Buchang naoxintong capsule (BNC) is a traditional Chinese medicine approved for the treatment of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. However, little is known about the specific protective function or mechanism by which BNC protects against myocardial injury. This research was designed to investigate the cardioprotective effects of BNC in vitro model of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced H9c2 rat cardiomyoblasts. BNC intestinal absorption liquid was used in this study instead of drug-containing serum or extracting solution. Our study revealed that BNC preconditioning enhanced antioxidant function by increasing the activities of total-antioxygen capacity, total-superoxide dismutase, and catalase and by decreasing the production of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde. BNC preconditioning also activated extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) and inhibited apoptosis-related proteins such as poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and caspase-3. Additionally, preincubation with BNC reduced intracellular Ca²⁺concentration, improved mitochondrial membrane potential, and decreased the apoptosis rate of H9c2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. These data demonstrated that BNC protects H9c2 cardiomyoblasts from H₂O₂-induced oxidative injury by increasing antioxidant abilities, activating ERK1/2, and blocking Ca²⁺-dependent and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Based on our results, the potency of BNC for protecting H9c2 cells from oxidative damage is comparable to that of trimetazidine.

Physalis angulata L. is a medicinal plant of the Solanaceae family, which is used to produce a variety of steroids. The present study reports on the cytotoxic withanolides of this plant. The species of Physalis angulata L. was identified by DNA barcoding techniques. Two new withanolides (1–2), together with six known analogues (3–8), were isolated from the whole plant of Physalis angulata L. The structures of these new compounds were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analyses and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. The withanolides exhibited strong cytotoxic activities against A549, Hela and p388 cell lines. Furthermore, compounds 1 and 2 induced typical apoptotic cell death in A549 cell line according to the evaluation of the apoptosis-inducing activity by flow cytometric analysis.

Background. Amino acids (AAs) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) play a pivotal role in cerebral ischemia (CI). BuChang NaoXinTong Capsules (BNC) are widely prescribed in Chinese medicine for the treatment of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. Methods. In order to investigate the therapeutic effects and pharmacological mechanisms of BNC on reversing CI from a system level, an amino acid-protein interaction imbalanced network of CI containing metabolites of AAs, key regulatory enzymes, and proteins was constructed for the first time. Furthermore, a novel method for detecting the ten AAs in CSF was developed by UPLC-QQQ-MS in an effort to validate the imbalanced networks and the therapeutic effects of BNC via analysis of metabolites. Results. Based on a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model, the dynamic levels of amino acids in CSF 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after MCAO were analyzed. Up to 24 h, the accumulated nine AA biomarkers were found to significantly change in the MCAO group compared to the sham group and exhibited an obvious tendency for returning to baseline values after BNC treatment. In addition, based on the imbalanced network of CI, four key enzymes that regulate the generation of BNC-mediated AA biomarkers were selected and validated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blotting. Finally, aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase (AADC) was found to be one of the putative targets for BNC-mediated protection against CI. Conclusion. This study provides new strategies to explore the mechanism of cerebral ischemia and help discover the potential mechanism of BNC.

Non-clinical pharmacology of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulae plays a crucial role in elucidating their therapeutic mechanisms. With the integration of cutting-edge disciplines such as systems biology, big data, and artificial intelligence, the research depth and breadth in this field continue to expand. However, technical standards for non-clinical pharmacology research on TCM formulae have not yet been established. To address this, technical guidelines for non-clinical pharmacology research of TCM formulae were formed, aiming to scientifically standardize research content, elevate research quality, and facilitate the mutual translation between clinical and basic research. Guided by integrative pharmacology of TCM and driven by clinical value, these guidelines employ multi-dimensional qualitative pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) studies alongside quantitative "PK-PD" studies of key components. This approach enables the transition from panoramic description to precise mechanistic research, establishing a complete evidence chain system for the effectiveness of TCM formulae and demonstrating their holistic action characteristics of "multi-component, multi-pathway, multi-target". Meanwhile, the guidelines emphasize that animal models for TCM research should ensure stability and reproducibility. Additionally, pharmacodynamic evaluation is characterized by its measurability and quantifiability. The mechanisms of action at the molecular level should be in-depth and interpretable. These aspects collectively provide guidance for basic non-clinical pharmacology research on TCM formulae and the development of new TCM drugs. The formulation of these guidelines leveraged the research strengths of the drafting units' teams, incorporated literature review findings, and achieved consensus through extensive discussions among multidisciplinary experts. Broad expert opinions from universities, research institutes, and enterprises engaged in new drug development were solicited, ensuring the guidelines' practicality, standardization, scientific rigor, and feasibility.