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Background: Taxillus chinensis (DC.) Danser (T. chinensis), known as "Sangjisheng" in Chinese, is a member of the family Loranthaceae, with the traditional functions of "dispelling wind dampness, strengthening bones and muscles, and preventing miscarriage". Since Eastern Han dynasty, it has been used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, arthralgia, threatened abortion, and hypertension. Nowadays, T. chinensis is included in the 2020 Edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia as Taxilli Herba. The purpose of this review is to summarize the latest research on T. chinensis in recent years, and make critical comments, so as to provide reference for the clinical application and modern research of T. chinensis. Main body: In this review, we summarize the botany, traditional uses, and research advances in the phytochemistry and pharmacological effects of T. chinensis. Its toxicity has also been discussed. The published literature on current pharmacological and toxicological data has also been assessed. To date, approximately 110 compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, phenylpropanoids, tannins, glycosides, amino acids, and nucleosides, have been identified in T. chinensis. Flavonoids are considered the most vital bioactive ingredients in T. chinensis. Pharmacological studies have demonstrated that T. chinensis possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, antiviral, diuretic, antihypertensive, antihyperglycemic, and other properties. Conclusion: Currently, research on T. chinensis is in the preliminary stages, and further research is required to understand the active compounds present and mechanisms of action. We hope that this comprehensive review of T. chinensis will serve as a background for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cibotii rhizoma (CR) is a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used to treat bleeding, rheumatism, lumbago, etc. However, its therapeutic effects and mechanism against thrombocytopenia are still unknown so far. In the study, we investigated the effects of aqueous extracts of Cibotii rhizoma (AECRs) against thrombocytopenia and its molecular mechanism.Methods: Giemsa staining, phalloidin staining, and flow cytometry were performed to measure the effect of AECRs on the megakaryocyte differentiation in K562 and Meg-01 cells. A radiation-induced thrombocytopenia mouse model was constructed to assess the therapeutic actions of AECRs on thrombocytopenia. Network pharmacology and experimental verification were carried out to clarify its mechanism against thrombocytopenia. Results: AECRs promoted megakaryocyte differentiation in K562 and Meg-01 cells and accelerated platelet recovery and megakaryopoiesis with no systemic toxicity in radiation-induced thrombocytopenia mice. The PI3K/AKT, MEK/ERK, and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways contributed to AECR-induced megakaryocyte differentiation. The suppression of the above signaling pathways by their inhibitors blocked AERC-induced megakaryocyte differentiation. Conclusions: AECRs can promote megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis through activating PI3K/AKT, MEK/ERK, and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways, which has the potential to treat radiation-induced thrombocytopenia in the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a serious neurodegenerative disease and there is currently no effective treatment for AD progression. The use of TCM as a potential treatment strategy for AD is an evolving field of investigation. Asafoetida (ASF), an oleo-gum-resin isolated from Ferula assa-foetida root, has been proven to possess antioxidative potential and neuroprotective effects, which is closely associated with the neurological disorders. However, the efficacy and further mechanisms of ASF in AD experimental models are still unclear. Methods: A cognitive impairment of mouse model induced by scopolamine was established to determine the neuroprotective effects of ASF in vivo, as shown by behavioral tests, biochemical assays, Nissl staining, TUNEL staining, Immunohistochemistry, western blot and qPCR. Furthermore, the PC12 cells stimulated by H2O2 were applied to explore the underlying mechanisms of ASF-mediated efficacy. Then, the UPLCM analysis and integrated network pharmacology approach was utilized to identified the main constitutes of ASF and the potential target of ASF against AD, respectively. And the main identified targets were validated in vitro by western blot, qPCR and immunofluorescence staining. Results: In vivo, ASF treatment significantly ameliorated cognitive impairment induced by scopolamine, as evidenced by improving learning and memory abilities, and reducing neuronal injury, cholinergic system impairment, oxidative stress and apoptosis in the hippocampus of mice. In vitro, our results validated that ASF can dose-dependently attenuated H2O2-induced pathological oxidative stress in PC12 cells by inhibiting ROS and MDA production, as well as promoting the activities of SOD, CAT, GSH. We also found that ASF can significantly suppressed the apoptosis rate of PC12 cells increased by H2O2 exposure, which was confirmed by flow cytometry analysis. Moreover, treatment with ASF obviously attenuated H2O2-induced increase in caspase-3 and Bax expression levels, as well as decrease in Bcl-2 protein expression. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that the PI3K/Akt/GSK3β/Nrf2 /HO-1pathway may be involved in the regulation of cognitive impairment by ASF. The results of western blot, qPCR and immunofluorescence staining of vitro assay proved it. Conclusions: Collectively, our work first uncovered the significant neuroprotective effect of ASF in treating AD in vivo. Then, we processed a series of vitro experiments to clarify the biological mechanism action. These data demonstrate that ASF can inhibit oxidative stress induced neuronal apoptosis to foster the prevention of AD both in vivo and in vitro, and it may exert the function of inhibiting AD through PI3K/Akt/GSK3β/Nrf2/HO-1pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis is one of the most common diseases in the world which resulted in heavy socioeconomic burden and a public health threat. Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO) is the most common secondary reason of osteoporosis. Therapeutic strategies using traditional Chinese medicine are under investigation for osteoporosis, with efforts to improve efficacy and clarify the mechanism. The combination of Eucommia, Cuscuta, and Drynaria is widely used in traditional Chinese decoction for osteoporosis treatment, but the experimental efficacy and mechanism are still unclear. Administration of E.C.D. extracts (Eucommia, Cuscuta, and Drynaria) in experimental GIO rats resulted in decreased urinal calcium, phosphorus loss, and decreased expression of RANKL, CTX in serum, increased serum calcium, phosphorus, and OPG level. E.C.D. extracts also improved bone density, structural integrity, and biomechanical function in experimental GIO rats. These finding were associated with E.C.D. extracts' treatment efficacy to GIO in vivo. The balance between osteoclast and osteoblast activity is essential for bone remodeling and bone related disease. The E.C.D. extracts inhibited Raw 264.7 cell differentiation to osteoclast in vitro. On the other hand, it promoted OPG expression of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) which can suppress the osteoclast genesis. E.C.D. extracts also increased the Wnt1 and Runx2 expression which are related to osteoblast formation. It also regulated the paracrine effect of MSC to inhibit osteoclast differentiation. The analysis of HPLC and comprehensive pharmacology identified the constituents of E.C.D. extracts and the potential osteoporosis-related targets mediated by E.C.D. extracts. The KEGG enrichment analysis suggested that PI3K/Akt pathway may be involved in the regulation osteoclast genesis by E.C.D. extracts and the result of Western blot of vitro assays proved it. Collectively, these data demonstrate E.C.D. extracts can inhibit osteoclast differentiation to foster experimental osteoporosis both in vivo and in vitro and it may exert the function of inhibiting osteoclast differentiation through PI3K/Akt pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is used as an adjuvant drug for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B liver fibrosis and is used frequently. We still do not know which TCM has the best curative effect as an adjuvant drug. Therefore, we decided to use network meta-analysis to solve this problem. Methods. We used the RevMan software (5.3) and Stata software (13.0) to achieve this network meta-analysis (NMA). The primary outcomes of this study were HA, LN, PCIII, and IV-C; the secondary outcomes of this study were AST, ALT, and HBV-DNA negative conversion rate, and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. For all outcomes, the scissors funnel plot, Egger test, and Begg test were used to detect publication bias, and sensitivity analysis was used to investigate the stability of the results. And the meta-regression was used to explore the source of heterogeneity. Results. A total of 34 articles were included in this study. The study involved a total of 3199 patients, of which 1578 were assigned to the control group and 1621 patients were assigned to the experimental group. The number of men and women is roughly equal, and the average age is about 43 years old. In addition, nine treatment strategies were involved in this study. The combination of TCM and entecavir can significantly improve the patients' HA, LN, PCIII, IV-C, AST, ALT, and HBV-DNA negative conversion rates. The comprehensive evaluation results showed that FHC combined with entecavir has more advantages than other treatment strategies. Conclusion. For improving the HBV-DNA negative conversion rates, adding TCM to the therapeutic strategies does not seem to show absolute superiority. Finally, FHC combined with entecavir is the best therapeutic strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]