Da-Jian-Zhong decoction alleviates diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome via modulation of gut microbiota and Th17/Treg balance.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Da-Jian-Zhong decoction (DJZD) is a herbal formula clinically used for abdominal pain and diarrhea induced by spleen-Yang deficiency syndrome. Recently, treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) with DJZD has received increasing attention, but the underlying mechanism of action remains elusive.

Aim Of The Study: We aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of DJZD on IBS-D rats and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Bear Bile Powder Improves Ulcerative Colitis by Protecting the Intestinal Mechanical Barrier and Regulating Intestinal Flora.

Background: Bear Bile Powder (BBP) is a traditional Chinese medicine. It has been widely used in clinical practices and has shown a good anti-inflammatory effect. However, its effectiveness in treating Ulcerative Colitis (UC) has not yet been studied.

Potentially active compounds that improve PAD through angiogenesis: A review.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) has been historically neglected, which has resulted in a lack of effective drugs in clinical practice. However, with the increasing prevalence of diseases like atherosclerosis and diabetes, the incidence of PAD is rising and cannot be ignored. Researchers are exploring the potential of promoting angiogenesis through exogenous compounds to improve PAD.

Hydroxy-α-sanshool from the fruits of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. promotes browning of white fat by activating TRPV1 to induce PPAR-γ deacetylation.

Background: Accumulating evidence suggested increasing energy expenditure is a feasible strategy for combating obesity, and browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) to promote thermogenesis might be one of the attractive ways. Hydroxy-α-sanshool (HAS), a natural amide alkaloid extracted from the fruits of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim, possesses lots of benefits in lipid metabolism regulation.

Methods: The anti-obesity effect of HAS was investigated by establishing an animal model of obesity and a 3T3-L1 differentiation cell model.

Targeting TRPV1 and TRPA1: A feasible strategy for natural herbal medicines to combat postoperative ileus.

Under physiological or pathological conditions, transient receptor potential (TRP) channel vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) and TRP ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) possess the ability to detect a vast array of stimuli and execute diverse functions. Interestingly, increasing works have reported that activation of TRPV1 and TRPA1 could also be beneficial for ameliorating postoperative ileus (POI). Increasing research has revealed that the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is rich in TRPV1/TRPA1, which can be stimulated by capsaicin, allicin and other compounds.

Zanthoxylum bungeanum amides ameliorates nonalcoholic fatty liver via regulating gut microbiota and activating AMPK/Nrf2 signaling.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. (Rutaceae) is a known herbal medicine with various bioactivities, including anti-obesity, lipid-lowering, learning & memory improving and anti-diabetes, and amides in Z. bungeanum (AZB) are considered as the major active agents for its bioactivities.

Hydroxy-α-sanshool isolated from Maxim. has antidiabetic effects on high-fat-fed and streptozotocin-treated mice increasing glycogen synthesis by regulation of PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β/GS signaling.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia. The fruits of Maxim. is a common spice and herbal medicine in China, and hydroxy-α-sanshool (HAS) is the most abundant amide in and reported to have significant hypoglycemic effects.

Targeting matrix metalloproteases: A promising strategy for herbal medicines to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

As a type of metalloproteinase, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) can be divided into collagenase, gelatinase, stromelysins, membrane-type (MT)-MMPs and heterogeneous subgroups according to their structure and function. MMP contents in the human body are strictly regulated, and their synthesis, activation and inhibition processes should be kept in a certain balance; otherwise, this would result in the occurrence of various diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a known immune-mediated systemic inflammatory disease that is affected by a variety of endogenous and exogenous factors.

Glabridin from Possesses a Therapeutic Role against Keloid via Attenuating PI3K/Akt and Transforming Growth Factor-β1/SMAD Signaling Pathways.

Glabridin (Gla) is a typical flavonoid isolated from the with various bioactivities and is a common additive in many cosmetics. In our study, we evaluated the antiscarring effect of Gla from in a rabbit ear hyperplastic scar model. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson staining were applied to determine the pathological changes and collagen fibers of scar tissue in rabbits.

Fructus Zanthoxyli extract improves glycolipid metabolism disorder of type 2 diabetes mellitus via activation of AMPK/PI3K/Akt pathway: Network pharmacology and experimental validation.

Objective: This study investigated the potential mechanisms behind the beneficial effects of Fructus Zanthoxyli (FZ) against type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) based on network pharmacology and experimental validation.

Methods: Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were used to identify the constituents of FZ. Next, the differentially expressed genes linked to the treatment of diabetes with FZ were screened using online databases (including Gene Expression Omnibus database and Swiss Target Prediction online database), and the overlapping genes and their enrichment were analyzed by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG).

Phytochemicals in traditional Chinese medicine can treat gout by regulating intestinal flora through inactivating NLRP3 and inhibiting XOD activity.

Objectives: Gout is a common disease caused by hyperglycemia. Traditional drugs for gout have both good therapeutic effects and serious side effects. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the potential sources of modern medicine, and is the development of new drugs for many diseases, including gout.

The versatile emodin: A natural easily acquired anthraquinone possesses promising anticancer properties against a variety of cancers.

Cancers are generally recognized as the leading cause of death and a predominant barrier to prolonging life expectancy in both developed and developing countries. Emodin is a typical anthraquinone derivative from various plants that exhibits a wide spectrum of biological activities, such as anticancer, antibacterial, hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory activities. Much previous preclinical evidence has demonstrated that emodin exhibits reliable effects on several cancer types, including lung cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, leukemia, cervical cancer, and ovarian cancer, .

Effects of Musk Volatile Compounds on Attenuated Nerve Injury and Improving Post-cerebral Ischemic Exercise Functions.

Background: Reperfusion Injury Acute ischemic stroke is increasing in people recently and Musk, as a commonly used Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has been suggested as a potential agent against acute ischemic stroke, but the efficacies and underlying mechanisms of it remain unknown.

Objective: This study was aimed to test the hypotheses that volatile compounds of musk could attenuate nerve injury and identify the bioactive compounds and potential mechanisms of Musk.

Methods: Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in vivo in Sprague-Dawley rats (SD rats) was used to test this hypothesis.

Discovery of Active Ingredients in Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on the Analysis of Odor and Flavor of Compounds.

Background: The odor and flavor produced by a complex mixture of chemical components with different amounts and thresholds constitute a unique property for food and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). These compounds usually belong to mono- and sesquiterpenes, esters, lipids, and others.

Objective: This review aimed to demonstrate the extraction method and reliable technology for identifying the compounds responsible for their odor and flavor.

Health benefits of spices in individuals with chemotherapeutic drug-induced cardiotoxicity.

Cardio-oncology is an emerging field that mainly focuses on a series of cardiovascular diseases caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In the history and culture of human nutrition, spices have been emphasized for their wide range of economic and medical applications in addition to being used as a food-flavoring agent and food preservative. Currently, an increasing number of studies have focused on the health benefits of spices in preventing cardiovascular diseases, particularly their antioxidant effects against cardiovascular damage.

Development and in vivo Evaluation of Hydroxy-α-Sanshool Intranasal Liposomes as a Potential Remedial Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease.

Purpose: Hydroxy-α-sanshool (HAS) improves cognitive dysfunction, but its structural instability has limited its clinical application. The present study was conducted to investigate the optimal formulation of hydroxy-α-sanshool liposomes (HAS-LPs) and its effect on ameliorating learning and memory disorders in an Alzheimer's disease (AD) model.

Methods: In this study, HAS was prepared as HAS-LP using a thin film dispersion method.

SIRT2 tyrosine nitration by peroxynitrite in response to renal ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are the production of renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). The current study is to elucidate a mechanism of SIRT2 tyrosine nitration to accelerate the cell apoptosis induced by peroxynitrite (ONOO‾), the most reactive and deleterious RNS type in renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Our results demonstrate that there is a significant enhancement of the 3-nitrotyrosine levels in renal tissues of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) patients and rats that underwent renal I/R, and a positive correlation between the 3-nitrotyrosine level and renal function impairment, indicative of an accumulation of peroxynitrite.

Current strategies and technologies for finding drug targets of active components from traditional Chinese medicine.

: The ambiguity of the drug target is one of the major factors restricting the development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCMs) and its bioactive constituents. The characteristics of "multiple components, multiple targets and multiple pathways" of TCMs make the research of drug targets extremely difficult. With the emergence of new theories, there are increasing technologies and strategies that can be used for the drug targets research of TCMs.

Natural substances derived from herbs or plants are promising sources of anticancer agents against colorectal cancer via triggering apoptosis.

Objectives: Nowadays, one of the most common gastrointestinal cancers is colorectal cancer (CRC). Chemotherapy is still one of the main methods to treat cancer. However, the currently available synthetic chemotherapy drugs often cause serious adverse reactions.

Antiepileptic Effects of Cicadae Periostracum on Mice and Its Antiapoptotic Effects in HO-Stimulated PC12 Cells via Regulation of PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 Signaling Pathways.

Cicadae Periostracum (CPM), a commonly used animal traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), possesses antifebrile, spasmolytic, antiasthmatic, and antiphlogistic effects. In our present paper, we aimed to systemically investigate the antiepileptic effects of CPM in epileptic mice and explore the related molecular mechanism. Pentylenetetrazole- (PTZ) and strychnine-induced convulsion mice were established, and the results showed CPM could prolong the latency of convulsion and death and improve the neuronal damage in the hippocampus of PTZ-induced mice.

Research progress regarding potential effects of traditional Chinese medicine on postoperative intestinal obstruction.

Objectives: Postoperative intestinal obstruction is a common postoperative complication with typical symptoms of abdominal pain, vomiting, abdominal distension and constipation. The principal aim of this paper is to provide a full-scale review on the categories and characteristics of postoperative intestinal obstruction, pathophysiology, effects and detailed mechanisms of compounds and monomers from traditional Chinese medicine for treating postoperative intestinal obstruction. Moreover, the possible development and perspectives for future research are also analyzed.

Natural Medicines for the Treatment of Epilepsy: Bioactive Components, Pharmacology and Mechanism.

Epilepsy is a chronic disease that can cause temporary brain dysfunction as a result of sudden abnormal discharge of the brain neurons. The seizure mechanism of epilepsy is closely related to the neurotransmitter imbalance, synaptic recombination, and glial cell proliferation. In addition, epileptic seizures can lead to mitochondrial damage, oxidative stress, and the disorder of sugar degradation.

Inducing Apoptosis and Suppressing Inflammatory Reactions in Synovial Fibroblasts are Two Important Ways for Guizhi-Shaoyao-Zhimu Decoction Against Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background And Objectives: Guizhi-Shaoyao-Zhimu decoction (GSZD) is often applied to control rheumatoid arthritis (RA), gout, osteoarthritis, etc. In this study, bioinformatic analysis and experimental verification were used to uncover the integral mechanism profile of GSZD against RA.

Materials And Methods: The chemical compositions of GSZD were identified by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS.

Identification of the active substances and mechanisms of ginger for the treatment of colon cancer based on network pharmacology and molecular docking.

Background And Objective: Colon cancer is occurring at an increasing rate and ginger (Zingiber officinale), as a commonly used herbal medicine, has been suggested as a potential agent for colon cancer. This study was aimed to identify the bioactive components and potential mechanisms of ginger for colon cancer prevention by an integrated network pharmacology approach.

Methods: The putative ingredients of ginger and its related targets were discerned from the TCMSP  and Swiss target prediction database.

Processing methods and mechanisms for alkaloid-rich Chinese herbal medicines: A review.

The processing of Chinese herbal medicine is a form of pharmaceutical technology developed over thousands of years, in order to increase efficiency and decrease toxicity of herbs in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Herbal processing is essential for safe and effective application of TCM in clinical practice, as it alters the active chemical components and therefore the functions of herbal medicines. Alkaloid-rich herbal medicines in TCM are commonly processed by cleansing, cutting, processing by dry stir-frying, stir-frying with liquid adjuvants, and processing by water decoction.