Articles

Ten years of exploration, a new journey to start: advancing Chinese Medicine to the next level

Authors: Chunming Wang, Chin Kio Lei, Ruibing Wang, Jianbo Xiao and Yitao Wang

Revealing topics and their evolution in biomedical literature using Bio-DTM: a case study of ginseng

Valuable scientific results on biomedicine are very rich, but they are widely scattered in the literature. Topic modeling enables researchers to discover themes from an unstructured collection of documents wit...

Authors: Qian Chen, Ni Ai, Jie Liao, Xin Shao, Yufeng Liu and Xiaohui Fan

Anti-tumor effects of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana

Since the incidence of cancer has been on the rise due to increasing exposure to various carcinogenic factors in recent years, cancer has gradually become the first killer to the health of human beings. A grow...

Authors: Yanan Zhao, Ailin Yang, Pengfei Tu and Zhongdong Hu

Efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine for stroke modifiable risk factors: a systematic review

The vast majority of stroke burden is attributable to its modifiable risk factors. This paper aimed to systematically summarise the evidence of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) interventions on stroke modifiable ...

Authors: Wenbo Peng, Romy Lauche, Caleb Ferguson, Jane Frawley, Jon Adams and David Sibbritt

Danggui Buxue Tang, a simple Chinese formula containing Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix, stimulates the expressions of neurotrophic factors in cultured SH-SY5Y cells

Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), a phytoestrogen-enriched Chinese herbal formula, serves as dietary supplement in stimulating the “Blood” functions of menopausal women. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, “Blo...

Authors: Amy G. W. Gong, Huai Y. Wang, Tina T. X. Dong, Karl W. K. Tsim and Y. Z. Zheng

A network pharmacology-based strategy deciphers the underlying molecular mechanisms of Qixuehe Capsule in the treatment of menstrual disorders

QiXueHe Capsule (QXHC) is a Chinese patent drug that is extensively used for the treatment of menstrual disorders. However, its underlying pharmacological mechanisms have not been fully elucidated.

Authors: Yanqiong Zhang, Xia Mao, Jing Su, Ya Geng, Rui Guo, Shihuan Tang, Junfang Li, Xuefeng Xiao, Haiyu Xu and Hongjun Yang

Temporal divergence of changes in pain and pain-free grip strength after manual acupuncture or electroacupuncture: an experimental study in people with lateral epicondylalgia

The objective of this study was to examine, in individuals with lateral epicondylalgia (LE), the acute time course of acupuncture-induced hypoalgesia and change in pain-free grip strength (PFGS).

Authors: Jaewon Jeon, Erin Bussin and Alex Scott

Cupping therapy versus acupuncture for pain-related conditions: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and trial sequential analysis

Both cupping therapy and acupuncture have been used in China for a long time, and their target indications are pain-related conditions. There is no systematic review comparing the effectiveness of these two th...

Authors: Ya-Jing Zhang, Hui-Juan Cao, Xin-Lin Li, Xiao-Ying Yang, Bao-Yong Lai, Guo-Yang Yang and Jian-Ping Liu

Anticancer activities and mechanisms of heat-clearing and detoxicating traditional Chinese herbal medicine

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, pathogenic heat and toxins, which are akin to the inflammatory factors, are the causes of cancer and could promote its virulent development. Therefore, heat-cleari...

Authors: Yulin Zhang, Yeer Liang and Chengwei He

A research on syndrome element differentiation based on phenomenology and mathematical method

As an empirical medical system independent of conventional Western medicine (CWM), over thousands of years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has established its own unique method of diagnosis and treatment. ...

Authors: Enliang Yan, Jialin Song, Chaonan Liu and Wenxue Hong

High-throughput sequencing technology reveals that continuous cropping of American ginseng results in changes in the microbial community in arable soil

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) is renowned worldwide for its eutherapeutic effects. The replantation of American ginseng usually fails due to problems associated with continuous cropping. An imbalance ...

Authors: Linlin Dong, Jiang Xu, Lianjuan Zhang, Juan Yang, Baosheng Liao, Xiwen Li and Shilin Chen

Relationship between Chinese medicine dietary patterns and the incidence of breast cancer in Chinese women in Hong Kong: a retrospective cross-sectional survey

This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between Chinese medicine (CM) dietary patterns (hot, neutral, and cold) and the incidence of breast cancer among Chinese women in Hon...

Authors: Xiao Zheng, Jianping Chen, Ting Xie, Zhiyu Xia, Wings Tjing Yung Loo, Lixing Lao, JieShu You, Jie Yang, Kamchuen Tsui, Feizhi Mo and Fei Gao

A simple method for HPLC retention time prediction: linear calibration using two reference substances

Analysis of related substances in pharmaceutical chemicals and multi-components in traditional Chinese medicines needs bulk of reference substances to identify the chromatographic peaks accurately. But the ref...

Authors: Lei Sun, Hong-yu Jin, Run-tao Tian, Ming-juan Wang, Li-na Liu, Liu-ping Ye, Tian-tian Zuo and Shuang-cheng Ma

Chemical constituents from a Gynostemma laxum and their antioxidant and neuroprotective activities

A few bioactivities of constituents from Gynostemma laxum, which has been collected in Vietnam, have been reported until now. There is no report about the effects of constituents from G. laxum although the nucle...

Authors: Ji Yeon Seo, Sang Kyum Kim, Phi Hung Nguyen, Ju Yong Lee, Pham Ha Thanh Tung, Sang Hyun Sung and Won Keun Oh

Rapid identification of growth years and profiling of bioactive ingredients in Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus (Huangqi) roots from Hunyuan, Shanxi

The content of medicinal bioactive constituents in huangqi is affected by plant age. In this study, we devised a quick and convenient method for determining the age of huangqi, which was cultivated in Hunyuan Cou...

Authors: Hua-Sheng Peng, Jun Wang, He-Ting Zhang, Hai-Yan Duan, Xiao-Mei Xie, Ling Zhang, Ming-En Cheng and Dai-yin Peng

Jiangtang decoction ameliorate diabetic nephropathy through the regulation of PI3K/Akt-mediated NF-κB pathways in KK-Ay mice

Jiangtang decoction (JTD) is a China patented drug which contains Euphorbia humifusa Willd, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Astragalus mongholicus Bunge, Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, and Coptis chinensis Franch. F...

Authors: Jin-Ni Hong, Wei-Wei Li, Lin-Lin Wang, Hao Guo, Yong Jiang, Yun-Jia Gao, Peng-Fei Tu and Xue-Mei Wang

Metabolomics approach reveals annual metabolic variation in roots of Cyathula officinalis Kuan based on gas chromatography–mass spectrum

Herbal quality is strongly influenced by harvest time. It is therefore one of crucial factors that should be well respected by herbal producers when optimizing cultivation techniques, so that to obtain herbal ...

Authors: Kai Tong, Zhao-ling Li, Xu Sun, Shen Yan, Mei-jie Jiang, Meng-sheng Deng, Ji Chen, Jing-wei Li and Meng-liang Tian

Identification of anti-HBV activities in Paeonia suffruticosa Andr. using GRP78 as a drug target on Herbochip^®

Herbochip^® technology is a high throughput drug screening platform in a reverse screening manner, in which potential chemical leads in herbal extracts are immobilized and drug target proteins can be used as probe...

Authors: Iao-Fai Lam, Min Huang, Margaret Dah-Tysr Chang, Pei-Wun Yao, Yu-Ting Chou, Sim-Kun Ng, Ying-Lin Tsai, Yu-Chang Lin, Yun-feng Zhang, Xiao-yuan Yang and Yiu-Kay Lai

Effects of Bushen Tianjing Recipe in a rat model of tripterygium glycoside-induced premature ovarian failure

Bushen Tianjing Recipe (BTR) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that has been prescribed for premature ovarian failure (POF) for decades in China. Nevertheless, little is known regarding its underlying m...

Authors: Xiaofeng Xu, Yong Tan, Guorong Jiang, Xuanyi Chen, Rensheng Lai, Lurong Zhang and Guoqiang Liang

Glossogyne tenuifolia (Hsiang-ju) extract suppresses T cell activation by inhibiting activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase

Glossogyne tenuifolia (GT) (Hsiang-ju) is a Chinese herbal medicine previously exhibited an anti-inflammatory activity. This study aimed to investigate the effect of GT ethanol extract...

Authors: Jer-Yiing Houng, Tzong-Shyuan Tai, Shu-Ching Hsu, Hsia-Fen Hsu, Tzann-Shun Hwang, Chih-Jiun Lin and Li-Wen Fang

Mechanisms for the anti-obesity actions of bofutsushosan in high-fat diet-fed obese mice

The Kampo medicine bofutsushosan (BTS; Pulvis ledebouriellae compositae; Fang Feng Tong Sheng San) has been used as an anti-obesity treatment in overweight patients. In this study, we assessed the underlying phys...

Authors: Shinjiro Kobayashi, Yuki Kawasaki, Tatsuo Takahashi, Hironori Maeno and Masaaki Nomura

The neuroprotective effects of Tao-Ren-Cheng-Qi Tang against embolic stroke in rats

Combinations of the traditional Chinese and Western medicines have been used to treat numerous diseases throughout the world, and there is a growing body of evidence showing that some of the herbs used in trad...

Authors: Ling-Wei Hsu, Wei-Cheng Shiao, Nen-Chung Chang, Meng-Che Yu, Ting-Lin Yen, Philip Aloysius Thomas, Thanasekaran Jayakumar and Joen-Rong Sheu

Chemical compositions, chromatographic fingerprints and antioxidant activities of Citri Exocarpium Rubrum (Juhong)

Citri Exocarpium Rubrum (CER), which is known as Juhong in Chinese, is the dried exocarp of Citrus reticulata Blanco and its cultivars (Fam. Rutaceae) and is currently used in Chinese medicine to protect the stom...

Authors: Yang Zhao, Chun-Pin Kao, Chi-Ren Liao, Kun-Chang Wu, Xin Zhou, Yu-Ling Ho and Yuan-Shiun Chang

Electroacupuncture for the prevention of postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction in participants undergoing vascular laparotomy under general anesthesia: a randomized controlled trial

Postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction (PGD) is a common complication following laparotomy under general anesthesia (GA). Abdominal distension occurs in 8–28% of surgeries within 24 h postoperatively. The ...

Authors: Meng-yue Liu, Cheng-wei Wang, Zhou-peng Wu and Ning Li

Quality control of Lycium chinense and Lycium barbarum cortex (Digupi) by HPLC using kukoamines as markers

Lycii Cortex (LyC), composed of Lycium chinense and Lycium barbarum cortex and having the Chinese name Digupi, is used to treat chronic diseases like cough, hypertension, and diabetes in Eastern Asia. However, ch...

Authors: Yuan-Yuan Li, Rui Di, Wing-Leung Hsu, Ye-Qing Huang and Hon-Yeung Cheung

The influence of duodenally-delivered Shakuyakukanzoto (Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang) on duodenal peristalsis during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: a randomised controlled trial

Anti-cholinergic agents may be used to inhibit duodenal peristalsis, but they may have adverse effects. Shakuyakukanzoto (Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang) has an anti-spasmodic effect and has been used before for oesophago...

Authors: Haruka Fujinami, Shinya Kajiura, Jun Nishikawa, Takayuki Ando and Toshiro Sugiyama

An investigation of fungal contamination on the surface of medicinal herbs in China

The dried parts of medicinal herbs are susceptible to the infection of fungi during pre- or post-harvest procedure. This study aimed to investigate the presence of fungi and their metabolites mycotoxins on the...

Authors: Run-sheng Zheng, Wen-li Wang, Jing Tan, Hui Xu, Ruo-ting Zhan and Wei-wen Chen

Comparison of chemical profiles and effectiveness between Erxian decoction and mixtures of decoctions of its individual herbs: a novel approach for identification of the standard chemicals

Identification of bioactive standard chemicals is a major challenge in the study of the Chinese medicinal formula. In particular, the chemical components may interact differently depending on the preparative m...

Authors: H. P. Cheung, S. W. Wang, T. B. Ng, Y. B. Zhang, L. X. Lao, Z. J. Zhang, Y. Tong, F. W. S. Chung and S. C. W. Sze

Acupuncture as an intervention to reduce alcohol dependency: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Acupuncture has been widely used as a treatment for alcohol dependence. An updated and rigorously conducted systematic review is needed to establish the extent and quality of the evidence on the effectiveness ...

Authors: Charlotte Southern, Charlie Lloyd, Jianping Liu, Congcong Wang, Tingting Zhang, Martin Bland and Hugh MacPherson

Rapid differentiation of Xihuangcao from the three Isodon species by UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS and chemometrics analysis

Isodon lophanthoides, I. lophanthoides var. graciliflorus and I. serra are the three botanical sources of Xihuangcao, which are often used indiscriminately in herbal products. The aim ...

Authors: Lai Lai Wong, Zhitao Liang, Hubiao Chen and Zhongzhen Zhao

Ameliorating effect of Erxian decoction combined with Fructus Schisandrae chinensis (Wu Wei Zi) on menopausal sweating and serum hormone profiles in a rat model

Modified Erxian decoction (MEXD), i.e., Erxian decoction (EXD) with Fructus Schisandrae chinensis (Wu Wei Zi) added, has been used to alleviate menopausal symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the effects of...

Authors: Shi Wei Wang, Fei Hua Wu, Yan Bo Zhang, Liang Zhang, Jing Su, Hei Kei Wong, Ai Hua Liu, Ho Pan Cheung, Tzi Bun Ng, Yao Tong and Stephen Cho Wing Sze

Combination of cisplatin and bromelain exerts synergistic cytotoxic effects against breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 in vitro

Bromelain, which is a cysteine endopeptidase commonly found in pineapple stems, has been investigated as a potential anti-cancer agent for the treatment of breast cancer. However, information pertaining to the...

Authors: Ahmad Zaim Mat Pauzi, Swee Keong Yeap, Nadiah Abu, Kian Lam Lim, Abdul Rahman Omar, Suraini Abdul Aziz, Adam Leow Thean Chow, Tamilselvan Subramani, Soon Guan Tan and Noorjahan Banu Alitheen

Inhibitory effect of trans-ferulic acid on proliferation and migration of human lung cancer cells accompanied with increased endogenous reactive oxygen species and β-catenin instability

Trans-ferulic (FA) acid exhibits antioxidant effects in vitro. However, the underlying mechanism of trans-FA activity in cellular physiology, especially cancer physiology, remains larg...

Authors: Yao Fong, Chia-Chun Tang, Huei-Ting Hu, Hsin-Yu Fang, Bing-Hung Chen, Chang-Yi Wu, Shyng-Shiou Yuan, Hui-Min David Wang, Yen-Chun Chen, Yen-Ni Teng and Chien-Chih Chiu

Full component analysis of Tianma-Gouteng-Yin

Tianma-Gouteng-Yin (TGY), which is common Chinese medicine formulation consisting of 11 different herbs and being used in China for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, inflammatory c...

Authors: Ying-Yu Huang, Liang-Feng Liu, Rui-Qi Yue, Jun Xu, Alan Ho, Min Li and Quan-Bin Han

Anti-cancer effects of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino (Jiaogulan)

Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino (GpM) (Jiaogulan) has been widely used in Chinese medicine for the treatment of several diseases, including hepatitis, diabetes and cardiovascular ...

Authors: Yantao Li, Wanjun Lin, Jiajun Huang, Ying Xie and Wenzhe Ma

In silico profiling for secondary metabolites from Lepidium meyenii (maca) by the pharmacophore and ligand-shape-based joint approach

Lepidium meyenii Walpers (maca) is an herb known as a traditional nutritional supplement and widely used in Peru, North America, and Europe to enhance human fertility and treat osteopo...

Authors: Fan Yi, Xiao-lei Tan, Xin Yan and Hai-bo Liu

Authentication of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma (Shi Chang Pu) and its adulterants by morphological distinction, chemical composition and ITS sequencing

Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma (ATR; rhizome of Acorus tatarinowii Schott) (Shi Chang Pu) is widely used in Chinese medicine (CM) to resuscitate, calm the mind, resolve shi (dampness) and harmonize the wei (stomach). ...

Authors: Kelly Yin-Ching Lam, Chuen-Fai Ku, Huai-You Wang, Gallant Kar-Lun Chan, Ping Yao, Huang-Quan Lin, Tina Ting-Xia Dong, Hong-Jie Zhang and Karl Wah-Keung Tsim

Adjunctive use of modified Yunu-Jian in the non-surgical treatment of male smokers with chronic periodontitis: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Yunu-Jian (YJ) is a Chinese medicine (CM) heat purging formula, which is used to reduce wei huo (stomach-heat, SH) and enrich shen yin (kidney-yin, KY). This formula is also commonly u...

Authors: Kwan-Yat Zee, Pui Sze Chan, Johnson Chun Sing Ho, Stanley Man Lung Lai, Esmonde Francis Corbet and Wai Keung Leung

Chi-Ju-Di-Huang-Wan protects rats against retinal ischemia by downregulating matrix metalloproteinase-9 and inhibiting p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase

Retinal ischemia is a retinal disorder related to retinal vascular occlusion, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. The study aimed to evaluate the protective effects and underly...

Authors: Ji-Min Cheng, Xiao-Qian Liu, Jorn-Hon Liu, Wynn Hwai-Tzong Pan, Xiu-Mei Zhang, Lei Hu and Hsiao-Ming Chao

Attenuation of blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats by acupuncture was associated with reduction oxidative stress and improvement from endothelial dysfunction

Hypertension can be treated effectively by acupuncture; however, the association between acupuncture and endothelial function remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of acupuncture on endo...

Authors: Sin Bond Leung, Hongwei Zhang, Chi Wai Lau and Zhi-Xiu Lin

Conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants: problems, progress, and prospects

Medicinal plants are globally valuable sources of herbal products, and they are disappearing at a high speed. This article reviews global trends, developments and prospects for the strategies and methodologies...

Authors: Shi-Lin Chen, Hua Yu, Hong-Mei Luo, Qiong Wu, Chun-Fang Li and André Steinmetz

Phytochemicals and potential health effects of Sambucus williamsii Hance (Jiegumu)

Sambucus williamsii Hance (Jiegumu) is traditionally used in Chinese medicine to treat bone and joint diseases. The major phytochemicals in S. williamsii are lignans, terpenoids, and phen...

Authors: Hui-Hui Xiao, Yan Zhang, Raymond Cooper, Xin-Sheng Yao and Man-Sau Wong

Evaluation of the accuracy of diagnostic scales for a syndrome in Chinese medicine in the absence of a gold standard

The concept of syndromes (zhengs) is unique to Chinese medicine (CM) and difficult to measure. Expert consensus is used as a gold standard to identify zhengs and evaluate the accuracy of existing diagnostic scale...

Authors: Xiao Nan Wang, Vanessa Zhou, Qiang Liu, Ying Gao and Xiao-Hua Zhou

Indication of nerve growth factor binding components from herbal extracts by HerboChip: a platform for drug screening on a chip

HerboChip is an array of different fractions deriving from herbal extracts. This study aimed to identify effective components from Chinese medicine (CM) that interact with nerve growth factor (NGF) as a target...

Authors: Pinky Sum Chi Lee, Laura Minglu Zhang, Artemis Lu Yan, Kelly Yin Ching Lam, Tina Tingxia Dong, Huangquan Lin, Gallant Kar Lun Chan and Karl Wah Keung Tsim

Assessing the quality of Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma (Tufuling) by colormetrics and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS

The quality of the materials used in Chinese medicine (CM) is generally assessed based on an analysis of their chemical components (e.g., chromatographic fingerprint analysis). However, there is a growing inte...

Authors: Xicheng He, Tao Yi, Yina Tang, Jun Xu, Jianye Zhang, Yazhou Zhang, Lisha Dong and Hubiao Chen

Influence of sulfur fumigation on glycoside profile in Platycodonis Radix (Jiegeng)

Over recent decades, sulfur fumigation is becoming abused in processing some freshly harvested herbs used as both medicine and food, although it has been questioned whether sulfur fumigation will change the ef...

Authors: Xiao-Qing Ma, Su-Mei Li, Chi Leung Chan, Tao Su, Wei-Dong Li, Hui Cao, Wang-Fun Fong and Zhi-Ling Yu

Aikeqing decreases viral loads in SHIV89.6-infected Chinese rhesus macaques

Aikeqing (AKQ) has been shown in clinical studies to improve quality of life of HIV/AIDS patients, but anti-HIV activity has not been determined. The SHIV-infected macaque is an import...

Authors: Gao-Hong Zhang, Jian-Bao Han, Lin Zhu, Rong-Hua Luo, Xi-He Zhang, Xin Chen, Ying-Jie Hu, Lin-Chun Fu and Yong-Tang Zheng

Antioxidant and physiological effects of Si-Wu-Tang on skin and liver: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Si-Wu-Tang (SWT) is used to treat various gynecological disorders in Chinese medicine. This study investigated the antioxidant and physiological effects of SWT on the skin and liver in...

Authors: Hui-Fang Chiu, Ying-Hua Wu, You-Cheng Shen, Shing-Jung Wang, Kamesh Venkatakrishnan and Chin-Kun Wang

Synergistic effects of melphalan and Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon (Simaosong) extracts on apoptosis induction in human cancer cells

This study aims to determine the synergistic effects of the chemotherapeutic drug melphalan and the phytoconstituents extracted from Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon (Simaosong) in human cancer cells.

Authors: Natthida Weerapreeyakul, Sasipawan Machana and Sahapat Barusrux

Chinese herbal medicine for constipation: zheng-based associations among herbs, formulae, proprietary medicines, and herb–drug interactions

As current symptomatic treatments of constipation are still unsatisfactory, an increasing number of patients seek help from Chinese medicine (CM), particularly Chinese herbal medicine (CHM). This study aimed t...

Authors: Linda L. D. Zhong, Guang Zheng, Li Da Ge, Cheng Yuan Lin, Tao Huang, Ling Zhao, Cheng Lu, Ai Ping Lu and Zhao Xiang Bian