ArticleLiterature Review

Nutrition and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM): a system’s theoretical perspective

September 2020
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 75(2):1-7

Authors:

Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an entirely coherent system, with internal logic and consistency of thought and practice. Though TCM has a long history, it is not easily accepted by Western medicine due to its theoretical and conceptual complexity. TCM nutrition is an ancient but burgeoning discipline, and its main goal is to use food as a means to achieve balance and harmony within the body. Compared with modern nutrition, it has unique beneficial concepts, such as the holism, diet suggestions based on syndrome differentiation, the idea that the spleen–stomach is the “root” of post-heaven, and the homology of medicine and food. Until today, it is difficult to evaluate whether TCM nutrition could play a major role in the treatment of various diseases. The limitations mainly include: the scope of application is limited, lack of evidence-based research, and the constitution differentiation need the cooperation of clinicians of TCM. In contemporary China, the inheritance, innovation, and broadening the scope of applications of TCM nutrition is very important. The government should establish a system in which TCM nutrition and modern nutrition coexist, and perform higher specialist training for dietitians of TCM. Moreover, TCM nutrition should integrate the research methods of modern nutrition, and involve adjustment to target populations, the formulation of age-specific nutrition principles, and an emphasis on the research and development of nutritional food, thus fully demonstrating the advantages and characteristics of TCM nutrition.

The effect of Bushenhuoxue nutritional decoction in the treatment of overweight patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Article

May 2024

Objective: To assess the effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) nutrition treatment (Bushenhuoxue nutritional decoction) in overweight patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: Retrospective analysis of 96 overweight patients with PCOS who received treatment in our hospital from October 2020 to June 2022 was done. Among them, 46 patients received routine drug treatment and daily dietary intervention (control group), while 50 patients received additional TCM nutrition support in addition to routine treatment (observation group). Glucose and lipid metabolism indicators and hormone levels were compared between the two groups before and after the treatment. Ovulation rate, pregnancy rate, and adverse reactions were compared between both groups one year after the treatment. Results: After treatment, the improvement of glucose and lipid metabolism indicators and hormone levels in the observation group was significantly better than in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the TCM syndrome scores of the two groups were lower than that before treatment (P < 0.001), and the TCM syndrome scores of the observation group was lower than that of the control group (P < 0.001).Ovulation and pregnancy rates were significantly higher in the observation group compared to the control group at 1-year follow up (P<0.05), and the incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions: Combined with conventional drug treatment, TCM nutrition treatment can significantly improve glucose and lipid metabolism, hormone levels, and TCM syndrome of overweight PCOS patients, increase the ovulation and pregnancy rates, and reduce potential adverse reactions. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.6.9304 How to cite this: Fu J, Chen Y, Huang Z, Wang X. The effect of Bushenhuoxue nutritional decoction in the treatment of overweight patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(6):1105-1110. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.6.9304 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Herbal- and Dietary-Supplement-Induced Liver Injury: A Review of the Recent Literature

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2024

Herbal-induced liver injury (HILI) continues to increase in prevalence each year due to the ongoing popularity of herbal supplements and complementary and alternative medicines. A detailed literature review of case reports and clinical studies published from March 2021 to March 2023 was performed. We discuss the epidemiology and diagnosis of HILI as well as the current and proposed laws and regulations. The 2021 ACG guidelines and 2022 AASLD practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of drug and herbal-induced liver injury are discussed. We describe updates to previously reported etiologies of HILI such as ayurveda, ashwagandha, turmeric, kratom, green tea extract, and garcinia cambogia. Newly described supplements resulting in HILI, such as tinospora cordifolia, horse chestnut, alkaline water, and more, are described. We discuss newly and previously identified hepatoprotective herbal supplements as they have been reported in the study of animal models and human liver cells. This review suggests the need for ongoing research on the causes and mechanisms of HILI to ensure its proper diagnosis, prevention, and treatment in the future. The goal of this review is to provide novice and expert readers with knowledge regarding the possible etiologies of HILI and a general overview.

Antiosteoporosis Studies of 20 Medicine Food Homology Plants Containing Quercetin, Rutin, and Kaempferol: TCM Characteristics, In Vivo and In Vitro Activities, Potential Mechanisms, and Food Functions

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2022
EVID-BASED COMPL ALT

Dietary nutraceutical compounds have been evidenced as backbone for bone health in recent years. It is reported that medicine food homology (MFH) plants have multiple nutraceutical compounds. Based on our literature research, 20 MFH plants caught our attention because they contain three popular antiosteoporosis compounds simultaneously: quercetin, rutin, and kaempferol. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), their characteristics including natures, flavors, attributive to meridian tropism, and efficacies were listed. The relationships between TCM efficacies, such as “heat clearing,” “tonic,” and “the interior warming,” and antiosteoporosis pharmacological actions such as antioxidant and immune regulation were discussed. The in vivo antiosteoporosis effects of the 20 MFH plants were summarized. The in vitro antiosteoporosis activities and related mechanisms of the 20 plants and quercetin, rutin, kaempferol were detailed. The TGF-β-Smad signaling, fibroblast growth factor, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling on bone formation and the RANKL signaling, NF-κB signaling, and macrophage-colony-stimulating factor on bone resorption were identified. From food point, these 20 MFH plants could be classified as condiment, vegetable, fruit, tea and related products, beverage, etc. Based on the above discussion, these 20 MFH plants could be used as daily food supplements for the prevention and treatment against osteoporosis.

Experimental Research on the Antitumor Effect of Human Gastric Cancer Cells Transplanted in Nude Mice Based on Deep Learning Combined with Spleen-Invigorating Chinese Medicine

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2022

Gastric cancer is still the fifth most common malignant tumor in the world and has the fourth highest mortality rate in the world. Gastric cancer is difficult to treat because of its unobvious onset, low resection rate, and rapid deterioration. Therefore, humans have been working hard to combat gastric cancer. At present, the most commonly used treatment method is radiotherapy. However, this method will damage the normal tissues of the irradiated area while treating malignant tumor cells. It not only has side effects of damage to the patient’s skin and mucous membranes but also needs high-rate radiotherapy and has high cost for chemotherapy. In order to solve these problems, it is necessary to find new treatment methods. This article proposes the use of Chinese medicine to invigorate the spleen to inhibit human gastric cancer cells. This article combines modern machine learning technology with traditional Chinese medicine and combines traditional Chinese medicine physiotherapy with Western medicine nude mouse transplantation experiments. The treatment of tumors in Chinese medicine is based on the theory of Chinese medicine and has different characteristics. Western medicine has the advantage of permanently injuring patients. The process of the experiment is to transplant human-derived gastric cancer cells into nude mice. After grouping treatments and obtaining comparative data, deep learning techniques are used to analyze the properties of Chinese medicines for strengthening the spleen and to compare the properties of Chinese medicines for strengthening the spleen. The experimental results showed that the tumor inhibition rate of mice using fluorouracil was 18%, the tumor inhibition rate of mice using low-dose Chinese medicine was 16%, and the tumor inhibition rate of mice using high-dose Chinese medicine reached 52%. 80 days after the experiment, the survival rate of mice using high-dose Chinese medicine is 100% higher than that of mice without treatment.

Comprehensive study for investigating the mechanisms by which dietary Icariin prevents ferroptosis in aged-related osteoporosis

Article

Dec 2024

Obesity Treatment from the Unique Perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2024

Shiqi Zhang

This paper aims to develop the value and significance of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of obesity in the context of the globalization of contemporary obesity, and to explore the causes and treatment methods of obesity. By examining the historical origins of traditional Chinese medicine principles, in conjunction with the teachings of the Emperor's Neijing, as well as the concepts of yin and yang, and qi and blood theory, this paper conducts an analysis on the traditional Chinese medicine perspective on obesity. Specifically, it explores the perception of imbalance in energy and organ function. This paper emphasizes the holistic nature of the human body and argues that treating obesity should not only focus on weight loss, but also on regulating internal organ function and balancing qi, blood, Yin, and Yang to improve overall health. At the same time, the effect of TCM dietary advice on weight loss was studied, and the role of herbal medicine and acupuncture in the treatment of obesity was explained, so as to provide new ideas and methods for the comprehensive treatment of obesity.

Traditional Chinese medicine constitution and sarcopenia: a cross-sectional study

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2024

Objective Sarcopenia is a gradually advancing systemic disorder affecting skeletal muscles, primarily distinguished by diminished muscle mass and functional decline. As of present, a universally accepted diagnostic criterion for sarcopenia has yet to be established. From the perspective of the constitution theory in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the Yin-deficiency constitution is believed to have a significant correlation with the development of sarcopenia. The primary objective of this study was to examine the potential association between sarcopenia and Yin-deficiency constitution. Methods The present study is a cross-sectional analysis. The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) recommended a diagnostic criterion for sarcopenia. A total of 141 participants over 50 years of age were diagnosed with sarcopenia. To determine the constitution of each patient, classification and determination standards were used in traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, a combination of logistic regression and propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to analyze a dataset comprising 1,372 eligible observations. The diagnostic efficacy of the test in distinguishing sarcopenia was assessed through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results The relationship between Yin-deficiency constitution and sarcopenia was examined using logistic regression analysis. In the crude model, the odds ratio (OR) was found to be 3.20 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.70–6.03). After adjusting for various confounding factors, including gender, sex, 6 m walking test/(m/s), SMI, and maximum grip strength/kg, the OR increased to 9.70 (95% CI: 3.20–69.38). The associations between seven other biased traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitutions and sarcopenia were not found to be statistically significant in the fully adjusted model. The propensity score matching (PSM) analysis yielded consistent results with the logistic regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the AUC of the Yin-deficiency constitution combined with age and gender reached 0.707. Conclusion Among the nine TCM constitutions examined, the Yin-deficiency constitution demonstrates an independent association with sarcopenia. Yin-deficiency constitution may serve as a potential risk factor for the development of sarcopenia. To establish a causal relationship, further experimental investigations are warranted. The diagnostic performance of sarcopenia is effectively demonstrated by the Yin-deficiency constitution combined with age and gender.

The original scores of traditional Chinese medicine constitutions are risk and diagnostic factors in middle‐aged and older adults with sarcopenia

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2024

Objective Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome that occurs with age and is characterized by a gradual decline in muscle mass, power, and functionality. It serves as a prominent contributor to frailty, disability, and mortality among older individuals. Currently, no standardized global guidelines exist for the diagnosis of sarcopenia. This study aimed to establish the correlation between sarcopenia and the constitutions of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), considering the connection between physical functioning and sarcopenia. Methods A total of 1441 participants in this study were diagnosed with sarcopenia. The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) proposed a sarcopenia definition algorithm. To determine the constitution of each participant, classification and determination standards were used in traditional Chinese medicine. This study evaluated the demographics, lifestyles, and self‐reported medical history of individuals diagnosed with sarcopenia through a self‐administered questionnaire. The constitution of the participants was determined using TCM classification and determination standards. Subsequently, we analyzed the results of univariate analysis and multivariate regression and constructed a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results Participants who were diagnosed with sarcopenia had substantially lower original Neutral constitution scores (P < 0.050). In comparison to those without sarcopenia, individuals with sarcopenia exhibited notably elevated original Qi‐deficiency, Yang‐deficiency, Yin‐deficiency, Blood‐stagnation, and Qi‐stagnation scores in contrast to those in the healthy group (P < 0.050). The identified risk factors associated with sarcopenia included the following: Neutral (OR = 0.903), Qi‐deficiency (in males, OR = 1.126), Yang‐deficiency (OR = 1.062), Phlegm‐dampness (in males, OR = 0.833), and Blood‐stagnation (in females, OR = 1.089). The highest area under the curve (AUC) was observed for the original neutral constitution score, followed by the Yang‐deficiency and blood‐stagnation scores (0.644, 0.613, and 0.611, respectively). Additionally, the AUC for the combined original scores of all nine constitutions among males reached 0.778. Conclusions In this cross‐sectional study of older people with higher original Qi‐deficiency, Yin deficiency, Yang‐deficiency, Blood‐stagnation, and Qi‐stagnation were associated with sarcopenia. Notably, various TCM constitutions are significantly linked to sarcopenia. There was a significant occurrence of various body constitution types among individuals diagnosed with sarcopenia. The mixture of the nine original constitution scores exhibited good diagnostic performance for sarcopenia in males.

Discovering cholinesterase inhibitors from Chinese herbal medicine with deep learning models

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2024
MED CHEM RES

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) holds distinctive advantages in the management of Alzheimer’s disease. Nonetheless, a considerable gap remains in our understanding of its pharmacologically active constituents. In this study, we harnessed the potential of deep learning models to swiftly and precisely predict drug-target interactions. We conducted a systematic screening of cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitors from an extensive array of TCM ingredients, followed by rigorous validation through in vitro experiments. We constructed both a drug-target interactions (DTI) model and a blood-brain barrier permeability (BBBP) model, with both models achieving an AUPRC score exceeding 0.9. Subsequently, we conducted a screening process that identified six compounds for in vitro ChE inhibitory assay. Notably, all six compounds exhibited a robust inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), while four of the six compounds demonstrated potent inhibitory activity against butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Our findings underscore the promise of leveraging deep learning to discover inhibitors from TCM.

Poria cocos Attenuated DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis via NF-κB Signaling Pathway and Regulating Gut Microbiota

Article

Full-text available

May 2024
MOLECULES

Ulcerative colitis (UC), as a chronic inflammatory disease, presents a global public health threat. However, the mechanism of Poria cocos (PC) in treating UC remains unclear. Here, LC-MS/MS was carried out to identify the components of PC. The protective effect of PC against UC was evaluated by disease activity index (DAI), colon length and histological analysis in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC mice. ELISA, qPCR, and Western blot tests were conducted to assess the inflammatory state. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry techniques were employed to evaluate the expression of tight junction proteins. The sequencing of 16S rRNA was utilized for the analysis of gut microbiota regulation. The results showed that a total of fifty-two nutrients and active components were identified in PC. After treatment, PC significantly alleviated UC-associated symptoms including body weight loss, shortened colon, an increase in DAI score, histopathologic lesions. PC also reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, as evidenced by the suppressed NF-κB pathway, restored the tight junction proteins ZO-1 and Claudin-1 in the colon, and promoted the diversity and abundance of beneficial gut microbiota. Collectively, these findings suggest that PC ameliorates colitis symptoms through the reduction in NF-κB signaling activation to mitigate inflammatory damage, thus repairing the intestinal barrier, and regulating the gut microbiota.

The drug called food and its role as a therapy for chronic patients: A comprehensive narrative review

Article

Full-text available

May 2024

The discipline of utilizing food as a medicinal agent has gained significant attention in recent years. This narrative review aims to conduct a multidimensional exploration of the inherent therapeutic properties of food. It utilizes a comprehensive methodology encompassing historical texts, contemporary scientific literature, and clinical investigations to explore the dynamic field of food as therapy. Commencing with a historical backdrop, this text traces the historical lineage of the medicinal utilization of food. It then proceeds to explore the complex interplay between nutrition, bioactive compounds, and their combined influence on human health. The unfolding narrative highlights the significant impact of dietary patterns on the prevention and management of chronic ailments, offering valuable insights into their therapeutic potential. In this narrative review, the discipline of culinary medicine is emerging as a valuable connection between the field of nutritional science and the practical realm of dietary applications. The investigation of challenges associated with integrating food-based therapeutic modalities is thoroughly analyzed, leading to a comprehensive discussion on potential avenues for future research. Based on a rigorous methodology, this narrative review makes a valuable contribution to the growing body of knowledge on the medicinal properties of food. It provides a comprehensive and insightful perspective on this emerging field, which has the potential to impact current paradigms significantly.

The Role and Mechanism of Paeoniae Radix Alba in Tumor Therapy

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2024
MOLECULES

Tumors have a huge impact on human life and are now the main cause of disease-related deaths. The main means of treatment are surgery and radiotherapy, but they are more damaging to the organism and have a poor postoperative prognosis. Therefore, we urgently need safe and effective drugs to treat tumors. In recent years, Chinese herbal medicines have been widely used in tumor therapy as complementary and alternative therapies. Medicinal and edible herbs are popular and have become a hot topic of research, which not only have excellent pharmacological effects and activities, but also have almost no side effects. Therefore, as a typical medicine and food homology, some components of Paeoniae Radix Alba (PRA, called Baishao in China) have been shown to have good efficacy and safety against cancer. Numerous studies have also shown that Paeoniae Radix Alba and its active ingredients treat cancer through various pathways and are also one of the important components of many antitumor herbal compound formulas. In this paper, we reviewed the literature on the intervention of Paeoniae Radix Alba in tumors and its mechanism of action in recent years and found that there is a large amount of literature on its effect on total glucosides of paeony (TGP) and paeoniflorin (PF), as well as an in-depth discussion of the mechanism of action of Paeoniae Radix Alba and its main constituents, with a view to promote the clinical development and application of Paeoniae Radix Alba in the field of antitumor management.

Unveiling terahertz wave stress effects and mechanisms in Pinellia ternata: Challenges, insights, and future directions

Article

Feb 2024
PHYSIOL PLANTARUM

This review aims to elucidate the intricate effects and mechanisms of terahertz (THz) wave stress on Pinellia ternata , providing valuable insights into plant responses. The primary objective is to highlight the imperative for future research dedicated to comprehending THz wave impacts across plant structures, with a specific focus on the molecular intricacies governing root system structure and function, from shoots to roots. Notably, this review highlights the accelerated plant growth induced by THz waves, especially in conjunction with other environmental stressors, and the subsequent alterations in cellular homeostasis, resulting in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an increase in brassinosteroids. Brassinosteroids are explored for their dual role as toxic by‐products of stress metabolism and vital signal transduction molecules in plant responses to abiotic stresses. The paper further investigates the spatio‐temporal regulation and long‐distance transport of phytohormones, including growth hormone, cytokinin, and abscisic acid (ABA), which significantly influence the growth and development of P. ternata under THz wave stress. With a comprehensive review of Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Brassinosteroid Insensitive (BRI) homeostasis and signalling under THz wave stress, the article elucidates the current understanding of BRI involvement in stress perception, stress signalling, and domestication response regulation. Additionally, it underscores the importance of spatio‐temporal regulation and long‐distance transport of key plant hormones, such as growth hormone, cytokinin, and ABA, in determining root growth and development under THz wave stress. The study of how plants perceive and respond to environmental stresses holds fundamental biological significance, and enhancing plant stress tolerance is crucial for promoting sustainable agricultural practices and mitigating the environmental burdens associated with low‐tolerance crop cultivation.

A prospective review of the health-promoting potential of Jing Si Herbal Tea

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2024

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has gained considerable attention over the past few years for its multicomponent, multitarget, and multi-pathway approach to treating different diseases. Studies have shown that TCMs as adjuvant therapy along with conventional treatment may benefit in safely treating various disorders. However, investigations on finding effective herbal combinations are ongoing. A novel TCM formula, “Jing Si Herbal Tea (JSHT),” has been reported recently for their health-promoting effects in improving overall body and mental health. JSHT is a combination of eight herbs recognized in Chinese herbal pharmacopoeia for their anti-viral, anti-aging, and anti-cancer properties as well as protective effects against cardiovascular, metabolic, neural, digestive, and genitourinary diseases. Thus, to better understand the beneficial effects of the ingredients of JSHT on health, this review intends to summarize the preclinical and clinical studies of the ingredients of JSHT on human health and diseases, and possible therapeutic effects with the related mode of actions and future prospects for their application in complementary therapies.

Delayed Reaction of Radiation on the Central Nervous System and Bone System in C57BL/6J Mice

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2023
INT J MOL SCI

The aim of this study was to provide a suitable mouse model of radiation-induced delayed reaction and identify potential targets for drug development related to the prevention and treatment of radiation injury. C57BL/6J mice were subjected to singular (109 cGy/min, 5 Gy*1) and fractional (109 cGy/min, 5 Gy*2) total body irradiation. The behavior and activity of mice were assessed 60 days after ionizing radiation (IR) exposure. After that, the pathological changes and mechanism of the mouse brain and femoral tissues were observed by HE, Nissl, Trap staining micro-CT scanning and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq), and Western blot. The results show that singular or fractional IR exposure led to a decrease in spatial memory ability and activity in mice, and the cognitive and motor functions gradually recovered after singular 5 Gy IR in a time-dependent manner, while the fractional 10 Gy IR group could not recover. The decrease in bone density due to the increase in osteoclast number may be relative to the down-regulation of RUNX2, sclerostin, and beta-catenin. Meanwhile, the brain injury caused by IR exposure is mainly linked to the down-regulation of BNDF and Tau. IR exposure leads to memory impairment, reduced activity, and self-recovery, which are associated with time and dose. The mechanism of cognitive and activity damage was mainly related to oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by DNA damage. The damage caused by fractional 10 Gy TBI is relatively stable and can be used as a stable multi-organ injury model for radiation mechanism research and anti-radiation medicine screening.

‘Eating is like experiencing a gamble’: A qualitative study exploring the dietary decision‐making process in adults with inflammatory bowel disease

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2023
HEALTH EXPECT

Background For adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), they experience many challenges in dietary decision‐making. Thus, this study examined the perspective and experiences of adults with IBD in dietary decision‐making. Objective This study aimed to explore the perception and consideration of people with IBD in their daily dietary decisions through monitoring, interpretation and action during the decision‐making process. Design A qualitative study of individuals affected by IBD was conducted through semistructured interviews. Results Twenty patients were recruited from four tertiary hospitals in Nanjing, China, and each participant completed a semistructured interview. The majority of participants reported on the process and experience of dietary decision‐making. Key themes were categorised into three stages: (1) assessing needs, preferences and food cues (monitor); (2) moving from experience to expertise (interpret) and (3) balancing expectations amidst limitations (act). The majority of participants reported that their decisions were shaped by assessing current disease status and food cues. Those interviewed with IBD were willing to make tradeoffs for bowel stability, but their decisions were also influenced by past dietary experiences and traditional Chinese beliefs. The lack of awareness of dietary guidelines was a significant barrier to healthy eating decisions. Positive or negative feelings accompanied dietary decisions. Conclusion Although most people with IBD change their diet after diagnosis, the changes made are often inconsistent with existing dietary recommendations. Several factors can influence the dietary decision‐making process. This study will help assess the experiences of people with IBD in dietary decision‐making to encourage the formation of targeted dietary health and well‐being interventions. Knowledge of nutrition and diet should be provided in education and training programmes for IBD management. Patient or Public Contribution The first three authors of this paper were the lead researchers in this study's design. These authors were mentored by patient researchers who also contributed to the manuscript, and the research process was co‐lead and directed by other patient participants and consultants. The results of this paper were directly obtained from patient participants.

TCM “medicine and food homology” in the management of post-COVID disorders

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2023

Background The World Health Organization declared that COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency of global concern on May 5, 2023. Post-COVID disorders are, however, becoming more common. Hence, there lies a growing need to develop safe and effective treatment measures to manage post-COVID disorders. Investigating the use of TCM medicinal foods in the long-term therapy of post-COVID illnesses may be beneficial given contemporary research’s emphasis on the development of medicinal foods. Scope and approach The use of medicinal foods for the long-term treatment of post-COVID disorders is highlighted in this review. Following a discussion of the history of the TCM “Medicine and Food Homology” theory, the pathophysiological effects of post-COVID disorders will be briefly reviewed. An analysis of TCM medicinal foods and their functions in treating post-COVID disorders will then be provided before offering some insight into potential directions for future research and application. Key findings and discussion TCM medicinal foods can manage different aspects of post-COVID disorders. The use of medicinal foods in the long-term management of post-COVID illnesses may be a safe and efficient therapy choice because they are typically milder in nature than chronic drug use. These findings may also be applied in the long-term post-disease treatment of similar respiratory disorders.

In silico studies for the identification of potential thiazolidine-2,4-diones as α-amylase inhibitors

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2023

Type 2 diabetes, which is characterized by hyperglycemia, is a chronic endocrine metabolic condition. α-amylase inhibitors may have a major therapeutic impact in type 2 diabetic mellitus. In the present study, virtual screening database preparation by R-group enumeration, virtual screening, docking study, and pharmacokinetics analysis was performed by taking α-amylase as a target. The results highlight the important binding features of novel thiazolidine-2,4-dione compounds as α-amylase inhibitors. An R-group enumeration study was performed for the generation of novel thiazolidine-2,4-dione derivatives (6250 compounds). These derivatives further proceed for virtual screening study using Lipinski rule of 5, highthroughput virtual screening, standard precision, and extra precision (XP) screening filters. Only the top 4 compounds were selected after the XP docking process. The molecular docking study of virtual screening hits showed that compound 1 showed a good binding score of −9.129 kcal/mole on α-amylase enzyme (Protein Data Bank ID-3BAY). The present study may be used for the further development of potential compounds against type 2 diabetes.

Green Practices and Innovations of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Industry in Singapore: Idea Worth Sharing

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2022

TCM health benefits and pressure to thrive TCM businesses while taking care of the sustainability of resources has challenged the TCM industry to produce more with less. It is of interest to know how TCM businesses innovate to sustainability through green practices. By capturing the perspectives of TCM organizational stakeholders on practices to minimize the negative impacts on the local environment by TCM enterprises (clinics) in Singapore from the lens of a qualitative exploratory study, the present study explored the presence of green practices and innovations of TCM organizational stakeholders though it is less clear whether these engagements are conducted out of the intention to be green, as these are daily practices at TCM clinics. The phenomenological approach was applied to examine the lived experiences of study participants who work or had worked at TCM clinics in Singapore. The highlights of the paper stressed inadequate focus on green practices at the organizational level to achieve sustainable development targets of TCM industry in Singapore, despite the existence of self-awareness at the individual level to protect the environment. The findings can be building blocks for future research on green and policy making. Green practices and innovations to stay healthy while protecting the environment, with more sensible choices, can bring differences to humans’ lives.

Reveal the Mechanisms of Yi-Fei-Jian-Pi-Tang on Covid-19 through Network Pharmacology Approach

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2022
Comput Intell Neurosci

Objectives: The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula Yi-Fei-Jian-Pi-Tang (YFJPT) has been demonstrated effective against Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19). The aim of this article is to make a thorough inquiry about its active constituent as well as mechanisms against Covid-19 via TCM network pharmacology. Methods: All the ingredients of YFJPT are obtained from the pharmacology database of the TCM system. The genes which are associated with the targets are obtained by utilizing UniProt. The herb-target network is built up by utilizing Cytoscape. The target protein-protein interaction network is built by utilizing the STRING database and Cytoscape. The critical targets of YFJPT are explored by Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Results: The outcomes show that YFJPT might has 33 therapeutic targets on Covid-19, namely, interleukin 2 (IL2), heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1), interleukin 4 (IL4), interferon gamma (FNG), α nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in Bcells inhibitor, alpha (NFKBIA), nuclear factor-k-gene binding (NFKB), nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1), hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF1A), mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), interleukin 10 (IL10), jun proto-oncogene (JUN), C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8), tumor protein p53 (TP53), interleukin 1 beta (IL1B), AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 6 (IL6), erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2), RELA proto-oncogene (RELA), NF-κB subunit, caspase 8 (CASP8), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARA), TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 1 (TIMP1), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1), interleukin 1 alpha (IL1A), signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 (MAPK8), myeloperoxidase (MPO), matrix metallopeptidase 3 (MMP3), matrix metallopeptidase 1 (MMP1), and NFE2 like bZIP transcription factor 2 (NFE2L2). The gene enrichment analysis prompts that YFJPT most likely contributes to patients related to Covid-19 by regulating the pathways of cancers. Conclusions: That will lay a foundation for the clinical rational application and further experimental research of YFJPT.

Do medical treatment choices affect the health of chronic patients in middle and old age in China?—Evidence from CHARLS 2018

Article

Full-text available

May 2022
BMC PUBLIC HEALTH

Different medical treatment choices may affect the health of patients with chronic diseases. This study aims to assess the relationship between treatment choices, including the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and the health levels of middle-aged and elderly patients with six chronic diseases. The sample data comes from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS 2018). Basic conditions, medical choices and health status of patients are incorporated. The ordered Logit and Logit regression models are used to analyze and compare the effects of six chronic disease patients’ medical options on their self-rated health (SRH) and depression. The overall average score of SRH is the highest in patients with heart disease (the worst in SRH), which is 3.433. Arthritis patients have the highest overall depression average score (depression) at 0.444. Under the premise of controlling a variety of socio-demographic factors, compared with the non-treatment group, taking TCM has a significant positive effect on SRH of patients with five diseases except hypertension. Both taking western medicine (WM) and taking integrated Chinese and Western medicine (IM) have a significant positive effect on SRH scores of patients with six chronic diseases in middle and old age. Taking TCM has effect on depression of patients with heart or stomach diseases, and taking WM and IM affects depression of middle-aged and elderly chronic patients except diabetes. Taking IM has a greater effect on SRH and depression of chronically ill patients, followed by taking WM, and the effect of taking TCM is relatively small, which is related to the development stage of the disease. Therefore, in the future, the control and treatment of chronic diseases in the middle and late stages can be discussed from the perspective of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine, but attention should be paid to drug interactions. In order to improve the treatment rate and health level of patients with chronic diseases, their economic burden should be reduced, and they should be guided to choose more reasonable treatment methods.

Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu Capsules Ameliorate Early Brain Inflammatory Injury Induced by Intracerebral Hemorrhage via Inhibition of Canonical NFкβ Signalling Pathway

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2022

Background: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a debilitating and fatal condition with continuously rising incidence globally, without effective treatment available. Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu (ZLHXTY) capsule is a traditional Chinese medicine that is used for ICH treatment in China. However, the evidence based mechanism is not clear. Purpose: To study the protective effects of ZLHXTY capsules against ICH pathogenesis via targetting nuclear factor kappa β (NFкβ) canonical signalling pathway. Methods: C57BL/6 J mice ICH models using autologous blood injection were used to study the effect of ZLHXTY (1.4 g/kg P.O.) after 24 and 72 hrs of ICH induction. The neurological scoring, corner turn test and balance beam with scoring was performed to assess neurological damage. Hematoxylin/eosin and nissl staining was used for histopathological evaluation. Levels of TNFα, NFкB, iNOS, COX2, IL1, IL6 were measured using real time qPCR and western blotting. Protein levels of IKKβ and IкBα were analyzed through western blotting. Immunofluorescence for co-expression of NeuN/TNFα, NeuN/NFкB, Iba1/TNFα, and Iba1/NFкB was also performed. Results: Treatment with ZLHXTY capsules after ICH ameliorated inflammatory brain injury after 24 and 72 h; revealed by neurological scoring, hematoxylin/eosin and nissl staining. The qPCR and western blot analyses demonstrated significant downregulation of TNFα, NFкB, iNOS, COX2, IL1β and IL6. Further, the IKKβ and IкBα revealed significant downregulation and upregulation respectively in western blot. Immunofluorescence also revealed attenuated expression of TNFα and NFкB in neurons and also low expression of Iba1. Conclusion: ZLHXTY capsules elicit its neuroprotective effect by targetting the NFкβ canonical signalling pathway, thereby ameliorating the ICH induced brain injury.

The perspectives of traditional and modern medicine on the nature of hot and cold foods

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2022

ABSTRACT A better understanding of traditional medicine requires a more accurate comprehension of the philosophy and culture in which traditional medicine is rooted. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, the effects of foods on human health are inseparable from temperament, mind, body, and environmental factors. The links between these components may not be explained clearly in modern medicine [1]. This article aims to review perspective of traditional and modern medicine on the nature of hot-cold food, to explain more clear the concepts of traditional medicine in this subject, subsequently to promote its global applicability. traditional medicine, four temperaments, nature of foods, hot & cold

Bioactive Components in Traditional Foods Aimed at Health Promotion: A Route to Novel Mechanistic Insights and Lead Molecules?

Article

Mar 2022

Renger F Witkamp

Traditional foods and diets can provide health benefits beyond their nutrient composition because of the presence of bioactive compounds. In various traditional healthcare systems, diet-based approaches have always played an important role, which has often survived until today. Therefore, investigating traditional foods aimed at health promotion could render not only novel bioactive substances but also mechanistic insights. However, compared to pharmacologically focused research on natural products, investigating such nutrition-based interventions is even more complicated owing to interacting compounds, less potent and relatively subtle effects, the food matrix, and variations in composition and intake. At the same time, technical advances in ‘omics’ technologies, cheminformatics, and big data analysis create new opportunities, further strengthened by increasing insights into the biology of health and homeostatic resilience. These are to be combined with state-of-the-art ethnobotanical research, which is key to obtaining reliable and reproducible data. Unfortunately, socioeconomic developments and climate change threaten traditional use and knowledge as well as biodiversity. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Food Science and Technology, Volume 13 is March 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Exploring the Determinants of Food Choice in Chinese Mainlanders and Chinese Immigrants: A Systematic Review

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2022

Determinants of food choice in Chinese populations have not been systematically synthesised using a cultural lens. This study reviewed qualitative studies exploring food choice determinants of both Chinese mainlanders and Chinese immigrants living in Western countries. Ovid Medline, CINAHL Plus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure database (CNKI) were searched from database inception to 1 April 2021. Studies were included if they involved qualitative research methods, were written in English or Chinese, investigated the factors influencing food choices, and targeted Chinese mainlanders or Chinese immigrants living in Western countries. Twenty-five studies (24 in English, 1 in Chinese) were included, involving 2048 participants. Four themes were identified; (1) the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), (2) perceptions of a healthy diet in Chinese culture (e.g., regular eating, eating in moderation, and emphasis on food freshness), (3) the desire to maintain harmony in families/communities, and (4) physical/social environmental factors all significantly influenced Chinese people’s food choices. It is important to acknowledge these factors when developing culturally appropriate nutrition programs for promoting health in Chinese mainlanders and Chinese immigrants.

Effects of obesity-related parameters and dietary habit on Chinese medicine body constitutions: A mediation analysis based on Taiwan Biobank Research Database

Article

Jan 2025

Pharmaceutical Humanities and Narrative Pharmacy: An Emerging New Concept in Pharmacy

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2025

The complexity of our life experiences and the rapid progress in science and technology clearly necessitate reflections from the humanities. The ever-growing intersection between science and society fosters the emergence of novel interdisciplinary fields of research. During the past decade, Medical Humanities arose to meet the need to unravel hidden information beyond technology-driven and fact-based medicine. In the present paper, we put forward the hypothesis that there is a similar requirement to develop Pharmaceutical Humanities as an academic discipline within pharmacy and pharmaceutical biology. Based on Thomas Kuhn’s epistemological theory on the structure of scientific revolutions, one may argue that a paradigm change for Pharmaceutical Humanities might open new levels of insight. Many complex diseases (e.g., cancer, neurological diseases, and mental disorders) remain uncurable for many patients by current pharmacotherapies, and the old beaten paths in our therapeutic thinking may at least partly have to be left behind. By taking examples from Pharmaceutical Biology, we attempt to illustrate that the transdisciplinary dialogue with the humanities is fertile ground not only for enlarging our understanding of disease-related conditions but also for exploring new ways of combatting diseases. In this context, we discuss aspects related to traditional herbal medicine, fair access and benefit sharing of indigenous knowledge about medicinal plants, post-traumatic stress syndrome, the opioid crisis, stress myocardiopathy (broken heart syndrome), and global environmental pollution with microplastics. We also explore possibilities for a narrative turn in pharmacy. The urgent need for inter- and transdisciplinary solutions to pressing health-related problems in our society may create a scholarly atmosphere for the establishment of Pharmaceutical Humanities as a fruitful terrain to respond to the current demands of both science and society.

The Effects of Baitouweng Decoction on Salmonella Typhimurium Infection and Its Underlying Mechanisms Evaluated by In Vivo and In Vitro Experiments, Network Pharmacology Analysis, and Molecular Docking Technology

Article

Sep 2024
FOODBORNE PATHOG DIS

Salmonella Typhimurium is a foodborne pathogen threatening livestock and human health. It is highly resistant to commonly used clinical antibiotics, and it is urgently needed to explore new anti-Salmonella treatment schemes. In this study, first, our in vivo mouse experiments showed that Baitouweng decoction (BTW), a classical Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) prescription, had good efficacy against Salmonella Typhimurium infection: mitigating weight loss of mice; lowering the bacterial load of liver, spleen, and colon; reducing the production of serum inflammatory factors (interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α); and decreasing histological index scores than that in the Salmonella Typhimurium infection group. Furthermore, we explored the potential active components and molecular mechanism of BTW in the treatment of Salmonella Typhimurium infection. A total of 465 compounds of BTW were retrieved from herb website and 227 bioactive compounds were identified, 911 potential BTW-related targets and 1,602 disease targets of Salmonella Typhimurium infection were acquired by ten public analytical databases, among them, 188 genes were overlay targets of BTW-Salmonella Typhimurium; String, Metascape, and Cytoscape plug-in Molecular Complex Detection and ClueGo analysis pointed that BTW exerted an anti-Salmonella effect through a multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway manner, including 10 hub targets (TNF, AKT CASP3, ALB, EGFR, JUN, MAPK, STAT3, VEGFA, and TP53) and 94 pathways such as cell apoptosis, inflammation, and metabolism. Finally, AutoDock Vina showed that the hub target AKT1 with menispermine and quercetin had good binding energy, which was confirmed by the in vitro cellular thermal shift assay and drug affinity responsive target stability assay. This study laid the foundation for further study of BTW mechanism and for further development of BTW anti-Salmonella.

Beyond isocaloric models: enhancing dietary research for severe liver disease

Article

Aug 2024
AM J CLIN NUTR

'Food doesn't control me anymore!' psychosocial experiences during dietary management in adults with inflammatory bowel disease: A qualitative study

Article

Jun 2024
J CLIN NURS

Aims To explore the psychosocial experiences during dietary management among Chinese adults with inflammatory bowel disease. Design Qualitative phenomenological design. Methods Eighteen adults diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease for more than 6 months were recruited using purposive sampling from June to December 2023. Two trained researchers used van Manen's approach to analyse the data. Results The three themes with multiple subthemes emerged: facing the unknown: at a loss and aggrieved, trying to cope: uncertain and distressed, and growing in adaptation: relieved and transcendent. The first theme included unknown relapses, overlooking diet management and the absence of dietary rules. The second theme showed different coping situations, like complex dietary information and ever‐closing worlds. The third theme explores how participants adapted to disease and their eating patterns. Conclusion The psychosocial experiences during dietary management are complex. The accumulation of diet‐related experience, acceptance of illness and social support facilitate patients in overcoming negative emotions and adhering to dietary management. Implications for the Profession and Patient Care Nurses should provide tailored dietary guidance and appropriate psychological interventions to promote healthy eating in patients. Impact This study may enhance healthcare professionals' understanding, particularly those in China, of the diet‐related experiences among patients. Reporting Method The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist. Patient or Public Contribution Participants contributed by sharing their first hand experiences.

Rhodiola rosea: a review in the context of PPPM approach

Article

May 2024

A natural “medicine and food” plant, Rhodiola rosea (RR) is primarily made up of organic acids, phenolic compounds, sterols, glycosides, vitamins, lipids, proteins, amino acids, trace elements, and other physiologically active substances. In vitro, non-clinical and clinical studies confirmed that it exerts anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune regulatory effects, balances the gut microbiota, and alleviates vascular circulatory disorders. RR can prolong life and has great application potential in preventing and treating suboptimal health, non-communicable diseases, and COVID-19. This narrative review discusses the effects of RR in preventing organ damage (such as the liver, lung, heart, brain, kidneys, intestines, and blood vessels) in non-communicable diseases from the perspective of predictive, preventive, and personalised medicine (PPPM/3PM). In conclusion, as an adaptogen, RR can provide personalised health strategies to improve the quality of life and overall health status.

Guidance on assessing efficacy and harms in traditional Chinese medicine dietotherapy: Introducing the Dietotherapy Intention, Evaluation, and Harm Tracking (DIET) pathway

Article

May 2024

Ernährung und Lifestyle nach Traditioneller Chinesischer Medizin

Chapter

Mar 2024

Alina Erbas-Kronwitter

A Herbal Prescription of Insamyangyeongtang as a Therapeutic Agent for Frailty in Elderly: A Narrative Review

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2024

Frailty is a major geriatric syndrome with a multifactorial etiology that induces a decline in multiple physiological and psychological functions. In traditional East Asian medicine (TEAM), qi and blood deficiency clinically represent as fatigue, anemia, anorexia, decreased strength after illness, and weakness, commonly interpretated as frailty. An herbal prescription of Insamyangyeongtang (IYT, Ninjin’yoeito in Japanese, Ren-Shen-Yang-Rong-Tang in Chinese) tonifies qi and blood and has the potential to treat multiple targets caused by qi and blood deficiency. As the population ages and frailty increases, there is an increase in the potential effectiveness of IYT in frailty. This study reviewed relevant clinical trials to provide an updated view on the effect of IYT on frailty. IYT has therapeutic effects on frailty associated with chronic respiratory diseases (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and cognitive impairments (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease) and improves respiratory symptoms and cognition. IYT also has therapeutic effects on weight gain, muscle mass, and strength, and improves nutritional status in frail elderly individuals who have decreased muscle mass and strength, loss of appetite, and weight loss. The same effect has been shown in frailty in elderly individuals with rehabilitation treatment and chronic diseases. IYT also improves frailty associated with symptoms such as intractable dizziness and genitourinary symptoms. The beneficial effects of IYT in several diseases could be important for medication replacement, reduction, and prevention of polypharmacy. Based on the results of this review, we suggest that IYT has the potential to be a therapeutic agent against frailty.

TCM formula for trauma treatment screening and its role of promoting infectious wound coalescence investigating

Article

Feb 2024
RES VET SCI

Naringin Ameliorates IL-6 Mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and skeletal muscle degeneratio via AMPK/Nrf-2 pathway

Preprint

Full-text available

Jan 2024

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Paraspinal muscle degeneration often arises as a hazardous consequence of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). This degeneration correlates with oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of naringin in managing paraspinal muscle degeneration associated with disc degeneration. Materials and methods: C2C12 cells were stimulated with IL-6 to establish an in vitro model of skeletal muscle degeneration for assessing the protective impact of naringin on skeletal muscle. The most effective concentration of naringin in C2C12 cells was identified through a CCK8 assay. The antioxidant prowess of naringin was evaluated via biochemical methods and Elisa. The influences of naringin and IL-6 on apoptosis, mitochondrial function, and associated signaling pathways were examined using cytometry, ROS detection, western blot, and transmission electron microscopy. Results: Our findings demonstrated a significant reduction in discogenic paraspinal degeneration with naringin therapy. Naringin glycosides notably enhanced the expression of key proteins involved in both muscle anabolism and catabolism, including MAFbx, MuRF1, MyoD, and MyoG.Moreover, naringin contributed to maintaining redox homeostasis by augmenting antioxidant activity and preventing excessive ROS peroxide accumulation. To impede paraspinal muscle degeneration, naringin upregulated MyoD and MyoG expression while downregulating MAFbx and MuRF1 through the activation of AMPK/Nrf-2 signaling pathway. Conclusion: These findings underscore naringin's robust therapeutic potential in enhancing mitochondrial activity, regulating oxidative stress, and halting paraspinal muscle degeneration.

Effect of ST36 electroacupuncture on the switch of skeletal muscle fibres in mice with sciatic nerve dissociation

Article

Dec 2023

Skeletal muscle is striated muscle that moves autonomously and is innervated by peripheral nerves. Peripheral nerve injury is very common in clinical treatment. However, the commonly used treatment methods often focus on the regeneration of the injured nerve but overlook the pathological changes in the injured skeletal muscle. Acupuncture, as the main treatment for denervated skeletal muscle atrophy, is used extensively in clinical practice. In the present study, a mouse model of lower limb sciatic nerve detachment was constructed and treated with electroacupuncture Stomach 36 to observe the atrophy of lower limb skeletal muscle and changes in skeletal muscle fibre types before and after electroacupuncture Stomach 36 treatment. Mice with skeletal muscle denervation showed a decrease in the proportion of IIa muscle fibres and an increase in the proportion of IIb muscle fibres, after electroacupuncture Stomach 36. The changes were reversed by specific activators of p38 MAPK, which increased IIa myofibre ratio. The results suggest that electroacupuncture Stomach 36 can reverse the change of muscle fibre type from IIb to IIa after denervation of skeletal muscle by inhibiting p38 MAPK. The results provide an important theoretical basis for the treatment of clinical peripheral nerve injury diseases with electroacupuncture, in addition to novel insights that could facilitate the study of pathological changes of denervated skeletal muscle.

In Silico Exploration of Potential Phytoconstituents from the Bark Extract of Boswellia serrata for Hemorrhoidal Disease: Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics Analysis

Article

Dec 2023
CHEM BIODIVERS

Boswellia serrata Roxb. Ex Colebr is a popular medicinal plant used traditionally in herbal medicinal preparations to treat a variety of diseases. The purpose of the present investigation was to investigate the anti‐hemorrhoidal property of the bark extract of B. serrata (BS). For this, the sequential Soxhlet extraction method was carried out by using different solvents such as hexane, chloroform, and methanol. After the extraction, the obtained dry extracts were tested for quantitative determinations such as total alkaloid content (TAC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total phenol content (TPC), and total tannin content (TTC) for all the extracts. Moreover, in vitro antioxidant activity was measured using 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity and scavenging activity against 2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid (ABTS). Methanolic bark extract showed the highest TPC (67.10±1.83), TFC (372.73±4.45), TAC (9.732±1.06), and TTC (48.932±1.82), as well as the antioxidant assays DPPH (IC50=9.88 μg/ml) and ABTS (IC50=15.09 μg/ml). In this study, both LC–MS and GC–MS were performed to identify the chemical composition of all the extracts. Consequently, 19 compounds were identified by GC–MS and 27 compounds were identified by LC–MS analysis. The identified phytoconstituent(s) that could potentially interact with the target protein cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) (PDB: 4RRW) using molecular dynamics simulation and in silico docking were studied. Three compounds that have passed in drug‐likeness and ADME‐Tox properties are having more docking score than the standard. In this study, camptothecin, justicidin B, and taxiphyllin are identified as potential lead compounds with anti‐hemorrhoidal properties and may be helpful in the process of drug development and discovery of novel drugs. Hence, these results demonstrate that BS is a good source of pharmacologically active components with potential applications against hemorrhoidal disease.

Understanding tourists' dining behaviors at traditional Chinese nutraceutical restaurants

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2023

Nutraceutical restaurants providing medical and/or health benefits have become an emerging market; however, the underlying factors and the mechanism explaining dining behaviours in nutraceutical restaurants remain unknown. This study utilized a mixed-methods approach to bridge this research gap. An exploratory qualitative interview was conducted to identify the determinants of patronage behaviour at nutraceutical restaurants. We further conducted a quantitative study utilizing an extended value-attitude-behaviour model to provide quantitative evidence. The results showed that health, cultural values, and social norms significantly influenced customers' attitudes, thus leading to their revisit intentions. Furthermore, we found a significant role of social norms in determining nutraceutical consumption. Additionally, age was found to moderate the effects of health values and social norms on revisit intention.

Cognitive structures of restaurants' characteristics, consumers’ perceived benefits and values about medicated diet restaurants: A means-end chain approach

Article

Sep 2023

The Multi-Targeting Efficacy and Therapeutic Effects of Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine: An Integrated Approach for Cancer Treatment and Management

Chapter

Jun 2023

Herbal-based traditional medicines have a long history of therapeutic application throughout the world. Ayurveda and Chinese herbs have been traditionally used as indigenous complementary and alternative medicine to treat various types of diseases since ancient times effectively. These medicines demonstrated fewer toxic effects, prolonged survival rates, and enhanced quality of life. Further, the use of Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy enhances these therapies' efficacy. Cancer is a complex disease and the leading cause of death worldwide. The existing anti-cancer therapies do not address the challenges arising from tumor heterogeneity, such as developing drug resistance and the side effects of these therapies. In this context, different preclinical and clinical experiments show different modes of actions of Ayurveda and Chinese herbs in various cancers, such as induction of apoptosis, modulation of tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes, interaction with the tumor microenvironment, inhibition of metastasis, and cancer stem cells proliferation. Interestingly, these medicines have less or no toxic effect on normal cells. This chapter will illustrate the efficacy of Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal medicine in combating different cancers, either alone or in combination with other therapies.

Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu capsule attenuates intracerebral hemorrhage induced redox imbalance by modulation of Nrf2 signaling pathway

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2023

Background: One of the severely debilitating and fatal subtypes of hemorrhagic stroke is intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), which lacks an adequate cure at present. The Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu (ZLHXTY) capsule has been utilized effectively since last decade to treat ICH, in some provinces of China but the scientific basis for its mechanism is lacking. Purpose: To investigate the neuroprotective role of ZLHXTY capsules for ICH-induced oxidative injury through the regulation of redox imbalance with the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Methods: Autologous blood injection model of ICH in C57BL/6J mice was employed. Three treatment groups received ZLHXTY once daily through oral gavage at doses 0.35 g/kg, 0.7 g/kg, and 1.4 g/kg, started after 2 h and continued for 72 h of ICH induction. The neurological outcome was measured using a balance beam test. Serum was tested for inflammatory markers IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α through ELISA, oxidative stress through hydrogen peroxide content assay, and antioxidant status by total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) assay. Nuclear extract from brain tissue was assayed for Nrf2 transcriptional factor activity. RT-qPCR was performed for Nfe2l2, Sod1, Hmox1, Nqo1, and Mgst1; and Western blotting for determination of protein expression of Nrf2, p62, Pp62, Keap, HO1, and NQO1. Fluoro-jade C staining was also used to examine neuronal damage. Results: ZLHXTY capsule treatment following ICH demonstrated a protective effect against oxidative brain injury. Neurological scoring showed improvement in behavioral outcomes. ELISA-based identification demonstrated a significant decline in the expression of serum inflammatory markers. Hydrogen peroxide content in serum was found to be reduced. The total antioxidant capacity was also reduced in serum, but the ZLHXTY extract showed a concentration-dependent increase in T-AOC speculating at its intrinsic antioxidant potential. Nrf2 transcriptional factor activity, mRNA and protein expression analyses revealed normalization of Nrf2 and its downstream targets, which were previously elevated as a result of oxidative stress induced by ICH. Neuronal damage was also reduced markedly after ZLHXTY treatment as revealed by Fluoro-jade C staining. Conclusion: ZLHXTY capsules possess an intrinsic antioxidant potential that can modulate the ICH-induced redox imbalance in the brain as revealed by the normalization of Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidant targets.

Understanding the supportive care needs among discharged patients with esophageal cancer after esophagectomy: A qualitative study

Article

May 2023
EUR J ONCOL NURS

Purpose: Patients with esophageal cancer experience physical and psychosocial difficulties after surgery. Understanding their unmet supportive care needs could help medical staff in providing high quality of care. This study aimed to gain insights into the supportive care needs of discharged patients with esophageal cancer after esophagectomy. Method: A descriptive qualitative study design was used. A purposive sample of 20 patients was studied using semi-structured interviews. The thematic analysis approach was used to analyze the data. Results: Four themes and 14 sub-themes emerged from the analysis: (1) symptom management needs (dysphagia, reflux, fatigue, and other symptoms), (2) dietary and nutritional needs (unclear nutrition information, eating habit change, and dining out restriction), (3) psychosocial adjustment needs (stigma, dependency, fear of recurrence, and desire for normalcy), and (4) social support needs (medical staff support, family support, and peer support). Conclusion: Chinese patients with esophageal cancer have various unmet supportive care needs after esophagectomy. Medical professionals should recognize patients' unmet supportive care needs in time, provide professional access and practical guidance, relieve their bad mood, and fully utilize online communicating channels, such as a consulting platform or a WeChat group, for further support.

Culinary History and Health Benefits of Brasenia Schreberi Leaf and Hydrocolloids

Chapter

Dec 2022

Applications and research progress of Traditional Chinese medicine delivered via nasal administration

Article

Jan 2023
BIOMED PHARMACOTHER

Nasal administration of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of applications. With the gradual maturing of technology and pharmacological advances, nasal preparations of TCM have undergone significant changes. Nasal TCM formulations are used not only for treatment of pneumonia, asthma, sinusitis and allergic rhinitis but also Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, as antidepressants and antiepileptics, and in ischemia reperfusion. However, according to the analysis of nasal preparations of TCM currently on the market, most of them were compound preparations, which were used to treat allergic rhinitis (AR), common cold, headache and other local treatments, with a small range of diseases. At the same time, the dosage forms were mainly traditional dosage forms, aerosols and sprays, but there were no new dosage forms, which can not meet the clinical needs in terms of variety number, variety diversity and disease types. In this manuscript, we reviewed the development and applications of different nasal preparations of TCM from the aspects of nasal structure, origin, factors affecting absorption and common dosage forms, pharmacodynamics, targeting of nasal delivery and safety. In the near future, we expect that more nasal preparations of Chinese medicine with independent intellectual property rights will be marketed to meet the needs of clinical disease management.

Research status of Chinese medicine formula based on network pharmacology

Article

Sep 2022

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has some advantages, such as a multi-component, multi-target, and overall action, which makes the research on the compatibility of TCM formula a key and difficult point. On the contrary, network pharmacology (NP) uses high-throughput screening, computer simulation, and network database retrieval to reveal the drug–gene–target–disease interaction network, predict the mechanism of action of drugs through network relationships, and evaluate the efficacy and adverse reactions of drugs, thereby determining drugs with high efficiency and low toxicity. Therefore, the TCM formula has its unique TCM theories, and this paper primarily introduces the status quo of TCM compound prescriptions using TCM theories and NP, namely, the treatment theory of TCM (the core of TCM treatment and the principle of compatibility of TCM), as the theoretical guidance to evaluate drug's properties, efficacy, and toxicity. In addition, this study aims to predict drug's mechanism of action, interaction relationship, and matching selection to provide a high-efficiency and low-toxicity TCM formula and new insights into the follow-up study of TCM formula.

The Traditional Mongolian Medicine Qiqirigan-8 Effects on Lipid Metabolism and Inflammation in Obesity: Pharmacodynamic Evaluation and Relevant Metabolites

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2022

Objective: Traditional Mongolian Medicine Qiqirigan-8 (MMQ-8) is a Chinese botanical drug with effective pharmacological properties in obesity. However, the pharmacological mechanism of MMQ-8 remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the active metabolites of MMQ-8 and its therapeutic effects on lipid metabolism and inflammation. Methods: The active metabolites of MMQ-8 were identified by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatograph Q extractive mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QE-MS) assay and network analysis. An obesity rat model induced by high-fat diet was used in the study. Serum levels of lipids and inflammatory factors were detected using biochemical analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pathological analysis of liver tissues and arteries was conducted with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry. Protein expression of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway was investigated by Western-blot. Simultaneously, bone marrow cells were used for RNA sequencing and relevant results were validated by cell culture and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results: We identified 69 active metabolites and 551 target genes of MMQ-8. Of these, there are 65 active metabolites and 225 target genes closely related to obesity and inflammation. In vivo, we observed that MMQ-8 had general decreasing effects on body weight, white adipose tissue weight, and serum lipids. MMQ-8 treatment notably decreased the liver function markers and hepatic steatosis, and significantly decreased inflammation. In serum, it notably decreased TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (INOS), while elevating IL-10 levels. MMQ-8 treatment also significantly inhibited proteins phosphorylation of nuclear factor-kappa B inhibitor alpha (IκBα), mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38), extracellular regulated kinase 1/2(ERK1/2), and stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK), and decreased vascular endothelium damage and macrophage infiltration and polarization to M1. These findings coincide with the RNA-sequencing data of bone marrow cells and results of in vitro experiments. Conclusion: We determined the pharmacological actions and relevant metabolites of MMQ-8 in obesity for the first time. Our study revealed MMQ-8 can optimize lipid metabolism and reduce chronic inflammation in obesity. However, more in-depth research is needed, for example, to understand the principle of compound compatibility and the inhibition effects on hepatic steatosis, T cell differentiation, and inflammatory signal transduction.

The synergistic effect of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels and Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) DC. on antioxidant activity and protective ability against cell injury

Article

Full-text available

May 2022
J FOOD BIOCHEM

Oxidative stress‐induced dysfunction of nerve cells has been implicated as a crucial cause of cell death in neurodegenerative diseases. In Asian countries, herbs, such as Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (DG) and Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) DC. (SDH), have long be considered to have antiaging abilities. The herbs act as neuro protectants that rescue nerve cells from oxidative stress damage and apoptosis. Thus, developing herbal formulas can potentially lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we compared the effective active components and antioxidant properties of extractive of DG and SDH (DG‐SDH) when formulated at different ratios. DG‐SDH formulated at a ratio of 3:2 (DG‐SDH [3:2]) produced the highest content of polysaccharides, polyphenols, and flavonoids. It also showed the best ability in removing DPPH and hydroxyl free radicals compared to single herb or other compounding ratio. The antioxidant activity of DG‐SDH (3:2) showed best synergistic effects in scavenging activity assays of DPPH free radicals and hydroxyl free radicals. DG‐SDH (3:2) could increase the cell viability of SHSY‐5Y cells, PC‐12 cells, and BV‐2 cells. In particular, DG‐SDH (3:2) protected SHSY‐5Y cells from H2O2‐induced cell injury by inhibiting excessive expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reducing the rate of apoptosis and restoring mitochondrial membrane potential. Actin‐Tracker Green and DAPI staining and fluorescence microscope observation confirmed that DG‐SDH (3:2) helped in preserving cell morphology under oxidative stress. These findings support that DG‐SDH (3:2) promote the neuroprotection against hydrogen peroxide and can serve as a novel therapy for neurodegenerative diseases. Practical applications This is the first study to investigate DG and SDH interaction between effective ingredients. These findings support that DG‐SDH (3:2) has the best synergistic effects in antioxidant activity and promote the neuroprotection against hydrogen peroxide. Hence, DG‐SDH (3:2) will be an excellent candidate to be developed as a functional food ingredients or nutraceuticals for neurodegenerative diseases.

Demystifying phytoconstituent-derived nanomedicines in their immunoregulatory and therapeutic roles in inflammatory diseases

Article

May 2022
ADV DRUG DELIVER REV

In the past decades, phytoconstituents have appeared as critical mediators for immune regulations among various diseases, both in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. These bioactive molecules, showing a broad range of biological functions, would hold tremendous promise for developing new therapeutics. The discovery of phytoconstituents’ capability of functionally regulating immune cells and associating cytokines, suppressing systemic inflammation, and remodeling immunity have rapidly promoted the idea of their employment as anti-inflammatory agents. In this review, we discuss various roles of phyto-derived medicines in the field of inflammatory diseases, including chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and acute inflammatory disease such as COVID-19. Nevertheless, traditional phyto-derived medicines often concurred with their clinical administration limitations, such as their lack of cell specificity, inefficient cytoplasmic delivery, and rapid clearance by the immune system. As alternatives, phyto-derived nano-approaches may provide significant benefits. Both unmodified and engineered nanocarriers present the potential to serve as phytoconstituent delivery systems to improve therapeutic physio-chemical properties and pharmacokinetic profiles. Thus, the development of phytoconstituents’ nano-delivery designs, their new and perspective approaches for therapeutical applications are elaborated herein.

Isofraxidin exerts anti-diabetic, antilipidemic, and antioxidant effects and protects renal tissues via inhibition of NF-ĸB in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Article

Jan 2022

Background Diabetes mellitus is a life-threatening metabolic disorder responsible for the death of millions of individuals from its complications. Developing new therapeutic drugs that can control DM and prevent its complication is of great significance.Objective The present study investigates the protective effect of Isofraxidin (ISO) against diabetes and its complications. Streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes in male Wistar albino rats. The effect of ISO was examined on blood glucose, plasma insulin, and other biochemical parameters depicting level of antioxidant status, and renal and lipidemic function. Western blot and docking study was also conducted to determine the mechanism of action of ISO.ResultsResults of this study suggest that ISO improved blood glucose level and plasma insulin level. It showed hypolipidemic (via reducing TC, TG, and LDL-c, and increasing HDL-c) and renal protective action (reducing BUN, SCR, and GSP) in STZ diabetic rats. It also restored the damaged architecture of kidney tissues as compared to STZ diabetic rats. The level of oxidative stress in ISO-treated rats was found reduced due to improvement in the antioxidant enzymatic system (SOD, CAT, and GSH). The expression of NF-ĸB was also found significantly downregulated in the ISO-treated group in Western blot analysis. Docking analysis showed excellent binding affinity of ISO by creating numerous H-bonds and non-bonded interaction with Lys145 of chain A and chain B, and Tyr57 of NF-ĸB.Conclusion Our study demonstrated the substantial anti-diabetic, antilipidemic, and antioxidant effects of ISO, which protects renal tissues possibly via the inhibition of NF-ĸB in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Understanding traditional and modern eating: The TEP10 framework

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2019
BMC PUBLIC HEALTH

Across the world, there has been a movement from traditional to modern eating, including a movement of traditional eating patterns from their origin culture to new cultures, and the emergence of new foods and eating behaviors. This trend toward modern eating is of particular significance because traditional eating has been related to positive health outcomes and sustainability. Yet, there is no consensus on what constitutes traditional and modern eating. The present study provides a comprehensive compilation of the various facets that seem to make up traditional and modern eating. Specifically, 106 facets were mentioned in the previous literature and expert discussions, combining international and interdisciplinary perspectives. The present study provides a framework (the TEP10 framework) systematizing these 106 facets into two major dimensions, what and how people eat, and 12 subdimensions. Hence, focusing only on single facets of traditional and modern eating is an oversimplification of this complex phenomenon. Instead, the multidimensionality and interplay between different facets should be considered to gain a comprehensive understanding of the trends, consequences, and underlying factors of traditional and modern eating.

Advances in Nutrition Science and Integrative Physiology: Insights From Controlled Feeding Studies

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2019

Nutrition science is a highly impactful but contentious area of biomedical science. Establishing cause and effect relationships between the nutrients and/or diets we consume and the avoidance of or risk of disease is extremely challenging. As such, evidence-based nutrition is best served by considering the totality of evidence across multiple study types including nutritional epidemiological studies, randomized controlled trials of behavioral interventions, and controlled feeding studies. The purpose of the present review is to provide an overview for those conducting research outside of clinical nutrition on how controlled feeding studies can be used to gain insight into integrative physiology/metabolism as well as to inform dietary guidelines. We discuss the rationale, basic elements, and complexities of conducting controlled feeding studies and provide examples of contributions of controlled feeding studies to advances in nutrition science and integrative physiology. Our goal is to provide a resource for those wishing to leverage the experimental advantage provided by controlled feeding studies in their own research programs.

Evaluation of a Chinese herbal supplement on equine squamous gastric disease and gastric fluid pH in mares

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2019
J VET INTERN MED

Background Wei Le San (WLS) is a Chinese herbal formula comprised of 9 herbs selected for their putative anti‐inflammatory effects. Objectives To evaluate the effects of WLS administration in horses with nonglandular gastric ulcers. Animals Ten mixed breed mares (aged 7‐21 years, 401‐567 kg body weight). Methods Experimental design was a blinded, prospective, 2‐period crossover study. All horses received a placebo (25 mL dextrose‐based syrup; n = 10) and the treatment (WLS, 5 g in 25 mL dextrose‐based syrup; n = 10), administered twice daily. Horses underwent a 1‐week, alternating feed‐deprivation period to induce or worsen existing ulcers; treatment began on day 7. Gastroscopic examination was performed on d0, d6, and d35, with gastric fluid pH obtained on d6 and d35. Gastric ulcer scores assigned by 3 masked observers were averaged for each examination. Results Ulcer number scores for horses treated with WLS (median = 0; range, 0‐4) was not different from the untreated controls (median = 0.5; range, 0‐4; P = .81) by the end of the treatment period. Ulcer severity score for treated horses (median = 0; range, 0‐1) was also unchanged compared to the control group (median = 0.5; range, 0‐1; P = .85). Gastric pH was not altered by either treatment, with a median of 2.1 (range, 1.9‐4.1) for the horses treated with WLS and 2.8 (range, 1.6‐7.2) in the untreated controls (P = .46). Conclusions and Clinical Importance The experimental model used to induce gastric ulceration was unable to discern a difference between the herbal supplement and the placebo in normal horses.

Traditional and modern uses of onion bulb (Allium cepa L.): A systematic review

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2018

Onion, (Allium cepa L.), is one of the most consumed and grown vegetable crops in the world. Onion bulb with its characteristic flavor is the third most essential horticultural spice with a substantial commercial value. Apart from its culinary virtues, A. cepa is also used traditionally for its medicinal virtues in a plethora of indigenous cultures. Several publications have been produced in an endeavour to validate such traditional claims. Nonetheless, there is still a dearth of up-to-date, detailed compilation, and critical analysis of the traditional and ethnopharmacological propensities of A. cepa. The present review, therefore, aims to systematically review published literature on the traditional and pharmacological uses, and phytochemical composition of A. cepa. A. cepa was found to possess a panoply of bioactive compounds and numerous pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, hypolipidemic, anti-hypertensive, and immunoprotective effects. Although a large number of in vitro and in vivo studies have been conducted, several limitations and research gaps have been identified which need to be addressed in future studies.

History of modern nutrition science-implications for current research, dietary guidelines, and food policy

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2018
Br Med J

Dariush Mozaffarian and colleagues describe how the history of modern nutrition science has shaped current thinking

Matrix Analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine Differential Diagnoses in Gulf War Illness

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2018

Objective: To qualitatively categorize Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) differential diagnoses in a sample of veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI) pre- and postacupuncture treatment. Subjects and methods: The authors randomized 104 veterans diagnosed with GWI to a 6-month acupuncture intervention that consisted of either weekly or biweekly individualized acupuncture treatments. TCM differential diagnoses were recorded at baseline and at 6 months. These TCM diagnoses were evaluated using Matrix Analysis to determine co-occurring patterns of excess, deficiency, and channel imbalances. These diagnoses were examined within and between participants to determine patterns of change and to assess stability of TCM diagnoses over time. Results: Frequencies of diagnoses of excess, deficiency, and channel patterns were tabulated. Diagnoses of excess combined with deficiency decreased from 43% at baseline to 39% of the sample at 6 months. Excess+deficiency+channel imbalances decreased from 26% to 17%, while deficiency+channel imbalances decreased from 11% to 4% over the study duration. The authors observed a trend over time of decreased numbers of individuals presenting with all three types of differential diagnosis combinations. This may suggest that fewer people were diagnosed with concurrent excess, deficiency, and channel imbalances and perhaps a lessening in the complexity of their presentation. Conclusion: This is the first published article that organizes and defines TCM differential diagnoses using Matrix Analysis; currently, there are no TCM frameworks for GWI. These findings are preliminary given the sample size and the amount of missing data at 6 months. Characterization of the TCM clinical presentation of veterans suffering from GWI may help us better understand the potential role that East Asian medicine may play in managing veterans with GWI and the design of effective acupuncture treatments based on TCM. The development of a TCM manual for treating GWI is merited.

Food Therapy and Medical Diet Therapy of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2018

Food therapy of traditional Chinese medicine aims to maintain balanced nutrition through diet. Medical diet therapy, however, is to achieve the balance of Yin and Yang through the combination of nutrition and medicine. Either “food therapy” or “medical diet therapy” aims to keep health, prevent disease, remove illness and slow aging. In recent years, both food therapy and medical diet therapy have been increasingly applied in clinical nutrition therapy. In terms of traditional Chinese food therapy and medical diet therapy, their clinical applications principles are summarized in this article.

Current lifestyle factors that increase risk of T2DM in China

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2017
EUR J CLIN NUTR

The Report on the Status of Nutrition and Chronic Diseases of Chinese residents (2015) indicated that the prevalence of diabetes was 9.7% among adults aged 18 years, which markedly increased from 2.6% in 2002 within 10 years. In addition to the social economic factors, transitions in food consumption, behavioral and lifestyle playing the important roles in the fast increase of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In 2010–2012, the cereal food consumption of Chinese residents was 337 g/d, vegetables consumption 269 g/d, fruit consumption 41 g/d, legume and legume products 11 g/d, dairy and dairy products consumption 25 g/d, meat consumption 90 g/d, edible oil consumption 42 g/d and dietary fiber 10.8 g/d. The traditional Chinese dietary pattern (high consumption of rice, pork and vegetables) is shifting towards a dietary pattern with high consumption of meats and edible oil but low consumption of cereals and vegetables. Smoking, breakfast omitting and high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages became popular. Insufficient physical activity rate was 31.7%. Less sleep duration and poorer sleep quality was also common for Chinese residents. Concerning early life factors, residents exposed to the Chinese famine (1959–1961) during fetal life and childhood had an increased risk of hyperglycemia. As a conclusion, current unhealthy lifestyle has inversely effect on the incidence and development of T2DM, especially for the increased intake of fat and carbohydrate, the transition of dietary pattern, the extension of sedentary time and the increasing rate of obesity. Lifestyle management should be taken seriously as a part of diabetes prevention.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulas for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: From Ancient Wisdoms to Scientific Understandings

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2015

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) serves as the most common alternative therapeutic approach for Western medicine and benefits IBS patients globally. Due to the lack of scientific evidence in the past, TCM formulas were not internationally well recognized as promising IBS remedies. In this review, firstly, we present the etiology and therapy of IBS in terms of traditional Chinese medical theory. Secondly, we summarize the clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of TCM formulas for IBS patients that are available in the literature (from 1998 to September 2013), in which 14 RCTs conducted of high quality were discussed in detail. Of the 14 selected trials, 12 of those concluded that TCM formulas provided superior improvement in the global symptoms of IBS patients over the placebo or conventional medicines. As well, all 14 RCTs suggested that TCM formulas have good safety and tolerability. Last but not least, we explore the pharmacological mechanisms of the anti-IBS TCM formulas available in the literature (from 1994 to September, 2013). Collectively, in combating IBS symptoms, most TCM formulas exert multi-targeting actions including the regulation of neurotransmitters and hormones in the enteric nervous system (ENS), modulation of smooth muscle motility in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, attenuation of intestinal inflammation and restoration of intestinal flora, etc. In conclusion, TCM formulas appear to be promising for IBS treatment. This review provides a useful reference for the public in furthering a better understanding and acceptance of TCM formulas as IBS remedies.

Achieving Balance Through the Art of Eating: Demystifying Eastern Nutrition and Blending it with Western Nutrition

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2012

Eastern and Western approaches to nutrition are unique and possess both strengths and weaknesses. Blending the best of both techniques will allow for the development of an integrative nutrition system that is more effective than either tradition on its own. The Western view to nutrition is already adopting certain attributes of the Eastern medicine philosophy as exemplified by the progression towards individualized nutrition through methods such as nutrigenetics. Nevertheless, many differences still remain between Eastern and Western nutritional concepts. Becoming fluent in both Western and Eastern methodologies can ensure the extraction of the best from both techniques for the development of a comprehensive, systematic, and holistic nutritional approach to achieve optimal health.

Indian Traditional Ayurvedic System of Medicine and Nutritional Supplementation

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2013
EVID-BASED COMPL ALT

Food is the major source for serving the nutritional needs, but with growing modernization some traditional ways are being given up. Affluence of working population with changing lifestyles and reducing affordability of sick care, in terms of time and money involved, are some of the forces that are presently driving people towards thinking about their wellness. There has been increased global interest in traditional medicine. Efforts to monitor and regulate traditional herbal medicine are underway. Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine, remains the most ancient yet living traditions. Although India has been successful in promoting its therapies with more research and science-based approach, it still needs more extensive research and evidence base. Increased side effects, lack of curative treatment for several chronic diseases, high cost of new drugs, microbial resistance and emerging, diseases are some reasons for renewed public interest in complementary and alternative medicines. Numerous nutraceutical combinations have entered the international market through exploration of ethnopharmacological claims made by different traditional practices. This review gives an overview of the Ayurvedic system of medicine and its role in translational medicine in order to overcome malnutrition and related disorders.

Review of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Selected Nutraceuticals: Background for a Pilot Study on Nutrigenomic Intervention in Patients with Advanced Cancer

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2012
Alternative Ther Health Med

As commonly defined, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a broad category that includes biologically based practices, mind-body medicine, manipulative and bodybased practices, and energy medicine as well as complete medical systems such as naturopathy, homeopathy, Ayurvedic medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine. Several CAM methodologies show promise for the treatment of chronic conditions such as depression and pain disorders or have demonstrated effects upon the immune response in experimental studies. There is growing interest in the use of integrative medicine the combination of CAM methodologies with a conventional medical approach-for the optimization of treatment of various cancers. The Ohio State University Center for Integrative Medicine has developed a specialized nutrigenomic protocol for integrative cancer care. The center uses a comprehensive nutritional and medical evaluation, including a panel of proinflammatory molecules and physiologic parameters, to guide a program of individualized dietary interventions. Dietary supplementation is a current focus of study, including: (1) Omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins, which are thought to play important roles in immunomodulation; (2) Magnesium oxide, which has been shown to decrease inflammation and improve insulin resistance and lipid profiles; and (3) Cinnamon extract, which reportedly decreases serum glucose levels. This article presents a brief overview of CAM and integrative medicine and a discussion of the relevant nutraceuticals.

Use of Traditional Medicine by immigrants chinese patients

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2007

Chinese immigrants constitute the largest group of foreign-born Asians living in the United States. Knowledge of their use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is limited. A survey was conducted to determine their TCM use and to evaluate physician awareness of these practices. Structured interviews were conducted with 198 Chinese immigrant patients, and a survey was administered to 17 physicians in two federally funded community health clinics. Nearly 100% of the patients had used TCM during the previous year, mostly for musculoskeletal or abdominal pain, fatigue, and health maintenance. Self-medication with herbal products was the most common (93% at least once, 43% weekly). A smaller number (23%) had used herbs prescribed by a TCM provider. Use of acupuncture was less common (14%), although higher than the national average. Most patients indicated a preference to consult Western physicians for acute infections. Only 5% reported that their physicians had ever asked about their use of TCM. By contrast, 77% of physicians reported that they "usually or sometimes" asked about TCM use. Results suggest that these patients used TCM, primarily self-prescribed over-the-counter herbal preparations, for many health problems. Information about use was not shared with their physicians, nor did patients perceive their doctors as soliciting sufficient information on TCM use. Physician education in this area may be warranted.

Synergistic nourishing ‘Yin’ effect of iridoid and phenylpropanoid glycosides from Radix Scrophulariae in vivo and in vitro

Article

Aug 2019
J ETHNOPHARMACOL

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Radix Scrophulariae (RS), is a renowned traditional Chinese medicine used as nourishing 'Yin'. The iridoid glycosides (IG) and phenylpropanoid glycosides (PG) are main chemical constituents in RS. However, there had been no pharmacological experiment studies of synergy between IG and PG. Due to the constituents interactions, exploring their synergy profile is of great important for explaining the essence of nourishing 'Yin' efficacy of RS. Aim of study: The present study was undertaken to evaluate synergistic nourishing 'Yin' effect of IG and PG from RS in vivo and in vitro through their immunoregulation and antioxidant activities. Materials and methods: In this study, IG and PG fractions in RS were isolated and identified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with tandem quadrupole time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS). The synergistic nourishing 'Yin' effect of two fractions were investigated in vivo and in vitro with thyroxine-induced 'Yin' deficiency (YD) mice model and primary splenic lymphocyte, respectively. The exterior syndrome signs and serologic and cellular biomarkers changes were detected. Then, the synergistic coefficient (SC) of IG and PG on every pharmacodynamics index were calculated by Webb method. Results: Compared with model and mono-therapy group (IG or PG group), IG combined with PG group significantly ameliorated YD by exerting immunoregulation and antioxidant effects. Based on the SC, IG and PG possessed a synergistic effect on heart rate, average speed, upright times, spleen index, LPO, SOD, IL-6, Na+-K+-ATP enzyme in vivo, and cAMP/cGMP, IFN-γ/IL-10, and MDA in vitro with SC > 1. Conclusions: The nourishing 'Yin' benefits were clearly produced when IG and PG were used in combination, which provided the scientific evidence of multiple-components and multiple-approach synergistic effect of Chinese traditional herbal medicine to control and management of diseases.

Compatibility principle in the Tanyu Tongzhi Formula revealed by a cell-based analysis

Article

Nov 2018
J ETHNOPHARMACOL

Ethnopharmacological relevance The concept of the prescription in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is usually characterized by the compatibility principle “monarch, minister, assistant, and guide”, which means herbs play primary, secondary, auxiliary, or harmonic roles, respectively, to achieve the optimally holistic effect. Following this compatibility principle, the Tanyu Tongzhi Formula (TTF), used for many years to treat cardiovascular diseases, has been proved effective clinically and experimentally. Aim of the study The ancient compatibility principle is based on experiences, but whether its underlying interactions can be explained at the cellular level is unknown. We aimed to explore the mechanisms of activity of the TTF herbs and the interactions between them. Materials and methods We used a real-time cell analyzer to record the responses of COS-7 cells to the herbs in TTF, both individually and in different combinations. We also used biochemical assays to further characterize the TTF activity. Results Monarch herb Fructus trichosanthis acts as an inhibitor of the EGF signaling. It's cytotoxicity, derived from inhibition of tubulin polymerization, could be completely neutralized by the combination of the phlegm group, or the whole TTF combination. Meanwhile, the minister, assistant, and guide herbs in the TTF did not affect EGF signaling. Conclusion Our results provide a demonstration, at the cellular level, of the compatibility principle of “monarch, minister, assistant, and guide” in TTF. Under the guidance of this principle, TTF exerts the anti-inflammation and anti-tumor effects through inhibiting EGF signaling, while avoiding the microtubule-disrupting activity of Fructus trichosanthis.

Relevance of functional foods in the Mediterranean diet: the role of olive oil, berries and honey in the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases

Article

Nov 2018
CRIT REV FOOD SCI

The traditional Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is a well-known dietary pattern associated with longevity and improvement of life quality as it reduces the risk of the most common chronic pathologies, such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), that represent the principal cause of death worldwide. One of the most characteristic foods of MedDiet is olive oil, a very complex matrix, which constitutes the main source of fats and is used in the preparation of foods, both raw as an ingredient in recipes, and in cooking. Similarly, strawberries and raspberries are tasty and powerful foods which are commonly consumed in the Mediterranean area in fresh and processed forms and have attracted the scientific and consumer attention worldwide for their beneficial properties for human health. Besides olive oil and berries, honey has lately been introduced in the MedDiet thanks to its relevant nutritional, phytochemical and antioxidant profile. It is a sweet substance that has recently been classified as a functional food. The aim of this review is to present and discuss the recent evidence, obtained from in vitro, in vivo and epidemiological studies, on the potential roles exerted by these foods in the prevention and progression of different types of cancer and CVDs.

Polyphenol-rich foods and risk of gestational diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Article

Jun 2018

Animal studies have demonstrated anti-diabetic properties of several food-derived polyphenols, but data in humans remains unclear. This study aimed to review and meta-analyse evidence concerning the effect of the intake of several polyphenol-rich foods on gestational diabetes (GDM) risk. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science and Embase databases for observational studies on the association between dietary intake of foods/diets rich in polyphenols and GDM risk. Inclusion criteria were original research articles with full texts published in peer-reviewed English language journals, which investigated foods within the top 100 richest dietary sources of polyphenols and reported odds ratio/relative risk with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The intake of polyphenol-rich foods and dietary patterns in relation to GDM were pooled with fixed- and random-effects models. In total, 12 (10 cohort, 1 cross-sectional and 1 case-control) studies were included for the final systematic review, comprising 124,959 participants and including 5,786 women with GDM. Five studies found a significant, inverse association between the intake of polyphenol-rich foods or Mediterranean diet and GDM, whereas five studies reported no association and two exhibited a positive association. Meta-analyses further showed that the risk of GDM was about halved amongst women with the highest score of Mediterranean diet compared to those with the lowest score. The results suggest that dietary patterns rich in polyphenols may reduce the risk of GDM despite inconclusive evidence for polyphenol-rich food groups.

Body composition and cardiometabolic health: the need for novel concepts

Article

May 2018
EUR J CLIN NUTR

It seems reasonable that overweight and obesity should be defined based on body composition rather than indirect indices like BMI or waist circumference. The use of conventional parameters like fat mass or visceral fat is however of similar and limited value for disease risk prediction at the population level and does not contribute much beyond the use of simple BMI or waist circumference. This conundrum may be partly explained by using complex phenotypes (e.g., Metabolic Syndrome or whole body insulin resistance) rather than more disease-specific outcomes like liver- and muscle insulin resistance. In addition, there are multifactorial causes of similar body composition phenotypes that may add to explain the variance in metabolic consequences of these phenotypes. An intriguing hypothesis is that fat mass represents the metabolic load that interacts with fat-free mass that stands for metabolic capacity to determine disease risk. This concept has important implications for assessment of healthy growth and development and when it is challenged with weight gain in adults. Integration of body composition information at the whole body, organ-tissue and cellular level is not required to improve the diagnosis of obesity but facilitates a better understanding of the etiology of obesity-associated metabolic complications.

Major achievements of evidence-based traditional Chinese medicine in treating major diseases

Article

Jun 2017

A long history of use and extensive documentation of the clinical practices of traditional Chinese medicine resulted in a considerable number of classical preparations, which are still widely used. This heritage of our ancestors provides a unique resource for drug discovery. Already, a number of important drugs have been developed from traditional medicines, which in fact form the core of Western pharmacotherapy. Therefore, this article discusses the differences in drug development between traditional medicine and Western medicine. Moreover, the article uses the discovery of artemisinin as an example that illustrates the “bedside–bench–bedside” approach to drug discovery to explain that the middle way for drug development is to take advantage of the best features of these two distinct systems and compensate for certain weaknesses in each. This article also summarizes evidence-based traditional medicines and discusses quality control and quality assessment, the crucial steps in botanical drug development. Herbgenomics may provide effective tools to clarify the molecular mechanism of traditional medicines in the botanical drug development. The totality-of-the-evidence approach used by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for botanical products provides the directions on how to perform quality control from the field throughout the entire production process.

Gynaecology of traditional Chinese medicine. Beijing: China Press of Traditional Chinese

Article

Y.Z. Zhang

Non-scientific classification of Chinese herbal medicine as dietary supplement

Article

Jan 2017

Kexin Bao

This article focuses the category status of Chinese herbal medicine in the United States where it has been mistakenly classified as a dietary supplement. According to Yellow Emperor Canon of Internal Medicine (Huang Di Nei Jing), clinical treatment in broad sense is to apply certain poisonous medicines to fight against pathogeneses, by which all medicines have certain toxicity and side effect. From ancient times to modern society, all, or at least most, practitioners have used herbal medicine to treat patients' medical conditions. The educational curriculums in Chinese medicine (CM) comprise the courses of herbal medicine (herbology) and herbal formulae. The objective of these courses is to teach students to use herbal medicine or formulae to treat disease as materia medica. In contrast, dietary supplements are preparations intended to provide nutrients that are missing or are not consumed in sufficient quantity in a person's diet. In contrast, Chinese herbs can be toxic, which have been proven through laboratory research. Both clinical practice and research have demonstrated that Chinese herbal medicine is a special type of natural materia medica, not a dietary supplement.

Integration of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine in the era of precision medicine

Article

Jan 2017

Precision medicine has received growing recognition from clinicians, health systems, and the pharmaceutical industry, as well as patients and policymakers, which will leave a major impact on the practice of medicine. Interestingly, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provides personalized medical treatment based on the theory of TCM characterized by holistic concept and pattern differentiation. This, to some extent, is similar to the personalized medical treatment of precision medicine. In China, TCM as well as Western medicine (WM) plays an important role in healthcare. In this article, the authors summarized the influence of precision medicine on current medical directions, the advantages of TCM in disease treatment, further development of precision medicine and the strategies for integration of TCM and WM under this new treatment approach. In addition, the authors discuss the perspective of precise medical diagnosis and treatment, precise prevention, and the complementary advantages of the integration of TCM and WM. Finally, the authors give their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities presented by precision medicine, in the context of further research toward the integration of TCM and WM.

Traditional Chinese Medicine, Food Therapy, and Hypertension Control: A Narrative Review of Chinese Literature

Article

Nov 2016

Ping Zou

Historical Development of Chinese Dietary Patterns and Nutrition from the Ancient to the Modern Society

Chapter

Apr 2015
World Rev Nutr Diet

The Progress of Metabolomics Study in Traditional Chinese Medicine Research

Article

Oct 2015

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has played important roles in health protection and disease treatment for thousands of years in China and has gained the gradual acceptance of the international community. However, many intricate issues, which cannot be explained by traditional methods, still remain, thus, new ideas and technologies are needed. As an emerging system biology technology, the holistic view adopted by metabolomics is similar to that of TCM, which allows us to investigate TCM with complicated conditions and multiple factors in depth. In this paper, we tried to give a timely and comprehensive update about the methodology progression of metabolomics, as well as its applications, in different fields of TCM studies including quality control, processing, safety and efficacy evaluation. The herbs investigated by metabolomics were selected for detailed examination, including Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, Atractylodes macrocephala Kidd, Pinellia ternate, etc.; furthermore, some valuable results have been obtained and summarized. In conclusion, although the study of metabolomics is at the early phase and requires further scrutiny and validation, it still provides bright prospects to dissect the synergistic action of multiple components from TCM. Overall, with the further development of analytical techniques, especially multi-analysis techniques, we expect that metabolomics will greatly promote TCM research and the establishment of international standards, which is beneficial to TCM modernization.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Chapter

Sep 2012

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been practiced for at least 2000 years in China. It is based on two fundamental theories, yin-yang and five elements (wu xing), which together explain all change as well as all natural phenomena in the universe, including human beings (Li and Cheng 1987). Yin-yang theory posits that the universe is a whole composed of two opposites, yin and yang, which are interdependent and can transform into each other. Their equilibrium ensures that harmony, including the harmony of the body, is maintained.

Traditional Chinese medicine

Article

Jan 2002
MED CLIN N AM

GARY NESTLER

According to an article by Wald in the November 2000 issue of Strategic Healthcare Marketing, through physician education, integrated medicine shall continue to be adopted by conventional medical establishments in the United States. With many leading medical schools now adding courses on alternative medicine and hospital administrators recognizing this growing trend, responding to the patients' needs and demands remains paramount. According to a study of 3200 physicians conducted by Health Products Research, physicians expect to offer and embrace therapeutic alternatives outside of the traditional pharmaceutical realm. Greater than 50% will begin or increase using alternative medicine in the next 12 months. Physicians also believe that patient acceptance is greater for alternative therapies, resulting in therapeutic compliance. Most physicians continue to be skeptical about certain treatments, citing a lack of clinical information. With these factors understood, more clinical research to be completed in a teaching hospital environment becomes paramount.

Integration of Chinese medicine and Western medicine in clinical practice (Patient Care): Past, present, and a proposed model for the future

Article

Feb 2013

Historic Background Chinese medicine(CM) has over 2,000 years of history in China and was the only health care system providing care for Chinese prior to the introduction of Western medicine(WM) into China.WM was slowly introduced into China by missionaries from the middle 17th century to the beginning of the 19th century. By 1840,WM began to take root in China.Western hospitals,clinics,medical schools and nursing schools

The integration of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine

Article

May 2003

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is one of the world's oldest medical systems, having a history of several thousands of years. It is a system of healing based upon the Chinese philosophy of the correspondence between nature and human beings. Its theories refer to yin and yang, the Five Elements, zang-fu, channels-collaterals, qi, blood, body fluid, methods of diagnosis, the differentiation of symptom-complexes, etc. TCM has two main features: a holistic point of view and treatment according to a differentiation of syndromes. The therapeutic methods of TCM involve different approaches, such as acupuncture, moxibustion, tuina bodywork, herbal medicine and qigong, in order to allow the body to heal itself in a natural way. Western medicine was first introduced into China from the middle of the 17th century. During the first two centuries several different views, related to the future of TCM and the relation between TCM and Western medicine, emerged. Some advocated of Chinese medicine, others were in favour of keeping it intact, whereas again others recommended the . Nowadays, more and more people realize that each of the two medical traditions has its own merits and advise that the two systems should benefit from each other's strong points. We offer an argument for integrating Western medicine with TCM. In the 20th century China has maintained and developed three kinds of medical science, that is, TCM, Western medicine, and . Much has been achieved in clinical, experimental and theoretical research. The development of any science can be furthered by cross-fertilization based on absorption and fusion of whatever useful theory and experience. It is our dream that, in the future, diverse modalities can work in conjunction with each other as part of a unified team rather than in competition. This integrated approach will ultimately lead to safer, faster and more effective health care.

Integration of Herbal Medicine into Evidence-Based Clinical Practice: Current Status and Issues

Chapter

Mar 2011

For decades, the People’s Republic of China has touted a system of medical education in which its modern medicine practitioners have been required to receive some formal training in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), so that they are aware of suitable approaches in TCM during their practice of Western medicines. However, documentation of its successful integration in clinical practice is lacking (Giordano, Garcia, and Strickland 2004). In Western countries, such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and members of the European Union, the popular use of herbal medicine in the form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) or phytomedicine in the last two to three decades has led to a multinational, multibillion dollar industry, professional and trade organizations, national and international practice and research conferences, establishment of specialized integrated medicine practices and clinics in pain management and adjunctive cancer therapy, incorporation of CAM courses in conventional medical colleges, introduction of CAM degree-level education programs, and establishment of research funding agencies such as the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM; http://nccam.nih.gov/), and the Australian National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM; http://www.nicm.edu.au). As a result of these developments, the issue of integration of CAM medicine, including herbal preparations, into modern medicine has been the subject of ongoing international discussions in the last few years (Fong 2002; Barrett 2003; Ruggle 2005; Boyd 2007; Geffen 2007; Evans 2008; Grimaldi 2008; Shang et al. 2008; Jobst 2009; Joos, Musselmann, and Szecsenyl 2009). However, proof of efficacy or safety for the vast majority of herbal medicine has not been fully established through an evidence-based approach. Further, other issues, such as scientific, cultural, educational, economical, and legal, need to be addressed. In this chapter, we examine the current status and major scientific issues or factors that affect the integration of herbal medicine into evidence-based medical therapy.

New Exploration and Understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Article

Feb 2009

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), originating from oriental philosophy and culture, has been developing through a series of special research and experiments with meditation, accumulation of experiences, and a complete comprehension of ancient theories and methods. However, compared with Conventional Western Medicine (CWM), the theory of TCM is complicated and not easily accepted by Westerners. It is important to explore TCM by using modern scientific techniques and theories. Utilizing his frontier experience and up-to-date scientific knowledge, Dr. Qian Xuesen has been trying to incorporate some key principles with the comprehensive understanding of TCM and clarify difficult but important concepts and principles. Some examples are the existence of invisible matter; 'Qi' and 'Qi monism'; the Heart representing the 'whole will' of human beings; the water environment functioning as a fundamental condition of life; the human body being united with nature and universe as one; the spirit and physical body always being considered unified and connected with the five viscera, especially with the Heart; and the Chinese herbal formula working with different principles than CWM drugs. These works are important for understanding the essence of TCM, the promoting of the modernization of TCM theories by means of the latest of achievements in scientific developments, establishing the direction for future medicines with TCM characteristics, uniting Chinese and Western medicines, and exploiting a bright future for the health of mankind.

The Eastern Perspective on Functional Foods Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine

Article

Dec 1996

Historical development of Chinese dietary patterns and nutrition from the ancient to the modern society

Article

Feb 1996
World Rev Nutr Diet

Actually, food, diet and diet therapy germinated together with the change of meal patterns and traditional Chinese medicine from very ancient China; they appeared in an embryonic form till the Shang and Zhou Dynasties and received great importance from the governors who arranged officials to manage their diets and banquets. Moreover, food, diet and meal patterns were replenished through the Zhou, Qin, Han and Jin Dynasties and epitomized and reached thriving and prosperous standards till the Tang Dynasty. They then became perfected, developed, and formed a complete theory in the dynasties of Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing. The basis of modern nutrition was made up until the end of 19th century and the beginning of 20th century, which was the time when natural science, including microbiology, chemistry, food industry, etc. were extended into China, yet it was not fully formed until the established of the People's Republic of China. Practicing, teaching, training and research activities started regularly in 1950. With a big population and poor economy basis, the first problem that the Chinese people has now been basically solved. Chinese nutritional scientists worked hard to find out the nutritional problems and status of the people. Through the broad-scale 'Nationwide Nutrition Survey', we now understand our main problems. On this basis, RDA, dietary goal and dietary guidance have been put forward. Although the problem of adequate food and clothing has been basically solved, the Chinese are still facing both the problem of nutrition insufficiency and nutrition excess. However, although nutrition insufficiency and deficiency still extensively exist, nutrition excess and imbalance are emerging in other sections of the population. There is still a shortage of qualified nutritional scientists and technicians, and the training of nutritionists is urgent. Food supplies, including milk, beef, green vegetables and fruit should be increased, especially for some rural and remote areas. The good traditional eating habits and meal patterns should be kept, e.g., breakfast and lunch cannot be neglected, and plant protein meals and Chinese medicinal diets should be promoted. Animals fat intake and fried foods should be reduced, and exercise and fitness programs should be recommended for the overweight population. In the future, our meal pattern take on a mixed form with the advantages of both the eastern and western diets. Chinese scientists are confident of solving the nutritional problems and improving the whole nation's physical fitness and physique under the situation of gradual improvements of the economy and nutritional status of people.

Traditional and alternative nutrition - Levels of homocysteine and lipid parameters in adults

Article

Jan 2001

Values of homocysteine and lipid parameters were measured in groups of adults consuming alternative nutrition (vegetarians/lactoovo/, vegans) and compared with a group consuming traditional diet (omnivores, general population). Frequency of hyperhomocysteinemia was 53% in the vegans group, 28% in vegetarians vs. 5% in omnivores. In conditions of lower methionine intake (reduced content in plant proteins), the remethylation pathway of homocysteine metabolism prevails and it is vitamin B12 and folate-dependent. The intake of vitamin B12 is equal to zero in vegans; vegetarians consume 124% of the RDA vs. 383% in omnivores. Serum vitamin levels are significantly lower in subjects consuming alternative nutrition with deficiency observed in 24% of vegetarians, 78% of vegans vs. 0% in omnivores. Serum folate levels are within the reference range in all groups. Mild hyperhomocysteinemia in the groups consuming alternative diet is a consequence of vitamin B12 deficiency. Vegetarians and vegans meet the RDA for energy and fat, and have a favourable proportion of saturated, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids on total energy intake; the ratio of linoleic/alpha-linolenic acid in their diet corresponds with the recommendations. They have low cholesterol consumption and higher vitamin E and C intake. Optimal fat intake of correct composition is reflected in lower values of atherosclerosis risk factors (cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, atherogenic index, saturated fatty acids, triacylglycerols), and significantly higher levels of protective substances (linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, HDL-cholesterol, vitamin E, vitamin E/cholesterol, vitamin C). Low lipid risk factors but higher findings of mild hyperhomocysteinemia in vegetarians mean a diminished protective effect of alternative nutrition in cardiovascular disease prevention.

Nutrition for Chinese populations

Article

May 2004
Healthc Food Nutr Focus

Marilyn Dahl

Comparative study of health and diet theory between traditional Chinese medicine and modern Western nutrition

Jan 2015
2338-40

L Sun
Y He

Sun L, He Y. Comparative study of health and diet theory between traditional Chinese medicine and modern Western nutrition. Chin Arch Tradit Chin Med. 2015;33:2338-40.

Clinical application and thinking of medicated diet for elderly diabetic patients

Jan 2018
376-7

J Guan
LY Zou
LP Zhu
YY Qin

Guan J, Zou LY, Zhu LP, Qin YY. Clinical application and thinking of medicated diet for elderly diabetic patients. Chin J Integr Med Cardio/Cerebrovasc Dis. 2018;16:376-7.

Observation of the effect of compound black fungus juice on blood lipid reduction

Jan 2019
108

L F Lai
A Z Hu
LF Lai

Lai LF, Hu AZ. Observation of the effect of compound black fungus juice on blood lipid reduction. Chin J Geriatr Care. 2019;17:108-9.

The treatment of diabetes based on traditional Chinese medicine soup and porridge

Jan 2018
830

Q L Chu
J Hu
Q G Chu
Q Y Pan
X Q Wang
QL Chu

Chu QL, Hu J, Chu QG, Pan QY, Wang XQ. The treatment of diabetes based on traditional Chinese medicine soup and porridge. Clin J Trad Chin Med. 2018;30:830-3.

Effect of TCM nursing intervention on clinical treatment effect of hypertensive patients

Jan 2019
27

L T Chen
LT Chen

Chen LT. Effect of TCM nursing intervention on clinical treatment effect of hypertensive patients. Elec J Pr Clin Nur Sci. 2019;4:27-196.

Clinical study on the effect of traditional Chinese medicine therapy on the quality of life of cancer patients

Jan 2019
26

Y Zhao
MM Gu
DX Wei

Zhao Y, Gu MM, Wei DX. Clinical study on the effect of traditional Chinese medicine therapy on the quality of life of cancer patients. China Rural Health. 2019;11:26.

Classification and diagnosis basis of nine basic constitutions in Chinese medicine

Jan 2005
1-8

Q Wang

Wang Q. Classification and diagnosis basis of nine basic constitutions in Chinese medicine. J Beijing Univ Tradit Chin Med. 2005;28:1-8.

Characteristics and development perspective for nutrition of traditional Chinese medicine

Jan 2012
27-8

J Du
Z Wang

Du J, Wang Z. Characteristics and development perspective for nutrition of traditional Chinese medicine. J Shandong Univ Tradit Chin Med. 2012;36:27-8.

Research progress of TCM diet for common TCM constitutions of primary hypertension

Jan 2019
185

X X Guo
X H Ren
X P Liu
XX Guo

Guo XX, Ren XH, Liu XP. Research progress of TCM diet for common TCM constitutions of primary hypertension. Elec J Clin Med Lit. 2019;6:185.

The medicinal diets for treating obesity on the application of regulating spleen and stomach

Jan 2013
703

L X Li
X Z Jin
J D Wu
LX Li

Li LX, Jin XZ, Wu JD. The medicinal diets for treating obesity on the application of regulating spleen and stomach. Chin J Aesthetic Med. 2013;22:703-6.

The naissance and significance of modern traditional Chinese medical nutriology

Jan 2007
29-31

Y He

He Y. The naissance and significance of modern traditional Chinese medical nutriology. Culin Sci J Yangzhou Univ. 2007;4:29-31.

Changes in capillary diameter, density and RBC velocity of nail-fold microcirculation in healthy people induced by warm/hot and cool/cold foods

Jan 2003
1771-2

D Chao
C Hsieh
L Sheen

Chao D, Hsieh C, Sheen L. Changes in capillary diameter, density and RBC velocity of nail-fold microcirculation in healthy people induced by warm/hot and cool/cold foods. Ann Nutr Metab. 2003;63:1771-2.

Discussion on study methods of nutrition based on traditional Chinese medicine constitutions

Jan 2016
554-6

Y Chen
L Li
M Shi
J Wang
Y Li
Q Wang

Chen Y, Li L, Shi M, Wang J, Li Y, Wang Q. Discussion on study methods of nutrition based on traditional Chinese medicine constitutions. Chin Arch Tradit Chin Med. 2016;6:554-6.

Beijing: China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Jan 2016

M Z Xie
T M Zhu
MZ Xie

Xie MZ, Zhu TM. Medicated diet of Chinese medicine. Beijing: China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine; 2016.

The foundations of Chinese medicine: a comprehensive text for acupuncturists and herbalists

G Maciocia

Maciocia G. The foundations of Chinese medicine: a comprehensive text for acupuncturists and herbalists. 2nd edn. London: Churchill Livingstone Press; 2005.

Nutrition and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM): a system’s theoretical perspective

Abstract

No full-text available

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