Search Results (791)

Lonicera japonica Thunb. (honeysuckle), a traditional herb with “food-medicine homology” status in Chinese medicine, is valued for its antipyretic and detoxifying properties. This review systematically summarizes its chemical composition—over 507 identified compounds, including phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, triterpenoids, saponins, and the plant-specific miR2911—as well as its multi-target pharmacological mechanisms and emerging translational applications, with particular emphasis on the gut–brain axis-mediated neuroprotective effects. Despite low oral bioavailability, honeysuckle polysaccharides and chlorogenic acid have been shown to exert significant neuroprotection in Alzheimer’s disease models by modulating gut microbiota composition, increasing short-chain fatty acid production, and restoring intestinal barrier integrity—a mechanism that challenges conventional direct-action paradigms. We also outline the applications of honeysuckle in functional foods, pharmaceuticals, animal husbandry, and cosmetics, and propose future directions including precision fermentation and mechanism-driven clinical trials. By integrating phytochemistry, pharmacology, and biotechnology, this review provides a roadmap for the evidence-based development of honeysuckle as a precise medicinal and edible resource. Full article

Astragalus membranaceus is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb commonly used as a feed additive in livestock production; however, the molecular mechanisms by which it influences meat quality in sheep remain poorly understood. In this study, 96 Ao-Hu crossbred rams were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments receiving 0%, 2%, 4%, or 6% Astragalus membranaceus powder (AMP) over a 70-day feeding trial. At the end of the trial, one sheep per pen (n = 6 per treatment) was selected for longissimus dorsi muscle collection and subsequent meat quality traits, proteomic and metabolomic analyses. Phenotypically, only the 6% AMP inclusion significantly reduced cooking loss, while all the other quality traits remained unchanged. Metabolomic analysis identified 24, 33, and 86 differential metabolites in the low-, medium-, and high-dose groups, respectively, with the high-dose group showing additional enrichment in arginine-proline metabolism, pantothenate/CoA biosynthesis, and cAMP/cGMP signaling pathways. Proteomic analysis revealed 11, 7, and 19 differentially expressed proteins, with collagen family members (COL1A1, COL1A2, and COL3A1) down-regulated exclusively at the high dose, though shear force was unaffected. Correlation analysis suggested associations between cooking loss and metabolites involved in fatty acid oxidation and redox balance. These findings provide clues for understanding the effects of AMP on meat quality and offer candidate pathways and protein targets for future mechanistic investigations. Full article

Diabetes ranks first among non-communicable chronic diseases worldwide, with its incidence rising year on year; this makes the search for safer and more effective drugs an effective strategy. Ophiopogon japonicus (OJ) is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb used to nourish yin, and Ophiopogon japonicus polysaccharides (OJPS) are one of its primary active components. Currently, research into the hypoglycaemic effects of OJPS, particularly in vivo studies of its mechanisms of action, remains limited. This paper provides a systematic review of the structural characteristics of Ophiopogon japonicus polysaccharides and their hypoglycaemic mechanisms in a zebrafish hyperglycaemia model. Structural studies indicate that OJPS (3.929 kDa) is a highly homogeneous, highly soluble, and compact polysaccharide, primarily composed of glucose (91.85%) and galacturonic acid (3.41%). Following treatment with OJPS, hyperglycaemic zebrafish exhibited improvements in both glucose and lipid metabolism parameters. Concurrently, OJPS suppressed oxidative stress in the zebrafish, reducing hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammatory cell infiltration. Furthermore, OJPS significantly increased the expression of GLP-1, cAMP, PKA and phosphorylated CREB (P-CREB) proteins, thereby promoting insulin secretion. In summary, this study demonstrates the dual potential of OJPS in the functional food and pharmaceutical industries. Full article

Citrus plants are vital, globally distributed medicinal and edible homologous resources with a long application history in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and modern functional food industries. Representative Citrus-derived medicinal and edible herbs including Citri reticulatae pericarpium (Chenpi), Citri grandis exocarpium (Huajuhong), Aurantii fructus immaturus (Zhishi), Aurantii fructus (Zhiqiao), and Citri reticulatae semen (Juhe) possess rich bioactive components and diverse pharmacological activities, laying a solid material foundation for their dual food and medicinal applications. This review systematically summarizes the traditional empirical processing and modern innovative processing technologies of typical Citrus medicinal and edible homologous herbs, and elaborates the dynamic variations in core phytochemicals induced by different processing methods and parameters. Combined with modern phytochemistry and pharmacological research, the core chemical transformation mechanisms during processing, including hydrolysis, oxidation, polymerization and isomerization, are clarified, scientifically interpreting the TCM processing theory of “processing modulates herbal efficacy”. Meanwhile, the current research limitations of Citrus processing research have been analyzed. On this basis, future research directions are proposed, aiming to provide systematic theoretical support and practical technical guidance for the standardized processing, quality optimization, rational utilization and industrial upgrading of Citrus medicinal and edible homologous resources, and promote the cross-integrated development of TCM processing theory and modern food science and pharmacology. Full article

Irinotecan is a first-line medication for metastatic colorectal cancer. It is known that irinotecan-induced delayed diarrhea is closely related to metabolic processes in the human body. In particular, the synergies of multiple metabolic enzymes/transporters mediate the transport/regeneration of intestinal SN38. This efficient metabolite derived from irinotecan not only exerts robust cytotoxic effects, but also extends contact duration with the intestinal wall during enterohepatic circulation. These factors further affect the intestinal microenvironment, including intestinal flora disorder, intestinal immune dysregulation, and intestinal barrier impairment, which ultimately causes the occurrence of delayed diarrhea. At present, dose adjustment of irinotecan and combining drugs are common measures for clinical use. However, these regimens have shown limited therapeutic efficacy and face the risk of chemotherapy failure. Numerous studies have shown that herbal medicines and derived phytochemicals may also be promising complementary treatments. The characteristics of multi-target regulation of herbs are very suitable for the intervention strategy of complex diseases with multiple pathogenic links. This review focuses on the development of irinotecan-induced delayed diarrhea. We generalized the complex pathogenesis in detail and summarized relevant potential drugs and clinical agents. Special attention was paid to the feasibility of traditional Chinese medicine treatment. This will help expand medication regimens for irinotecan-related diarrhea and provide a reference for the development of precision drugs. Full article

Foodborne pathogens and their biofilms threaten microbial safety in food systems, highlighting the need for antimicrobial candidates. This study compared nine essential oils derived from traditional Chinese medicinal herbs (TCM herb essential oils) for antibacterial activity, mature biofilm removal, volatile composition, and candidate compounds against Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella paratyphi B using DIZ, MIC, crystal violet staining, GC–MS, growth curves, and SEM. Among the tested oils, Lonicera japonica, Sinomenium acutum, and Scutellaria baicalensis essential oils showed relatively broad antibacterial activity. Lonicera japonica essential oil (LJEO) displayed the most notable overall performance, producing DIZ values of 38.29, 25.29, and 24.75 mm against S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, and S. paratyphi B, respectively, and low MIC against S. aureus and L. monocytogenes at 0.15625% and 0.3125%. LJEO removed mature biofilms of L. monocytogenes, E. coli, and S. paratyphi B by 60.58%, 50.80%, and 47.82%, respectively, but showed limited activity against S. aureus biofilms. GC–MS identified 156 volatile compounds, with LJEO characterized by abundant linalool, p-cymene, borneol, cineoles, and limonene. Growth curves and SEM indicated that LJEO inhibited bacterial proliferation and damaged cell surface structures. These findings suggest that TCM herb essential oils, especially LJEO, may serve as natural antimicrobial candidates for foodborne pathogen control and food preservation. Full article

Background/Objectives: In obese skeletal muscle, impaired insulin signalling and persistent low-grade inflammation frequently arise together, jointly driving metabolic dysfunction; yet a single intracellular node capable of simultaneously correcting both defects has not been identified. Curcumol is the principal active sesquiterpene of the traditional Chinese herb Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Rosc. We therefore sought to determine whether curcumol modulates obesity-driven insulin resistance and inflammatory activation in skeletal muscle, and to delineate the responsible molecular pathway. Methods: The study combined in vivo and in vitro experiments with network pharmacology, molecular docking, pharmacological inhibition, and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA). In vivo experiments used mice rendered obese by prolonged high-fat diet (HFD) feeding; in vitro, insulin resistance was modelled in C2C12 myotubes via palmitate challenge. Network pharmacology implicated SRC as a principal candidate target, and molecular docking assigned SRC kinase the highest binding affinity for curcumol. Selective blockade of SRC (PP2) and PI3K (LY294002) was used to delineate the signalling hierarchy. Results: Network pharmacology and molecular docking identified SRC kinase as the highest-ranked candidate target of curcumol. In both HFD-induced obese mice and palmitate-challenged C2C12 myotubes, curcumol restored SRC phosphorylation and activated the downstream PI3K/AKT axis, concurrently improving insulin sensitivity and attenuating NF-kB-driven inflammatory responses. Selective PI3K inhibition abolished all functional benefits of curcumol without altering SRC phosphorylation, whereas SRC blockade with PP2 prevented both PI3K/AKT activation and the downstream recovery of insulin sensitivity and inflammatory suppression, placing SRC upstream of PI3K/AKT in the signalling order. Direct binding of curcumol to SRC protein was confirmed by a cellular thermal shift assay. Conclusions: Curcumol directly engages SRC kinase and, through subsequent PI3K/AKT axis activation, concurrently rescues skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity and suppresses metabolic inflammation. These findings provide mechanistic justification for developing curcumol as a candidate dietary bioactive compound toward preventing and treating obesity-related metabolic disturbances. Full article

Dynamic scheduling systems often rely on structured domain knowledge for real-time optimization and decision making. However, much of this knowledge originates from unstructured text, such as operational manuals, maintenance logs, and expert records. Extracting machine readable decision categories from such raw corpora without manual intervention remains a significant challenge. To address this issue, we propose a framework using large language models (LLMs) that automatically discovers latent semantic dimensions from unstructured text without any predefined schema. The LLM performs unsupervised semantic clustering via hierarchical prompts, autonomously inducing concept categories. We validate our method on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a domain characterized by highly nested, multi-dimensional knowledge structures. This makes it a challenging and representative benchmark for testing the generalizability of knowledge discovery methods. From 12,163 TCM herb records (64,107 independent short sentences), the DeepSeek-V3.2 model with batch-wise clustering generates 458 raw labels. These labels are further merged into 22 broad semantic categories. The resulting groups can be interpreted as potential decision dimensions or state abstractions for knowledge driven optimization systems. For evaluation, we adopt a dual approach: (1) semantic cosine similarity computed by Qwen3-Embedding-8B shows that 19 concepts achieve an average internal coherence above 60%; (2) domain experts rate the reasonableness of sampled concepts on a 1 to 5 scale, yielding an average score of 4.64. Experimental results demonstrate that our method autonomously induces high quality, interpretable concept taxonomies from large-scale unstructured text. We further validate the transferability of the method on an aircraft assembly manual, where it induces 12 semantically coherent concepts (average example coherence 59.6%) that align well with a domain ontology. This work offers a transferable paradigm for integrating unstructured domain knowledge into intelligent scheduling and optimization frameworks, with potential implications for dynamic scheduling systems. Full article

Backgrounds: Astragalus membranaceus (AM), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has garnered interest for its potential in anticancer therapy. Preclinical evidence suggests that AM inhibits tumor growth and could mitigate the adverse effects associated with conventional treatments. However, a comprehensive review of its efficacy across various cancer types is lacking. Objectives: This systematic review evaluates the preclinical evidence for the antitumor efficacy of AM and its active components to inform future clinical translation. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science from their earliest records to February 2026 to identify relevant studies. Studies reporting on the antitumor effects of AM or its constituents in murine models were included. Results: Seventy-six studies met the inclusion criteria. The most frequently investigated compounds were formononetin (21 studies), Astragaloside IV (20 studies), and Astragalus polysaccharide (16 studies). The evidence indicates that these compounds, both as monotherapies and in combination with standard chemotherapy, can inhibit tumor growth and potentiate antitumor efficacy. Conclusions: AM and its bioactive constituents exhibit promising anticancer effects against solid tumors, including breast, lung, hepatocellular, and colorectal carcinomas in preclinical models. Clinical investigation is warranted to confirm the utility of AM for cancer therapy. Full article

Background: Danshen–Gegen is a classic herb pair in traditional Chinese medicine, which has been used to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Ischemic stroke (IS) is a prevalent cerebrovascular condition; ferroptosis is one of the contributing factors driving the progression of IS. This study aims to determine the underlying mechanism and examine if Danshen–Gegen (DG) extract may prevent cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury by preventing ferroptosis. Methods: The comprehensive compositional characterization of DG was analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-orbitrap MS). The experiments were conducted in middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) rats and oxygen-glucose deprivation/re-oxygenation (OGD/R) cells. The neuroprotective effects of DG on IS were assessed by examining rat survival rates, infarct volume, behavioral scores, and cerebral water content. Then, we tested the accumulation of Fe²⁺ and lipid peroxidation products such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) in rats and cells. The expression of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2), Solute Carrier Family 7 Member 11 (-xCT), Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), Transferrin Receptor 1 (TFR1), and Long-chain-fatty-acid–CoA ligase 4 (ACSL4) was also assessed in vivo and in vitro. Results: UPLC-Q-orbitrap MS analysis was performed to characterize the chemical profile of DG, and a total of 33 chemical constituents were successfully identified. DG significantly alleviated the ischemic damage to brain tissue, reduced infarct volume, and improved neurological dysfunction. The content of Fe²⁺ and lipid peroxidation products was markedly decreased. Furthermore, DG could restore the expression of Nrf2, -xCT, and GPX4 with the inhibition of COX-2, TFR1, and ACSL4, thus achieving a suppressive effect on ferroptosis. Conclusions: The regulatory influence of DG via the Nrf2/System xc-/GPX4 axis may play a crucial role in alleviating ferroptosis and enhancing recovery from cerebral ischemia injury. Full article

Background: Uveal melanoma (UM) represents the most prevalent primary intraocular malignancy in adults, yet patients harboring GNAQ/GNA11 mutations face particularly poor prognoses with median survival of merely 6–12 months following metastasis. Multi-targeted combination therapy offers a promising strategy to circumvent drug resistance. The present study investigated the synergistic anti-tumor efficacy and mechanistic basis of Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), Quercetin (Que) and Methylnissolin (Meth), three bioactive constituents from Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi, a widely used traditional Chinese medicinal herb) against UM. Methods: Molecular docking and 100 ns molecular dynamics simulations assessed binding stability between the compounds and their respective targets (Gαq, MEK and YAP). Synergistic interactions were quantified using the Zero Interaction Potency (ZIP) model, a reference synergy model that compares observed combination effects to predicted non-interaction baselines across full dose–response matrices, based on CCK-8 assays. Cell cycle distribution, apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential were analyzed by flow cytometry. Western blotting detected target proteins and apoptotic markers. A male BALB/c nude mouse xenograft model validated therapeutic efficacy and systemic safety. Results: Molecular docking revealed binding energies <−7.0 kcal·mol⁻¹ for all three drug–target pairs, with molecular dynamics trajectories confirming stable complex conformations (RMSD < 3 Å). In vitro, the ISL-Que-Meth (IQM) combination exhibited strong synergism (ZIP scores > 10), significantly increasing apoptotic rates, collapsing mitochondrial membrane potential and upregulating cleaved-caspase 9 expression compared with monotherapy, and a modest G2/M phase accumulation was also observed, although the magnitude was limited relative to apoptotic induction. In vivo, the triple combination achieved approximately 50% reduction in tumor growth compared with the control group, with effects comparable to or exceeding those of the clinical reference agent Trametinib, and reduced Ki67 proliferation indices while elevating cleaved-caspase 9 levels, without eliciting hepatorenal toxicity. While these data demonstrate therapeutic efficacy, they do not establish in vivo synergy, as single-agent and dual-combination arms were not included in the xenograft design. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that IQM synergistically suppresses UM growth in association with coordinated modulation of Gαq/MEK/YAP axis components and caspase 9-dependent apoptosis via the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway, providing preclinical evidence for natural product-based multi-targeted therapy against UM. Full article

Astragalus mongholicus is one of the original plant species of the medicinal herb Astragali Radix as recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, possessing significant medicinal value and being widely utilized worldwide. TCP transcription factors constitute a plant-specific transcription factor superfamily that plays essential regulatory roles in vegetative growth, organ development, and abiotic stress responses. However, the TCP gene family in A. mongholicus has not yet been systematically investigated, and its functional characteristics remain largely unknown. In this study, based on genome-wide data, a total of 25 AmTCP genes containing complete TCP domains were identified in A. mongholicus, and their protein properties, sequence alignment, gene structures, and phylogenetic relationships were systematically characterized using comprehensive bioinformatics tools. Promoter cis-element analysis revealed that the AmTCP promoter regions are enriched in cis-elements associated with hormones, light, and abiotic stresses (drought and salinity), suggesting their potential involvement in multiple signaling cascades. Furthermore, transcriptomic profiling combined with qRT-PCR validation demonstrated that AmTCP genes exhibit tissue-specific expression patterns and differential responses to salt stress and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-simulated drought stress. Notably, AmTCP3, AmTCP8, AmTCP11, AmTCP17, and AmTCP19 displayed tissue- and time-dependent alterations in expression under stress conditions, with AmTCP17 and AmTCP19 showing the most pronounced responsiveness. Collectively, our findings systematically elucidate the fundamental molecular characteristics of TCP transcription factors in A. mongholicus, providing a valuable reference for future investigations into the biological functions of this gene family during growth, development, and abiotic stress responses in this medicinal plant. Full article

The genus Epimedium L. comprises a group of perennial herbs widely distributed across East Asia, with five representative species that include Epimedium grandiflorum C. Morren, Epimedium brevicornu Maxim., Epimedium sagittatum (Sieb. et Zucc.) Maxim., Epimedium koreanum Nakai. and Epimedium pubescens Maxim. For centuries, these species have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for their aphrodisiac, anti-osteoporotic and estrogen-like properties in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and menopausal symptoms. The aim of this review is to present an extensive and updated synthesis of the phytochemistry, biological activities and therapeutic properties of these five species by examining the relationship between the phytochemical composition and their pharmacological properties. Phytochemical analyses indicate that Epimedium spp. are defined by their significant content of prenylated flavonol glycosides, including icariin, icaritin, icariside, baohuoside and epimedin A-C. Recent studies have confirmed that these compounds are responsible for the genus’ therapeutic potential. They possess a variety of effects, ranging from aphrodisiac and antioxidant properties to anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities, as well as neuroprotective, cardioprotective and anticancer benefits. Although preclinical findings are increasingly compelling, robust clinical evidence is still lacking for all five species. Taken together, the data summarized here position Epimedium spp. as a valuable source of bioactive prenylated flavonoids, while underscoring that standardized methodologies and rigorous clinical trials are essential to translate this potential into validated therapeutic applications. Full article

Puerariae Lobatae Radix (PLR) is a commonly used herbal medicine in traditional Chinese medicine, whereas Puerariae Lobatae Caulis (PLC), its aerial part, is frequently utilized as an adulterant due to similar morphological features. Conventional identification methods and pharmacopoeial criteria fail to effectively distinguish these two homologous herbs, creating a demand for a precise identification method. Therefore, a Digital ID method was established for their identification. UPLC-QE-Orbitrap-MS coupled with Progenesis QI software was applied to analyze multi-batch samples of PLR and PLC. Common ion information was extracted, and a differential ion matrix was constructed after eliminating blank ions and cross-shared components. High-intensity characteristic ions were defined as exclusive Digital ID for authenticity identification. The Matching Confidence (MC) values of both herbs matching their own Digital IDs were >85%, while cross-matching MC values were <4%. Unlike subjective macroscopic authentication, compendial TLC and single-marker quantification that fail to discriminate the two materials, and spectroscopic methods incompatible with powdered samples, this digital ID framework enables automated objective authentication via quantitative Matching Confidence without manual spectral comparison. This technique achieves accurate and efficient digital identification of the two herbs, facilitating the quality control of PLR and offering a new strategy for the quality assessment of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Full article

Burn wound healing is a complex and dynamic process involving coordinated regulation of inflammation, oxidative stress, angiogenesis, and tissue remodeling. Polygonum cuspidatum, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb widely used for trauma- and inflammation-related disorders, represents an important source of bioactive compounds for tissue repair. Piceatannol (PIC), a naturally occurring stilbene constituent of P. cuspidatum, possesses potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities; however, its therapeutic potential in burn wound healing remains insufficiently understood. In the present study, the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of topical PIC were investigated using a murine deep second-degree burn model combined with multiple skin-related cellular models, including keratinocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and macrophages. PIC markedly accelerated wound closure and improved histological architecture, as evidenced by reduced inflammatory infiltration, enhanced collagen organization, and increased neovascularization. Mechanistically, PIC suppressed NF-κB activation and modulated KEAP1/NRF2-associated redox signaling, thereby alleviating inflammation–oxidative stress crosstalk during wound healing. In keratinocyte–fibroblast co-culture systems, PIC inhibited fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition, reduced α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression, and attenuated excessive collagen deposition, suggesting anti-fibrotic activity. In addition, PIC promoted endothelial tube formation through activation of the STAT3–VEGF signaling axis. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that PIC facilitates burn wound repair through coordinated anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, pro-angiogenic, and anti-fibrotic effects. This study provides pharmacological support for the therapeutic potential of P. cuspidatum-derived compounds in burn management and highlights PIC as a promising candidate for topical treatment of burn injuries. Full article