1.A Randomized Controlled Trial of Stone Needle Thermocompression and Massage for Treating Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in the Shoulder and Back:A Secondary Analysis of Muscle Elasticity as a Mediator
Jingjing QIAN ; Yuanjing LI ; Li LI ; Yawei XI ; Ying WANG ; Cuihua GUO ; Jiayan ZHOU ; Yaxuan SUN ; Shu LIU ; Guangjing YANG ; Na YUAN ; Xiaofang YANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(9):935-940
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of stone needle thermocompression and massage compared to flurbiprofen gel patch in relieving chronic musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder and back, and to explore the potential mediating mechanism through muscle elasticity. MethodsA total of 120 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder and back were randomly assigned to either stone needle group or flurbiprofen group, with 60 patients in each. The stone needle group received stone needle thermocompression and massage for 30 minutes, three times per week; the flurbiprofen group received flurbiprofen gel patch twice daily. Both groups were treated for 2 weeks. Pain improvement, as the primary outcome, was assessed using the Global Pain Scale (GPS) at baseline, after 2 weeks of treatment, and again 2 weeks post-treatment. To explore potential mechanisms, a mediator analysis was conducted by measuring changes in superficial and deep muscle elasticity using musculoskeletal ultrasound at baseline and after the 2-week treatment period. ResultsThe stone needle group showed significantly greater pain relief than the flurbiprofen group 2 weeks post-treatment. After adjusting for confounders related to pain duration, the between-group mean difference was -8.8 [95% CI (-18.2, -0.7), P<0.05]. Part of the therapeutic effect was mediated by changes in deep muscle elasticity, with a mediation effect size of -1.5 [95% CI (-2.0, -0.9), P = 0.024], accounting for 17.9% of the total effect. ConclusionStone needle thermocompression and massage can effectively relieve chronic musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder and back, partly through a mediating effect of improved deep muscle elasticity.
2.PANoptosis: a New Target for Cardiovascular Diseases
Xin-Nong CHEN ; Ying-Xi YANG ; Xiao-Chen GUO ; Jun-Ping ZHANG ; Na-Wen LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1113-1125
The innate immune system detects cellular stressors and microbial infections, activating programmed cell death (PCD) pathways to eliminate intracellular pathogens and maintain homeostasis. Among these pathways, pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis represent the most characteristic forms of PCD. Although initially regarded as mechanistically distinct, emerging research has revealed significant crosstalk among their signaling cascades. Consequently, the concept of PANoptosis has been proposed—an inflammatory cell death pathway driven by caspases and receptor-interacting protein kinases (RIPKs), and regulated by the PANoptosome, which integrates key features of pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis. The core mechanism of PANoptosis involves the assembly and activation of the PANoptosome, a macromolecular complex composed of three structural components: sensor proteins, adaptor proteins, and effector proteins. Sensors detect upstream stimuli and transmit signals downstream, recruiting critical molecules via adaptors to form a molecular scaffold. This scaffold activates effectors, triggering intracellular signaling cascades that culminate in PANoptosis. The PANoptosome is regulated by upstream molecules such as interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), transforming growth factor beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), and adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1), which function as molecular switches to control PANoptosis. Targeting these switches represents a promising therapeutic strategy. Furthermore, PANoptosis is influenced by organelle functions, including those of the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and lysosomes, highlighting organelle-targeted interventions as effective regulatory approaches. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the leading global cause of morbidity and mortality, are profoundly impacted by PCD. Extensive crosstalk among multiple cell death pathways in CVDs suggests a complex regulatory network. As a novel cell death modality bridging pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis, PANoptosis offers fresh insights into the complexity of cell death and provides innovative strategies for CVD treatment. This review summarizes current evidence linking PANoptosis to various CVDs, including myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, myocardial infarction, heart failure, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy, cardiotoxic injury, atherosclerosis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection, and vascular toxic injury, thereby providing critical clinical insights into CVD pathophysiology. However, the current understanding of PANoptosis in CVDs remains incomplete. First, while PANoptosis in cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells has been implicated in CVD pathogenesis, its role in other cell types—such as vascular endothelial cells and immune cells (e.g., macrophages)—warrants further investigation. Second, although pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are known to activate the PANoptosome in infectious diseases, the stimuli driving PANoptosis in CVDs remain poorly defined. Additionally, methodological challenges persist in identifying PANoptosome assembly in CVDs and in establishing reliable PANoptosis models. Beyond the diseases discussed, PANoptosis may also play a role in viral myocarditis and diabetic cardiomyopathy, necessitating further exploration. In conclusion, elucidating the role of PANoptosis in CVDs opens new avenues for drug development. Targeting this pathway could yield transformative therapies, addressing unmet clinical needs in cardiovascular medicine.
3.Mechanism of Kidney-tonifying and Liver-regulating Cyclical Therapy and Formula in Improving Endometrial Receptivity during "Implantation Window" in Rats with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome via miR-140-5p/VEGF Pathway
Quan LIU ; Yiqing HE ; Ying ZHANG ; Xi WANG ; Shuo YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):100-109
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of kidney-tonifying and liver-regulating cyclical therapy and its formula in regulating endometrial receptivity during the "implantation window" in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). MethodsSix rats were randomly selected from 36 SPF SD female rats as the normal group, and the remaining rats were administered letrozole to induce a PCOS model. By using a random number method, the rats were divided into the following groups: normal group, model group, Xiaoyaosan group (11.97 g·kg-1), Sanzi Yangmo decoction group (28.35 g·kg-1), cyclical therapy group (11.97/28.35 g·kg-1), and aspirin group (8 × 10-3 mg·kg-1). After 12 days of continuous administration by gavage (equivalent to three estrous cycles), female and male rats were co-housed. On the fifth day of pregnancy, the number of blastocyst implantation in each group was counted. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the pathological morphology of rat endometrial tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the levels of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) in rat serum. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), progesterone receptor (PR), estrogen receptor (ER), androgen receptor (AR), and integrin(ITG) αvβ3 in rat endometrial blood vessels. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of miR-140-5 P, VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), PR, ER, AR, and ITGαvβ3 in rat endometrium. ResultsCompared with normal group, the estrous cycle of the rats in model group continued to be in the estrus interval and the estrous cycle lost regular changes. The endometrium was significantly thinner, the number of uterine glands and blood vessels were significantly reduced (P<0.01), and the pregnancy rate was significantly reduced. Compared with the model group, each drug group restored the regular estrous cycle to varying degrees, and the endometrial thickness and the number of blood vessels were significantly improved (P<0.01). The pregnancy rate of each drug group increased, and the effect of the cycle therapy group could reach the normal level. The results of molecular biology experiments showed that compared with the normal group, the levels of serum E2 and P in the model group were significantly decreased (P<0.01), the expression of VEGF, ER, PR and ITGαvβ3 protein was significantly decreased (P<0.05,P<0.01), the expression of AR protein was significantly increased (P<0.01), the expression of miR-140-5P and AR mRNA was significantly increased (P<0.01), and the expression of VEGF, VEGFR2, ER, PR and ITGαvβ3 mRNA was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with model group, the serum E2 level in the Xiaoyaosan group was significantly increased (P<0.01).The levels of E2 and P in serum of rats in Sanzi Yangmo decoction group, cycle therapy group and aspirin group were significantly increased (P<0.01). The expression of AR protein in each drug group was significantly decreased (P<0.01). The expression of VEGF and ITGαvβ3 protein in Xiaoyaosan group was significantly increased (P<0.01). The expression of VEGF, ER and PR protein in Sanzi Yangmo decoction group was increased to varying degrees (P<0.05,P<0.01). The expression of VEGF, PR, ER and ITGαvβ3 protein in the cycle therapy group and the aspirin group increased to varying degrees (P<0.05,P<0.01). The expression of miR-140-5P and AR mRNA in each drug group was significantly decreased (P<0.01). The expression of VEGF, VEGFR2, ER, PR and ITGαvβ3 mRNA in each drug group increased to varying degrees (P<0.05,P<0.01). Compared with Xiaoyaosan group and Sanzi Yangmo decoction group, the expression of miR-140-5P, VEGFR2, ER, PR, AR and ITGαvβ3 mRNA in the cycle therapy group were significantly different (P<0.05,P<0.01). ConclusionThe kidney-tonifying and liver-regulating cyclical therapy may reduce the activity of miR-140-5P, target the upregulation of VEGF expression, mediate angiogenesis, and promote endometrial angiogenesis, thereby playing a synergistic role in improving endometrial receptivity in PCOS-induced infertility. Its efficacy in increasing pregnancy rates surpasses that of Xiaoyaosan or Sanzi Yangmo decoction used alone.
4.Mechanism of Kidney-tonifying and Liver-regulating Cyclical Therapy and Formula in Improving Endometrial Receptivity during "Implantation Window" in Rats with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome via miR-140-5p/VEGF Pathway
Quan LIU ; Yiqing HE ; Ying ZHANG ; Xi WANG ; Shuo YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):100-109
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of kidney-tonifying and liver-regulating cyclical therapy and its formula in regulating endometrial receptivity during the "implantation window" in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). MethodsSix rats were randomly selected from 36 SPF SD female rats as the normal group, and the remaining rats were administered letrozole to induce a PCOS model. By using a random number method, the rats were divided into the following groups: normal group, model group, Xiaoyaosan group (11.97 g·kg-1), Sanzi Yangmo decoction group (28.35 g·kg-1), cyclical therapy group (11.97/28.35 g·kg-1), and aspirin group (8 × 10-3 mg·kg-1). After 12 days of continuous administration by gavage (equivalent to three estrous cycles), female and male rats were co-housed. On the fifth day of pregnancy, the number of blastocyst implantation in each group was counted. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the pathological morphology of rat endometrial tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the levels of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) in rat serum. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), progesterone receptor (PR), estrogen receptor (ER), androgen receptor (AR), and integrin(ITG) αvβ3 in rat endometrial blood vessels. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of miR-140-5 P, VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), PR, ER, AR, and ITGαvβ3 in rat endometrium. ResultsCompared with normal group, the estrous cycle of the rats in model group continued to be in the estrus interval and the estrous cycle lost regular changes. The endometrium was significantly thinner, the number of uterine glands and blood vessels were significantly reduced (P<0.01), and the pregnancy rate was significantly reduced. Compared with the model group, each drug group restored the regular estrous cycle to varying degrees, and the endometrial thickness and the number of blood vessels were significantly improved (P<0.01). The pregnancy rate of each drug group increased, and the effect of the cycle therapy group could reach the normal level. The results of molecular biology experiments showed that compared with the normal group, the levels of serum E2 and P in the model group were significantly decreased (P<0.01), the expression of VEGF, ER, PR and ITGαvβ3 protein was significantly decreased (P<0.05,P<0.01), the expression of AR protein was significantly increased (P<0.01), the expression of miR-140-5P and AR mRNA was significantly increased (P<0.01), and the expression of VEGF, VEGFR2, ER, PR and ITGαvβ3 mRNA was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with model group, the serum E2 level in the Xiaoyaosan group was significantly increased (P<0.01).The levels of E2 and P in serum of rats in Sanzi Yangmo decoction group, cycle therapy group and aspirin group were significantly increased (P<0.01). The expression of AR protein in each drug group was significantly decreased (P<0.01). The expression of VEGF and ITGαvβ3 protein in Xiaoyaosan group was significantly increased (P<0.01). The expression of VEGF, ER and PR protein in Sanzi Yangmo decoction group was increased to varying degrees (P<0.05,P<0.01). The expression of VEGF, PR, ER and ITGαvβ3 protein in the cycle therapy group and the aspirin group increased to varying degrees (P<0.05,P<0.01). The expression of miR-140-5P and AR mRNA in each drug group was significantly decreased (P<0.01). The expression of VEGF, VEGFR2, ER, PR and ITGαvβ3 mRNA in each drug group increased to varying degrees (P<0.05,P<0.01). Compared with Xiaoyaosan group and Sanzi Yangmo decoction group, the expression of miR-140-5P, VEGFR2, ER, PR, AR and ITGαvβ3 mRNA in the cycle therapy group were significantly different (P<0.05,P<0.01). ConclusionThe kidney-tonifying and liver-regulating cyclical therapy may reduce the activity of miR-140-5P, target the upregulation of VEGF expression, mediate angiogenesis, and promote endometrial angiogenesis, thereby playing a synergistic role in improving endometrial receptivity in PCOS-induced infertility. Its efficacy in increasing pregnancy rates surpasses that of Xiaoyaosan or Sanzi Yangmo decoction used alone.
5.Bioequivalence study of compound lidocaine cream in healthy Chinese subjects
Meng-Qi CHANG ; Yu-Qi SUN ; Qiu-Jin XU ; Xi-Xi QIAN ; Ying-Chun ZHAO ; Yan CAO ; Liu WANG ; Cheng ZHANG ; Dong-Liang YU
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(9):1321-1326
Objective To study the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the test formulation of compound lidocaine cream and reference formulation of lidocaine and prilocaine cream in Chinese healthy subjects and to evaluate whether there is bioequivalence between the two formulations.Methods A single-center,single-dose,randomized,open-label,two-period,two-sequence,crossover design was used.This study included 40 healthy subjects,and in each period,test formulation or reference formulation 60 g was applied to the skin in front of both thighs(200 cm2 each side,a total of 400 cm2)under fasting conditions,and the drug was left on for at least 5 h after application.The concentrations of lidocaine and prilocaine in plasma were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS)method.Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using WinNonlin 8.0 software to evaluate the bioequivalence of the two formulations.Results After the application of the test formulation compound lidocaine cream and the reference formulation lidocaine and prilocaine cream on both thighs of the subjects,the pharmacokinetic parameters of lidocaine in plasma were as follows:Cmax were(167.27±91.33)and(156.13±66.86)ng·mL-1,AUC0-t were(1 651.78±685.09)and(1 636.69±617.23)ng·mL-1·h,AUC0-∞ were(1 669.85±684.65)and(1 654.37±618.30)ng·mL-1·h,the adjusted geometric mean ratios were 104.49%,101.88%and 101.89%,respectively,with 90%confidence intervals of 98.18%-111.20%,97.80%-106.13%and 97.87%-106.07%,all within the range of 80.00%-125.00%.The pharmacokinetic parameters of prilocaine in plasma were as follows:Cmax were(95.66±48.84)and(87.52±39.16)ng·mL-1,AUC0-t were(790.86±263.99)and(774.14±256.42)ng·mL-1·h,AUC0_m were(807.27±264.67)and(792.84±254.06)ng·mL-1 h,the adjusted geometric mean ratios were 107.34%,103.55%and 102.98%,respectively with 90%confidence intervals of 101.69%-113.31%,99.94%-107.30%and 99.65%-106.43%,all within the range of 80.00%-125.00%.Conclusion The test formulation compound lidocaine cream and the reference formulation lidocaine and prilocaine cream are bioequivalent.
6.Pharmacokinetics of single-dose of Etripamil nasal spray in healthy adult Chinese subjects
Wei LIU ; Guo-Ying CAO ; Shu-Yan YU ; Yue-Wen XI ; Jing-Hui LUO ; Bo LIU ; Yu HE ; Tong-Yong FANG ; Xiao-Wen CHEN ; Yuan LI ; Jing ZHANG
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(13):1948-1952
Objective To evaluate the pharmacokinetics characteristics of single-dose of Etripamil nasal spray 70 mg in healthy adult Chinese subjects.Methods This was a single-center,randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled study.Twelve healthy adult Chinese subjects were randomized to receive single-dose of Etripamil nasal spray 70 mg(n=10)or placebo nasal spray(n=2).Blood and urine samples were collected prior and post dose.Etripamil in plasma and urine were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by WinNonlin non-compartmental model.Results Following the single-dose of Etripamil nasal spray 70 mg in healthy adult Chinese subjects,the peak concentration of Etripamil in plasma was quickly attained,with a Cmax of(66.76±56.61)ng·mL-1 and a median(range)tmax of 4.00(3.00-5.00)min.The plasma concentrations of Etripamil had fallen approximately 65%from peak value at 25 min after dosing,and close to 80%within 50 min.The AUC0-last and AUC0-∞ were(3 104.16±2 654.46)and(4 048.77±2 682.38)ng·min·mL-1,respectively.The urine excretion percentage of Etripamil during 24 h was(0.01±0.01)%.Among the 12 subjects who were treated with Etripamil or placebo,10 subjects reported a total of 29 treatment-emergent adverse events(TEAEs).All of the TEAEs were mild in severity.The most common TEAEs were rhinorrhoea and lacrimation increased.Conclusion Etripamil was quickly absorbed after intranasal administration,followed by rapid distribution and elimination(not primarily excreted by renal);Etripamil 70 mg was safe and well tolerated by the healthy Chinese adult subjects.
7.Construction methods and application of assembloids
Chunlei LIU ; Xi YAO ; Zhengbo WEI ; Ying XIE
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(1):113-120
BACKGROUND:In recent years,many studies have confirmed that assembloids can make up for the shortcomings of organoids,which cannot fully reproduce the interaction between cell and cell and between cell and matrix.Since the assembloids construction methods are in the early stage of development,there is no unified standard. OBJECTIVE:To review the current construction methods,applications,advantages,and disadvantages of assembloids,guide the development and improvement of vitro cell models. METHODS:PubMed,CNKI,and WanFang databases were searched with English search terms"assembloids,organoids,tumor microenvironment,organoids AND assemble,organoids AND microenvironment"and Chinese search terms"assembloids,organoids,tumor microenvironment,organoid reorganization,multicellular model".Totally 94 articles were screened out for review after excluding irrelevant articles and deduplication. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)According to the different sources of cells,the construction of assembloids can be divided into three methods:self-assembly,direct-assembly,and mixed-assembly.According to the differences of cell culture methods,it can be divided into suspension culture method,matrix culture method,organ chip culture method,and 3D bio-printing.(2)The process of self-assembly covers early stages of cell and tissue development,so it has broad prospects in the fields of organ development and developmental disorders.The function of differentiated mature cells is relatively perfect,and the assembloids directly assembled by them have more potential in the study of functional disorders and cell-damaging diseases.Self-assembly may be better in organ transplantation,and direct-assembly will be more suitable for the repair of tissue damage.Mixed-assembly combines the advantages of the former two and is mostly used to explore the physiological and pathological mechanisms of cells in the microenvironment,as well as drug screening.(3)Although different assembloids have their own advantages,they all face the problem of imperfect vasculature system,then,each method has its own limitations,for example,the degree of cell differentiation in self-assembly assembloids may still be different from that in vivo,and the fixed cell types in direct-assembly models cannot simulate complex microenvironments in vivo.These are urgent problems to be solved.(4)In the future,with the continuous improvement of assembloids culture technology,scientists can assemble biomimetic organoids with more complex tissues in vitro,providing infinitely realistic models for the study of physiological and pathological processes of human tissue and organ.
8.GPCR-Gs mediates the protective effects of ginsenoside Rb1 against oxygen-glucose deprivation/re-oxygenation-induced astrocyte injury
Xi Wang ; Ying Liu ; Juan Li ; Jiayu Xie ; Yi Dai ; Minke Tang
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences 2024;11(1):33-43
Objectives:
To investigate whether the protective actions of ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1) on astrocytes are mediated through the Gs-type G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR-Gs).
Methods:
Primary astrocyte cultures derived from neonatal mouse brain were used. Astrocyte injury was induced via oxygen-glucose deprivation/re-oxygenation (OGD/R). Cell morphology, viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, apoptosis, glutamate uptake, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) secretion were assessed to gauge cell survival and functionality. Western blot was used to investigate the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathways. GPCR-Gs-specific inhibitors and molecular docking were used to identify target receptors.
Results:
Rb1 at concentrations ranging from 0.8 to 5 μM did not significantly affect the viability, glutamate uptake, or BDNF secretion in normal astrocytes. OGD/R reduced astrocyte viability, increasing their LDH leakage and apoptosis rate. It also decreased glutamate uptake and BDNF secretion by these cells. Rb1 had protective effects of astrocytes challenged by OGD/R, by improving viability, reducing apoptosis, and enhancing glutamate uptake and BDNF secretion. Additionally, Rb1 activated the cAMP and Akt pathways in these cells. When the GPCR-Gs inhibitor NF449 was introduced, the protective effects of Rb1 completely disappeared, and its activation of cAMP and Akt signaling pathways was significantly inhibited.
Conclusion
Rb1 protects against astrocytes from OGD/R-induced injury through GPCR-Gs mediation.
9.Consensus statement on research and application of Chinese herbal medicine derived extracellular vesicles-like particles (2023 edition).
Qing ZHAO ; Tong WANG ; Hongbin WANG ; Peng CAO ; Chengyu JIANG ; Hongzhi QIAO ; Lihua PENG ; Xingdong LIN ; Yunyao JIANG ; Honglei JIN ; Huantian ZHANG ; Shengpeng WANG ; Yang WANG ; Ying WANG ; Xi CHEN ; Junbing FAN ; Bo LI ; Geng LI ; Bifeng LIU ; Zhiyang LI ; Suhua QI ; Mingzhen ZHANG ; Jianjian ZHENG ; Jiuyao ZHOU ; Lei ZHENG ; Kewei ZHAO
Chinese Herbal Medicines 2024;16(1):3-12
To promote the development of extracellular vesicles of herbal medicine especially the establishment of standardization, led by the National Expert Committee on Research and Application of Chinese Herbal Vesicles, research experts in the field of herbal medicine and extracellular vesicles were invited nationwide with the support of the Expert Committee on Research and Application of Chinese Herbal Vesicles, Professional Committee on Extracellular Vesicle Research and Application, Chinese Society of Research Hospitals and the Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Herbal Vesicles. Based on the collation of relevant literature, we have adopted the Delphi method, the consensus meeting method combined with the nominal group method to form a discussion draft of "Consensus statement on research and application of Chinese herbal medicine derived extracellular vesicles-like particles (2023)". The first draft was discussed in online and offline meetings on October 12, 14, November 2, 2022 and April and May 2023 on the current status of research, nomenclature, isolation methods, quality standards and research applications of extracellular vesicles of Chinese herbal medicines, and 13 consensus opinions were finally formed. At the Third Academic Conference on Research and Application of Chinese Herbal Vesicles, held on May 26, 2023, Kewei Zhao, convenor of the consensus, presented and read the consensus to the experts of the Expert Committee on Research and Application of Chinese Herbal Vesicles. The consensus highlights the characteristics and advantages of Chinese medicine, inherits the essence, and keeps the righteousness and innovation, aiming to provide a reference for colleagues engaged in research and application of Chinese herbal vesicles at home and abroad, decode the mystery behind Chinese herbal vesicles together, establish a safe, effective and controllable accurate Chinese herbal vesicle prevention and treatment system, and build a bridge for Chinese medicine to the world.
10.Structure-activity Omics on Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Effect of Cyperi Rhizoma in Qizhi Weitong Granules
Ying ZHENG ; Sicong LIU ; Xi LUO ; Bing QI ; Shuai WANG ; Yongrui BAO ; Tianjiao LI ; Liang WANG ; Dong YAO ; Xiansheng MENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(21):153-160
ObjectiveTo elucidate the pharmacodynamic substances responsible for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Cyperi Rhizoma by structure-activity omics. MethodOn the basis of the previous in vitro efficacy study by our research group, this study explored the in vivo efficacy of the flavonoids in Cyperi Rhizoma. The flavonoids in Cyperi Rhizoma and their targets were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), PharmMapper, Swiss TargetPrediction, and available articles. The targets of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects were collected from DisGeNET and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). The common targets shared by flavonoids and the effects were selected as the direct targets of flavonoids endowing Cyperi Rhizoma with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the core targets was constructed. The method of structure-activity omics was employed to correlate the structure and efficacy of one or more classes of chemical components in Cyperi Rhizoma with the targets as a bridge. The components were classified according to structure. Molecular docking of components to core targets was carried out via SYBYL-X 2.1.1, PyMol, and Discovery Studio 4.5 visualizer. Two targets with the highest binding affinity were selected to explore the relationship between compound structures and targets. ResultThe flavonoids in Cyperi Rhizoma exerted anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects on the mouse model of pain induced by formaldehyde. Eighteen components and 115 direct targets were screened out, and the core targets with high activities were protein kinase B1 (Akt1), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), cellular tumor antigen p53 (TP53), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). According to the structures, the flavonoids in Cyperi Rhizoma were classified into bioflavonoids, flavonols, flavones, and flavanes. The molecular docking results showed that flavonoids of Cyperi Rhizoma had the highest binding affinity to TP53 and PTGS2. The results of structure-activity omics showed that bioflavonoids represented the best binding structure to the targets, while their polyhydroxyl etherification resulted in a significant decrease in the binding affinity to PTGS2. Glycosides had higher binding affinity to PTGS2. The introduction of the long-chain hydrocarbon group to the A ring of flavonols facilitated the binding to TP53, while the change of B ring substituents was not the main factor affecting the binding affinity. The 3,4-dihydroxyl flavane outperformed 3-hydroxyl flavane in the binding to TP53, while the two compounds showed similar binding affinity to PTGS2. ConclusionThe method of structure-activity omics was used to analyze the material basis for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of flavonoids in Cyperi Rhizoma. Structure-activity omics provides new ideas for revealing the pharmacodynamic substances of traditional Chinese medicine.


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