The exciting and magical journey of components from compound formulae to where they fight

Abstract

With its long-term empirical clinical practice and increasing number of health benefits reported, Chinese Materia Medica (CMM) is gaining increasing global acceptance. Importantly, the identification of chemical constituents in vitro and exposed forms in vivo is a prerequisite for understanding how CMM formulae prevent and treat diseases. This review systematically summarizes the exciting and magical journey of CMM components from compound formulae to where they fight, the possible structural transformation of CMM components in vitro and in vivo, and their pharmacological contribution. When a decoction is prepared, significant chemical reactions are observed, including degradation and production of polymers and self-assembling supramolecules, leading to the construction of a component library with diverse decoction structures. After ingestion, compounds pass through the intestinal and blood-brain barriers and undergo a more wonderful journey involving the gut microbiota, microbial enzymes, and endogenous drug-metabolizing enzymes (mainly liver enzymes). At this stage, they are modified and assembled into novel and complex compounds, such as newly generated metabolites, conjugates, and self-assembling superamolecules. This review might provide a strategic orientation to explore the active compounds of CMM formulae in vivo.

Integrated causal inference modeling uncovers novel causal factors and potential therapeutic targets of Qingjin Yiqi granules for chronic fatigue syndrome

“…Moreover, enduring coughing has the potential to increase mental stress by disrupting daily activities and exacerbating fatigue. Recent evidence indicates that TCMs such as QJYQ are promising in treating PCC conditions marked by chronic cough, thereby potentially preventing the progression to CFS [27] .…”

Comparative pharmacokinetics of six components in normal and rheumatoid arthritis rats after intragastrical administration of Qianghuo Shengshi Decoction granules by LC-MS/MS

“…Traditional Chinese medical science believes that the integrated regulation of multi-component and multi-target is the way to exert the curative effect of TCM. The active chemical components are the pharmacodynamic material basis of TCM ( Meng et al, 2022 ), and their discoveries are an important mission in the quality control of TCM compound and single herb. According to previous studies, the six components (nodakenin, osthole, 5- O -methylvisammioside, ferulic acid, liquiritigenin, and liquiritin) in QSD are the pharmacodyamic material basis for coming up to better therapeutic effects.…”