整合代谢组学和生物信息学策略在解析中药系统复杂性中的应用

中药在化学组成方面的复杂性决定了其作用方式和作用过程的复杂性。传统研究方法缺乏系统性,使得一系列制约中药现代化发展的关键问题一直未能得到很好的解决,包括中药化学物质组表征、中药作用机制、中药方剂配伍规律以及中药毒性机制等中药系统复杂性问题。代谢组学作为一门全新的组学技术,秉承了从机体全局系统出发来考量机体内源性小分子物质与外源性干预物质（如药物）的相互作用的理念,与在中医药理论指导下的中药作用原理思路一致。近年来,人们尝试将整合代谢组学技术和生物信息学策略用于解开上述中药关键问题,并已取得了一定的成果。但其在理论挖掘、策略设计、方法开发和实践拓展诸多方面都有很多具体的工作需要进一步推进。对整合代谢组学和生物信息学策略在解析中药系统复杂性中的应用进行综述。     

中药材资源质量评价方法的研究进展

中药材资源是中医药的物质基础,其质量事关临床用药的安全性与有效性,其科学评价是中药产业现代化、标准化以及国际化的前提条件。中药材的性状特征、药效成分以及分子标记为迄今三类质量评价方法的主要依据。近年来,微性状鉴定及仿生识别技术的应用显著提高了基于性状特征评价中药材质量的准确性与客观性;中药指纹图谱、代谢组学技术与化学计量学的应用极大地促进了基于药效成分评价中药材质量的科学性及相应有效成分群的发现;基因组学及蛋白质组学的进展推动了分子标记的挖掘及相应分子鉴定技术的建立。上述方法学进展为中药材质量标准体系的建设和中药材资源的开发利用提供思路与借鉴。     

土壤污染生态毒性效应评价研究进展

随着社会经济的高度发展,人类活动加剧,我国土壤污染问题突出,不仅威胁人体健康,同时也严重威胁动植物及微生物的安全,生态安全问题不容忽视。但是我国土壤污染风险管控目前主要关注人体健康,对生态系统的关注较少,缺乏土壤污染生态风险评估技术指南及基于生态风险的土壤环境质量基准及标准。准确评价土壤污染生态毒性效应,是制定土壤环境质量标准、实现生态风险评估及预警与管控的重要基础。针对土壤污染生态毒性效应评价问题,分别对土壤污染生态毒性效应特征、评价方法、评价终点、暴露-效应关系构建、生态毒性效应外推,以及群落水平与复合污染生态毒性效应评价等方面的关键问题展开了讨论,指出目前土壤污染生态毒性效应评价主要是基于单物种的急性毒性测试,利用个体和亚个体水平的指示物作为评价终点,缺乏针对群落及生态系统高水平评价终点的生态毒性效应评价方法,定量评价污染物尤其是复合污染物对土壤生物群落及生态系统的影响,是土壤污染生态毒性效应评价的关键问题和难点问题。建议今后重点开展以下3方面的工作1)群落及生态系统水平评价终点的筛选;2)土壤污染生态毒性效应环境影响因子识别及影响机制研究;3)土壤复合污染联合毒性效应定量评价及...     

代谢组学在中药研究中的应用进展

代谢组学是功能基因组学和系统生物学研究不可或缺的重要组成部分,是通过考察生物体系受刺激或扰动前后代谢产物的动态变化,研究生物体系的代谢网络的一种技术。应用代谢组学高通量、整体性的研究思路来理解中药的作用过程,与中医药的整体、辩证观点是一致的。代谢组学已成为中药研发的一个重要途径和手段,为中药现代化在技术上提供巨大支持,有助于为中药现代化研究寻找更多有效的突破口。本文在前人综述的基础上,着重概括了中药代谢组学研究方法近3年来在中药有效物质基础和作用机制、药物作用模型的鉴别和确证、毒性研究和中药安全性评价等方面的应用情况,同时展望了代谢组学方法所面临的机遇和挑战。     

毒理学研究中的体外细胞毒性评价

体外细胞毒性评价作为传统动物模型毒性评价的替代方法正在得到越来越多的研究和应用,而其向高通量阶段的迈进则为新毒物和新药物的检测与目的物的筛选提供了更加快捷、高效的手段。将对体外细胞毒性评价常用细胞类型、体外细胞毒性评价的指标,及其检测技术方法的研究现状、进展和存在问题进行阐述,希望能为相关的研究提供一定的参考。     

基于组分结构理论的中药炮制现代研究进展

炮制是中药区别于天然药物的最主要特征,也是中医临床用药的特点,蕴含着丰富的科学内涵.由于中药化学成分的复杂性和多样性,多数中药的炮制机理尚不明确,亟待进行全面深入的研究.近年来,组分结构理论被提出并应用于指导中药研究,取得了一定的研究进展.本文系统探讨了在中药炮制机理研究中,借鉴组分结构理论的思路和方法,可以进行炮制过程的组分含量变化研究、组分体内过程研究、组分药效毒性研究、组分代谢组学研究等,并展望了组分结构理论在中药炮制机理研究中的应用前景.通过组分结构理论结合各种新方法和新技术,有望更好地研究揭示中药炮制机理,加快中药现代化的进程.     

中药毒性与有毒中药的比较与共识

近年来,多起中药中毒事件的发生使人们对中医药"有效且几无毒副作用"的传统认识发生了改变,甚至产生了恐惧。当然在祖国医学中确实有有毒中药,并且在疑难杂症的治疗中还具有不可替代的地位。但事实上,任何药物如果不正确使用均会产生毒性,而如果使用得当,剧毒药物不仅不会造成伤害且能够救死扶伤。因此,我们既要认识到中药的毒性,也应重视药物的规范使用。故本文就中药毒性与有毒中药进行比较,以其为中药教学及使用提供有益参考。     

鱼类神经行为毒性研究进展

神经行为毒性是神经科学、神经药理学和神经毒理学的重要研究内容,对评价生态系统质量和研究有害因素或药物在生物神经系统作用机制具有重要理论和应用价值。鱼类中枢神经系统发达,对水环境中化合物极为敏感,其神经系统能够对各种刺激产生综合协调的应答反应,影响其运动功能、应激反应以及学习/记忆,改变游泳行为和社会行为,产生神经行为异常,诱发神经行为毒性效应。近年来,许多研究者开展了一系列以鱼类为受试对象的神经行为毒性研究,表明鱼类是开展神经行为毒性研究的重要物种,其成果在生态环境监测和评价、渔业生产、神经系统机制探究及药物开发等方面得到了广泛应用。鱼类作为神经行为毒性研究的物种,补充经典哺乳动物模型的不足,提供了高通量体外细胞分析和经典哺乳动物模型之间的关键模型。文章从鱼类生物学特征、实验鱼类品系和全基因组测序3个方面阐明鱼类是开展神经行为毒性研究的重要物种,综述了微塑料及其吸附污染物、有机污染物2类典型污染物和酒精、咖啡因、苯二氮卓类药物、选择性血清素再吸收抑制剂4类药物对鱼类的游泳行为和社会行为影响,探讨鱼类产生剂量或时间依赖性的神经行为毒性效应,并对未来研究方向进行了分析展望,以期为神经行为毒...     

水飞蓟的毒理学安全性评价

目的：对水飞蓟进行毒理学安全性评价,为其食用安全性提供科学依据。方法：采用大鼠急性毒性实验、Ames实验,小鼠骨髓细胞微核实验、精子畸形实验和大鼠30d喂养实验等安全性评价实验,评估水飞蓟的食用安全性。结果：水飞蓟对雌、雄大鼠的急性经口最大耐受量（MTD）均大于18.0g/kg·BW。Ames实验、小鼠骨髓微核验和精子畸形实验结果均未见该样品有致突变作用,大鼠30d喂养实验各项指标也均未见明显毒性反应。结论：水飞蓟急性毒性分级属无毒级、无遗传毒性,在该实验研究剂量和条件下,水飞蓟未见明显毒副作用。     

虾青素的毒理学安全性评价研究

目的：对虾青素进行毒理学安全性评价,为其食用安全性提供科学依据。方法：通过急性经口毒性试验、Ames试验、骨髓细胞微核试验、精子畸形试验和大鼠30d喂养试验等毒理学评价试验,评估虾青素的食用安全性。结果：虾青素对雌、雄大鼠的急性经口最大耐受量（MTD）均大于19.0g/kg·BW。Ames试验、小鼠骨髓微核试验和精子畸形试验结果均未见该样品有致突变作用,大鼠30d喂养试验各项指标也均未见明显毒性反应。结论：虾青素急性毒性分级属无毒级,无遗传毒性,在该实验研究剂量和条件下,虾青素未见明显毒副作用。     

Synthetic lethality theory approaches to effective substance discovery and functional mechanisms elucidation of anti-cancer phytomedicine

BackgroundLongstanding, successful use of combinations of phytopharmaceuticals in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has caught the attention of several pharmacologists to natural medicines. However, the development and popularisation of TCM is mainly limited because of the unavailability of reports clarifying the mechanisms of action and pharmacologically active ingredients in such formulations. Previous studies on natural medicines have mostly focused on their dominant components using forward pharmacology which often neglects trace components. It is necessary to assess the pharmacological and therapeutic superiority of many such trace components in comparison with single constituents.PurposeIn this study, we aimed to propose a new pharmacological research strategy for TCM. In particular, we presented the possibility that the effective mechanism of action of trace components of TCM is based on synthetic lethality. We sincerely hope to explore this theory further.MethodWe obtained retrieve published research information related to synthetic lethality, phytochemicals and Chinese medicine from PubMed and Google scholar. Based on the inclusion criteria, 71 studies were selected and discussed in this review.ResultsAs an interaction among genes, synthetic lethality can amplify co-regulatory biological effects exponentially. Synthetic strategies have been successfully applied for research and development of anti-tumour agents, including poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors and clinical combination of chemotherapeutic agents for efficacy enhancement and toxicity reduction. TCM drugs contain several secondary metabolites to combat environmental stresses, providing a multi-component basis for corresponding synergistic targets. Therefore, we aimed to study whether this method could be used to identify active components present in trace amounts in TCM drugs. Based on a reverse concept of target–component–effect and identified synergistic targets, we explored the mechanisms of action of weakly active components present in trace amounts in TCM drugs to assess combinations of potential synergistic components.ConclusionThis pattern of synthetic lethality not only elucidated the mechanisms of action of TCM drugs from a new perspective but also inspired future studies on discovering naturally occurring active components.     

药用植物生长发育与有效成分积累关系研究进展

药用植物有效成分是其发挥临床疗效的物质基础, 也是评价药材质量的重要指标, 而这些有效成分的产生和分布通常有种属、器官、组织以及生长发育时期的特异性。明确药用植物主要药用成分在植物不同生长发育阶段的积累变化规律和形成机制, 对中药品质与临床疗效有重要的指导意义。该文主要概述了不同发育阶段对药用植物不同药用部位(根、茎、叶、花、果实和种子)中有效成分积累的影响, 并对药用植物次生代谢产物合成和积累机制的相关研究技术进行了展望, 为生产实践上调控药用植物次生物质合成、药用植物的合理利用以及提高中药材品质奠定了理论基础。     

In silico toxicity studies of traditional Chinese herbal medicine: A mini review

With the availability of public databases that store compound-target/compound-toxicity information, and Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) databases, in silico approaches are used in toxicity studies of TCM herbal medicine. Here, three in silico approaches for toxicity studies were reviewed, which include machine learning, network toxicology and molecular docking. For each method, its application and implementation e.g., single classifier vs. multiple classifier, single compound vs. multiple compounds, validation vs. screening, were explored. While these methods provide data-driven toxicity prediction that is validated in vitro and/or in vivo, it is still limited to single compound analysis. In addition, these methods are limited to several types of toxicity, with hepatotoxicity being the most dominant. Future studies involving the testing of combination of compounds on the front end i.e., to generate data for in silico modeling, and back end i.e., validate findings from prediction models will advance the in silico toxicity modeling of TCM compounds.     

中药治疗非酒精性脂肪肝病研究进展

非酒精性脂肪肝病(NAFLD)指排除酒精和其他明确的损肝因素所致的肝细胞内脂肪过度沉积为主要特征的临床病理综合征。目前,该病的发病机制错综复杂,西药尚缺乏治该病的特效药,主要是运用调节血脂的药物作为辅助治疗。中药在治疗NAFLD方面具有安全、毒副作用低等优势,近年来对中药治疗NAFLD的研究也越来越多。在梳理了国内外治疗NAFLD成果的基础上,本文分别从单味中药、复方中药等方面详细阐述中药治疗NAFLD的现状,旨在为NAFLD的临床治疗提供参考。     

Environmental chemical mediated male reproductive toxicity: Drosophila melanogaster as an alternate animal model

Industrialization and indiscriminate use of agrochemicals have increased the human health risk. Recent epidemiological studies raised a concern for male reproduction given their observations of reduced sperm counts and altered semen quality. Interestingly, environmental factors that include various metals, pesticides and their metabolites have been causally linked to such adversities by their presence in the semen at levels that correlate to infertility. The epidemiological observations were further supported by studies in animal models involving various chemicals. Therefore, in this review, we focused on male reproductive toxicity and the adverse effects of different environmental chemicals on male reproduction. However, it is beyond the scope of this review to provide a detailed appraisal of all of the environmental chemicals that have been associated with reproductive toxicity in animals. Here, we provided the evidence for reproductive adversities of some commonly encountered chemicals (pesticides/metals) in the environment. In view of the recent thrust for an alternate to animal models in research, we subsequently discussed the contributions of Drosophila melanogaster as an alternate animal model for quick screening of toxicants for their reproductive toxicity potential. Finally, we emphasized the genetic and molecular tools offered by Drosophila for understanding the mechanisms underlying the male reproductive toxicity.     

从肠道菌群及色氨酸代谢角度探讨中药在三阴性乳腺癌中作用的研究进展

三阴性乳腺癌属于免疫原性较强的乳腺癌亚型,由于缺乏有效的治疗靶点,仍属于难以治疗的乳腺癌类型。越来越多的研究表明,肠道菌群可通过干预宿主或微生物的色氨酸代谢,重塑肿瘤免疫微环境,从而影响三阴性乳腺癌的发生、发展及免疫治疗疗效。中药在以往的研究中已被证实可以有效调节肠道稳态,抑制炎症反应,促进肿瘤细胞的凋亡等。然而,肠道菌群及其代谢物与三阴性乳腺癌之间的中医机制尚不明确。因此,本文在中医辨证乳腺癌基础理论的基础上,回顾以往的文献,从肠道菌群和色氨酸代谢的角度出发,梳理中药对肠道菌群及其代谢物质的干预作用,探索其抗肿瘤的机制,以期能为中西医结合治疗三阴性乳腺癌提供新的思路和方法。

     

Application of proteomics in research on traditional Chinese medicine

Introduction: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a widely used complementary alternative medicine approach. Although many aspects of its effectiveness have been approved clinically, rigorous scientific techniques are highly required to translate the promises from TCM into powerful modern therapies. In this respect, proteomics is useful because of its ability to unveil the underlying target proteins and/or protein biomarkers.

Areas covered: In this review, we summarize the recent interplay between proteomics and research on TCM, ranging from exploration of the medicinal materials to the biological basis of TCM concepts, and from pathological studies to pharmacological investigations. We show that proteomic analyses provide preliminary biological evidence of the promises in TCM, and the integration of proteomics with other omics and bioinformatics offers a comprehensive methodology to address the complications of TCM.

Expert commentary: Currently, only limited information can be obtained regarding TCM issues and thus more work is required to resolve the ambiguity. As such, more collaborations between proteomics and other techniques (other omics, network pharmacology, etc.) are essential for deciphering the underlying biological basis in TCM topics.     

吸烟对男性生殖和遗传毒性的研究进展

吸烟作为一个社会问题受到广泛关注,目前研究认为吸烟可对生殖系统存在有害影响。从吸烟对睾丸功能、精液质量、生殖内分泌功能的影响及吸烟对生殖细胞的遗传毒作用几个方面,总结了近几年国内外有关吸烟对男性生殖与遗传毒性研究进展,为进一步研究吸烟的生殖毒性提供参考。