Rooted in ancient knowledge and principles, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to treat many diseases, sparking the interest of pharmaceutical researchers. TCM formulas are quite complex, requiring multiple herbs for their formulation. These herbs act synergistically, targeting different aspects of a disease’s pathology.
Due to their complexity, analyzing the active ingredients (the components of a drug that are biologically “active”) in TCM formulations is challenging. Hence, the identification of effective constituents and proper quality control of these formulations remains to be established, with much scope for improvement in these areas.
This knowledge gap caught the attention of scientists from China, who tried to analyze a specific TCM—Xiaoer-Feire-Kechuan (XFK), with an 11-ingredient formula used to treat cough and lung inflammation in children. In their article, made available online on 29th January 2021, and published in Volume 11, Issue 6 of the Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis in December 2021, the team describes how they identified the active components in XFK.
The team, led by Dr. Xue Qiao from Peking University, China, used an integrated approach to reveal which constituents cause XFK to exert its anti-inflammatory action. We spoke to Dr. Qiao to understand the methodology better. “We applied the parallel reaction monitoring scan mode built in quadrupole (Q)-Orbitrap-MS, which has the combined benefit of mass isolation capability with high resolution, so it lessens the chances of false readings while assessing analytes in a sample,” she tells us.
Using ultra performance liquid chromatography and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/Q-Orbitrap-MS, two immensely popular sample analysis methods, they screened 18 different formulations of XFK to reveal 35 analytes.
“We then leveraged our knowledge of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which we know plays a role in inflammation. These 35 analytes were put through an in vitro COX-2 inhibition assay to see which ones were potent anti-inflammatory agents,” Dr. Qiao continues.
Their experiments revealed interesting results. They found that 4 analytes, baicalin and forsythosides H, I, and A, had significant anti-inflammatory activity. These inhibited COX-2 by more than 80%.
“These analytes are, most probably, what contribute most to XFK’s method of action,” Dr. Qiao explains. “And now, our method can be used to discover effective ingredients and analytes in other complex herbal remedies as well.”
Decoding traditional therapies like TCM is an uphill task because it is difficult to identify which of their multiple ingredients is the most important one. “It took a while to figure out that caffeine was the active ingredient in coffee,” Dr. Qiao smiles, “So you can imagine how difficult it is to analyze every herbal remedy.” She makes a valid point. The 2015 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (a book containing the ‘recipes’ for each remedy) had 1,933 TCM formulas!
Therefore, this novel analytical method is a big step forward for the pharmaceutical industry: understanding which ingredient is the most effective can help improve quality control standards. This could result in better remedies, ‘actively’ contributing to this ancient school of medicine.
Original article by admin, if reproduced, please cite the source as: https://www.tcmha.com/tcmnews/study-highlights-novel-method-to-actively-analyze-herbal-remedies.html
相关推荐
-
Farmers hope to cash in on $130b global market for traditional Chinese medicine with long-term study
Traditional Chinese medicine has been practised for thousands of years and, as the sector has grown into a $130 billion global industry, Australia could be well-placed to cash in. Rising demand and strain on the supply of medicinal herbs has created an “exciting opportunity” for farmers, according to Professor Dugald Close from the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture. “These traditional herbs have been used for centuries but, of course, we’ve got major increases in population, particularly in South-East Asia,” he said. “Land is an issue. Traditionally a lot of these herbs…
-
JD.com : Health Opens Internet Hospital in Tianjin to Bring Traditional Chinese Medicine Services Online
In close collaboration with JD Health, the Internet hospital of the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was launched on December 26th, marking a big step towards the “Internet + TCM” model, in which Tianjin residents can easily make online appointments with TCM doctors and order medications for home delivery. During the opening ceremony, Xuemin Shi, China’s TCM master and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, stated that Internet hospitals, big data, AI, and other innovative technologies will play an increasingly important role…
-
Study Finds Traditional Chinese Medicine Is As Effective as Drugs in Treating a Certain Type of Infection
A clinical trial demonstrates that Yupingfeng, a traditional Chinese medicine, is as effective as allopathic drugs at treating children with recurrent respiratory tract infections.
-
World Health Organization chief given report on use of traditional Chinese medicine in fighting Covid-19
Proponents of traditional Chinese medicine have met the head of the World Health Organization to present a report on its use in the fight against Covid-19. The delegation led by Huang Luqi, a vice-commissioner of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, met Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Geneva on Monday. A statement published on the administration’s website on Wednesday said the report from the Chinese Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine “systematically evaluates the effectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese medicine using scientific methods”, adding that Tedros had received the report “with…
-
The pandemic is boosting sellers of traditional medicine
Whether or not they work, herbal remedies are a healthy business.
-
Scientists develop tool to predict effectiveness of herbs in traditional Chinese medicine
A group of Chinese and U.S. scientists have developed a tool for predicting the effectiveness of herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
-
Curcumin and traditional Chinese remedy combo may help treat ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition that affects the colon, causing inflammation, ulcers, and related symptoms like bloody stool. Management of ulcerative colitis may involve taking medications, undergoing surgeries, and modifying diet to avoid triggering symptoms. Data from two studies shared at the Crohn’s and Colitis Congress 2023 found that a herbal combination of curcumin and QingDai was effective in reducing ulcerative colitis severity and inducing remission. Further research can determine if this herbal combination or others may be effective in the treatment of other disorders of the digestive tract.
-
Long Covid: how traditional Chinese medicine can help with symptoms from fatigue and persistent cough to erectile dysfunction
More people are turning to traditional Chinese medicine to recover from long Covid, a Hong Kong-based practitioner says. While there is no specific herb to treat long Covid – each patient is assessed according to their unique presentation – there are some broad guidelines.
-
Traditional Chinese Medicine can’t stop you getting Covid-19, says renowned expert Zhong Nanshan
Zhong has long been an advocate for TCM but he told a conference that currently no drug has been proven to prevent people becoming infected by the virus.His comments follow a controversy after a leading online health platform was suspended soon after questioning the benefits of traditional treatments.
-
Traditional Chinese medicine maker expands amid rising overseas demand during pandemic
A Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) maker has been accelerating its overseas registration process and expansion plans in response to booming global demand amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Despite lingering difficulties in getting approval in countries such as the US and Australia, the number of overseas approvals issued for TCMs such as Lianhua Qingwen has quadrupled since the pandemic, industry insiders said, a clear indication of TCM gaining wider acceptance overseas. Chinese herbal medicine maker Yiling Pharmaceutical’s patented Lianhua Qingwen capsules have been recommended for the treatment of COVID-19 by some…
Comments(1)
Wonderful work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the internet. Shame on Google for not positioning this post higher! Thanks =)