Gender differences in antidepressant effect of raw Rehmanniae Radix / 中国中药杂志

For the first time, this study evaluated the gender differences and mechanisms of the antidepressant effects of raw Rehmanniae Radix(RRR) based on the classic depression model with traditional Chinese medicine syndrome of Yin deficiency and internal heat. The depression model with Yin deficiency and internal heat was established by the widely recognized and applied method of thyroxine induction of the classic depression model with Yin deficiency and internal heat(chronic unpredictable mild stress). Male and female mice were simultaneously treated with RRR. The study analyzed indicators of nourishing Yin and clearing heat, conventional antidepressant efficacy test indicators, and important biomolecules reflecting the pathogenesis and prevention and treatment mechanisms of depression, and conducted a correlation analysis of antidepressant efficacy, Yin-nourishing and heat-clearing efficacy, and biological mechanism in different genders, thereby comprehensively assessing the antidepressant effects of RRR on depression of Yin deficiency and internal heat, as well as its gender differences and mechanisms. RRR exhibited antidepressant effects in both male and female mouse models, and its antidepressant efficacy showed gender differences, with a superior effect observed in females. Moreover, the effects of RRR on enhancing or improving hippocampal neuronal pathology, nucleus-positive areas, postsynaptic dense area protein 95, and synaptophysin protein expression were more significant in females than in males. In addition, RRR significantly reversed the abnormal upregulation of nuclear factor(NF)-κB/cyclooxygenase 2(COX2)/NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3(NLRP3) pathway proteins in the hippocampus of both male and female mouse models. The antidepressant effects of RRR were more pronounced in depression female mice with Yin deficiency and internal heat syndrome, possibly due to the improvement of neuronal damage and enhancement of neuroplasticity. The antidepressant mechanisms of RRR for depression with Yin deficiency and internal heat syndrome may be associated with the downregulation of the NF-κB/COX2/NLRP3 pathway to reduce neuronal damage and enhance neuroplasticity.

A combined quality evaluation method that integrates chemical constituents, appearance traits and origins of raw Rehmanniae Radix pieces / 中国天然药物

The quality control of Chinese herbal medicine is a current challenge for the internationalization of traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional quality evaluation methods lack quantitative analysis, while modern quality evaluation methods ignore the origins and appearance traits. Therefore, an integrated quality evaluation method is urgent in need. Raw Rehmanniae Radix (RRR) is commonly used in Chinese herbal medicine. At present, much attention has been drwan towards its quality control, which however is limited by the existing quality evaluation methods. The present study was designed to establish a comprehensive and practical method for the quality evaluation and control of RRR pieces based on its chemical constituents, appearance traits and origins. Thirty-three batches of RRR pieces were collected from six provinces, while high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was applied to determine the following five constituents, including catalpol, rehmannioside A, rehmannioside D, leonuride and verbascoside in RRR pieces. Their appearance traits were quantitatively observed. Furthermore, correlation analysis, principal components analysis (PCA), cluster analysis and t-test were performed to evaluate the qualities of RRR pieces. These batches of RRR pieces were divided into three categories: samples from Henan province, samples from Shandong and Shanxi provinces, and those from other provinces. Furthermore, the chemical constituents and appearance traits of RRR pieces were significantly different from diverse origins. The combined method of chemical contituents, appearance traits and origins can distinguish RRR pieces with different qualities, which provides basic reference for the quality control of Chinese herbal medicine.

Study on Medication Rules of Li Xu Yuan Jian Based on Data Mining / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To analyze the medication rules in Li Xu Yuan Jian; To explore the medication characteristics of WANG Qi-shi’s treatment for deficiency syndromes and hisdialectical thinking; To provide references for clinic. Methods By combing the recorded prescriptions in Li Xu Yuan Jian , this article established the database of medicine names, dosage and syndromes. SPSS statistical software 19.0 was used for universal analysis, similarity analysis, and cluster analysis. Results 23 prescriptions were included in the study, involving 56 kinds of medicine and 227 frequency, among which the most commonly used medicine were Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and raw Rehmanniae Radix; The medicinal properties were mainly cold (46.7%), warm (16.7%), and flat (16.7%), and the medicinal tastes were mainly bitter (53.3%), sweet (80.0%), and octanol (20.0%), and the meridians were mainly Heart Meridian of Hand-Shaoyin (53.3%), Liver Meridian of Foot-Jueyin (33.3%), Spleen Maridian of Foot-Taiyin (53.3%), Liver Meridian of Hand-Taiyin (66.7%), Kidney Meridian of Foot-Shaoyin (46.7%), and Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming (26.7%). Conclusion In Li Xu Yuan Jian, WANG Qi-shi tends to treat deficiency syndromes by using medicine with the cold property, sweet taste and Liver Meridian of Hand-Taiyin, among which Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and raw Rehmanniae Radix were most commonly used, followed by Platycodonis Radix, Poria, Ophiopogonis Radix and Moutan Cortex to protect the lung. Therefore, the final and upmost goal of not hurting qi and tonifying lung and kidney can be achieved.