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At present, people are susceptible to developing depression and anxiety disorders in response to stress. However, there is no specific medicine for anxiety. Os Draconis (OD, named "Long gu" in Chinese) are fossilized bones that have been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat neurological diseases for thousands of years. Thus, we conducted this study to determine the biological basis for the anxiolytic effect of OD.In this study, novel carbon dots (OD-CDs) from OD decoctions were discovered and separated. OD-CDs were anatomized using nanomaterials characterization methods to characterize the morphological structure, optical properties, and functional group properties. Four behavioural tests were conducted to observe the behavioural activities of mice, including the open field test (OFT), light/dark box test (LDT), elevated plus maze test (EPMT), and novelty-suppressed feeding test (NSFT), to determine its anxiolytic effects. Moreover, we assessed the possible mechanisms of the OD-CDs by detecting hormones associated with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.OD-CDs were spherical and monodispersed with a narrow size distribution between 1 and 5 nm and had a yield of 3.67%. OD-CDs increased the activity time of mice in the central zone in the OFT. The mice in the experimental group showed more frequent activity in the light compartment and the open arms, in LDT and EPMT, respectively. In addition, OD-CDs shortened the feeding latency in the NSFT. Furthermore, the results after OD-CDs intervention showed a significant increase in serum serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE). In addition, the concentrations of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ATCH), and corticosterone (CORT) were decreased.These results demonstrate a definite anxiolytic effect of OD-CDs and reveal the possible mechanism of action of OD-CDs' anxiolytic effect, which supports the research of OD for neurological disorders and a promising new trend of therapeutic approach and drug development.

Jie Hu,1,* Juan Luo,1,* Meiling Zhang,1 Jiashu Wu,1 Yue Zhang,2 Hui Kong,1 Huihua Qu,3 Guoliang Cheng,4 Yan Zhao1 1School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Life Science, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, People’s Republic of China; 3Center of Scientific Experiment, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, People’s Republic of China; 4State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, 276000, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yan ZhaoSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 11 Bei San Huan Dong Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 010-62486705Email zhaoyandr@bucm.edu.cnGuoliang ChengState Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., No. 209 Hong Qi Lu, Lanshan District, Linyi, 276000, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 18905391156Email 18905391156@163.comAim: To explore the effects of Radix Sophorae Flavescentis carbonisata-based carbon dots (RSFC-CDs) on an ethanol-induced acute gastric ulcer rat model.Methods: The structure, optical properties, functional groups and elemental composition of RSFC-CDs synthesized by one-step pyrolysis were characterized. The gastric protective effects of RSFC-CDs were evaluated and confirmed by applying a rat model of ethanol-induced acute gastric ulcers. The underlying mechanisms were investigated through the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signalling pathway and oxidative stress.Results: RSFC-CDs with a diameter ranging from 2– 3 nm mainly showed gastric protective effects by reducing the levels of NF-κB, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) to inhibit ethanol-induced inflammation and oxidative stress.Conclusion: RSFC-CDs have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects, making them promising for application in ethanol-induced gastric injury.Keywords: carbon dots, Radix Sophorae Flavescentis, gastroprotection, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant

Introduction The charcoal processed product of Paeoniae Radix Alba (PRA), PRA Carbonisata (PRAC), has long been used for its hepatoprotective effects. However, the material basis and mechanism of action of PRAC remain unclear. Aim To explore the hepatoprotective effects of Paeoniae Radix Alba Carbonisata-derived carbon dots (PRAC-CDs). Methods PRAC-CDs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet, fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and high-performance liquid chromatography. The hepatoprotective effect of PRAC-CDs was evaluated and confirmed using the classic carbon tetrachloride acute liver injury model. Results PRAC-CDs averaged 1.0-2.4 nm in size and exhibited a quantum yield of 5.34% at a maximum excitation wavelength of 320 nm and emission at 411 nm. PRAC-CDs can reduce the ALT and AST levels of mice with carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury and have a mitigating effect on the rise in TBA and TBIL. More interestingly, PRAC-CDs can significantly reduce MDA and increase SOD levels, demonstrating that PRAC-CDs can improve the body's ability to scavenge oxygen free radicals and inhibit free radical-induced liver cell lipid peroxidation, thereby preventing liver cell damage. Conclusion These results demonstrate the remarkable hepatoprotective effects of PRAC-CDs against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury, which provide new insights into potential biomedical and healthcare applications of CDs.

Introduction A correlation is established between the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine and its charcoal drugs. Lonicerae japonicae Flos (LJF) is commonly used to treat fever, carbuncle, and tumors, among others. LJF Carbonisatas (LJFC) is preferred for detoxifying and relieving dysentery and its related symptoms. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of LJFC remain unknown.

Introduction The charcoal processed product of Armeniacae Semen Amarum (ASA), ASA Carbonisata (ASAC), has long been used for its anti-inflammatory effects. However, the material basis and mechanism of action of ASAC remain unclear. Aim To explore the anti-inflammatory effects of Armeniacae Semen Amarum Carbonisata-derived carbon dots (ASAC-CDs). Methods The physicochemical properties of ASAC-CDs including morphology, optical properties, functional groups were characterized by a series of methods, mainly including electron microscopy, optical technology and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The anti-inflammatory effect of ASAC-CDs was evaluated and confirmed using acute lung injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in rats. Results The ASAC-CDs ranged from 1.5 to 5.5 nm in diameter, with a quantum yield of 3.17%. ASAC-CDs alleviated LPS-induced inflammation, as demonstrated by reducing the levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α and increasing the contents of IL-10 in rat serum. More interestingly, ASAC-CDs reduce the content of MDA and MPO and increase the activity of SOD and the content of GSH, indicating the antioxidant activity of ASAC-CDs. Conclusion These results demonstrate the remarkable anti-inflammatory effects of ASAC-CDs against ALI induced by LPS, which provide an important basis for the application of ASAC-CDs in clinical anti-pneumonia, and lay an experimental foundation for the research and development of novel nano-drugs., Graphical Abstract

Yan Zhao,1 Fang Lu,2 Yue Zhang,2 Meiling Zhang,1 Yusheng Zhao,3 Juan Luo,1 Hui Kong,1 Huihua Qu4 1School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Life Science, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, People’s Republic of China; 4Beijing Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Hui Kong; Huihua QuBeijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 11, Bei San Huan Dong Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 10-62486705Email doris7629@126.com; quhuihuadr@163.comBackground: It is well known that smoking is harmful to health; however, it can also ameliorate anxiety. To date, it is unclear whether any nanoparticles found in cigarette mainstream smoke (CS) contribute to this effect.Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the particle composition of CS to identify novel anti-anxiety components.Methods: Carbon dots (CDs) from CS (CS-CDs) were characterised using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared, ultraviolet, fluorescence, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and high-performance liquid chromatography. The anti-anxiety effects of CS-CDs in mouse models were evaluated and confirmed with the elevated plus maze and open-field tests.Results: The quantum yield of CS-CDs was 13.74%, with a composition of C, O, and N. In addition, the surface groups contained O-H, C-H, C=O, C-N, N-H, C-O-C, and COO− bonds. Acute toxicity testing revealed that CS-CDs had low in vitro and in vivo toxicity within a certain concentration range. The results of the elevated plus maze and open-field tests showed that CS-CDs had a significant anti-anxiety effect and a certain sedative effect in mice. The mechanism of these effects may be related to the decrease in glutamate levels and promotion of norepinephrine production in the mouse brain, and the decrease in dopamine in mouse serum due to CS-CDs.Conclusion: CS-CDs may have anti-anxiety and certain sedative effects. This study provides a new perspective for a more comprehensive understanding of the components, properties, and functions of CS. Furthermore, it offers a novel target for the development of smoking cessation treatments, such as nicotine replacement therapy.Keywords: carbon dots, cigarette mainstream smoke, anxiety, smoking cessation therapy

Yan Zhao,1,* Yue Zhang,2,* Gaofeng Qin,1 Jinjun Cheng,1 Wenhao Zeng,2 Shuchen Liu,1 Hui Kong,1 Xueqian Wang,1 Qingguo Wang,1 Huihua Qu3 1School of Basic Medical Sciences, 2School of Chinese Materia Medica, 3Center of Scientific Experiment, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: The unique features of quantum dots (QDs) make them desirable fluorescent tags for cell and developmental biology applications that require long-term, multitarget, and highly sensitive imaging. In this work, we imaged fluorescent cadmium telluride/zinc sulfide (CdTe/ZnS) QDs in organs, tissues, and cells, and analyzed the mechanism of their lymphatic uptake and cellular distribution. We observed that the fluorescent CdTe/ZnS QDs were internalized by lymph nodes in four cell lines from different tissue sources. We obtained the fluorescence intensity–QD concentrations curve by quantitative analysis. Our results demonstrate that cells containing QDs can complete mitosis normally and that distribution of QDs was uniform across cell types and involved the vesicular transport system, including the endoplasmic reticulum. This capacity for CdTe/ZnS QD targeting provides insights into the applicability and limitations of fluorescent QDs for imaging biological specimens. Keywords: quantum dots, lymph nodes, fluorescence imaging, biodistribution