Licorice (Gan-Cao, licorice) is a natural antioxidant and roasted licorice is the most common processing specification used in traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions. Traditional Chinese medicine theory deems that the honey-roasting process can promote the efficacy of licorice, including tonifying the spleen and augmenting “Qi” (energy). The antioxidant activity and mechanisms underlying roasted licorice have not yet been reported. In this study, we found that roasted licorice could relieve the oxidative stress injury induced by metronidazole (MTZ) and could restrain the production of excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by 2,2′-azobis (2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH) in a zebrafish model. It was further found that roasted licorice could exert its oxidative activity by upregulating the expression of key genes such as heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1), glutamate–cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM), and glutamate–cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) in the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) signaling pathway both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, consistent results were obtained showing that rat serum containing roasted licorice was estimated to reduce cell apoptosis induced by H₂O₂. Then, the UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS analysis results elucidated the chemical composition of rat plasma containing roasted licorice extracts, including ten prototype chemical components and five metabolic components. Among them, six compounds were found to have binding activity with Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), which plays a crucial role in the transcriptional activity of NRF2, using a molecular docking simulation. The results also showed that liquiritigenin had the strongest binding ability with KEAP1. Immunofluorescence further confirmed that liquiritigenin could induce the nuclear translocation of NRF2. In summary, this study provides a better understanding of the antioxidant effect and mechanisms of roasted licorice, and lays a theoretical foundation for the development of a potential antioxidant for use in clinical practice.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Glehnia littoralis (GL) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine used to clear the lungs and benefit the stomach. Glehnia littoralis polysaccharides (GLPs) constitute one of the primary active ingredients of GL, demonstrating notable biological activities including immunomodulatory, antioxidant activity, and antitumor effects. Aim of the study: This review aims to provide the latest and the most comprehensive information on GLPs, specifically investigating their extraction technologies, isolation and purification methods, structural characteristics, and pharmacological activities of GLPs. It seeks to lay a foundation for further investigating pharmacological activities and application scope and guide the safe clinical practice of GLPs. Materials and methods: PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Elsevier, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and other online databases were used to collect literature about extraction, isolation, and purification methods, structural characteristics, and pharmacological activities of GLPs published before January 2025. Results: Polysaccharides are the main active ingredient of GL. Currently, 19 types of GLPs have been extracted. Methods of extracting GL include hot water extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and enzyme extraction. The most frequently used method of separation and purification within GLP is column chromatography, often entailing cellulose column chromatography and ion exchange chromatography. GLPs have various pharmacological activities, including immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and antitumor. Conclusions: While GLPs show promising immunomodulatory and antitumor effects, elucidating their structure–activity relationships is essential for advancing our understanding and requires future research.

The processed Buthus martensii Karsch scorpions, commonly called Quanxie or Scorpio, have been a valuable traditional medicine for over a millennium, with documented use dating back to 935-960 AD. Traditionally employed in treating rheumatism, epilepsy, stroke, and chronic pain, Scorpio contains diverse chemical constituents, including venom, steroid derivatives, alkaloids, amino acids, and nucleosides. Modern pharmacological studies have identified active components, particularly venom and proteins, that exhibit analgesic, antitumor, antiepileptic, and antithrombotic properties. However, these same active ingredients can also induce neurotoxicity and autonomic dysfunction, with overdose leading to such adverse effects. Consequently, numerous processing methods have emerged to mitigate toxicity while preserving pharmacological activity. Despite these advances, key research gaps persist: modern studies overly rely on isolated venom components (with insufficient attention to multi-constituent interactions in processed whole scorpions), high-quality clinical trials are lacking in the functional research on active ingredients, and the mechanisms underlying processing-induced detoxification remain unclear.

This study established an integrated strategy to characterize the flavor profiles of four commercial Huangjiu types (dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet, and sweet). Electronic tongue (E-tongue) analysis showed that sweet Huangjiu exhibited the strongest sourness, while dry Huangjiu displayed intense aftertaste signals. Semi-dry and semi-sweet Huangjiu presented prominent umami and saltiness responses. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) of electronic nose (E-nose) data identified five key sensors that effectively distinguished the four types. Headspace gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) detected 76 volatile compounds, among which semi-sweet Huangjiu contained the highest levels of alcohols, ketones, and aldehydes. A total of 31 compounds were identified as key discriminatory markers. Odor activity value (OAV) calculations indicated that (Z)-4-heptenal, (E,E)-2,4-nonadienal, and furanone derivatives were the dominant aroma contributors. Headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC–MS) identified 60 volatile compounds, with semi-sweet Huangjiu exhibiting the greatest compositional diversity, including 12 unique components. Furthermore, 14 differential volatile components were identified as holistic markers to distinguish between the distinct regional and technological styles of Shaoxing-type and Jimo-type Huangjiu. This integrated sensory-chromatographic platform provides a reliable scientific basis for the quality evaluation, classification, and flavor monitoring of complex commercial Huangjiu products.

Curcumae Radix : the dried root tuber of plants from the genus Curcuma (family Zingiberaceae ), is a commonly used Chinese materia medica for promoting blood circulation and moving qi. It exhibits effects including invigorating blood circulation to relieve pain, moving qi to resolve depression, clearing the heart to cool blood, and promoting bile flow to relieve jaundice. Its botanical origins include Curcuma wenyujin , Curcuma longa , Curcuma kwangsiensis , and Curcumae phaeocaulis . Modern investigations have shown that Curcumae Radix contains over 250 compounds, mainly volatile oils and curcuminoids. Pharmacologically, it exhibits antitumor, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, cardiovascular-protective, and neuroprotective effects. In clinical practice, it is often combined with other herbs for the synergistic treatment of hepatobiliary, neurological, and digestive system disorders. Processing can alter the dissolution and transformation of its chemical constituents, thereby enhancing its efficacy or directionally regulating its actions. Although several reviews have summarized the chemical composition and pharmacological effects of Curcumae Radix , there is still a lack of clear understanding regarding the correlation between chemical differences and efficacy among different botanical origins, a systematic elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying processing-induced efficacy enhancement, and high-quality clinical translational evidence. This review systematically summarizes the chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, clinical applications, and processing research progress of Curcumae Radix , identifies the current key knowledge gaps, and provides a reference for the precision clinical application and modern development of this herbal medicine.