RECENT RESEARCH
Acupuncture and TCM
Komiyama M , Ozaki Y , Wada H , Yamakage H , Satoh-Asahara N , Yasoda A et al . Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled multicenter trial for the effects of a polyherbal remedy , Yokukansan ( YiganSan ), in smokers with depressive tendencies . BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies . 2022 ; 22 , Article number 311 .
Background : Smoking and depression are closely related and form a vicious cycle . Yokukansan ( YiganSan ) is a polyherbal remedy that has the effect of calming neuropsychiatric symptoms such as anger and irritation . To examine the efficacy of Yokukansan during smoking cessation ( SC ) therapy in smokers with depressive tendencies but without major depressive disorders requiring pharmacotherapy .
Methods : A multicenter , doubleblind , randomized , placebo-controlled , parallel-group comparison trial was conducted between June 2016 and May 2020 at 12 centers of the National Hospital Organization , Japan . This trial targeted smokers who first visited the SC outpatient clinics , did not receive any pharmacological treatment at the psychiatric or psychosomatic department , and scored 39 or more on the self-rating depression scale ( SDS ). Participants ( n = 198 ) were randomly assigned to either the Yokukansan or placebo groups . The trial drug was initiated with the start of the SC treatment and continued for 12 weeks . The primary outcome was the high success rate of the SC treatment , and the secondary outcomes included changes in scores of the SDS and the Profile of Mood States ( POMS ) instrument .
Results : The success rate of the SC treatment was similar between the placebo ( 63 %) and Yokukansan ( 67 %) groups ( P = . 649 ). The SDS scores ( placebo : mean difference [ MD ] = -3.5 , 95 % confidence interval [ CI ][ -5.8 , -1.2 ], d = 0.42 ; Yokukansan : MD = -4.6 , 95 % CI [ -6.8 , -2.3 ], d = 0.55 ), and the “ tension-anxiety ” POMS-subscale scores ( placebo : MD = -1.6 , 95 % CI [ -2.5 , -0.7 ], d = 0.52 ; Yokukansan : MD = -1.6 ,
95 % CI [ -2.9 , -0.3 ], d = 0.36 ) showed significant improvement in both groups after the SC treatment . However , “ depression-dejection ” improved in the Yokukansan group ( MD = -1.9 , 95 % CI [ - 3.1 , -0.7 ], d = 0.44 ) but not in the placebo group ( MD = -0.1 , 95 % CI [ -1.0 , 0.7 ], d = 0.04 ). Significant improvement in “ fatigue ” was noted in the Yokukansan group ( MD = -2.1 , 95 % CI [ -3.4 , -0.9 ], d = 0.47 ) but not in the placebo group ( MD = -0.5 , 95 % CI [ -1.8 , 0.8 ], d = 0.11 ). The time × group interaction on the improvement in “ depression-dejection ” was significant ( P = . 019 ).
Conclusions : Yokukansan does not increase the SC treatment ’ s success rate but has additional positive effects on the psychological states due to the SC treatment in smokers with depressive tendencies but without apparent mental disorders .
Wang M , Wang Q , Du Y , Zhang X . Exploring the pharmacological mechanism of Shengjing capsule on male infertility by a network pharmacology approach . BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies . 2022 ; 22 , Article number : 299
Background : Shengjing capsule ( SJC ) is a traditional Chinese medicine ( TCM ) and has gained widespread clinical application for the treatment of male infertility ( MI ). However , the pharmacological mechanism of SJC against MI remains vague to date .
Method : The active ingredients of SJC and their targets were identified from the database , and MI-related genes were retrieved from several databases . Protein – protein interaction ( PPI ) data were obtained to construct the PPI networks . The candidate targets of SJC against MI were identified through topological analysis of the PPI network . Functional enrichment analysis of candidate targets was performed , and the key target genes were identified from the gene-pathway network .
Results : We identified 154 active ingredients and 314 human targets of SJC , as well as 564 MI-related genes .
Eight pharmacological network diagrams illustrating the interactions among herbs , active ingredients , targets , and pathways , were constructed . The four dominating network maps included a compoundtarget network of SJC , a compound-anti- MI targets network , a candidate targets PPI network , a pathway-gene network , and a drug-key compounds-hub targetspathways network . Systematic analysis indicated that the targets of SJC in the treatment of MI mainly involved RPS6 , MAPK1 , MAPK3 , MDM2 , and DDX5 . Pathway enrichment analysis showed that SJC had the potential to impact multiple biological pathways , such as cancer-related pathways , viral / bacterial infection-related pathways , and signal transduction-related pathways .
Conclusion : Our results preliminarily revealed the pharmacological basis and molecular mechanism SJC in treating MI , but further experimental research is required to verify these findings .
Aromatherapy
Saeedi M , Iraji A , Vahedi-Mazdabadi Y , Alizadeh A , Edraki N , Firuzi O , et al . Bark essential oil : in vitro investigation of anticholinesterase , anti-BACE1 , and neuroprotective activity . BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies . 2022 , 22 , Article number : 303 .
Background : Cinnamomum verum J . Presl . ( Lauraceae ), Myrtus communis L . ( Myrtaceae ), Ruta graveolens L . ( Rutaaceae ), Anethum graveolens L . ( Apiaceae ), Myristica fragrans Houtt . ( Myristicaceae ), and Crocus sativus L . ( Iridaceae ) have been recommended for improvement of memory via inhalation , in Iranian Traditional Medicine ( ITM ). In this respect , the essential oils ( EOs ) from those plants were obtained and evaluated for cholinesterase ( ChE ) inhibitory activity as ChE inhibitors are the available drugs in the treatment of Alzheimer ’ s disease ( AD ).
Methods : EOs obtained from the plants under investigation , were evaluated for their potential to inhibit acetylcholinesterase ( AChE ) and butyrylcholinesterase ( BChE ) in vitro
226 | vol28 | no4 | JATMS