos. The Nucleus Accumbens Shell (NAc Shell) in C57BL/6J mice were activated or inhibited using Chemogenetics. RESULTS: All the CRS stimulated groups showed lower sucrose preference in the SPT and decreased centre times in the OFT, and increased immobility time in the TST when compared to the normal control. Interestingly, EA at LR3 or HT7 exerted anti-depressant effects, and LR3 EA exhibited a more significant restoration than HT7. Furthermore, EA at LR3 increased expression of c-Fos in the NAc Shell. Chemogenetic inhibition of NAc Shell blocked the effects of EA, whereas enhancement of NAc Shell activity profoundly reversed depressive phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS: LR3 EA was effective in alleviating the depressive-like behaviours, and this therapeutic effect was associated with the activation of NAc Shell. Collectively, these findings revealed that EA may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for depression.

Advancements in Analyzing Tumor Metabolites through Chemical Derivatization-Based Chromatography.

Understanding the metabolic abnormalities of tumors is crucial for early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Accurate identification and quantification of metabolites in biological samples are essential to investigate the relationship between metabolite variations and tumor development. Common techniques like LC-MS and GC-MS face challenges in measuring aberrant metabolites in tumors due to their strong polarity, isomerism, or low ionization efficiency during MS detection. Chemical derivatization of metabolites offers an effective solution to overcome these challenges. This review focuses on the difficulties encountered in analyzing aberrant metabolites in tumors, the principles behind chemical derivatization methods, and the advancements in analyzing tumor metabolites using derivatization-based chromatography. It serves as a comprehensive reference for understanding the analysis and detection of tumor metabolites, particularly those that are highly polar and exhibit low ionization efficiency.

The role and mechanism of flavonoid herbal natural products in ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine that presents clinically with abdominal pain, mucopurulent stools, and posterior urgency. The lesions of UC are mainly concentrated in the rectal and colonic mucosa and submucosa. For patients with mild to moderate UC, the best pharmacological treatment includes glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants, antibiotics, and biologics, but the long-term application can have serious toxic side effects. Currently, nearly 40% of UC patients are treated with herbal natural products in combination with traditional medications to reduce the incidence of toxic side effects. Flavonoid herbal natural products are the most widely distributed polyphenols in plants and fruits, which have certain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Flavonoid herbal natural products have achieved remarkable efficacy in the treatment of UC. The pharmacological mechanisms are related to anti-inflammation, promotion of mucosal healing, maintenance of intestinal immune homeostasis, and regulation of intestinal flora. In this paper, we summarize the flavonoid components of anti-ulcerative colitis and their mechanisms reported in the past 10 years, to provide a basis for rational clinical use and the development of new anti-ulcerative colitis drugs.

Screening of anti-cancer compounds from Vaccariae Semen by lung cancer A549 cell fishing and UHPLC-LTQ Orbitrap MS.

Vaccariae Semen, derived from the dried ripe seed of Vaccaria segetalis (Neck.) Garcke, has various therapeutic characteristics in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), containing promoting blood circulation and unblocking meridians. It exhibits significant anti-cancer activity and is therapeutically utilized to treat and reduce chemotherapy adverse effects in cancer patients, notably those with lung cancer. However, the active ingredients responsible for its anti-lung cancer efficacy remain unknown. In this study, we used A549 cell fishing in conjunction with UHPLC-LTQ Orbitrap MS to screen for anti-lung cancer active components in Vaccariae Semen. The cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay revealed that the n-butanol extract substantially reduced A549 cell growth. Through the cell fishing assay, we found 14 A549 cell-binding compounds in the n-butanol extract, all of which were identified as triterpenoid saponins. The total saponins of Vaccariae Semen were subsequently purified using macroporous adsorption resin (MAR), and they showed a significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of A549 lung cancer cells, as well as alterations in cell morphology, apoptosis, and fragmentation. In conclusion, saponins were discovered as the key active components responsible for the anti-lung cancer activity of Vaccariae Semen.

The gut microbes in inflammatory bowel disease: Future novel target option for pharmacotherapy.

Gut microbes constitute the main microbiota in the human body, which can regulate biological processes such as immunity, cell proliferation, and differentiation, hence playing a specific function in intestinal diseases. In recent years, gut microbes have become a research hotspot in the pharmaceutical field. Because of their enormous number, diversity, and functional complexity, gut microbes have essential functions in the development of many digestive diseases. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic non-specific inflammatory disease with a complex etiology, the exact cause and pathogenesis are unclear. There are no medicines that can cure IBD, and more research on therapeutic drugs is urgently needed. It has been reported that gut microbes play a critical role in pathogenesis, and there is a tight and complex association between gut microbes and IBD. The dysregulation of gut microbes may be a predisposing factor for IBD, and at the same time, IBD may exacerbate gut microbes' disorders, but the mechanism of interaction between the two is still not well defined. The study of the relationship between gut microbes and IBD is not only important to elucidate the pathogenesis but also has a positive effect on the treatment based on the regimen of regulating gut microbes. This review describes the latest research progress on the functions of gut microbes and their relationship with IBD, which can provide reference and assistance for further research. It may provide a theoretical basis for the application of probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and other therapeutic methods to regulate gut microbes in IBD.

Gasotransmitters in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: just the tip of the iceberg.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a clinicopathological syndrome characterized by fatty lesions and fat accumulation in hepatic parenchymal cells, which is in the absence of excessive alcohol consumption or definite liver damage factors. The exact pathogenesis of NAFLD is not fully understood, but it is now recognized that oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and inflammation are essential mechanisms involved in the development and treatment of NAFLD. NAFLD therapy aims to stop, delay or reverse disease progressions, as well as improve the quality of life and clinical outcomes of patients with NAFLD. Gasotransmitters are produced by enzymatic reactions, regulated through metabolic pathways in vivo, which can freely penetrate cell membranes with specific physiological functions and targets. Three gasotransmitters, nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide have been discovered. Gasotransmitters exhibit the effects of anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, vasodilatory, and cardioprotective agents. Gasotransmitters and their donors can be used as new gas-derived drugs and provide new approaches to the clinical treatment of NAFLD. Gasotransmitters can modulate inflammation, oxidative stress, and numerous signaling pathways to protect against NAFLD. In this paper, we mainly review the status of gasotransmitters research on NAFLD. It provides clinical applications for the future use of exogenous and endogenous gasotransmitters for the treatment of NAFLD.

Medication Rule Analysis of the Diagnosis and Treatment Programs of Chinese Medicine for the Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 in China.

OBJECTIVES: To summarize the measures and rules of Chinese medicine (CM) and provide reference for clinical application in the prevention and treatment of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). METHODS: The data source was from CM COVID-19 prevention and treatment programs on government websites and official media websites of the different provinces and cities. The search lasted from December 8, 2019 to March 10, 2020. Main variables were medication frequency and combinations of medicines. Cluster analysis and complex network analysis were used by prevention and treatment stage and by area. RESULTS: Among 27 CM diagnosis and treatment plans, 203 therapeutic prescriptions were enrolled, of which the top 4 herbs were: Radix glycyrrhizae, Semen armeniacae amarum, Herba ephedrae, and Herba agastachis, respectively. The core combinations were Herba ephedrae and Semen armeniacae amarum. Forty-eight preventive formulae were identified. Ten herbs, including Radix Astragali seu hedysari, Radix glycyrrhizae, Radix saposhnikoviae, Flos lonicerae, etc. were most frequently used. The core prescription of CM compatibility was Radix astragali seu hedysari, Radix glycyrrhizae, and Radix saposhnikoviae, which is the main component of Yu Ping Feng San. There were 45 prevention and treatment prescriptions in East China; the most used CM was Radix glycyrrhizae, Herba agastachis, Pericarpium citri reticulatae, and Gypsum fibrosum. Fifty prescriptions were identified in North China. According to CM analyses, Herba agastachis, Semen armeniacae amarum, Herba ephedrae, and Poria were most frequently used. CONCLUSIONS: CM for COVID-19 prevention mainly focuses on improving human immunity; for treatment, prescription focuses on clearing the lungs and removing dampness. Prescriptions vary with regions, perhaps due to climatic and environmental differences, which help clinicians to quickly make CM plans and treat patients according to clinical status, further minimizing resource wastage.

Efficacy of Guhong injection versus Butylphthalide and Sodium Chloride Injection for mild ischemic stroke: A multicenter controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Most studies on Guhong injection have involved a single center with a small sample size, and the level of clinical evidence is low. AIM: To assess the safety and efficacy of Guhong injection for mild ischemic stroke (IS). METHODS: A total of 399 IS patients treated at six hospitals from August 2018 to August 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were given Guhong injection (experimental group) or Butylphthalide and Sodium Chloride Injection (control group). Changes in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores were observed before treatment and at 1, 2, and 3 wk after treatment in each group. The efficacy and safety of Guhong injection for IS were assessed. Other medications taken by the patients were confounding factors for efficacy assessment. These factors were controlled by propensity score matching, and the results were further analyzed based on the matching. RESULTS: The marked response rates at three follow-up visits were 64.64%, 74.7%, and 66.7% in the experimental group, and 48.26%, 45.4%, and 22.2% in the control group. The marked response rates increased significantly in the experimental group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The overall response rate at the first visit (days 7 ± 2) did not differ significantly between the two groups, but differed significantly at the second (days 14 ± 2) and third visits (days 21 ± 3) (P < 0.05). The proportion of patients without any symptoms in the experimental group was significant different at the first visit (P < 0.05), but not significantly different at the second visit. The two groups showed no significant difference in the baseline distribution of mRS scores. At the first and second visits, the change in mRS scores was -2 and -1 in the experimental and control groups, respectively, which were significantly different (P < 0.05). After propensity score matching, the overall response rate and marked response rate were 97.29% and 100% in the experimental group (P > 0.05) and 64.0% and 47.7% in the control group (P < 0.05) at the first visit, respectively. The decreased NIHSS scores in the two groups were significant different (P < 0.05). The overall response rate and marked response rate differed significantly between the two groups at the second visit (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups. No severe adverse events occurred in either group. CONCLUSION: Guhong injection is safe and more effective than Butylphthalide and Sodium Chloride Injection for treatment of IS.

Comparative Analysis of Aristolochic Acids in Aristolochia Medicinal Herbs and Evaluation of Their Toxicities.

Aristolochic acids (AAs) are a group of nitrophenanthrene carboxylic acids present in many medicinal herbs of the Aristolochia genus that may cause irreversible hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. However, the specific profile of AAs and their toxicity in Aristolochia plants, except for AAs Ι and ΙΙ, still remain unclear. In this study, a total of 52 batches of three medicinal herbs belonging to the Aristolochia family were analyzed for their AA composition profiles and AA contents using the UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS approach. The studied herbs were A. mollissima Hance (AMH), A. debilis Sieb.etZucc (ADS), and A. cinnabaria C.Y.Cheng (ACY). Chemometrics methods, including PCA and OPLS-DA, were used for the evaluation of the Aristolochia medicinal herbs. Additionally, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the selected AAs and the extracts of AMH and ADS were evaluated in a HepG2 cell line using the MTT method and a Comet assay, respectively. A total of 44 AAs, including 23 aristolochic acids and 21 aristolactams (ALs), were detected in A. mollissima. Moreover, 41 AAs (23 AAs and 18 ALs) were identified from A. debilis Sieb, and 45 AAs (29 AAs and 16 ALs) were identified in A. cinnabaria. Chemometrics results showed that 16, 19, and 22 AAs identified in AMH, ADS, and ACY, respectively, had statistical significance for distinguishing the three medicinal herbs of different origins. In the cytotoxicity assay, compounds AL-BΙΙ, AAΙ and the extract of AMH exhibited significant cytotoxicities against the HepG2 cell line with the IC50 values of 0.2, 9.7 and 50.2 µM, respectively. The results of the Comet assay showed that AAΙ caused relatively higher damage to cellular DNA (TDNA 40-95%) at 50 µM, while AAΙΙ, AMH and ADS extracts (ranged from 10 to 131 µM) caused relatively lower damage to cellular DNA (TDNA 5-20%).

Gualou xiebai banxia decoction inhibits NF-kappa B-dependent inflammation in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the myocardial protective effect of Gualou Xiebai Banxia decoction GXBD) and explore the mechanisms of inhibition of NF-kappa B activation and blockade of inflammatory responses induced by ischemia-reperfusion in rats. METHODS: Twenty-four Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups. Rats in the treatment group received GXBD (13 g crude drug/kg) for three weeks, while rats in the model control and normal control groups received equal volumes of distilled water. On the 22nd day, rats in the ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) control and GXBD-treated groups underwent 30 min occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery, followed by 120 min reperfusion. Electrocardiogram was recorded, and the activities of cardiac enzymes, cytokines, and NF-kappaB were assessed after I/R. RESULTS: Compared with the I/R control group, GXBD treatment restored the activity of the specific myocardial-injury marker creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and inhibited the inflammatory response involving the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-KB) pathway, including down-regulation of interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6, and up-regulation of IL-10 gene expression. CONCLUSION: GXBD strongly reduced myocardial impairment in our I/R model, including inhibition of NF-kappaB activation and inflammatory cytokine responses.