Article
Plant Sciences
Kenneth Kin Leung Kwan, Tina Ting Xia Dong, Karl Wah Keung Tsim
Summary: The study revealed that Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT) enhanced mitochondrial function and energy kinetics in osteoblasts, increasing maximal respiration, spare capacity, glycolysis capacity, and glycolysis reserve. DBT also modulated bioenergetic metabolism through cellular signaling pathways and affected mitochondrial morphology and dynamics. Overall, DBT can be considered a beneficial herbal extract for improving osteoblastic metabolism and bone disorders through central energy metabolism and mitochondrial bioenergetics.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yanghao Li, Xu Yang, Tiantian Bao, Xiaojuan Sun, Xiang Li, Huilin Zhu, Bo Zhang, Tonghui Ma
Summary: Astragali Radix and its main active constituents upregulate the expression of AQP9 in hepatocytes to increase gluconeogenesis and reduce oxidative stress, promoting liver regeneration.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Kenneth K. L. Kwan, Tin Yan Wong, Anna X. D. Yu, Tina T. X. Dong, Henry H. L. Lam, Karl W. K. Tsim
Summary: The therapeutic efficacy of a herbal mixture with multiple targets, functions, and pathways is a feature of traditional Chinese medicine. The rationale of boiling herbs together in water during preparation has not been fully revealed yet. Employing mass-spectrometry-based multi-omics to examine cellular pathways profiles provides essential insights into the pharmacological effects of Chinese herbal mixtures.
Article
Plant Sciences
Pin Gong, Danni Wang, Dandan Cui, Qian Yang, Peipei Wang, Wenjuan Yang, Fuxin Chen
Summary: Radix Astragali (RA) and Radix Astragali preparata (RAP) have significant anti-aging effects, with RAP showing a more pronounced effect. Their mechanisms of action are mainly related to the balance of oxidative stress and activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Maurizio Muscaritoli, Jann Arends, Patrick Bachmann, Vickie Baracos, Nicole Barthelemy, Hartmut Bertz, Federico Bozzetti, Elisabeth Hutterer, Elizabeth Isenring, Stein Kaasa, Zeljko Krznaric, Barry Laird, Maria Larsson, Alessandro Laviano, Stefan Muhlebach, Line Oldervoll, Paula Ravasco, Tora S. Solheim, Florian Strasser, Marian de van der Schueren, Jean-Charles Preiser, Stephan C. Bischoff
Summary: This practical guideline is based on the current scientific ESPEN guidelines on nutrition in cancer patients, providing 43 recommendations for the nutritional and metabolic management of patients with neoplastic diseases. It offers guidance to health care providers involved in the management of cancer patients to offer optimal nutritional care.
CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Guiyu Feng, Dongyang Li, Juan Liu, Song Sun, Pingxin Zhang, Wei Liu, Yingkai Zhang, Boyang Meng, Jinyu Li, Limin Chai
Summary: The combination of Astragalus, Angelica Sinensis, and Honeysuckle can promote the resolution of synovial tissue inflammation by regulating the immune response network of ILC2s, thus having the potential for treating rheumatoid arthritis.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Zhenjie Tang, Gangliang Huang
Summary: This article summarizes the extraction, separation, purification, structure, activity, and modification of Radix astragali polysaccharide (RAP). Enzyme-assisted extraction has been found to have a significantly higher yield than other extraction methods, but the extraction effects and activity efficiency of RAP vary under different conditions. The purification and separation of RAP are crucial factors affecting its yield and activity. Current research on the derivatization of RAP is limited but important. Additionally, further studies on the structure-activity relationship of RAP are needed. Overall, this review provides useful insights for future research on the various important applications of RAP.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kenichi Nishie, Tomomi Nishie, Seiichi Sato, Masayuki Hanaoka
Summary: Cancer cachexia is a complex syndrome involving functional impairment and body composition changes that cannot be reversed by nutritional support. It decreases skeletal muscle mass, increases lipolysis, and reduces food intake. As no effective interventions are currently available, it remains an unmet need in cancer treatment. However, recent discoveries and treatments, along with published guidelines, provide hope for developing effective strategies to diagnose and treat cancer cachexia, which could lead to breakthroughs in cancer treatment.
DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kenneth K. L. Kwan, Tin Yan Wong, Anna X. D. Yu, Tina T. X. Dong, Henry H. N. Lam, Karl W. K. Tsim
Summary: This study utilized an integrated omics approach combined with the knockout of an active compound to measure the regulation of cellular signaling in cultured rat osteoblasts treated with the Chinese herbal formula Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT). The results demonstrate that calycosin within DBT plays a crucial role in orchestrating the osteoblastic functions and signaling pathways of the entire herbal formula. This finding highlights the importance of systems biology in providing insights into the synergistic property of herbal formulas, which is essential in modernizing traditional Chinese medicine.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Yueying Li, Yajun Chen, Yaqi Zeng, Jie Dong, Chunlei Li, Yingjie Jia, Yonghua Zhao, Kun Wang
Summary: Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, with up to 80% of patients displaying cachexia. Anorexia often serves as a warning sign for cachexia in cancer patients. Combining nutrition and herbal therapy can effectively prevent cachexia by improving nutritional status and quality of life.
EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Neda Yaghobi, Valiollah Mehrzad, Shirinsadat Badri, Afsaneh Yegdaneh, Azadeh Moghaddas
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of several traditional herbal medicines on cancer-induced cachexia/anorexia. Results showed that the traditional herbal combination was safe and effective in preventing weight loss and improving appetite and fatigue in advanced cancer patients.
JOURNAL OF HERBAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Xiaojing Cui, Xuemei Qin, Guanhua Du, Yuetao Liu
Summary: In this study, the chemical composition of Danggui Buxue decoction (DBD) was characterized. The results identified 200 compounds in DBD, 114 compounds in wine-processed Angelicae Sinensis Radix (WDG), and 180 compounds in honey-processed Astragali Radix (HAR), with 48 compounds common across all three. The study highlights the changes in chemical composition due to compatibility and provides an effective data processing strategy and database for understanding the compounding mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine.
BIOMEDICAL CHROMATOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Olga Laura Sena Almeida, Eduardo Ferriolli, Roberta Cristina Cintra Taveira, Meire Gallo Rosenburg, Daniela Dalpubel Campanari, Natalia Maira da Cruz Alves, Karina Pfrimer, Liane Rapatoni, Fernanda Maris Peria, Nereida K. C. Lima
Summary: This study compared the effectiveness of mirtazapine and megestrol in managing cancer-related anorexia-cachexia syndrome. It was a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial involving patients with advanced cancer and anorexia-cachexia syndrome. Participants received either mirtazapine 30 mg/day or megestrol 320 mg/day for eight weeks. The results showed that megestrol was more effective in promoting weight gain and improving appetite compared to mirtazapine. However, there may be a difference in the therapeutic response between sexes.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ying Li, Daoping Wang, Rongjuan Guo, Bo Ma, Lan Miao, Mingqian Sun, Lijuan He, Li Lin, Yinghong Pan, Junguo Ren, Jianxun Liu
Summary: This study found that Astragali Radix (AR) has a neuroprotective effect on patients with cerebral infarction (CI). It significantly improves the symptoms of CI patients and may act on IL-6, TNF-a, VCAM-1, MCP-1, and ICAM-1 to play anti-atherosclerosis and neuroprotective roles.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Dermatology
Yue Ren, Qi Wu, Chaoqun Liu, Jianing Zhang, Zian Wang, Yingying Li, Yanling Zhang
Summary: This study aimed to discover a herbal combination with anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory activities to treat atopic dermatitis (AD). By evaluating the activities of different herbs and determining the optimal proportion, the study found that the herbal combination could inhibit inflammation and allergy, improving AD-like symptoms.
ARCHIVES OF DERMATOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)