1.Herbal Textual Research on Scorpio in Famous Classical Formulas and Its Resource Status
Xiaoli LIANG ; Hongqin YUAN ; Yichen YANG ; Erhuan WANG ; Cunde MA ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(6):34-43
By reviewing the materia medica, medical books and scripture history, combining modern and contemporary literature and field investigation, this paper systematically reviewed the name, origin, scientific name, producing area, quality, harvesting and processing of Scorpio in famous classical formulas to clarify the relationship between ancient and modern times and provide a reference basis for the development of related famous classical formulas. After the textual research, it can be seen that there are many names of Scorpio, and most of the materia medica use Xie or Quanxie as the official name. The origin of Scorpio used in the past dynasties is Buthus martensii, which is the same in ancient and modern times. B. martensii is mainly distributed in the central and eastern parts of China, as well as Mongolia, Korea and other places, located in East Asia. Therefore, pharmaceutical workers in China mostly continue to use the early Chinese name, that is, Dongya Qianxie, while modern Scorpiones taxonomists set its Chinese name as Mashi Zhengqianxie. In order to maintain the stability and continuity of the origin of Scorpio, the previous editions of Chinese Pharmacopoeia have always used the name of B. martensii. The geo-authentic producing area of Scorpio, which has been respected in the past dynasties, was Qingzhou, Shandong. Until the Republic of China, due to the different processing methods in the production area, the geo-authentic producing area expanded to Yu county, Henan, with Yu county as the distribution center, the best quality of Scorpio is produced by boiling in clear water and drying after boiling. The origin processing of Scorpio is mainly divided into clean water and salt water boiling and then drying, where the method of boiling with salt water was first described in Bencao Yuanshi, the purpose is antiseptic and suitable for storage, and the salt should be washed away when used clinically. There are few processing methods of Scorpio, in ancient times, it was used for roasting or frying after removing the feet, in modern times, it is mostly to remove impurities, wash and dry. Scorpio is not only used for medicinal purposes, but also has the habit of eating in many areas, so the consumption of resources is relatively large, and it is still mainly harvested from the wild, resulting in the decrease of wild resources year by year. Based on the research conclusion, it is recommended that B. martensii, which is produced in Qingzhou, Luyi or Yuzhou, should be used in the the development of famous classical formulas containing Scorpio, and the origin processing is preferable to be dried after boiling with water, and the processing specification should be selected as raw products. And B. martensii in geo-authentic producing areas was used as the seed source to establish a standardized breeding base to ensure the sustainable development of the resources of Scorpio.
2.Herbal Textual Research on Chrysanthemi Flos in Famous Classical Formulas
Changhua YANG ; Bei DU ; Yichen YANG ; Erhuan WANG ; Hui CHANG ; Cunde MA ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(17):42-61
To conduct textual research on the records of Chrysanthemi Flos in the ancient literature from the aspects of name, origin, species, scientific name, origin, harvesting, processing, quality and so on, and the modern literature was sorted out to clarify the relationship between the ancient and modern times, so as to provide a reference for the development of famous classical formulas containing Chrysanthemi Flos. Chrysanthemi Flos is an ornamental, edible and medicinal plant in China, it has many aliases, but it has been recorded in this materia medica under the name of Juhua, Ganju and Ganjuhua. Before the Tang dynasty, medicinal Chrysanthemi Flos mainly collected wild products, including yellow flowers and white flowers, of which the mainstream of yellow flowers was originally Dendranthema lavandulifolium and D. potentilloides, the mainstream of white flowers is D. vestitum and D. chanetii. The cultivation of medicinal Chrysanthemi Flos began in the Northern Song dynasty, and wild D. lavandulifolium, D. potentilloides, D. vestitum and D. chanetii were selected through long-term interspecies and intraspecies crossbreeding, which gradually formed the current cultivar D. morifolium. After chrysanthemums were introduced abroad, foreign scholars began to name chrysanthemums with Linnaeus's plant classification system. In 1792, Mathier named chrysanthemums as Chrysanthemum morifolium and continued to this day, and all the editions of Chinese Pharmacopoeia adopted this scientific name. In the Song dynasty, many local varieties such as Nanyangju, Dengzhouhuang and Dengzhoubai appeared. By the time of the Republic of China, five famous authentic varieties, namely Huaiju, Boju, Chuju, Gongju and Hangju, had been cultivated for medicinal purposes. Boju has been the best medicinal variety since the late Qing dynasty. Hangbaiju has been famous for its tea use, especially the best quality of Huju. Chuju has its own unique characteristics, and it is of good quality both for medicine and tea. Gongju has always been a good tea chrysanthemum. Chrysanthemums are traditionally harvested in September of the lunar calendar, but some of the new varieties cultivated nowadays are harvested earlier. The embryo chrysanthemum in Hangbaiju is a commodity type that collects unopened buds in advance. In ancient times, chrysanthemums were mainly dried in the shade, in modern times, drying methods include drying in the shade, drying in the oven and drying in the sun after steaming. At present, hot air drying is mostly used. In terms of processing, Chrysanthemi Flos was used raw products in ancient times, in modern times, it is still widely used, sometimes stir fried(including stir-fried charcoal). Due to different varieties, producing areas and processing methods, there are certain differences in the proportion of ingredients contained in chrysanthemum. Therefore, it is suggested that chrysanthemums with different varieties, origins and processing methods should be selected according to clinical indications in the development of famous classical formula preparations containing Chrysanthemi Flos.
3.Herbal Textual Research on Linderae Radix in Famous Classical Formulas
Fen CHENG ; Jiale CAO ; Yichen YANG ; Erhuan WANG ; Hui CHANG ; Cunde MA ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(17):75-87
By reviewing the ancient and modern literature, the name, origin, medicinal parts and other aspects of Linderae Radix in famous classical formulas were systematically sorted out, so as to provide a basis for development of famous classical formulas containing this herb. Linderae Radix was first recorded in Bencao Shiyi in the Tang dynasty under name of Pangqi, and since Rihuazi Bencao of the Five dynasties, all generations of materia medica have used Wuyao as its proper name of the herb. The mainstream source of Linderae Radix used in the past dynasties is dried tuberous roots of Lindera aggregata contained in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The origins of Linderae Radix recorded in the past dynasties are mainly Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Zhejiang, Anhui and others, since the Song dynasty, Tiantai county in Zhejiang province has been regarded as the authentic producing place, in modern times, it is still the authentic place of origin. At harvesting, in ancient times, the harvesting time of the roots was mostly in August, while in modern times, Linderae Radix is mostly harvested in winter and spring or throughout the year, and is dried directly after harvesting or cut thin slices and dried in the place of production. At processing, Linderae Radix was processed by removing the peel and heart, wine roasting, vinegar roasting and other methods in ancient times, and in modern times, it is mostly used in raw form as medicine. In conclusion, it is suggested that the processing method of fresh slicing and drying in the place of origin in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia should be adopted if Linderae Radix is involved in the development of famous classical formulas.
4.Transcriptome analysis of Saposhnikovia divaricata and mining of bolting and flowering genes.
Min ZHANG ; Wenle WANG ; Qian LIU ; Erhuan ZANG ; Lijun WU ; Guofa HU ; Minhui LI
Chinese Herbal Medicines 2023;15(4):574-587
OBJECTIVE:
Early bolting of Saposhnikovia divaricata has seriously hindered its medicinal value and sustainable development of resources. The molecular mechanism of bolting and flowering of S. divaricata is still unclear and worth of research. In our study, we explored the transcriptome of the genes related to the bolting and flowering of S. divaricata.
METHODS:
The transcriptome library was constructed, sequenced, assembled and annotated from the bolting and unbolting leaves of S. divaricata by high-throughput sequencing at the bud and flowering stage. Focus on the pathways related to bolting and flowering in plants, and exploring genes. The expression of seven candidate genes was verified by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR).
RESULTS:
Transcriptome results showed that 249 889 422 high-quality clean reads were obtained. A total of 67 866 unigenes were assembled with an average length of 948.1 bp. Trinity de Novo assembly produced 67 866 unigenes with an average length of 948.1 bp. Among 993 differentially expressed genes, 484 genes were significantly up-regulated and 509 genes were down-regulated in the SdM group. A total of 79 GO terms were significantly enriched for differentially expressed genes. KEGG results showed that 11 154 unigenes were enriched in 89 pathways. And 21 candidate genes related to bolting and flowering of S. divaricata were excavated. The qRT-PCR results showed that expression trends of HDA9, PHYB, AP2, TIR1, Hsp90, CaM, and IAA7 were consistent with transcriptomic sequencing results. In addition, RNA-seq had identified 10 740 transcription factors and classified them into 58 families by their conserved domains. Further studies showed that the transcription factors regulating the flowering of S. divaricata were mainly distributed in the NAC, MYB_related, HB-other, ARF, and AP2 families.
CONCLUSION
Based on the results of this study, it was found that the plant hormone signal transduction pathway was one of the decisive factors to control bolting and flowering. Among them, auxin related genes IAA and TIR1 are the key genes in the bolting and flowering process of S. divaricata.
5. Specification and grade of Saposhnikoviae Radix (Saposhnikovia divaricata)
Lijuan LYU ; Xing LI ; Wenle WANG ; Minhui LI ; Xing LI ; Erhuan ZANG ; Yumei YAN ; Min YANG ; Chunhong ZHANG ; Minhui LI ; Chunhong ZHANG ; Minhui LI
Chinese Herbal Medicines 2022;14(4):543-553
Objective: Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fangfeng in Chinese), the roots of Saposhnikovia divaricata, lacks commodity specification and grade standardization in the current market. This study investigated the existing specifications and grades of Saposhnikoviae Radix to provide a standardized scientific reference for its market use. Methods: Based on a textual research of Chinese herbal medicine from the Han Dynasty to the present, medicinal materials of different specifications and grades obtained from Saposhnikoviae Radix in the main producing areas of China were collected and the markets for these materials were investigated. Field investigations were performed in the major producing areas such as Northeast China, Hebei Province, and Inner Mongolia. Four major Chinese herbal medicine markets in China were investigated. Sensory indices were used to categorize the two specifications (wild and cultivated) according to the shape, color, texture, and cross-section. High-performance liquid chromatography was performed to determine the active components. Vernier calipers and measuring tape were used to measure the diameter and length, respectively, of 41 samples. Using Excel and the R Language software, cluster analysis and descriptive statistical analysis were performed to assist in the application of new specifications and grades based on physical characteristics, pharmacological activity, and chemical composition. Results: The two specifications (wild and cultivated) of Saposhnikoviae Radix were divided into three grades each based on the length and diameter. Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin, 5-O-methylvisamminoside, and the length of Saposhnikoviae Radix can be used as a basis for classifying the commodity specifications and grades. The specifications and grade standards of Saposhnikoviae Radix were established based on the following eight aspects: shape, surface characteristics, texture, cross section, taste, prim-O-glucosylcimifugin content, 5-O-methylvisamminoside content and length. Conclusion: The formulation of this standard stipulates the commodity specification level of Saposhnikoviae Radix. It is also suitable for the evaluation of commodity specifications in the process of production, circulation and use of Saposhnikoviae Radix.