Association of foods consumption and physical activity with prefrailty and frailty among Chinese older adults in urban communities: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Frailty has become a public health challenge in China. To investigate the association of foods consumption and physical activity with prefrailty and frailty among older Chinese adults in urban communities. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: In a cross-sectional study from February to July 2023, 1183 older adults aged between 65y-88y were enrolled from urban communities in Chongqing and Shandong province, China. Frailty Index (FI) was applied to measure prefrailty and frailty. Partial proportional odds model was used to assess the association between foods consumption, physical activity and prefrailty/frailty. RESULTS: Higher Dietary Diversity Score (DDS), (OR=0.61, 95% CI=0.46-0.80; OR=0.47, 95% CI=0.28-0.79), Consuming animal-based foods ≥2 times/day (OR=0.62, 95% CI=0.47-0.82; OR=0.54, 95% CI=0.33-0.88), soy products ≥2 times/week (OR=0.69, 95% CI=0.53-0.89; OR=0.51, 95% CI=0.31-0.84), fresh vegetables ≥2 times/day (OR=0.42, 95% CI=0.31-0.57; OR=0.41, 95% CI=0.23-0.72), and nuts ≥2 times/week (OR=0.71, 95% CI=0.55-0.91; OR=0.52, 95% CI=0.32-0.85) was associated with a lower risk of prefrailty and frailty. In addition, higher frequency and longer duration of walking (OR=0.61, 95% CI=0.42-0.88; OR=0.63, 95% CI=0.48-0.81), exercise (OR=0.48, 95% CI=0.35-0.64; OR=0.44, 95% CI=0.32-0.61) per week were significantly associated with lower risk of prefrailty. Furthermore, higher frequency and longer duration of walking (OR=0.42, 95% CI=0.25-0.72; OR=0.46, 95% CI=0.29-0.74), and housework (OR=0.39, 95% CI=0.24-0.65; OR=0.57, 95% CI=0.34-0.96) per week, were significantly associated with lower frailty. CONCLUSIONS: Higher DDS and higher frequency of animal-based foods, soy products, fresh vegetables, and nuts consumption is significantly associated with lower risk of prefrailty and frailty. Additionally, walking and exercising are significantly associated with lower risk of prefrailty, while walking and doing housework is significantly associated with lower frailty.

Integration of Metabolomics with Network Pharmacology Deciphers the Anti-Fatigue Activity Mechanisms of the Extract of Mirabilis himalaica Root.

Fatigue, a common symptom in both diseased and healthy individuals, is a biological phenomenon characterized by a sense of extreme physical or mental exhaustion. To explore novel drugs and food sources of anti-fatigue, the hydroalcoholic extract of the root of Mirabilis himalaica (MH extract) is evaluated as anti-fatigue agents in this work, and clarifies that the mechanism of MH intervention in fatigue symptoms, and distribution of the anti-fatigue constituents in the plant of Mirabilis himalaica is examined. The results show that the MH extract have a significantly anti-fatigue effect via the pharmacological experiment and biochemical indicators. The network pharmacology, metabolomics, molecular docking, and pharmacology are integrated to determine that boeravinone A, B, and E are the pharmacoperones of anti-fatigue. Moreover, the compounds of boeravinone are present only in the root and not in the leaf and stem of the Mirabilis himalaica, which validates that root of Mirabilis himalaica is historically and officially utilized medicinal parts.

Exploring plant-derived phytochrome chaperone proteins for light-switchable transcriptional regulation in mammals.

Synthetic biology applications require finely tuned gene expression, often mediated by synthetic transcription factors (sTFs) compatible with the human genome and transcriptional regulation mechanisms. While various DNA-binding and activation domains have been developed for different applications, advanced artificially controllable sTFs with improved regulatory capabilities are required for increasingly sophisticated applications. Here, in mammalian cells and mice, we validate the transactivator function and homo-/heterodimerization activity of the plant-derived phytochrome chaperone proteins, FHY1 and FHL. Our results demonstrate that FHY1/FHL form a photosensing transcriptional regulation complex (PTRC) through interaction with the phytochrome, ΔPhyA, that can toggle between active and inactive states through exposure to red or far-red light, respectively. Exploiting this capability, we develop a light-switchable platform that allows for orthogonal, modular, and tunable control of gene transcription, and incorporate it into a PTRC-controlled CRISPRa system (PTRCdcas) to modulate endogenous gene expression. We then integrate the PTRC with small molecule- or blue light-inducible regulatory modules to construct a variety of highly tunable systems that allow rapid and reversible control of transcriptional regulation in vitro and in vivo. Validation and deployment of these plant-derived phytochrome chaperone proteins in a PTRC platform have produced a versatile, powerful tool for advanced research and biomedical engineering applications.

[Analysis of chemical compositions in different parts of Isodon japonicus using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS technique combined with chemometrics].

In order to analyze the similarities and differences of chemical compositions between the roots and stems and leaves of Isodon japonicus(IJ), this study utilized UPLC-Q-TOF-MS technology to systematically characterize its chemical compositions, analyzed and identified the structure of its main compounds, and established a method for simultaneous determination of its content by refe-rence substance. A total of 34 major compounds in IJ, including 14 reference compounds, were identified or predicted online. Moreover, an UPLC-UV content determination method was developed for 11 compounds [danshensu, caffeic acid, vicenin-2,(1S,2S)-globoidnan B, rutin,(+)-rabdosiin,(-)-rabdosiin,(1S,2S)-rabdosiin, shimobashiric acid C, rosmarinic acid, and pedalitin]. The method exhibited excellent separation, stability, and repeatability, with a wide linear range(0.10-520.00 µg·mL~(-1)) and high linearity(R~2>0.999). The average recovery rates ranged from 94.72% to 104.2%. The principal component analysis(PCA) demonstrated a clear difference between the roots and stems and leaves of IJ, indicating good separation by cluster. Furthermore, the orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) model was employed, and six main differentially identified compounds were identified: rosmarinic acid, shimobashiric acid C, epinodosin, pedalitin, rutin, and(1S,2S)-rabdosiin. In summary, this study established a strategy and method for distinguishing different parts of IJ, providing a valuable tool for quality control of IJ and a basis for the ratio-nal utilization and sustainable development of IJ.

[Effects of organic fertilizer from traditional Chinese medicine residues on growth and soil microbial community of Salvia miltiorrhiza by metagenomic technique].

Soil microbiome is a key evaluation index of soil health. Previous studies have shown that organic fertilizer from traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)residues can improve the yield and quality of cultivated traditional Chinese medicinal materials. However, there are few reports on the effects of organic fertilizer from TCM residues on soil microbiome. Therefore, on the basis of evaluating the effects of organic fertilizer from TCM residues on the yield and quality of cultivated Salvia miltiorrhiza, the metagenomic sequencing technique was used to study the effects of organic fertilizer from TCM residues on rhizosphere microbiome community and function of cultivated S. miltiorrhiza. The results showed that:(1) the application of organic fertilizer from TCM residues promoted the growth of S. miltiorrhiza and the accumulation of active components, and the above-ground and underground dry weight and fresh weight of S. miltiorrhiza increased by 371.4%, 288.3%, 313.4%, and 151.9%. The increases of rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid B were 887.0% and 183.0%.(2)The application of organic fertilizer from TCM residues significantly changed the rhizosphere bacterial and fungal community structures, and the microbial community composition was significantly different.(3)The relative abundance of soil-beneficial bacteria, such as Nitrosospira multiformis, Bacillus subtilis, Lysobacter enzymogenes, and Trichoderma was significantly increased by the application of organic fertilizer from TCM residues.(4)KEGG function prediction analysis showed that metabolism-related microorganisms were more easily enriched in the soil environment after organic fertilizer application. The abundance of functional genes related to nitrification and denitrification could also be increased after the application of organic fertilizer from TCM residues. The results of this study provide guidance for the future application of organic fertilizer from TCM residues in the cultivation of traditio-nal Chinese medicinal materials and enrich the content of green cultivation technology of traditional Chinese medicinal materials.

5-Bromo-2-(phenyl-amino)-benzoic acid.

The title compound, C13H10BrNO2, was obtained by the reaction of 2,5-di-bromo-benzoic acid and aniline. The mol-ecule is twisted with a dihedral angle between the aromatic rings of 45.74 (11)° and an intr-amolecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bond is seen. In the crystal, pairwise O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds generate carb-oxy-lic acid inversion dimers.

A Highly Sensitive and Rapid Colloidal Gold Immunoassay for Puerarin Detection.

Radix Puerariae is a traditional Chinese medicinal material with a rich history of use in East and Southeast Asia. Puerarin, a unique component of the Pueraria genus, serves as a quality control marker for herbal medicines like Pueraria lobata and Pueraria thomsonii in China, displaying diverse pharmacological properties. This study developed puerarin colloidal gold immunoassay dipsticks utilizing an anti-puerarin monoclonal antibody, resulting in a fast and sensitive detection method with a limit of 500-1000 ng·mL-1. Evaluation using tap water-extracted P. lobata and P. thomsonii samples showed consistent results compared to LC-MS analysis. Cross-reactivity assessments of puerarin analogs revealed minimal interference, affirming the dipstick's reliability for distinguishing between the two species.

Prediction of multiple types of drug interactions based on multi-scale fusion and dual-view fusion.

Potential drug-drug interactions (DDI) can lead to adverse drug reactions (ADR), and DDI prediction can help pharmacy researchers detect harmful DDI early. However, existing DDI prediction methods fall short in fully capturing drug information. They typically employ a single-view input, focusing solely on drug features or drug networks. Moreover, they rely exclusively on the final model layer for predictions, overlooking the nuanced information present across various network layers. To address these limitations, we propose a multi-scale dual-view fusion (MSDF) method for DDI prediction. More specifically, MSDF first constructs two views, topological and feature views of drugs, as model inputs. Then a graph convolutional neural network is used to extract the feature representations from each view. On top of that, a multi-scale fusion module integrates information across different graph convolutional layers to create comprehensive drug embeddings. The embeddings from the two views are summed as the final representation for classification. Experiments on two real-world datasets demonstrate that MSDF achieves higher accuracy than state-of-the-art methods, as the dual-view, multi-scale approach better captures drug characteristics.

An evaluation of Astragali Radix with different growth patterns and years, based on a new multidimensional comparison method.

Introduction: With the depletion of wild Astragali Radix (WA) resources, imitated-wild Astragali Radix (IWA) and cultivated Astragali Radix (CA) have become the main products of Astragali Radix. However, the quality differences of three growth patterns (WA, IWA, CA) and different growth years of Astragali Radix have not been fully characterized, leading to a lack of necessary scientific evidence for their use as substitutes for WA. Methods: We innovatively proposed a multidimensional evaluation method that encompassed traits, microstructure, cell wall components, saccharides, and pharmacodynamic compounds, to comprehensively explain the quality variances among different growth patterns and years of Astragali Radix. Results and discussion: Our study showed that the quality of IWA and WA was comparatively similar, including evaluation indicators such as apparent color, sectional structure and odor, thickness of phellem, diameter and number of vessels, morphology of phloem and xylem, and the levels and ratios of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, sucrose, starch, water-soluble polysaccharides, total-saponins. However, the content of sucrose, starch and sorbose in CA was significantly higher than WA, and the diameter and number of vessels, total-flavonoids content were lower than WA, indicating significant quality differences between CA and WA. Hence, we suggest that IWA should be used as a substitute for WA instead of CA. As for the planting years of IWA, our results indicated that IWA aged 1-32 years could be divided into three stages according to their quality change: rapid growth period (1-5 years), stable growth period (6-20 years), and elderly growth period (25-32 years). Among these, 6-20 years old IWA exhibited consistent multidimensional comparative results, showcasing elevated levels of key active components such as water-soluble polysaccharides, flavonoids, and saponins. Considering both the quality and cultivation expenses of IWA, we recommend a cultivation duration of 6-8 years for growers. In conclusion, we established a novel multidimensional evaluation method to systematically characterize the quality of Astragali Radix, and provided a new scientific perspective for the artificial cultivation and quality assurance of Astragali Radix.

Validation and psychometric testing of the Chinese version of the prenatal body image questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: The body image during pregnancy potentially affects both short- and long-term maternal and child health outcomes, including pregnancy mood, postpartum weight recovery, and the quality of mother-child interactions. However, research on the impact of body changes during pregnancy in the Chinese population is scarce. A comprehensive, practical, and reliable tool for assessing pregnant women is needed to detect, intervene in, and implement the reduction of physical dissatisfaction risk. This study translated the Prenatal Body Image Questionnaire (PBIQ) into the Chinese version (PBIQ-C) to assess the body image of pregnant women and evaluated its reliability and validity. METHODS: An improved Brislin translation model was used for the translation. A panel of experts determined the content validity. A convenience sample of 429 pregnant women was chosen from three third-class hospitals in different regions of Fujian Province, China. Factor analysis, Pearson's correlation, retest reliability, and Cronbach's alpha were employed to evaluate structural validity and reliability. RESULTS: The final PBIQ-C had five dimensions with 21 items. Exploratory factor analysis obtained a five-factor solution, which accounted for a total of 60.34%. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model fit of the five-factor model also reached a satisfactory model fit after modifying: The Comparative Fit Index was 0.93, and the Tucker-Lewis Index was 0.92; the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation was 0.079. The content validity index of the scale ranged from 0.63 ~ 1.00. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.95 for the total scale, and the test-retest reliability was 0.80. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that the PBIQ-C is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing women's body image during pregnancy, which helps in the early identification of body dissatisfaction during pregnancy and enables the early prevention of postpartum depression.

A programmable protease-based protein secretion platform for therapeutic applications.

Cell-based therapies represent potent enabling technologies in biomedical science. However, current genetic control systems for engineered-cell therapies are predominantly based on the transcription or translation of therapeutic outputs. Here we report a protease-based rapid protein secretion system (PASS) that regulates the secretion of pretranslated proteins retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) owing to an ER-retrieval signal. Upon cleavage by inducible proteases, these proteins are secreted. Three PASS variants (chemPASS, antigenPASS and optoPASS) are developed. With chemPASS, we demonstrate the reversal of hyperglycemia in diabetic mice within minutes via drug-induced insulin secretion. AntigenPASS-equipped cells recognize the tumor antigen and secrete granzyme B and perforin, inducing targeted cell apoptosis. Finally, results from mouse models of diabetes, hypertension and inflammatory pain demonstrate light-induced, optoPASS-mediated therapeutic peptide secretion within minutes, conferring anticipated therapeutic benefits. PASS is a flexible platform for rapid delivery of therapeutic proteins that can facilitate the development and adoption of cell-based precision therapies.

Sensitive quantitation of ultra-trace toxic aconitines in complex matrices by perfusion nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry combined with gas-liquid microextraction.

The accurate analysis of ultra-trace (e.g. <10-4 ng/mL) substances in complex matrices is a burdensome but vital problem in pharmaceutical analysis, with important implications for precise quality control of drugs, discovery of innovative medicines and elucidation of pharmacological mechanisms. Herein, an innovative constant-flow perfusion nano-electrospray ionization (PnESI) technique was developed firstly features significant quantitative advantages in high-sensitivity ambient MS analysis of complex matrix sample. More importantly, double-labeled addition enrichment quantitation strategies of gas-liquid microextraction (GLME) were proposed for the first time, allowing highly selective extraction and enrichment of specific target analytes in a green and ultra-efficient (>1000-fold) manner. Using complex processed Aconitum herbs as example, PnESI-MS directly enabled the qualitative and absolute quantitative analysis of the processed Aconitum extracts and characterized the target toxic diester alkaloids with high sensitivity, high stability, wide linearity range, and strong resistance to matrix interference. Further, GLME device was applied to obtain the highly specific enrichment of the target diester alkaloids more than 1000-fold, and accurate absolute quantitation of trace aconitine, mesaconitine, and hypaconitine in the extracts of Heishunpian, Zhichuanwu and Zhicaowu was accomplished (e.g., 0.098 pg/mL and 0.143 pg/mL), with the quantitation results well below the LODs of aconitines from any analytical instruments available. This study built a systematic strategy for accurate quantitation of ultra-trace substances in complex matrix sample and expected to provide a technological revolution in many fields of pharmaceutical research.

Development of sequential online extraction electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for accurate authentication of highly-similar Atractylodis Macrocephalae.

The accurate and rapid authentication techniques and strategies for highly-similar foods are still lacking. Herein, a novel sequential online extraction electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (S-oEESI-MS) was developed to achieve spatio-temporally resolved ionization and comprehensive characterization of complex foods with multi-components (high, medium, and low polarity substances). Meanwhile, a characteristic marker screening method and an integrated research strategy based on MS fingerprinting, characteristic marker and chemometrics modeling were established, which are especially suitable for the accurate and rapid authentication of highly-similar foods that are difficult to be authenticated by traditional techniques (e.g., LC-MS). Thirty-two batches of highly-similar Atractylodis macrocephalae rhizome from four different origins were used as model samples. As a result, S-oEESI-MS enabled a more comprehensive MS characterization of substance profiles in complex plant samples in 1.0 min. Further, 22 characteristic markers of Atractylodis macrocephalae were ingeniously screened out and combined with multivariate statistical analysis model, the accurate authentication of highly-similar Atractylodis macrocephalae was realized. This study presents a comprehensive strategy for accurate authentication and origin analysis of highly-similar foods, which has potentially significant applications for ensuring food quality and safety.

Clinical significance of baseline Epstein-Barr virus DNA for recurrent or metastatic primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of baseline Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in recurrent or metastatic primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (PLELC). Methods: 75 patients with baseline EBV DNA were included. The relationships between baseline EBV DNA and clinical characteristics, survival and objective response rate were analyzed. Results: The baseline EBV DNA levels were related to the liver, chest wall, distant lymph node(s) or multiple sites of distant metastasis. The high baseline EBV DNA group (≥41,900 copies/ml) was related to shorter progression-free and overall survival in univariate analysis and remained significant for progression-free survival in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: The baseline EBV DNA is a valuable biomarker for predicting prognosis and reflecting tumor burden in recurrent or metastatic PLELC.

[Dead heart of pith-decayed Scutellariae Radix: a study based on multi-omics].

Dead heart is an important trait of pith-decayed Scutellariae Radix. The purpose of this study was to clarify the scientific connotation of the dead heart using multi-omics. Metabolomics and transcriptomics combined with multivariate statistical analysis such as principal component analysis(PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis(PLS-DA) were used to systematically compare the differences in chemical composition and gene expression among phloem, outer xylem and near-dead xylem of pith-decayed Scutella-riae Radix. The results revealed significant differences in the contents of flavonoid glycosides and aglycones among the three parts. Compared with phloem and outer xylem, near-dead xylem had markedly lowered content of flavonoid glycosides(including baicalin, norwogonin-7-O-ß-D-glucuronide, oroxylin A-7-O-ß-D-glucuronide, and wogonoside) while markedly increased content of aglycones(including 3,5,7,2',6'-pentahydroxy dihydroflavone, baicalin, wogonin, and oroxylin A). The differentially expressed genes were mainly concentrated in KEGG pathways such as phenylpropanoid metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis, ABC transporter, and plant MAPK signal transduction pathway. This study systematically elucidated the material basis of the dead heart of pith-decayed Scutellariae Radix with multiple growing years. Specifically, the content of flavonoid aglycones was significantly increased in the near-dead xylem, and the gene expression of metabolic pathways such as flavonoid glycoside hydrolysis, interxylary cork development and programmed apoptosis was significantly up-regulated. This study provided a theoretical basis for guiding the high-quality production of pith-decayed Scutellariae Radix.

[Quality of moxa with different leaf-to-moxa ratios based on correlation analysis of thermogravimetric properties, cellulose content, and microscopic characteristics of non-secretory trichomes].

The quality of moxa is a key factor affecting the efficacy of moxibustion. Traditional moxa grades are evaluated by the leaf-to-moxa ratio, but there is a lack of support from scientific data. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM), Image Pro Plus, Van Soest method, and stimultaneous thermal analysis(TGA/DSC) were used to characterize the scientific implication of the combustion differences between moxa with different leaf-to-moxa ratios(processed by crusher). The results showed that the median lengths from non-secretory trichomes(NSTs) of natural NSTs and moxa with leaf-to-moxa ratios of 3∶1, 5∶1, 10∶1, and 15∶1 were 542.46, 303.24, 291.18, 220.69, and 170.61 µm, respectively. The cellulose content of moxa increased significantly(P<0.05) with the increase in leaf-to-moxa ratio and the combustion parameters(T_i, t_i, D_i, C,-R_p,-R_v, S, D_b, and J_(total)) all showed an increasing trend. The correlation results showed that the burning properties of moxa(T_i,-R_v, t_i, and J_2) were significantly and positively correlated with cellulose content. NSTs with a length of 1-200 µm were significantly and positively correlated with J_2. NSTs with a length of 200-600 µm were significantly and positively correlated with J_1, T_(peak2), T_(peak1), and-R_v, and negatively correlated with J_(total), T_b, and t_b. As the leaf-to-moxa ratio increases, the NSTs in the moxa become shorter and the cellulose content increases, which is more conducive to ignition performance, heat release, and a milder, longer-lasting burn. The "NSTs-cellulose-TGA/DSC" quantitative evaluation method scientifically reveals the scientific connotation of the combustion of moxa with different leaf-to-moxa ratios and provides a scientific basis for the establishment of quality evaluation methods for moxa with different leaf-to-moxa ratios.

An Exploration of Dynamic Changes in the Mulberry Growth Process Based on UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS, HS-SPME-GC-MS, and HS-GC-IMS.

This work was designed to investigate the dynamic changes process of non-volatile organic compounds (n-VOCs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in mulberries during different growth periods using UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS, HS-SPME-GC-MS, and HS-GC-IMS. A total of 166 compounds were identified, including 68 n-VOCs and 98 VOCs. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA), random forest analysis (RFA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to analyze differences in mulberries at different ripening stages. A total of 74 compounds appeared or disappeared at different ripening periods and 24 compounds were presented throughout the growth process. Quantitative analysis and antioxidant experiments revealed that as the mulberries continued to mature, flavonoids and phenolic acids continued to increase, and the best antioxidant activity occurred from stage IV. Conclusively, an effective strategy was established for analyzing the composition change process during different growth periods, which could assist in achieving dynamic change process analysis and quality control.

[Quality of moxa from Artemisia argyi and A. stolonifera in different storage years based on simultaneous thermal analysis].

The quality of moxa is an important factor affecting moxibustion therapy, and traditionally, 3-year moxa is considered optimal, although scientific data are lacking. This study focused on 1-year and 3-year moxa from Artemisia stolonifera and A. argyi(leaf-to-moxa ratio of 10∶1) as research objects. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM), Van Soest method, and simultaneous thermal analysis were used to investigate the differences in the combustion heat quality of 1-year and 3-year moxa and their influencing factors. The results showed that the combustion of A. stolonifera moxa exhibited a balanced heat release pattern. The 3-year moxa released a concentrated heat of 9 998.84 mJ·mg~(-1)(accounting for 54% of the total heat release) in the temperature range of 140-302 ℃, with a heat production efficiency of 122 mW·mg~(-1). It further released 7 512.51 mJ·mg~(-1)(accounting for 41% of the total heat release) in the temperature range of 302-519 ℃. The combustion of A. argyi moxa showed a rapid heat release pattern. The 3-year moxa released a heat of 16 695.28 mJ·mg~(-1)(accounting for 70% of the total heat release) in the temperature range of 140-311 ℃, with an instantaneous power output of 218 mW·mg~(-1). It further released 5 996.95 mJ·mg~(-1)(accounting for 25% of the total heat release) in the temperature range of 311-483 ℃. Combustion parameters such as-R_p,-R_v, D_i, C, and D_b indicated that the combustion heat quality of 3-year moxa was superior to that of 1-year moxa. It exhibited greater combustion heat, heat production efficiency, flammability, mild and sustained burning, and higher instantaneous combustion efficiency. This study utilized scientific data to demonstrate that A. stolonifera could be used as excellent moxa, and the quality of 3-year moxa surpassed that of 1-year moxa. The research results provide a scientific basis for the in-depth development of A. stolonifera moxa and the improvement of moxa quality standards.

[Anti-inflammatory material basis and mechanism of Artemisia stolonifera based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS combined with network pharmacology and molecular docking].

This study aimed to explore the anti-inflammatory material basis and molecular mechanism of Artemisia stolonifera based on the analysis of the chemical components in different extracted fractions of A. stolonifera and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in combination with network pharmacology and molecular docking. Thirty-two chemical components were identified from A. stolonifera by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). Among them, there were 7, 21 and 22 compounds in water, n-butanol and ethyl acetate fractions, respectively. The antio-xidant capacity of different extracted fractions was evaluated by measuring their scavenging ability against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) hydrazyl(DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)(ABTS) free radicals and total antioxidant capacity [ferric reducing antioxidant power(FRAP) assay]. The inflammatory model of RAW264.7 cells was induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS), and the levels of nitrite oxide(NO), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6) in the supernatant and the mRNA expression of related inflammatory factors in cells were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects. The results revealed that ethyl acetate fraction of A. stolonifera was the optimal antioxidant and anti-inflammatory fraction. By network pharmacology, it was found that flavonoids such as rhamnazin, eupatilin, jaceosidin, luteolin and nepetin could act on key targets such as TNF, serine/threonine protein kinase 1(AKT1), tumor protein p53(TP53), caspase-3(CASP3) and epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR), and regulate the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase-protein kinase B(PI3K-AKT) and mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signaling pathways to exert the anti-inflammatory effects. Molecular docking further indicated excellent binding properties between the above core components and core targets. This study preliminarily clarified the anti-inflammatory material basis and mechanism of ethyl acetate fraction of A. stolonifera, providing a basis for the follow-up clinical application of A. stolonifera and drug development.