Rubi Fructus has a long history of medicinal and edible use in China. It contains chemical components such as terpenes, flavonoids, phenolic acids, fatty acids, and alkaloids, and possesses various pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, anti-tumor, anti-osteoporosis, and liver-protective effects. Rubi Fructus is widely applied in medical, health, and food fields. The quality of Rubi Fructus can directly affect the safety and effectiveness of clinical medication. Therefore, this article reviews the research progress on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of Rubi Fructus. Based on the concept of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) quality markers(Q-markers), the article explores the screening and determination of Q-markers for Rubi Fructus from various aspects, including plant kinship, traditional efficacy, medicinal properties, measurability of chemical composition, different processing methods, producing areas, harvesting periods, and planting conditions. The components ellagic acid, kaempferol, quercetin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, rutin, astragalin, tiliroside, and hyperoside are preliminarily proposed as Q-markers for Rubi Fructus, providing a reference for the quality control of Rubi Fructus.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Rubus/chemistry* ; Fruit/chemistry* ; Quality Control ; Animals

Eucommiae Cortex, the dried bark of Eucommia ulmoides( Eucommiaceae), has both medicinal and edible values.Modern research has shown that Eucommiae Cortex contains various components such as flavonoids, lignans, iridoids, phenolic acids,terpenoids, and steroids, which have anti-osteoporosis, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, blood glucose-lowering, and gastrointestinal tract-protecting effects. Eucommiae Cortex has applications in multiple fields such as healthcare, industry, and animal husbandry,demonstrating broad development prospects. This article reviews the chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, and quality control status of Eucommiae Cortex. Furthermore, according to the concept of quality marker(Q-marker), this article predicts the Q-markers of Eucommiae Cortex from traditional medicinal properties, traditional medicinal effects, new medicinal effects, measurability of chemical components, compatibility, harvesting periods, and geographical origins. The components such as pinoresinol diglucoside,chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, quercetin, baicalein, baicalin, olivil, coniferyl ferulate, and kaempferol can be used as Q-markers for Eucommiae Cortex, which provide reference for establishing a systematic quality control system for Eucommiae Cortex.
Eucommiaceae/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Quality Control ; Humans ; Animals

ObjectiveDisruption of epithelial layer may instantaneously induce the generation of endogenous electric fields, which was proved to play an important role in guiding the cell migration and promoting wound healing. PIEZO1 is a kind of mechanic sensitive channel, may be regulated by voltage, is proved to involve in chemotactic migration of cells and play an important role in the process of wound healing. In this paper, the role of PIEZO1 and its downstream proteins FAK and integrin β1 in the electric field guided cell migration were investigated by HaCaT cells (human immortalized keratinocyte). MethodsCell migration was tracked by Living Cell Imaging System in directed current (DC) electric field (EF). Inhibitors and RNAi techniques were applied to study the function of PIEZO1 and other related proteins in electric fields. Western blot was used to detect the expression and phosphorylation levels of integrin β1 and FAK in electric field guided migration under EF stimulation. ResultsPiezo1 RNAi as well as Ruthenium red and GsMTx4 treatment all significantly inhibited the electrotaxis of HaCaT cells. Electric field stimulation with GsMTx4 treatment alone increased FAK phosphorylation level and the expression of integrin β1. Electric field promoted the expression level of integrin β1 and the phosphorylation level of FAK. Inhibiting the expression of PIEZO1 by RNAi significantly attenuated the phosphorylation level of FAK under EF stimulation. Inhibition of integrin β1 and FAK by inhibitor significantly decrease the electric field guided cell migration. ConclusionPIEZO1 as well as integrin β1 and FAK are involved in the electric field guided cell migration of HaCaT cells. Electric field signals regulate the expression of integrin β1 and the activation of FAK through PIEZO1-mediated signal pathway to orchestrate cell migration.

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), which catalyzes the conversion from L-phenylalanine to trans-cinnamic acid, is a well-known key enzyme and a connecting step between primary and secondary metabolisms in the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway of plants and microbes. Schisandra chinensis, a woody vine plant belonging to the family of Magnoliaceae, is a rich source of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans exhibiting potent activity. However, the functional role of PAL in the biosynthesis of lignan is relatively limited, compared with those in lignin and flavonoids biosynthesis. Therefore, it is essential to clone and characterize the PAL genes from this valuable medicinal plant. In this study, molecular cloning and characterization of three PAL genes (ScPAL1-3) from S. chinensis was carried out. ScPALs were cloned using RACE PCR. The sequence analysis of the three ScPALs was carried out to give basic characteristics followed by docking analysis. In order to determine their catalytic activity, recombinant protein was obtained by heterologous expression in pCold-TF vector in Escherichia coli (BL21-DE3), followed by Ni-affinity purification. The catalytic product of the purified recombinant proteins was verified using RP-HPLC through comparing with standard compounds. The optimal temperature, pH value and effects of different metal ions were determined. V_max, K_cat and K_m values were determined under the optimal conditions. The expression of three ScPALs in different tissues was also determined. Our work provided essential information for the function of ScPALs.
Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli/metabolism* ; Phenylalanine/metabolism* ; Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase/chemistry* ; Recombinant Proteins ; Schisandra/genetics*

Esophageal cancer is a digestive tract malignancy with high morbidity and mortality and mainly occurs in males. The 5-year survival rate is lower than 20%. In China， the morbidity and mortality of esophageal cancer rank the first in the world， seriously threatening national health. The pathogenesis of esophageal cancer is diverse， which is generally considered as the consequence of environmental-genetic-gene interaction. In addition to genetic factors and regional characteristics， gene mutation， RNA interference， DNA damage repair， tumor microenvironment， dietary habit， chronic adverse stimulation， and inflammatory reaction are all involved in the occurrence and development of esophageal cancer. However， there is no unified and accurate conclusion. Clarifying the exact pathogenesis of esophageal cancer is of great significance for its early screening， diagnosis， prevention， treatment， and prognosis. Surgery， radiotherapy， and chemotherapy are the three effective methods for the treatment of esophageal cancer. However， due to the atypical early symptoms， most patients have missed the best operation period when diagnosed， resulting in poor clinical prognosis. Moreover， radiotherapy and chemotherapy will cause side effects such as loss of appetite， low immune function， esophagitis， pneumonia， and malnutrition， which is not conducive to the prognosis and treatment maintenance of patients. With definite efficacies on esophageal cancer， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， which is flexible and diverse in the treatment， can primarily or alternatively be involved in the treatment of esophageal cancer. TCM can eliminate postoperative complications and postoperative infections and relieve adverse gastrointestinal reactions， weakened immune function， and organ damage caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. It can enhance clinical efficacy and improve the quality of life of patients. Therefore， it is necessary to systematically summarize the clear pathogenesis or risk factors of esophageal cancer and review the clinical characteristics of TCM in the prevention and treatment of esophageal cancer to facilitate the early screening， diagnosis， and treatment of esophageal cancer and promote the application of TCM in the prevention and treatment of esophageal cancer and related adverse reactions.

This study investigated the chemical components from the leaves and stems of Schisandra chinensis. Three norsesquiterpenoids were isolated from S. chinensis by various column chromatographies(silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and MCI), reversed-phase medium-pressure preparative, and semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). Their structures were identified based on physicochemical properties, mass spectrometry(MS), nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR), ultraviolet(UV), and electro-nic circular dichroism(ECD) as(3R,4R,5R,6S,7E)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydroxy-7-megastigmen-9-one(1),(3S,5R,6R,7E)-3,5,6-trihydroxy-7-megastigmen-9-one(2), and(3S,4R,9R)-3,4,9-trihydroxymegastigman-5-ene(3). Compound 1 was a new compound, and its absolute configuration was determined by ECD. Compounds 2 and 3 were isolated from the Schisandra plant for the first time.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Plant Leaves/chemistry* ; Schisandra

Objective:The differences of chemical compositions and pharmacological activities between the core and pulp of Phyllanthi Fructus were investigated by chemical analysis and in vitro test to explore the effect of the core on the quality of this medicinal material. Method:Literature， medicinal material standards and market research on the appearance of Phyllanthi Fructus were conducted based on existing databases. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbital trap high resolution mass spectrometry （UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS） was used to identify the constituents of the core and pulp. The analysis was performed on Thermo Scientific Accucore C₁₈ column （2.1 mm×100 mm， 2.6 μm） with the mobile phase of 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution （A）-methanol （B） for gradient elution （0-25 min， 5%B； 25-30 min， 5%-95%B； 30-35 min， 95%-5%B）， the flow rate was 0.2 mL·min^-1， heating electrospray ionization （HESI） was adopted with positive and negative ion modes， and the scanning range was m/z 100-1 500. High performance liquid chromatography （HPLC） was used to determine the contents of gallic acid， corilagin， chebulagic acid and ellagic acid in the core and pulp of Phyllanthi Fructus. Analysis was performed on Welchrom C₁₈ column （4.6 mm×250 mm， 5 μm） with mobile phase of methanol （A）-0.05% phosphoric acid aqueous solution （B） for gradient elution （0-6 min， 5%A； 6-15 min， 5%-7%A； 15-20 min， 7%-15%A； 20-25 min， 15%-21%A； 25-31 min， 21%-22%A； 31-41 min， 22%A； 41-47 min， 22%-28%A； 47-51 min， 28%-32%A； 51-57 min， 32%-38%A； 57-70 min， 38%-45%A； 70-80 min， 45%-65%A； 80-85 min， 65%-5%A）， the detection wavelength was set at 270 nm. The antibacterial effects of the core and pulp of Phyllanthi Fructus on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were investigated by filter paper method， and their antioxidant activities were compared by 1，1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl （DPPH） free radical scavenging assay. Result:A total of 47 compounds were identified in the core and pulp of Phyllanthi Fructus， mainly including tannins， flavonoids， phenolic acids， fatty acids， amino acids， organic acids， saccharides and glycosides， most of which were concentrated in the pulp， and the fatty acids in the core accounted for a higher proportion. The contents of gallic acid， corilagin， chebulagic acid， ellagic acid and other phenolic compounds in the pulp of 20 batches of Phyllanthi Fructus were much higher than those in the core. The results of antibacterial test showed that the core of Phyllanthi Fructus with different concentrations had no antimicrobial effect. The DPPH radical scavenging test showed that the antioxidant activity of the core ［half-inhibitory concentration （IC₅₀）=199.632 mg·L^-1］ was much less than that of the pulp （IC₅₀=12.688 mg·L^-1）. Conclusion:From the perspectives of polyphenol content， antibacterial and antioxidant activities， it is scientific to use Phyllanthi Fructus pulp in ancient and modern times， which may be to remove the secondary parts of Phyllanthi Fructus， so as to enhance the actual utilization rate and therapeutic effect of medicinal materials. In view of the large proportion of the core of Phyllanthi Fructus and its high content of fatty acids and other components， whether or not to use it remains to be further studied in clinical application.

Phyllanthus emblica is a kind of traditional medicine and medicinal and edible plant, with rich variety resources and high development value. It is a key poverty alleviation variety in China at present. As P. emblica processing industry is rising gradually in recent years, in order to fully develop and utilize its industrial resources, this paper systematically introduces current comprehensive development and utilization of P. emblica, discusses the problems in P. emblica processing industry, and puts forward comprehensive development and utilization strategies and industrial models in terms of cultivation, breeding, grading, quality evaluation and waste recycling, so as to provide a certain reference for promoting the high-quality development of P. emblica industry in China.
China ; Medicine ; Medicine, Traditional ; Phyllanthus emblica ; Plant Breeding ; Plant Extracts

Phyllanthi Fructus, a unique Chinese and Tibetan medicinal plant with both edible and medical values, has high potential of cultivation and development. The resources of Phyllanthi Fructus in China are rich, mainly distributed in Yunnan, Sichuan, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, etc. Phyllanthi Fructus is widely used in the clinical practice of Chinese medicine and plays an important role in Tibetan medicine, Uyghur medicine, Yi medicine, and Mongolian medicine. Phyllanthi Fructus mainly contains phenolic acids,tannins, terpenes, sterols, fatty acids, flavonoids, amino acids and other compounds. Modern pharmacological studies show that Phyllanthi Fructus has antioxidant, anticancer, blood lipid-lowering, liver protective, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and immune regulatory activities. In this paper, the research status of Phyllanthi Fructus was reviewed from the aspects of herbal textual research,chemical composition, and pharmacological action. The quality markers(Q-markers) of Phyllanthi Fructus were predicted and analyzed from the aspects of biogenic pathway, specificity and measurability of chemical components, efficacy, properties, new clinical uses, drug-food homology, and transformation of polyphenols. The results will provide a scientific basis for the quality control, quality evaluation, and standard formulation of Phyllanthi Fructus.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Fruit ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Quality Control

Professor
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Angina, Stable ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans ; Moxibustion