Research Status Quo in Traditional Mongolian Medicine: A Bibliometric Analysis on Research Documents in the Web of Science Database

Objective. In this study, the current state of research on traditional Mongolian medicine (TMM) through a bibliometric analysis of research documents located in the Web of Science (WoS) database was assessed. Methods. The WoS database was searched on September 2021 with the keywords “traditional Mongolian medicine.” Publications on TMM scientific research were included in this study, without any language limitations. Bibliometric data from such publications were retrieved from the WoS database. Full records with cited reference lists were descriptively analyzed. To assess trends in TMM research topics, authors’ keywords were analyzed. A thematic evolution map based on coword analysis was suggested. To analyze research networks among co-authors, affiliations, or countries of the authors, collaboration networks were evaluated. The Bibliometrix R package (3.1) was used for the analysis. Results. A total of 234 scientific publications were included in the analysis. The top three countries of origin of the corresponding authors were China (n = 153), Japan (n = 28), and South Korea (n = 9). The top three relevant affiliations of the authors in the included publications were “Inner Mongolia Medical University,” “Inner Mongolia University of Nationalities,” and “National University of Mongolia.” “Flavonoids,” “cytotoxicity,” “NMR,” and “Tibetan medicine” were the most frequently used keywords in the included documents. Most publications focused on the chemical analysis and mechanism of effects of Mongolian herbal medications. There were few publications on nonpharmacological interventions such as bloodletting or TMM diagnostics, which should be promoted in future publications. Conclusion. There were only a limited number of publications on TMM identified through a search of the WoS database, using the keywords “Traditional Mongolian medicine.” More improved strategy for searching for TMM publications must be established. Research publications on TMM, especially regarding nonpharmacological interventions, need to be promoted. In addition, collaboration with researchers worldwide needs to be encouraged in the future.

Exploring the Active Compounds of Traditional Mongolian Medicine Baolier Capsule (BLEC) in Patients with CAD Based on Network Pharmacology Analysis and Molecular Docking Method

Baolier Capsule (BLEC) is a Traditional Mongolian Medicine comprising of fifteen herbs. In China, this medicine has been used to treat CAD for many years. However, the molecular mechanism of BLEC in the treatment of CAD is not yet fully understood. Hence, this study aims to illustrate the synergistic mechanism of BLEC in the treatment of CAD by using network pharmacology method and molecular docking. Searching and screening the active ingredients of different herbs in BLEC and target genes related to CAD in multiple databases. Subsequently, STRING and Cytoscape were used to analyze and construct the PPI network. In addition, clustering and topological analysis are used to analyze the PPI network. Then, using R project for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. Finally, AutoDock was used to verify the binding ability between the active ingredient and the key target through molecular docking. There are 144 active components and 80 CAD-related targets that are identified in BLEC in the treatment of CAD. What is more, 8 core genes (AKT1, EGFR, FOS, etc.) were obtained by clustering and topological analysis. Further, GO and KEGG analysis showed that fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis is the key pathways for RWW to treat CAD. These results were validated by molecular docking method. Our research firstly revealed the basic pharmacological effects and relevant mechanisms of the BLEC in the treatment of CAD. The prediction results might facilitate the development of BLEC or its active compounds as alternative therapy for CAD. Our research first revealed the basic pharmacological effects and related mechanisms of BLEC in the treatment of CAD. The predicted results provide some theoretical support for BLEC or its important active ingredients to treat CAD.

Influence of Different Dosage Forms on Pharmacokinetics of 6 Alkaloids in Raw Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix (Caowu) and Chebulae Fructus- (Hezi-) Processed Caowu by UPLC-MS/MS

Purpose. To study the pharmacokinetics of the 6 alkaloids (aconitine, mesaconitine, hypaconitine, benzoylaconine, benzoylmesaconine, and benzoylhypaconine) in raw Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix (Caowu) (RC) and Chebulae Fructus- (Hezi-) processed Caowu (HC) in the rats being, respectively, administrated with RC and HC in the dosage forms of powder and decoction and to demonstrate the mechanism of detoxification of HC. Methods. The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups and, respectively, given RC powder, HC powder, RC decoction, and HC decoction by intragastric administration. The contents of the 6 alkaloids in the plasma of the rats were detected at different time points by the UPLC-MS/MS method, and DAS 3.2.7 software was used to calculate, compare, and analyze the detected pharmacokinetic parameters. Results. Compared with those of the RC powder, the values of AUC0‐t and Cmax of the HC powder were all reduced, whereas the values of t1/2z and Tmax were mostly increased. Compared with those of the RC powder, the values of AUC0‐t, Cmax, and t1/2z of the RC decoction were decreased and the value of Tmax of the RC decoction was increased. Compared with those of the RC decoction, the values of AUC0‐t, t1/2z, and Cmax of the diester diterpenoid alkaloids of the HC decoction were all increased. However, there was no marked difference between the pharmacokinetic parameters of the HC powder and the HC decoction. Conclusions. A decrease in the level of absorption and in the rate of elimination of the alkaloids can be detected when HC is administrated in the dosage form of the powder, explaining that in traditional Mongolian medicine (TMM), the purpose of using HC in the dosage forms of pills and powder is for decreasing the toxicity and prolonging the efficacy duration of HC. Decocting can greatly decrease the plasma concentration of the diester diterpenoid alkaloids in RC and increase their rate of elimination. The influence of decocting on RC is greater than that on HC, explaining the rationality of the steaming and boiling methods for processing Caowu and the rationality of boiling Caowu for a longer time beforehand in preparing an herb decoction containing Caowu in TCM.

Results of quantitative and qualitative analyses of traditional prescription “Lonlunsemberu-13”

Traditional prescription Lonlunsemberu-13 has been widely used in traditional Mongolian medicine to treat gastro intestinal dyspepsia. The purpose of this study was to determine biologically active substances in the Traditional prescription Lonlunsemberu-13 as a primary research. We screened for phenolic compounds, flavonoids, coumarins and alkaloids using a TLC method, and then we have determined those biologically active substances content by the UV/Vis spectrophotometric method. We identified the gallic acid, rutin, quercetin, apigenin, luteolin, isofraxidin and piperine in the traditional prescription. The result revealed that “Lonlunsemberu-13” consisted 4.38% ±1.9 of total phenolic compounds, 0.63% ±0.17 flavonoids, 2.45% ±0.28 of coumarins and 0.83% ±0.064 alkaloids.

Therapeutic Effect of Mongolian Medicine RuXian-I on Hyperplasia of Mammary Gland Induced by Estrogen/Progesterone through CRYAB-Promoted Apoptosis

The traditional Mongolian medicine (TMM) RuXian-I is an empirical formula specifically used for treating the hyperplasia of mammary gland (HMG) in clinic based on the principles of traditional Mongolian medicine, but the treatment mechanism is not completely clear. In this paper, we elaborated the mechanism of RuXian-I in the treatment of HMG induced by estrogen and progestogen from its toxicity and activity. Firstly, RuXian-I exhibited no toxic effect on HMG rats through no changes of body weight and food intake measurement and no pathologic changes of the organs (heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney) detected. Secondly, RuXian-I could decrease the increased nipple height and diameter and remarkably relieve the pathologic changes of HMG rats and also alleviate serum sex hormone levels (estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone (P), and testosterone (T)) of HMG rats. Finally, RuXian-I could obviously inhibit the upregulation level of antiapoptotic protein CRYAB of HMG rats and promote mammary gland cell apoptosis of HMG rats via increases of promoting apoptosis protein caspases-3, 8, and 9 and Bax and tumor suppressor protein p53, decreases of antiapoptosis protein Bcl-2, and release of cytochrome c. These results suggested that RuXian-I has protective and therapeutic effects on HMG rats induced by estrogen and progestogen possibly via promoting apoptotic pathway regulated by CRYAB and is a promising agent for treating HMG.

Exploring the Active Compounds of Traditional Mongolian Medicine in Intervention of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Based on Molecular Docking Method

<p>In this study, a research strategy combining network pharmacological analysis, protein docking and molecular docking virtual computation was adopted. It was found that phillyrin and chlorogenic acid could block the combination of 2019-nCoV S-protein and ACE2 at the molecular level. Both can be used as potential inhibitors of 2019-nCoV for further research and development. </p>

Exploring the Active Compounds of Traditional Mongolian Medicine in Intervention of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Based on Molecular Docking Method

<p>In this study, a research strategy combining network pharmacological analysis, protein docking and molecular docking virtual computation was adopted. It was found that phillyrin and chlorogenic acid could block the combination of 2019-nCoV S-protein and ACE2 at the molecular level. Both can be used as potential inhibitors of 2019-nCoV for further research and development. </p>

Effect of Warm Acupuncture on “Dinghui Acupoint” and “Heart Acupoint” in Traditional Mongolian Medicine on Behaviors and Hypothalamic Inammatory Cytokines in Rats with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Objective: To observe the effects of warm acupuncture on “Dinghui Acupoint” and “Heart Acupoint” in Traditional Mongolian Medicine on behavior and hypothalamic inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and IFN-r in Rats with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, warm acupuncture group and moxibustion positive control group. The latter three groups of rats were used to establish a model of rats with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) using a combination of physical fatigue and mental fatigue. When establishing the model of warm acupuncture group, “Dinghui Acupoint” and “Heart Acupoint” intervention was carried out; when establishing the model of moxibustion positive control group, “Zusanli Acupoint” intervention was carried out on both sides. Behavioral observations (body weight, exhaustive swimming time, tail suspension experiment, water maze) were performed before and after modeling. The hypothalamic inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and IFN-r were detected by ELISA method after warm acupuncture and moxibustion intervention. Results: After 21 days of modeling, the body weight of the rats in each group was significantly lower than that in the normal group, and there was a significant difference (P<0.01); Compared with the model group, the weight of the rats in the warm acupuncture group increased significantly, and there was a significant difference (P<0.01); Compared with the model group, the exhaustive swimming time of the rats in the warm acupuncture group was significantly prolonged, and there was a significant difference (P<0.01); Compared with the moxibustion group, the exhaustion time of the rats in the warm acupuncture group was relatively prolonged, and there was a significant difference (P<0.05); Compared with the normal group, the tail suspension time of the model group was significantly prolonged, and there was a significant difference (P<0.05); Compared with the model group, there was a significant difference in the duration of the suspension of the warm acupuncture group and the moxibustion group (P<0.01); Compared with the normal group, the total distance of the water maze test was shorter in the model group, and there was a significant difference (P<0.01); Compared with the model group, both the warm acupuncture group and the moxibustion group were prolonged, and there was a significant difference (P<0.05); Compared with the moxibustion group, the distance between the rats in the warm acupuncture group was relatively longer, but there was no significant difference (P>0.05); Compared with the normal group, IL-1β, IL-6 and IFN-r increased significantly in the model group and there was a significant difference (P<0.05); Compared with the model group, IL-1β and IL-6 in the warm acupuncture group was significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the IL-6 in the moxibustion group was significantly different (P<0.05); Compared with the model group, there was no significant difference between the IFN-r group and the moxibustion group (P>0.05); Compared with the moxibustion group, the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and IFN-r were not significantly different (P>0.05). Conclusion: Warm acupuncture on “Dinghui Acupoint” and “Heart Acupoint” in Traditional Mongolian Medicine has the ability to improve the body’s defense and self-healing ability, improve chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and thus play a preventive role. The results of this research indicate that the warm acupuncture group and the moxibustion group have the same effect.