The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical effects of abdominal massage on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its influence on the intestinal microflora. We conducted a randomized, controlled clinical trial. A total of 60 patients with T2DM, who met the inclusion criteria, were randomly allocated to the control group, the routine massage group, and the abdominal massage group. The control group received health education and maintained their hypoglycemic drug treatment plan. The routine massage group and the abdominal massage group received different massage interventions. In addition to glucose and lipid metabolism indicators, we quantitatively analyzed the gut microbiota to assess the effects of massage on the intestinal microflora of patients with T2DM. Compared with the control group, the abdominal massage improved levels of glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, Enterobacter, and Bifidobacteria with significant differences (P = 0.02, P = 0.03, P = 0.03, and P = 0.03). The comparison within group showed that the levels of the four bacterial genera in the abdominal massage group revealed significant differences before and after treatment (P = 0.006, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.002). The comparison between the routine massage group and the abdominal massage group was not significantly different in all levels of test indices. The abdominal massage group regulated levels of Enterobacter and Lactobacilli to a greater extent than the routine massage group. Additionally, abdominal massage decreased Enterococcus levels. The results of this study showed that abdominal massage has clinical advantages over routine massage. Specifically, this intervention may correct microflora disturbances to a certain extent.

Background: No proven disease-modifying therapy exists for Parkinson’s disease (PD), and prior single-target antioxidants have shown limited, unsustained benefits, highlighting the need for safe multi-target strategies. Objective: To synthesize how medicine–food homology (MFH) compounds from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)—polysaccharides, saponins/triterpenoids, polyphenols, carotenoids, and aromatic phenylpropanoids—modulate oxidative stress and PD-related neurodegeneration, and to outline formulation routes toward dietary-supplement development. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, Embase (Ovid), and the Cochrane Library from inception through August 1, 2025 with prespecified concept blocks (“Parkinson’s disease,” “oxidative stress,” Nrf2/ARE, NF-κB, PI3K/Akt, autophagy, and MFH terms). English-language in-vitro, invertebrate, and PD-specific rodent studies, selected epidemiology, and formulation/dose/regulatory reports were narratively appraised; no meta-analysis or tool-based risk-of-bias scoring was performed. Results: MFH compounds converge on Nrf2/ARE activation, NF-κB suppression, autophagy promotion, and mitochondrial stabilization; nano-/micro-delivery may improve bioavailability and brain exposure in preclinical models. Evidence is predominantly preclinical, with heterogeneous methods and sparse PD-specific randomized trials; epidemiologic signals are suggestive but non-causal. PD-specific oxidative stress arises from dopamine auto-oxidation, neuromelanin–iron catalysis, and complex-I hypofunction; Latest studies further bind these to ferroptosis-linked lipid peroxidation. Clinical evidence remains sparse and PK-limited for MFH actives (e.g., curcumin, EGCG); dose–response, safety monitoring (including liver signals for catechins), and regulatory constraints frame translation. Conclusion: MFH compounds are promising, hypothesis-generating candidates for adjunctive nutrition in PD, pending clinical dose–response and long-term safety validation. No clinical efficacy has been established.

Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), a cognitive disorder arising from cerebrovascular pathology, currently lacks effective targeted therapies. Dysfunction of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) represents a pivotal event in VCI pathogenesis, characterized by tight junction degradation, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. Phytochemicals—including polyphenols, flavonoids, and polysaccharides—demonstrate promising multi-target potential in ameliorating VCI by preserving BBB integrity, mitigating neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, exerting neuroprotective effects, and modulating the gut–brain axis. However, the clinical translation of these compounds is currently impeded by low bioavailability and limited BBB permeability. Prioritizing the development of targeted delivery systems is essential to enhance the therapeutic efficacy and clinical utility of phytochemicals in the prevention and treatment of VCI.

Aim of the work: This review aims to systematically integrate the mechanism of action of Astragalus membranaceus and its active components on central nervous system(CNS) diseases, with a focus on exploring its therapeutic potential, and introducing related health food products that use it as an adjunct treatment for CNS diseases.Materials and methods: Searches were conducted through the PubMed and Web of Science databases using the keywords "Astragalus membranaceus", "Astragali Radix", "Astragaloside IV (AS-IV)", "Astragalus membranaceus polysaccharides (APS)" and "CNS diseases". Reports on the effects of Astragalus membranaceus and its components on CNS diseases were identified and reviewed.Results: This review provides a comprehensive summary of the latest research advancements concerning Astragalus membranaceus across several pivotal domains, including its extensive historical usage, active constituents, pharmacological properties, potential therapeutic applications for CNS disorders, safety profile, contemporary formulations, and significant findings in the realm of health food applications. The medicinal history of Astragalus membranaceus membranaceus is both long-standing and profound, with usage spanning over 2,000 years. Its active components, such as AS-IV and APS, have demonstrated considerable therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of CNS diseases. The pharmacological effects of Astragalus membranaceus membranaceus are diverse, encompassing anti-neuroinflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, anti-apoptotic activities, modulation of autophagy, anti-ferroptotic effects, and protection of the blood-brain barrier. Furthermore, the practical applications of Astragalus membranaceus extend beyond the medical field, encompassing modern pharmaceutical preparations and health food products, among other areas. Despite the promising potential of Astragalus membranaceus in the treatment of CNS diseases, numerous challenges persist in the comprehensive investigation of its pharmacological mechanisms and the standardization of its quality. Nonetheless, Astragalus membranaceus occupies an essential and significant role in the management of CNS disorders and is anticipated to have an increasingly prominent impact in related fields in the future.Conclusion: Astragalus membranaceus has emerged as a promising pharmacological agent in the global health sector, attributed to its notable efficacy in addressing CNS disorders. Combining traditional knowledge with innovative research and based on the concept of "homology of medicine and food", the application of Astragalus membranaceus as an auxiliary therapy in the field of health food fully leverages its neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties, which is an important direction for future research.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease of the immune system that leads to continuous synovial inflammation and the progressive breakdown of joints. As essential effector cells in innate immunity, macrophages can become either pro‐inflammatory M1 or anti‐inflammatory M2 phenotypes, playing a critical role in RA pathogenesis. A marked M1/M2 polarization imbalance exists in the synovial microenvironment of RA, in which excessive activation and accumulation of M1 macrophages serve as a key hub driving persistent inflammation, cartilage degradation, and bone erosion. Currently, conventional disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) with methotrexate (MTX) as the anchor agent remain the mainstay for RA management; however, approximately 30%‐40% of RA patients show an inadequate response to MTX, resulting in persistent synovial inflammation, progressive joint damage, and difficult‐to‐control disease. For macrophage‐directed phenotypic modulation in RA therapy, novel smart nanodelivery systems are a key research focus, while accumulating preclinical evidence supports the capacity of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to restore M1/M2 homeostasis. This review systematically summarizes the polarization mechanisms of macrophages in RA, their core pathological functions, and recent advances in targeting these cells as therapeutic strategies, therefore delivering novel insights and references for RA treatment through targeted changes in macrophage polarization.

Objective: A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Traditional Chinese Exercise in reducing pain intensity, improving dysfunction and quality of life, and increasing the overall treatment effectiveness rate in patients with nonspecific low back pain (NLBP), so as to provide evidence for its clinical application. Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, this study systematically searched eight databases—CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, Sinomed, PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science—for randomized controlled trials published up to January 19, 2026. A total of 38 studies involving, 3,054 patients were included. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. Based on heterogeneity, either a fixed-effects or random-effects model was selected to synthesize the standardized mean difference (SMD) or weighted mean difference (WMD), Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were performed to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Results: The meta-analysis demonstrated that traditional Chinese exercise significantly reduced pain intensity [WMD = −1.21; 95% CI (−1.66, −0.76)], improved dysfunction [WMD = −6.80; 95% CI (−10.18, −3.41)], and enhanced quality of life [SMD = 1.64; 95% CI (0.33, 2.96)] in patients with nonspecific low back pain (NLBP). The overall treatment response rate was increased by 17% [RR = 1.17; 95% CI (1.10, 1.24)]. Subgroup analysis indicated that Liu Zi Jue (a specific Qigong breathing exercise) demonstrated the greatest analgesic effect (SMD = −1.71) and the most significant improvement in functional disability (WMD = −13.35). Additionally, patients younger than 45 years of age showed a more favorable response to treatment (SMD = −1.52). Substantial heterogeneity was observed across studies, attributed primarily to the diversity of intervention protocols, including variations in exercise types, treatment durations, and differences in the measurement instruments used. Conclusion: Traditional Chinese exercise is an effective, low-cost, and safe intervention for NLBP patients and may be recommended as a complementary approach in clinical management. Future research should include large-sample, standardized studies incorporating biomechanical and imaging techniques to elucidate underlying mechanisms, and develop evidence-based practice guidelines. Systematic Review Registration: identifier: CRD42025649466 ( https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/ ).