The Guidelines for Construction of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacovigilance Systems in Medical Institutions （T/CACM 1563.2-2024） were the first special guideline in China to systematically assist medical institutions in establishing a pharmacovigilance system tailored to the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. This guideline was jointly developed with 23 authoritative medical and research institutions in China， under the lead of the Institute of Basic Clinical Medicine， China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. The purpose of this guideline was to standardize pharmacovigilance work throughout the entire lifecycle of TCM （including research and development， marketing， and application） and to establish a four-dimensional framework of "organizational structure， institutional system， information platform， and vigilance activities". Key components included the establishment of a TCM Safety Committee， the construction of nine core systems， the development of an information platform that complies with International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use （ICH） E2B standards， alongside the risk monitoring， identification， assessment， and control during clinical trials and post-marketing phases. Therefore， this guideline filled a significant gap in the systemic standards for TCM safety management within medical institutions. Strictly adhering to domestic and international laws and regulations， the guideline compilation involved multiple rounds of expert interviews， systematic evidence integration， and broad consensus. This guideline was specified to be applicable to medical institutions at all levels， primarily addressing core issues， including the difficulty in adverse reaction identification， low reporting rates， and incomplete risk management chains due to the complex composition and diverse application of TCM. The compilation process was scientific and rigorous， ensuring alignment with current national laws and regulations， and was registered internationally. In the future， implementation will be promoted through standardized training， tiered dissemination， as well as a post-effect evaluation and dynamic revision mechanism starting two years after publication. All these aimed to enhance medical institutions' proactive capabilities in preventing and controlling TCM safety risks， ensure patient medication safety， and promote the high-quality development of TCM.

To standardize the clinical application of oral Chinese patent medicines （CPMs）， and address the safety issues arising from their dosage form characteristics， irrational clinical use， and the lack of targeted pharmacovigilance systems， the China Association of Chinese Medicine organized the formulation and release of Pharmacovigilance Guidelines for Clinical Application of Oral Chinese Patent Medicines， aiming to inform the safe clinical use of oral CPMs and related pharmacovigilance work. According to the principles of GB/T1.1—2020 and the Drug Administration Law of the People's Republic of China （2019 revision）， the Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine， China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences， led a drafting group comprising 18 institutions. After multiple rounds of expert interviews， literature retrieval， evidence screening， and extensive solicitation of opinions， the Guidelines were registered internationally. Systematic standardization focused on safety monitoring， risk identification， assessment， control， and other aspects. The Guidelines clarified the characteristics of oral CPMs in terms of safety monitoring， known risks， and potential risks， compared to non-oral CPMs. Then， risk control measures were proposed， including medication in special populations and irrational medication. As a special guideline for pharmacovigilance in the clinical application of oral CPMs， the Guidelines systematically construct a technical system in line with the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， which is essential for improving the clinical safety management of oral CPMs and provides an important reference for medical institutions， pharmaceutical manufacturers， and regulatory authorities.

The Pharmacovigilance Guideline for Clinical Application of Chinese Patent Medicine for External Use （T/CACM 1563.5—2024）， the first guideline in China specializing for the clinical safety of Chinese patent medicines for external use， was led by the Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine，China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences，and jointly developed by more than 30 research institutions of medical sciences across the country. Aiming to standardize the pharmacovigilance activities in the clinical application of Chinese patent medicines for external use，the guideline systematically categorizes potential risks and proposes prevention and control measures that cover 11 core sections of risk monitoring and reporting， signal identification，as well as assessment and control， addressing the gap in domestic and international standardization of this field. The compilation of this guideline strictly adhered to international norms and domestic regulations， involving multiple rounds of expert consultations，hybrid interviews， and evidence integration （covering literature，medical insurance，essential medicine，pharmacopoeia data， and regulatory information）. With the scope of application defined to include medical institutions， pharmaceutical manufacturers and distribution enterprises，as well as regulatory authorities， the guideline focuses on key issues such as inherent medicine risks，quality risks，off-label use，risks of combination therapy，and the safety in special populations. During the compilation，core discrepancies such as the definition of application scope and quality risk control were addressed to ensure alignment with regulations such as the Drug Administration Law of the People's Republic of China and the Good Pharmacovigilance Practice. The guideline is registered internationally （PREPARE—2022CN463）. In the future，the implementation of the guideline will be promoted through hierarchical dissemination，dynamic revision，and post-effectiveness evaluation， contributing to rational clinical use and improved patient safety.

The Guidelines for Construction of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacovigilance Systems in Medical Institutions （T/CACM 1563.2-2024） were the first special guideline in China to systematically assist medical institutions in establishing a pharmacovigilance system tailored to the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. This guideline was jointly developed with 23 authoritative medical and research institutions in China， under the lead of the Institute of Basic Clinical Medicine， China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. The purpose of this guideline was to standardize pharmacovigilance work throughout the entire lifecycle of TCM （including research and development， marketing， and application） and to establish a four-dimensional framework of "organizational structure， institutional system， information platform， and vigilance activities". Key components included the establishment of a TCM Safety Committee， the construction of nine core systems， the development of an information platform that complies with International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use （ICH） E2B standards， alongside the risk monitoring， identification， assessment， and control during clinical trials and post-marketing phases. Therefore， this guideline filled a significant gap in the systemic standards for TCM safety management within medical institutions. Strictly adhering to domestic and international laws and regulations， the guideline compilation involved multiple rounds of expert interviews， systematic evidence integration， and broad consensus. This guideline was specified to be applicable to medical institutions at all levels， primarily addressing core issues， including the difficulty in adverse reaction identification， low reporting rates， and incomplete risk management chains due to the complex composition and diverse application of TCM. The compilation process was scientific and rigorous， ensuring alignment with current national laws and regulations， and was registered internationally. In the future， implementation will be promoted through standardized training， tiered dissemination， as well as a post-effect evaluation and dynamic revision mechanism starting two years after publication. All these aimed to enhance medical institutions' proactive capabilities in preventing and controlling TCM safety risks， ensure patient medication safety， and promote the high-quality development of TCM.

To standardize the clinical application of oral Chinese patent medicines （CPMs）， and address the safety issues arising from their dosage form characteristics， irrational clinical use， and the lack of targeted pharmacovigilance systems， the China Association of Chinese Medicine organized the formulation and release of Pharmacovigilance Guidelines for Clinical Application of Oral Chinese Patent Medicines， aiming to inform the safe clinical use of oral CPMs and related pharmacovigilance work. According to the principles of GB/T1.1—2020 and the Drug Administration Law of the People's Republic of China （2019 revision）， the Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine， China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences， led a drafting group comprising 18 institutions. After multiple rounds of expert interviews， literature retrieval， evidence screening， and extensive solicitation of opinions， the Guidelines were registered internationally. Systematic standardization focused on safety monitoring， risk identification， assessment， control， and other aspects. The Guidelines clarified the characteristics of oral CPMs in terms of safety monitoring， known risks， and potential risks， compared to non-oral CPMs. Then， risk control measures were proposed， including medication in special populations and irrational medication. As a special guideline for pharmacovigilance in the clinical application of oral CPMs， the Guidelines systematically construct a technical system in line with the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， which is essential for improving the clinical safety management of oral CPMs and provides an important reference for medical institutions， pharmaceutical manufacturers， and regulatory authorities.

The Pharmacovigilance Guideline for Clinical Application of Chinese Patent Medicine for External Use （T/CACM 1563.5—2024）， the first guideline in China specializing for the clinical safety of Chinese patent medicines for external use， was led by the Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine，China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences，and jointly developed by more than 30 research institutions of medical sciences across the country. Aiming to standardize the pharmacovigilance activities in the clinical application of Chinese patent medicines for external use，the guideline systematically categorizes potential risks and proposes prevention and control measures that cover 11 core sections of risk monitoring and reporting， signal identification，as well as assessment and control， addressing the gap in domestic and international standardization of this field. The compilation of this guideline strictly adhered to international norms and domestic regulations， involving multiple rounds of expert consultations，hybrid interviews， and evidence integration （covering literature，medical insurance，essential medicine，pharmacopoeia data， and regulatory information）. With the scope of application defined to include medical institutions， pharmaceutical manufacturers and distribution enterprises，as well as regulatory authorities， the guideline focuses on key issues such as inherent medicine risks，quality risks，off-label use，risks of combination therapy，and the safety in special populations. During the compilation，core discrepancies such as the definition of application scope and quality risk control were addressed to ensure alignment with regulations such as the Drug Administration Law of the People's Republic of China and the Good Pharmacovigilance Practice. The guideline is registered internationally （PREPARE—2022CN463）. In the future，the implementation of the guideline will be promoted through hierarchical dissemination，dynamic revision，and post-effectiveness evaluation， contributing to rational clinical use and improved patient safety.

Cynanchum atratum Bunge (C. atratum) and Cynanchum versicolor Bunge (C. versicolor) are two related species that have been used as "Baiwei" (Cynanchi Atrati Radix Et Rhizoma) in traditional medicine in China and other Asian countries for a long time. However, to date, no comprehensive review of C. atratum and C. versicolor has been published. This review provides a comprehensive summary on the botany, phytochemistry, traditional uses and pharmacology of Baiwei; The authors focus especially on the revision of errors in previous articles and reviews, updating information and providing a comparison of C. atratum and C. versicolor. Furthermore, current research reveals significant disparities in the chemical composition and pharmacological effects between C. atratum and C. versicolor. Up to November 2023, 178 compounds have been isolated from C. atratum and C. versicolor, including C₂₁ steroids, acetophenones, alkaloids and volatile oils. These compounds and extracts have been proven to exhibit significant pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-virus, anti-fungal, memory-enhancing and anti-pyretic action, immune modulatory effects, reducing blood lipid, inhibition of melanin production, and anti-parasitic effects. Therefore, this review presents new insights into these two herbs used as "Baiwei" and further study is warranted to enhance their clinical application. Please cite this article as: Xie W, Liu XY, Li X, Jin YS. Cynanchum atratum Bunge and Cynanchum versicolor Bunge for Baiwei: An updated review of their botany, phytochemistry, traditional uses and pharmacological activities. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(3): 230-255.
Cynanchum/chemistry* ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Phytochemicals/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plant Extracts/chemistry*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection's effect on gestational liver function, pregnancy and delivery complications, and neonatal development. METHODS: A total of 157 HCV antibody-positive (anti-HCV[+]) and HCV RNA(+) patients (Group C) and 121 anti-HCV(+) and HCV RNA(-) patients (Group B) were included as study participants, while 142 anti-HCV(-) and HCV RNA(-) patients (Group A) were the control group. Data on biochemical indices during pregnancy, pregnancy complications, delivery-related information, and neonatal complications were also collected. RESULTS: Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) rates in Group C during early, middle, and late pregnancy were 59.87%, 43.95%, and 42.04%, respectively-significantly higher than Groups B (26.45%, 15.70%, 10.74%) and A (23.94%, 19.01%, 6.34%) ( P < 0.05). Median ALT levels in Group C were significantly higher than in Groups A and B at all pregnancy stages ( P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in neonatal malformation rates across groups ( P > 0.05). However, neonatal jaundice incidence was significantly greater in Group C (75.16%) compared to Groups A (42.25%) and B (57.02%) ( χ ² = 33.552, P < 0.001). HCV RNA positivity during pregnancy was an independent risk factor for neonatal jaundice ( OR = 2.111, 95% CI 1.242-3.588, P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS Chronic HCV infection can affect the liver function of pregnant women, but does not increase the pregnancy or delivery complication risks. HCV RNA(+) is an independent risk factor for neonatal jaundice.
Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Adult ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Infant, Newborn ; Viremia/virology* ; Hepatitis C ; Hepacivirus/physiology* ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/virology* ; Young Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of zedoarondiol on neovascularization of atherosclerotic (AS) plaque by exosomes experiment. METHODS: ApoE^-/- mice were fed with high-fat diet to establish AS model and treated with high- and low-dose (10, 5 mg/kg daily) of zedoarondiol, respectively. After 14 weeks, the expressions of anti-angiogenic protein thrombospondin 1 (THBS-1) and its receptor CD36 in plaques, as well as platelet activation rate and exosome-derived miR-let-7a were detected. Then, zedoarondiol was used to intervene in platelets in vitro, and miR-let-7a was detected in platelet-derived exosomes (Pexo). Finally, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were transfected with miR-let-7a mimics and treated with Pexo to observe the effect of miR-let-7a in Pexo on tube formation. RESULTS: Animal experiments showed that after treating with zedoarondiol, the neovascularization density in plaques of AS mice was significantly reduced, THBS-1 and CD36 increased, the platelet activation rate was markedly reduced, and the miR-let-7a level in Pexo was reduced (P<0.01). In vitro experiments, the platelet activation rate and miR-let-7a levels in Pexo were significantly reduced after zedoarondiol's intervention. Cell experiments showed that after Pexo's intervention, the tube length increased, and the transfection of miR-let-7a minics further increased the tube length of cells, while reducing the expressions of THBS-1 and CD36. CONCLUSION Zedoarondiol has the effect of inhibiting neovascularization within plaque in AS mice, and its mechanism may be potentially related to inhibiting platelet activation and reducing the Pexo-derived miRNA-let-7a level.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Exosomes/drug effects* ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic/genetics* ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/genetics* ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Humans ; Blood Platelets/drug effects* ; Apolipoproteins E/deficiency* ; Thrombospondin 1/metabolism* ; CD36 Antigens/metabolism* ; Platelet Activation/drug effects* ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic potential of pseudolaric acid B (PAB) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its underlying molecular mechanism in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Eight-week-old male C57BL/6J mice (n=32) were fed either a normal chow diet (NCD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks. The HFD mice were divided into 3 groups according to a simple random method, including HFD, PAB low-dose [10 mg/(kg·d), PAB-L], and PAB high-dose [20 mg/(kg·d), PAB-H] groups. After 8 weeks of treatment, glucose metabolism and insulin resistance were assessed by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT). Biochemical assays were used to measure the serum and cellular levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). White adipose tissue (WAT), brown adipose tissue (BAT) and liver tissue were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining or Oil Red O staining to observe the alterations in adipose tissue and liver injury. PharmMapper and DisGeNet were used to predict the NAFLD-related PAB targets. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) pathway involvement was suggested by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and search tool Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) analyses. Luciferase reporter assay, cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), and drug affinity responsive target stability assay (DARTS) were conducted to confirm direct binding of PAB with PPARα. Molecular dynamics simulations were applied to further validate target engagement. RT-qPCR and Western blot were performed to assess the downstream genes and proteins expression, and validated by PPARα inhibitor MK886. RESULTS: PAB significantly reduced serum TC, TG, LDL-C, AST, and ALT levels, and increased HDL-C level in HFD mice (P<0.01). Target prediction analysis indicated a significant correlation between PAB and PPARα pathway. PAB direct target binding with PPARα was confirmed through luciferase reporter assay, CETSA, and DARTS (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The target engagement between PAB and PPARα protein was further confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations and the top 3 amino acid residues, LEU321, MET355, and PHE273 showed the most significant changes in mutational energy. Subsequently, PAB upregulated the genes expressions involved in lipid metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis downstream of PPARα (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Significantly, the PPARα inhibitor MK886 effectively reversed the lipid-lowering and PPARα activation properties of PAB (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION PAB mitigates lipid accumulation, ameliorates liver damage, and improves mitochondrial biogenesis by binding with PPARα, thus presenting a potential candidate for pharmaceutical development in the treatment of NAFLD.
Animals ; PPAR alpha/metabolism* ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/pathology* ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects* ; Diterpenes/therapeutic use* ; Organelle Biogenesis ; Diet, High-Fat ; Humans ; Mice ; Liver/metabolism* ; Insulin Resistance ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Molecular Docking Simulation