Mental health issues, including cognitive impairment, anxiety, and depression, have become a major global health challenge. Notably, conventional pharmacological treatments are often accompanied by adverse reactions. The traditional Chinese medicine concept of “Medicine and Food Homology (MFH)” provides an important direction for disease prevention and treatment.Panax ginseng C. A. Mey. (P. ginseng, Ren Shen) is a representative MFH substance that has increasingly recognized for its roles in improving cognitive function and regulating mood. However, there remains no systematic integration based on modern scientific evidence. This review aimed to systematically summarize existing research in order to clarify the therapeutic potential and mechanisms of P. ginseng and its products (Red Ginseng, Black Ginseng, ginsenosides, polysaccharides, etc.). For cognitive improvement, they act through multiple pathways, including inhibiting neuroinflammation, enhancing antioxidant capacity, improving mitochondrial metabolism, and regulating synaptic plasticity. For emotional regulation, they alleviate anxiety and depression by modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal/hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, balancing neurotransmitters, and activating the brain-derived neurotrophic factor-tropomyosin receptor kinase B pathway. P. ginseng and its active components exhibit multi-target, network-based action characteristics and good safety profiles. However, there remain challenges, including unclear mechanisms for individual components and insufficient high-quality clinical evidence. Future studies are warranted to perform in-depth analysis of the synergistic mechanisms of active ingredients. Moreover, large-scale clinical trials are warranted to provide scientific support for the standardized application of P. ginseng in mental health.
Cognitive impairment is a growing public health concern associated with aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and chronic stress. Polygonatum sibiricum Red. (P. sibiricum, Huang Jing), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, is used to reinforce qi, strengthen the spleen, and nourish yin. Recent studies have suggested that P. sibiricum polysaccharides (PSP), its major bioactive constituents, exert neuroprotective effects through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions, modulation of the gut–brain axis, and improvement of synaptic plasticity. This review summarizes recent advances in the pharmacological activities ofP. sibiricum and PSP related to cognitive improvement, highlights findings from behavioral, cellular, and molecular studies, and examines the clinical evidence supporting their therapeutic potential. Understanding the mechanism of action ofP. sibiricum offers new insights into its potential development as a functional food or complementary therapeutic agent for cognitive decline.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ganmai Dazao (GMDZ) decoction alone and in combination with antidepressant medication or psychotherapy for depression.
Methods: We searched seven electronic databases from inception to December 2025. Two assessors extracted the data and independently evaluated the methodological quality using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment.
Results: A total of 35 randomized controlled trials involving 3187 patients were included. Meta-analysis demonstrated that GMDZ decoction, either as monotherapy or in combination with antidepressants/psychotherapy, significantly reduced Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) scores (GMDZ group: standardized mean difference [SMD]: −0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −1.01 to −0.26; combination therapy group: SMD: −1.87, 95% CI: −2.44 to −1.30), Hamilton Anxiety Scale scores (combination therapy group: mean difference [MD]: −4.23, 95% CI: −5.89 to −2.57), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores (GMDZ group: MD: −3.56, 95% CI: −4.14 to −2.99; combination therapy group: MD: −3.60, 95% CI: −5.87 to −1.32), all statistically significant (P < .05). This effectively alleviated depressive and anxiety symptoms while improving sleep quality, with the combination therapy demonstrating greater efficacy in reducing HAMD scores. Regarding safety, adverse events primarily included nausea and dry mouth. The overall quality of the evidence was low.
Conclusion: GMDZ decoction effectively alleviated symptoms of depression and anxiety while improving sleep quality, with combination therapy demonstrating more pronounced effects in reducing HAMD scores. However, the included studies exhibited considerable heterogeneity, with some lacking clear allocation, concealment, or blinding protocols. More high-quality, large-sample, multicenter, randomized controlled trials are needed for further validation, given these limitations.
Objective: To determine the optimal dosing ratio of the herbal components within compound Hemerocallis citrina Baroni (H. citrina) extract concentrate (CHEC), evaluate its antidepressant effects in zebrafish and mouse models of depression, and elucidate the underlying mechanisms with a particular focus on the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway using network pharmacology and molecular biology approaches.
Methods: The optimal CHEC formulation was screened using a zebrafish model of reserpine-induced depression. To assess neuroinflammation and monoamine neurotransmitter levels, the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, dopamine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine in zebrafish brain tissues were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Active constituents were identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and potential targets were predicted using the Swiss Target Prediction database. A traditional Chinese medicine–active ingredient–target network and a protein–protein interaction network were constructed, followed by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses to explore potential mechanisms. A mouse model of depression was subsequently established using chronic restraint stress (CRS) combined with intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide injection. The antidepressant effects of CHEC were assessed through behavioral tests, quantification of monoamine neurotransmitters and inflammatory cytokines, histopathological examination of hippocampal neurons using hematoxylin and eosin staining, and Western blot analysis of PI3K/AKT/BDNF pathway-related proteins.
Results: CHEC significantly alleviated depressive-like behaviors in CRS mice, as demonstrated by behavioral assessments. Treatment reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and restored monoamine neurotransmitter concentrations. Histological analysis revealed attenuation of hippocampal neuronal damage. Furthermore, CHEC significantly modulated the PI3K/AKT/BDNF signaling pathway in the hippocampus of depressive-like mice.
Conclusion: CHEC exerts antidepressant-like effects by suppressing inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1β; enhancing dopamine and BDNF levels; and regulating the PI3K/AKT/BDNF signaling pathway. These findings provide mechanistic evidence supporting the therapeutic potential of CHEC for depression.
Objective: To investigate the pharmacodynamic effects of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H. F. Chou (Z. jujuba, Suan Zao Ren) fermented with the fungus of Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf (P. cocos strain) and Massa Medicata Fermentata (MMF) on hippocampal monoamine neurotransmitters in mice with blood-deficiency insomnia.
Methods: Fermented Z. jujuba products were prepared from P. cocos strain (PCS) and MMF. A mouse model of blood-deficiency insomnia was established via intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide and p-chlorophenylalanine. Model evaluation included general physical status, a pentobarbital sodium-induced sleep test, and peripheral blood analysis, including white blood cells, red blood cells (RBC), and hemoglobin (Hb). Hippocampal levels of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.
Results: Compared to the control group, mice in the model group exhibited shortened sleep duration (P = .003), decreased RBC and Hb levels (P = .005 and P = .008, respectively), confirming successful modeling. In the hippocampal tissue of model mice, the levels of NE, 5-HT, and 5-HIAA were significantly decreased (all P < .05), whereas DA levels were significantly increased (P = .024). Treatment with fermented Z. jujuba significantly prolonged sleep duration (both P < .01). Moreover, The PCS group had significantly higher hippocampal NE, 5-HT, and 5-HIAA levels (all P < .01). The MMF group showed increased 5-HT and 5-HIAA (P = .040 and P = .0085) but decreased DA (P = .033). Additionally, NE was significantly lower in the MMF group than in the PCS group (P = .008).
Conclusion: Fermented Z. jujuba products effectively ameliorated sleep disorders in mice with blood-deficiency insomnia. These pharmacological effects may relate to the targeted remodeling of monoamine neurotransmitter homeostasis in the hippocampus, specifically by upregulating NE, 5-HT, and 5-HIAA levels and downregulating DA levels.
Objective: To investigate the use of perillaldehyde (PAE) for treating plateau insomnia and to develop a stable intranasal PAE nanomicelles in situ gel (PAE/NMs-INSG).
Methods: A mouse model of plateau insomnia was established in this study. Sleep latency/duration and brain melatonin/gamma-aminobutyric acid levels were also assessed. PAE/NMs were prepared via thin-film hydration and optimized using the Box–Behnken design. Anin situ gel was formulated using poloxamer 407 and chitosan. The gel properties (pH, viscosity, and rheology), in vitro release, and stability were characterized.
Results: PAE alleviated symptoms of plateau insomnia. The optimized PAE/NMs had a size of 92.40 nm, polydispersity index of 0.246, encapsulation efficiency of 79.50%, and drug loading of 10.60%. The final PAE/NMs-INSG (18% P407, 0.25% chitosan) was spherical, with a suitable pH (5.4) and viscosity (5.024 Pa s), and exhibited viscoelastic behavior. PAE/NMs-INSG showed sustained release and improved the stability of PAE.
Conclusion: PAE, administered intranasally, effectively alleviates plateau insomnia. The developed PAE/NMs-INSG enhances PAE stability and exhibits sustained release, thereby offering a promising strategy.
The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in China has increased from <1% in 1980 to 13.7% in 2023, parallel to the adoption of a Western-style diet. Chinese medicine (CM) approaches diabetes differently through food therapy, which is more holistic than the reductionist focusing on the bioactive compounds found in modern nutritional science. Herein, we review the CM and modern nutritional approaches to diabetes of five regional Chinese cuisines: Sichuan, Cantonese, Shandong, Hunan, and Jiangsu. A literature review of PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and other medicine-specific databases was conducted, including papers from 2014 to 2024 and foundational CM literature. The inclusion criteria were systematic reviews, clinical trials, population studies, and mechanistic studies of Chinese dietary patterns and diabetes outcomes. In several studies, CM food therapy demonstrated clinical outcomes comparable to those of Western dietary interventions, with the added advantage of fewer reported adverse effects. CM food therapy operates through five main mechanisms: glucose transport enhancement, glycogen metabolism improvement, glucagon-like peptide 1 secretion promotion, pancreatic islet protection, and intestinal flora modulation. Regional Chinese cuisine contains many bioactive compounds with established anti-diabetic effects. Sichuan capsaicin enhances insulin sensitivity by activating the AMP-activated protein kinase pathway. The fermented components of Hunan cuisine support gut microbiota; fresh food preparations of Cantonese cuisine are rich in antioxidants; and traditional dietary patterns are more protective against diabetes than Westernized dietary patterns. A combined approach of CM and Western medicine offers the best potential for managing diabetes, as the cuisine from each area has distinct therapeutic value. Blending age-old food therapy with contemporary nutrition provides a rational basis for clinical integration.
Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases are common multifactorial disorders involving chronic inflammation, epithelial barrier disruption, immune dysregulation, gut microbiota imbalance, and abnormalities in motility and gut–brain interactions. Conventional pharmacotherapies (e.g., antibiotics, acid suppressants, and immunomodulators) relieve symptoms; however, they often act on single pathways and have limitations regarding long-term remission, tolerability, and safety. This review summarizes the pathogenesis and epidemiology of GI diseases and outlines the current clinical status of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of these diseases. A total of 143 single herbs and more than 200 formulas from the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China and authoritative standards, primarily used for regulating the spleen and stomach, soothing the liver and regulating qi, and clearing heat and detoxifying, are collated. Drawing on modern experimental and clinical evidence, we describe how TCM-based interventions may modulate key pathological processes, including inflammation, mucosal barrier injury, microbiota dysbiosis, and motility disturbances, and summarize clinical findings in functional GI disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic atrophic gastritis, and post-stroke GI dysfunction. Finally, we highlight major challenges and future directions, including improving the methodological rigor of randomized trials, establishing standardized diagnostic and evaluation systems, strengthening pharmaceutical standardization and long-term safety monitoring, and developing mechanism- and biomarker-guided integrative treatment strategies to support a more evidence-based role for TCM in GI disease management.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ruyi Zhenbao tablet (RYZBT), a traditional Tibetan medicinal formula, for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH), that is frequently associated with lower back pain (LBP), through rigorous randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
Methods: This multicenter, randomized, positive-controlled trial study will include 400 participants diagnosed with LDH, and include an enrollment period, a 4-week treatment period, and a 4-week follow-up period. Participants will be randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio for treatment with either RYZBT or diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablet (DSSRT) for 4 weeks. The time points of visits are set at baseline, during treatment (weeks 1, 2, and 4), and during follow-up (weeks 2 and 4 post-treatment). The relevant outcome will be recorded at each timepoint. The primary outcomes include the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores for LBP and leg pain, as well as the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores for functional assessment. Secondary outcomes comprise the VAS scores for numbness, Oswestry Disability Index, rescue treatments, patient health education, and safety assessments.
Discussion: This study has been designed to provide robust and reliable evidence of the efficacy and safety of RYZBT in alleviating LDH symptoms, with the goal of supporting evidence-based clinical applications. By using DSSRT as a positive control, the placebo effect will be effectively minimized, enabling a more accurate assessment of RYZBT efficacy.
Objective: To profile telomere-related genes (TRGs) to develop a robust prognostic tool for stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) and explore their associations with immune regulation and treatment response.
Methods: A total of 2083 TRGs were analyzed in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-STAD cohort (412 tumor and 36 normal samples) and external validation was performed using the GSE84437 dataset. A prognostic model was constructed through differential expression analysis, univariate Cox regression, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression. Model performance was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, multivariable Cox regression, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves, and nomogram construction. Associations with immune cell infiltration, tumor mutation burden (TMB), tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE), and drug sensitivity were assessed. The expression patterns of the signature genes were experimentally validated using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis in human gastric cancer cell lines and an N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine induced rat gastric adenocarcinoma model.
Results: An eight-TRG signature (ANXA5, ELOVL2, INCENP, NFE2L3, NOS3, RASGEF1C, REPIN1, and SOAT1) effectively predicted overall survival in the TCGA and GSE84437 cohorts, independent of clinicopathological factors (1-, 3-, and 5-year area under curves: 0.682, 0.695, and 0.697, respectively). The expression of seven genes were upregulated in tumor tissues, whereas that of RASGEF1C was downregulated. The derived risk score correlated with immune infiltration, TMB, and TIDE scores, and predicted drug sensitivities differed between the risk groups. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis further validated the expression patterns of these genes in cell lines.In vitro and in vivo assays corroborated the bioinformatics findings, confirming the dysregulation of key signature genes in tumor cells and tissues at the mRNA and protein levels.
Conclusions: The eight-TRG signature provides reliable prognostic stratification for STAD and links telomere biology to the immune context and therapy response.
Objective: To investigate whether herbal pair Rheum palmatum L. (R. palmatum; Da Huang)–Prunus persica (L.) Batsch (P. persica; Tao Ren) (RP) can restore endometrial receptivity and mitigate adenomyosis (AM)-associated infertility by regulating dysregulated glycolytic metabolism.
Methods: An AM mouse model was established by pituitary transplantation. Mice receiving RP were divided into the low-dose (RP-L) and high-dose (RP-H) groups based on the RP dose administered. Pregnancy outcomes were assessed based on embryo implantation sites, progesterone levels, and levels of endometrial receptivity markers, including homeobox A10 (Hoxa10), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and integrin beta 3 (Itgβ3). Molecular docking was used to analyze the interactions between the RP components and glycolytic enzymes.
Results: AM mice exhibited pathological features of infertility, including reduced implantation sites, suppressed progesterone (P < .001), and downregulated receptivity markers (Hoxa10 and Itgβ3, P < .01; LIF, P < .05), alongside glycolytic dysfunction characterized by depleted glucose (P = .003) and accumulated pyruvate/lactate (both P < .05). RP treatment reversed these defects, restoring embryo implantation (P = .001 for RP-L; P = .013 for RP-H) and upregulating Hoxa10 (P = .001), LIF (P = .04), and Itgβ3 (P = .004). Crucially, RP normalized glycolytic flux, increasing glucose (P = .046) while reducing pyruvate (P = .01) and lactate (P = .003). RP significantly reduced LDH activity in the RP-H group (P = .025) and PK activity in the RP-H (P < .001) and RP-L (P = .007) groups compared to the AM group, with greater suppression than that with gestrinone treatment (LDH, P = .023; PK, P = .003). Molecular docking confirmed strong binding (energy, <− 5.0 kcal/mol) between RP components and LDHA/PKM2, primarily via hydrogen bonds. In vitro, RP rescued lactate-impaired trophoblast adhesion (P = .002).
Conclusion: RP ameliorated AM-associated infertility by regulating glycolytic metabolism and improving endometrial receptivity.
Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of Qixuekang oral liquid in the treatment of leukopenia during chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial was conducted between July 2018 and May 2021. A total of 234 patients with malignant tumors were enrolled from 12 medical centers. They were randomly assigned to receive either Qixuekang oral liquid or placebo in addition to standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with a treatment duration ≤42 days. The primary outcome was defined as the change in peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count, determined by routine laboratory hematology tests, from baseline (D-7 to D0) to Day 42 (±2 days) of dosing (D42).
Results: In the full analysis set comprising 227 patients (113 and 114 in the experimental and control groups, respectively), a significant reduction in WBC count was observed after treatment (P < .001). The experimental group exhibited a smaller reduction in WBC count than did the control group (P = .038). In the per-protocol set (n = 188), a trend favoring the experimental group was evident, although not statistically significant (P = .091). No significant differences were observed in the vital signs, laboratory results, or adverse events between the two groups (P > .05).
Conclusion: Qixuekang oral liquid may exert a therapeutic effect in mitigating leukopenia induced by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, while exhibiting favorable safety profiles.
Objective: To assess the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) in a rat model of diabetic cystopathy (DCP) and examine its impact on the expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG).
Methods: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: control, DCP, EA, and sham EA (n = 10). DCP was induced using a high-fat diet, followed by streptozotocin injection. EA was administered at the Pangguangshu (BL 28) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) acupoints for 8 weeks. Bladder function, structure, and molecular changes were evaluated using ultrasonography, urodynamic tests, bladder weight measurements, histological stainings (hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome stainings), transmission electron microscopy, immunohistochemical analysis, and Western blot for TRPV1 expression in the DRG.
Results: The DCP group exhibited significantly increased bladder weight, wall thickness, collagen fiber expression, maximum bladder capacity (MBC), post-void residual (PVR), and leakage point pressure, along with reduced bladder compliance (BC) and voiding efficiency (V%) compared with the control group (all P < .05). EA treatment significantly decreased bladder weight (P = .003), collagen deposition (P = .002), wall thickness (P = .027), MBC (P = .046), and PVR (P = .023), and increased BC (P = .048) and V% (P = .022) compared with sham EA. Ultrastructural damage in DRG neurons was markedly ameliorated by EA. TRPV1 protein expression in the DRG was significantly higher in the EA group than in the sham EA group (immunohistochemistry: P = .003; Western blot: P = .001).
Conclusion: EA alleviates bladder dysfunction and remodeling in DCP rats, an effect associated with upregulated TRPV1 expression in the DRG, reduced bladder fibrosis, and preserved neuronal ultrastructure. These findings suggest a potential role for TRPV1 signaling in mediating the therapeutic effects of EA, warranting further functional investigation.