1.Ideas of Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment of Pancreatic Endocrine and Exocrine Co-Morbidities from the Attributes of Zang-Fu Organs of Pancreas
Yulin LENG ; Jiacheng YIN ; Xianglong LI ; Jiahong ZHANG ; Yi SU ; Hong GAO ; Chunguang XIE ; Xiaoxu FU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(2):145-149
Based on advancements in modern medical research regarding the intricate connection between the endocrine and exocrine functions of the pancreas, as well as the relationship between pancreatic functions and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) spleen system, this paper discussed the categorization of the pancreas. It is proposed that the pancreas is neither a true zang organ nor a fu organ, but possessed the attributes of an extraordinary fu-organ and can be classified under the spleen. The spleen governs transportation and transformation, ascent of the clear and dispersion of essence, which encompasses the endocrine and exocrine functions, and pancreatic enzymes and glucose-regulating hormones form the material basis for the spleen's function of dispersing essence. Diseases of the pancreas exhibit characteristics of both zang-organ deficiency and fu-organ excess, so treatment should simultaneously supplement zang-organ disease and regulate fu-organ disease when pancreas showing endocrine and exocrine co-morbidities, with focus on restoring the pancreas (spleen)'s dispersing essence function. Therapeutic strategies include supplementing spleen qi, nourishing spleen yin to strengthen spleen earth, unblocking spleen collaterals, raising spleen yang, and removing spleen turbidity to support the spleen's dispersing essence function, so as to replenish the essential qi of zang-fu organs, ensure their distribution throughout the body, and improve the endocrine and exocrine functions of the pancreas.
2.TCM Research of Theories and Prescriptions on Blood Glucose Fluctuation in Diabetes Mellitus: A Review
Yongjiang ZHU ; Xiaoxu FU ; Hongyan XIE ; Chunguang XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(8):303-310
A systematic review of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) literatures published over the past decade on blood glucose fluctuations in diabetes mellitus was conducted to summarize related TCM research progress of theories and prescriptions, so as to provide references for future TCM theoretical exploration, basic research, and clinical prevention and treatment. Blood glucose fluctuation is an independent risk factor for chronic complications of diabetes mellitus, with significant progress made in TCM theories and prescription studies targeting this condition. The TCM theories include "spleen-pancreas homology", "liver controlling dispersion", "small intestine transforming qi and separating purity from turbidity", "Yi Qi Zhou Liu theory", "Xuan Fu Qi Ye theory", "Yin-fire theory" and so on, all of which emphasize "Qi". Prescription studies primarily utilize clinical trials, which evaluate plentiful indexes of blood glucose fluctuation such as the mean amplitude of glycemic excursion. Classical and self-formulated prescriptions are widely used, with various dosage forms such as decoctions, granules and capsules. "Qi-Yin deficiency" is the main syndrome of blood glucose fluctuation. Basic research focuses on mechanisms that improve blood glucose fluctuation and reduce chronic complications, such as the renin-angiotensin system regulating islet β cell's function, and the transforming growth factor-β1 inhibiting organ fibrosis. However, there are still some deficiencies in the evidential support and syndrome study of TCM theories, in the high-level evidence-based evaluation, efficacy comparison among multiple dosage forms, and the integration of TCM theories with prescription's clinical research, in the quantities, multi-level verifications, blood glucose fluctuation model establishment and intervention criteria as well as prescription-syndrome correspondence of prescription's basic research, and in the collaboration between clinical and basic research. Despite these challenges, TCM offers a promising approach to improving blood glucose fluctuation and reducing chronic complications in diabetes mellitus, with its rich theories, diverse methods, and proven efficacy.
3.Total Saponins in Paridis Rhizoma: A Review
Yibo ZHANG ; Huizhong ZHANG ; Jing FU ; Yidan RUAN ; Aina YAO ; Pingzhi ZHANG ; Xingbin YIN ; Changhai QU ; Jian NI ; Xiaoxu DONG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(1):232-243
Paridis Rhizoma possesses the functions of clearing heat and detoxifying, alleviating swelling and relieving pain, cooling the liver and calming the convulsion. Saponins are the main active components of Paridis Rhizoma. Studies have shown that total saponins in Paridis Rhizoma have obvious inhibitory effect on solid tumors such as breast cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, and liver cancer and non-solid tumors such as leukemia. The saponins may exert the anti-tumor effects by inhibiting the proliferation, migration, and invasion of tumor cells, regulating cell cycle, inducing apoptotic and non-apoptotic death pathways, and regulating metabolism and tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, total saponins in Paridis Rhizoma showed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, hemostatic, and uterus-contracting activities. At the same time, they may induce apoptosis of normal cells, inflammation and oxidative stress, and metabolic disorders. In recent years, the reports of liver injury, reproductive injury, gastrointestinal injury, hemolysis, and other adverse reactions caused by total saponins in Paridis Rhizoma have been increasing. Pharmacokinetic studies have shown that there are significant differences in the metabolism of total saponins in Paridis Rhizoma administrated in different ways. Injection has a fast clearance rate, while oral administration may have hepatoenteric circulation. Meanwhile, due to the low solubility and activation of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) molecular pump, the prototype absorption, intestinal permeability, and recovery rate of total saponins in Paridis Rhizoma are poor, which affects the bioavailability. The bioavailability can be improved to some extent by preparing new dosage forms or new drug delivery systems with advanced technology. This paper reviews the pharmacological effect, pharmacokinetics, and adverse reactions of Rhizoma Paridis total saponins by searching the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP, and Web of Science with ''Rhizoma Paridis total saponins'' as the keywords, hoping to provide references for the research, development, and clinical application of such components.
4.Protective mechanism of Paeoniae Radix Alba against chemical liver injury based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro experiments
Shuangqiao Liu ; Xin Liu ; Sijia Jiang ; Min Fu ; Jinxi Hu ; Jiaqi Liu ; Xiaoxu Fan ; Yingtong Feng ; Shujing Zhang ; Jingxia Wang
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences 2024;11(1):55-66
Objective:
To explore and validate the potential targets of Paeoniae Radix Alba (P. Radix, Bai Shao) in protecting against chemical liver injury through network pharmacology, molecular docking technology, and in vitro cell experiments.
Methods:
Network pharmacology was used to identify the common potential targets of P. Radix and chemical liver injury. Molecular docking was used to fit the components, which were subsequently verified in vitro. A cell model of hepatic fibrosis was established by activating hepatic stellate cell (HSC)-LX2 cells with 10 ng/mL transforming growth factor-β1. The cells were exposed to different concentrations of total glucosides of paeony (TGP), the active substance of P. Radix, and then evaluated using the cell counting kit-8 assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and western blot.
Results:
Analysis through network pharmacology revealed 13 key compounds of P. Radix, and the potential targets for preventing chemical liver injury were IL-6, AKT serine/threonine kinase 1, jun proto-oncogene, heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1 (HSP90AA1), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARG), PTGS2, and CASP3. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis indicated the involvement of response to drugs, membrane rafts, and peptide binding. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis revealed that the main pathways involved lipid and atherosclerosis and chemical carcinogenesis-receptor activation. Paeoniflorin and albiflorin exhibited strong affinity for HSP90AA1, PTGS2, PPARG, and CASP3. Different concentrations of TGP can inhibit the expression of COL-Ⅰ, COL-Ⅲ, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, HSP-90α, and PTGS2 while increasing the expression of PPAR-γ and CASP3 in activated HSC-LX2 cells.
Conclusion
P. Radix primarily can regulate targets such as HSP90AA1, PTGS2, PPARG, CASP3. TGP, the main active compound of P. Radix, protects against chemical liver injury by reducing the inflammatory response, activating apoptotic proteins, and promoting the apoptosis of activated HSCs.
5.Active Ingredients of Chinese Medicines Induce Ferroptosis in Tumor Cells: A Review
Huizhong ZHANG ; Yibo ZHANG ; Jing FU ; Huating HUANG ; Yidan RUAN ; Xingbin YIN ; Changhai QU ; Jian NI ; Xiaoxu DONG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(9):245-253
Ferroptosis, a new form of programmed cell death different from apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy, is closely associated with a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Iron-mediated accumulation of reactive oxygen species is the main inducement of ferroptosis, the mechanism of which is related to intracellular lipid metabolism, iron metabolism, and antioxidant defense pathways. Multiple signaling axes and regulators jointly regulate the occurrence and disruption of ferroptosis. Studies have demonstrated that ferroptosis regulates the growth and proliferation of tumor cells. Inducing ferroptosis in tumor cells can control the growth, metastasis, and multi-drug resistance of tumors. Therefore, the effect and mechanism of ferroptosis on tumor cells have become a hot topic in anti-cancer research. As the research advances, a variety of ferroptosis inducers has been used in the clinical chemotherapy for cancers and demonstrate significant efficacy. Accordingly, the development of ferroptosis-inducing anticancer drugs has become a new research direction for tumor treatment. Some active ingredients such as lycorine, oleanolic acid, dihydroartemisinin, pseudolaric acid B, and ophiopogonin B of Chinese medicines can induce ferroptosis in tumor cells via lipid metabolism, iron metabolism, system Xc-, and GPX4/GSH to regulate the development of tumors, demonstrating a promising prospect in clinical treatment. Based on the theory of the mechanism of ferroptosis, this paper reviews the research progress in ferroptosis induced by active ingredients of Chinese medicines in tumor cells and describes the metabolic regulatory network of ferroptosis from signaling pathways and regulatory factors, providing new strategies for applying active ingredients of Chinese medicines in the treatment of tumors.
6.Brief interpretation on the disease's name and pathogenesis of "drinking little but urinating much"
Yongjiang ZHU ; Xiaoxu FU ; Chunguang XIE
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;47(3):320-324
First recorded in Huangdi Neijing, "drinking little but urinating much" is the main symptom of "Feixiao", of which the pathogenesis is heart transferring cold to lung. Many later traditional Chinese medicine doctors have worked and brought different expositions on the disease's name, "Shangxiao", "Xiaxiao", "Feixiao" or "Shenxiao" are used respectively. In regard to the pathogenesis, dryness-fire, simultaneous occurrence of cold and heat or deficiency-cold are supposed to be the main properties of the disease, while heart, lung, liver, and kidney are the core disease locations. For example, YU Jiayan emphasized "dryness-heat in heart and lung", ZHENG Qin'an advocated "wind-fire of Jueyin", ZHANG Congzheng expounded "cold with heat in the heart and lung", LOU Ying revealed "cold with heat in the lung and kidney", and HUANG Yuanyu proposed " cold in kidney with dampness in spleen". By analyzing the theories of different schools of traditional Chinese medicine and related prescriptions or herbs and medical records, "drinking little but urinating much" could be attributed to "Shenxiao", and "deficiency-cold in lung and kidney" could be its basic pathogenesis, and meanwhile the cross-transmission of zang-fu viscera, intermingled deficiency and excess as well as inter-transformation between cold and heat should be considered adequately. This paper summarizes and sorts out the theories of "Xiao" disease in ancient literature, so as to provide new ideas for the modern prevention and treatment of diabetes.
7.The Multicenter Cross-sectional Study on the Distribution Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Elements in Type 2 Diabetes Macroangiopathy
Yulin LENG ; Hong GAO ; Xiaoxu FU ; Gang XU ; Hongyan XIE ; Xingwei ZHUO ; Xiaoqin ZHOU ; Yi YANG ; Xiaoli YUAN ; Zhibiao WANG ; Chunguang XIE
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(17):1794-1801
ObjectiveTo explore the distribution characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome elements of macroangiopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the key elements of occurrence, development and progression of disease. MethodsA multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted to enroll 445 T2DM patients from five hospitals, and according to the presence or absence of macroangiopathy, the patients were divided into a T2DM group (120 cases) and a diabetic macroangiopathy (DM) group (325 cases). Patients in DM group were divided into grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ according to the peripheral vascular color Doppler ultrasound results and the vascular anomalies classification standard. The general data including gender, age, duration of T2DM and body mass index (BMI) were collected, and the data of four examinations were obtained for syndrome differentiation. According to the diagnostic criteria of TCM syndrome elements, the patients can be divided into 9 patterns including qi deficiency, blood deficiency, yin deficiency, yang deficiency, qi stagnation, blood stasis, excess heat, and excess cold. The general data and distribution of TCM syndrome elements were compared between the two groups. The distribution of TCM syndrome elements in different vascular anomalies grades in the DM group was analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influence of various TCM syndrome elements on the occurrence of macroangiopathy in T2DM. ResultsThere was no significant difference in gender and BMI between groups (P>0.05). The age and duration of diabetes in the DM group were older and longer than those in the T2DM group (P<0.01). With the increase of age and prolonged course of disease, the severity of diabetic macroangiopathy increases gradually (P<0.05 or P<0.01). There was no significant difference in BMI and course of disease among the different TCM syndrome elements (P>0.05). The average age of patients with blood stasis syndrome was the oldest (P<0.05). There was significant difference in gender distribution between the excess heat syndrome and yin deficiency syndrome (P<0.05). A total of 240 TCM syndrome elements were extracted from the T2DM group, while 731 TCM syndrome elements extracted from the DM group. The top two high-frequency syndrome elements in the two groups were qi deficiency and yin deficiency, with a frequency of larger than 50%. The distribution of phlegm-damp syndrome and blood-stasis syndrome were significantly higher in the DM group than in the T2DM group (P<0.01). There were significant differences in the distribution of qi deficiency syndrome, yin deficiency syndrome, phlegm-damp syndrome, blood stasis syndrome, and excess heat syndrome among different grades of vascular anomalies (P<0.01); qi deficiency and yin deficiency were both high-frequency TCM syndrome elements in patients at grades 0 to Ⅲ; phlegm-damp syndrome increased in frequency with the progression of the disease from grades 0 to Ⅳ, and the frequency of blood stasis syndrome showed an overall upward trend. The frequency of phlegm-dampness syndrome increased from grades 0 to Ⅳ with the progression of the disease, and the frequency of blood stasis syndrome showed an overall upward trend. Logistic regression analysis showed that phlegm-damp syndrome and blood stasis syndrome were important TCM syndrome elements related to the vascular anomalies degree of macrovascular disease in T2DM (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionQi deficiency and yin deficiency are the basic TCM syndrome elements throughout the whole process of T2DM and diabetic macrovascular disease. Phlegm-damp and blood stasis are related to the degree of vascular anomalies in diabetic macrovascular disease and are the key TCM syndrome elements in the progression of macroangiopathy in T2DM.
8.Modified Superior Mesenteric Artery Approach Totally Laparoscopic Radical Resection for Right Colon Cancer
Lishuai XU ; Hao HU ; Cheng YANG ; Qingsheng FU ; Jiawei WANG ; Xu ZHANG ; Xiaoxu HUANG ; Li XU
Chinese Journal of Minimally Invasive Surgery 2024;24(5):334-338
Objective To explore the safety and feasibility of a modified superior mesenteric artery(SMA)approach in totally laparoscopic complete mesocolic excision(CME)and D3 lymphadenectomy for right colon cancer.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data of 77 cases of totally laparoscopic radical surgery for right colon cancer from April 2021 to April 2023.Before August 2022,42 cases underwent traditional SMA approach(control group,only marking with the ileocolic vascular pedicle as the tail of SMA),while after August 2022,35 cases underwent modified SMA approach(modified group,marking with the Treitz's ligament and ileocolic vascular pedicle as the head and tail of SMA,respectively).There was no statistically significant difference in general information between the two groups(P>0.05).The intraoperative conditions,postoperative recovery,and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.Results Compared with the control group,the modified group had a shorter surgical time[(147.3±35.8)min vs.(173.4±29.9)min,t =-3.428,P =0.001].There were no statistically significant differences in the number of lymph node dissection,number of positive lymph nodes,drainage volume,exhaust time,postoperative hospital stay,and incidence of complications between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion The modified SMA approach for totally laparoscopic radical resection of right colon cancer shortens the surgical time,reduces the difficulty and risk of surgery,and has high safety and feasibility.
9.Study on anti-inflammatory activity of the main component of Girald Daphne Bark in vitro
Lingling ZHANG ; Longfei LIN ; Jing FU ; Xiaoxu DONG ; Jian NI
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2017;39(4):343-346
Objective To investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of the main active ingredients in the dried stem bark of Daphne giraldii Nitsche.Methods Severialchemical compounds like vladinol D, pinoresinol, daphneticin, daphnoretin, daphnetin, giraloid A and giraldoid B were isolated from the stem barks. The CCK-8 experiemnts were analyzed for the cytotoxicity study. The cells were divided into the control group, the model group and the treatment group according to random number table method. The control group and the model group were added with 50μl culture medium. Moreover, treatment group was added with different concentrations (50.00, 25.00, 12.50, 6.25, 3.12μg/ml) of the solutions of giraloid A, giraldoid B and daphneticin. Then, RAW264.7 cells were treated with 50μl LPS (4μg/ml) for 24 h in the model group and treatment group. Griess reagent was used to determine the amount of NO release, and the secretion of TNF-α was detected by ELISA kit.Results Cytotoxicity test indicated that giraldoid A (50.00μg/ml), giraldoid B (50.00μg/ml) and daphneticin (50.00μg/ml) showed noobvious cytotoxicity. Giraldoid B (12.50, 25.00, 50.00μg/ml) could inhibit the production of NO (271.86% ± 20.92%, 256.48% ± 20.92%, 199.31% ± 15.16%vs.358.62% ± 28.64%) and TNF-α (647.87% ±115.79%, 618.42% ± 87.52%, 588.33% ± 87.94%vs. 1035.06% ± 58.29%) in RAW264.7 induced by LPS compared with the model group. Giraldoid A (25, 50μg/ml) could inhibit the production of NO (234.99% ± 34.28%, 167.36% ± 25.76% vs.358.62%±28.64%) and TNF-α (691.76% ± 60.37%, 534.01% ± 41.60% vs. 1035.06% ± 58.29%) in RAW264.7 induced by LPS compared with the model group. Daphneticin (12.5, 25, 50μg/ml) could inhibit the production of NO (283.89% ± 36.69%, 243.08% ± 48.19%, 225.92% ± 33.67% vs.358.62% ± 28.64%) and TNF-α (713.77% ± 121.96%, 670.62% ± 18.70% vs. 1035.06% ± 58.29%) in RAW264.7 induced by LPS compared with the model group.Conclusions Giraldoid A, giraldoid B and daphneticin exhi bited anti-inflammatory effect through inhibiting the release of NO and the production of TNF-α in RAW264.7 induced by LPS.
10.Immune intervention of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on sepsis rats
Hewei ZHANG ; Xiaoxu CUI ; Tao FANG ; Qiang FU
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2017;29(8):705-710
Objective To investigate the effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) on immune cells and inflammatory factors in septic rats.Methods 184 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into normal control group (n = 8), sham operation group (n = 48), sepsis model group (n = 64), and UC-MSCs treatment group (n = 64). An animal model of sepsis was produced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). In the UC-MSCs treatment group 1 mL UC-MSCs (2×106/mL) were injected intraperitoneally at 1 hour after the model establishment;the sham operation group and the sepsis model group were given the same amount of saline. Sixteen animals in each group of the sham operation group, sepsis model group, and UC-MSCs treatment group were observed for 72-hour survival rate. The percentages of CD4+ T cells and the ratio of helper T cells 1/2 (Th1/Th2) in whole blood cells were measured by flow cytometry at 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after operation. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured by enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA).Results The 72-hour survival rate of the UC-MSCs treatment group was slightly higher than that of the sepsis model group [62.5% (10/16) vs. 50.0% (8/16),χ2 = 0.509,P > 0.05]. The percentage of CD4+ T cells and Th1/Th2 ratio in the sepsis model group were significantly higher than those in the sham operation group at 12 hours after operation, and decreased as the time prolonged to 48 hours. The levels of plasma inflammatory factors were significantly higher than those of sham operation group at 12 hours after operation, TNF-α and IL-10 were decreased at 48 hours after operation, while HMGB1 continued to increase until 72 hours after operation. Compared with those in the sepsis model group, the percentages of CD4+ T cells at 12 hours and 24 hours after operation [(49.66±0.91)% vs. (59.11±1.17)%, (41.80±0.89)% vs. (49.84±0.99)%], the levels of Th1/Th2 ratio at 12, 24, 48 hours after operation (0.745±0.065 vs. 1.254±0.115, 0.407±0.077 vs. 0.806±0.061, 0.280±0.057 vs. 0.454±0.049), and the levels of TNF-α and HMGB1 were significantly reduced at 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after operation in the UC-MSCs treatment group [TNF-α(ng/L):52.60±6.60 vs. 58.03±6.53, 71.77±8.48 vs. 147.39±11.37, 111.83±10.76 vs. 271.36±19.04, 83.09±7.43 vs. 171.04±14.06; HMGB1 (ng/L): 149.12±9.89 vs. 187.33±12.79, 192.94±14.92 vs. 442.35±52.72, 1393.67±88.86 vs. 1950.90±126.66, 1875.84±111.67 vs. 2557.12±186.01], all with statistically significant differences (allP <0.05). The level of IL-10 was significantly higher at 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after operation (ng/L: 65.46±5.51 vs. 33.32±4.17, 86.49±5.78 vs. 63.11±5.53, 142.73±9.94 vs. 106.81±6.36, 123.74±10.90 vs. 89.90±7.71, allP <0.01).Conclusion UC-MSCs can make CD4+ T cells in early sepsis, and Th1/Th2 ratio to normal, by reducing the levels of proinflammatory factors, and increasing the level of anti-inflammatory factor, and improve sepsis immune function status, but cannot improve the survival rate of animals.


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