Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction is a classic prescription in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and is known for its effects of tonifying Qi, warming the meridians, and promoting blood circulation to alleviate obstruction. It is primarily used to treat conditions characterized by Qi stagnation, Yang deficiency, and obstruction, and it exhibits pharmacological effects such as immune regulation, anti-inflammation, analgesia, protection of the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems, itch relief, reduction of frostbite symptoms, antioxidative stress, promotion of cell apoptosis, and kidney protection. In modern clinical practice, it is commonly used to treat acute myocardial infarction, sequelae of cerebral infarction, cervical spondylosis, frozen shoulder, lower limb arteriosclerosis, lower limb vascular disorders, peripheral neuropathy in diabetes, and lupus nephritis. Recent research has focused on the chemical components, pharmacological effects, and clinical applications of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction. Based on the "five principles" of quality markers(Q-markers) in TCM, this study predicted and analyzed the Q-markers of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction. It suggested that astragaloside Ⅳ, formononetin, kaempferol, quercetin, cinnamic acid, cinnamaldehyde, 6-gingerol, paeoniflorin, albiflorin, and gallic acid could serve as Q-markers for Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction. The findings of this study can provide references for quality control of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction and the development of new Chinese medicinal formulations.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Astragalus propinquus ; Frostbite/drug therapy*

The objective of this study was to prepare nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC)-based topical gel of Ganoderma Triterpenoids (GTs) and evaluate their effects on frostbite treatment. GT-NLCs was prepared by the high pressure homogenization method and then characterized by morphology and analyses of particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency (EE), and drug loading (DL). The NLCs was suitably gelled for skin permeation studies in vitro and pharmacodynamic evaluation in vivo, compared with the GT emulgel. The GT-NLC remained within the colloidal range and was uniformly dispersed after suitably gelled by carbopol preparation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study showed GT-NLCs was spherical in shape. The EE (%) and DL (%) could reach up to (81.84 ± 0.60)% and (2.13 ± 0.12)%, respectively. The result of X-ray diffractograms (XRD) showed that GTs were in an amorphous state in the NLC-gel. In vitro permeation studies through rat skin indicated that the amount of GTs permeated through skin of GT-NLCs after 24 h was higher than that of GT emulsion, and GT-NLCs increased the accumulative amounts of GTs in epidermis 7.76 times greater than GT emulsion. GT-NLC-gel was found to possess superior therapeutic effect for frostbite, compared with the GT emulgel. The NLC based topical gel of GTs could improve -their therapeutic effect for frostbite.
Animals ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Frostbite ; drug therapy ; Ganoderma ; chemistry ; Gels ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Humans ; Lipids ; chemistry ; Male ; Nanostructures ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley