[Practice and exploration on clinical evaluations of hospital-made Chinese herbal formulas in the Pudong new area of Shanghai].

Chinese herbal formulas can well present the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with their simple, convenient, inexpensive and effective uses. However, due to the high cost of production, manufacturing pharmacies inside the hospital closed down one after another, which rendered the difficult situation of developing preparation of Chinese herbal formulas. The Pudong New Area of Shanghai, as a pilot region for comprehensive reforms on national development of TCM, vigorously explores the standardized research on and application of hospital-made Chinese herbal formulas. The Health Bureau of the Pudong New Area, based on the Shuguang Hospital, has established a clinical evaluation center for hospital-made Chinese herbal formulas. Through screening, manufacturing, quality control, unified allocation, and standardized clinical evaluation, the clinical evaluation center has summarized its experience on these processes.

Ziyin Bushen Decoction Alleviates Perimenopausal Syndrome in Rats by Enhancing Estradiol Production.

Perimenopausal syndrome (PMS) has a high incidence rate and affects the physical and mental health of middle-aged and elderly women. The blockage of PMS is significant in improving the health of perimenopausal women. Currently, for PMS prevention and treatment, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has become an ideal choice because of its safety and effectiveness. This study aimed to explore the anti-PMS effects of Ziyin Bushen Decoction (DKTP) and the underlying mechanism. Thirty female Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups (n = 6): control group, low-dose DKTP group, medium-dose DKTP group, high-dose DKTP group, and nilestriol group. The estradiol (E2) level in rat peripheral blood was analyzed using an E2 Radioimmunoassay Kit, and uterine morphologic changes were examined by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Learning and memory ability of rats was assessed by Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition (NOR) task. E2 synthesis, metabolism, and transport associated estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα), GnRHR, CYP17, CYP11A1, CYP19, 17ßHSD, STS, and SHGB were assessed to explore the E2-promoting mechanism of DKTP during PMS treatment. The loss of learning and memory, the decreased estrous and uterine coefficient, and the presence of histopathological changes suggests a successful establishment of rat PMS model. Following DKTP or nilestriol treatment, the above results were reversed. E2 level in serum, uterine, and ovarian tissues was upregulated upon different concentrations of DKTP treatment, indicating that DKTP promotes the E2 level in a dose-dependent manner. DKTP also increased the expression of ERα, CYP17, CYP11A1, CYP19, 17ßHSD, STS, and SHGB while decreased the GnRHR expression in uterine and ovarian tissues, revealing that these key molecules involved in estrogen synthesis, metabolism, and transport in PMS rats. We confirmed the anti-PMS effect of DKTP through enhancing E2 production. Exploring a novel drug based on improving E2 synthesis, metabolism, and transport may represent a novel strategy for PMS prevention and treatment.