Four new dicaffeoylspermidine derivatives, lycibarbarspermidines P-S (1-4), were isolated from the fruit of Lycium barbarum (wolfberry). The structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic (HRESIMS, 1D NMR, and 2D NMR) analyses and chemical methods. Dicaffeoylspermidine derivatives are a kind of major bioactive and characteristic constituents in wolfberry, and the discovery of 1 -4 added new members of this family.

This overview has provided an account of evolutional changes of an experience-based traditional medical practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) towards modernisation to keep up with recent advances in analytical and biomedical sciences, and information technology, which may help readers to understand why applying biomedical research methodology to TCM modernisation, while maintaining the experience-based concepts, principles and heritage of TCM’s personalised health and medical approaches in balancing body’s functions with physical and mental harmony when facing environmental changes, can contribute to gain global appreciation and acceptance of TCM in healthcare. It is envisaged that such future development and integration with biomedicine-based main-stream medicine (MSM) in practice will provide valuable medical care in the development of future personalised health and medicine as well as TCM product development.

Background: Curcuminoids are promising cancer chemopreventive agents. Curcumin, demethoxycurcumin (DMC) and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) are the major bioactive curcuminoids in turmeric. However, comprehensive metabolic studies of these three curcuminoids are still limited. Objective: To identify the metabolites of curcumin, DMC and BDMC in rats after oral administration of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs). Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (250 ± 20 g, body weight) were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=3), and were orally administered with curcumin-SLN, DMC-SLN, BDMC-SLN, or blank-SLN, respectively. Plasma samples (500 μL) via the angular vein were collected at 1, 2 and 4 h post dosing, and the urine and feces samples were collected at 0-12 h and 12-24 h post-intake. An HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSⁿ method was developed to identify the metabolites. The structures of phase II metabolites were further confirmed by enzyme hydrolysis. Results: A total of 34 metabolites were identified in rats plasma, urine, and feces. Most of them were phase II metabolites, including glucuronide conjugates and sulfate conjugates. Among them, the glucuronide conjugates were the major metabolites in rats plasma. In the meanwhile, the three parent curcuminoids were detected in high amounts in the urine and feces samples. Conclusion: The possible metabolic pathways of curcuminoids in rats were proposed. Abbreviations: DMC: Demethoxycurcumin; BDMC: Bisdemethoxycurcumin; SLNs: Solid lipid nanoparticles; HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSⁿ: High- performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Tonifying Shen strategy works as an important alternative and complementary method that is widely used to treat osteoporosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) based on the proper identification of Zheng. Shen deficiency Zheng is one of the main types of osteoporosis while Shen-Yin and -Yang deficiencies represent two basic principles/types of Shen deficiency. Currently, Tonifying Shen strategy, in particular, the Tonifying Shen-Yin and -Yang principles, has been demonstrated to exert osteoprotective effects. However, the mechanisms by which Tonifying Shen strategy and/or Tonifying Shen-Yin and -Yang principles function in treating osteoporosis are still not clearly understood. Here we first briefly explore current understanding of Tonifying Shen strategy, such as Tonifying Shen prescriptions, herbs, and effective components, in treating osteoporosis. Furthermore, the mechanism of Tonifying Shen-Yang principle in treating osteoporosis is reviewed from the clinic experience, animal, and mechanistic investigation. Moreover, the mechanisms by which Tonifying Shen-Yin principle in treating osteoporosis are established. Finally, we compare the similarity and difference between Tonifying Shen-Yang and -Yin principles in treating osteoporosis. Our findings indicate that both principles exert bone-protective effects in treating osteoporosis by simultaneously stimulating the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into osteoblast and the differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) into osteoclast. However, Tonifying Shen-Yin principle is in favor of increasing bone mineral density (BMD) while Tonifying Shen-Yang principle is in favor of osteoporosis-related syndromes. Our findings indicate that Tonifying Shen-Yin and -Yang principles not only share some similarity but also obtain some difference in treating osteoporosis. Abbreviations: 1.25(OH) D3: 1, 25-dihydroxy Vitamin D3; ALP: Alkaline phosphates; Beta 2-MG: Beta 2-microglobulin; BGP: Bone gla protein; BGSSC: Bugushengsui capsule; BMD: Bone mineral density; BMP: Bone morphogetic protein; BSA: Bone sialoprotein; BSF: Bushenfang; BSJG: Bushenjiangufang; BSSF: Bushenshenggufang; BSYG: Bushengyanggupian; BGSSC: Bugushengsuipian; Col-1: Collagen type I; CORT: Corticosterone; DM: Dexamethasone; DRG: Dried root of Rehmanniaglutinosa; FLL: Fructus Ligustri Lucidi, one effective ingredient form herb; GLP: Gulin Pill; HSC: Hemateopoeitic stem cell; IGF-1: Insulin-likefactor-1; IKSBC: Bushenjiangujiaonang; IL-1,6,7: Interleukin (IL)-1,6,7; LPS: Lipopo lysaccharide; LWDHP: Liuweidihuangpills; MAPK: Mitogen-activated protein kinase; MSC: Mesenchymal stem cell; M-CSF: Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; NEIC: Neuron-Endocrine-Immune-Circulation; NFATc1: Nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 1; OA: Oleanolic acid; OCN: Osteocalcin; OVX: Ovariectomized; OPG: Osteoprotegerin; PLCy2: Phospholipase Cy2; PTH: Parathyroid hormone; RANK: Receptor activator of NF-KB; RANKL: Receptor activator of NF-kB ligand; Runx 2: Runt-related transcription factor 2; TCM: Traditional Chinese Medicine; TKEBP: Bushenqianggufang; TKSB: Bushengzhuanggupian; TKYDP: Bushenwenyangfang; TKYR: Bushengyangfang; LWDHP: Liuweidihuang pills; TNF-a: Tumor necrosis factor a; TRAP: Tartrate-resistant acid phosphate; YGP: Yougui Pill; ZGP: Zuogui Pill.

Individualized treatment is a basic feature of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and individualized efficacy evaluation is also emphasized in TCM clinical practice. Individualized evaluation is in favor of improving intervention continuously, and optimizing the TCM evidence- using pattern gradually. Traditional case reports can better demonstrate the efficacy of individual, but lack of standardized design, making such evidence show a lower quality. Meanings, objectives and design elements of TCM individualized evaluation were discussed in this paper. Then based on the original work, design ideas and framework of TCM evidence-based case reporting system were established preliminarily. This work will improve the methodology of TCM individualized evaluation to realize the goal of optimizing TCM clinical evidence-using pattern. Abbreviations: CECS: TCM evidence-based case reporting system; EBM: Evidence-based medicine; EBP: Evidence-based practice; TCM: Traditional Chinese medicine; WM: Western medicine

Aim: Yiqi-Liangxue Recipe (YL) is a compound preparation of Chinese medicine used for preventing cardiovascular events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (Patent No. 200810240175.4). Maintaining the integrity of endothelia is one of the most effective approaches to prevent restenosis. Given its clinical protective effects on long-term prognosis, we investigated the mechanisms of YL in protecting vascular endothelial cells. Methods: We prepared drugs serum and human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) lines. The injured model was employed with Angiotensin II (Ang II). The YL group was employed with YL treatment. The ARB medicine group was employed with Losartan Potassium treatment. The combination of Chinese medicine and western medicine (YL+ARB) group was employed with both YL and ARB. The control group was unemployed with injury and medical treatment. For each group the cell migration rate (CM) and cell proliferation rate (CP) were measured. The concentration of Nitric Oxide (NO), Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), Endothelin-1 (ET-1) were assessed. The gene expression level of ET-1 was observed. Results: YL+ARB group significantly promoted the speed of the CM/CP of the injured HUVECs. Compared with model group, the concentration of NO increased after the drug intervention, and the concentration of ET-1 decreased. Compared with YL+ARB group, YL and ARB group each had the similar weaker effects, but did not have significant difference. The fluorescence of ROS in YL, ARB and YL+ARB group had no difference because the fluorescence was too strong. Compared with model group, the -2AACt values were decreased in the YL, ARB and YL+ARB group. The gene expression level of ET-1 was inhibited after the drug intervention, although with no significant difference. Conclusion: Treatment with YL ameliorates the injury of vascular endothelial cells and YL+ARB has better curative effect. The mechanisms are associated with improving the speed of the CM/CP; increasing the release of NO and attenuating the concentration of damage-associated mediators like ROS, ET-1 and the gene expression level of ET-1. The results suggest that YL maybe an option for preventing cardiovascular events after PCI.

Tongue coating, as a sensitive index of the physiological and pathological changes of human organs, is an important basis for the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation and treatment. Mechanism of the formation and change of tongue coating is an important scientific problem. In recent years, researches indicated that in addition to apoptosis related genes, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) also contribute to tongue coating formation. In this paper, we summarized recent studies on the potential role of EGF and EGFR in regulating the formation of tongue coating to provide some reference for the further investigations on tongue coating formation mechanisms.