Chinese MedicinePub Date : 2025-05-29DOI: 10.1186/s13020-025-01132-y
Ru Xiao, Jiamin Fang, Qinpo Huang, Guolin He, Xia Ou, Yang De, Shuhua Gui, Yun Zhang, Maoci Wang, Yiyuan Zhong, Dawa Zeren, Yongling Long, Changhui Liu, Tianqin Xiong
{"title":"The effect and mechanism of Germacrone in ameliorating alcoholic fatty liver by inhibiting Nrf2/Rbp4.","authors":"Ru Xiao, Jiamin Fang, Qinpo Huang, Guolin He, Xia Ou, Yang De, Shuhua Gui, Yun Zhang, Maoci Wang, Yiyuan Zhong, Dawa Zeren, Yongling Long, Changhui Liu, Tianqin Xiong","doi":"10.1186/s13020-025-01132-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-025-01132-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is an important cause of the increase in liver disease-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Its core pathological features are oxidative stress imbalance and lipid metabolism disorders. Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a key regulator of oxidative stress, maintains cellular redox balance by activating antioxidant genes. However, over-activated Nrf2 may further exacerbate lipid accumulation. Retinol-binding protein 4 (Rbp4) is a key regulator of lipid metabolism, and its abnormal expression is closely related to hepatic steatosis. Therefore, regulating the balance between Nrf2 and Rbp4 may be an effective strategy to improve ALD. This study aims to explore the therapeutic effect of Germacrone on ALD and further reveal the molecular mechanism of Germacrone's improvement of oxidative stress and lipid metabolism disorder by regulating the Nrf2/Rbp4 signaling pathway.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An alcohol-induced ALD model was established in C57BL/6 mice. After continuous administration of Germacrone (21 days), the effect of Germacrone on liver lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and pathological injury was evaluated. The core components and targets of JGST were screened by proteomics and network pharmacology, and the improvement effect of Germacrone on ALD was observed by H&E and oil red O staining, serum biochemical indices, and Western blot analysis. Subsequently, the binding of Nrf2 in the Rbp4 promoter region was analyzed by ChIP experiment. Finally, through in vivo and in vitro experiments, Nrf2 nuclear translocation and downstream target gene Rbp4 expression changes were detected, and Nrf2 knockdown or overexpression experiments were conducted to further verify its regulatory effect on Rbp4.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Proteomic analysis showed that the expressions of HO-1, Gsta1 and Rbp4 in the ALD model were significantly increased, and Rbp4 expression was positively correlated with liver triglyceride (TG) level. Network pharmacological predictions found that Germacrone is the core component of JGST to improve ALD. Germacrone can significantly reduce alcohol-induced liver lipid deposition, oxidative stress, and histopathological damage and significantly reduce the abnormal expression of Nuclear Nrf2 and Rbp4. ChIP experiment results showed that Nrf2 could significantly bind the Rbp4 promoter region - 1534 to - 1473 bp and transcriptionally activate its expression. Meanwhile, In vitro and in vivo experiments further verified that overexpression or activation of Nrf2 could significantly up-regulate Rbp4 expression, while knockdown or inhibition of Nrf2 could significantly decrease Rbp4 expression.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Germacrone can protect the liver by inhibiting the Nrf2/Rbp4 signaling pathway, improving oxidative stress and lipid metabolism disorder in the ALD model. Rbp4 is a novel downstream target gene of Nrf2. As a potential drug ","PeriodicalId":10266,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Medicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"77"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144180961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chinese MedicinePub Date : 2025-05-29DOI: 10.1186/s13020-025-01118-w
Jialin Deng, Shixuan Dai, Shi Liu, Liping Tu, Ji Cui, Xiaojuan Hu, Xipeng Qiu, Hao Lu, Tao Jiang, Jiatuo Xu
{"title":"Clinical study of intelligent tongue diagnosis and oral microbiome for classifying TCM syndromes in MASLD.","authors":"Jialin Deng, Shixuan Dai, Shi Liu, Liping Tu, Ji Cui, Xiaojuan Hu, Xipeng Qiu, Hao Lu, Tao Jiang, Jiatuo Xu","doi":"10.1186/s13020-025-01118-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-025-01118-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to analyze the tongue image features and oral microbial markers in different TCM syndromes related to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study involved 34 healthy volunteers and 66 MASLD patients [36 with Dampness-Heat (DH) and 30 with Qi-Deficiency (QD) syndrome]. Oral microbiome analysis was conducted through 16S rRNA sequencing. Tongue image feature extraction used the Uncertainty Augmented Context Attention Network (UACANet), while syndrome classification was performed using five different machine learning methods based on tongue features and oral microbiota.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant differences in tongue color, coating, and oral microbiota were noted between DH band QD syndromes in MASLD patients. DH patients exhibited a red-crimson tongue color with a greasy coating and enriched Streptococcus and Rothia on the tongue. In contrast, QD patients displayed a pale tongue with higher abundances of Neisseria, Fusobacterium, Porphyromonas and Haemophilus. Combining tongue image characteristics with oral microbiota differentiated DH and QD syndromes with an AUC of 0.939 and an accuracy of 85%.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study suggests that tongue characteristics are related to microbial metabolism, and different MASLD syndromes possess distinct biomarkers, supporting syndrome classification.</p>","PeriodicalId":10266,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Medicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"78"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144181187","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The integration of spear and shield: a panoramic analysis of the blood circulation-promoting and hemostatic effects of Panax notoginseng.","authors":"Xinyue Zhang, Chengxian Li, Guoyun Wang, Opoku Bonsu Francis, Hongda Wang, Aomei Sun, Han Wu, Xintong Yang, Pengzhi Dong, Wenke Zheng, Qilong Wang, Junhua Zhang","doi":"10.1186/s13020-025-01100-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-025-01100-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Panax notoginseng is a widely used herb in traditional Chinese medicine renowned for its unique dual functionality in promoting blood circulation and stopping bleeding. However, the specific active components and the molecular mechanisms underlying the seemingly contradictory effects of P. notoginseng remain unclear. This article reviews the literature on P. notoginseng focusing on its use in conditions including cardiovascular diseases, promoting blood circulation, and hemostasis. It provides a panoramic view of the regulatory roles of the different active components of P. notoginseng in maintaining vascular homeostasis, inflammatory responses, and coagulation-fibrinolysis during blood-activating/hemostatic conditions. By summarizing the pharmacological effects of P. notoginseng as reported by other studies, we have conducted a preliminary exploration of the medicinal basis and mechanisms that underlie its seemingly contradictory blood-activating and hemostatic effects. This research lays the groundwork for future studies into exploring the underlying mechanisms of P. notoginseng in \"stopping bleeding without causing stasis and promoting blood circulation without harming the blood,\" and its application in preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":10266,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Medicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"79"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144180723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Curcuma Longa (turmeric): from traditional applications to modern plant medicine research hotspots.","authors":"Wei-Wei Tian, Li Liu, Ping Chen, Dong-Mei Yu, Qing-Miao Li, Hua Hua, Jun-Ning Zhao","doi":"10.1186/s13020-025-01115-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13020-025-01115-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Turmeric, derived from the dried rhizome of Curcuma longa L., receives widespread attention because of its applications in pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and other industries. Traditionally, it has been widely used in Ayurveda medicine and traditional Asian medicine such as traditional Chinese medicine, for treatment of digestive, respiratory and circulatory diseases, as well as skin diseases. However, a comprehensive review of traditional applications, modern clinical applications, and related products remains largely unexplored. Here, we conduct a systematic summary of its pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory activity, anti-oxidant activity, anti-diabetic activity, anti-tumor activity, neuroprotective activity, hepatoprotective activity, anti-microbial activity and others. Additionally, we explore the randomized controlled trials, guiding future preventive healthcare strategies and clinical practices. Furthermore, we also discuss the turmeric-related products, involving medicines, health foods, herbal dietary supplements, and cosmetics, offering novel insights into relevant product development. Totally, this review provides a comprehensive understanding of turmeric on botany, history and traditional applications, pharmacological activities, clinical applications, and related products. Finally, based on the generalized science of Chinese material madica and advanced front technologies, the future research opportunities of turmeric are briefly explored.</p>","PeriodicalId":10266,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Medicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"76"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12117689/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144172955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Grain-sized moxibustion activates dendritic cells to enhance the antitumor immunity of cancer vaccines.","authors":"Weiming Shen, Dan Hu, Chenyuan Gong, Cheng Fang, Jiaojiao Luo, Lixin Wang, Chao Yao, Huangan Wu, Chen Zhao, Shiguo Zhu","doi":"10.1186/s13020-025-01134-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13020-025-01134-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Moxibustion, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy, employs thermal stimulation from the combustion of Artemisia argyi H.Lév. & Vaniot at acupoints to treat \"deficiency-cold syndromes\" (xuhan zheng), historically linked to immune dysfunction and chronic inflammation. Modern pharmacological studies showed that grain-sized moxibustion (gM) enhances innate immune surveillance such as natural killer (NK) cell recruitment. However, its synergy with vaccine-induced adaptive immunity remains unexplored. Guided by the TCM principle of fu zheng qu xie (\"fortify the host to dispel pathogens\"), this study investigated whether gM augments cancer vaccine efficacy and validate the mechanistic basis of thermal acupoint stimulation in amplifying adaptive antitumor immunity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In tumor-bearing mice model, gM was applied to the ST36 (Zusanli) acupoint. Adjuvant effects on the cancer vaccine were evaluated through flow cytometry, β-adrenergic receptor blockade, and cell depletion.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>gM synergized with the cancer vaccine, significantly suppressing tumor growth. Mechanistically, gM inhibited β-adrenergic signaling, driving DC maturation and subsequent coordination of CD4<sup>+</sup> T cell, CD8<sup>+</sup> T cell and NK cell responses. CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells as primary effectors, with NK cells playing a secondary role. Propranolol mirrored gM's effects, further enhancing DC activation and tumor suppression when combined with vaccination.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Both gM and β-blockers enhance cancer vaccine efficacy through β-adrenergic suppression and maturation of DC. These findings mechanistically bridge TCM's fu zheng qu xie strategy with modern immunotherapy, positioning β-adrenergic modulation as a convergent target for traditional and pharmacological interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":10266,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Medicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"73"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12107723/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144157125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Development and validation of a quick screening tool for predicting neck pain patients benefiting from spinal manipulation: a machine learning study.","authors":"Changxiao Han, Guangyi Yang, Haibao Wen, Minrui Fu, Bochen Peng, Bo Xu, Xunlu Yin, Ping Wang, Liguo Zhu, Minshan Feng","doi":"10.1186/s13020-025-01131-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13020-025-01131-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Neck pain (NP) ranks among the leading causes of years lived with disability worldwide. While spinal manipulation is a common physical therapy intervention for NP, its variable patient responses and inherent risks necessitate careful patient selection. This study aims to develop and validate a machine learning-based prediction model to identify NP patients most likely to benefit from spinal manipulation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This multicenter study analyzed 623 NP patients in a retrospective cohort and 319 patients from a separate hospital for external validation, with data collected between May 2020 and November 2024. Treatment success was defined as achieving ≥ 50% reduction in Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and ≥ 30% reduction in Neck Disability Index (NDI) after two weeks of spinal manipulation. We compared data imputation methods through density plots, and conducted δ-adjusted sensitivity analysis. Then employed both Boruta algorithm and LASSO regression to select relevant predictors from 40 initial features, and four feature subsets (Boruta-selected, LASSO-selected, intersection, and union) were evaluated to determine the optimal combination. Nine machine learning algorithms were tested using internal validation (70% training, 30% testing) and external validation. Performance metrics included Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC), accuracy, F1-score, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values. The SHAP framework enhanced model interpretability. Youden's Index was applied to determine the optimal predictive probability threshold for clinical decision support, and a web-based application was developed for clinical implementation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The combined LASSO and Boruta algorithms identified nine optimal predictors, with the union feature set achieving superior performance. Among the algorithms tested, the Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) model demonstrated optimal performance with an AUC of 0.823 (95% CI 0.750, 0.874) in the test set, showing consistency between training (AUC = 0.829) and test performance. External validation confirmed robust performance (AUC: 0.824, accuracy: 0.765, F1 score: 0.76) with satisfactory calibration (Brier score = 0.170). SHAP analysis highlighted the significant predictive value of clinical measurements and patient characteristics. Based on Youden's Index, the optimal predictive probability threshold was 0.603, yielding a sensitivity of 0.762 and specificity of 0.802. The model was implemented as a web-based application providing real-time probability calculations and interactive SHAP force plots.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our machine learning model demonstrates robust performance in identifying suitable candidates for spinal manipulation among neck pain patients, offering clinicians an evidence-based practical tool to optimize patient selection and potentially improve treatment outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":10266,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Medicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"74"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12107896/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144157121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chinese MedicinePub Date : 2025-05-27DOI: 10.1186/s13020-025-01129-7
Jinping Wang, Xiaoxiao Zhang, Mei Mo, Nan Zhang, Qingwen Tao, Yuan Xu
{"title":"Expert consensus on the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.","authors":"Jinping Wang, Xiaoxiao Zhang, Mei Mo, Nan Zhang, Qingwen Tao, Yuan Xu","doi":"10.1186/s13020-025-01129-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13020-025-01129-7","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":10266,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Medicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"75"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12107950/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144157123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chinese MedicinePub Date : 2025-05-26DOI: 10.1186/s13020-025-01125-x
Xueyan Li, Lu Ding, Zirui Li, Zhenghua Cao, Min Li, Kai Yin, Siyu Song, Liyuan Cao, Qinjing Xia, Zihan Wang, Daqing Zhao, Xiaolin Tong, Xiangyan Li, Zeyu Wang
{"title":"Yangke powder alleviates OVA-induced allergic asthma by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway.","authors":"Xueyan Li, Lu Ding, Zirui Li, Zhenghua Cao, Min Li, Kai Yin, Siyu Song, Liyuan Cao, Qinjing Xia, Zihan Wang, Daqing Zhao, Xiaolin Tong, Xiangyan Li, Zeyu Wang","doi":"10.1186/s13020-025-01125-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13020-025-01125-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease that remains inadequately controlled by existing conventional treatments. A traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula of Yangke powder (yǎng ké sǎn-YKS) has demonstrated potential in alleviating asthma symptoms and reducing its acute exacerbation. Despite clinical evidence supporting its benefit, there is still insufficient understanding of the active compounds in YKS and their underlying mechanisms, which limits its broader clinical application.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to identify the key active ingredients in YKS and explore their mechanisms, particularly through the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathways, to provide a scientific basis for its application in asthma treatment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We employed UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS to analyze YKS constituents, identified key ingredients, and explored asthma treatment mechanisms through bioinformatics, network pharmacology, Mendelian randomization, and molecular docking. The asthma model was evaluated using ovalbumin (OVA) and pulmonary function tests, while pathological examination was conducted using hematoxylin and eosin (HE), periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), and Masson trichrome stains. Concentrations of IgE, IL-4, and IL-5 were measured by ELISA, and protein and mRNA expressions were confirmed via qPCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 174 compounds were identified in YKS by UPLC-MS, with 49 detected in the bloodstream, indicating their role as active ingredients. Bioinformatics analysis revealed 353 asthma-related targets and 972 potential targets for YKS. Key targets such as AKT1, TNF, and IL1B were validated by molecular docking. Our studies indicated that YKS modulates asthma primarily through the PI3K/Akt and NF-κB pathways, improving airway resistance, reducing inflammation, mucus production, and airway remodeling, and decreasing Th2 cytokines and IgE levels.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This investigation identifies Kaempferol, Norephedrine, Cynaroside, Genistein, and Rutin as critical active ingredients in YKS, impacting key biomarkers such as AKT1, TNF, and IL1B. These substances effectively modulate the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway, enhancing the management of allergic asthma.</p>","PeriodicalId":10266,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Medicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"69"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12105270/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144149406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chinese MedicinePub Date : 2025-05-26DOI: 10.1186/s13020-025-01130-0
Lanlan Li, Jianzhong Lu, Shengjun Fu, Wenyan Li, Ying Wang, Ke Wang, Yan Tao, Shanhui Liu
{"title":"Evodiamine induces ferroptosis in prostate cancer cells by inhibiting TRIM26-mediated stabilization of GPX4.","authors":"Lanlan Li, Jianzhong Lu, Shengjun Fu, Wenyan Li, Ying Wang, Ke Wang, Yan Tao, Shanhui Liu","doi":"10.1186/s13020-025-01130-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13020-025-01130-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Prostate cancer is a major global health challenge, characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates. Traditional treatment options, including androgen deprivation therapy and chemotherapy, often lead to drug resistance. In recent years, natural compounds have garnered attention for their potential therapeutic effects. Evodiamine, a bioactive alkaloid from Evodia rutaecarpa, has demonstrated promising anti-cancer properties in various malignancies, including oral squamous cell carcinoma, breast, colorectal, and ovarian cancers. This study explores the efficacy of evodiamine in prostate cancer cells and investigates the mechanisms underlying evodiamine-induced cell death.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To investigate the effects of evodiamine on prostate cancer cells, various cell lines, including both castration-sensitive and castration-resistant variants, were treated with different concentrations of evodiamine for various durations. Cell viability, proliferation, invasion ability, and colony formation were assessed using the CCK8 assay, EdU assay, 3D matrigel drop invasion assay, and colony formation assay, respectively. The effects of evodiamine on apoptosis were analyzed using FACS, Hoechst staining, and Western blot. To evaluate its effects on ferroptosis, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) assay kits, as well as DCFH-DA and the lipid peroxidation sensor BODIPY<sup>™</sup> 581/501 C11 fluorescent probes, were employed. The molecular mechanisms through which evodiamine regulates GPX4 protein instability were investigated using Western blot and TRIM26 ectopic expression. Additionally, a mouse xenograft model derived from DU145 cells was established to evaluate the in vivo effects of evodiamine and its molecular mechanisms, utilizing hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Western blot analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Evodiamine significantly suppressed cell viability, proliferation, invasion, and colony formation in prostate cancer cells. Importantly, evodiamine-induced cell death in the PC3 and DU145 cell lines was independent of apoptosis pathway. Instead, evodiamine increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, lipid ROS levels and MDA levels, while decreasing GSH levels, indicating the induction of ferroptosis. The key role of ROS in evodiamine-induced ferroptosis was further confirmed by the partial reversal of cell death upon treatment with the ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Mechanistically, evodiamine induced ferroptosis by destabilizing GPX4 protein in a TRIM26-dependent manner. Moreover, in vivo studies demonstrated that evodiamine significantly inhibited tumor growth and induced ferroptosis in tumor cells, highlighting its therapeutic potential.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study demonstrates that evodiamine exerts potent antitumor effects against prostate cancer through inhibiting TRIM26-mediated stabilization of GPX4 protein ","PeriodicalId":10266,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Medicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"71"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12105283/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144149346","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chinese MedicinePub Date : 2025-05-26DOI: 10.1186/s13020-025-01120-2
Zhi-Xiu Lin, Tin Muk Ho, Yan-Fang Xian, Kam Leung Chan, Qing-Qing Xu, Cho Wing Lo, Justin Che Yuen Wu, Kam Lun Hon, Sin Bond Leung, Chon Pin Chia, Chi Him Sum, Tak Yee Chow, Pui Kuan Cheong, Jessica Yuet Ling Ching, Hongwei Zhang, Ka Chun Leung, Wai Ling Lin
{"title":"Exploring the efficacy and safety of Yu-Ping-Feng powder with variation against allergic rhinitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.","authors":"Zhi-Xiu Lin, Tin Muk Ho, Yan-Fang Xian, Kam Leung Chan, Qing-Qing Xu, Cho Wing Lo, Justin Che Yuen Wu, Kam Lun Hon, Sin Bond Leung, Chon Pin Chia, Chi Him Sum, Tak Yee Chow, Pui Kuan Cheong, Jessica Yuet Ling Ching, Hongwei Zhang, Ka Chun Leung, Wai Ling Lin","doi":"10.1186/s13020-025-01120-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13020-025-01120-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common allergic condition characterized by frequent sneezing, nasal congestion, nasal itching and rhinorrhea. Chinese medicine formula Yu-Ping-Feng Powder with Variation (YPV) is an empirical formula modified from an ancient Chinese medicine formula named Yu-Ping-Feng Powder, which is widely used for the treatment of allergic diseases such as AR and asthma.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of YPV on AR patients with the lung and spleen Qi deficiency type using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (RCT).</p><p><strong>Study design and methods: </strong>Between April 2022 and June 2023, a total of 58 participants were recruited and randomly allocated to receive either YPV (n = 29) or placebo (n = 29) for 8 consecutive weeks. The changes of the Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS), and the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) or the Paediatric Allergic Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (PADQLQ) scores at week 8 were used as the primary outcomes. The secondary outcomes included (1) the change of TNSS at weeks 4, 12 and 16; (2) the RQLQ or the PADQLQ scores at weeks 4, 12 and 16; (3) the change of frequency of AR episodes and their severity Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at weeks 4, 8, 12 and 16; (4) the changes of the gut microbiota composition in stool samples at week 8; and (5) adverse events related to the study treatment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>YPV treatment could significantly improve the RQLQ score in AR patients at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16 (p = 0.05, p = 0.04, p = 0.04 and p = 0.03, respectively), when compared with the placebo treatment. However, it did not improve the TNSS score at week 8 in AR patients when compared with the placebo group. In addition, YPV treatment could reduce the VAS score in AR patients at weeks 12 and 16 when compared with the placebo group, although the reductions were not statistically significant (p = 0.06 and p = 0.08, respectively). Importantly, no overt adverse effects were observed in both YPV and placebo groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>YPV was well-tolerated and could effectively ameliorate multiple symptoms of AR and improve the quality of life of AR patients after 8-week treatment. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04976023. Registered 26 July 2021, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04976023?cond=The%20Effects%20of%20Using%20Yupingfeng%20Powder%20with%20Variation%20for%20the%20Treatment%20of%20Allergic%20Rhinitis&rank=2.</p>","PeriodicalId":10266,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Medicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"70"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12105225/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144149400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}