Ethnopharmacological use, pharmacology, toxicology, phytochemistry, and progress in Chinese crude drug processing of the lateral root of Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux. (Fuzi): A review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The lateral root of Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux. (also known as Fuzi in Chinese) is a toxic Chinese medicine but widely used in clinical practice with remarkable effects. It is specifically used to treat cardiovascular diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, and other diseases, in Korea, Japan, and India. AIM OF THIS REVIEW: This study aimed to summarize and discuss the effects of drug processing on toxicity, chemical composition, and pharmacology of the lateral root of Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux. This review could provide feasible insights for further studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relevant information on phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of Fuzi was collected through published materials and electronic databases, including the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Flora of China, Web of Science, PubMed, Baidu Scholar, Google Scholar, and CNKI. RESULTS: More than 100 chemical compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and polysaccharides were revealed. Modern pharmacological studies show that these chemical components have good effects on anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-aging, treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and improving immunity. Di-ester alkaloids are the main source of Fuzi toxicity. Increasing studies have shown that Fuzi can induce multiple organ damage, especially cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity. At present, most of the Fuzi used in clinical practice are processed. The processing affects the chemical structure, pharmacology, and toxicology of Fuzi. Moreover, different processing methods have different effects on Fuzi. CONCLUSIONS: This review analyzed the effects of Fuzi processing methods on its toxicity and efficiency. The lateral roots of aconite are the known medicinal part of Fuzi; however, the aerial parts of aconite are understudied and require further research to expand its medicinal potential. Processing and compatibility are the primary means to reduce Fuzi toxicity. Nevertheless, establishing a reasonable unified safe dose range requires further discussion.

Research advances on detecting heavy metals and harmful elements based on fluorescent probe quantum dots / 中草药

In recent years, it is a hot spot of research on detecting heavy metals such as Pb (II), Cu (II), and Hg (II) and harmful element As (III) based on novel fluorescence probe quantum dots (QDs). This review introduced the preponderance optical properties and advantages of QDs. In addition, the principles of fluorescence quenching concerning ion complexing reaction, electron transfer, fluorescence resonance energy transfer and others, fluorescence enhancement and methods combined with rolling circle amplification of DNA, redshift of emission wavelength, fluorescence ratio and others were presented. Finally, the paper summarized the applications and took prospect to provide the basis for the detections of heavy metals and harmful elements in Chinese materia medica based on fluorescence probes QDs.

Historical Studies about Medicinal Part of Chinese Crude Drug \lq\lqUncaria Hook\rq\rq / 日本東洋医学雑誌

Japanese pharmacopoeia prescribes a crude drug, Uncaria hook, or the hook-like structures of Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Jacks, U. sinensis (Oliv.) Havil., and U. macrophylla Wall., while Chinese pharmacopoeia prescribes the hooks with attached stems of above3species, in addition to2other species of Uncaria hook; U. hirsuta Havil. and U. sessilifructus Roxb (all in the Rubiaceae family). Our herbological study has found that the botanical origin was Uncaria rhynchophylla before the Ming Dynasty, and that the part used was not the hook itself, but the plant's bark till the early Ming Dynasty. Use of the hooks with stems began in the late Ming Dynasty. On the other hand, in Japan, the hooks themselves have been mainly collected from wild U. rhynchophylla plants growing in southern warm-temperate zone of Japan, for use in Kampo medicines. We considered this differing Japanese custom was influenced by the descriptions in the Ben Cao Gan Mu (1596)written in the Ming dynasty by Li Si Chen, which state that the hook itself had medicinally sharp power. And we conclude that use of Uncaria bark alone is reasonable for prescriptions which originated before the early Ming dynasty, such as chotosan.

Water Test Method for the Identification of Chinese Medicinal Decoction Pieces / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To introduce the water test method for the identification of Chinese medicinal decoction pieces for references of pharmacists. METHODS:The water test method applied in the identification of 25 kinds of Chinese Medicinal decoction pieces were introduced and summarized. RESULTS & CONCLUSION:The water test method is a traditional experience-based identification method, which can be applied to effectively identify drug quality and ensure drug safety, thus deserve to be popularized.

Discussion on effect and proper time of enteroclysis in treating chronic renal failure / 中华中医药杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of enteroclysis of Chinese crude drug in treating different stages of chronic renal failure(CRF).Methods:Forty one inpatients with CRF in the nephrology were summarized,who had taken on the treatment with enteroclysis.At the end of the treatment,the change of symptoms and BUN,Scr,Ccr of the inpatients with CRF were recorded and statistically analyzed retrospectiveiy.Results:The total effective rate of enteroclysis in treating CRF was 58.54%,the patients whose Ccr was at the stage of 20-10ml/min reached 75.00%,while Scr,BUN decreased signifi cantly and Ccr rose markedly(P

Studies of Mu-tong, Akebiae Caulis (1) Herbological study of Classical Name and Origin / 日本東洋医学雑誌

The Chinese crude drug “Mu-tong, ” “Mokutsu” in Japanese, is standardized as the stem of <i>Akebia quinata</i> Decne. and <i>A. trifoliata</i> Koidz. of Lardizabalaceae in the modern Japanese pharmacopoeia. On the other hand, the botanical origin of Mu-tong is rather complicated in China, and many different plants among several families are used as a kind of Mu-tong. The herbological study clarified that Chinese doctors in the Tang dynasty had changed the original name “Tong-tsao” to “Mu-tong, ” meaning “woody Tong-tsao, ” to distinguish it from another type of Tong-tsao derived from the soft pith of <i>Tetrapanax papyrifera</i> Koch of the family Araliaceae plant. The classical botanical origin of Mu-tong is <i>Akebia</i> plants. Though the pith of <i>Tetrapanax papyrifera</i> is used as “Tong-tsao” in modern China, Akebiae Caulis is the true botanical source of ancient prescriptions such as those found in Shang-han-lun, an ancient Chinese medical book.

Design and Application of the Database for Rational Use of Prepared Slices of Chinese Crude Drug / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To provide information concerning the rational use of prepared slices of Chinese crude drug(PSCCD)for medical staff.METHODS:Based on the”Junwei No.1”hospital information system,a database system that can provide information of rational use of PSCCD was developed through setting up database and sorting the information of PSC?CD.RESULTS&CONCLUSIONS:This system is characterized by low cost,high transportability,friendly user interface,quick inquiry and easy maintenance,which can facilitate medical staff’s convenient,quick and accurate mastering of the info_ rmation of PSCCD so as to provide better service for the patients.

Recent development on effective fractions of compounded prescription of Chinese crude drug / 中国药理学通报

The compounded prescription of Chinese crude drug is a key problem in the study of traditional Chinese medicine.A new research field that focuses on the group of effective fractions of Chinese crude drugs becomes more important as the result of combination of the theorem of traditional Chinese medicine and techniques of modern medicine.Up to date,the researches on this field are preliminary,remaining a lot of subjects to be explored.