Lonicerae japonicae flos, a widely used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been used for several thousand years in China.Chinese Pharmacopeiaonce included Lonicerae japonicae flos of Caprifoliaceae family and plants of the same species named Lonicerae flos in general in the same group.Chinese Pharmacopeia(2005 Edition) lists Lonicerae japonicae flos and Lonicerae flos under different categories, although they have the similar history of efficacy. In this study, we research ancient books of TCM, 4 main databases of Chinese academic journals, and MEDLINE/PubMed to verify the origins and effects of Lonicerae japonicae flos and Lonicerae flos in traditional medicine and systematically summarized the research data in light of modern pharmacology and toxicology. Our results show that Lonicerae japonicae flos and Lonicerae flos are similar pharmacologically, but they also differ significantly in certain aspects. A comprehensive systematic review and a standard comparative pharmacological study of Lonicerae japonicae flos and Lonicerae flos as well as other species of Lonicerae flos support their clinical safety and application. Our study provides evidence supporting separate listing of Lonicerae japonicae flos and Lonicerae flos inChinese Pharmacopeiaas well as references for revision of relevant pharmacopeial records dealing with traditional efficacy of Lonicerae japonicae flos and Lonicerae flos.

Shenlian extract (SL) is a combination of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. (Labiatae) and Andrographis paniculata (Burm. F.) Wall. Ex Nees (Acanthaceae) extracts, which promote blood circulation and clear ...

Increasing evidence supports the hypothesis that inflammatory reactions serves an important function in the formation, progression and plaque rupture of atherosclerosis. Interleukin (IL)‑1 primarily induces inflammation and is closely associated with the inflammatory environment and the formation of atherosclerosis. The present study aimed to establish an in vitro model for the evaluation of drug efficacy in the intervention of atherosclerosis from the inflammatory perspective, and to observe the anti‑inflammatory effects of tanshinone IIA and andrographolide on atherosclerosis. The IL‑1β‑induced inflammation‑activated endothelial cell (EC)‑smooth muscle cell (SMC)‑mononuclear cell (MC) co‑culture model was established, based on the changes in a series of atherosclerosis‑associated inflammatory markers secreted by ECs and SMCs. The expression of connexin in ECs, adhesion of MCs and changes in inflammatory signalling molecules were selected as evaluation indices for the inflammatory microenvironment of atherosclerosis. The use of this model revealed that tanshinone IIA exhibited significant efficacy against atherosclerosis and its inflammatory reactions. Inflammatory reactions were regarded as the primary mechanism underlying atherosclerosis. The established model simulated a series of relevant changes in the arterial wall under the inflammatory cytokines with oxidized low‑density lipoprotein during the atherosclerotic process. The present study presented a reliable method for the identification of drugs with potential anti‑inflammatory activity in atherosclerosis, for investigating the mechanisms of action, considering the improvement of the inflammatory state and the increase in plaque stability observed.