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Over the years, the safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has received widespread attention, especially the central nervous system‐related adverse reactions. Indeed, the complexity of TCM has limited the widespread application of TCM. The article summarizes the main components associated with neurotoxicity, including alkaloids, terpenes, flavonoids, saponins, proteins, and heavy metals, by reviewing the literature on the neurotoxicity of TCM. It has been established that the neurotoxicity mechanisms mainly include mitochondrial damage, oxidative damage, inhibition of cell proliferation (including transcriptional and DNA damage), changes in cell membrane permeability, and apoptosis. By reviewing the latest literature, this paper provides the foothold for follow‐up studies and can assist clinicians in preventing neurotoxicity via rational and safe TCM drug use. The neurotoxicity associated with traditional Chinese medicine has attracted widespread attention, and the development and application of TCM have largely been limited by the complexity of its components and their corresponding toxicity. By reviewing the main component types and toxicity mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine‐induced neurotoxicity, this paper provides the foothold for clinical application and future studies on TCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAlkaloids are naturally occurring compounds with complex structures found in natural plants. To further improve the understanding of plant alkaloids, this review focuses on the classification, toxicity and mechanisms of action, providing insight into the occurrence of alkaloid-poisoning events and guiding the safe use of alkaloids in food, supplements and clinical applications. Based on their chemical structure, alkaloids can be divided into organic amines, diterpenoids, pyridines, isoquinolines, indoles, pyrrolidines, steroids, imidazoles and purines. The mechanisms of toxicity of alkaloids, including neurotoxicity, hepatoxicity, nephrotoxicity, cardiotoxicity and cytotoxicity, have also been reviewed. Some cases of alkaloid poisoning have been introduced when used as food or clinically, including accidental food poisoning, excessive consumption, and poisoning caused by the improper use of alkaloids in a clinical setting, and the importance of safety evaluation was illustrated. This review summarizes the toxicity and mechanism of action of alkaloids and provides evidence for the need for the safe use of alkaloids in food, supplements and clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To simplify the establishing procedure of RDPCR and detect the DNA lesion on the precise position at the level of nucleic acid., Methods: The TK6 cell was cultured and its genomic DNA was extracted and prepared to the single-stranded probes of the exon 2 of k-ras gene. The exon 2 of k-ras gene was amplified,called short fragment. The digestion of the genomic DNA and the short fragment were treated by the endonuclease HinfI. To the former, the products come from the every step of RDPCR were imaged after gel electrophoresis (GE) and the end products was taken coloration after southern hybridization with the single-stranded probes of the exon 2 of k-ras gene as well as were sequenced after re-amplified. To the latter, the genomic DNA were treated as the former except the GE., Results: From the image of GE, the straps could be seen clearly that come from every step of amplifying of short fragments which were cleaved by the endonuclease HinfI in RDPCR. The clear hybridized bands caused by the products of RDPCR were seen at the expectant position. The sequencing analysis showed that the position was linked by the linker was just the restriction site of HinfI., Conclusion: Results indicated that RDPCR could be easily established by the short fragment method. This may be the first time detect the precise position of DNA lesion at the level of nucleic acid by RDPCR.