Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the pharmacological effects of Fengshi Gutong Capsule (FSGT) on osteoarthritis (OA) and to explore the potential involvement of the STING/NF-κB signaling axis, using an integrated strategy combining network pharmacology with in vitro and in vivo experiments. Methods: In the present study, the active ingredients of the FSGT were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS), and their potential targets and pathways were predicted using network pharmacology. An osteoarthritis rat model was established via intra-articular injection of monoiodoacetate (MIA) to evaluate the therapeutic effects of FSGT. Serum levels of inflammatory cytokines were measured, and histopathological changes were assessed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic efficacy. In addition, in vitro experiments, including cytotoxicity assay, flow cytometry, cytokine detection, and Western blotting, were performed to further validate the underlying mechanisms. Results: Chemical profiling of FSGT identified 125 constituents, while serum metabolomics revealed 10 differential metabolites. In vivo studies showed that FSGT ameliorated rat joint lesions and reduced serum inflammatory cytokine levels. To further investigate the underlying mechanisms, fuziline, identified as a representative blood-entering component of FSGT, was selected for in vitro experiments. In LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, fuziline attenuated inflammatory responses, reduced the proportion of CD86-positive cells while increasing that of CD206-positive cells, and lowered cytokine levels. By integrating network pharmacology with experimental verification, the anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions of FSGT were found to be associated with modulation of the STING/NF-κB signaling axis, in which fuziline may act as a candidate bioactive constituent. Conclusions: In rats with OA, FSGT attenuated cartilage degradation, inflammatory responses, and pain symptoms. From a mechanistic perspective, these beneficial outcomes were associated with reduced activation of the STING/NF-κB signaling axis, and fuziline attenuated NF-κB-mediated cytokine release. These data suggest that FSGT could be developed as a potential treatment for OA.

Medicine–food homology (MFH) substances, which possess both medicinal and edible properties, have garnered widespread attention in the global health context of the new era. The MFH industry has experienced explosive growth and has gradually become a key supporting aspect of TCM modernization. However, due to the pollution of the modern environment, the content of pollutants in MFH products has been increasing, raising concerns regarding quality, safety, and efficacy control. Traditional quality-analysis technologies struggle to meet the needs of rapid on-site detection because of their dependence on large instruments and the complexity of operation. This dilemma has propelled advances in sensor technology. With its advantages of high sensitivity, real-time detection, and portability, sensor technology has become a key technical support for quality control and supervision in the field of MFH. In this review, we comprehensively categorize the mainstream sensor types used for analysis in the field of MFH, including intelligent sensors, optics, electrochemistry, biosensors, etc. This review outlines their research status, elaborates on their primary application directions and corresponding core technologies, discusses current challenges (including stability, interference, and cost), and presents future perspectives. Overall, sensor-based technologies offer a promising and scalable solution for the quality control of MFH products, addressing critical challenges such as stability, interference, and cost. With ongoing advances in intelligent sensing, optics, electrochemistry, and biosensing platforms, these methods are poised to play an increasingly vital role in ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality consistency of MFH products amid growing environmental pressures.

Background: Coix seed (Coix lacryma-jobi L.), a widely consumed medicinal and edible food in Asian countries, has attracted growing interest in functional food research. Among its bioactive constituents, coix seed polysaccharides (CSP) have emerged as promising candidates for managing chronic inflammatory disorders. This study aimed to preliminarily evaluate whether CSP could alleviate rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through modulating gut microbiota and their derived metabolites, moving beyond the conventional focus on short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Methods: An experimental RA model was established in rats using complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA), and the therapeutic potential of CSP was screened through serum inflammatory factor analysis, histopathological evaluation, shotgun metagenomic sequencing-based gut microbiota profiling, and untargeted serum metabolomics. Results: CSP treatment significantly reduced paw swelling and ameliorated synovial injury in CFA-induced rats. Untargeted metabolomics revealed that CSP restored perturbed levels of α-linolenic acid and other host-microbial co-metabolites, while partially reconstituting the disrupted gut microbiota, notably increasing Lactobacillus intestinalis abundance. Correlation analyses linked these alterations to decreased inflammatory factors. KEGG functional prediction suggested a possible involvement of MAPK signaling. Conclusion: These findings suggest that CSP exerts anti-RA effects in association with systematic modulation of gut microbiota and host metabolism, highlighting the potential of dietary polysaccharides from medicinal food sources as broad-spectrum metabolic regulators for managing chronic inflammatory diseases.

BackgroundCoix seed (Coix lacryma-jobi L.), a widely consumed medicinal and edible food in Asian countries, has attracted growing interest in functional food research. Among its bioactive constituents, coix seed polysaccharides (CSP) have emerged as promising candidates for managing chronic inflammatory disorders. This study aimed to preliminarily evaluate whether CSP could alleviate rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through modulating gut microbiota and their derived metabolites, moving beyond the conventional focus on short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).MethodsAn experimental RA model was established in rats using complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA), and the therapeutic potential of CSP was screened through serum inflammatory factor analysis, histopathological evaluation, shotgun metagenomic sequencing-based gut microbiota profiling, and untargeted serum metabolomics.ResultsCSP treatment significantly reduced paw swelling and ameliorated synovial injury in CFA-induced rats. Untargeted metabolomics revealed that CSP restored perturbed levels of α-linolenic acid and other host-microbial co-metabolites, while partially reconstituting the disrupted gut microbiota, notably increasing Lactobacillus intestinalis abundance. Correlation analyses linked these alterations to decreased inflammatory factors. KEGG functional prediction suggested a possible involvement of MAPK signaling.ConclusionThese findings suggest that CSP exerts anti-RA effects in association with systematic modulation of gut microbiota and host metabolism, highlighting the potential of dietary polysaccharides from medicinal food sources as broad-spectrum metabolic regulators for managing chronic inflammatory diseases.