Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease with limited therapeutic options. The herbal compatibility of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. (Leigongteng, LGT) and Epimedium brevicornum Maxim. (Yinyanghuo, YYH), widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, has shown promising efficacy in RA treatment, yet its synergistic mechanisms and hepatoprotective effects remain unclear. In this study, we systematically investigated the therapeutic and hepatotoxicity-attenuating mechanisms of LGT-YYH using integrated network pharmacology and molecular docking approaches. Bioactive compounds and corresponding targets from LGT and YYH were retrieved from the TCMSP database, while RA- and hepatotoxicity-related targets were collected from public databases and microarray datasets. Protein-protein interaction networks, hub protein targets identification, and functional enrichment analyses revealed that 65 LGT and 26 YYH bioactive compounds collectively interact with 527 RA-related targets, with hub targets including PTPN11, SRC, EGFR, MAPK1, and MAPK8 central to the therapeutic network. KEGG enrichment highlighted the MAPK signaling pathway as a key mechanism of anti-RA activity. Furthermore, 243 targets were associated with LGT-induced hepatotoxicity, and YYH components, particularly icariin, kaempferol, and epimedin B, exhibited binding to hepatotoxicity-related targets such as AKT1 and ESR1, suggesting a hepatoprotective role via the AKT1-ESR1-Nrf2 axis. These findings indicate that LGT-YYH exerts synergistic anti- RA effects by modulating MAPK-related signaling while YYH components may mitigate LGT-induced hepatotoxicity, exemplifying the TCM principle of enhancing therapeutic efficacy while reducing toxicity.

This study explored the anti-breast cancer (BC) mechanism of Curcuma zedoaria (CZ) via the network pharmacology approach. The active components of CZ were screened by oral bioavailability (OB) and drug-likeness (DL) criteria using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). The potential targets of CZ were predicted through TCMSP and SwissTargetPrediction, while BC-related target genes were screened via GeneCards and the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database. The common target genes of CZ and BC were obtained by using the Venn tool. The protein interaction network diagram was constructed by using String software. The network diagram of CZ components was created by using Cytoscape 3.8.0. The intersection genes of drugs and diseases were analyzed by using the R language software for Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Finally, the docking activity between the active ingredient and the key target was verified through molecular docking. Through the methods of database search and literature mining, 23 bio-active components of CZ and 370 corresponding gene targets, 1776 disease gene targets, and 132 drug-disease intersection genes were obtained. GO analysis revealed 67 types of cellular components, 113 molecular functions, and 2042 biological processes. KEGG analysis identified 138 enriched pathways. This study preliminarily elucidated the potential mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of CZ on BC.

To systematically and quantitatively evaluate China’s national-level traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) registration management policies, providing evidence for policy optimization. Eight core policy documents from 2008 to 2025 were selected. Text mining was conducted using ROSTCM 6.0 software to construct the Policy Management Capability (PMC) index model, which includes 9 primary and 31 secondary indicators. The PMC index for each policy was calculated, and a three-dimensional surface plot was generated for visualization. The overall average PMC score was 6.19, with the quality distribution exhibiting a “bottle-shaped” pattern. The “Drug Registration Management Measures” (2020) achieved the highest score of 7.50 (Excellent), while some technical guidance documents scored below 5.4 (Unsatisfactory). The policies generally performed well in terms of operability and content coverage but were deficient in policy evaluation, hierarchical structuring, and innovation incentives. The TCM registration management policies demonstrate a robust framework with imbalanced details. Dynamic evaluation and incentives for innovation need enhancement. Recommendations include systematic optimization of the system through improvements in post-market evaluation, enhanced incentive tools, and stronger policy coordination.

Hypericin, a naturally occurring naphthodianthrone isolated from several species of the genus Hypericum, exhibits multiple pharmacological properties through its unique ability to interact with diverse molecular targets. As a multi-target agent, hypericin shows therapeutic potential in treating neurological disorders, viral infections, cancer, inflammatory-related diseases, and dermatological conditions. Despite these advances, challenges such as poor bioavailability, phototoxicity, and an incomplete mechanistic understanding of multi-target synergies hinder its clinical translation. Recent strategies, including nanoformulations to enhance solubility and combination therapies to optimize efficacy, demonstrate promise in overcoming these limitations. This review systematically consolidates the pharmacological actions, molecular mechanisms, and therapeutic applications of hypericin while highlighting future directions for precision multi-target drug development.

Scutellaria barbata D.Don (S. barbata), is a perennial herb of Labiatae scutellaria, with a variety of chemical constituents and biological activities. Its chemical constituents include terpenoids, flavonoids, polysaccharides, volatile compounds and trace elements. Among the terpenoids, diterpenoids are abundant, particularly neocrotane diterpenoids. More than 70 flavonoids have been identified as important pharmacological components and quality control markers. Polysaccharides play an important role in its anti-tumor efficacy. Volatile compounds have antibacterial effects, and trace elements are associated with active ingredients. In terms of pharmacological activity, S. barbata exhibits anti-tumor, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant and antibacterial effects. This review aims to summarize the research progress of S. barbata and provide a theoretical basis for its clinical application.

Chinese herbal medicine is a precious legacy of traditional Chinese medicine with a long history. With the progress of science and technology, artificial intelligence has emerged as a transformative force. It can replace the role of traditional production line workers, and provide us with more economical solutions, more accurate data, more environmentally friendly products and easier operation. This paper aims to systematically summarize the application of artificial intelligence technology in the research, production and clinical application of traditional Chinese herbal medicine.