1.Herbal Textual Research on Moschus in Famous Classical Formulas
Juanjuan LIU ; Sini LI ; Jie JI ; Liping YANG ; Houkang CAO ; Xiaohui MA ; Ling JIN ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(18):194-202
In this paper, by consulting the ancient and modern literature, the name, origin, quality evaluation, harvesting and processing, and others of the original animal and medicinal materials of Moschus were systematically sorted out and verified, in order to provide the basis for the development and utilization of the famous classical formulas containing Moschus. According to the textual research, musk deer was first recorded in Shanhaijing. Shennong Bencaojing was recorded as Moschus and all generations were used as the correct name, but there were also aliases such as Shefu, Xiangzhang and Xiangqizi. In ancient times, Moschus berezovskii, M. sifanicus and M. moschiferus were the main sources of Moschus, and the quality of Moschus produced in northwest China was better than that produced in the Yangtze River basin. In modern times, Moschus of M. moschiferus produced in northeast China, M. sifanicus produced in Gansu, Sichuan and other places, and M. berezovskii produced in Ningxia, Shaanxi and other places are regarded as genuine. In ancient times, gunshots, lassoes, arrow shots and other methods were generally used to hunt live musk deer, and the sachets were immediately cut off. Those with high quality were called Xiangshanhuo, and dried in the shade after harvesting, which was known as Maoke Shexiang. Cut open the sachet, remove the shell and dry preservation, commonly known as Moschus kernel. In modern times, the method of taking Moschus from the living body of cultured musk deer is adopted, that is, Moschus kernel is directly taken from its sachet, dried in the shade or dried in a closed dryer. This method realizes the sustainable utilization of Chinese herbal medicine resources, but attention should be paid to the frequency and quality of Moschus. The harvesting time is mostly after the autumnal equinox every year, and before the next summer, it is better to gather sachet in winter. In recent times, it is believed that the shell Moschus is dry, full, thin, elastic, loose inside, many particles, strong and persistent aroma for the best, while the Moschus kernel is particle purple-black, powder yellow-brown, soft and oily texture, strong and persistent aroma for the best. The ancient processing method of Moschus was extracting kernels from the shell. After removing impurities, it is ground and used as medicine. Because its composition is not suitable for heating, the processing method is most common in preparations such as grinding into powder and putting into pills or powders, which has the effect of opening up the orifices and refreshing the mind, and it has continued to this day. Based on the research conclusions, it is suggested that the development of famous classical formulas containing Moschus, M. sifanicus, M. moschiferus and M. berezovskii should be used as the origins. According to the processing requirements specified in the original formula, it should be processed and used as medicine, while those without processing requirements should be used as raw products.
2.Study of the prognostic value of postoperative patients with severe traumatic brain injury
Hongtao CHEN ; Liping ZHAN ; Bo CHEN
Chinese Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases 2025;51(6):349-353
Objective To analyze prognostic factors in postoperative patients with severe traumatic brain injury.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients with severe traumatic brain injury treated at our hospital from January 2020 to May 2024.Based on the Glasgow Outcome Scale scores(GOS)of patients at 3 months postoperatively,they were divided into a favorable prognosis group and an unfavorable prognosis group.The baseline characteristics of the two groups were compared,and the influencing factors associated with early postoperative poor prognosis were analyzed.Results A total of 140 patients were included in the study,including 58 cases in the good prognosis group and 82 cases in the poor prognosis group.There were significant differences in Glasgow coma scale(GCS)score(t=14.137,P=0.002),Rotterdam CT score(t=18.516,P=0.007),and disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC)score(t=10.428,P=0.008)between the two groups at admission(P<0.05).Multivariate analysis showed that low GCS score(OR=0.273,95%CI:0.126-0.671,P=0.008),high Rotterdam CT Score(OR=1.804,95%CI:1.026-4.557,P=0.018)and high DIC score(OR=1.648,95%CI:1.173-2.424,P=0.020)were important risk factors for poor prognosis.Conclusions Unfavorable postoperative prognosis in severe traumatic brain injury patients correlates with the admission GCS score,Rotterdam CT score,and International Society on Thrombosis and DIC score.A lower GCS score,higher Rotterdam CT score,and higher DIC score at admission were significantly associated with an increased risk of poor postoperative prognosis.
3.Herbal Textual Research on Kochiae Fructus in Famous Classical Formulas
Huifang HU ; Liping YANG ; Fei CHEN ; Xiaohui MA ; Ling JIN ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(15):247-257
In this paper, by referring to ancient and modern literature, the textual research of Kochiae Fructus has been conducted to clarify the name, origin, distribution of production areas, quality specification, taste and efficacy, harvesting time, processing and compatibility taboo, so as to provide reference and basis for the development and utilization of related famous classical formulas. According to the investigation, it can be seen that Difuzi was first published in Sheng Nong's Herbal Classic, and has been used as the official name throughout history. It is also known by other names such as Dimai, Dikui, and Luozhou. The mainstream source of Difuzi in materia medica throughout history is the dried ripe fruit of Kochia scoparia, which is consistent throughout history. In the Han dynasty, it was recorded that Kochiae Fructus was produced in Jingzhou(Hubei province), while modern literature records its distribution throughout the country, so it does not have obvious geoherbalism. The harvesting period of Kochiae Fructus is mostly in the late autumn, and the quality is best when it is full, gray green in color, and no impurities. There are two processing methods for its origin:from the Southern and Northern dynasties to the Ming dynasty, it was dried in the shade, and after the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was dried in the sun. There are few records about the processing of Kochiae Fructus, and its clinical application is mostly based on raw products as medicine. The seedlings are harvested in February of the lunar calendar, and the leaves are taken in April and May, processing in the place of origin is shade drying, the processing methods include burning ash and frying frost, pounding juice and wine soaking. For internal use, it is mostly decocted or mashed, while for external use, it is mostly washed with decoction or taken in a soup bath. Throughout history, it has been recorded that Kochiae Fructus is bitter and cold, and is mainly used for treating bladder fever. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, most of the literature classified it as damp-clearing medicine. Since the 1985 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, it has been recorded that Kochiae Fructus has a pungent and bitter taste, and a cold nature. Returning to the kidney and bladder meridians with functions of clearing heat and dampness, dispelling wind and relieving itching. The clinical contraindications are mainly prohibited for those with deficiency and no dampness and heat. Throughout history, it has been recorded that the taste of the seedlings and leaves is bitter and cold for treatment of dysentery. Since modern times, it has been used to regulate the liver, spleen and large intestine meridians, with functions such as clearing heat and detoxifying, and diuresis. Based on the textual research, it is recommended to use the dried ripe fruit of K. scoparia when developing the famous classical formulas containing Kochiae Fructus, and processing shall be carried out according to the original processing requirements. If the original formula does not specify the processing requirements, the raw products is taken into medicine.
4.Herbal Textual Research on Cnidii Fructus in Famous Classical Formulas
Huifang HU ; Liping YANG ; Fei CHEN ; Xiaohui MA ; Ling JIN ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(16):243-253
In this paper, by referring to ancient and modern literature, the textual research of Cnidii Fructus has been conducted to clarify the name, origin, distribution of production areas, quality specification, nature and flavour, efficacy, harvesting and processing, compatibility taboo and others, so as to provide reference and basis for the development and utilization of the relevant famous classical formulas. After textual research, it can be verified that Cnidii Fructus was first published in Sheng Nong's Herbal Classic, the materia medica of all dynasties was named Shechuangzi, and there are also aliases such as Shesu, Shemi, and Qiangmi. The main source for generations was the dried ripe fruit of Cnidium monnieri, and ancient and modern consistent. From the Eastern Han dynasty to Tang dynasty, the origin of Cnidii Fructus was Zibo, Shandong province. During the Five dynasties, it expanded to Yangzhou in Jiangsu province and Xiangyang in Hubei province, the Song dynasty added Shangqiu in Henan province, and it was considered that Yangzhou, Xiangyang and Shangqiu were its genuine producing areas. It was more widely distributed in Ming and Qing dynasties. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the origin is clearly distributed throughout the country. For its quality evaluation, generally full grain, gray yellow color, strong aroma is the best. The harvesting period in the past dynasties was mostly the fifth lunar month, and the fruit was collected to remove impurities and dry. The mainstream processing in producing area of the past dynasties was net selection of raw products, mixing and steaming with the juice of Rehmanniae Radix and stir-frying were the mainstream processing methods in the past, there were also stir-frying with honey, stir-frying with salt and rice wine, immersing and steaming with rice wine and other methods. In recent times, it has been used in raw products as medicine. Sheng Nong's Herbal Classic recorded Cnidii Fructus was bitter, Supplementary Records of Famous Physicians recorded its acrid for the first time. It was recorded in the Ming dynasty that its nature was warm, acted on the kidney meridian, and had small toxicity. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, most of the literature classified it as a medicine to attack poison, kill insects and relieve itching with the functions of dispelling pathogenic wind and removing dampness, destroying parasites and elieving itching, warming kidney and activating Yang. Clinical contraindications are mainly contraindicated for people with damp-heat from the lower-jiao or kidney heat. Based on the textual research, it is suggested that when developing the famous classical formulas containing Cnidii Fructus, the source shall be the dried ripe fruit of C. monnieri, and then it shall be processed according to the original formulas. If there is no requirement for processing in the formulas, the raw products can be taken into medicine.
5.Cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing for the diagnosis of intracranial aspergillus flavus infection in immunocompetent patients: A case report
Xianzhe KONG ; Huan WEI ; Liping ZHAN
Journal of Apoplexy and Nervous Diseases 2025;42(7):656-658
To report a case of an immunocompetent young adult male patient diagnosed with intracranial Aspergillus flavus infection, and to investigate the clinical features of this disease and related experience in diagnosis and treatment.A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of a patient who had the initial presentation of high fever and headache and then progressed to meningoencephalitis, and the results of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and treatment outcomes were summarized.The patient had an acute onset, with no response to empirical anti-infective therapy in the incipient stage, and then he gradually developed disturbance of consciousness and meningeal irritation sign. CSF analysis showed inflammatory changes, while conventional pathogen tests yielded negative results, and mNGS detected 27 specific sequences of Aspergillus flavus. The symptoms of the patient was significantly improved after antifungal therapy with voriconazole, with no recurrence after follow-up for 3 months.For unexplained central nervous system infections, especially those with negative results from conventional tests, mNGS can improve the detection rate of rare pathogens(e.g.,Aspergillus flavus). Early diagnosis and targeted antifungal therapy are crucial for improving prognosis. This case highlights that invasive fungal infections should be considered even in immunocompetent individuals.
Aspergillus flavus
6.Study of the prognostic value of postoperative patients with severe traumatic brain injury
Hongtao CHEN ; Liping ZHAN ; Bo CHEN
Chinese Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases 2025;51(6):349-353
Objective To analyze prognostic factors in postoperative patients with severe traumatic brain injury.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients with severe traumatic brain injury treated at our hospital from January 2020 to May 2024.Based on the Glasgow Outcome Scale scores(GOS)of patients at 3 months postoperatively,they were divided into a favorable prognosis group and an unfavorable prognosis group.The baseline characteristics of the two groups were compared,and the influencing factors associated with early postoperative poor prognosis were analyzed.Results A total of 140 patients were included in the study,including 58 cases in the good prognosis group and 82 cases in the poor prognosis group.There were significant differences in Glasgow coma scale(GCS)score(t=14.137,P=0.002),Rotterdam CT score(t=18.516,P=0.007),and disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC)score(t=10.428,P=0.008)between the two groups at admission(P<0.05).Multivariate analysis showed that low GCS score(OR=0.273,95%CI:0.126-0.671,P=0.008),high Rotterdam CT Score(OR=1.804,95%CI:1.026-4.557,P=0.018)and high DIC score(OR=1.648,95%CI:1.173-2.424,P=0.020)were important risk factors for poor prognosis.Conclusions Unfavorable postoperative prognosis in severe traumatic brain injury patients correlates with the admission GCS score,Rotterdam CT score,and International Society on Thrombosis and DIC score.A lower GCS score,higher Rotterdam CT score,and higher DIC score at admission were significantly associated with an increased risk of poor postoperative prognosis.
7.Herbal Textual Research on Pharbitidis Semen in Famous Classical Formulas
Liping YANG ; Xudong GUO ; Shaoyang XI ; Xiaohui MA ; Zhilai ZHAN ; Ling JIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(6):179-189
By consulting the ancient and modern literature, the textual research of Pharbitidis Semen has been conducted to clarify the name, origin, distribution of production areas, quality specification, harvesting, processing and so on, so as to provide reference for the development and utilization of the relevant famous classical formulas. Through textual research, it can be seen that Pharbitidis Semen was first published in Mingyi Bielu(《名医别录》), and all dynasties have taken Qianniuzi as the correct name. Based on the original research, the main source of Pharbitidis Semen used in previous dynasties is the dried mature seeds of Pharbitis nil, which is consistent in ancient and modern times. The white Pharbitidis Semen appearing in Compendium of Materia Medica(《本草纲目》) from Ming dynasty is similar to the present P. purpurea. It is produced all over the country, and the quality is better if the particles are full and free of impurities. In ancient times, the harvesting time was mostly in the September. Now it is autumn. The fruits are ripe and harvested, dried to remove impurities for standby. In ancient times, the processing methods of Pharbitidis Semen were mainly wine steaming, steaming and frying until half cooked and grinding the head and end. In modern times, they have been simplified to stir-frying method. The nature, taste, meridian tropism and their effects also change supplements with the deepening of practice. Before the Ming dynasty, they were all bitter, cold and toxic. In the Ming dynasty, there appeared the characteristics of pungent, hot and small poisonous. The efficacy has evolved from controlling low Qi, curing foot edema, removing wind toxin, and facilitating urination to facilitating water and defecation, eliminating phlegm and drinking, and eliminating accumulated insects. The main clinical contraindications are those with weak spleen and kidney, those with weak spleen and stomach, pregnant women, and should not be used with croton and croton cream. Based on the textual research, it is suggested that when developing the classic famous formula with Pharbitidis Semen as the main raw material in the future, it is clear that the source should be the dried mature seeds of Pharbitis nil(black product is its black-brown seeds, white product is its beige seeds). The processing requirements indicated in the original formula are all processed according to the requirements, and the raw product is recommended to be used as medicine if not specified.
8.Reviews and Recommendations in Comparative Studies on Quality of Wild and Cultivated Chinese Crude Drugs
Yapeng WANG ; Changsheng YUAN ; Jinxiu QIAN ; Yihan WANG ; Yanmeng LIU ; Yunxiang LIU ; Tiegui NAN ; Liping KANG ; Zhilai ZHAN ; Lanping GUO ; Luqi HUANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(1):1-20
By reviewing the research history on quality comparison between wild and cultivated Chinese crude drugs, this paper systematically combed the relevant research reports since the 1950s, and summarized and analyzed the results of existing comparative studies, and found that the existing comparative research on the quality of wild and cultivated Chinese crude drugs were mainly focused on several aspects, including characteristics, microstructures, chemical compositions, pharmacodynamic effects, and genetic diversity. Among these, comparative studies of chemical compositions have been the dominant approach, with a particular emphasis on comparing the contents of index components. However, research on pharmacodynamic effects remained relatively limited. Due to various factors such as sample quantity, sample origin, growth period and cultivation methods, the differences in quality between wild and cultivated Chinese crude drugs vary significantly. In general, most wild Chinese crude drugs exhibited higher quality than cultivated products, with significant differences in their characteristics. The contents and proportions of some chemical components underwent noticeable changes, particularly with a marked increase in the proportion of primary metabolites after cultivation. The quality of cultivated Chinese crude drugs is closely related to the cultivation practices employed. Chinese crude drugs produced through wild nurturing, simulated wild planting, ecological cultivation, and other similar methods demonstrate quality levels comparable to those of wild Chinese crude drugs. Based on the analysis results, it is recommended to explicitly specify the cultivation practices and cultivation period of cultivated Chinese crude drugs in comparative studies of the quality between wild and cultivated Chinese crude drugs. Multiple technical approaches, including characteristics, microscopy, non-targeted metabolomics combined with quantitative analysis of differential components, and bioefficacy evaluation, should be employed to comprehensively assess the quality disparities between wild and cultivated Chinese crude drugs. Moreover, research efforts should be intensified to investigate the changes in pharmacodynamic effects resulting from differences in plant cell wall composition, primary metabolites, and secondary metabolites, in order to guide the production of high-quality Chinese crude drugs.
9.Comparison of Cultivated and Wild-simulated Astragali Radix Based on Traditional Quality Evaluation
Jiachen ZHAO ; Yapeng WANG ; Yihan WANG ; Jinxiu QIAN ; Aiping DENG ; Tiegui NAN ; Liping KANG ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(1):21-30
ObjectiveBased on the traditional quality evaluation methods summarized in previous dynasties, this paper systematically contrasted cultivated Astragali Radix(CA) and wild-simulated Astragali Radix(WA) from the aspects of character, microstructure and chemical composition by modern technological means. MethodThe collected CA and WA were compared in characters and microscopic characteristics in cross section, and comparative analysis were performed on the contents of cellulose, extracts, carbohydrate, total flavonoids, total saponins, etc. Then ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometer(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging(DESI-MSI) were used to comparatively analyze the secondary metabolites and their spatial distributions in the xylem and phloem of CA and WA. ResultIn terms of characters, the characters and sectional features of WA was consistent with the characteristics of high-quality Astragali Radix, while the CA was quite different from the traditional high-quality Astragali Radix. In terms of microscopy, the phellem layer of CA was thin, and the section fissures were mostly distributed through the cambium in a long strip shape without obvious growth ring characteristics. The cork layer of WA was thick, and the cracks in the section were distributed in the center of the xylem and the outer edge of the phloem in an irregular cavity shape. The cambium was tight without cracks, and had obvious characteristics of a growth ring. In terms of chemical composition, the contents of water-soluble extract, 80% ethanol extract and sucrose of CA was significantly higher than those of WA, while the contents of total saponins, lignin and hemicellulose were significantly lower than those of WA. And the contents of 100% ethanol extract, total polysaccharides and total flavonoids in both of them were generally similar, but slightly higher in WA. The contents of 2 kinds of monoacyl-substituted flavonoid glycosides in the xylem of WA was significantly higher than those of CA, while the contents of 2 kinds of flavonoid aglycones and one flavonoid glycoside were on the contrary. The contents of 7 saponins in phloem of WA were significantly higher than those of CA. ConclusionThere are significant differences between CA and WA in characters, microstructure and chemical components, in which CA has a fast growth rate and a short planting period, and the primary metabolites such as water-soluble extracts and sucrose are more enriched, which is the reason for its firm texture and sweetness being significantly higher than those of WA. However, the contents of lignin, hemicellulose and some secondary metabolites in WA are significantly higher than those in the CA, which are close to the traditional description of characters and quality. Based on the results of this study, it is suggested to strengthen the production of WA, improve the supply capacity of WA, and gradually upgrade the current standard. It is recommended to increase the contents of monoacyl-substituted flavonoid glycosides, total saponins and other indicators that can characterize different production methods, so as to guide the high-quality production of Astragali Radix.
10.Analysis on Quality of Sojae Semen Praeparatum Based on Traditional Quality Evaluation
Yihan WANG ; Wangmin LIN ; Shuili ZHANG ; Bing YU ; Tiegui NAN ; Liping KANG ; Guofeng LI ; Xiyuan HE ; Zhilai ZHAN ; Luqi HUANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(1):31-42
ObjectiveBased on the quality evaluation experience of "it is better to have a fragrant and strong aroma" summarized by materia medica of past dynasties, the chemical components of Sojae Semen Nigrum(SSN) and Sojae Semen Praeparatum(SSP) were systematically compared and analyzed, and the main fermentation products in different fermentation time were quantitatively analyzed, so as to clarify the transformation law of internal components in the processing process and provide scientific basis for the modern quality control of SSP. MethodUltra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was used for the structural identification of the chemical constituents of SSN and SSP, and with the aid of Progenesis QI v2.3 software, the negative ion mode was employed for principal component analysis(PCA) pattern recognition, and the data were analyzed with the aid of orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) for two-dimensional data to obtain S-plot, and components with |P|>0.1 were selected as the differential constituents. The contents of isoflavonoids in SSP during fermentation was determined by UPLC, and the samples were taken every 8 h in the pre-fermentation period and every 2 d in the post-fermentation period, and the dynamic changes of isoflavonoid contents in different fermentation stages were analyzed. The contents of amino acids and nucleosides in SSP and SSN from different fermentation stages were quantitatively analyzed by phenyl isothiocyanate(PITC) pre-column derivatization and high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) gradient elution, and the contribution of flavor substances to the "delicious" taste of SSP was discussed by taste intensity value(TAV). ResultA total of 19 kinds of differential components were screened out, mainly soybean saponins and isoflavones, and their contents decreased significantly or even disappeared after fermentation. In the pre-fermentation process of SSP, glycoside bond hydrolysis mainly occurred, and isoflavone glycosides in SSN were degraded and converted into the corresponding aglycones, the content of flavor substances such as amino acids increased gradually. In the post-fermentation process, protein degradation mainly occurred, after 8 d of post-fermentation, the content of isoflavones was basically stable, while the total content of amino acids increased by 8-40 times on average. Different amino acids form the special flavor of SSP, such as the TAV of glutamate is always ahead of other flavor substances, and sweet substances such as alanine and valine have made relatively great contributions to SSP. ConclusionBased on the law of constituent transformation, combined with the traditional evaluation index of "fragrant and strong", it is difficult to control the fermentation degree of SSP by the existing standards in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. It is suggested that description of the characteristics of SSP be refined and changed to "fragrant, delicious and slightly sweet", and at the same time, the post-fermentation index compounds such as glutamic acid, alanine and valine should be added as the quality control indicators of SSP, so as to standardize the production process and improve the quality of SSP.

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