ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular diseases， with high incidence and high mortality， belong to the category of "chest impediment and heart pain" in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. Chinese medicines have unique effect on the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases with little side effects. Huoxin pills， one of the National Essential Drugs， is formulated based on the basic pathogenesis of weak pulse at Yang and wiry pulse at Yin and the pathological basis of myocardial ischemia and hypoxia and used for treating angina pectoris of coronary heart disease （Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome）. This medicine is derived from the classic famous prescription and is composed of ten precious Chinese medicinal herbs. It can replenish Qi， activate blood， and warm collaterals to diffuse impediment by enhancing myocardial contractility and cardiac output to improve micro-circulation and increase coronary blood flow， regulating immune functions， alleviating inflammation， detoxifying， and tranquilizing mind. Clinically， it is suitable for patients with angina pectoris caused by the lack of heart Yang， chest tightness， shortness of breath， palpitation， fear of cold for limbs and so on， especially for the elderly with Yang deficiency or the patients with a history of myocardial infarction. On the basis of the available research reports， this paper explains the formula meaning of Huoxin pills from the perspective of the basic pathogenesis of coronary heart disease and predicts its action targets， location and links. Furthermore， we expound the mechanism of action of Huoxin pills based on basic research and clinical evidence-based research， aiming to provide data support and evidence for the clinical application of this medicine.
ABSTRACT
The blood-brain barrier is located between blood vessels and brain parenchyma and is a composite tissue composed of brain capillary endothelial cell,astrocyte end foot,pericyte,basement membrane and their tight connections.The blood-brain barrier acts as an important barrier between the blood-brain. It strictly restricts the exchange of blood and brain tissue. On the one hand,it allows the nutrients required by the brain tissue to enter the barrier. On the other hand,the substance that damages the brain tissue is restricted from entering the barrier to maintain the stability of the neuron microenvironment. The barrier function of the blood-brain barrier also limits the concentration of drugs that treat certain diseases into the brain or reduces the concentration of drugs into the brain,affecting the treatment of certain diseases.Studies have found that Chinese medicine has the effect of regulating the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. For example, Chinese herbal medicines such as Moschus,borneol,Styorax,and Benzoinum can increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier,and can help its medicine into the brain. Its role is mainly related to the reduction of the blood-brain barrier tight junction,the inhibition of the blood-brain barrier transporter,and the inhibition of the active transport of ion channels.Orifice-opening medicinal such as borneol and Moschus can reduce the permeability of the blood-brain barrier.Certain tonifying and replenishing medicinal such as Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma,Astragali Radix,and Paeoniae Radix Alba can also reduce the permeability of the blood-brain barrier to protect the blood-brain barrier and brain tissue.Its role is mainly related to the regulation of inflammatory reactions,increased expression of tight junction-associated proteins,and promotion of vascular endothelial proliferation.The two-way regulation of blood-brain barrier permeability by traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) may be the basis for the prevention and treatment of brain diseases by TCM.In this paper,we systematically sort out the relevant literatures on the study of the permeability of blood-brain barrier and its mechanism of action in Chinese medicine in recent years,and carry out in-depth combing and summary,in order to provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of TCM to prevent and treat brain diseases.