Eucommia ulmoides (E. ulmoides) is a relict plant belonging to the Eucommiaceae family. Each part of E. ulmoides including the bark, leaf, staminate flower, and seed, contains various active ingredients, that are edible and have medicinal value. This review summarizes the literatures on the functional properties of flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, and polysaccharides in different parts of E. ulmoides. The prospects for application of the different parts of E. ulmoides as functional foods are also discussed. This review provides a reference for further research and development of the medicinal application of E. ulmoides.

We describe a manual prechop technique to divide the nucleus using a cystotome. In the cystotome-assisted prechop technique, after the capsulorhexis, the surgeon-bent cystotome is inserted into the lens while the Nagahara chopper is set around the lens equator. The cystotome and the chopper are then brought together in the center to create a bisecting crack in the nucleus, dividing it cleanly into 2 hemispheres. No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Lycium barbarum is a plant that is a member of the Solanaceae family. Different tissues and organs from this plant are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine because of their abundant functional ingredients. Recently, Lycium barbarum has been the subject of several ethnopharmacological studies. With the deepening research and development of products utilizing functional ingredients, the edible value of Lycium barbarum has been gradually explored, attracting the attention of scholars due to its excellent nutritional properties. In 1988, the fruits of Lycium barbarum were officially included in the list of “both medicine and food” by the Chinese Ministry of Health. Additionally, the bark and leaves of Lycium barbarum are edible. Owing to its dual‐use characteristics in medicine and food, Lycium barbarum has been widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine and functional food worldwide. However, a comprehensive summary focused on the functional ingredients, pharmacological effects, food research and development status, and safety of Lycium barbarum is lacking. Therefore, we reviewed the major functional ingredient categories, structural characteristics, and nutritional value. Furthermore, we summarize the pharmacological effects of the functional ingredients to support their further application as therapeutic agents. Food research and the development of functional ingredients from Lycium barbarum are also systematically reviewed. Finally, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the safety and future development of products derived from Lycium barbarum , exploring potential applications in the fields of cosmetics, agriculture, functional foods, and nutritional supplements of its bioactive constituents, with the aim of facilitating further extensive investigations into its utilization.

Rabdosia rubescens contais many active ingredients such as terpenoids, flavonoids, polysaccharides and organic acids. Modern research has proved that Rabdosia rubescens has the effect of heat-clearing and detoxicating, antibacterial and anticancer, promoting blood circulation to arrest pain and anti-tumor. It is used in the treatment of sore throat, rheumatoid arthritis and various kinds of cancer. The clinical application of Rabdosia rubescens is restricted in the fat-soluble components, and the solubility of water solubility is ignored. The application of prescriptions, Chinese patent drug and food therapy of Rabdosia rubescens are less and fragmented. This paper inquires relevant literature, the application of Rabdosia rubescens in prescription, Chinese patent medicine and food therapy was reviewed, in order to make Rabdosiae rubescens play a greater role in the relevant area. On the basis of make the best use of everything, to promote the innovation and development of Chinese medicine and services to the people in our country.

Objectives: Explore whether Oridonin (Ori) improves esophageal cancer by interfering in the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome.Materials and methods: An esophageal mouse model was induced by 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide (4-NQO) for 16 weeks. Starting from the 17th week of modeling, the mice were randomly divided into three groups: the model group (M), the high dose group of Ori (Ori -H) and the low dose group of Ori (Ori -L). The weight, diet, and water intake of the mice were recorded at the end of the experiment. H&E staining was used for esophageal tissue to evaluate pathological status. The tumor markers, inflammatory factor, mRNA and protein expression of TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome related indicators in serum and esophageal tissue was determined by ELISA, qPCR, and western blot (WB) respectively. The blood cell analyzer was used for measuring the proportion of various blood cells.Results: Ori can increase the weight, the intake amount of food and water of mice (P<0.05, P<0.01). In parallel, Ori can alleviate pathological changes of esophageal tissue, decrease the levels of inflammatory factor tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum (P<0.01), and down-regulate granulocyte (Gran), Gran-to- Lymphocyte (Lymph) ratio (NLR), monocyte (Mon)-to-lymph ratio (MLR), and platelets-to-Lymph ratio (PLR) in the peripheral blood, while increasing Lymph, red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB) (P<0.05, P<0.01). Moreover, the protein expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB (p-NF-κB), IL-1β, NOD-like receptor hot protein domain related protein 3 (NLRP3), aspartate specific cysteine protease-1 (Caspase-1), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), N-cadherin, and p-GSK3β was significantly inhibited by Ori (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the mRNA expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Ki67, and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) was significantly inhibited, while Bax mRNA was increased by Ori (P<0.05, P<0.01).Conclusion: This study provides evidence indicating that Ori may inhibit inflammatory response by inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome activation, ultimately exert anti esophageal cancer effects.

The inherent characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine are multi components and multi targets, which lays a theoretical foundation for the multipurpose use of traditional Chinese Medicine.The compatibility of traditional Chinese medicine may produce new curative effect and enlarge its application foundation. A variety of effective ingredients in the single herb, Chinese herbal compound and proprietary Chinese medicine are the material basis of multi target effect of Chinese medicine. There are differences in the treatment of diseases due to different flavor and meridian tropism, different routes of administration and different medicinal sites. This paper on the basis of our laboratory using traditional Chinese medicine, analysis of current research situation of multipurpose use of Chinese Medicine, to explore its application in the treatment of diseases.