[Critical quality attribute characterization of big brand TCM: taste formulation optimization strategy and application of Xiaoer Ganmao Oral Liquid based on taste quality attribute].

The taste is the quality attribute for the development and production of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). To improve the medication compliance of the big brand TCM, Xiaoer Ganmao Oral Liquid, a correlation model between the electronic tongue sensor signal value and human sensory evaluation score was established, and an optimization strategy of taste improvement for Xiaoer Ganmao Oral Liquid was developed with the key techniques of statistical experimental design. Based on the above model, the optimal formulation was determined as follows: aspartame content of 1-2 mg·mL~(-1), acesulfame-K content of 1.5-3 mg·mL~(-1), and steviol glycoside content of 1-2 mg·mL~(-1). Furthermore, the optimal formulation was verified by human sensory evaluation. Therefore, the taste of Xiaoer Ganmao Oral Liquid was improved. Taking Xiaoer Ganmao Oral Liquid as an example, the present study developed the taste formulation optimization method based on the correlation between the electronic tongue and human sensory evaluation, which is expected to provide an important reference to improve the taste of oral liquid of TCM.

[Case series analysis of Professor Wang Qi's prescriptions for oligoasthenospermia].

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a case series analysis on Professor Wang Qi's prescriptions for oligoasthenospermia and a preliminary discussion on the clinical application of the pathogenesis theory of "kidney deficiency with dampness, heat, stasis, toxin and parasites" so as to provide some reference for the diagnosis and treatment of oligoasthenospermia by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). METHODS: We selected 13 representative cases of oligoasthenospermia treated by Professor Wang Qi, analyzed the basic conditions of the patients, changes of the disease and prescriptions used, and investigated the treatment of oligoasthenospermia in view of Professor Wang Qi's TCM theory on andrology. RESULTS: Excellent therapeutic effect was achieved in 7, indefinite effect in 5 and no effect in 1 of the 13 cases. Totally 38 prescriptions were employed in the treatment, of which Bajitian was used in 30, Tusizi in 27, Gouqizi in 25, Sangshen in 25, Shuizhi in 24 and Danggui in 22. The drugs used in the treatment of 10 or more patients included Bajitian in 12, Sangshen in 11, Shuizhi in 11, Tusizi in 10 and Gouqizi in 10 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Professor Wang Qi's prescriptions are effective for the treatment of oligoasthenospermia and the pathogenesis theory of "kidney deficiency with dampness, heat, stasis, toxin and parasites" is valuable in guiding the clinical diagnosis and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine.

[Huatan Qushi Decoction improves lipid metabolism and semen quality in obese rats with oligoasthenozoospermia: Effects and mechanisms].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the regulatory effect of Huatan Qushi Decoction (HTQSD) on lipid metabolism and semen quality in obese rats with oligoasthenozoospermia (OA) and its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Ninety-six 8-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups of equal number: blank control, OA model control, Wuzi Yanzong Pills (WZYZP), and high-, medium- and low-dose HTQSD, the blank controls fed with a normal diet and the others with a high-fat diet, all for 8 weeks. Meanwhile, the rats in the blank control and OA model control groups were treated intragastrically with normal saline, those in the WZYZP group with WZYZP at 1.07 g/kg, and those in the high-, medium- and low-dose HTQSD groups with HTQSD at 26.25, 13.125 and 6.5625 g/kg, respectively. The body weights of the animals were obtained at 1, 4 and 8 weeks of modeling and intervention, the levels of serum TG, TC, HDL-C and LDL-C, the liver and testis indexes and semen quality detected at 4 and 8 weeks, and the expression of HO-1 mRNA determined at 8 weeks. RESULTS: At 8 weeks of modeling and intervention, the rats in the model control group, compared with the blank controls, showed significant increases in the body weight (ï¼»523.1 ± 25.54ï¼½ vs ï¼»451.50 ± 27.53ï¼½ g, P < 0.01) and levels of serum TG (ï¼»8.58 ± 0.39ï¼½ vs ï¼»2.18 ± 0.28ï¼½ nmol/L, P < 0.001), TC (ï¼»4.41 ± 1.44ï¼½ vs ï¼»1.68 ± 0.18ï¼½ nmol/L, P < 0.01) and LDL-C (ï¼»2.06 ± 0.17ï¼½ vs ï¼»0.48 ± 0.57ï¼½ nmol/L,P<0.01), but decreases in the level of serum HDL-C (ï¼»27.92 ± 0.40ï¼½ vs ï¼»57.47 ± 1.52ï¼½ nmol/L,P < 0.01), sperm motility (ï¼»11.31 ± 4.87ï¼½% vs ï¼»39.66 ± 2.77ï¼½%, P < 0.01), sperm concentration (ï¼»31.07 ± 10.52ï¼½ vs ï¼»65.37 ± 6.30ï¼½ ×106/ml, P < 0.01) and the expression of HO-1 mRNA (0.16 ± 0.03 vs 1.06 ± 0.20, P < 0.01). The rats in the medium-dose HTQSD group, in comparison with the model controls, exhibited remarkable decreases in the body weight (ï¼»445.13 ± 34.19ï¼½ vs ï¼»523.1 ± 25.54ï¼½ g, P < 0.01) and levels of serum TG (ï¼»2.05 ± 0.27ï¼½ vs ï¼»8.58 ± 0.39ï¼½ nmol/L,P < 0.01), TC (ï¼»1.63 ± 0.21ï¼½ vs ï¼»4.41 ± 1.44ï¼½ nmol/L,P < 0.01) and LDL-C (0.45 ± 0.07) vs ï¼»2.06 ± 0.17ï¼½ nmol/L, P < 0.01), but increases in the level of serum HDL-C (ï¼»48.35 ± 3.63ï¼½ vs ï¼»27.92 ± 0.40ï¼½ nmol/L, P < 0.01), sperm motility (ï¼»32.84 ± 6.22ï¼½% vs ï¼»11.31 ± 4.877ï¼½%, P < 0.01) and sperm concentration (ï¼»46.90 ± 6.39ï¼½ vs ï¼»31.07 ± 10.52ï¼½ ×106/ml, P < 0.05), and the low-dose HTQSD group showed a significantly up-regulated expression of HO-1 mRNA (0.76 ± 0.13 vs 0.16±0.03, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: HTQSD can regulate the blood lipid level and improve semen quality in obese rats with oligoasthenozoospermia by promoting serum anti-oxidation and reducing oxidative stress.