The objective of this study is to fully investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanisms of action of Gegen Qinlian decoction (GD) on type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 DM). A rat model of type 2 DM was established with the combination of high-fat diet and multiple low doses of streptozotocin (STZ). Biochemical indicators related to glucose metabolism disorders, insulin resistance, oxidative stress were observed. The type 2 DM rats were administrated with GD for 80 days, the above-mentioned indexes were detected. The results indicated that the hepatic glycogen synthesis level was promoted, fasting blood glucose level and fasting blood insulin level were significantly reduced, insulin sensitivity index was significantly improved; the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was increased and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was reduced; pathologic morphology of pancreas and kidney was ameliorated in the GD group. It was indicated that the therapeutic mechanisms of action of GD on type 2 DM might be related to its effect of ameliorating glucose metabolism disorders, relieving insulin resistance, increasing the tissues' sensitivity to insulin, improving the antioxidative ability of living system, GD has therapeutic effect on type 2 DM and protective effects against damaged pancreatic function.

Major breakthrough and challenge that encountered by modern western medicine were described in this article. Some standpoints about the necessity of innovative revolution for the development of traditional Chinese medicine, together with the key points should be bring to the attention during ideological emancipation have been put forward here. Chinese scientists agreed that it is the most appropriate timing for us to establish a new medicine system, which we named Holistic Systems Medicine (HSM). The concept and research contents of Holistic Systems Medicine were also introduced in this article. Finally, a proposal for setting up“China Holistic Systems Medicine development project” was proposed.

The origin of precision medicine was discussed in this article,as well as its advantages and deficiencies at this stage.Tangshen formula was taken as an example to explain a rational and ideal mode of traditional Chinese medical (TCM) precision medicine research under the guidance of TCM theory.In view of the two major problems existing in the TCM modernization research,including the separated strategy among formula-disease-syndrome and independent research approach using genomics,proteomics and metabonomics,critical scientific issues on developing the drug system to biological system research mode and solutions for integrating formula-disease-syndrome were proposed here,and the roadmap and total framework of top design were also provided.The specific methods and the corresponding research results on Tangshen formula at the three stages concluded as formula-disease related,disease-syndrome combinated and formula-disease-syndrome integrated were introduced and summarized.At this time for the innovative breakthrough development of TCM,precision medicine will promote the TCM modernization research,and also will provide a powerful driving force for the establishment of holistic systems medicine.

0.999). The relative standard deviation (RSD) of chromatogram area was less than 1.0% for all of them after six successive injections. The detection limit was 0.05 ?g/mL for norephedrine (NE), 0.04 ?g/mL for norpseudoephedrine (NPE), 0.1 ?g/mL for E and PE, and 0.2 ?g/mL for mephedrine (ME) and mepseudoephedrine (MPE), respectively (S/N≥3). The recovery rate was more than 97.1% for six ephedrine alkaloids. Under this method system, all of the above-mentioned six samples were tested and found to contain some of the impurity at different levels. Conclusion This developed method, which is very simple, perfect precision, high sensitivity, and selectivity, can be used for the qualitative and quantitative determination of impurities of ephedrine alkaloid-type samples.

AIM: To identify chemical components in Shuangshen Prescription by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), and optimize the extraction by uniform design (UD). METHODS: UD(U6(6^2)) was used to design the experiments of extraction, and LC-ESI-MS/MS was used to identify the components by MS1 and MS2. Meanwhile, we chose the extracted ion chromatography (EIC) area of each compound for applying UD analysis to optimize the factors influencing the extracration rate of Shuangshen Prescription, i.e. the amount of water added and the extracting time. RESULTS: Eight ginsenosides and six water-soluble components of salviae were identified in Shuangshen Prescription by LC/MS/MS. The extraction rate which was more than 90% for each of those 14 components, was highest under the condition of adding 25 times of water and extracting for 35 min. CONCLUSION: The study offered thc essential basis for further development and application of Shuangshen Prescription.

AIM: An effective and convenient method was established for HPLC fingerprints of Ciwujia Injection (Radix et Rhizoma seucaulis acanthopanacis senticost) which provided an approach for quality control in production. METHODS: Komasil-C_(18) column, phase A: 0.2% formic acid, phase B: 35% Acetonitrile, eluted with a gradient program and detected at 270 nm. The fingerprints of extraction from crude herbs, intermediate and finished product were compared. RESULTS: The fingerprint method for Ciwujia Injection was established. The similarity of 10 batches of Ciwujia Injection was not lower than 0.977. Obvious difference was carried on among the extraction from crude herbs, intermediate and finished product. CONCLUSION: This validated method is available for quality evaluation and quality control in Ciwujia Injection's production.

AIM: To investigate the quantitative method in the form of fingerprint peaks of Yaotonning(Semen Sttychni,Eupolyphage seu steleophaga,Scorpio,Olibanum,Myrrha, etc) as benchmark peak. METHODS: The fingerprints of Yaotongning Capsule were obtained,the peaks which can separate from the baseline were defined as fingerprint peaks,and the peak of strychnine was appointed as the benchmark peak.All the fingerprint peaks were quantified grounded on the peak of strychnine. RESULTS: Twelve fingerprint peaks were defined,and quantified rested on the peak of strychnine. CONCLUSION: A multicomponent quantitative method for Yaotongning Capsule is established.The established method is feasible.

This study was to report the effect of Tangshen Formula on phospholipids metabolism in diabetic nephropathy patients. A normal phase-HPLC-TOF/MS method was used in this study for the determination of seven species of phospholipids in human plasma. Then, the concentration changes of potential phospholipids biomarkers were discussed in diabetic nephropathy phase III and phase IV patients among different groups, including before and 3, 6 months after administration of Tangshen Formula. Significant increases of PE750, PI885, PC792, PC826, PC830, PC854 and PC802 levels were observed 6 months after administration of Tangshen Formula and conventional western medicine, as well as a decrease of LPC540 level, when compared with those before medication. Concentrations of all the potential phospholipids biomarkers showed a tendency towards normal levels; however, both the improvement degree and onset time of these compounds were not same. Additionally, Tangshen Formula treatment based on conventional western medicine treatment was more efficient in adjusting the levels of these compounds when compared with western medicine treatment alone, especially for the phase IV patients. These results indicated that Tangshen Formula was capable in regulating and improving phospholipids metabolism in diabetic nephropathy patients, which may be related with the direct or indirect inhibition of protein kinase C pathway and the corresponding reduction of phospholipase A2 activity. Therefore, Tangshen Formula may be used as an effective drug for diabetic nephropathy therapy, at least as an adjunctive therapeutic drug.

Applications of network pharmacology are increasingly widespread and methods abound in the field of drug development and pharmacological research. In this study, we choose rosiglitazone compound as the object to predict the targets and to discuss the mechanism based on three kinds of prediction methods of network pharmacology. Comparison of the prediction result has identified that the three kinds of prediction methods had their own characteristics: targets and pathways predicted were not in accordance with each other. However, the calcium signaling pathway could be predicted in the three kinds of methods, which associated with diabetes and cognitive impairment caused by diabetes by bioinformatics analysis. The above conclusion indicates that the calcium signaling pathway is important in signal pathway regulation of rosiglitazone compound, which provides a clue to further explain the mechanism of the compound and also provides a reference for the selection and application of methods of network pharmacology in the actual research.

AIM: To establish methods for identifying the antetype of Compound Qingkailing(Calculus bovis,Concha margaritifera,Radix isatidis,Cornu bubali) in rat serum by HPLC-MS~n and HPLC-TOF-MS. METHODS: Addition of methanol to serum after Qingkailing given intravenously to rats was used to precipitate protein.The HPLC-TOF-MS provided the exact molecular weight and the HPLC-ESI-MS~n provided the m/z of multilevel fragment.The medicine antetypes were identified by combining the two methods. RESULTS: Four main medicine antetypes in rat serum,such as geniposide,baicalein,wogonoside and cholic acid,were identified. CONCLUSION: It is a rapid and exact method that can be used to identify other complicated traditional Chinese medicine in vivo.