1.Herbal Textual Research on Inulae Flos in Famous Classical Formulas
Caixia LIU ; Yue HAN ; Yanzhu MA ; Lei GAO ; Sheng WANG ; Yan YANG ; Wenchuan LUO ; Ling JIN ; Jing SHAO ; Zhijia CUI ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):210-221
In this paper, by referring to ancient and modern literature, the textual research of Inulae Flos has been conducted to clarify the name, origin, production area, quality evaluation, harvesting, processing and others, so as to provide reference and basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this herb. After textual research, it could be verified that the medicinal use of Inulae Flos was first recorded in Shennong Bencaojing of the Han dynasty. In successive dynasties, Xuanfuhua has been taken as the official name, and it also has other alternative names such as Jinfeicao, Daogeng and Jinqianhua. The period before the Song and Yuan dynasties, the main origin of Inulae Flos was the Asteraceae plant Inula japonica, and from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the present, I. japonica and I. britannica are the primary source. In addition to the dominant basal species, there are also regional species such as I. linariifolia, I. helianthus-aquatili, and I. hupehensis. The earliest recorded production areas in ancient times were Henan, Hubei and other places, and the literature records that it has been distributed throughout the country since modern times. The medicinal part is its flower, the harvesting and processing method recorded in the past dynasties is mainly harvested in the fifth and ninth lunar months, and dried in the sun, and the modern harvesting is mostly harvested in summer and autumn when the flowers bloom, in order to remove impurities, dry in the shade or dry in the sun. In addition, the roots, whole herbs and aerial parts are used as medicinal materials. In ancient times, there were no records about the quality of Inulae Flos, and in modern times, it is generally believed that the quality of complete flower structure, small receptacles, large blooms, yellow petals, long filaments, many fluffs, no fragments, and no branches is better. Ancient processing methods primarily involved cleaning, steaming, and sun-drying, supplemented by techniques such as boiling, roasting, burning, simmering, stir-frying, and honey-processing. Modern processing focuses mainly on cleaning the stems and leaves before use. Regarding the medicinal properties, ancient texts describe it as salty and sweet in taste, slightly warm in nature, and mildly toxic. Modern studies characterize it as bitter, pungent, and salty in taste, with a slightly warm nature. Its therapeutic effects remain consistent across eras, including descending Qi, resolving phlegm, promoting diuresis, and stopping vomiting. Based on the research results, it is recommended that when developing famous classical formulas containing Inulae Flos, either I. japonica or I. britannica should be used as the medicinal source. Processing methods should follow formula requirements, where no processing instructions are specified, the raw products may be used after cleaning.
2.Herbal Textual Research on Inulae Flos in Famous Classical Formulas
Caixia LIU ; Yue HAN ; Yanzhu MA ; Lei GAO ; Sheng WANG ; Yan YANG ; Wenchuan LUO ; Ling JIN ; Jing SHAO ; Zhijia CUI ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):210-221
In this paper, by referring to ancient and modern literature, the textual research of Inulae Flos has been conducted to clarify the name, origin, production area, quality evaluation, harvesting, processing and others, so as to provide reference and basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this herb. After textual research, it could be verified that the medicinal use of Inulae Flos was first recorded in Shennong Bencaojing of the Han dynasty. In successive dynasties, Xuanfuhua has been taken as the official name, and it also has other alternative names such as Jinfeicao, Daogeng and Jinqianhua. The period before the Song and Yuan dynasties, the main origin of Inulae Flos was the Asteraceae plant Inula japonica, and from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the present, I. japonica and I. britannica are the primary source. In addition to the dominant basal species, there are also regional species such as I. linariifolia, I. helianthus-aquatili, and I. hupehensis. The earliest recorded production areas in ancient times were Henan, Hubei and other places, and the literature records that it has been distributed throughout the country since modern times. The medicinal part is its flower, the harvesting and processing method recorded in the past dynasties is mainly harvested in the fifth and ninth lunar months, and dried in the sun, and the modern harvesting is mostly harvested in summer and autumn when the flowers bloom, in order to remove impurities, dry in the shade or dry in the sun. In addition, the roots, whole herbs and aerial parts are used as medicinal materials. In ancient times, there were no records about the quality of Inulae Flos, and in modern times, it is generally believed that the quality of complete flower structure, small receptacles, large blooms, yellow petals, long filaments, many fluffs, no fragments, and no branches is better. Ancient processing methods primarily involved cleaning, steaming, and sun-drying, supplemented by techniques such as boiling, roasting, burning, simmering, stir-frying, and honey-processing. Modern processing focuses mainly on cleaning the stems and leaves before use. Regarding the medicinal properties, ancient texts describe it as salty and sweet in taste, slightly warm in nature, and mildly toxic. Modern studies characterize it as bitter, pungent, and salty in taste, with a slightly warm nature. Its therapeutic effects remain consistent across eras, including descending Qi, resolving phlegm, promoting diuresis, and stopping vomiting. Based on the research results, it is recommended that when developing famous classical formulas containing Inulae Flos, either I. japonica or I. britannica should be used as the medicinal source. Processing methods should follow formula requirements, where no processing instructions are specified, the raw products may be used after cleaning.
3.Serological characteristics of individuals with hepatitis C virus/hepatitis B virus overlapping infection
Yanfei CUI ; Xia HUANG ; Chao ZHANG ; Yingjie JI ; Song QING ; Yuanjie FU ; Jing ZHANG ; Li LIU ; Yongqian CHENG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(1):74-79
ObjectiveTo investigate the status of overlapping hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the serological characteristics of such patients. MethodsA total of 8 637 patients with HCV infection who were hospitalized from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2020 and had complete data of HBV serological markers were enrolled, and the composition ratio of patients with overlapping HBV serological markers was analyzed among the patients with HCV infection. The patients were divided into groups based on age and year of birth, and serological characteristics were analyzed, and the distribution of HBV-related serological characteristics were analyzed across different HCV genotypes. ResultsThe patients with HCV/HBV overlapping infection accounted for 5.85%, and the patients with previous HBV infection accounted for 48.10%; the patients with protective immunity against HBV accounted for 14.67%, while the patients with a lack of protective immunity against HBV accounted for 31.39%. The patients were divided into groups based on age: in the 0 — 17 years group, the patients with protective immunity against HBV accounted for 61.41% (304 patients); the 18 — 44 years group was mainly composed of patients with previous HBV infection (698 patients, 37.31%), the 45 — 59 years group was predominantly composed of patients with previous HBV infection (1 945 patients, 50.38%), and the ≥60 years group was also predominantly composed of patients with previous HBV infection (1 486 patients, 61.66%). The patients were divided into groups based on the year of birth: in the pre-1992 group, the patients with previous HBV infection accounted for 51.63% (4 112 patients); in the 1992 — 2005 group, the patients with protective immunity against HBV accounted for 54.72% (168 patients); in the post-2005 group, the patients with protective immunity against HBV accounted for 64.38% (235 patients). In this study, 6 301 patients underwent HCV genotype testing: the patients with genotype 1b accounted for the highest proportion of 51.71% (3 258 patients), followed by those with genotype 2a (1 769 patients, 28.07%), genotype 3b (63 patients, 1.00%), genotype 3a (10 patients, 0.16%), genotype 4 (21 patients, 0.33%), and genotype 6a (5 patients, 0.08%). ConclusionWith the implementation of hepatitis B planned vaccination program in China, there has been a significant reduction in the proportion of patients with previous HBV infection among the patients with HCV/HBV overlapping infection, but there is still a relatively high proportion of patients with a lack of protective immunity against HBV.
4.Role and mechanism of myeloid cells in hepatic fibrosis
Chengjie CUI ; Zhenzhen ZHAO ; Jing CUI ; Shuxian ZANG ; Na FU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(1):183-189
Hepatic fibrosis is a complex dynamic process caused by multiple chronic pathogenic factors, characterized by excessive accumulation of liver extracellular matrix and abnormal liver structure and function. If anti-fibrotic treatment is not performed in time, it can progress to liver cirrhosis and even liver cancer. Hepatic fibrosis has a complex pathogenesis, and previous studies mainly focused on the activation of hepatic stellate cells. Recent studies have shown that myeloid cells have the potential of multi-directional differentiation and can also participate in the development and progression of hepatic fibrosis. This article systematically reviews the role and regulatory mechanism of myeloid cells in hepatic fibrosis, in order to provide a reference for clinical diagnosis and targeted therapy.
5.Visual analysis of hotspots and trends in global disease burden research based on CiteSpace
Jing XU ; Yuanyuan XU ; Yunshang CUI
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(1):34-39
Objective To analyze the current status, hotspots, and trends of global disease burden research from 2015 to 2024 based on bibliometric methods, and to provide references for public health policy-making and academic research. Methods Disease burden-related literature was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database, and visual analysis was conducted using CiteSpace 6.2.R4 software, including publication volume, subject distribution, national/institutional collaboration, author co-citation networks, keyword co-occurrence, clustering, and burst analysis. Results A total of 1 852 valid articles were included. The annual publication volume showed a growing trend, and entered a rapid growth phase after 2020 (with an average annual growth rate of 17.24%). The United States, China, the United Kingdom, and Germany had the highest publication volumes, with public health, internal medicine, and epidemiology being the main subject areas. The author co-citation network indicated that Younossi ZM, Lozano R, and others were core authors, while the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Aga Khan University were at the core of the institutional collaboration network. High-frequency keywords were focused on “prevalence”, “mortality”, and “risk factors”, and clustering analysis formed seven themes, including disease burden assessment methods (such as disability-adjusted life years), specific diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and data resources (such as National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey). Burst analysis divided the research into three stages: 2015-2017 focused on infectious diseases (such as hepatitis C), 2018-2019 shifted to chronic non-communicable diseases (such as metabolic syndrome), and 2020-2024 focused on emerging fields such as viral-related diseases and cancer treatment. Conclusion Global disease burden research exhibits characteristics of multidisciplinary crossover. In the future, it is necessary to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, integrate big data and artificial intelligence technologies, focus on emerging health issues, and promote the transformation of research findings into policy.
6.Effect and mechanism of Prunus mume against hepatic fibrosis
Feng HAO ; Ji LI ; Jing DU ; Yuchen OUYANG ; Yichun CUI ; Shuang WEI
China Pharmacy 2025;36(2):172-178
OBJECTIVE To explore the effect and mechanism of Prunus mume against hepatic fibrosis (HF). METHODS Male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n=10) and modeling group (n=50). The modeling group established HF model using carbon tetrachloride. The modeled rats were randomly divided into model group (normal saline), positive control group [colchicine, 0.09 mg/(kg·d)], and P. mume low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups [1.35, 2.70, 5.40 g/(kg·d)], with 9 rats in each group. They were given the corresponding drug/normal saline intragastrically, once a day, for 8 consecutive weeks. After the last medication, the liver index was calculated, while liver function indexes, liver fiber indexes, oxidative stress indicators and inflammatory factors of rats were measured. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes in liver tissue of rats; Masson staining was used to observe the degree of HF in liver tissue of rats; transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructure of liver tissue in rats; TUNEL staining was used to detect liver cell apoptosis in each group of rats. Western blot method was used to detect the protein expressions of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in liver tissue of rats. RESULTS Compared with normal control group, the levels of alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase, total bilirubin, malondialdehyde, procollagen type Ⅲ protein, Ⅳ-type pre collagenase, laminin, hyaluronic acid, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, as well as the protein expressions of TGF-β1 and PDGF in model group were increased significantly, while the levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly reduced (P<0.01); the HE, Masson staining and transmission electron microscopy observation results showed obvious HF characteristics in rats of model group. Compared with model group, varying degrees of improvement in above indexes were observed in P. mume groups, and the above 2021BSZR011) indicators of rats in P. mume medium-dose and high-dose groups were reversed significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS P. mume has an anti-HF effect, which may be achieved through mechanisms such as antioxidation, anti-inflammation, reduction of collagen production, inhibition of PDGF protein expression, and regulation of TGF- β1 signaling pathway.
7.Effect and mechanism of Prunus mume against hepatic fibrosis
Feng HAO ; Ji LI ; Jing DU ; Yuchen OUYANG ; Yichun CUI ; Shuang WEI
China Pharmacy 2025;36(2):172-178
OBJECTIVE To explore the effect and mechanism of Prunus mume against hepatic fibrosis (HF). METHODS Male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n=10) and modeling group (n=50). The modeling group established HF model using carbon tetrachloride. The modeled rats were randomly divided into model group (normal saline), positive control group [colchicine, 0.09 mg/(kg·d)], and P. mume low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups [1.35, 2.70, 5.40 g/(kg·d)], with 9 rats in each group. They were given the corresponding drug/normal saline intragastrically, once a day, for 8 consecutive weeks. After the last medication, the liver index was calculated, while liver function indexes, liver fiber indexes, oxidative stress indicators and inflammatory factors of rats were measured. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes in liver tissue of rats; Masson staining was used to observe the degree of HF in liver tissue of rats; transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructure of liver tissue in rats; TUNEL staining was used to detect liver cell apoptosis in each group of rats. Western blot method was used to detect the protein expressions of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in liver tissue of rats. RESULTS Compared with normal control group, the levels of alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase, total bilirubin, malondialdehyde, procollagen type Ⅲ protein, Ⅳ-type pre collagenase, laminin, hyaluronic acid, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, as well as the protein expressions of TGF-β1 and PDGF in model group were increased significantly, while the levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly reduced (P<0.01); the HE, Masson staining and transmission electron microscopy observation results showed obvious HF characteristics in rats of model group. Compared with model group, varying degrees of improvement in above indexes were observed in P. mume groups, and the above 2021BSZR011) indicators of rats in P. mume medium-dose and high-dose groups were reversed significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS P. mume has an anti-HF effect, which may be achieved through mechanisms such as antioxidation, anti-inflammation, reduction of collagen production, inhibition of PDGF protein expression, and regulation of TGF- β1 signaling pathway.
8.Effect of Shufeng Jiedu Capsules on Relieving Influenza Virus Pneumonia by Suppressing TLR/NF-κB Pathway in Respiratory Epithelial Cells
Zihan GENG ; Lei BAO ; Shan CAO ; Qiang ZHU ; Jun PAN ; Shuran LI ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Jing SUN ; Yanyan BAO ; Shaoqiu MU ; Xiaolan CUI ; Shanshan GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(24):61-68
ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of Shufeng Jiedu capsules (SFJD) in alleviating influenza A (H1N1) virus pneumonia and focus on its effect on Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway in respiratory epithelial cells. MethodsA mouse model of viral pneumonia was established via the A/PR/8/34 (PR8) strain of influenza A virus. Mice were randomly divided into a normal group, a PR8 infection (PR8) group, and an SFJD group (8.4 g·kg-1), with 10 mice in each group. The day of infection was designated as day 1. The SFJD group was administered intragastrically at a volume of 20 mL·kg-1 daily, while the normal and PR8 groups were given an equal volume of deionized water. Micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) was performed on day 5, and the mice were dissected to collect their lungs, after which the lung index was calculated to verify the therapeutic effect of SFJD. Single-cell sequencing was used to analyze the differentially expressed genes in respiratory epithelial cells. Multiplex fluorescence immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression of TLR, tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) proteins in epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)-positive cells, and the proportion of respiratory epithelial cells expressing TLR pathway proteins was calculated. Respiratory epithelial cells were then sorted by flow cytometry, and Western blot was used to detect the expression of TLR, MyD88, TRAF6, Toll-interleukin receptor domain-containing adaptor inducing interferon-β (TRIF), inhibitor of κB kinase α (IKKα), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the sorted epithelial cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in lung tissue. ResultsAt the transcriptional level, SFJD reversed the expression of TLR signaling pathway genes in respiratory epithelial cells, downregulating multiple TLR signaling pathway-related genes (P<0.01). At the protein level, SFJD significantly reduced the proportion of respiratory epithelial cells expressing TLR3 (P<0.05), the expression levels of TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TRIF, TRAF6, IKKα, and NF-κB in epithelial cells(P<0.05, P<0.01), as well as the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α in lung tissue (P<0.01). ConclusionSFJD may alleviate viral pneumonia by suppressing the expression of TLR in respiratory epithelial cells and their subsequent signaling cascades.
9.Proteomics-based Investigation of Therapeutic Effect and Mechanism of Verbenalin on Lung Injury in Mice Infected with Human Coronavirus-229E
Qiyue SUN ; Shanshan GUO ; Shuangrong GAO ; Lei BAO ; Zihan GENG ; Shuran LI ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Xian LIU ; Rui XIE ; Xiaolan CUI ; Jing SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(24):69-78
ObjectiveTo evaluate the pharmacological effects of verbenalin on both in vitro and in vivo infection models of human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) and to preliminarily explore the antiviral mechanism of verbenalin through proteomic analysis. MethodsIn vitro, the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) for cell proliferation and viability assessment was used to establish a model of HCoV-229E-induced injury in human lung adenocarcinoma cells(A549). A549 cells were divided into five groups: normal group, model group, and three verbenalin treatment groups (125, 62.5, and 31.25 μmol·L-1). The cell protective activity of verbenalin was evaluated through cell viability assay and immunofluorescence staining. In vivo, 30 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group, chloroquine group, and high-dose, low-dose verbenalin groups (40 and 20 mg·kg-1), with six mice per group. An HCoV-229E-induced mouse lung injury model was established to evaluate the therapeutic effects of verbenalin. Lung injury was assessed by detecting the lung index and lung inhibition rate. The severity of pulmonary inflammation cytokines was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while the lung morphology and structure were analyzed by micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT). Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to assess histopathological changes in lung tissue. Additionally, four-dimensional data-independent acquisition (4D-DIA) proteomics was employed to preliminarily explore the potential mechanisms of verbenalin in treating HCoV-229E-induced lung injury in mice, through differential protein expression screening, functional annotation, enrichment analysis, and protein-protein interaction network analysis. ResultsThe A549 cells were infected with HCoV-229E at the original viral titer for 36 hours to establish an in vitro infection model. The maximum non-toxic concentration of verbenalin was 125 μmol·L-1, and the half-maximal cytotoxic concentration (CC50) was 288.8 μmol·L-1. Compared with the normal group, the model group showed a significant decrease in cell viability (P<0.01), a significant increase in the proportion of dead cells (P<0.01), mitochondrial damage, and a significant reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential (P<0.01). After treatment with different concentrations of verbenalin (125, 62.5, and 31.25 μmol·L-1), cell viability was significantly increased (P<0.01), and the proportion of dead cells was reduced (P<0.01), with mitochondrial membrane potential restored (P<0.01). In vivo experiments further confirmed the therapeutic effect of verbenalin on HCoV-229E-infected mice. Compared to the normal group, the model group showed a significant increase in the lung index (P<0.01), severe lung tissue injury, lung volume enlargement, and a significant increase in the expression of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (P<0.01). In contrast, in the verbenalin treatment groups, these pathological changes were significantly improved, with a reduction in the lung index (P<0.01), alleviation of lung tissue injury, reduced lung volume enlargement, and a significant decrease in inflammatory cytokine expression (P<0.01). Proteomics analysis revealed that, compared to the normal group, the model group showed enrichment in several antiviral immune-related signaling pathways, including the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway (P<0.05). Compared to the model group, the verbenalin treatment group showed enrichment in several signaling pathways related to inflammatory response and autophagy (P<0.05), suggesting that verbenalin may exert its antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects by regulating these pathways. ConclusionVerbenalin demonstrates significant therapeutic effects in both in vitro and in vivo HCoV-229E infection models, with its mechanism likely related to the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway and mitochondrial autophagy.
10.Comprehensive Review on Rhodiola crenulata: Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Properties and Clinical Applications.
Rui ZHU ; Cui-Fen FANG ; Shu-Jing ZHANG ; Zhu HAN ; Ge-Hui ZHU ; Shang-Zuo CAI ; Cheng ZHENG ; Yu TANG ; Yi WANG
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(8):752-759


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