Overview of Panax ginseng and its active ingredients protective mechanism on cardiovascular diseases.

ETHNIC PHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Panax ginseng is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used to treat cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and it is still widely used to improve the clinical symptoms of various CVDs. However, there is currently a lack of summary and analysis on the mechanism of Panax ginseng exerts its cardiovascular protective effects. This article provides a review of in vivo and in vitro pharmacological studies on Panax ginseng and its active ingredients in reducing CVDs damage. AIM OF THIS REVIEW: This review summarized the latest literature on Panax ginseng and its active ingredients in CVDs research, aiming to have a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the cardiovascular protection mechanism of Panax ginseng, and to provide new ideas for the treatment of CVDs, as well as to optimize the clinical application of Panax ginseng. METHODS: Enrichment of pathways and biological terms using the traditional Chinese medicine molecular mechanism bioinformatics analysis tool (BATMAN-TCM). The literature search is based on electronic databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, CNKI, with a search period of 2002-2023. The search terms include Panax ginseng, Panax ginseng ingredients, ginsenosides, ginseng polysaccharides, ginseng glycoproteins, ginseng volatile oil, CVDs, heart, and cardiac. RESULTS: 132 articles were ultimately included in the review. The ingredients in Panax ginseng that manifested cardiovascular protective effects are mainly ginsenosides (especially ginsenoside Rb1). Ginsenosides protected against CVDs such as ischemic reperfusion injury, atherosclerosis and heart failure mainly through improving energy metabolism, inhibiting hyper-autophagy, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and promoting secretion of exosomes. CONCLUSION: Panax ginseng and its active ingredients have a particularly prominent effect on improving myocardial energy metabolism remodeling in protecting against CVDs. The AMPK and PPAR signaling pathways are the key targets through which Panax ginseng produces multiple mechanisms of cardiovascular protection. Extracellular vesicles and nanoparticles as carriers are potential delivery ways for optimizing the bioavailability of Panax ginseng and its active ingredients.

Systematically investigate the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of Astragalus membranaceus in ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: Whether Astragalus membranaceus is an effective drug in treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) and how it exhibit activity effect on UC is unclear. METHODS: TCMSP, GeneCards, String, and DAVID database were used to screening target genes construct PPI network and performed for GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis respectively. Molecular docking and animal experiment were performed. The body weight and disease activity index (DAI) of mice were recorded. ELISA kits were used to detect the levels of CAT, SOD, MDA and IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α in the blood of mice. Western blot kits were utilized to measured the expressions of MAPK14, RB1, MAPK1, JUN, ATK1, and IL2 proteins. RESULTS: The active components of Astragalus membranaceus mainly including 7-O-methylisomucronulatol, quercetin, kaempferol, formononetin and isrhamnetin. Astragalus membranaceus may inhibited the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, MDA, and promoted the expression of CAT, SOD, IL-10. The expression levels of MAPK14, RB1, MAPK1, JUN and ATK1 proteins were significantly decreased while IL2 protein increased administrated with Astragalus membranaceus. CONCLUSIONS: Astragalus membranaceus is an effective drug in treatment of UC according to related to above targets that may exhibits the anti-UC effect via its antioxidant pathway and regulating the balance of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors.

Advances in Research on the Effectiveness and Mechanism of Active Ingredients from Traditional Chinese Medicine in Regulating Hepatic Stellate Cells Autophagy Against Hepatic Fibrosis.

Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is a pathological process of structural and functional impairment of the liver and is a key component in the progression of chronic liver disease. There are no specific anti-hepatic fibrosis (anti-HF) drugs, and HF can only be improved or prevented by alleviating the cause. Autophagy of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is closely related to the development of HF. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has achieved good therapeutic effects in the prevention and treatment of HF. Several active ingredients from TCM (AITCM) can regulate autophagy in HSCs to exert anti-HF effects through different pathways, but relevant reviews are lacking. This paper reviewed the research progress of AITCM regulating HSCs autophagy against HF, and also discussed the relationship between HSCs autophagy and HF, pointing out the problems and limitations of the current study, in order to provide references for the development of anti-HF drugs targeting HSCs autophagy in TCM. By reviewing the literature in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI and other databases, we found that the relationship between autophagy of HSCs and HF is currently controversial. HSCs autophagy may promote HF by consuming lipid droplets (LDs) to provide energy for their activation. However, in contrast, inducing autophagy in HSCs can exert the anti-HF effect by stimulating their apoptosis or senescence, reducing type I collagen accumulation, inhibiting the extracellular vesicles release, degrading pro-fibrotic factors and other mechanisms. Some AITCM inhibit HSCs autophagy to resist HF, with the most promising direction being to target LDs. While, others induce HSCs autophagy to resist HF, with the most promising direction being to target HSCs apoptosis. Future research needs to focus on cell targeting research, autophagy targeting research and in vivo verification research, and to explore the reasons for the contradictory effects of HSCs autophagy on HF.

Distribution of active ingredients and quality control of Forsythia suspensa with AP-MALDI mass spectrometry imaging.

The fruits of Forsythia suspensa (F. suspensa) have been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for 2000 years. Currently, the quality control of F. suspensa strictly follows the instructions of Chinese Pharmacopeia, which mainly controls the content of forsythoside A, phillyrin, and volatile oil. In this study, air pressure MALDI mass spectrometry imaging (AP-MALDI MSI) was used to evaluate the quality of F. suspensa fruits and the distribution of dozens of active ingredients. The variation of active ingredients was measured for more than 30 batches of samples, regarding harvest time, cultivated environment, shelf-life, and habitat. Fifty-three active ingredients could be detected in F. suspensa fruits with AP-MALDI MSI. Seven active ingredients were upregulated, four ingredients downregulated, and 15 ingredients did not change in ripe fruits. A sharp variation of active ingredients in late September was observed for the Caochuan fruits harvested in 2019, which is closely related to the appearance of the ginger color of the pericarp under the microscope observation. The microscope observation is a reliable way to classify ripe and green fruits instead of outlook. Just considering forsythoside A and phillyrin, it is found that wild fruits are better than cultivated fruits, but cultivated fruits have high contents of other ingredients. The shelf-life of F. suspensa fruits is proposed to be 3 years, considering the 26 ingredients investigated. It was found that Luoning wild fruits are better than those from Caochuan with a new evaluation method. Mass spectrometry imaging is an easy, objective, and effective method to evaluate the quality of F. suspensa fruits.

[Research progress of traditional Chinese medicines and active ingredients targeting M1/M2 macrophage polarization balance in intervening obese with type 2 diabetes].

Type 2 diabetes(T2DM) is a metabolic disorder marked by glucose toxicity, lipotoxicity, insulin resistance, and other pathological manifestations, representing a pressing global health concern. Obesity stands out as a pivotal risk factor for T2DM development. When combined with T2DM, obesity exacerbates insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities. The disturbance in the inflammatory microenvironmental balance between adipose and pancreatic islet tissue emerges as a significant contributor to obese with T2DM development. Macrophages play a crucial role in maintaining immune homeostasis and responding to inflammation in adipose and pancreatic islet tissue. Individuals with obese with T2DM exhibit an imbalanced M1/M2 macrophage polarization, contributing to the progression of glycolipid metabolism abnormalities. Hence, restoring the equilibrium of macrophage polarization becomes imperative for obese with T2DM treatment. Scientific researchers have demonstrated that traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) therapies can effectively modulate macrophage polarization, offering a viable approach for treating obese with T2DM. In light of the existing evidence, this study systematically reviewed the research progress of TCM targeting the balance of M1/M2 macrophage polarization to ameliorate obese with T2DM, so as to furnish evidence supporting the clinical diagnosis and treatment of obese with T2DM with TCM while also contributing to the exploration of the biological basis of obese with T2DM.

[Synergistic effect and compatibility structure of active anti-inflammatory ingredients from Lamiophlomis rotata based on network pharmacology and component structure theory].

The synergistic effect and compatibility structure of active anti-inflammatory ingredients(iridoid glycosides: shanzhiside methylester and 8-O-acetylshanzhiside methyl ester, flavonoid glycoside: luteoloside, and phenylethanoid glycoside: forsythoside B) from Lamiophlomis rotata were explored based on network pharmacology and component structure theory. In network pharmacology, CTD, SwisseTargetPrediction, and PharmMapper databases were used to collect and screen the targets of all active ingredients. The inflammation-related targets were obtained from CTD and GeneCards databases. The core targets were obtained by Venny 2.1.0, STRING, and Cytoscape 3.9.1. Core targets were annotated by the GO function and enriched by the KEGG pathway based on the DAVID database. In terms of component structure, based on a uniform design method and xylene-induced ear swelling model in mice, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 were taken as the dependent variables, and the compatibility relationship among anti-inflammatory ingredients from L. rotata was explored through the quadratic polynomial stepwise regression. In addition, in vivo pharmacological experiments were conducted to verify the results. A network pharmacology study showed that compared with a single ingredient, the combined action of the three ingredients can synergistically exert anti-inflammatory effects through more biological processes, pathways, and targets. Component structure study showed that the optimal structural ratio of shanzhiside methylester and 8-O-acetylshanzhiside methyl ester in the iridoid glycoside ingredient was 1.21∶1. The optimal structural ratio among the three types of ingredients(iridoid glycosides∶phenylethanol glycoside∶flavonoid glycoside) was 4.8∶1.6∶1. In conclusion, each anti-inflammatory ingredient from L. rotata can work synergistically, and there is an optimal compatibility ratio relationship among these ingredients. This work provides a new experimental basis for the intrinsic quality control of L. rotata.

Assessment of pesticide knowledge, Safety Practices and postharvest handling among cocoa farmers in South Western Nigeria.

Cocoa beans are susceptible to fungal contamination during processing and storage. The knowledge of the use of pesticides and post-harvest handling of cocoa beans among farmers is of great importance for safe consumption. The study evaluated common cocoa production and post-harvest practices of farmers in selected study locations in South Western Nigeria. Primary data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaires, and interviews. The collected data were analyzed using inferential descriptive statistics. The results of 394 farmers showed that 52.9 % in Osun and 47.3 % in Oyo were primarily farmers by occupation, the rest had other ventures. The majority of cocoa farmers were men:83.6 % in Oyo State, 88.2 % in Osun state and 87.9 % in Ondo state. 28.6 % and 32.7 % of farmers were aged 51-60 in the Ondo and Oyo communities, respectively. Osun farming communities are dominated by young adults (51 %) of 31-50 years, followed by Ondo 40 % and36 % of farmers in Oyo State. Most cocoa farmers were married with 4-6 children as the most common household size in Osun (51 %), Ondo (60.4 %) and 49.1 % in Oyo State. The literacy level of farmers in cocoa communities was the highest in Oyo state where 47.3 % had tertiary education. Farmers in Oyo State had better knowledge of the dangers of pesticides than Ondo and Osun. However, ignorance of dangers in agrochemicals was higher among Osun farmers than in Ondo State. The highest (18 %) pesticide use during storage was recorded among Oyo farmers, while the least (11.0 %) was recorded among farmers in Ondo State. Pesticide usage was more abundant in Osun (50 %) during cocoa production than in the other study areas. The majority of farmers were positively disposed to make use of nose masks during agrochemical application, meanwhile, 69 %, 62 %, and 61 % of farmers used them already in Oyo, Ondo, and Osun states, respectively. Educational qualification (χ2 = 9.176, p = 0.027) of cocoa farmers was significantly related to knowledge of best practices. Farmers with higher education have a greater ability to receive and process information relating to global best practices in production, postharvest, and pesticide handling in cocoa. In conclusion, cocoa farmers' knowledge of processing, use of pesticides, and storage practices differed from one location to another. Intensive orientation and more enlightenment by extension workers against indiscriminate use of pesticides in cocoa plantations and stores must be consistently and continuously done.

Using Quercetin to Construct Molecularly Imprinting Polymer in the Preparation and Enrichment of Flavonol and Flavonoid Compounds.

Flavonol and flavonoid compounds are important natural compounds with various biomedical activities. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop a strategy for the specific extraction of flavonol and flavonoid compounds. Quercetin is a well-studied flavonoid possessing many health benefits. This compound is a versatile antioxidant known to possess protective abilities against body tissue injury induced by pathological situations and various drug toxicities. Although quercetin is widely distributed in many plants, its content generally is not very high. Therefore, the specific extraction of quercetin as well as other flavonol and flavonoid compounds has profound significance. In this work, the quercetin molecularly imprinting polymer (QMIP) was successfully prepared, in which a typical flavonol quercetin was selected as the template molecule. QMIP was synthesized by performing the surface molecular imprinting technology on the surface of NH2-MIL-101(Fe). Our study results showed that QMIP exhibited quick binding kinetic behavior, a high adsorption capacity (57.04[Formula: see text]mg/g), and the specific recognition ability toward quercetin compared with structurally distinct compounds (selective [Formula: see text]). The specific adsorption ability of quercetin by QMIP was further explained using computation simulation that molecules with non-planar 3D conformations hardly entered the molecularly imprinted cavities on QMIP. Finally, QMIP was successfully used for the specific extraction of quercetin and five other flavonol and flavonoid compounds in the crude extracts from Sapium sebiferum. This study proposes a new strategy to synthesize the molecularly imprinted polymer based on a single template for enriching and loading a certain class of active ingredients with similar core structures from variable botanicals.

Protection effect of Dioscoreae Rhizoma against ethanol-induced gastric injury in vitro and in vivo: A phytochemical and pharmacological study.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Dioscoreae Rhizoma, a kind of Chinese yam, is a medicinal and edible plant used in China for strengthening the spleen and stomach. However, there is a lack of modern pharmacology studies regarding its anti-gastric injury activity. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition of Chinese yam aqueous extract (CYW) and evaluate its gastroprotective effects against ethanol-induced gastric injury in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The active components of CYW were identified using HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS in combination with the GNPS molecular networking and network pharmacology. In vitro studies were performed in the RAW264.7/GES-1 cell coculture system. In vivo study, mice were treated with CYW (0.31, 0.63, and 3.14 g/kg BW, orally) for 14 days, followed by a single oral dose of ethanol (10 mL/kg BW) to induce gastric injury. The biochemical, inflammation and oxidative stress markers were analyzed using commercial kits. Histopathology was used to assess the degree of gastric injury. Gene and protein expressions were studied using RT-qPCR and western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: CYW significantly restored the levels of SOD, GPx and CAT, and reduced the MDA content. Further analyses showed that CYW significantly alleviated the gastric oxidative stress by inhibiting the inflammation via decreasing p-NF-κB and p-IκB-α expression levels and inhibiting the generation of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1ß. At the same time, the fraction remarkably upregulated Bcl-2, downregulated Bax and increased growth factor secretion, thereby prevented gastric mucous cell. Besides, The combination of HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS, GNPS molecular networking analysis, and network pharmacology demonstrated that linoleic acid, 3-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid, adenosine, aminocaproic acid, tyramine, DL-tryptophan, cycloleucine, lactulose, melibiose, alpha-beta-trehalose, and sucrose would be the main active compounds of CYW against ethanol-induced gastric injury. CONCLUSION: This study showed that CYW is potentially rich source of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactive compounds. It showed efficacy against ethanol-induced gastric injury by inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in the stomach. The results of the current work indicate that Dioscoreae Rhizoma could be utilized as a type of natural resource for production of new medicine and functional foods to prevent and/or ameliorate ethanol-induced gastric injury.

Research progress of nano-delivery systems for the active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine.

INTRODUCTION: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for thousands of years in China, characterizing with novel pharmacological mechanisms, low toxicity, and limited side effects. However, the application of TCM active ingredients is often hindered by their physical and chemical properties, including poor solubility, low bioavailability, short half-life, toxic side effects within therapeutic doses, and instability in biological environments. Consequently, an increasing number of researchers are directing their attention towards the discovery of nano-delivery systems for TCM to overcome these clinical challenges. OBJECTIVES: This review aims to provide the latest knowledge and results concerning the studies on the nano-delivery systems for the active ingredients from TCM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Recent literature relating to nano-delivery systems for the active ingredients from TCM is summarized to provide a fundamental understanding of how such systems can enhance the application of phytochemicals. RESULTS: The nano-delivery systems of six types of TCM monomers are summarized and categorized based on the skeletal structure of the natural compounds. These categories include terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, quinones, polyphenols, and polysaccharides. The paper analyzes the characteristics, types, materials used, and the efficacy achieved by TCM-nano systems. Additionally, the advantages and disadvantages of nano-drug delivery systems for TCM are summarized in this paper. CONCLUSION: Nano-delivery systems represent a promising approach to overcoming clinical obstacles stemming from the physical and chemical properties of TCM active ingredients, thereby enhancing their clinical efficacy.

Therapeutic Potential of Essential Oils Against Ulcerative Colitis: A Review.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic non-sp ecific inflammatory disease of the colorectal mucosa. Researchers have associated UC onset with familial genetics, lifestyle behavior, inflammatory immune factors, intestinal microbiota, and the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier. The primary therapeutic interventions for UC consist of pharmacological management to control inflammation and promote mucosal healing and surgical interventions. The available drugs effectively control and decelerate the progression of UC in most patients; nonetheless, their long-term administration can exert adverse effects and influence the therapeutic effect. Plant essential oils (EOs) refer to a group of hydrophobic aromatic volatile substances. EOs have garnered considerable attention in both domestic and international research because of their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. They include peppermint, peppercorns, rosemary, and lavender, among others. Researchers have investigated the role of EOs in medicine and have elucidated their potential to mitigate the detrimental effects of UC through their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidepressant, and anti-insomnia properties as well as their ability to regulate the intestinal flora. Furthermore, EOs exert minimal toxic adverse effects, further enhancing their appeal for therapeutic applications. However, these speculations are based on theoretical experiments, thereby warranting more clinical studies to confirm their effectiveness and safety. In this article, we aim to provide an overview of the advancements in utilizing natural medicine EOs for UC prevention and treatment. We will explore the potential pathogenesis of UC and examine the role of EOs therapy in basic research, quality stability, and management specification of inadequate EOs for UC treatment. We intend to offer novel insights into the use of EOs in UC prevention and management.

Nano-based drug delivery systems for active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine: Harnessing the power of nanotechnology.

Introduction: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is gaining worldwide popularity as a complementary and alternative medicine. The isolation and characterization of active ingredients from TCM has become optional strategies for drug development. In order to overcome the inherent limitations of these natural products such as poor water solubility and low bioavailability, the combination of nanotechnology with TCM has been explored. Taking advantage of the benefits offered by the nanoscale, various drug delivery systems have been designed to enhance the efficacy of TCM in the treatment and prevention of diseases. Methods: The manuscript aims to present years of research dedicated to the application of nanotechnology in the field of TCM. Results: The manuscript discusses the formulation, characteristics and therapeutic effects of nano-TCM. Additionally, the formation of carrier-free nanomedicines through self-assembly between active ingredients of TCM is summarized. Finally, the paper discusses the safety behind the application of nano-TCM and proposes potential research directions. Discussion: Despite some achievements, the safety of nano-TCM still need special attention. Furthermore, exploring the substance basis of TCM formulas from the perspective of nanotechnology may provide direction for elucidating the scientific intension of TCM formulas.

Hawthorn with "homology of medicine and food": a review of anticancer effects and mechanisms.

Over the past few years, there has been a gradual increase in the incidence of cancer, affecting individuals at younger ages. With its refractory nature and substantial fatality rate, cancer presents a notable peril to human existence and wellbeing. Hawthorn, a medicinal food homology plant belonging to the Crataegus genus in the Rosaceae family, holds great value in various applications. Due to its long history of medicinal use, notable effects, and high safety profile, hawthorn has garnered considerable attention and plays a crucial role in cancer treatment. Through the integration of modern network pharmacology technology and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), a range of anticancer active ingredients in hawthorn have been predicted, identified, and analyzed. Studies have shown that ingredients such as vitexin, isoorientin, ursolic acid, and maslinic acid, along with hawthorn extracts, can effectively modulate cancer-related signaling pathways and manifest anticancer properties via diverse mechanisms. This review employs network pharmacology to excavate the potential anticancer properties of hawthorn. By systematically integrating literature across databases such as PubMed and CNKI, the review explores the bioactive ingredients with anticancer effects, underlying mechanisms and pathways, the synergistic effects of drug combinations, advancements in novel drug delivery systems, and ongoing clinical trials concerning hawthorn's anticancer properties. Furthermore, the review highlights the preventive health benefits of hawthorn in cancer prevention, offering valuable insights for clinical cancer treatment and the development of TCM with anticancer properties that can be used for both medicinal and edible purposes.

Research on traditional Chinese medicine as an effective drug for promoting wound healing.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The incidence of skin trauma is high and the repair process is complex, often leading to poor healing and other issues, which can result in significant economic and social burdens. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a valuable resource with proven effectiveness and safety in wound repair, widely utilized in clinical practice. A systematic analysis of wound healing with a focus on TCM research progress holds both academic and clinical importance. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This article reviews the research progress of TCM in promoting wound healing, and provides basic data for the development of innovative drugs that promote wound healing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This article provides a review of the literature from the past decade and conducts a thorough analysis of various databases that contain reports on the use of TCM for wound repair. The data for this systematic research was gathered from electronic databases including CNKI, SciFinder, and PubMed. The study explores and summarizes the research findings and patterns by creating relevant charts. RESULTS: This study reviewed the mechanism of wound healing, experimental TCM methods to promote wound healing, the theory and mode of action of TCM to promote wound healing, the active ingredients of TCM that promote wound healing, the efficacy of TCM formulae to promote wound healing, and the potential toxicity of TCM and its antidotes. This study enriched the theory of TCM in promoting wound healing. CONCLUSION: Skin wound healing is a complex process that can be influenced by various internal and external factors. This article offers a theoretical foundation for exploring and utilizing TCM resources that enhance wound repair. By analyzing a range of TCM that promote wound healing, the article highlights the clinical importance and future potential of these medicines in promoting wound healing.

Multi-omics explores the potential regulatory role of acetylation modification in flavonoid biosynthesis of Ginkgo biloba.

Flavonoids are crucial medicinal active ingredients in Ginkgo biloba L. However, the effect of protein post-translational modifications on flavonoid biosynthesis remains poorly explored. Lysine acetylation, a reversible post-translational modification, plays a crucial role in metabolic regulation. This study aims to investigate the potential role of acetylation in G. biloba flavonoid biosynthesis. Through comprehensive analysis of transcriptomes, metabolomes, proteomes and acetylated proteins in different tissues, a total of 11,788 lysine acetylation sites were identified on 4324 acetylated proteins, including 89 acetylation sites on 23 proteins. Additionally, 128 types of differentially accumulated flavonoids were identified among tissues, and a dataset of differentially expressed genes related to the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway was constructed. Twelve (CHI, C3H1, ANR, DFR, CCoAOMT1, F3H1, F3H2, CCoAOMT2, C3H2, HCT, F3'5'H and FG2) acetylated proteins that might be involved in flavonoid biosynthesis were identified. Specifically, we found that the modification levels of CCoAOMT1 and F3'5'H sites correlated with the catalytic production of homoeriodictyol and dihydromyricetin, respectively. Inhibitors of lysine deacetylase (trichostatin A) impacted total flavonoid content in different tissues and increased flavonoid levels in G. biloba roots. Treatment with trichostatin A revealed that expression levels of GbF3'5'H and GbCCoAOMT1 in stems and leaves aligned with total flavonoid content variations, while in roots, expression levels of GbC3H2 and GbFG2 corresponded to total flavonoid content changes. Collectively, these findings reveal for the first time the important role of acetylation in flavonoid biosynthesis.

[Pathogenesis of ferroptosis on chronic kidney disease and traditional Chinese medicine intervention: a review].

Chronic kidney disease(CKD) is an insidious disease that has become a significant global public health issue due to its high incidence rate, low awareness, low diagnostic rate, poor prognosis, and high medical costs. Recent studies have shown that CKD development is associated with varying degrees of ferroptosis features. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) can regulate iron metabolism, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant systems to inhibit ferroptosis and delay the progression of CKD. Consequently, the intervention mechanism of ferroptosis has become one of the focuses of CKD research. TCM has thousands of years of traditional experience and wisdom. It focuses on the overall regulation of human body functions and can stimulate the body's disease resistance and recovery capabilities, which has certain advantages in treating CKD. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive articles on the application of TCM in intervening ferroptosis to treat CKD and the pathogenesis of ferroptosis in CKD. Therefore, this article summarizes the latest research progress both domestically and internationally, briefly introduces the main mechanisms of ferroptosis, and systematically reviews the relationship between ferroptosis and CKD. The article integrates TCM theories related to ferroptosis in CKD, including "deficiency" "stasis" "phlegm turbidity" and "toxins" and summarizes the research status of active ingredients and herbal formulas in intervening ferroptosis to treat CKD. By considering ferroptosis from a new perspective, this article aims to provide new targets and directions for the application of TCM in treating CKD.

A systematic review of the mechanism of action and potential medicinal value of codonopsis pilosula in diseases.

As a traditional Chinese medicinal herb with a long history, Codonopsis pilosula (CP) has attracted much attention from the medical community in recent years. This review summarizes the research progress of CP in the medical field in the past 5 years. By searching and analyzing the literature, and combining with Cytoscape software, we comprehensively examined the role and mechanism of action of CP in individual application, combination drug application, and the role and mechanism of action of codonopsis pilosula's active ingredients in a variety of diseases. It also analyzes the medicinal use of CP and its application value in medicine. This review found that CP mainly manifests important roles in several diseases, such as cardiovascular system, nervous system, digestive system, immune system, etc., and regulates the development of many diseases mainly through the mechanisms of inflammation regulation, oxidative stress, immunomodulation and apoptosis. Its rich pharmacological activities and diverse medicinal effects endow CP with broad prospects and application values. This review provides valuable reference and guidance for the further development of CP in traditional Chinese medicine.

A Set of Artificial Pollination Technical Measures: Improved Seed Yields and Active Ingredients of Seeds in Oil Tree Peonies.

The tree peony, a novel woody oil crop extensively cultivated in China, necessitates further investigation into artificial pollination technology to enhance seed yield. In this study, we conducted artificial pollination experiments with 6-year-old Paeonia ostii 'Feng Dan' seedings for suitable pollen sources, pollen concentration, pollination timing, and pollination frequency. By evaluating seed yields, active ingredients, and oil quality, we derived the following significant conclusions. Firstly, compared to natural pollination, artificial pollination could significantly increase the fruit diameter by 13.94-27.58%, seed yields by 35.17-58.99%, and oil content by 6.45-7.52% in tree peonies. In active ingredients, seeds produced by pollen from Hantai County significantly enhanced starch content (by 48.64%), total phenols (by 41.18%) and antioxidant capacity (by 54.39%). In oil quality, seeds produced by pollen from Heyang County exhibited the highest α-linolenic acid and total fatty acid content with enhancements of 1.68%, 7.41%, and 8.48%. Secondly, hand pollination with pure pollen significantly increased seed yield by 58.99%, total phenol content by 40.97%, antioxidant capacity by 54.39%, and oil content by 1.53% compared to natural pollination. Thirdly, pollination at 2/3 bloom range significantly increased seed number by 63.08% and yield by 45.61% compared to natural pollination. Finally, the effect of one, two, and three pollination events had no difference in seed yield. So, to summarize, applying a 100% concentration of allochthonous pollen once is recommended when the bloom range is more than two thirds.

Treatment of neuropathic pain by traditional Chinese medicine: An updated review on their effect and putative mechanisms of action.

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a common chronic pain with heterogeneous clinical features, and consequent lowering of quality of life. Currently, although conventional chemical drugs can effectively manage NP symptoms in the short term, their long-term efficacy is limited, and they come with significant side effects. In this regard, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provides a promising avenue for treating NP. Numerous pharmacological and clinical studies have substantiated the effectiveness of TCM with multiple targets and mechanisms. We aimed to outline the characteristics of TCM, including compound prescriptions, single Chinese herbs, active ingredients, and TCM physical therapy, for NP treatment and discussed their efficacy by analyzing the pathogenesis of NP. Various databases, such as PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang database, were searched. We focused on recent research progress in NP treatment by TCM. Finally, we proposed the future challenges and emerging trends in the treatment of NP. TCM demonstrates significant clinical efficacy in NP treatment, employing multi-mechanisms. Drawing from the theory of syndrome differentiation, four types of dialectical treatments for NP by compound TCM prescriptions were introduced: promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis; promoting blood circulation and promote Qi flow; warming Yang and benefiting Qi; soothing the liver and regulating Qi. Meanwhile, 33 single Chinese herbs and 25 active ingredients were included. In addition, TCM physical therapy (e.g., acupuncture, massage, acupoint injection, and fumigation) also showed good efficacy in NP treatment. TCM, particularly through the use of compound prescriptions and acupuncture, holds bright prospects in treating NP owing to its diverse holistic effects. Nonetheless, the multi-targets of TCM may result in possible disadvantages to NP treatment, and the pharmacological mechanisms of TCM need further evaluation. Here, we provide an overview of NP treatment via TCM, based on the pathogenesis and the potential therapeutic mechanisms, thus providing a reference for further studies.

Bupleurum in Treatment of Depression Disorder: A Comprehensive Review.

The incidence of depression has been steadily rising in recent years, making it one of the most prevalent mental illnesses. As the pursuit of novel antidepressant drugs captivates the pharmaceutical field, the therapeutic efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been widely explored. Chaihu (Bupleurum) has been traditionally used for liver conditions such as hepatitis, liver inflammation, liver fibrosis, and liver cancer. It is believed to have hepatoprotective effects, promoting liver cell regeneration and protecting against liver damage. In addition, Bupleurum has also been used as a Jie Yu (depression-relieving) medicine in China, Japan, Republic of Korea, and other Asian countries for centuries. This review article aims to summarize the research conducted on the antidepressant properties and mechanisms of Bupleurum, as well as discuss the potential of TCM formulas containing Bupleurum. This review highlights various antidepressant ingredients isolated from Bupleurum, including saikosaponin A, saikosaponin D, rutin, puerarin, and quercetin, each with distinct mechanisms of action. Additionally, Chinese herb prescriptions and extracts containing Bupleurum, such as Chaihu Shugansan, Xiaoyaosan, and Sinisan, are also included due to their demonstrated antidepressant effects. This review reveals that these Bupleurum compounds exhibit antidepressant effects through the regulation of neurotransmitter mechanisms (such as 5-HT and DA), the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) system, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and other intracellular signaling pathways. Collectively, this comprehensive review provides insights into the multiple applications of Bupleurum in the treatment of depression and highlights its potential as an alternative or complementary approach to traditional therapies. However, it is essential to consider the potential adverse effects and clinical restrictions of Bupleurum despite its promising potential. Further research is needed to elucidate its specific mechanisms of action and evaluate its effectiveness in human subjects.