ObjectiveTo comprehensively identify the O-methyltransferase （OMT） genes in Carthamus tinctorius and explore the key OMTs that can catalyze the methylation of flavonoids， providing a basis for understanding the molecular formation mechanism of the structural diversity of flavonoids in C. tinctorius. MethodsThe hidden Markov model was used to systematically identify the type Ⅰ OMTs from the high-quality genome data of C. tinctorius. A suite of bioinformatics tools was employed to systematically analyze the physicochemical properties， gene structure， conserved motifs， chromosomal localization， gene replication events， and collinearity of the identified genes. The target gene was heterologously expressed through the prokaryotic expression system of E. coli， and the protein function was verified by in vitro enzymatic reactions. ResultsA total of 31 type Ⅰ OMTs were identified. CtFOMT1 was successfully cloned and expressed in a soluble form in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was purified via Ni²⁺ affinity chromatography to obtain a high-concentration preparation. In vitro enzymatic assays demonstrated that CtFOMT1 utilized S-adenosylmethionine as the methyl donor to catalyze the methylation of the 4′-OH of naringenin， resulting in the production of isosakuranetin. A similar process occurred with the 4′-OH of luteolin， leading to the formation of diosmetin. Subsequent methylation of the 3′-OH group of diosmetin generated 4′-methylchrysoeriol. ConclusionCtFOMT1 can catalyze the methylation of 4′-/3′-OH in the flavonoid skeleton. It is hypothesized that CtFOMT1 may play a role in the biosynthesis of various 4′-/3′-oxymethyl flavonoids in C. tinctorius.

In view of the few studies on the influence of Armillaria spp. infection on the content of the chemical components in different parts of Polyporus umbellatus sclerotia, this study determined the biomass of P. umbellatus sclerotia and the contents of ergosterol, polyporusterone A, polyporusterone B and polysaccharide in the separated cavity wall of the sclerotia and the uninfected part of the sclerotia in different harvesting years under the conditions of A. gallica and A. mellea infection respectively. According to the difference of content and dynamic changes of the polysaccharide and the steroid substances, the superior Armillaria sp. was screened to obtain the best harvest years of P. umbellatus. Using HPLC and UV-VIS spectrophotometry methods, the contents of ergosterol, polyporusterone A, polyporusterone B and polysaccharide in P. umbellatus sclerotia infected by the two Armillaria spp. in different years were determined. In addition, the differentially expressed genes related to P. umbellatus polysaccharide synthesis were screened according to the transcriptomic data of different parts of P. umbellatus after A. mellea infection. With the increase of years, the biomass of sclerotia infected by different Armillaria spp. had significant differences, and there were significant differences in the four components of sclerotia. The four components of the separated cavity wall of the sclerotia were significantly higher than those of the uninfected part. The best harvest time was the third year after cultivation. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the infection of Armillaria spp. could significantly promote polysaccharide synthesis, which provided a basis for polysaccharide content determination at the molecular level. The study clarified the influence of different Armillaria spp. infection on the accumulation of chemical components of P. umbellatus sclerotia, laying a foundation for exploring the symbiosis mechanism and provided a scientific clue for screening superior Armillaria sp. and guiding the artificial cultivation of P. umbellatus sclerotia.

This article systematically analyzes the historical evolution of the name， origin， medicinal parts， processing and other aspects of Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix（EPR） by referring to the herbal medicine， medical books， prescription books and other documents of the past dynasties， combined with the relevant modern research materials， so as to provide a basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this herbal medicine. According to research， EPR was first recorded in the Shennong Bencaojing in the name of Daji， and it is the correct name of the herbal medicine in all dynasties， there are also other aliases such as Qiongju， Hongya Daji， and Xiamaxian. The dried roots of Euphorbia pekinensis from Euphorbiaceae was the mainstream of the past dynasties. Before the Ming dynasty， the above ground parts of E. pekinensis were used as Zeqi in herbal works. However， since LI Shizhen in the Ming dynasty proposed that the origin of Zeqi should be E. helioscopia， the aerial part of EPR is no longer used as medicine. Since modern times， the roots of Knoxia valerianoides has been used as EPR， and has become the mainstream of commodities， which should be corrected. Throughout history， it has been recorded that the main producing areas were Jiangsu， Anhui， Zhejiang， Shanxi and other regions， while modern botanical survey have shown that EPR is a widespread species distributed throughout the country. In ancient times， the harvesting time of EPR was mostly the twelfth lunar month， while in modern time， it is more common to harvest in autumn and winter. The main processing methods of EPR in ancient times were vinegar processing， wine processing， and stir frying， while in modern times， it is uniformly vinegar processing. In the medicinal properties and clinical aspects， the records are basically consistent throughout history， mainly characterized by bitter taste， cold and toxic nature. Its main efficacy is expelling water retention and reducing swelling. Based on the textual research， it is suggested to choose the dried roots of E. pekinensis when famous classical formulas containing EPR， processing method can be based on the original specified prescription requirements， if the processing method is not clear， it is recommended to use vinegar-processed products as medicine.

Background: Psoralea corylifolia L. (Buguzhi, BGZ), known for its efficacy in supporting pregnancy and preventing miscarriage, has been used in China for over 1000 years. Recently, BGZ has been identified as a potential cause of drug-induced liver injury. However, its safety during pregnancy remains unclear, which significantly hinders its routine clinical application. Objective: To investigate the effects of BGZ administration during pregnancy on the liver of mouse mothers and their weaned 21-day-old offspring. Methods: Mice were orally administered BGZ at doses of 2.5 and 10 g/kg during pregnancy, with BGZ withdrawal during the lactation period. Liver histopathology (hematoxylin-eosin staining), biochemical analysis, and evaluation of liver bile acid metabolism were performed after the lactation period. Results: BGZ administration at doses of 2.5 and 10 g/kg during pregnancy, followed by withdrawal during the lactation period, caused mild liver damage in both mothers and their 21-day-old offspring. Serum total bile acid (TBA) levels were elevated compared with those in the control group. Additionally, changes were observed in the levels and proportions of various bile acids (BAs) in the liver, suggesting mild effects on BA metabolism. Conclusion: BGZ administration during pregnancy caused mild liver damage and increased serum TBA levels in both mouse mothers and their 21-day-old offspring. This phenomenon may be associated with imbalanced BA metabolism in the liver. Based on the present study and the limited toxicological research on BGZ, pregnant women should avoid prolonged use of BGZ. If BGZ is administered during pregnancy, serum TBA levels should be monitored, and if elevated, BGZ should be discontinued.

Background: Epimedii Folium is well known for its medicinal value. Four Epimedium species—Euphorbia brevicornu, E. sagittatum, E. pubescens, and E. koreanum—are the designated original plants of Epimedii Folium. Objective: The objective of this study is to facilitate the identification of the four Epimedium species and clarify their distributional responses to climate change. Methods: In this study, we assessed the genetic divergence of the four species and identified the molecular markers for species identification by using chloroplast genome sequences. Furthermore, we forecasted the distribution of potentially suitable regions of the four species Folium under climate change. Results: The authors obtained 26 chloroplast genome sequences of the four species and identified 1393 variable sites and 273 indel events. Genetic divergence analyses revealed that E. koreanum had long genetic distance from the other three species. Compared with the complete chloroplast genome, six hypervariable markers were discovered, and both rps4-trnL and ndhF were chosen as Epimedii Folium-specific DNA barcodes. Climate change is expected to influence the geographical distribution of the four Epimedium species, which were primarily found in China, South Korea, and Japan, leading to both expansion and contraction of their distribution ranges. Conclusion: Two identification markers were selected as the specific DNA barcodes for all four original plant species of Epimedii Folium. In addition, the shift of potential suitable area in various climate scenarios has been predicted. With the support of identification markers and the dynamics of suitable distribution areas, we are able to establish a foundation for the sustainable utilization of medicinal Epimedium resources in the future.

Background: Aristolochic acid II (AAII), a major nephrotoxic and carcinogenic component of aristolochic acids (AAs), has been less studied compared with its well-characterized analog, aristolochic acid I (AAI). Although AAs are known to induce carcinogenesis via DNA adduct formation, the toxicity mechanisms, environmental prevalence, and long-term health impacts of AAII remain poorly understood. Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate AAII’s acute and chronic toxicity, carcinogenic mechanisms, and environmental exposure patterns using integrated murine models and phytochemical analyses to clarify its toxicological profile and associated health risks. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were used in the following experiments: (1) determination of AAII content in 3 commonly used Aristolochia medicinal materials via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry; (2) acute toxicity testing with single doses of 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg; and (3) chronic exposure with 1 or 10 mg/kg administered every other day for 24 weeks, followed by 21 to 40 weeks of postexposure monitoring. Histopathological examination, whole-exome sequencing, biochemical assays, and micronucleus tests were performed to assess multi-organ damage, tumorigenesis, genomic mutation signatures, and direct clastogenicity. Phytochemical analyses were used to evaluate environmental distribution. Results: (1) A single 40 mg/kg dose of AAII induced dose-dependent renal tubular degeneration without hepatotoxicity; (2) the 10 mg/kg group showed significant mortality (20%), tumor incidence (33.3%, primarily forestomach and bladder transitional cell carcinomas), persistent renal interstitial fibrosis, and subclinical hepatic injury. Chronic exposure to 1 mg/kg still induced 13.3% mortality and 15.5% tumor incidence over a 64-week period; (3) whole-exome sequencing revealed a predominance of C>T mutations and pathway enrichment in chemical carcinogenesis and cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism, indicating reactive metabolite-driven mechanisms distinct from classical AA-DNA adducts; and (4) no histopathological changes were observed in nontarget organs (brain, heart, and testes), and micronucleus assays confirmed the absence of direct clastogenicity. Conclusion: This study highlights the delayed carcinogenic risks of low-dose chronic AAII exposure and emphasizes the need to update regulatory frameworks to ensure the safe use of aristolochiaceae-containing herbal products.

Guidelines for Digital Ancient Books of TCM Indexing(T/CIATCM 119-2024)is based on the theoretical knowledge,disciplinary methods,and practical applications of TCM classical cataloging.Taking digital ancient books of TCM as the object,it systematically reveals the content of TCM knowledge,which is an essential indexing processing standard for building an intelligent retrieval system for TCM ancient books,and can provide support for the deep development and innovative utilization of TCM knowledge.It can not only promote the co-construction and sharing of ancient book resources in the TCM industry,but also promote the standardization construction and application of TCM information.This standard specifies the principles,methods,and examples of free indexing of digital ancient books of TCM based on their original content.It is applicable to the indexing and processing of digital ancient books of TCM for TCM professional libraries and related institutions,and to the data processing and construction of various types of TCM ancient book databases.

AIM To investigate the repair effects of tauroursodeoxycholic acid(TUDCA)combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)transplantation on spinal cord injury(SCI)in rats.METHODS The rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group,the model group,the TUDCA group,the BMSCs transplantation group and the combination therapy of TUDCA and BMSCs transplantation group,with the SCI rat model established by Allen's method.The next day after modeling,the rats of TUDCA and combination therapy groups were given 200 mg/kg TUDCA by gavage.On the 3rd day after modeling,rats in BMSCs transplantation group and combination therapy group were injected with 1 mL tuned bone marrow BMSCs(the 3rd generation,1× 106/mL)via tail vein.Rats in the sham operation group and the model group were given gastric perfusion of normal saline and injection of 1 mL PBS through tail vein.On the 3rd,7th and 14th day after modeling,the rats had their motor function of hind limbs observed and BBB score determined.After the corresponding drug administration,the rats had their movement track of hind limbs recorded by footprint experiment;their the protein expressions of IL-6,IL-10,Arg-1,PI3K and Akt in spinal cord tissue detected by Western blot;their pathological changes of spinal cord tissue observed by HE staining and Nissl staining;and their expressions of MAP2,GAP43 and GFAP detected by immunofluorescence staining.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the groups intervened with TUDCA,or BMSCs transplantation,or combination therapy shared improved hind limb function and spinal cord histomorphology(P＜0.05);increased fluorescence intensity of MAP2 and GAP43,and protein expressions of IL-10,Arg-1,p-PI3K and p-Akt(P＜0.05);decreased fluorescence intensity of GFAP and IL-6 protein expressions(P＜0.05);among which the combination therapy group took the lead(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION The combination therapy of TUDCA and BMSCs transplantation may restore the function of the rat model of SCI by reducing inflammatory reaction,alleviating secondary injury,and promoting axon and myelin regeneration via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE By conducting evidence evaluation research on literatures,this study aims to reveal the o-verall characteristics and research hotspots in the field of combat trauma-related infections,ultimately providing data support for the prevention and control of such infections.METHODS Relevant research in this field was sys-tematically collected from open-source databases to construct a dataset.The overall characteristics,research hotspots,prevention and control strategies,and future challenges of trauma-related infections were summarized and analyzed.RESULTS From 2004 to 2024,184 papers were published.The United States contributed the most publications,with Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences being the most productive research insti-tution and Professor Clinton K.Murray as the author with the highest number of publications.The top five key-words with the highest frequency were combat related injury,infection,Acinetobacter baumannii,epidemiology and management.Among the publicly published literature data on war trauma-related infections,blast injuries ac-counted for the largest proportion,mainly multi-site injuries,with limb injuries being the most common.Bacteri-al infections were more common than fungal infections,with gram-negative bacteria being predominant and A.baumannii being the most common.Besides early wound management and the use of antibacterial drugs,in-creased attention should be paid to infection prevention and control in austere environments and the development of novel countermeasures.These advancements are critical to address projected changes in combat trauma,inclu-ding increasingly complex injuries and substantially elevated risks of infection and antimicrobial resistance.CONCLUSION This study systematically presents research hotspots,developmental trends,and prospects in com-bat trauma-related infections through evidence evaluation study,providing novel perspectives for researchers and facilitating further development in this field.