1.Research Advances on Anti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidation Effect of Medicinal and Edible Herbs Liver-protecting Chinese Medicine
Jinghan ZHAO ; Zhengwang ZHU ; Linlin WANG ; Pingsheng ZHU ; Mingsan MIAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):293-301
The liver is closely associated with inflammation and the redox response, and inflammation is the body's innate defense system for clearing away harmful stimuli and participating in the liver's wound-healing response.Oxidative stress is associated with the activation of inflammatory pathways, and sustained inflammation and the corresponding regenerative wound healing response can induce fibrosis, cirrhosis, progression to end-stage liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma, and ultimately death.Some "medicine and food homology" traditional Chinese medicine has been used in clinical effect, showing the ability to protect the liver.This paper reviewed the relationship between liver and oxidative stress response and inflammation response, and sorted out 110 "medicine and food same origin" traditional Chinese medicines based on the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition) and the Chinese materia medica.The results showed that common floweringqince fruit, licorice root, cassia seed, emblic,seabuckthorn fruit,Chinese date, honeysuckle, ginger, cape jasmine fruit, platycodon root, lotus leaf, dandelion, reed root, honey, mountain honeysuckle, milkvetch root, glossy ganoderma, Gastrodia gastrodia and eucommia leaf were recorded to have liver protection effects.The liver protection mechanism is mainly anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and lipid peroxidation inhibition. Some Chinese herbs can also play a liver protection role by inhibiting the growth of hepatitis virus and liver cancer cells and regulating bile acid metabolism.In addition, the biological mechanism of its liver protection effect through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in animal experiments was analyzed, and it was found that it plays a role through multiple pathways and multiple targets, providing new ideas for the role of "medicine and food homology" traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment strategy of liver diseases.
2.Research Advances on Anti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidation Effect of Medicinal and Edible Herbs Liver-protecting Chinese Medicine
Jinghan ZHAO ; Zhengwang ZHU ; Linlin WANG ; Pingsheng ZHU ; Mingsan MIAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):293-301
The liver is closely associated with inflammation and the redox response, and inflammation is the body's innate defense system for clearing away harmful stimuli and participating in the liver's wound-healing response.Oxidative stress is associated with the activation of inflammatory pathways, and sustained inflammation and the corresponding regenerative wound healing response can induce fibrosis, cirrhosis, progression to end-stage liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma, and ultimately death.Some "medicine and food homology" traditional Chinese medicine has been used in clinical effect, showing the ability to protect the liver.This paper reviewed the relationship between liver and oxidative stress response and inflammation response, and sorted out 110 "medicine and food same origin" traditional Chinese medicines based on the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition) and the Chinese materia medica.The results showed that common floweringqince fruit, licorice root, cassia seed, emblic,seabuckthorn fruit,Chinese date, honeysuckle, ginger, cape jasmine fruit, platycodon root, lotus leaf, dandelion, reed root, honey, mountain honeysuckle, milkvetch root, glossy ganoderma, Gastrodia gastrodia and eucommia leaf were recorded to have liver protection effects.The liver protection mechanism is mainly anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and lipid peroxidation inhibition. Some Chinese herbs can also play a liver protection role by inhibiting the growth of hepatitis virus and liver cancer cells and regulating bile acid metabolism.In addition, the biological mechanism of its liver protection effect through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in animal experiments was analyzed, and it was found that it plays a role through multiple pathways and multiple targets, providing new ideas for the role of "medicine and food homology" traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment strategy of liver diseases.
3.Systematic review and Metaanalysis of the association between heavy metal exposure and obesity in children and adolescents
WU Meng, LUO Lü ; er, WANG Jinghan, LIU Qin
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(7):926-931
Objective:
To systematically evaluate the relationship of exposure to five heavy metals, namely lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury and aluminum with obesity in children and adolescents, so as to provide a scientific basis for subsequent research in the area.
Methods:
Four Chinese databasesc (CBM, VIP, CNKI and Wanfang) and four foreign databases (OVID, PubMed, Web of Science and EBSCO), were searched to collect relevant studies, and the search period was from the establishment of the database to May 5, 2024. After 2 investigators independently screened the literature, extracted the data and evaluated the risk of bias of the included studies, the results were analyzed quantitatively and summarized qualitatively.
Results:
A total of 5 cohort studies on lead exposure and 17 cross sectional studies involving exposure to lead ( n =13), cadmium ( n =8), mercury ( n =8), arsenic ( n =4), and aluminum ( n =1) were included. Meta analysis of the 2 cohort studies showed that lead exposure was not associated with the risk of overweight and obesity in children ( RR=0.76, 95%CI=0.50-1.16, P >0.05). The cross sectional study Meta-analysis results showed that lead exposure was negatively associated with the risk of childhood overweight ( OR=0.70, 95%CI =0.59-0.84, 2 studies) and obesity ( OR=0.71, 95%CI =0.58-0.87, 3 studies); cadmium exposure was negatively associated with the risk of childhood overweight ( OR=0.83, 95%CI =0.73-0.95, 2 studies) and obesity risk( OR=0.70, 95%CI =0.63-0.78, 3 studies); mercury exposure increased the risk of overweight/obesity ( OR=1.42, 95%CI =1.14-1.76, 2 studies) and abdominal obesity ( OR= 1.99, 95%CI =1.45-2.73, 2 studies) in children; the group with the highest concentration of arsenic in urine had a lower risk of developing obesity compared to the group with the lowest concentration ( OR=0.39, 95%CI =0.23-0.65, 1 study), and the group with the highest concentration of aluminum in urine had a lower risk of obesity compared with the group with the lowest concentration ( OR=0.52, 95%CI =0.31-0.86, 1 study)(all P <0.05).
Conclusion
Heavy metal exposure may be a risk factor for overweight and obesity in children and adolescents, but the conclusions are inconsistent and need to be validated in further high quality prospective cohort studies.
4.Tuihuang Mixture improves α‑naphthylisothiocyanate-induced cholestasis in rats by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasomes via regulating farnesoid X receptor.
Zhengwang ZHU ; Linlin WANG ; Jinghan ZHAO ; Ruixue MA ; Yuchun YU ; Qingchun CAI ; Bing WANG ; Pingsheng ZHU ; Mingsan MIAO
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(4):718-724
OBJECTIVES:
To study the therapeutic mechanism of Tuihuang Mixture against cholestasis.
METHODS:
Forty-eight Wistar rats were randomized equally into blank group, model group, ursodeoxycholic acid group and Tuihuang Mixture group. Except for those in the blank group, all the rats were given α‑naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) to establish rat models of cholestasis, followed by treatments with indicated drugs or distilled water. Serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, γ-GT, TBA and TBIL of the rats were determined, and hepatic expressions IL-1β, IL-18, FXR, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and GSDMD were detected using q-PCR, ELISA or Western blotting. Histopathological changes of the liver tissues were observed using HE staining.
RESULTS:
The rat models of cholestasis had significantly increased serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, γ-GT, TBA and TBIL with increased mRNA and protein expressions of IL-1β and IL-18, decreased protein and mRNA expressions of FXR, and increased protein expressions of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 and mRNA expressions of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and GSDMD in the liver tissue, showing also irregular arrangement of liver cells, proliferation of bile duct epithelial cells and inflammatory cells infiltration. Treatment of the rat models with Tuihuang Mixture significantly decreased serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, γ-GT, TBA and TBIL, lowered IL-1β and IL-18 and increased FXR protein and mRNA expressions, and reduced NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and GSDMD proteins and NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 mRNA expressions in the liver tissue. Tuihuang Mixture also significantly alleviated hepatocyte injury, bile duct epithelial cell proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration in the liver of the rat models.
CONCLUSIONS
Tuihuang Mixture can effectively improve cholestasis in rats possibly by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammatosome-mediated pyroptosis via regulating FXR.
Animals
;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
;
Rats
;
Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/metabolism*
;
Cholestasis/drug therapy*
;
Rats, Wistar
;
Inflammasomes/metabolism*
;
1-Naphthylisothiocyanate
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
Male
;
Interleukin-18/metabolism*
;
Caspase 1/metabolism*
;
Interleukin-1beta/metabolism*
;
Liver/metabolism*
5.Advances in the regulation of gut microbiota metabolites by traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diseases.
Deyi YANG ; Jinghan LIN ; Tao WANG ; Hongwei LIU
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(6):2236-2255
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays an important role in preventing and treating diseases and improving human health. However, the complex bioactive components and regulation of signaling pathway and network restrict the elucidation of the mechanisms of action of TCM. A human being is regarded as a super "symbiont" composed of body cells and commensal microorganisms. Gut microbiota is the core commensal microorganism system of a human body, being considered as "the second genome" and the new "organ". Alterations in gut microbiota reflect the state of body health and progression of diseases. Recent investigations have revealed that the TCM rich in polysaccharides and polyphenols can modulate gut microbiota metabolites to rehabilitate gut homeostasis, thus ameliorating diseases via regulating gut-liver axis or gut-brain axis. This review summarizes the causal relationship and mechanisms of action of TCM in the treatment of diseases from the perspective of gut microbiota metabolites. Our findings are expected to provide new insights into the mechanisms of TCM in preventing and treating diseases and guidance for TCM-based drug discovery in the future.
Humans
;
Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology*
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
Polyphenols/pharmacology*
;
Polysaccharides/pharmacology*
6.The regulatory role and mechanism of microRNA in cholestasis
Linlin WANG ; Zhengwang ZHU ; Jinghan ZHAO ; Ruixue MA ; Bing WANG ; Pingsheng ZHU ; Mingsan MIAO
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(10):2187-2194
As a type of endogenous small non-coding RNA, microRNA (miRNA) can regulate gene expression and thereby intervene against the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic diseases, and autoimmune diseases. The pathogenesis of cholestasis is complex and is mainly associated with the metabolism and transport of bile acids, oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and intestinal flora. Currently, ursodeoxycholic acid is the preferred drug for the clinical treatment of cholestasis, but it may cause adverse reactions and exhibit poor efficacy in some patients. Studies have shown that miRNA can intervene in the disease process of cholestasis through multiple mechanisms such as regulating bile acid metabolism and transport, alleviating oxidative stress, inhibiting inflammatory response, improving cholangiocyte proliferation, and regulating intestinal flora. It can be used as a new biomarker and action target for cholestasis, with high research potential and value. Therefore, this article summarizes the role and mechanisms of miRNA in regulating cholestasis in recent years, in order to provide a reference for further research on the prevention and treatment of cholestasis by targeting miRNA.
7.Development and validation of prediction model for severe disability or death after endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke patients
Jinghan FANG ; Xinyan WANG ; Fa LIANG ; Youxu-An WU ; Kangda ZHANG ; Baixue JIA ; Xiaoli ZHANG ; Anxin WANG ; Zhongrong MIAO ; Ruquan HAN
The Journal of Clinical Anesthesiology 2024;40(11):1130-1138
Objective To develop and validate a prediction model for severe disability or death(SDD)in acute ischemic stroke(AIS)patients who underwent endovascular treatment(EVT).Methods Based on the dataset of ANGEL-ACT study who received EVT for AIS between november 2017 and march 2019,a retrospective analysis was performed on 1 677 patients,including 1 111 males and 566 females,aged ≥ 18 years.Patients were divided into two groups according to whether SDD occurred(mRS 5-6 scores 90 days after surgery):SDD group(n=478)and non-SDD group(n=1 199).Risk factors that might influence SDD after EVT in AIS patients were screened and analyzed by multifactorial analysis,LAS-SO regression,and RF-RFE methods.A nomogram was developed after evaluating the model performance and the execution of internal validation.Results SDD occurred in 380(28.1%)patients in the develop-ment cohort and 98(30.2%)patients in the validation cohort.Combining the three variable screening meth-ods,10 risk factors were selected for inclusion in the final model:age,NIHSS score,whether successful re-canalization,glucose level,hemoglobin,hematocrit,onset to puncture time,systolic blood pressure,AS-PECT score,and whether have treatment-related serious adverse events.A two-stage model means that model 1 contains pre-treatment variables(7 in total)and model 2 contains pre-treatment and post-treatment variables(10 in total).The area under the curve(AUC)of model 1 in the development cohort was 0.705(95%CI 0.674-0.736)and 0.731(95%CI 0.701-0.760)in model 2.Both models had good calibration with aslope of 1.000,and the decision curve analysis showed good clinical applicability.The results of the validation cohort were similar to those of the development cohort.Conclusion Age,admission NIHSS score,whether successful recanalization,admission glucose level,hemoglobin content,erythrocyte pressure volume,onset to puncture time,admission systolic blood pressure,ASPECT score,and whether have treat-ment-related serious adverse events are risk factors for SDD in patients with acute ischemic stroke.The two prediction models based on the above factors were used before and after endovascular treatment to predict SDD occurrence better.
8.Construction and Analysis of Finite Element Models for Oval Root Canals after Preparation with Micro-Crack
Ci CHEN ; Tong WANG ; Huiying LI ; Jing FU ; Jinghan GUO ; Haiping XU
Journal of Medical Biomechanics 2024;39(4):724-729
Objective To analyze the stress distributions of two root canal preparation shapes of oval root canals with micro-crack.Methods Twenty single-canal mandibular premolars with oval canals were expanded to create micro-cracks.Roots were sectioned after staining.The generation and distribution of dentin micro-cracks were observed under microscope.Then a finite element(FE)model of sectioned enlarged oval canal roots with micro-cracks was established.The stress distribution of micro-crack and root were analyzed under lateral loading.Results Cracks always appeared in the buccolingual sides of oval canal roots and extended from the intracanal wall to the root surface.This was consistent with the stress concentration on the buccolingual side of the root canal wall shown by FE analysis.When micro-cracks occurred,stresses were transferred to the crack tip and the peak values increased sharply nearly 5 times.This made the cracks propagate easily along this direction,especially in the long axis direction of the tooth.Conclusions The presence of micro-cracks does not change the general stress concentration on root with two preparation morphologies of oval canals.However,the micro-crack causes an extreme stress concentration in the crack tip.This may be the mechanism of rapid propagation of microcracks into vertical root fracture,and dentists need to pay high attention.
9.Jiedu Tongluo Tiaogan Prescription Protects Pancreatic β Cell by Targeting NLRP3 Inflammasome via TGR5/cAMP Signaling Pathway
Qi ZHANG ; Yang XIAO ; Jinghan XU ; Tianjiao LIU ; Li WANG ; Chunli PIAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(11):95-103
ObjectiveTo investigate the intervention effect of Jiedu Tongluo Tiaogan prescription (JTTP) in protecting pancreatic β cells by targeting the bile acid Takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5)/cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathway against NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. MethodThirty-two male SPF-grade db/db mice were randomly divided into the model group, low-dose JTTP group (3.6 g·kg-1), high-dose JTTP group (7.2 g·kg-1), and metformin group (0.2 g·kg-1). Eight db/m mice were assigned to the blank control group. The mice were treated with drugs for 8 weeks, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) was measured every 2 weeks. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were conducted after the last administration. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect fasting insulin (FINS), and the homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-1β levels were calculated. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe pathological changes in mouse pancreatic tissue. Immunofluorescence was performed to detect insulin expression in mouse pancreatic tissue. Western blot and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) were used to detect the expression of proteins and mRNAs of key targets in the TGR5/cAMP signaling pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome. ResultCompared with blank group, FBG, OGTT, FINS, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β in model group were significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with model group, after 6 weeks of drug treatment, FBG level in JTTP group and metformin group decreased significantly (P<0.01). The results of OGTT experiment showed that compared with model group, the blood glucose levels of mice in each administration group were decreased at all time points (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the levels of FINS, TNF-α and IL-6 in JTTP dose groups and metformin group were significantly decreased. The level of IL-1β in JTTP high-dose group and metformin group was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Pancreatic pathology showed that the islets in the model group were irregular in shape, uneven in distribution, and showed signs of atrophy. The prognosis of JTTP was that the cell count increased and the boundary was clearer. Immunofluorescence results showed that the islet cells in the blank group were arranged in an orderly and full shape with appropriate insulin secretion, while the islet cells in model group were distorted in shape, atrophy in structure and less insulin secretion. The insulin content of mice in JTTP and metformin group was significantly increased. Compared with blank group, mRNA expressions of NLRP3, apoptosis-related spot-like protein (ASC) and Caspase-1 in pancreatic tissues of model group were significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with model group, JTTP high-dose group and metformin group promoted the up-regulation of TGR5 and cAMP mRNA, and down-regulated the mRNA expressions of NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with blank group, the expression of TGR5 protein in model group was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with model group, TGR5 protein in JTTP high-dose group and metformin group was significantly increased (P<0.01).
10.Study on the Distribution of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Types and Medication Rules of Functional Dyspepsia Based on Data Mining
Zhengwang ZHU ; Linlin WANG ; Jinghan ZHAO ; Pingsheng ZHU ; Mingsan MIAO
Traditional Chinese Drug Research & Clinical Pharmacology 2024;35(9):1437-1444
Objective To explore syndrome differentiation of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)and medication rules of functional dyspepsia,and to provide reference for modern TCM clinical treatment.Methods The clinical research literature on the treatment of functional dyspepsia with TCM were searched from CNKI,Wanfang,VIP,PubMed and Web of Science databases,TCM compounds were collected and database was established.Excel 2019,Clementine 12.0 and SPSS 21.0 were used for frequency analysis of TCM syndrome types,drug frequency,efficacy classifications,properties,tastes,and meridian tropisms of functional dyspepsia,and association rule analysis,factor analysis and cluster analysis were performed on high-frequency drugs.Results A total of 428 articles were included,and 442 prescriptions were extracted,involving 225 Chinese medicines and 24 high-frequency drugs,among which Codonopsis Radix,Poria,Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium and Bupleuri Radix were most frequently used.Tonic deficiency drugs and regulating qi drugs were the most common efficacy categories.The property was mainly warm,the tastes were mainly bitter,pungent and sweet,most of which belonged to spleen,lung and stomach meridians.Twenty drug combinations were obtained by association rule analysis,nine common factors were extracted by factor analysis,and drugs could be divided into four categories by cluster analysis.Functional dyspepsia with the liver-stomach disharmony is the most common syndrome.Twelve drug combinations were obtained by association rule analysis,three common factors were extracted by factor analysis,and drugs could be divided into two categories by cluster analysis.Conclusion The clinical treatment of functional dyspepsia in TCM is mainly to replenish qi and invigorate spleen,dredge liver and promote qi,replenish deficiency with sweet and warm drugs,disperse pungent and descend bitter,which were compatible with drugs for resolving dampness,relieving external symptoms and clearing heat according to syndrome differentiation.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail