发酵中药--拓展中药新药研究开发的新空间

发酵中药是现代生物技术和中药研究的完美结合,依靠微生物发酵来生产发酵中药近来正逐渐成为研究的热点,并为中药的发展开辟了新空间。本文综述了发酵中药的应用历史及现况、作用机理、优势特色和发展方向。     

TCM Database@Taiwan: the world's largest traditional Chinese medicine database for drug screening in silico

Rapid advancing computational technologies have greatly speeded up the development of computer-aided drug design (CADD). Recently, pharmaceutical companies have increasingly shifted their attentions toward traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for novel lead compounds. Despite the growing number of studies on TCM, there is no free 3D small molecular structure database of TCM available for virtual screening or molecular simulation. To address this shortcoming, we have constructed TCM Database@Taiwan (http://tcm.cmu.edu.tw/) based on information collected from Chinese medical texts and scientific publications. TCM Database@Taiwan is currently the world's largest non-commercial TCM database. This web-based database contains more than 20,000 pure compounds isolated from 453 TCM ingredients. Both cdx (2D) and Tripos mol2 (3D) formats of each pure compound in the database are available for download and virtual screening. The TCM database includes both simple and advanced web-based query options that can specify search clauses, such as molecular properties, substructures, TCM ingredients, and TCM classification, based on intended drug actions. The TCM database can be easily accessed by all researchers conducting CADD. Over the last eight years, numerous volunteers have devoted their time to analyze TCM ingredients from Chinese medical texts as well as to construct structure files for each isolated compound. We believe that TCM Database@Taiwan will be a milestone on the path towards modernizing traditional Chinese medicine.     

Stroke therapy in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM): prospects for drug discovery and development.

Brain injuries resulting from stroke are a major and increasing public health problem in both developed and developing countries worldwide. China's extensive experience in the use of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) in stroke therapy indicates that TCM preparations are effective, with few or no side-effects. There are more than 100 traditional medicines in use for stroke therapy in China. Some of their therapeutic effects in stroke have been confirmed by recent clinical studies. A large number of compounds have been isolated from TCMs and most of these resources have not yet been characterized for pharmacological purposes. Here, this article explains how TCM provides an extensive and knowledge-rich foundation for implementing a strategically focused pharmacological research program aimed at the development of new drugs.     

A survey of web resources and tools for the study of TCM network pharmacology

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treats diseases in a holistic manner, while TCM formulae are multi-component, multi-target agents at the molecular level. Thus there are many parallels between the key ideas of TCM pharmacology and network pharmacology. These years, TCM network pharmacology has developed as an interdisciplinary of TCM science and network pharmacology, which studies the mechanism of TCM at the molecular level and in the context of biological networks. It provides a new research paradigm that can use modern biomedical science to interpret the mechanism of TCM, which is promising to accelerate the modernization and internationalization of TCM. Results: In this paper we introduce state-of-the-art free data sources, web servers and softwares that can be used in the TCM network pharmacology, including databases of TCM, drug targets and diseases, web servers for the prediction of drug targets, and tools for network and functional analysis. Conclusions: This review could help experimental pharmacologists make better use of the existing data and methods in their study of TCM.     

特征肠道菌群在中医方证中的研究现状及意义

基于微生态学与中医学的一致性,以及中医证型及方剂治疗与肠道菌群密切相关,进一步研究特定肠道菌群与中医方证的关系对中医药现代化具有重要意义。本文论述了肠道菌群与疾病、中医证型及方剂疗效的相关性研究现状,认为同一疾病不同的中医证型具有不同的肠道菌群变化特征,明显富集或降低的肠道菌群与证型密切相关,甚至有望成为诊断的生物标记物。方剂能调控特定的肠道菌群,肠道菌群在一定程度上能反映方剂的疗效,借助肠道菌群的特征变化理解方剂疗效机制,有望辅助方剂的临床运用与选择。因而,深化肠道菌群在中医方证的研究是促进中医药现代化的新兴发展方向。

     

Pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine in neuropsychiatry

Despite the need for more effective treatments for psychiatric disorders, development of new medications has stalled. Here we discuss the promise of personalized medicine in developing more efficacious and individualized pharmacotherapies that take into account genetic variation and target groups of patients who share biology, not just symptoms.     

中药指纹图谱的研究进展

中药指纹图谱已日渐应用于中药鉴定与质量评价。本文综述了近来的薄层色谱指纹图谱,高效液相指纹图谱,核磁共振指纹图谱,质谱指纹图谱,X-射线衍射指纹图谱,色谱联用指纹图谱及DNA指纹图谱等的研究进展。     

浅议中医体质与肠道微生态的关系及个体化医疗

中医体质是人体生命过程中先天禀赋和后天获得基础上所形成的形态结构,具有生理功能和心理状态方面综合的、相对稳定的固有特质。中医体质分型更好地阐述了独立个体疾病的易患因素和疾病演变的倾向性,从而更好地诠释中医体系的个体化医疗。人体肠道微生物总量达100万亿,占人体总微生物量的7867%,肠道微生态系统是人体最重要的微生态系统。肠道微生态系统可以更好地掌握和利用精准遗传学信息来防病治病、促进健康,从而更好地诠释西医体系的个体化医疗。基于中医体质理论与肠道微生态学相结合的个体化医疗兼顾中西医学理论基础及治疗方案,其关联性的研究使现代科学理论方法和技术在中医学研究中有了用武之地。     

Analytical strategies for the discovery and validation of quality-markers of traditional Chinese medicine

BackgroundQuality control of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the basis of clinical efficacy. Due to the complexity of TCM, it is difficult to unify the quality control, and hinders the further implementation of the quality standardization of TCM. As a new concept, quality-marker (Q-marker) plays a powerful role in promoting the standardization of quality control system of TCM.Hypothesis/PurposeThe present review aims to provide reference and scientific basis for further development of Q-marker and assist standardization of quality control of TCM.MethodsExtensive search of various documents and electronic databases such as Pubmed, Royal Society of Chemistry, Science Direct, Springer, Web of Science, and Wiley, etc., were used to search scientific contributions. Other online academic libraries, e.g. Google Scholars, Scopus and national pharmacology literature were also been employed to learn more relevant information about Q-marker.ResultsQ-markers play vital role in promoting the standardization of quality control of TCM. The factors that affect the quality of TCM, the advantages and disadvantages of the analytical techniques commonly used in Q-marker research were reviewed, as well as the systematic research strategies, which were verified by practices.ConclusionThe proposal of Q-marker not only provided a new perspective to break through the bottleneck of current quality control, but also can be used in the evaluation of pharmacological efficiency, therapeutic discovery, toxicology, etc. In addition, the Q-marker analysis strategies summarized in this paper is helpful to standardize the quality control of TCM and promote the internationalization of TCM.     

微生物对植物源中药有效成分形成的影响

植物体内外生长着大量微生物,它们主要从表皮侵入植物体.植物识别侵入的微生物后,会形成次生代谢产物来抵抗微生物的侵入,这些代谢产物为我们提供了丰富的药源.血竭、沉香、皮用中药、组培生产药用成分及一些栽培中药中有效成分的形成都与微生物有密切关系.微生物在中药上的应用有很多问题急待解决,深入研究微生物对中药的影响对提高中药质量具有重要作用.     

医学免疫学中西医融合教学的设计与实施

中医药在防治新型冠状病毒肺炎(简称"新冠"肺炎)上发挥了重要作用,与西医形成优势互补,促进了中医药创新发展,也是中医药人才培养的创新模式.为探索融入防治"新冠"肺炎中医药技术的医学免疫学中西医融合教学的设计及实施效果,以包头医学院2019级中医学专业一个班为研究对象,融合《医学免疫学》教材内容、中医药防治新型冠状病毒肺...     

舌苔菌群与中医病证诊断的文献研究与思考

人体与舌苔微生物相互依存,相互影响。现今对舌苔微生态系统的研究主要集中于舌苔菌群。体质、疾病等诸多因素都可对舌苔产生影响,此时舌苔中菌群会有怎样的变化？菌群变化是否具有疾病诊断意义？这些问题已经受到关注和研究。文献研究显示,目前有关舌苔菌群病证诊断研究主要围绕中医心系疾病、脾系疾病和肺系疾病等进行,诸多研究表明脾系疾病湿热证患者,舌苔存在菌群失调,舌苔中细菌总数较正常人群明显升高,心系、肺系疾病暂无较为一致的结论。文献研究表明舌苔菌群的变化与病证诊断密切相关,其可能成为中医病证诊断的一种新方法。     

基于肠道菌群代谢和免疫炎症分析中药缓解抑郁症的研究现状

抑郁症是以连续而长期的心情低落为主要临床特征的一类最常见的精神疾病。肠道菌群的变化可导致肠道炎症,进而影响外周与中枢神经系统炎症。现代研究表明抑郁症的发生发展与肠道菌群的改变密切相关,肠道菌群已成为缓解抑郁症的关键靶点。在一定程度上中药能够调节肠道菌群及其代谢产物,修复肠道屏障,降低全身炎症水平,从而缓解抑郁症。本综述以肠道菌群为切入点,通过分析肠道菌群的代谢、免疫炎症与抑郁症发生发展的关系以及中药在调节肠道菌群缓解抑郁症方面的研究,总结中药通过影响肠道菌群的代谢,降低炎症水平,缓解抑郁症的作用和机制,以期为中药缓解抑郁症及相关药物的研发提供新思路。

     

现代生物医学科技前沿与中西医结合交叉

本文讨论了中医现代化和中西医结合的有关问题,指出中医现代化工作可分为三个方面：第一方面,应当培养大批临床上过硬的中医人才,在临床上有所突破,以此为基础进行理论研究;第二方面,将中医理论转换成现代语言;第三方面,中医与包括现代生物医学在内的多学科结合。阐述了现代生物医学科技前沿与中西医结合交叉而产生的新学科一光子中医学。指出光子中医学将为中西医结合提供理论和技术平台,成为多学科研究中医的代表性学科,并将成为中医现代化的一个重要方向,为人类卫生事业作出重大贡献。     

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。

     

Emerging issues in traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has many beneficial effects and has been practiced for several thousand years. It is known to treat the cause of a disease rather than to alleviate its symptoms. Based on a belief that TCM is natural, safe, and of lower cost, consumers worldwide are spending more out-of-pocket money on this form of therapy. This increased spending, and reports of adverse reactions, has drawn the attention of many regulatory agencies. Scientists have called for more evidence-based and scientific research on the risks and benefits of TCM. In Canada, the Natural Health Product Regulations came into effect January 2004. TCM herbal product manufacturers will need to provide products of reputable quality to the market. Many will apply modern technology and good science to support their products. The issues facing producers, scientists, and consumers alike are quality control and assessment, standardization of bioactive components, mechanisms of actions, and integration of the evolved modern Chinese medicine into the healthcare system. Solid science, better regulation of the final product, and better education of consumers are necessary to extract the best of TCM to complement existing conventional medicine to deliver the best healthcare.     

Identification of potent EGFR inhibitors from TCM Database@Taiwan

Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been associated with cancer. Targeted inhibition of the EGFR pathway has been shown to limit proliferation of cancerous cells. Hence, we employed Traditional Chinese Medicine Database (TCM nawiaT@esabataD) (http://tcm.cmu.edu.tw) to identify potential EGFR inhibitor. Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA), and Comparative Molecular Similarities Indices Analysis (CoMSIA) models were generated using a training set of EGFR ligands of known inhibitory activities. The top four TCM candidates based on DockScore were 2-O-caffeoyl tartaric acid, Emitine, Rosmaricine, and 2-O-feruloyl tartaric acid, and all had higher binding affinities than the control Iressa®. The TCM candidates had interactions with Asp855, Lys716, and Lys728, all which are residues of the protein kinase binding site. Validated MLR (r² = 0.7858) and SVM (r² = 0.8754) models predicted good bioactivity for the TCM candidates. In addition, the TCM candidates contoured well to the 3D-Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (3D-QSAR) map derived from the CoMFA (q² = 0.721, r² = 0.986) and CoMSIA (q² = 0.662, r² = 0.988) models. The steric field, hydrophobic field, and H-bond of the 3D-QSAR map were well matched by each TCM candidate. Molecular docking indicated that all TCM candidates formed H-bonds within the EGFR protein kinase domain. Based on the different structures, H-bonds were formed at either Asp855 or Lys716/Lys728. The compounds remained stable throughout molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Based on the results of this study, 2-O-caffeoyl tartaric acid, Emitine, Rosmaricine, and 2-O-feruloyl tartaric acid are suggested to be potential EGFR inhibitors.     

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine at the forefront battle against COVID-19: Clinical experience and scientific basis

BackgroundThroughout the 5000-year history of China, more than 300 epidemics were recorded. Traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCM) has been used effectively to combat each of these epidemics’ infections, and saved many lives. To date, there are hundreds of herbal TCM formulae developed for the purpose of prevention and treatment during epidemic infections. When COVID-19 ravaged the Wuhan district in China in early January 2020, without a deep understanding about the nature of COVID-19, patients admitted to the TCM Hospital in Wuhan were immediately treated with TCM and reported later with >90% efficacy.ApproachWe conducted conduct a systematic survey of various TCM herbal preparations used in Wuhan and to review their efficacy, according to the published clinical data; and, secondly, to find the most popular herbs used in these preparations and look into the opportunity of future research in the isolation and identification of bioactive natural products for fighting COVID-19.ResultsAlthough bioactive natural products in these herbal preparations may have direct antiviral activities, TCM employed for fighting epidemic infections was primarily based on the TCM theory of restoring the balance of the human immune system, thereby defeating the viral infection indirectly. In addition, certain TCM teachings relevant to the meridian system deserve better attention. For instance, many TCM herbal preparations target the lung meridian, which connects the lung and large intestine. This interconnection between the lung, including the upper respiratory system, and the intestine, may explain why certain TCM formulae showed excellent relief of lung congestion and diarrhea, two characteristics of COVID-19 infection.ConclusionThere is good reason for us to learn from ancient wisdom and accumulated clinical experience, in combination with cutting edge science and technologies, to fight with the devastating COVID-19 pandemic now and emerging new coronaviruses in the future.     

中药博物馆数字化与科普的实践与思考

近年来,随着中医药博物馆数字化的普遍应用,馆藏文物及标本的保护能力得到了有效提高。同时,通过多媒体手段将中药馆藏及展陈标本数字化成果应用到中医药科普实践中,激发了大众对中医药传统文化的兴趣,更好地推动了中医药文化的普及。该研究以重庆市中药博物馆运用数字化开展中药科普为例,阐述了中药博物馆如何利用数字化创新中药科普工作,探讨了中药博物馆的数字化平台建设方向和数字化建设成果的科普应用方式以及中医药科普的后续方向,对促进中医药文化传播及扩大中药文化的普及力与影响力具有重要意义。该研究认为只有不断应用科技手段,逐步推动中药博物馆数字化、网络化,让中医药文化的传播不受空间和时间的限制,真正实现中药资源网络共享,才能促使中药博物馆与时俱进,充分发挥弘扬中医药文化的科普阵地作用。