1.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.
2.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.
3.Exploration of the Characteristics, Existing Problems and Research Ideas of Traditional Chinese Medicine Disease Names
Yingzhe BAI ; Yeran WANG ; Luqi HUANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(7):661-668
The standardization study on disease names in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a key and challenging aspect of the modernization of TCM. TCM disease names refer to a symbolic system established by traditional medicine for the rational definition and denotation of physical and mental distress, characterized by temporal and spatial features, clinical features, and cultural traits. These features are both the characteristics of TCM disease names and the root causes of issues such as weakened application, standardization difficulties, and lack of methodology. In response to these problems, we propose a research idea for TCM disease names. Firstly, appropriate samples should be selected based on application needs, and by constructing models, the alignment of the TCM disease names' refe-rence system in content and form should be facilitated to address the issue of weakened application. Secondly, studies on semantics, pragmatics, and clinical positioning should be conducted simultaneously to promote the empi-rical nature of linguistic symbols and strengthen the clinical features of TCM disease names. Furthermore, research on methodology should be intensified. By fully referencing traditional naming methods and the nomenclature of western scientific fields and theoretically examining complex systems, the intrinsic relationship between classification systems and naming methods should be clarified, thereby completing the standardization study of the construction process of the TCM disease names reference system.
4.Innovation and Practice of Chinese Medicinal Materials Resource Chemistry Leading the Whole Industry Chain Recycling and Green Development of Chinese Medicinal Materials
Jin'ao DUAN ; Sheng GUO ; Shulan SU ; Lanping GUO ; Ming ZHAO ; Rui LIU ; Hui YAN ; Tuanjie WANG ; Zhenzhong WANG ; Wei XIAO ; Luqi HUANG
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;40(10):1114-1122
The concept,connotation and extension,goals and tasks of the discipline of Chinese medicinal materials resource chem-istry have been proposed and developed for 20 years.Looking back at the 20-year construction and development process,continuous exploration and innovative practice have been carried out around the scientific production and effective utilization of traditional Chinese medicinal materials.The theoretical connotation has been further enriched,the research mode has been further improved,and the tech-nical system has been further expanded.A series of research results have been formed and promoted for application,serving the high-quality development of the traditional Chinese medicinal materials industry,and contributing to the improvement of quality,efficiency,and green development of the entire industry chain of Chinese medicinal resources.However,with the rapid growth of Chinese medici-nal materials industry and the continuous expansion and extension of the industry chain,the waste and by-products generated in the production process of Chinese medicinal agriculture and industry are increasing day by day,causing resource waste and environmental pollution,which has become a new major problem facing the development of the industry.This article focuses on the establishment and case analysis of a model for the full industry chain recycling and low-carbon green development of Chinese medicinal materials,as well as the creation of an ecological industry demonstration park for the recycling of Chinese medicinal materials.It showcases the phased a-chievements made in recent years,aiming to provide demonstration and reference for the low-carbon and green transformation of the Chinese medicinal materials industry from a linear economy model to a circular economy model.It provides reference for improving the efficiency of Chinese medicinal materials utilization and creating new quality productivity,and helps promote low-carbon and green de-velopment in the field of Chinese medicinal materials industry.
5.Immunological mechanisms in steatotic liver diseases: An overview and clinical perspectives
Mengyao YAN ; Shuli MAN ; Long MA ; Lanping GUO ; Luqi HUANG ; Wenyuan GAO
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2024;30(4):620-648
Steatotic liver diseases (SLD) are the principal worldwide cause of cirrhosis and end-stage liver cancer, affecting nearly a quarter of the global population. SLD includes metabolic dysfunction-associated alcoholic liver disease (MetALD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), resulting in asymptomatic liver steatosis, fibrosis, cirrhosis and associated complications. The immune processes include gut dysbiosis, adiposeliver organ crosstalk, hepatocyte death and immune cell-mediated inflammatory processes. Notably, various immune cells such as B cells, plasma cells, dendritic cells, conventional CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, innate-like T cells, platelets, neutrophils and macrophages play vital roles in the development of MetALD and MASLD. Immunological modulations targeting hepatocyte death, inflammatory reactions and gut microbiome include N-acetylcysteine, selonsertib, F-652, prednisone, pentoxifylline, anakinra, JKB-121, HA35, obeticholic acid, probiotics, prebiotics, antibiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation. Understanding the immunological mechanisms underlying SLD is crucial for advancing clinical therapeutic strategies.
6.Diversity of Endophytes in Panax quinquefolium Root
Zhengpeng WANG ; Tianrui LIU ; Yuyang ZHAO ; Yan JIN ; Luqi HUANG ; Yuan YUAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(7):160-167
ObjectiveTo analyze the community structure of endophytes in Panax quinquefolium root and explore the dominant endophytic bacteria and fungi, to provide scientific basis for the establishment of endophytic microbial bank in P. quinquefolium root. MethodInternal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequencing and 16S sequencing were performed on six P. quinquefolium root samples collected from Wendeng, Shandong province on PacBio Sequel Ⅱ. ResultA total of 8 phyla, 11 classes, 23 orders, 27 families and 53 genera of endophytic bacteria were identified in P. quinquefolium root, among which an unidentified Burkholderiaceae and an unidentified Rhizobiaceae were dominant. A total of 9 phyla, 23 classes, 35 orders, 43 families and 48 genera of endophytic fungi were identified in P. quinquefolium root, among which an unclassified Helotiales and Pseudogymnoascus were dominant. The community structure of endophytic bacteria revealed that the roots were selectively enriched with nitrogen-fixing bacteria such as unidentified Rhizobiaceae, Bradyrhizobium and Herbaspirillum, which suggested that nitrogen is important for the growth of P. quinquefolium root. The community structure of endophytic fungi indicated that P. quinquefolium in Shandong province might be infected by unclassified Helotiales. ConclusionThere is a rich diversity of endophytic bacteria and fungi in P. quinquefolium root, which provides scientific basis for studying the interaction of the plant with endophytic microorganisms and screening the endophytes to promote the growth of P. quinquefolium root.
7.Mechanism of Huashi Baidu Prescription in Treating Influenza Viral Pneumonia Based on Transcriptome
Zhongchao SHAN ; Jianhui SUN ; Jianliang LI ; Zeyue YU ; Liyu HAO ; Yurong DENG ; Hairu HUO ; Hongmei LI ; Luqi HUANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(18):54-61
ObjectiveTo clarify the therapeutic effect of Huashi Baidu prescription on pneumonia in mice caused by influenza A (H1N1) virus and explore its mechanism based on the transcriptome. MethodA mouse influenza viral pneumonia model was built by intranasal infection with influenza A virus, and mice were continuously administered the drug for five days, so as to investigate the general condition, lung index, viral load, pathological morphology of lung tissue, survival time, and prolongation rate of survival time of mice and clarify the therapeutic effect of Huashi Baidu prescription on influenza viral pneumonia. Transcriptome technology was used to detect the differentially expressed genes in the lung tissue of mice in the model group and the normal group, as well as the Huashi Baidu prescription group and the model group, and the potential core target of the Huashi Baidu prescription for the treatment of influenza viral pneumonia was screened. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to verify the effect of Huashi Baidu prescription on the mRNA expression level of core target genes. ResultCompared with the normal group, the lung index and viral load in the lung tissue of the model group were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the high-dose group of Huashi Baidu prescription significantly prolonged the survival time of mice infected with influenza A virus (P<0.05) and significantly reduced the lung index value of mice (P<0.05) and the viral load of lung tissue. The high-dose, medium-dose, and low-dose groups of Huashi Baidu prescription could significantly reduce lung tissue inflammation, blood stasis, swelling, and other pathological changes in mice (P<0.05, P<0.01). Transcriptome analysis of lung tissue showed that core genes were mainly enriched in the nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway, interleukin-17 (IL-17) signaling pathway, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and other pathways after the intervention of Huashi Baidu prescription. TRAF6, NFKBIA, CCL2, CCL7, and CXCL2 were the top five node genes with combined score values. Real-time PCR validation showed that Huashi Baidu prescription significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of key genes TRAF6 and NFKBIA in the NF-κB signaling pathway, as well as chemokines CCL2, CCL7, and CXCL2 (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionHuashi Baidu prescription has a therapeutic effect on influenza viral pneumonia, possibly by inhibiting the expression of key nodes TRAF6 and NFKBIA in the NF-κB signaling pathway and that of chemokines CCL2, CCL7, and CXCL2, reducing the recruitment of inflammatory cells and viral load, and exerting anti-influenza viral pneumonia effects.
8.Advances on the microbial synthesis of plant-derived diterpenoids.
Yatian CHENG ; Hao TANG ; Lili SUN ; Yating HU ; Ying MA ; Juan GUO ; Luqi HUANG
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2023;39(6):2265-2283
Natural plant-derived diterpenoids are a class of compounds with diverse structures and functions. These compounds are widely used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food additives industries because of their pharmacological properties such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities. In recent years, with the gradual discovery of functional genes in the biosynthetic pathway of plant-derived diterpenoids and the development of synthetic biotechnology, great efforts have been made to construct a variety of diterpenoid microbial cell factories through metabolic engineering and synthetic biology, resulting in gram-level production of many compounds. This article summarizes the construction of plant-derived diterpenoid microbial cell factories through synthetic biotechnology, followed by introducing the metabolic engineering strategies applied to improve plant-derived diterpenoids production, with the aim to provide a reference for the construction of high-yield plant-derived diterpenoid microbial cell factories and the industrial production of diterpenoids.
Diterpenes/metabolism*
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Biotechnology
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Metabolic Engineering
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Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics*
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Plants/genetics*
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Synthetic Biology
9.Rapid authentication of different herbal medicines by heating online extraction electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
Zidong QIU ; Chaofa WEI ; Xiang LI ; Changjiangsheng LAI ; Zhilai ZHAN ; Yan JIN ; Li ZHOU ; Qingxiu HAO ; Jian YANG ; Shuanglong WANG ; Liping KANG ; Luqi HUANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2023;13(3):296-304
The rapid and accurate authentication of traditional Chinese medicines(TCMs)has always been a key scientific and technical problem in the field of pharmaceutical analysis.Herein,a novel heating online extraction electrospray ionization mass spectrometry(H-oEESI-MS)was developed for the rapid and direct analysis of extremely complex substances without the requirement for any sample pretreatment or pre-separation steps.The overall molecular profile and fragment structure features of various herbal medicines could be completely captured within 10-15 s,with minimal sample(<0.5 mg)and solvent consumption(<20 μL for one sample).Furthermore,a rapid differentiation and authentication strategy for TCMs based on H-oEESI-MS was proposed,including metabolic profile characterization,characteristic marker screening and identification,and multivariate statistical analysis model validation.In an analysis of 52 batches of seven types of Aconitum medicinal materials,20 and 21 key compounds were screened out as the characteristic markers of raw and processed Aconitum herbal medicines,respectively,and the possible structures of all the characteristic markers were comprehensively identified based on Com-pound Discoverer databases.Finally,multivariate statistical analysis showed that all the different types of herbal medicines were well differentiated and identified(R2X>0.87,R2Y>0.91,and Q2>0.72),which further verified the feasibility and reliability of this comprehensive strategy for the rapid authentication of different TCMs based on H-oEESI-MS.In summary,this rapid authentication strategy realized the ultra-high-throughput,low-cost,and standardized detection of various complex TCMs for the first time,thereby demonstrating wide applicability and value for the development of quality standards for TCMs.
10.A novel biological sources consistency evaluation method reveals high level of biodiversity within wild natural medicine: A case study of Amynthas earthworms as "Guang Dilong".
Zhimei XING ; Han GAO ; Dan WANG ; Ye SHANG ; Tenukeguli TULIEBIEKE ; Jibao JIANG ; Chunxiao LI ; Hong WANG ; Zhenguo LI ; Lifu JIA ; Yongsheng WU ; Dandan WANG ; Wenzhi YANG ; Yanxu CHANG ; Xiaoying ZHANG ; Liuwei XU ; Chao JIANG ; Luqi HUANG ; Xiaoxuan TIAN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2023;13(4):1755-1770
For wild natural medicine, unanticipated biodiversity as species or varieties with similar morphological characteristics and sympatric distribution may co-exist in a single batch of medical materials, which affects the efficacy and safety of clinical medication. DNA barcoding as an effective species identification tool is limited by its low sample throughput nature. In this study, combining DNA mini-barcode, DNA metabarcoding and species delimitation method, a novel biological sources consistency evaluation strategy was proposed, and high level of interspecific and intraspecific variations were observed and validated among 5376 Amynthas samples from 19 sampling points regarded as "Guang Dilong" and 25 batches of proprietary Chinese medicines. Besides Amynthas aspergillum as the authentic source, 8 other Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) were elucidated. Significantly, even the subgroups within A. aspergillum revealed here differ significantly on chemical compositions and biological activity. Fortunately, this biodiversity could be controlled when the collection was limited to designated areas, as proved by 2796 "decoction pieces" samples. This batch biological identification method should be introduced as a novel concept regarding natural medicine quality control, and to offer guidelines for in-situ conservation and breeding bases construction of wild natural medicine.

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