Anticancer targets of cryptotanshinone were evaluated and rapidly forecasted with PharmMapper, a reverse pharmacophore-based screening platform, as well as drug target databases, including PDTD, DrugBank and TTD. The pathway analyses for the collection of anticancer targets screened were carried out based on the KEGG pathway database, followed by the forecast of potential pharmacological activities and pathways of the effects of cryptotanshinone, and verification of some of the targets screened using whole cell tests. The results showed that a total of eight targets with anticancer potential were screened, including MAP2K1, RARα, RXRα, PDK1, CHK1, AR, Ang-1 R, and Kif11. These targets are mainly related to four aspects of the cancer growth: the cell cycle, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and androgen receptor. The cell tests showed that cryptotanshinone can inhibit the viability of human hepatoma cells SMMC-7721, which is related to the reduction of expression of MAP2K1 mRNA. This method provides a strong clue for the study of the anticancer effects and mechanisms of action of cryptotanshinone in the future.
The paper introduces the heated moxibustion and bloodletting in Tibetan medical literature of Dunhuang Heritage. It proves that the external therapies in Tibetan medicine such as heated moxibustion and bloodletting are of very high level since the 8th century, which inspires current clinical practice. It also shows that the extensive exchange between Tibetan medicine and various kinds of medicine such as Chinese medicine promoted the development of Tibetan medicine.
During the screening of a traditional Chinese folk herb library against HepG2 and Hep3B cell lines, the EtOAc extract from the Tibetan medicine, Caragana tibetica (CT-EtOAc) exhibited potential anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (anti-HCC) activity. HPLC-based activity profiling was performed for targeted identification of anti-HCC activity from CT-EtOAc by MS-directed purification method. CT-EtOAc was separated by time-based fractionation for further anti-HCC bioassay by a semipreparative HPLC column (150 mm × 10 mm i.d., 5 μm) with a single injection of 5 mg. Bioassay-guided and ESIMS-directed large scale purification was performed with a single injection of 400 mg of CT-EtOAc by peak-based fractionation. A 1.4-mm heavy wall micro NMR tube with z-gradient was used to measure one and two dimensional NMR spectra for the minor or trace amounts of components of the extract. Two active compounds could be elucidated as naringenin chalcone (CT-1) and 3-hydroxy-8, 9-dimethoxypterocarpan (CT-2) relevant to anti-HCC effects for the EtOAc extract of C. tibetica rapidly and unambiguously by this protocol.
Ischemic stroke is a primary cause of death and long-term disability all over the world. This disease is resulted from ischemia and hypoxia in brain tissues because of insufficient blood supply and causes a series of physiochemical metabolism disorders and physiological dysfunction. Its high disability ratio has bright huge burdens to society, governments and families. However, there is not efficacious medicine to treat it. In this study, a right middle cerebral artery occlusion was established in rats to observe the multi-path and multi-aspect intervention effects of Tibetan patent medicine Ruyi Zhenbao pills in reducing injuries to Nissl bodies, cerebral edema and inflammatory reactions and preventing cellular apoptosis, in order to lay a foundation for defining its therapeutic mechanism in acute ischemic stroke.;
Nitraria tangutorum Bor., having edible berries, is valued for reputed health benefits in Qinghai-Tibet plateau. The phytochemical research on the fruit juice of N. tangutorum led to the isolation of twenty-six compounds including five new compounds, tangutorids A-D (1, 2, 3a, and 3b), and (3E,5E)-7-O-β-glucosyl-4-(2-methoxy-2-oxoethyl)hepta-3,5-dienoic acid (15). The structures of these compounds were elucidated through comprehensive spectroscopic analyses. Tangutorids A-F were the first examples of glucose-derived β-carbolines from natural products. The biogenetic pathways of 1-8 were proposed to involve Pictet-Spengler reactions and described starting from the co-isolated tryptophan (10) and corresponding aldehydes. All isolates were evaluated for their antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Compounds 21, 22, and 24 showed antioxidant activity with SC50 values ranging from 12.2±1.9 to 30.4±2.7μg/mL, and compound 1 showed strong α-glucosidase inhibitory effect with IC50 value of 63.3±4.6μg/mL.
Artemisia hedinii occupies an important position in the Tibetan medicine. Plants in Artemisia vary a lot and are widely distributed in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, many plants in Artemisia look similar, making traditional identification methods laborious. In this article, ITS2 sequences were used as DNA barcoding to identify four kinds of confusable Tibetan medicine plants in Artemisia, aiming to establish a rapid and accurate identification methods. Twenty-one samples in Artemisia were collected from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, ITS2 sequence PCR amplification and sequencing were conducted after the extraction of DNA. Another 11 sequence downloaded from Genbank were added to the analysis. Genetic distance calculation and analysis, building Neighbor Joining (NJ) phylogenetic tree were conducted by MEGA 6.0, also comparison of secondary structures of ITS2 sequences among samples. A. hedinii, A. annua, A. dubia and A. argyi shared close genetic distance, but the maximum distance between the four species was much greater than the minimum distance within each species, NJ tree showed that the four species went to four separate branches, differences among secondary structures of ITS2 sequences also made it clear to identify these medical plants. It could be an accurate and rapid method for identification and recognition, as well as the evolutionary relationships between the species by using ITS2 sequence as DNA barcode for plants of Tibetan Artemisia. The study provides theoretical basis for quality control, medication safety and rational exploitation.
"Shengdeng" is its Tibetan transliteration referring to many medicines. Tibetan doctors and pharmacists in different areas use different drugs in formulation and clinical application, which are easily confused. In order to grasp the formula and clinical application accurately, we conduct a literature survey on history and current state of botanical origin and clinical application of "Shengdeng", making clear the application of various herbs named "Shengdeng" and providing reference to all Tibetan researchers and clinical workers in formulation and clinical application.
Psychological issue is the most common co-morbidity of women with breast cancer (BC) after receiving treatment. Effective coping with this problem is significant importance. The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the benefits of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on psychological distress among breast cancer survivors.METHODS:
PUBMED, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were systematically searched from their inception to June 30, 2014. Two reviewers independently reviewed and extracted the data. The primary outcomes of interest were psychological domains. Review Manager 5.3 was used to pool collected data.
RESULTS:
Nine articles involving 964 participants were identified. Compared with those in control group, patients in MBSR group have a significant improvement on psychological domains: depression [mean difference (MD), 5.09; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 3.63-6.55; P < 0.00001], anxiety (MD, 2.79; 95 % CI, 1.62-3.96; P < 0.00001), stress (MD, 4.10; 95 % CI, 2.46-5.74; P < 0.00001). MBSR can also improve the overall quality of life (QOL) (MD, -1.16; 95 % CI, -2.21 to -0.12; P = 0.03).
CONCLUSIONS:
On the basis of our findings, MBSR shows a positive effect on psychological function and QOL of breast cancer survivors. This approach can be recommended to breast cancer patients as a part of their rehabilitation.
The grief of bereavement is recognized as a severe psychosocial stressor that can trigger a variety of mental and physical disorders, and the long-lasting unresolved grief has a detrimental effect on brain functionality. Literature has documented mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) as an efficient treatment for improving well-being, specifically related to the mood and cognition, in a variety of populations. However, little attention has been devoted to neural mechanisms with regard to bereaved individuals' cognition after MBCT intervention. In this study, we recruited 23 bereaved participants who lost a significant relative within 6 months to 4 years to attend 8-week MBCT course. We used self-reporting questionnaires to measure emotion regulation and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with the numerical Stroop task to evaluate the MBCT effect on executive control among the bereaved participants. The self-reported questionnaires showed improvements on mindfulness and reductions in grief, difficulties in emotion regulation, anxiety, and depression after the MBCT intervention. The fMRI analysis demonstrated two scenarios: (1) the activity of the fronto-parietal network slightly declined accompanied with significant improvements in the reaction time of incongruent trials; (2) the activities in the posterior cingulate cortex and thalamus were positively associated with the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief, implying emotional interferences on cognitive functions. Results indicated that MBCT facilitated the executive control function by alleviating the emotional interferences over the cognitive functions and suggested that the 8-week MBCT intervention significantly improved both executive control and emotion regulation in bereaved individuals.
A new isocoumarin, along with 10 known compounds, was isolated from the aerial parts of Aconitum gymnandrum. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including extensive 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Among the known compounds, compound 11 was obtained as a natural product for the first time, which was previously reported as a synthetic product. In addition, compounds 1-5, 7 and 9 were tested for their cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines. The results showed that compounds 3, 4 and 7 displayed cytotoxicity against lung cancer A549 and gastric cancer MGC80, respectively, whereas 5 and 9 showed selective cytotoxicity against hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2.
Phytochemical investigation on <b>Asterothamnus centrali-asiaticus</b> afforded four new sesquiterpenes, asterothamnones A-D (<b>1</b>-<b>4</b>), and three new benzofuran derivatives (<b>5</b>-<b>7</b>) together with ten known compounds (<b>8</b>-<b>17</b>). Their structures were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR and X-ray diffraction analyses. Compounds <b>1</b>-<b>4</b> were verified to be unusual eudesmane sesquiterpenes possessing 4,6-dien-3-one or 1,4,6-triene-3-one conjugated system. The absolute configurations of compounds <b>1</b>-<b>8</b> were established by means of calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD). Furthermore, all isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxic and anti-oxidant activities. Results showed that <b>10</b>, <b>12</b> and, <b>14</b> exhibited cytotoxic activity against HepG2 cancer cells and <b>14</b> displayed cytotoxicity against MGC-803 cancer cells. Compounds <b>10</b> and <b>17</b> showed anti-oxidant effect.<br><br>Display Omitted
Dried herb of Delphinium brunonianum Royle (Ranunculaceae) has long been used under the herbal name "Xiaguobei" (Delphinii Brunoniani Herba) in traditional Tibetan medicine and prescribed for the treatment of influenza, itchy skin rash and snake bites. In order to find a useful and convenient method for the identification of microscopic features, the technique of fluorescence microscopy was applied to authenticate "Xiaguobei" of Tibet. The transverse sections of stem and leaf, as well as the powder of "Xiaguobei" were observed to seek for typical microscopic features by normal light and fluorescence microscopy. A style-like, single-cell glandular hair containing yellow secretions on the leaf, young stem and sepal of "Xiaguobei" was found. Under the fluorescence microscope, the xylem and pericycle fiber group emitted significant fluorescence. This work indicated that fluorescence microscopy could be an useful additional method for the authentication work. Without the traditional dyeing methods, the main microscopic features could be easily found by fluorescence microscopy. The results provided reliable references for the authentication of "Xiaguobei".
<br>In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), multicomponent and principally plant-derived drugs are used for disease prevention, symptom amelioration and treatment in a personalized manner. Because of their complex composition and consequent multiple targets and treatment objectives, the application of omics techniques and other integrative approaches seems inherently appropriate and even necessary for the demonstration of their potential preclinical and clinical safety and efficacy. This perspectives article provides proposals for the application of omics methods to the investigation of complex herbal products (CHP), 1 1 Complex herbal products are used in many other forms of Asian medicines than Chinese medicines, such as traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda), Japanese medicine (Kampo), Korean medicine, Tibetan medicine <b>etc.</b>, although the conceptual background for use may differ. including Chinese herbal medicines (CHM), both <b>in vitro</b> and <b>in vivo</b>, for preclinical and clinical toxicity, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and efficacy tests. Ultimately, such approaches could aid regulatory scrutiny and potential acceptance, although currently there is no regulatory requirement of omics-based data in any submitted dossier to any regulatory agency, including for conventional drugs and CHP. However, it has been acknowledged that such studies are being increasingly performed, and almost surely will eventually be included into regulatory submission dossiers, possibly initially as supplementary materials. Specifically for CHM and CHP, omics can play a role both in determining product composition and its variability and in monitoring biological effects in carefully selected platforms. Predicting the future is difficult, but it seems possible that regulatory acceptance of omics techniques and a systems biology approach for the study of TCM, CHM and CHP will not be long delayed. It is expected that current studies and plans employing omics techniques and other integrative approaches will prove to be positive and informative.
High-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) was successfully applied to the isolation and purification of four xanthone glycosides from Halenia elliptica, a plant widely used in traditional Tibetan medicine. The introduction of HSCCC greatly improved the efficiency of compounds preparation from Halenia elliptica. The following were obtained from 100 mg of crude sample in one-step separation: 2.5 mg of 1-O-primeverosyl-2,3,4,5,7-pentamethoxyxanthone, 7.0 mg of 1-O-primeverosyl-2,3,4,7- tetramethoxyxanthone, 10.0 mg of 1-O-primeverosyl-2,3,5-trimethoxyxanthone (demethyoxyhaleniaside), and 8.5 mg of 1-O-primeverosyl-2,3,4,5-tetramethoxyxanthone. HPLC analysis showed that each target compound had a purity of over 98%, and UV, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR data confirmed the component chemical structures.
Although the rhizomes of Rheum nobile Hook. f. et Thoms (Polygonaceae) are widely used in Tibetan medicine, no previous investigations regarding the biological activities and rarely chemical constituents of this plant have been reported. As part of an ongoing search for novel bioactive agents, a phytochemical investigation of R. nobile led to the isolation of two new compounds Rheumone B (1) and piceatannol-4'-O-β-D-(6″-O-acetyl)-glucoside (2), together with 15 known compounds by gel filtration over Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC. Their structures were determined by combined spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1-10 were evaluated for their ability to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydzyl (DPPH) radical and compounds 7-10 showed relatively strong scavenging abilities with IC50 values from 2.76 μM to 11.80 μM. In conclusion, naphthalene glycosides, stilbene glycosides, flavanols, especially anthraquinones are main chemical constituents of this plant. The ability to scavenge DPPH radical of compound 8 was the highest among compounds 1-10.
Inclusion complexation between veronicafolin, 3,5,4′-trihydroxy-6,7,3′-trimethoxyflavone, and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was investigated by using ¹H NMR, IR, X-ray diffraction, thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), and elemental analysis in the solid state. The elemental analysis showed that the complex (1:1) of flavonol-β-CD·20H₂O with C 39.58% and H 5.75% has been formed. The phase solubility profile of the favonol by UV-Vis in solution in the presence of hydroxypfropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) was classified as A<sub>L</sub>-type, indicating the formation of 1:1 inclusion complex. And the calibration equation <i>y</i>=24148<i>x</i>+0.0075 (<i>r</i>=0.9999) and phase-solubility diagram y=0.4738x-2.0×10<sup>-7</sup> (r=0.9490) were obtained. Stability constant K<sub>s</sub> was calculated from the phase solubility diagram (K<sub>s</sub>=4.5×10⁶). Solubility of the veronicafolin was enhanced in the presence of HP-β-CD.
Introduction: Xanthones, the primary constituents of <i>Swertia mussotii</i>, are known to possess a variety of biological activities, including anti-depressant, anti-leukaemic, anti-tumour, anti-tubercular, choleretic, diuretic, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, cardiotonic and hypoglycemic properties. However, high performance, environmentally friendly methods for isolating and purifying xanthones from <i>S. mussotii</i> are not currently available.<br>Objective: To develop a high performance and environmentally friendly method for the preparative separation of xanthones methylswertianin, swerchirin and decussatin from <i>S. mussotii</i> using high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC).<br>Methodology: A solvent system composed of <i>n</i>-hexane:ethyl acatate:methanol:water (5:5:10:4, v/v/v/v) was developed for the separation method. The upper phase was used as the stationary phase, and the lower phase was used as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min, a rotation speed of 800 rpm and a temperature of 25 °C.<br>Results: Using the described method, 8 mg of methylswertianin, 21 mg of swerchirin and 11 mg of decussatin with purities of over 98% could be isolated from a 150 mg crude sample. They were identified by ¹H-NMR and <sup>13</sup> C-NMR analysis.<br>Conclusion: Three xanthones in <i>Swertia mussotii</i> could be systematically isolated and purified using HSCCC. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease, belonging to the "Arthromyodynia (Bi Zheng)" category in traditional Chinese medicine. However, the ethnomedicine has a unique understanding of RA, with a long-term clinical experience accumulation and significant efficacy in the treatment of RA, and it has now become one of the important means in treatment of RA. On the basis of literature research, the understanding of RA and commonly used Tibetan medicine, Mongolian medicine, Hui medicine and other herbs and preparations were reviewed in this paper, with the aim of providing a reference for its clinical treatment of RA and research and development of innovative drugs.
Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance Qiwei Tiexie capsule (QWTX) is a representative prescription of Tibetan medicine, which is widely used for long-term treatment of chronic liver disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Aim of the study This study explored the effects and mechanism of QWTX on 3T3-L1 adipocytes and NAFLD. Materials and methods The 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and NAFLD rat model were used in the study. In 3T3-L1 cells, the cytotoxicity of QWTX was tested by CKK-8, and glucose uptake and fat acid oxidation were assessed by 2-deoxy-D-[3H] glucose and [1–14C] palmitic acid, respectively. The expression levels of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1), liver X receptor α (LXRα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), ikappa B α (IκBα), and AKT were determined by PCR and western blot. NAFLD was established by the administration of fat emulsion and sucrose for 9 weeks. The effects of QWTX on lipid metabolism, liver function, and hepatic morphology were observed in NAFLD rats by HE and transmission electron microscope. Serum level of nitric oxide (NO) and fee fatty acid (FFA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the liver, as well as the expression levels of Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), NF-κB, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), CPT-1, LXRα, PPARα, PPARβ/δ, PPARγ, and iNOS were all detected. Results QWTX showed no cell cytotoxicity in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells, and increased the 14CO 2 production rate to 4.15, which indicated the reducing the fatty accumulation. In NAFLD, QWTX attenuated liver steatosis, fat vacuoles and inflammation from the HE staining and electron micrograph tests. For the oxidative stress biomarkers, serum FFA level was reduced and serum NO level was enhanced after QWTX treatment. In liver tissue, SOD was decreased and MDA was significantly increased in NAFLD, and both of them were restored by QWTX. NF-κB and CYP2E1 were also upregulated in NAFLD, while downregulated by QWTX. Downregulation of LXRα, PPARγ and iNOS by QWTX were both observed in the 3T3-L1 adipocytes and NAFLD model. Conclusions QWTX protected the liver injury in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes and NAFLD by regulating the LXRα, PPARγ, and NF-κB-iNOS-NO signal pathways. Graphical abstract Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
To control the quality of Tibetan medicine Saussureae obvalltae, the quality control method and standard were established in this study. The water content, total ash, acid-insoluble ash and ethanol-soluble extractives of Saussureae obvalltae were determined according to the methods recorded in appendix of Chinese Pharmacopeia(2010 edition). Microscopical identification was performed for the plant and powder of the leaves. The TLC method was established, with chlorogenic acid and rutin as control substances, and a mixture of acetate-btuanone-formic acid-water (10∶6∶1∶2) as developing solvent and silica gel G as thin layer plate. Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse XDB-C₁₈ (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm) column was adopted and eluted with the mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.1% phosphoric acid (17∶83) in a gradient mode at a flow rate of 1.0 mL•min⁻¹. The column temperature was 40 ℃ and the detection wavelength was 350 nm. As a result, the plant and leaves of Saussureae obvalltae of different origins showed constent microscopic features. Chlorogenic acid, rutin and the other constituents were well separated on TLC detected under the sun light. According to the results of the methodological study, chlorogenic acid and rutin were in good linear correlation in the ranges of 0.119 2-0.715 4 μg(r=0.999 9) and 0.160 7-0.964 4 μg(r=1.000), and the average recoveries were 105.4% (RSD 1.4%) and 99.50% (RSD 0. 91%), respectively. The content of ethanol-soluble extractives, water content, total ash and acid-insoluble ash were 26.01%-31.59%, 7.16%-8.04%, 8.46%-11.14%,0.50%-1.87%, respectively. According to the study, the established method was specific and accurate, which could be used for the quality control of this drug.; Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.
OBJECTIVE: To establish the method of quality control for traditional Tibetan Medicine Zsuotai.METHODS: Collecting the samples of Tsuotai from Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, and Gansu province, to detect Hg2+ by Zsuotai reacted with HCl-HNO3 (3:1), and to determine the quantity of HgS in Zsuotai by sulfocyanate volumetric method.
RESULTS: The method for the determination of HgS in Zsuotai was in good reproducibility (RSD = 0.68%). The calibration curve was linear (r = 0.9999) within -0.0002 - 0.2123 g of mercuric sulfide. The recovery was 100.94% (RSD = 0.66%).
CONCLUSIONS: This method is convenient and accurate, so it can be used to establish quality control of the medicinal material.
Introduction: <i>Oxytropis racemosa</i> Turcz is an important minority medicine that is used mainly to improve children's indigestion, especially in inner Mongolia and Tibet. Previous studies indicated that the characteristic constituents of this plant are acylated flavonoids.<br>Objective: Rapidly identify the characteristic chemical constituents of <i>O. racemosa</i> by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-electrospray ionisation/multi-stage mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS<i><sup>n</sup></i>) and suggest a useful method to control the quality of this medicinal plant.<br>Methods: In the HPLC fingerprint, 32 flavonoids were tentatively identified by a detailed analysis of their mass spectra, UV spectra and retention times. Furthermore, 13 flavonoids were confirmed by comparison with previously isolated compounds obtained from <i>O. racemosa</i>.<br>Results: In total, 32 flavonoids, including 13 flavonoids with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acid (HMG) moieties and four flavonoids with 3-malonyl moieties, were identified in the extract of <i>O. racemosa</i>. Among the compounds identified, 10 were characterised as new compounds for their particular acylated sugar moieties.<br>Conclusions: The method described is effective for obtaining a comprehensive phytochemical profile of plants containing unstable acylated flavonoids. The method is also useful for constructing the chromatographic fingerprint of the minority medicine -<i>O. racemosa</i> Turcz for quality control. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of sleep disturbance; to validate the associations between neuroticism, mindfulness, and sleep quality; and to further examine whether mindfulness mediates the relationship between neuroticism and sleep quality among asthma patients.METHODS: This study was conducted with 193 asthma patients from outpatient clinics. They completed questionnaires including the neuroticism subscale of the Big Five Inventory (BFI), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Structural equation model was used to analyze the relationships among neuroticism, mindfulness, and sleep quality, with mindfulness as a mediator.
RESULTS: The mean global PSQI score was 7.57 (SD = 3.25), and 69.9% of asthma patients reported poor sleep quality (cutoff score > 5). Structural equation model analysis showed that neuroticism was significantly associated with global PSQI scores (β = 0.198, P = 0.006), and mindfulness (β = - 0.408, P < 0.001), respectively; mindfulness was associated with global PSQI scores (β = - 0.250, P = 0.006). Furthermore, mindfulness mediated the relationship between neuroticism and global PSQI scores, in which the mediation effect was 0.102 (- 0.408 × - 0.250), and the bootstrapped 95% CI did not include zero (0.032, 0.208, P = 0.021).
CONCLUSIONS: Sleep disturbance is a serious health concern among asthma patients. This study illuminated the latent mediating mechanism of mindfulness on neuroticism and sleep quality, and implied that intervention and prevention programs on mindfulness might be beneficial in improving sleep quality in asthma patients.
<i>Saussurea laniceps</i> (Compositae), commonly known as “cotton-headed snow lotus”, is the most effective “snow lotus” used in both Tibetan and Chinese folk medicine. It performs outstandingly in treating rheumatoid arthritis, which mainly is credited for its anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive efficacy, as explained by modern pharmacological studies. Extracts of the herb, including umbelliferone and scopoletin, exert such effects in various in vivo and in vitro studies. Besides the two chemicals above, more than 100 organic compounds have been found in <i>S. laniceps</i>, and 58 of them are presented here in molecular structure, including cynaropicrin, mokko lactone, apigenin, acacetin, and luteolin, all contributing to different bioactivities, such as analgesic, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-microbial and anticancer effects. We provide a natural product library of <i>S. laniceps</i>, giving inspirations for structure modification and bioactivity-oriented screening, enabling sustainable use of this valuable plant. The ethnomedical applications and pharmacological discoveries are compared and crosslinked, revealing modern evidence for traditional usages. Despite that <i>S. laniceps</i> is a representative “snow lotus” herb, its material medica records and clinical applications are complicated; there is considerable confusion with the different snow lotuses in the academic community and on the market. This review also aims at clearing such confusion, and improving quality assessment and control of the herb. To better utilize the valuable plant, further comparison among the chemical constitutions, pharmacological activities and therapeutic mechanisms of different snow lotuses are needed.
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