This study investigated the effect of puerarin on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) injured with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). HUVEC were divided into three groups: a control group, a model group (H₂O₂ 400 μmol·L^-1) and a puerarin-treated group (3, 10, 30 and 100 μmol·L^-1). HUVEC were cultured with varied concentration of puerarin for 2 h and treated with H₂O₂ for another 24 h. Cell proliferation was detected by a CCK-8 assay. The mitochondrial membrane potential was measured by a JC-1 fluorescent probe. A transwell chamber assay was adopted to observe cell migration ability. Mitochondrial respiratory function was measured in a two-chamber titration injection respirometer (Oxygraph-2k). The expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. The expression of pyroptosis-mediated proteins, including cleaved-cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-1 (caspase-1), N-gasdermin D (N-GSDMD), NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) and purinergic ligand-gated ion channel 7 receptor (P2X7R) was detected by Western blot. The results show that 400 μmol·L^-1 H₂O₂ treatment for 24 h causes obvious damage to HUVEC. Compared with the model group, puerarin protected against cellular injury in a dose-dependent manner, with the greatest effect at a dose of 30 and 100 μmol·L^-1. Puerarin significantly decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and improved mitochondrial function. Puerarin inhibited cell migration induced by H₂O₂, suppressed the expression of IL-1β, IL-18 and TNF-α, and down-regulated the pyroptosis-mediated protein. These changes are statistically significant (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that puerarin has a protective effect against H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage of HUVEC by inhibiting the migration of HUVEC cells. The mechanism may be related to improved mitochondrial respiratory function and inhibition of pyroptosis.

Based on the research literatures of Passiflora incarnata and the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, the paper discussed the traditional Chinese medicinal properties of P. incarnate, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the compatibility and application of P. incarnata. The literature databases of CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus were selected, and the literatures relating to P. incarnata were reviewed to screen out the scientific research literatures with a high credibility, rational design and reliable conclusions. Foreign pharmacopoeia was consulted, and the listed products were summarized. The traditional Chinese medicine properties of P. incarnata were studied based on 32 clinical trials, 66 pharmacological researches, 64 chemical constituents researches as well as the theory of traditional Chinese medicine. It was preliminarily concluded that the medicinal properties of P. incarnata are sweet, cool, and enter heart, liver channels. The function is mainly to calm the heart and tranquilizing the mind, and calm the liver wind. It is used for hyperactivity of liver-Yang, stagnation of liver-Qi, restlessness of mind, depression, nervousness, insomnia. This paper summarized the source, characteristics of natures, tastes and channel tropism, usage and dosage, function indications of P. incarnata, and defined its clear traditional Chinese medicine property, which lays a theoretical foundation for the compatibility and clinical application of P. incarnata and Chinese medicine.
Anti-Anxiety Agents ; Anxiety ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Passiflora ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/drug therapy*

Aspalathus linearis is a needle-shaped shrub that grows in the Cedarberg mountains in southern South Africa, with an extremely high medicinal value. In 2014, China has approved A. linearis as a new food material. Through retrieval in CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus databases, the literatures were excluded, classified and summarized.On the basis of Chinese medicine theory, the traditional Chinese medicine properties were deducted. Finally, 264 relevant li-teratures were included and classified into 6 categories: review, planting, chemical composition, clinical study, pharmacological effects and safety. The traditional Chinese medicinal properties were deducted as sweet flavor and neutral property. It enters kidney, spleen, heart and liver channels. The major functions are to tonify the kidney and benefit the essence, nourish Qi and spleen, nourish Yin and prompt the production of body fluid, tranquilize mind, and relieve pain. It can be used for soreness of the waist and fatigue, sexual disinterest, limbs heaviness, thirst due to insufficiency of fluid and internal heat, irritability and insomnia, forget fulness, stomachache, joint pain, dysmenorrhea, headache. Preparation for external use can treat eczema itching. Water decoction(2-15 g) can also be used as tea directly. This paper defined the traditional Chinese medicine properties of A. linearis, so as to provide the theoretical basis for further clinical application.
Aspalathus ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Female ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

The present study analyzed the current Chinese medicinal health products and Chinese patent medicines effective in boosting memory,aiming at providing references for the formulation and development of memory-boosting health products. The information on memory-boosting health products published by the Department of Special Food Safety Supervision and Management,the State Administration for Market Regulation( SAMR) was collected and the Chinese patent medicines on DRUGDATAEXPY were searched. Microsoft Excel and the TCMISS were used to statistically analyze the characteristics of formulations. A total of 212 memory-boosting health products were obtained from SAMR,including 83 ones containing Chinese medicinal materials. Twelve Chinese herbal medicines showed a usage frequency ≥ 8,with 151 times in use. In DRUGDATAEXPY,258 similar Chinese patent medicines were collected.Twelve Chinese herbal medicines showed a usage frequency ≥ 58,with 907 times in use. Through unsupervised hierarchical entropybased clustering of the above-mentioned Chinese medicinal health products and Chinese patent medicines separately,5 and 12 new formulas were obtained. The selection of Chinese herbal medicines for the new formulas was consistent with the principles of traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) theories,i. e.,tonifying kidney and marrow,benefiting Qi,nourishing Yin,resolving phlegm,and eliminating stasis. According to TCM theories,syndrome differentiation of the users was conducted,and the formulas were designed following the correspondence of syndromes with formulas and Chinese herbal medicines. This study is expected to provide new ideas and methods for the development of Chinese medicinal health products and accurately guide practical applications to exert the advantages of TCM in health care based on syndrome differentiation and improve the effect of Chinese medicinal health products.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Nonprescription Drugs ; Syndrome

This study summarized and analyzed the current acne-relieving Chinese medicinal health products and Chinese patent medicines,aiming at providing references for the formulation and development of acne-relieving health products. The information on acne-relieving health products published by the Department of Special Food Safety Supervision and Management,the State Administration for Market Regulation( SAMR) was retrieved,and the Chinese patent medicines on DRUGDATAEXPY were searched. Microsoft Excel and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System V2. 5( TCMISS) were employed to statistically analyze the characteristics of formulations. Forty-three acne-relieving health products were obtained,including 40 ones containing Chinese herbal medicines. Six Chinese herbal medicines showed a usage frequency ≥8,with 61 times in use totally,including Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma( 13),Lonicerae Japonicae Flos( 12),Taraxaci Herba( 11),ALOE( 9),Carthami Flos( 8),and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma( 8). A total of 29 Chinese patent medicines with similar efficacy were collected in DRUGDATAEXPY. Nine Chinese herbal medicines showed a usage frequency ≥6,with 63 times in use,including Rhei Radix et Rhizoma( 10),Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma( 8),Scutellariae Radix( 8),Lonicerae Japonicae Flos( 7),Angelicae Sinensis Radix( 6),Paeoniae Radix Rubra( 6),Astragali Radix( 6),Paeoniae Radix Alba( 6),and Gardeniae Fructus( 6). Through unsupervised hierarchical entropy-based clustering of the above-mentioned Chinese medicinal health products and Chinese patent medicines,five and three new formulas were obtained,respectively. The selection of Chinese herbal medicines was consistent with the principles of traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) theories in relieving acne,i. e.,dispelling exterior wind,ventilating lungs,clearing heat,dissipating mass,promoting diuresis,relaxing bowels,removing toxin,activating blood,resolving stasis,eliminating phlegm,and regulating Qi. According to the " lung governing skin and body hair" and " interior-exterior relationship between lung and large intestine" in TCM theories,the idea that acne could be treated by relieving constipation was proposed,which provided new methods and references for the research and development of Chinese medicinal health products.
Acne Vulgaris/drug therapy* ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Nonprescription Drugs

In this article, the foreign and domestic literature on alien plant medicine Cynara scolymus was reviewed to explore its properties and functions in traditional Chinese medicine theory, and provide theoretical basis for clinical application and reasonable compatibility. Based on the literature databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP and Sinomed, the articles with high reliability related to C. scolymus were screened out and the obtained articles were systematically classified according to clinical application, chemical compositions, pharmacological action, toxic and side effects, etc. In the analysis with traditional Chinese medicine theory, it is concluded that: C. scolymus tastes bitter and slightly cold, attributing to spleen, stomach, liver and gall meridians. It has the functions of eliminating accumulation and guiding stagnation, regulating Qi-flowing for harmonizing stomach, clearing away dampness and heat, resolving turbidity and lowering blood lipids. It can be used for the treatment of dyspepsia, diet reduction, vomiting, nausea, abdominal distention, hypochondriac pain, jaundice, hyperlipidemia, etc. Through the analysis and research of the relevant literature on C. scolymus, the properties and functions of the drug were clarified, which could provide a theoretical basis for further animal experiments and clinical research. The research model of "traditional Chinese medicine theory" for alien plant medicines can provide reference for the introduction and research of botanical drugs around the world, which can greatly enrich Chinese medicine resources and is of great significance for promoting the sustainable development of traditional Chinese medicine.
Animals ; Cynara scolymus ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Meridians ; Reproducibility of Results

Disorders of Excessive Somnolence ; Humans ; Parkinson Disease ; complications ; REM Sleep Behavior Disorder ; therapy ; Restless Legs Syndrome ; therapy ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; therapy ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; therapy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the clinical characteristics and potential mechanisms relevant to pathological proteins in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients who experience fatigue. METHODS: PD patients (n=102) were evaluated using a fatigue severity scale and scales for motor and nonmotor symptoms. The levels of three pathological proteins-α-synuclein oligomer, β-amyloid (Aβ)(1-42), and tau-were measured in 102 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from these PD patients. Linear regression analyses were performed between fatigue score and the CSF levels of the above-listed pathological proteins in PD patients. RESULTS: The frequency of fatigue in the PD patients was 62.75%. The fatigue group had worse motor symptoms and anxiety, depression, and autonomic dysfunction. The CSF level of α-synuclein oligomer was higher and that of Aβ1-42 was lower in the fatigue group than in the non-fatigue group. In multiple linear regression analyses, fatigue severity was significantly and positively correlated with the α-synuclein oligomer level in the CSF of PD patients, after adjusting for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: PD patients experience a high frequency of fatigue. PD patients with fatigue have worse motor and part nonmotor symptoms. Fatigue in PD patients is associated with an increased α-synuclein oligomer level in the CSF.
Anxiety ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Depression ; Fatigue* ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Parkinson Disease* ; Weights and Measures

We conducted in-depth analysis on the use of a popular Chinese social networking and microblogging site, Sina Weibo, to monitor an avian influenza A(H7N9) outbreak in China and to assess the value of social networking sites in the surveillance of disease outbreaks that occur overseas. Two data sets were employed for our analysis: a line listing of confirmed cases obtained from conventional public health information channels and case information from Weibo posts. Our findings showed that the level of activity on Weibo corresponded with the number of new cases reported. In addition, the reporting of new cases on Weibo was significantly faster than those of conventional reporting sites and non-local news media. A qualitative review of the functions of Weibo also revealed that Weibo enabled timely monitoring of other outbreak-relevant information, provided access to additional crowd-sourced epidemiological information and was leveraged by the local government as an interactive platform for risk communication and monitoring public sentiment on the policy response. Our analysis demonstrated the potential for social networking sites to be used by public health agencies to enhance traditional communicable disease surveillance systems for the global surveillance of overseas public health threats. Social networking sites also can be used by governments for calibration of response policies and measures and for risk communication.

In this study, the buffering capacity of amphiphilic pH-sensitivity copolymer poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-cholesteryl methyl carbonate (PEOZ-CHMC) was evaluated. The ammonium sulfate gradient method was used to prepare doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX x HCl)-loaded liposomes (DOX-L), and then the post-insertion method was used to prepare PEOZ-CHMC and polyethylene glycol-distearoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PEG-DSPE) modified DOX x HCl-loaded liposomes (PEOZ-DOX-L and PEG-DOX-L). The physico-chemical properties, in vitro drugs release behavior, cellular toxicity and intracellular delivery of liposomes were evaluated, separately. The results showed that PEOZ-CHMC has a satisfactory buffering capacity. The sephadex G-50 column centrifugation method and dynamic light scattering were used to determine the encapsulation efficiency (EE) and particle size of liposomes. The EE and particle size of DOX-L were (97.3 ± 1.4) % and 120 nm, respectively, and the addition of PEOZ-CHMC or PEG-DSPE had no influence on EE and particle size. The zeta potentials of three kinds of liposomes were negative. The release behavior of various DOX liposomes in vitro was investigated by dialysis method. In phosphate buffer solution (PBS) at pH 7.4, DOX x HCl was released from PEOZ-DOX-L in a sustained manner. While in PBS at pH 5.0, the release rate of DOX x HCl from PEOZ-DOX-L increased significantly, which suggested DOX x HCl was released from PEOZ-DOX-L in a pH-dependent manner. The intracellular delivery of liposomes was investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The CLSM images indicated that PEOZ-DOX-L showed efficient intracellular trafficking including endosomal escape and release DOX x HCl into nucleus, as well as the DOX-L and PEG-DOX-L had no this effect. The cytotoxicity of liposomes against MCF-7 cells was detected by using MTT assay. The results showed that antiproliferative effects of PEOZ-DOX-L enhanced with pH value decreased, whereas DOX-L and PEG-DOX-L did not have any significant difference in inhibitions at different pH conditions. Therefore, the problems of the inhibition of cellular uptake of liposomes and the failed endosomal escape of pH-sensitive liposomes by PEG chain can be overcome by the pH-sensitive liposomes constructed by PEOZ-CHMC.
Cell Nucleus ; Doxorubicin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Endosomes ; Formates ; chemistry ; Humans ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; MCF-7 Cells ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Particle Size ; Phosphatidylethanolamines ; Polyamines ; chemistry ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry