Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) is a prevalent metabolic and endocrine disorder. Long-term hyperglycemia can lead to severe chronic complications, imposing substantial economic burdens on both society and patients. Despite the availability of various hypoglycemic agents for clinical use, these agents often fail to meet the therapeutic needs of T2DM and its complications. Consequently, there is an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies and drugs. Lithocarpus litseifolius(L. litseifolius), commonly referred to as "cordyceps on trees", has a long history of use in traditional medicine and can be applied in tea, sugar, and medicine. Research indicates that L. litseifolius extracts are rich in dihydrochalcones, including trilobatin, phloridzin, and phloretin, which exhibit a range of pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective effects. These properties suggest potential applications in the treatment of T2DM and its complications. This review systematically compiled and organized the relevant literature from the past decade on dihydrochalcones(trilobatin, phloridzin, and phloretin) from L. litseifolius extracts. It highlighted recent research progress regarding their role in treating T2DM and its complications through mechanisms such as reducing insulin resistance, regulating glucose transport, improving glucose and lipid metabolism, modulating enzyme activity, regulating gut microbiota, and alleviating inflammation and oxidative damage. The purpose of this review is to provide a reference and basis for future research on the prevention and treatment of T2DM and its complications using dihydrochalcones(trilobatin, phloridzin, and phloretin) from L. litseifolius extracts.
Chalcones/chemistry* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism* ; Humans ; Animals ; Elaeocarpaceae/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Hypoglycemic Agents/chemistry* ; Plant Extracts/chemistry*

Atractylodes lancea is a perennial herbaceous plant of Asteraceae, with rhizomes for medical use. However, A. lancea plants from different habitats have great variability, and the germplasm resources of A. lancea are unclear and mixed during production. Therefore, it is urgent to protect new varieties of A. lancea. The distinctness, uniformity, and stability(DUS) testing of new plant varieties is the foundation of plant variety protection, and the DUS testing guidelines are the technical basis for variety approval agencies to conduct DUS testing. In this study, the phenotypic traits of 94 germplasm accessions of A. lancea were investigated considering the breeding and variety characteristics of A. lancea in China. The traits were classified and described, and 24 traits were preliminarily determined, including 20 basic traits that must be tested and four traits selected to be tested. The 20 basic traits included 3 quality traits, 5 false quality traits, and 12 quantitative traits, corresponding to 1 plant traits, 2 stem traits, 8 leaf traits, 6 flower traits, and 3 seed traits. The measurement ranges and coefficients of variation of eight quantitative traits were determined, on the basis of which the grading criteria and codes of the traits were determined and assigned. The guidelines has guiding significance for the trait evaluation, utilization, and breeding of new varieties of A. lancea.
Atractylodes/growth & development* ; China ; Phenotype ; Guidelines as Topic ; Plant Breeding

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is the pillar for the development of motherland medicine, and animal medicine has a long history of application in China, characterized by wide resources, strong activity, definite efficacy, and great benefits. It has significant potential and important status in the consumption market of raw materials of TCM. In the context of global climate change, farming system alterations, and low renewability, the depletion of wild medicinal animal resources has accelerated. Accordingly, the conservation and sustainable utilization of wild resources of animal medicinal materials has become a problem that garners increasing attention and urgently needs to be solved. This paper summarizes the current situation of domestic and foreign medicinal animal breeding and research progress in industrial application in recent years and points out the issues related to standardized breeding, germplasm selection and breeding, and quality evaluation standards for medicinal animals. Furthermore, this paper discusses standardized breeding, quality standards, resource protection and utilization, and the search for alternative resources for rare and endangered medicinal animals. It proposes that researchers should systematically carry out in-depth basic research on animal medicine, improve the breeding scale and level of medicinal animals, employ modern technology to enhance the quality standards of medicinal materials, and strengthen the research and development of alternative resources. This approach aims to effectively address the relationship between protection and utilization and make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of medicinal animal resources and the animal-based Chinese medicinal material industry.
Animals ; Breeding ; China ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Conservation of Natural Resources

Compounds isolated from Epimedium include the total flavonoids of Epimedium , icariin, and its metabolites (icaritin, icariside I, and icariside II), which have similar molecular structures. Modern pharmacological research and clinical practice have proved that Epimedium and its active components have a wide range of pharmacological effects, especially in improving sexual function, hormone regulation, anti-osteoporosis, immune function regulation, anti-oxidation, and anti-tumor activity. To date, we still need a comprehensive source of knowledge about the pharmacological effects of Epimedium and its bioactive compounds on the male reproductive system. However, their actions in other tissues have been reviewed in recent years. This review critically focuses on the Epimedium , its bioactive compounds, and the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that modulate vital pathways associated with the male reproductive system. Such intrinsic knowledge will significantly further studies on the Epimedium and its bioactive compounds that protect the male reproductive system and provide some guidances for clinical treatment of related male reproductive disorders.
Male ; Epimedium/chemistry* ; Humans ; Genitalia, Male/drug effects* ; Flavonoids/therapeutic use* ; Animals

OBJECTIVE: Ulcerative colitis is closely associated with intestinal stem cell (ISC) loss and impaired intestinal mucus barrier. Sinisan (SNS), a compound Chinese herbal medicine, has a long history in the treatment of intestinal dysfunction, yet whether SNS can relieve acute experimental colitis by modulating ISC proliferation and secretory cell differentiation has not been studied. Our study tested the effect of SNS against acute colitis and focused on the mechanisms involving intestinal barrier recovery. METHODS: Network pharmacology analysis and blood entry component analysis of SNS were used to explore the underlying mechanism by which SNS affects the acute dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced murine colitis model. RNA-sequencing was used to demonstrate the mechanism. Further, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence staining, and alcian blue and periodic acid-Schiff staining were performed in vivo and in the colonic organoids to investigate the cell lineage differentiation-related mechanism of SNS. Furthermore, potential active ingredients from SNS were predicted by network pharmacology analysis. RESULTS: SNS dramatically suppressed DSS-induced acute colonic inflammation in mice. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed downregulation of inflammation and apoptosis-related genes, and upregulation of lipid metabolism and proliferation-related genes, such as Irf7, Pparα, Clspn and Hspa5. Additionally, ISC renewal and intestinal secretory cell lineage commitment were significantly promoted by SNS both in vivo and in vitro in colonic organoids, leading to enhanced mucin expression. Furthermore, potential active ingredients from SNS that mediated inflammation, lipid metabolism, proliferation, apoptosis, stem cells and secretory cells were predicted using a network pharmacology approach. CONCLUSION Our study shed light on the underlying mechanism of SNS in attenuating acute colitis from the perspective of ISC renewal and secretory lineage cell differentiation, suggesting a of novel therapeutic strategy against colitis. Please cite this article as: Cai YJ, Lan JH, Li S, Feng YN, Li FH, Guo MY, et al. Sinisan, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, alleviates acute colitis by facilitating colonic secretory cell lineage commitment and mucin production. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(4): 429-444.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Mice ; Colon/pathology* ; Mucins/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Male ; Colitis/metabolism* ; Cell Lineage/drug effects* ; Dextran Sulfate ; Stem Cells/drug effects* ; Disease Models, Animal

This study investigates the pharmacokinetics and metabolic characteristics of three marine-derived piericidins as potential drug leads for kidney disease: piericidin A (PA) and its two glycosides (GPAs), glucopiericidin A (GPA) and 13-hydroxyglucopiericidin A (13-OH-GPA). The research aims to facilitate lead selection and optimization for developing a viable preclinical candidate. Rapid absorption of PA and GPAs in mice was observed, characterized by short half-lives and low bioavailability. Glycosides and hydroxyl groups significantly enhanced the absorption rate (13-OH-GPA > GPA > PA). PA and GPAs exhibited metabolic instability in liver microsomes due to Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) and uridine diphosphoglucuronosyl transferases (UGTs). Glucuronidation emerged as the primary metabolic pathway, with UGT1A7, UGT1A8, UGT1A9, and UGT1A10 demonstrating high elimination rates (30%-70%) for PA and GPAs. This rapid glucuronidation may contribute to the low bioavailability of GPAs. Despite its low bioavailability (2.69%), 13-OH-GPA showed higher kidney distribution (19.8%) compared to PA (10.0%) and GPA (7.3%), suggesting enhanced biological efficacy in kidney diseases. Modifying the C-13 hydroxyl group appears to be a promising approach to improve bioavailability. In conclusion, this study provides valuable metabolic insights for the development and optimization of marine-derived piericidins as potential drug leads for kidney disease.
Animals ; Male ; Mice ; Aquatic Organisms/chemistry* ; Biological Availability ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/metabolism* ; Glucuronosyltransferase/metabolism* ; Microsomes, Liver/metabolism* ; Molecular Structure ; Biological Products/pharmacokinetics* ; Pyridines/pharmacokinetics*

Objective To explore the characteristics of coagulation and immune function and their clinical significance in children with severe adenovirus pneumonia(SAP).Methods A total of 122 children with SAP and 120 children with non-severe adenovirus pneumonia(NSAP)were enrolled and assigned to severe group and non-severe group.The severe group was further subdivided into good prognosis subgroup(n=105)and poor prognosis subgroup(n=17)according to prognosis.Addition-ally,120 healthy children undergoing physical examination during the same period were included as control group.Coagulation function indicators,including prothrombin time(PT),activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT),fibrinogen(FIB),and thrombin time(TT)were measured.Levels of immunoglobulin A(IgA),immunoglobulin G(IgG),and immunoglobulin M(IgM)were determined using the nephelometric immunoassay.Multivariate Cox regression analysis was conducted to explore the influencing factors of poor prognosis.Results Compared with the control group,children in both the non-severe and severe groups exhibited increased levels of white blood cells(WBC),neutrophils(N),C-reactive protein(CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),interleukin-6(IL-6),procalci-tonin(PCT),FIB,and IgG,as well as decreased levels of B lymphocytes,natural killer(NK)cells,PT,APTT,IgA,and IgM(P＜0.05).Compared with the non-severe group,children in the severe group showed increased levels of WBC,N,CRP,ESR,IL-6,PCT,FIB,and IgG,as well as decreased levels of B lymphocytes,NK cells,PT,APTT,IgA,and IgM(P＜0.05).Compared with the good prognosis subgroup,the poor prognosis subgroup exhibited increased levels of CRP,IL-6,PCT,and IgG,as well as decreased levels of APTT,IgM,and IgA(P＜0.05).The results of multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that PCT,APTT,and IgM were influencing factors of poor prognosis in children with SAP(P＜0.05).Conclusion Children with SAP have decreased levels of PT,APTT,IgA,and IgM,as well as increased levels of FIB and IgG.Coagulation and im-mune function indicators are correlated with the prognosis of SAP.

The wearable electrochemical sensors exhibit many advantages such as flexibility,miniaturization,portability,biocompatibility and low cost,and can be used for accurate,safe,real-time,and non-invasive monitoring of physiological signals in sweat,which are very helpful to monitor various physiological indicators of athletes during training,predict sports risks,prevent sports injuries and scientifically guide sports training,showing enormous potential in the field of sports monitoring. In this paper,the latest research progress of wearable electrochemical sweat sensors based on the relationship between biomarkers in sweat and exercise training was reviewed,such as the sensor substrate materials,sweat sampling strategies,sensing unit,signal transmission,and power supply systems. In addition,the current application status,the opportunities and challenges in the field of motion monitoring of wearable electrochemical sensors were discussed,and their future development was prospected.

Objective To study the application of serum microRNA(miR)-338-3p and miR-495-3p levels in the diagnosis and disease evaluation of severe adenovirus pneumonia in children.Methods A total of 130 chil-dren with adenovirus pneumonia who were treated in Cangzhou Central Hospital from November 2020 to No-vember 2022 were enrolled as an observation group.According to the severity of the disease,the children were divided into a mild pneumonia group with 90 children and a severe pneumonia group with 40 children.A total of 130 healthy children who were examined in Cangzhou Central Hospital during the same period were en-rolled as the control group.The observation and control groups and the children with different disease severity were compared in terms of the serum levels of miR-338-3p and miR-495-3p.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of serum miR-338-3p and miR-495-3p for severe adeno-virus pneumonia.Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of severe adeno-virus pneumonia.Results The observation group had a significantly lower serum level of miR-338-3p and a significantly higher serum level of miR-495-3p than the control group(P＜0.05).There were significant differences in electrolyte disturbance,circulatory system complications incidence,miR-338-3p level,miR-495-3p level,sequential organ failure score and Murray lung injury score between the mild pneumonia group and the severe pneumonia group(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of serum miR-338-3p and miR-495-3p in the auxiliary diagnosis of severe adenovirus pneumonia were 0.745(95％CI 0.662-0.828)and 0.774(95％CI 0.685-0.863),respectively.And the AUC of the combination of the two was 0.884(95％CI 0.821-0.946),which was better than that of each index alone(Z=2.593,1.963,P＜0.05).Conclusion The level of serum miR-338-3p is decreased and the level of serum miR-495-3p is increased in children with severe adenovirus pneumonia.The combined detection of miR-338-3p and miR-495-3p has a certain value in the diagnosis of severe adenovirus pneumonia and can be used as a serum indica-tor to evaluate the severity of severe adenovirus pneumonia.