Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Bioactivity-guided metabolite profiling of Pistacia chinensis Bunge gall using LC–HRMS/MS","authors":"Padamlal Budthapa ,&nbsp;Dinesh Bista ,&nbsp;Rabin Budhathoki ,&nbsp;Hemraj Upadhyaya ,&nbsp;Khaga Raj Sharma ,&nbsp;Niranjan Parajuli","doi":"10.1016/j.prmcm.2026.100787","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prmcm.2026.100787","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div><em>Pistacia chinensis</em> Bunge (Chinese pistache) is native to central and southern China, Nepal, and East Asia, where it grows in mountain forests and valleys under warm temperate conditions. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is used to treat dysentery, inflammatory disorders, psoriasis, and rheumatism. This study aims to evaluate the bioactivities of various organic extracts derived from <em>P. chinensis</em> Bunge galls<em>.</em></div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We measured the total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) in gall extracts using the Folin-Ciocalteu (FC) and aluminum chloride colorimetric methods. We also performed the DPPH free radical scavenging assay to evaluate antioxidant activity and used the agar well diffusion method to test antimicrobial activity. Additionally, the cytotoxicity of the methanolic extract was assessed with the brine shrimp lethality assay and the MTT assay against MCF-7 and A549 cell lines. Furthermore, to identify metabolites in the methanolic extract, we utilized high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-HRMS/MS)<em>.</em></div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among various extracts, the methanolic extract of gall showed the highest TPC (198.37 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g) and TFC values (70.08 ± 0.01 mg QE/g). Additionally, the methanolic extract demonstrated greater antibacterial and antioxidant activities than other extracts. Based on these findings, the methanolic extract was chosen for cytotoxicity testing. The brine shrimp assay revealed significant toxicity, with an LC₅₀ of 122.65 ± 2.08 µg/mL. Furthermore, the methanolic extract exhibited IC₅₀ values of 10.60 ± 1.25 µg/mL and 24.56 ± 1.01 µg/mL against MCF-7 and A549 cells, respectively. Twenty-three metabolites were identified in the methanolic gall extract via mass spectrometry. To our knowledge, 2′,3,5,6′,7-pentahydroxy flavanone and 13-oxooctadeca-9,11,15-trienoic acid are reported for the first time in this species. This is also the first report on metabolite profiling and cytotoxicity properties of the gall part of <em>P. chinensis</em> Bunge.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Overall, the methanolic gall extract showed greater bioactivities compared to the other organic extracts. These findings indicate that the galls of <em>P. chinensis</em> Bunge could be a promising source of bioactive metabolites for drug lead development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101013,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine","volume":"18 ","pages":"Article 100787"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147421376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quail egg yolk oil attenuates insulin resistance and redox imbalance in a high-sugar-diet drosophila model","authors":"Muhammad Sani Ismaila ,&nbsp;Ismail Sulaiman ,&nbsp;Abdulbariu Ogirima Uhuami ,&nbsp;Venkatesan Sundaram ,&nbsp;Mustapha Umar Imam","doi":"10.1016/j.prmcm.2025.100740","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prmcm.2025.100740","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing globally, creating a need for natural and functional food–based therapeutic interventions. Quail egg yolk oil (QEYO), traditionally used in Chinese medicine as 鹌鹑蛋黄油 (ānchún dànhuáng yóu) for nourishing Yin and supporting metabolic balance, contains bioactive lipids and antioxidants with potential relevance for glycemic and redox regulation. This study investigated the antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of QEYO in a high-sugar diet (HSD)–induced metabolic dysfunction model in <em>Drosophila melanogaster</em>.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Adult male <em>Drosophila melanogaster</em> were fed a high-sugar diet (30% sucrose) to induce metabolic dysfunction and allocated into five groups: control, HSD, QEYO (62.5 or 125 mg/10 mL diet), and metformin (16 mg/10 mL). After 14 days of HSD induction followed by 7 days of treatment, physiological parameters, glucose and lipid biomarkers, oxidative stress indicators, and expression of key metabolic genes were assessed using enzymatic assays and RT-qPCR.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>HSD-fed flies developed obesity, hyperglycemia, elevated triglycerides, oxidative stress, and dysregulation of insulin pathway–related genes. QEYO significantly ameliorated these abnormalities in a dose-dependent manner. The 62.5 mg dose produced stronger glucose-lowering effects, while the 125 mg dose showed greater antioxidant enhancement and improved expression of SOD, CAT, IRS, and DILP2. Metformin produced comparable metabolic benefits.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>QEYO improved glucose homeostasis, lipid metabolism, and insulin pathway activity, and reduced markers of insulin resistance and oxidative imbalance in HSD-induced flies. These findings support its potential as a functional food–based intervention for T2DM and correspond with its traditional role in Chinese dietary therapy for metabolic regulation. Further mammalian studies are required for translational confirmation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101013,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine","volume":"18 ","pages":"Article 100740"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145750151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-target immunomodulatory actions of Elaeagnus rhamnoides L.) A. Nelson phytocompounds on immune regulatory targets via integrative network pharmacology, docking, and molecular simulation","authors":"Venkatesan Karthick ,&nbsp;Dinesh Kumar Venkatachalam ,&nbsp;Singamoorthy Amalraj ,&nbsp;Rajkumar Thamarai ,&nbsp;Varghese Edwin Hillary ,&nbsp;Elsa Shibu Sruthy","doi":"10.1016/j.prmcm.2025.100726","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prmcm.2025.100726","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div><em>Elaeagnus rhamnoides</em> (sea buckthorn; 沙棘 Shāji) has long been valued in Chinese traditional medicine as fruit purees, decoctions, and polysaccharide granules for enhancing immunity, treating chronic cough, nourishing yin, and promoting digestive and cardiovascular health. However, the precise immunomodulatory mechanisms of its bioactive compounds remain inadequately understood.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study comprehensively evaluated key phytocompounds from <em>E. rhamnoides</em> using network pharmacology and <em>in silico</em> computational analysis. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were applied to evaluate interactions with immune checkpoint proteins CTLA-4 (1AH1) and LAG-3 (7TZG). Electronic properties were assessed using density functional theory (DFT) calculations of HOMO–LUMO energy gaps. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and MM-GBSA analyses assessed protein–ligand stability and binding energies. ProTox-II toxicity profiling and network pharmacology further elucidated safety and biological pathway associations.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>All selected phytocompounds showed strong binding affinities with CTLA-4 and LAG-3, with narcissin, tellimagrandin I, and astragalin demonstrating the most favourable docking scores and molecular interactions. DFT analysis revealed low HOMO–LUMO gaps (3.76–4.82 eV) for strictinin and tellimagrandin I (high chemical reactivity) and higher kinetic stability for astragalin and narcissin. MD simulations confirmed the stability of astragalin complexes, and MM-GBSA revealed that hydrophobic packing and van der Waals forces were the primary drivers of binding affinity. ProTox-II predicted generally low risks of organ toxicity for all compounds. Network pharmacology showed these phytochemicals target multiple core immune-regulatory genes (including NFB1, HIF1A, MAOA, and TLR4) and are involved in critical immunological pathways such as NF-κB, cytokine signalling, and the PD-1/PD-L1 axis.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>This study provides the first comprehensive <em>in silico</em> systems pharmacology analysis of <em>E. rhamnoides</em> phytocompounds as multi-target, low-toxicity immunomodulators, supporting traditional Chinese medicine applications. The strong and stable binding to immune checkpoints, favorable electronic properties, and multi-pathway engagement reinforce their promise as plant-based immunotherapeutics. These findings support further experimental validation and recommend the featured <em>E. rhamnoides</em> phytocompounds as promising multi-target leads for the development of novel immunomodulatory therapeutics in modern and traditional Chinese medicine contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101013,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine","volume":"18 ","pages":"Article 100726"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145799892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multitarget insights into traditional Chinese phytoconstituents against tuberculosis via network pharmacology, molecular docking, and MD simulation","authors":"Deepthi D Kini ,&nbsp;Tathagata Dey ,&nbsp;G Divya Theja ,&nbsp;S. Shalini ,&nbsp;R. Ruthicshaw ,&nbsp;Keshava Murthy SG","doi":"10.1016/j.prmcm.2025.100695","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prmcm.2025.100695","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Tuberculosis (TB), caused by <em>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</em>, is a global health threat. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with its extensive use of plant-based compounds, offers a promising alternative for TB treatment. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of TCM phytoconstituents on TB have not been fully elucidated. This study aims to explore the multitarget therapeutic potential of TCM phytoconstituents for TB management using network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Network pharmacology was employed to identify the interactions between phytoconstituents and proteins associated with TB. Molecular docking evaluated compound binding to key TB targets, while MD simulations assessed complex stability and dynamics. Gene expression was analyzed using the eFP server, and mycoCSM predicted bacterial protein responses to compounds, indicating potential drug resistance or susceptibility.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Network pharmacology analysis identified key biological pathways, including the prolactin signalling pathway and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signalling, that may be modulated by these compounds. The docking scores range from -6.5 to -9.0 kcal/mol for Glabroisoflavanone A and B against three major proteins, viz. 1O43, 5XGI, and 6NJS. Both phytoconstituents exhibited a good anti-tubercular sensitivity score. MD simulations (200 ns) further revealed that Glabroisoflavanone A formed the most stable complex with 5XGI.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>The Glabroisoflavanone A-5XGI complex showed the strongest binding, supported by the most binding free energy (–75.19 ± 4.89 kcal/mol), suggesting a robust interaction. These findings highlight the differential binding and dynamic behavior of phytoconstituents, offering potential insights for therapeutic development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101013,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100695"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145159698","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Therapeutic potential of flavonoid-enriched Chinese medicinal herbs in atherosclerosis, hypertension, myocardial infarction, and heart failure","authors":"Dharshini Jaisankar,&nbsp;Suruthi Ramamoorthy,&nbsp;Jubilee Ramasamy","doi":"10.1016/j.prmcm.2025.100701","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prmcm.2025.100701","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>CVDs such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, myocardial infarction, and heart failure, are the top cause of death worldwide. Due to the challenges with traditional therapies, interest in complementary treatments has increased. Research has found that TCM and its herbal constituents, rich in flavonoids, appear to have a positive effect on cardiovascular health due to several underlying mechanisms.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This review provides an overview of current clinical and experimental research on flavonoid-rich Chinese medicinal plants. The database includes PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CNKI. Details include various cardiovascular diseases (CVD) types and their mechanism of action (including antioxidant, anti-inflammation, enhancement of endothelial function, and stabilization of mitochondria). It also features studies of several compounds in preclinical models and clinical trials, including quercetin and baicalin as key representatives. Significant portion pathways are PI3K/AKT, NF-κB, Nrf2/HO-1, eNOS and AMPK/mTOR. The comparative table highlights plants, pharmaceutical targets, and the impact of diseases.</div></div><div><h3>Result</h3><div>Evidence suggests that flavonoids from Chinese medicinal plants have a wide-ranging cardio-protective effect, regardless of the CVD model. The compounds possess potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, endothelial-enhancing, and lipid-regulatory effects. While recent clinical studies indicate improvements in blood pressure, lipid profiles, myocardial resilience, and endothelial function, results remain inconsistent due to small sample size, differences in extract composition, and variation in trial design.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>The use of Chinese medicinal herbs enriched in flavonoids can provide effective multi-pathway intervention against complex pathophysiological mechanisms, making them a valuable resource for cardiovascular therapy. Despite the obvious translational potential, shortcomings like poor bioavailability, phytochemical variability, and limited clinical trials are significant. These limitations continue to hinder clinical translation, and addressing them will be critical for broder therapeutic adoption. Future research should focus on improving the formulation, facilitating clinical standardization, and developing systems-level pharmacology to enable evidence-based use of flavonoid therapies in modern cardiovascular medicine.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101013,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100701"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145268679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling macrophage-centric immunomodulatory mechanisms of radix salviae miltiorrhizae in abdominal aortic aneurysm through integrated single-cell transcriptomic, network pharmacological, and molecular docking analyses","authors":"Xinru Zheng ,&nbsp;Runyu Gan ,&nbsp;Jingxian Wu ,&nbsp;Ruili Xue ,&nbsp;Chaoyi Cui ,&nbsp;Yuyin Duan","doi":"10.1016/j.prmcm.2025.100694","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prmcm.2025.100694","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Background&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) represents a fatal vascular disease with prevalence rates of 4–8 % among individuals over 65 years, and rupture mortality rates reaching 60–80 %. With accelerating population aging, AAA incidence continues rising, creating urgent demands for novel therapeutic strategies. Current treatments including surgical intervention and endovascular therapy, while effective, demonstrate significant limitations, and the pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear. The inflammatory microenvironment and macrophages play crucial roles in AAA, yet their immune mechanisms remain controversial. The advancement of single-cell sequencing technology provides new opportunities for elucidating AAA immune mechanisms. This study employed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and network pharmacology to characterize immune cell features and identify therapeutic targets, exploring the immunomodulatory effects of Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae (RS), aiming to reveal AAA pathogenic mechanisms and provide novel precision treatment strategies.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Method&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Using scRNA-seq data from healthy and AAA mouse models in the GEO database (GSE239620), we performed preprocessing and quality control through Seurat, employed Harmony to correct batch effects, and combined clustering, pseudotemporal analysis (Monocle2), and cell communication analysis (CellChat) to reveal the characteristics and interactions of immune cells, particularly macrophages, within the AAA inflammatory microenvironment. Network pharmacology utilized TCMSP and SwissADME to screen active components and targets of RS, with molecular docking (AutoDock Vina) validating their binding to target proteins. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses (clusterProfiler) elucidated biological functions. This study integrates scRNA-seq and network pharmacology to explore AAA immune mechanisms and RS therapeutic potential.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Result&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study investigated the immune microenvironment of AAA via scRNA-seq, elucidating the pivotal role of macrophages in disease progression. UMAP clustering identified five distinct immune cell types, revealing a significant enrichment of macrophages in AAA samples (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.01). Subsequent sub-clustering analysis distinguished five macrophage subtypes (Mac1–Mac5), each characterized by a unique marker gene expression profile (logFC &gt; 0.5, &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05). Pseudotime analysis using Monocle2 mapped their developmental trajectories and identified key gene modules associated with immune responses and inflammatory regulation (&lt;em&gt;q&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.1). Furthermore, cell communication analysis with CellChat indicated enhanced interactions between macrophages and T/NK cells, underscored by the robust activation of MHC-I signaling (communication probability &gt; 0.5). GO and KEGG analyses showed that associated genes were primarily enriched in the “re","PeriodicalId":101013,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100694"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145268680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanistic insights into the neuroprotective effects of Radix Astragali (Huang Qi): Bridging Traditional Chinese Medicine and modern pharmacology","authors":"Rizwan Ahmad ,&nbsp;Chhavi Verma ,&nbsp;Sandeep Kumar ,&nbsp;Vishal Kumar ,&nbsp;Darakhshan Gazala Bari ,&nbsp;Saurabh Sharma ,&nbsp;Shadab Ali ,&nbsp;Shamim Shamim","doi":"10.1016/j.prmcm.2025.100711","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prmcm.2025.100711","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div><em>Radix Astragali</em>, a major herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine, has traditionally been used to strengthen vital energy and promote blood circulation. Recent research has revealed its neuroprotective potential in disorders such as ischemic stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and traumatic brain injury.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This review evaluates recent preclinical and clinical studies on the neuroprotective effects of <em>Radix Astragali</em> and its active components, including astragaloside four, flavonoids, polysaccharides, terpenoids, alkaloids, and amino acids. Peer-reviewed scientific literature was analyzed and interpreted within the context of Traditional Chinese Medicine principles.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div><em>Radix Astragali</em> exhibits multiple neuroprotective actions, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and immune-regulating effects. Astragaloside IV regulates critical signaling pathways, including phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and nuclear factor-κB, thereby supporting neuronal survival and reducing oxidative damage. Flavonoids and polysaccharides enhance synaptic plasticity, nerve regeneration, and cerebral blood flow. These findings are consistent with Traditional Chinese Medicine concepts of replenishing vital energy and stimulating blood flow in neurological disorders.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div><em>Radix Astragali</em> exemplifies the integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and modern neuropharmacology. However, clinical translation remains limited due to challenges in standardization, potential herb drug interactions, and insufficient large-scale clinical validation. Future studies should emphasize pharmacokinetics, synergistic formulations, and biomarker-based personalized neurotherapy to ensure safe and effective clinical application.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101013,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100711"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145417334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Re: Progress in the application of AI in the standardization of traditional Chinese medicine: Discussion and prospects","authors":"James O. Fajemiroye","doi":"10.1016/j.prmcm.2025.100681","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prmcm.2025.100681","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":101013,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100681"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145050735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated network, docking, and experimental validation of the dual anti-inflammatory and uricosuric actions of Artemisia vulgaris compounds","authors":"Pham Thi Nhat Trinh ,&nbsp;Dang Thi Le Hang ,&nbsp;Nguyen Ngoc Phuong Uyen ,&nbsp;Tran Nguyen Minh An ,&nbsp;Le Xuan Tien ,&nbsp;Le Tien Dung","doi":"10.1016/j.prmcm.2025.100712","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prmcm.2025.100712","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), mugwort (<em>Artemisia vulgaris</em>) is documented as the primary material for moxibustion, prepared as moxa floss (<em>ai rong</em>, 艾绒), moxa cones (<em>ai zhu</em>, 艾炷), and moxa sticks (<em>ai tiao</em>, 艾条) to warm the channels and regulate qi–blood [6–8]. We therefore investigated <em>A. vulgaris</em> compounds for multi-target anti-gout relevance, anchored in these TCM indications.</div><div>Network pharmacology and molecular docking prioritized A. vulgaris phytochemicals against gout-related targets, followed by in-vitro validation in LPS-challenged RAW 264.7 macrophages.</div><div>Of 62 compounds, 52 met drug-likeness and intersected 277 gout genes. A flavonoid (AV52) showed strong predicted binding to PTGS2/XO, and artemisinin (AV46) to urate transporters (SLC22A12/ABCG2). Experimentally, AV46 reduced IL-6/TNF-α and nitrite while preserving IL-10. IL-10 showed a small, non-monotonic change at 6.25 µM (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05) that was not reproduced at adjacent doses, suggesting limited biological relevance, while overall IL-10 was preserved alongside reductions in IL-6 and TNF-α.</div><div>Framed within TCM practice of moxibustion and warming/qi–blood-regulating indications, these data support a lead–anchor concept (AV52 anti-inflammatory/XO; AV46 uricosuric-anti-inflammatory) warranting further in-vivo and formulation studies for TCM-relevant applications.</div><div>A. vulgaris phytochemicals demonstrate complementary potential against gout-related inflammation and urate handling within a TCM use-case anchored to mugwort preparations (moxa floss/cones/sticks). AV46 showed experimental activity consistent with predictions, while AV52 requires bench confirmation. These results motivate focused biochemical, transporter, pharmacokinetic, and in-vivo evaluations to support translation into Chinese preparation - compatible applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101013,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100712"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145417214","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chinese herbal medicine Quxie formula inhibits colon cancer liver metastasis through modulating gut Actinobacteria induced apoptosis and anti-cancer immunity","authors":"Yunzi Yan ,&nbsp;Bo Feng ,&nbsp;Jake Mao ,&nbsp;Chunhui Ning ,&nbsp;Yufei Yang ,&nbsp;Lingyun Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.prmcm.2025.100724","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prmcm.2025.100724","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Liver metastasis is the leading cause of mortality in colon cancer patients. Traditional Chinese herbal medicine Quxie formula (QX) has been shown to prolong survival, improve immune function and modulate the gut microbiome, particularly increasing <em>Actinobacteria</em> in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. However, the mechanism remains unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div><em>In Vitro</em>, QX-containing serum was extracted from rats and used to culture three <em>Actinobacteria</em> strains: <em>Bifidobacterium adolescentis (B. a.), Streptomyces carpaticus</em>, and <em>Bacillus</em>. After screening for bacterial growth, QX-<em>B. a.</em> co-culture products were applied to HCT-116 cells to assess apoptosis and apoptosis-related protein expression. Caspase3, Caspase8, and Caspase9 pathways were blocked to further investigate apoptosis mechanisms. We then established a CT-26 liver metastasis mouse model pretreated with cocktail antibiotics, followed by 14-day QX decoction treatment. Liver tissue, immune function, cytokine, and gut microbiome were analyzed using Western blotting (WB), flow cytometry analysis, ELISA and 16S rRNA sequencing, respectively.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div><em>In Vitro</em>, QX-containing serum significantly promoted <em>B. a.</em> proliferation, and the QX-<em>B. a.</em> co-culture products induced higher apoptosis rates in HCT-116 cells than controls. WB results showed increased expression of Caspase3, Caspase8, Caspase9, Bax, and Bid, and decreased Bcl-2 expression in QX-<em>B. a.</em> co-culture groups. Blocking Caspase3, Caspase8, and Caspase9 significantly reduced apoptosis, confirming the Bcl-2/Bax pathway’s involvement. <em>In Vivo</em>, 10 mg, 15 mg, and 20 mg daily QX treatment significantly reduced liver metastasis tumor burden. QX treatment increased gut <em>Actinobacteria, Bacteroidet</em>es, and <em>Firmicutes</em> abundance compared to model groups. QX significantly enhanced the protein expression of Caspase3, Caspase8 and Caspase9 in liver metastatic tissues. Compared to model group, QX could significantly enhance the proportion of CD8+, expression of TNF-α and IFN-γ in peripheral blood. In liver metastatic tissue, QX could restore the NK cells’ ability of targeting and killing cancer cells. Through UPLC-Q-TOF-MSE analysis, 69 molecular compounds were preliminarily identified in the decoction of QX and medicated serum.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study provides new insights into the gut microbiome-mediated anti-cancer effects of QX, warranting further investigation into its active components and therapeutic mechanism.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101013,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100724"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145623890","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}