Water decoction is the main form of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) administered in clinics. Polysaccharides are major components of decoction. Recent studies reported that polysaccharides possess multiple pharmacological activities. However, the mechanism by which oral Chinese herbal polysaccharides play vital roles in the body remains uncertain. This review discussed the polysaccharides in Chinese herbal decoctions and their effects, direct and indirect. The direct impact of polysaccharides includes being absorbed into the body immunity regulation through Peyer’s patches; electrostatic adsorption, hydrophobic interaction, and glycoprotein receptors-induced antibacterial effects; prebiotic functions; gut microbiota structural regulation; and increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria. The indirect effects of the polysaccharides in Chinese herbal decoctions include phytochemical toxicity reduction and activity enhancement. Finally, their clinical and research significance is summarized and future research directions are discussed.
Panax notoginseng is a traditional Chinese medicine containing various constituents, including the saponins, polysaccharides, polyacetylenes, amino acids, etc. It has beneficial functions, such as the anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, and anti-aging effects. Among these, P. notoginseng polysaccharides (PNPs) have been exploited because of their extensive pharmacological effects, being ranked as one of the current research hotspots, especially for the functional foods and medical practice. In this review, the literature related to PNPs in the past 20 years was surveyed and analyzed using both the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Web of Science (WOS) databases. The visualization diagram shows that current studies on PNPs mainly focus on the antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities and structural characterization. In addition, the extraction, separation, purification, chemical analysis, structural characteristics, bioactivities, and applications of PNPs are outlined, in detail, aimed to provide valuable information for the further study, development, and utilization regarding PNPs.
Pain is a subjective and unpleasant sensation that significantly impacts the daily lives of individuals. Chronic pain represents one of the most challenging public health issues, and ensuring effective pain management is a fundamental right of individuals and a sacred duty of healthcare providers. Cannabis, one of the earliest recognized medicinal plants, contains cannabinoids, which are non-opioid substances that modulate nociceptive responses. Electroacupuncture (EA), characterized by its low-risk and well-tolerated nature, is pivotal in pain management. The endocannabinoid system consists of endocannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors, and enzymes involved in endocannabinoid synthesis, degradation, and transport. Recently, the role of the endocannabinoid system in pain development and EA analgesia has attracted considerable research attention. Studies have highlighted the role of the endocannabinoid system in various types of pain, including inflammatory pain, neuropathic pain, and cancer-related pain, as well as in EA analgesia. This study aims to review the mechanisms of endocannabinoid system involvement in pain modulation and EA analgesia to provide insights to inform clinical approaches to pain management.
Humans and other vertebrates are safeguarded from invading pathogenic microbes by the immune system. Black seed, scientifically known as Nigella sativa, has garnered attention for its potential immunomodulatory effects in both clinical and preclinical studies. This comprehensive review aims to consolidate and analyze the existing body of evidence surrounding the immunological impact of black seeds. In this review, we analyze the immunomodulatory potentials of black seeds (N. sativa). For the purpose of finding pertinent publications, the literatures was searched in web-based databases, including Web of Science, Medline/PMC/PubMed, Embase, EBSCO, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and reference lists. Several clinical, in vivo, and in vitro studies have demonstrated that supplementation with black seeds (N. sativa) has potential immunomodulatory activity. Black seeds (N. sativa) may influence immune responses through a variety of mechanisms. By synthesizing and critically assessing the current state of knowledge on the immunomodulatory effects of black seeds, this review aims to provide valuable insights into the potential therapeutic uses and future research directions for harnessing the immunological benefits of this natural remedy.
Objective: Generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology, represented by large language models (LLMs), has gradually been developed for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM); however, challenges remain in effectively enhancing AI applications for TCM. Therefore, this study is the first systematic review to analyze LLMs in TCM retrospectively, focusing on and summarizing the evidence of their performance in generative tasks.
Methods: We extensively searched electronic databases for articles published until June 2024 to identify publicly available studies on LLMs in TCM. Two investigators independently selected and extracted the related information and evaluation metrics. Based on the available data, this study used descriptive analysis for a comprehensive systematic review of LLM technology related to TCM.
Results: Ten studies published between 2023 and 2024 met our eligibility criteria and were included in this review, including 40% LLMs in the TCM vertical domain, 40% containing TCM data, and 20% honoring the TCM contribution, with a foundational model parameter range from 1.8 to 33 billion. All included studies used manual or automatic evaluation metrics to evaluate model performance and fully discussed the challenges and contributions through an overview of LLMs in TCM.
Conclusions: LLMs have achieved significant advantages in TCM applications and can effectively address intelligent TCM tasks. Further in-depth development of LLMs is needed in various vertical TCM fields, including clinical and fundamental research. Focusing on the functional segmentation development direction of generative AI technologies in TCM application scenarios to meet the practical needs-oriented demands of TCM digitalization is essential.
Objective: Grifola frondosa, a medicinal mushroom, is widely used to enhance immunity and treat cancer. Polysaccharides are its primary active components. We aimed to investigate the effects of the alkaloid G. frondosa polysaccharide (GFP) extract on immunity and gut microbiota.
Methods: Alkaloid GFP was extracted using an alkaline extraction method, followed by hollow-fiber microfiltration. The molecular weight of alkaloid GFP was determined by high-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC). Monosaccharide composition was analyzed by pre-column derivatization combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Methylation analysis was performed to characterize glycosidic linkages in alkaloid GFP. The immune function of alkaloid GFP was assessed in a cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppressive mouse model. Splenic lymphocyte proliferation, macrophage phagocytic capacity, and natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity were evaluated. The effect of alkaloid GFP on gut microbiota was assessed by 16S rRNA sequencing.
Results: The molecular weight distribution of alkaloid GFP ranged from 17 to 18 kDa. The alkaloid GFP contained a β-(1→6)-glucan backbone branched at O-3 by β-1,3-D-Glcp. Oral administration of alkaloid GFP mitigated the effects of CTX on spleen index, splenic lymphocyte proliferation, and peritoneal macrophage phagocytosis. Additionally, alkaloid GFP improved the gut microbiota composition of immunosuppressed mice, increasing the relative abundances of Ligilactobacillus and Lactobacillus.
Conclusions: Alkaloid GFP demonstrated immune-enhancing effects and gut microbiota regulatory activity, providing a basis for developing related health food ingredients.
Objective: Lanqin oral liquid (LOL), as a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, has obvious clinical efficacy in the treatment of pharyngeal inflammation. Exploring the distribution of LOL prototype components and metabolites in plasma is of great significance for understanding potentially effective compounds. The aim of this study is to elucidate the metabolites and main metabolic pathways of LQL in vivo.
Methods: In this study, a reliable approach integrated background subtraction and mass defect filtering (MDF), based on quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOF-MS) technology, was performed to systematically scan the metabolites of LOL in rat plasma. In addition, according to the prototype mass spectrometry fragmentation pattern and combined with metabolic pathway analysis, a biotransformation oriented analysis strategy was established and applied to the identification of metabolites in LOL in vivo.
Results: As a result, 159 compounds (58 prototypes and 101 metabolites) were identified or tentatively characterized in drug-containing plasma, including 74 flavonoids, 30 alkaloids, 34 terpenoids, five phenylpropanoids, six phenolic acids, five fatty acids, and five other type components. The main metabolic pathways include methylation, demethylation, hydroxylation, hydrogenation, glucuronidation, and sulfation.
Conclusions: This study provides an overall characterization of the metabolites of LOL in vivo for the first time, providing a solid material basis for exploring the therapeutic effects and pharmacological mechanisms of LOL.
Objective: With Persicaria capitata as test materials, we compared and analyzed the chloroplast (cp) genome characteristics as well as their phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history with related species of Persicaria nepalensis, Persicaria japonica, Persicaria chinensis, Persicaria filiformis, Persicaria perfoliata, Persicaria pubescens, Persicaria hnydropiper.
Methods: The Illumina HiSeq high-throughput sequencing platform was used for the first time for P. capitata cp genome sequencing. NOVOPlasty and CpGAVAS2 were used for assembly and annotation, and Codon W, DnaSP, and MISA were used to conduct a series of comparative genomic analyses between the plant and seven species of the same genus. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using the maximum likelihood (ML) and neighbor-joining (NJ) methods, and divergence time was estimated using BEAST.
Results: The total length of P. capitata cp genome was 158,821 bp, with a guanine and cytosine (GC) content of 38.0%, exhibiting a typical circular tetrad structure. The genome contains 127 annotated genes, including 82 protein-coding and 45 tRNA-encoding genes. The cp genome harbors simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci primarily composed of A/T. The conserved species structure of this genus is reinforced by the expansion and contraction of the inverted repeat (IR) region. The non-coding regions of the cp genomes exhibited significant differences among the genera. Six different mutation hotspots (psbK-psbI, atpI-rps2, petN-psbD, atpB-rbcL, cemA-petA, ndhI-ndhA-ycf1) were screened from the non-coding regions of genes with high nucleotide variability (pI). These hotspots were expected to define the phylogenetic species of Persicaria. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis of Polygonaceae plants showed that P. capitata was more closely related to P. chinensis than P. nepalensis. Analysis of divergence time indicated that Polygonaceae originated in the Late Cretaceous (~180 Ma) and began to differentiate during the Middle Miocene. Persicaria differentiated ~66.44 million years ago, during the Miocene.
Conclusions: Our findings will serve as a scientific basis for further research on species identification and evolution, population genetics, and phylogenetic analysis of P. capitata. Further, we provide valuable information for understanding the origin and evolution of Persicaria in Polygonaceae and estimating the differentiation time of Persicaria and its population.
Objective: Growing evidence suggests a strong link between gut microbiota and the pathogenesis of urticaria, positioning the gut-skin axis as a novel therapeutic target. Despite the efficacy of acupuncture in alleviating urticaria symptoms, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. We investigated the effects of electroacupuncture on gut microbiota in a rat model of urticaria.
Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, model, and electroacupuncture. An urticaria model was established by combining active systemic and passive cutaneous allergic reactions. Electroacupuncture treatment was administered for 7 days, during which the number of scratches, the diameter of skin sensitization blue spots, and degranulation rate of mast cells were recorded. Inflammation in the sensitized skin was assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining, and the composition of the gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
Results: Electroacupuncture significantly reduced the frequency of scratching, the diameter of sensitized blue spots, and the degranulation rate of mast cells in rats. The staining results revealed that electroacupuncture decreased inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrous tissue proliferation in the sensitized skin. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated that electroacupuncture adjusted the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis identified Parabacteroides johnsonii as a potential biomarker for diagnosing urticaria (AUC = 0.8516, where AUC stands for the area under the curve) and Lactobacillus reuteri and Limosilactobacillus as potential biomarkers for predicting the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment (AUC = 0.8281).
Conclusion: Electroacupuncture may alleviate urticaria symptoms by modulating the gut microbiota, providing new theoretical and practical directions for acupuncture treatment of urticaria.
Rhizoma Atractylodis has a long history of medicinal use, a broad spectrum of applications, and diverse clinical utility. This review provides a comprehensive overview of Rhizoma Atractylodis, focusing on its processing, chemical composition, pharmacological effects, and product development. Processing methods include stir-frying with bran, stir-frying until cooked, and rinsing with rice-washed water. The chemical composition includes terpenes, alkynes, sugars and their glycosides, organic acids and their esters, coumarins, and other compounds. Its pharmacological effects include the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, arthritis, liver diseases, lung diseases, cancer, cardiovascular conditions, etc. Finally, product development prospects include decoction-ready products, Chinese patent medicines, health products and daily necessities, epidemic prevention, and veterinary medicine. Notably, this review simultaneously discusses, analyzes, and explores the quality control and industrial development of Rhizoma Atractylodis, offering guidance for advancing related industries, enhancing production quality control, and exploring innovative strategies for the clinical application and development of new Rhizoma Atractylodis-based products.