Molecular Imaging in Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy for Neurological Diseases

With the speeding tendency of aging society, human neurological disorders have posed an ever increasing threat to public health care. Human neurological diseases include ischemic brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and spinal cord injury, which are induced by impairment or specific degeneration of different types of neurons in central nervous system. Currently, there are no more effective treatments against these diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is focused on, which can provide new strategies for the therapy in neurological disorders. TCM, including Chinese herb medicine, acupuncture, and other nonmedication therapies, has its unique therapies in treating neurological diseases. In order to improve the treatment of these disorders by optimizing strategies using TCM and evaluate the therapeutic effects, we have summarized molecular imaging, a new promising technology, to assess noninvasively disease specific in cellular and molecular levels of living models in vivo, that was applied in TCM therapy for neurological diseases. In this review, we mainly focus on applying diverse molecular imaging methodologies in different TCM therapies and monitoring neurological disease, and unveiling the mysteries of TCM.

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Therapeutic Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Spinal Cord Injury: A Promising Supplementary Treatment in Future

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2016/8958721 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Qian Zhang ◽

Hao Yang ◽

Jing An ◽

Rui Zhang ◽

Bo Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Chinese Medicine ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

Epigallocatechin Gallate ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Supplementary Treatment ◽

Natural Drugs ◽

Doctoral Dissertations

Objective. Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating neurological disorder caused by trauma. Pathophysiological events occurring after SCI include acute, subacute, and chronic phases, while complex mechanisms are comprised. As an abundant source of natural drugs, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) attracts much attention in SCI treatment recently. Hence, this review provides an overview of pathophysiology of SCI and TCM application in its therapy.Methods. Information was collected from articles published in peer-reviewed journals via electronic search (PubMed, SciFinder, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and CNKI), as well as from master’s dissertations, doctoral dissertations, and Chinese Pharmacopoeia.Results. Both active ingredients and herbs could exert prevention and treatment against SCI, which is linked to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, or antiapoptosis effects. The detailed information of six active natural ingredients (i.e., curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, ligustrazine, quercitrin, and puerarin) and five commonly used herbs (i.e., Danshen, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Notoginseng, and Astragali Radix) was elucidated and summarized.Conclusions. As an important supplementary treatment, TCM may provide benefits in repair of injured spinal cord. With a general consensus that future clinical approaches will be diversified and a combination of multiple strategies, TCM is likely to attract greater attention in SCI treatment.

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The Anti-Neuroinflammatory Effect of Fuzi and Ganjiang Extraction on LPS-Induced BV2 Microglia and Its Intervention Function on Depression-Like Behavior of Cancer-Related Fatigue Model Mice

Frontiers in Pharmacology ◽

10.3389/fphar.2021.670586 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Songwei Yang ◽

Yantao Yang ◽

Cong Chen ◽

Huiqin Wang ◽

Qidi Ai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chinese Medicine ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

Inflammatory Mediators ◽

Critical Role ◽

Chinese Herb ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Research Results ◽

Cancer Related Fatigue

The Chinese herb couple Fuzi and Ganjiang (FG) has been a classic combination of traditional Chinese medicine that is commonly used clinically in China for nearly 2000 years. Traditional Chinese medicine suggests that FG can treat various ailments, including heart failure, fatigue, gastrointestinal upset, and depression. Neuroinflammation is one of the main pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases in which microglia cells play a critical role in the occurrence and development of neuroinflammation. FG has been clinically proven to have an efficient therapeutic effect on depression and other neurological disorders, but its mechanism remains unknown. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a serious threat to the quality of life of cancer patients and is characterized by both physical and psychological fatigue. Recent studies have found that neuroinflammation is a key inducement leading to the occurrence and development of CRF. Traditional Chinese medicine theory believes that extreme fatigue and depressive symptoms of CRF are related to Yang deficiency, and the application of Yang tonic drugs such as Fuzi and Ganjiang can relieve CRF symptoms, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In order to define whether FG can inhibit CRF depression-like behavior by suppressing neuroinflammation, we conducted a series of experimental studies in vitro and in vivo. According to the UPLC-Q-TOF/MSE results, we speculated that there were 49 compounds in the FG extraction, among which 30 compounds were derived from Fuzi and 19 compounds were derived from Ganjiang. Our research data showed that FG can effectively reduce the production of pro-inflammatory mediators IL-6, TNF-α, ROS, NO, and PGE2 and suppress the expression of iNOS and COX2, which were related to the inhibition of NF-κB/activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways. In addition, our research results revealed that FG can improve the depression-like behavior performance of CRF model mice in the tail suspension test, open field test, elevated plus maze test, and forced swimming test, which were associated with the inhibition of the expression of inflammatory mediators iNOS and COX2 in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of CRF model mice. Those research results suggested that FG has a satisfactory effect on depression-like behavior of CRF, which was related to the inhibition of neuroinflammation.

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Investigation of the Optimum Preparation of Peach Gum Polysaccharides and the In Vivo and In Vitro Therapeutic Effects on Acute Pyelonephritis

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2019/2729343 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-19

Author(s):

Feifei Zhang ◽

Jie Bai ◽

Yao Zheng ◽

Shuai Liang ◽

Lei Lei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chinese Medicine ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

Therapeutic Effect ◽

Acute Pyelonephritis ◽

Interleukin 2 ◽

Urine Volume ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Peach Gum

Background. Acute pyelonephritis (APN), known as stranguria in traditional Chinese medicine, is commonly treated with antibiotics. However, the rise in antibiotic resistance and the high rates of recurrence of APN make its treatment complicated, thus the development of alternative therapies is critical. Peach gum has long been recognized by traditional Chinese medicine as a food with medicinal value of relieving stranguria, but whether and how its primary constituent peach gum polysaccharides (PGPs) contribute to the diuretic function is still not clear. Purpose. The aim of this study was to investigate the optimum extraction process of PGPs and to evaluate its therapeutic effect on APN rats and to discover the underlying mechanism. Methods. In this study, surface design optimization was adopted to optimize the preparation of PGPs and HPLC and FT-IR spectra were used to evaluate the quality of PGPs; APN model rat was established by the Escherichia coli urinary tract infection method; the therapeutic effect and mechanism of PGPs on APN were determined by the visceral index, biochemical indicators, pathological section of the APN rat, and diuretic activity on mice and antibacterial activity in vitro. Results. Compared with an untreated APN group, the results showed that treatment with PGPs increased the APN-induced attenuation of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and creatinine clearance and decreased the APN-induced enhancement of the number of white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil counts (NC), bacteria load of the kidneys, kidney index, serum creatinine, urine volume, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels. The mechanism underlying these effects was further elucidated through in vitro experiments of the antibacterial and antiadhesion effects of PGPs. Conclusion. Due to the good therapeutic effects and advantages of PGPs, it could be considered as an alternative medicine to treat APN.

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Antimalarial Effect of the Total Glycosides of the Medicinal Plant, Ranunculus japonicus

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10050532 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 532

Author(s):

Hae-Soo Yun ◽

Sylvatrie-Danne Dinzouna-Boutamba ◽

Sanghyun Lee ◽

Zin Moon ◽

Dongmi Kwak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chinese Medicine ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

Plasmodium Berghei ◽

Antimalarial Activity ◽

Hematological Parameters ◽

Significant Inhibition ◽

Ic50 Values ◽

The Republic

In traditional Chinese medicine, Ranunculus japonicus has been used to treat various diseases, including malaria, and the young stem of R. japonicus is consumed as a food in the Republic of Korea. However, experimental evidence of the antimalarial effect of R. japonicus has not been evaluated. Therefore, the antimalarial activity of the extract of the young stem of R. japonicus was evaluated in vitro using both chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and chloroquine-resistant (Dd2) strains; in vivo activity was evaluated in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice via oral administration followed by a four-day suppressive test focused on biochemical and hematological parameters. Exposure to extracts of R. japonicus resulted in significant inhibition of both chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and resistant (Dd2) strains of P. falciparum, with IC50 values of 6.29 ± 2.78 and 5.36 ± 4.93 μg/mL, respectively. Administration of R. japonicus also resulted in potent antimalarial activity against P. berghei in infected mice with no associated toxicity; treatment also resulted in improved hepatic, renal, and hematologic parameters. These results demonstrate the antimalarial effects of R. japonicus both in vitro and in vivo with no apparent toxicity.

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Research progress in use of traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of spinal cord injury

Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy ◽

10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110136 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 127 ◽

pp. 110136 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yubao Lu ◽

Jingjing Yang ◽

Xuexi Wang ◽

Zhanjun Ma ◽

Sheng Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Chinese Medicine ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

Research Progress ◽

Cord Injury

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Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of the Genus Pedicularis Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine

The American Journal of Chinese Medicine ◽

10.1142/s0192415x14500670 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 42 (05) ◽

pp. 1071-1098 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Mao-Xing Li ◽

Xi-Rui He ◽

Rui Tao ◽

Xinyuan Cao

Keyword(s):

Chinese Medicine ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

Chemical Constituents ◽

Iridoid Glycosides ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Chemical Components ◽

Wide Range ◽

Phenylpropanoid Glycosides

In the present review, the literature data on the chemical constituents and biological investigations of the genus Pedicularis are summarized. Some species of Pedicularis have been widely applied in traditional Chinese medicine. A wide range of chemical components including iridoid glycosides, phenylpropanoid glycosides (PhGs), lignans glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids and other compounds have been isolated and identified from the genus Pedicularis. In vitro and in vivo studies indicated some monomer compounds and extracts from the genus Pedicularis have been found to possess antitumor, hepatoprotective, anti-oxidative, antihaemolysis, antibacterial activity, fatigue relief of skeletal muscle, nootropic effect and other activities.

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Evaluation of the anti-cancer activity of the triterpenoidal saponin fraction isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Conyza blinii H. Lév.

RSC Advances ◽

10.1039/c6ra26361e ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 3408-3412 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Long Ma ◽

Haiyan Liu ◽

Lingpei Meng ◽

Ping Qin ◽

Botao Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chinese Medicine ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

Anti Cancer ◽

Saponin Fraction ◽

Cancer Activity

Triterpenoidal saponins fraction isolated from a traditional Chinese medicine Conyza blinii H. Lév. demonstrates anti-cancer activity both in vitro and in vivo.

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Clinical Therapeutic Effects of Aspirin in Combination with Fufang Danshen Diwan, a Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula, on Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1159/000447892 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 39 (5) ◽

pp. 1955-1963 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Jianchun Huang ◽

Xiaojun Tang ◽

Fangxing Ye ◽

Junhui He ◽

Xiaolong Kong

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Coronary Heart Disease ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Chinese Medicine ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Aspirin Therapy ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Chinese Medicine Formula

Background/Aims: Coronary heart disease is characterized by vascular stenosis or occlusion resulting in myocardial ischemia, hypoxia and necrosis. In China, the combination of aspirin and Fufang Danshen Diwan (FDD), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been suggested in the treatment of coronary heart disease. There have been several studies comparing the effectiveness of aspirin alone and in combination with FDD to treat coronary artery disease; however, it remains unclear whether combined aspirin therapy is superior. This study was thus designed to clarify this issue through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: Databases including PubMed, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database, Wanfang Data and VIP Information were searched. Papers were reviewed systematically by two researchers and analyzed using Cochrane software Revman 5.1. Results: Fourteen randomized controlled trials enrolling 1367 subjects were included. Meta-analyses revealed that aspirin in combination with FDD was significantly more effective at alleviating angina pectoris and improving electrocardiogram (ECG) results relative to aspirin therapy alone, reflected by the summary effects for the clinical markedly effective (OR = 2.45; 95% CI 1.95-3.08) and the total effective (OR = 3.92; 95% CI 2.87-5.36) rates. In addition, combined aspirin and FDD was significantly more efficacious than aspirin monotherapy at improving blood lipid levels, as indicated by the following outcomes: 1) reduction of TC level (SMD −1.12; 95% CI −1.49 to −0.76); 2) reduction of TG level (SMD −0.94; 95% CI −1.15 to -0.74); 3) reduction of LDL level (SMD -0.68; 95% CI -0.88 to -0.48); and 4) improvement of HDL level (SMD 0.52; 95% CI 0.04 to 0.99 ). No serious adverse events were reported in any of the included trials. Conclusion: The present meta-analysis demonstrated that aspirin in combination with FDD was more effective than aspirin alone for treating coronary heart disease. More full-scale randomized clinical trials with reliable designs are recommended to further evaluate the clinical benefits and long-term effectiveness of FDD for the treatment of coronary heart disease.

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