Supervisor(s): Chinese Pharmaceutical Association Sponsor(s): Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research；Chinese Pharmaceutical Association CN：12-1108/R
Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs is supervised by Chinese Pharmaceutical Association and sponsored by Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Chinese Pharmaceutical Association. Launched in 1970, the journal is an academic journal with a broad scope in publishing research papers, brief reports, reviews, dissertations, and special treatises on the recent achievements of basic study, production, quality control, and clinic application on traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese materia medica.
The journal is included in CA, JST and CSCD.
Objective To investigate the effects of Radix Tripterygii Wilfordii on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) mice, analyze its effects on intestinal flora, and explore its mechanism.
Methods The UC model mice were induced by DSS and divided into the control group (Con), model group (Mod), mesalazine group (Mes), low-dose Radix Tripterygii Wilfordii group (RT1) and high-dose Radix Tripterygii Wilfordii group (RT2). The disease activity index (DAI), colon length, colon thickness, colon lesion score, colon histopathological score, and serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels of the mice were determined. The changes in intestinal flora of mice were detected by high-throughput sequencing, and the mechanism of action of Radix Tripterygii Wilfordii on UC mice was discussed.
Results After administration, Radix Tripterygii Wilfordii effectively alleviated colonic inflammatory symptoms and reduced the expression of inflammatory factors in mice, exhibiting a good therapeutic effect on UC mice. The sequencing results showed that the flora in the Mod group was more disordered than those in the Con group, and their abundance was reduced. After treatment with Radix Tripterygii Wilfordii, the recovery of intestinal flora diversity was accelerated. Compared with the Mod group, the intestinal flora diversity was significantly increased, mainly manifested as decreased Bacteroidetes and increased Firmicutesat at the phylum level and decreased
Lachnospira and
Bacteroides at the genus level.
Conclusion Radix Tripterygii Wilfordii can regulate the flora composition in UC mice and accelerate their recovery, thus exerting a good therapeutic effect on UC mice.
Objective To study the effects and mechanism of Semen Coicis formula on high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice. Methods C57 BL/6 J male mice were fed on chow or high-fat diet. After three months, except for control group, the obese mice(body weight more than 20% of the control mice) were randomly divided into model group(model), Semen Coicis formula low-dose group(0.59 g/kg, F-low), Semen Coicis formula high-dose group(1.17 g/kg, F-high) and positive control group(orlistat, 15.6 mg/kg, positive control). F-low, F-high and positive control groups were treated orally for two months, and the control group and the model group were given an equal volume of saline. The fat content of mice was quantified by computed tomography(CT) and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), the size of adipocytes was observed by tissue staining and the level of inflammatory cytokines was detected by qRT-PCR. Results The results showed that after treatment with Semen Coicis formula, the relative body weight, food utilization ratio and waist circumference were significantly reduced(P < 0.05). An oral glucose tolerance test elucidated that Semen Coicis formula could improve glucose tolerance(P < 0.05). CT and MRI results indicated that the abdominal fat thickness and whole-body fat content of Semen Coicis formula groups were decreased(P < 0.05), which were also confirmed by the adipose tissue weight and HE staining results. Meanwhile, after administration of Semen Coicis formula, the liver weight decreased, less lipid droplets accumulated, and serum triglyceride(TG) and total cholesterol(TC) levels were also significantly lowered( P < 0.05). Semen Coicis formula also significantly down-regulated serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST) levels and inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α) and interleukin-6(IL-6) in liver(P < 0.05). Conclusion Semen Coicis formula prevented high-fat diet-induced obesity by reducing lipid aggregation and inflammatory factor expression.
Objective To provide references for optimizing adjuvants for
Polygoni Multiflori Radix (PMR), we compared the effects of detoxification by different adjuvants processing according to Chinese medicine records of past dynasties.
Methods The chemical information of all samples including crude PMR and processed PMR with different adjuvants was characterized by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS, and the normal human hepatocytes (L02 cell line) was cultured
in vitro to evaluate the cytotoxicity. Then we comprehensively analyzed the toxicity-decreasing effects of processed PMR with different adjuvants and the variations of chemical component content. The difference in the toxicity-reducing effect and the rule of composition change of PMR processed with different adjuvants were compared comprehensively.
Results Different adjuvants had different degrees of impact on chemical fingerprint, index component, and cytotoxicity of PMR under the same conditions of pressure and time. More specifically, black beans, jujube, and rice-rinsing water had greater impact on the main components of PMR including gallic acid, catechin,
cis-stilbene glycoside,
trans-stilbene glycoside, emodin-8-
O-β-
D glucoside, physcion, and emodin, as well as the hepatotoxicity. The sequence of three adjuvants with the best toxicity-decreasing effects was as follows: rice-rinsing water > jujube > black beans. Furthermore, comprehensive analysis of simple correlation and multiple correlation suggested that
cis-stilbene glycoside might be the main chemical component that contributed to hepatotoxicity of PMR, and emodin-8-
O-β-
D-glucoside might be the potential toxic component.
Conclusion Different adjuvants traditionally recorded can attenuate the toxicity of PMR. In addition to black beans, rice-rinsing water and jujube can also be used as candidate adjuvants for the toxicity decreasing of PMR.
To analyze the prevention programs of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) issued by different regions after the outbreak of corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei Province, so as to better guide clinical prevention and medication. The news and notices published on the internet were collected from December 8, 2019 when the first case of unexplained pneumonia in Wuhan was officially reported to February 1, 2020. There have been 13 TCM prevention and treatment schemes against (COVID-19) containing Chinese herbal prescriptions issued by Beijing, Tianjin and other regions. In these 13 TCM prevention and treatment schemes, Chinese herbs like Radix Astragali seu Hedysari and Chinese herbal compound like Yupingfeng Powder are commonly recommended to reinforce the healthy qi. Since the epidemic occurs in winter, these TCM prevention and treatment schemes have been developed in accordance with climatic conditions. To be specific, Chinese herbs capable of nourishing yin and moistening dryness like Radix Ophiopogonis and Radix Scrophulariae are mostly used in the TCM prevention and treatment schemes from eight areas in the northern part of China, while Rhizoma Atractylodis, Herba PogoStemonis and other dampness-dispelling aromatic medicinals are mostly used in those from five areas in the southern part of China. Besides, these TCM prevention and treatment schemes are also developed after taking local conditions into consideration. Different prescriptions are adopted according to individual constitution. In addition, due attention should be paid to the preventive measures such as isolation of pathogens, regulated living patterns, adjustment of emotions, diet and nutrition, and proper exercise. During the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 with TCM, we should focus on the reinforcement of the healthy qi and herbal formulation based on syndrome differentiation and consideration of climatic factor, geographic feature and individual constitution, so as to achieve better results after comprehensive prevention.
Since the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was discovered in Hubei, it has rapidly swept across the whole country and many overseas regions. At present, there are no specific drugs or vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 in modern medicine. So, the symptomatic treatments are mainly adopted at present. According to the instructions of “following the development rules of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), inheriting the essence, keeping the integrity and promoting the innovation” and “attaching equal importance to TCM and western medicine” by President Xi Jinping, many local hospitals have established and improved the cooperation mechanism between TCM and modern medicine. The corresponding diagnosis and treatment protocols have been formulated to improve the cure rate and reduce the infection and mortality rates. By referring to the diagnosis and treatment protocols for corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the related opinions of academicians and scholars, as well as the clinical therapies reported by medical research institutions, we have summarized the main prevention and treatment methods for COVID-19 with western medicine, TCM and their combination, and found that the integrated TCM and western medicine had obvious advantages in alleviating patient symptoms, shortening the course of disease, delaying the progress of disease, and reducing the mortality rate, thereby playing an active role in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
Objective To explore the active compounds of Da-Yuan-Yin for treatment of novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Methods With Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), chemical composition and targets of Semen Arecae, Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis, Fructus Tsaoko, Rhizoma Anemarrhenae, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Radix Scutellariae, and Radix Glycyrrhizae. Through UniProt and GeneCards database, the corresponding genes of targets were searched, and compound-target (gene) network was established using Cytoscape 3.2.1. Functional enrichment analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) based on DAVID and enrichment analysis based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were performed to predict the mechanism.
Results The compound-target network contained 141 compounds and 267 corresponding targets, and the key targets involved PTGS2, HSP90AA1, ESR1, AR, NOS2, etc. Through GO functional enrichment analysis, 522 GO entries were obtained (
P < 0.05), including 421 entries of biological process (BP), 38 entries of cellular component (CC), and 63 entries of molecular function (MF). Twenty-five signaling pathways were screened (
P < 0.05) in KEGG pathway enrichment, including small cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and T cell receptor signaling pathway. The results of molecular docking showed that the affinity of quercetin, kaempferol, baicalein and other core compounds was similar to the recommended drugs for the treatment of COVID-19.
Conclusion The active compounds in Da-Yuan-Yin may regulate multiple signaling pathways by binding angiotensin converting enzyme II (ACE2) and acting on targets such as PTGS2, HSP90AA1 and ESR1 to exert the possible treatment effect on COVID-19.
Cytokine storm is an excessive immune process when the body is stimulated. The disease progresses rapidly with a high mortality and complicated pathogenesis. In the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP, COVID-19), the rapid deterioration of the condition of patient is closely related to the outbreak of cytokine storm in the body. The latest “NCP Diagnosis and Treatment Plan” also provides a traditional Chinese medicine treatment plan. This paper reviewed the pharmacological effects of traditional Chinese medicine in antigen clearance, immune modulation, and tissue protection based on the source, process, and harm of cytokine storm. Furthermore, traditional Chinese medicine is contributive in prevention and treatment of cytokine storm, which can provide valuable medication guidance for the treatment combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine in clinic.
Objective To collect main ingredients and targets of Qing-Fei-Pai-Du-Tang (QFPDT), and to investigate the relationship between the targets and novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) and the therapeutic mechanism of its multiple components on COVID-19 via multiple targets.
Methods The meridian tropisms, compounds and targets of each herb in QFPDT were collected from ETCM, TCMID and NPASS databases. Cytoscape software was used to construct and analysis networks. DAVID and STRING were applied for functional enrichment analysis of targets.
Results The herbs in QFPDT mainly acted on the lung meridian. Among QFPDT’s 790 putative targets, 232 were co-expressed with ACE2, the receptor of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). The targets included seven densely interacting ribosomal proteins. Important targets were enriched on two classes of disease pathways, namely, virus infection and lung injury. In addition, many targets interacted with six proteins of HIV virus. Important targets regulated a series of pathways responsible for translation, endocrine system, immune system, nervous system and signal transduction.
Conclusion QFPDT’s chief targeting organ is the lung and the second is the spleen. By regulating a series of proteins co-expressed with ACE2 and a series of signaling pathways closely related to the occurrence and development of diseases, it plays a role in balancing immunity and eliminating inflammation. It may act as an antiviral agent by targeting ribosomal proteins that are necessary for viral replication, so as to inhibit viral mRNA translation and a group of proteins that interact with viral proteins.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was discovered in Wuhan and spread to China in late 2019. The etiology and pathogenesis of COVID-19 were expounded. In view of the application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to the treatment of epidemics over these years, the therapeutic advantages of TCM at different stages of COVID-19 are expounded as “strengthening body resistance and eliminating pathogen to cope with pathogen mutations”, “syndrome differentiation and treatment, developing adaptability”. The treatment with TCM can reduce the sequelae caused by hormone and other drugs as well as the mortality. It is suggested that the Chinese medicine of clearing heat and removing toxin should be used to prevent the uninfected people from COVID-19. The intervention should be performed at the early stage of the disease to control the further development by inhibiting the inflammatory cytokine storm. Furthermore, the syndrome differentiation should be conducted according to the defense-qi-nutrient-blood theory. We should pay attention to the rational use of TCM in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, collect the clinical data, and integrate TCM and Western medicine with TCM as the main part. The COVID-19 database of integrated TCM and Western medicine can be used to prepare for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
There are an increasing number of patients suffering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China and abroad. After the outbreak, the national health authorities have updated steadily several versions of the “Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia”. According to the changes of exposition of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment in these versions and the characteristics of cases in clinical practice, COVID-19 is categorized into “plague” of TCM based on the ancient literature from the warm disease in TCM. The disease is caused by pestilential pathogen due to the specifically regional climate characteristics of Wuhan City. It is important for COVID-19 patients to eliminate pathogens as soon as possible with defense-qi-nutrient-blood syndrome differentiation according to different courses of disease. The TCM therapy should be established according to the different affected organs and characters. In order to control the epidemic at an early date, it is necessary to consider the local conditions and use the combination of TCM and western medicine to treat COVID-19 patients.
