Traditional Chinese medicine volatile oil has a long history and possesses extensive pharmacological activity. However, volatile oils have characteristics such as strong volatility, poor water solubility, low bioavailability, and poor targeting, which limit their application. The use of volatile oil nano drug delivery systems can effectively improve the drawbacks of volatile oils, enhance their bioavailability and chemical stability, and reduce their volatility and toxicity. This article first introduces the limitations of the components of traditional Chinese medicine volatile oils, discusses the main classifications and latest developments of volatile oil nano formulations, and briefly describes the preparation methods of traditional Chinese medicine volatile oil nano formulations. Secondly, the limitations of nano formulation technology are discussed, along with future challenges and prospects. A deeper understanding of the role of nanotechnology in traditional Chinese medicine volatile oils will contribute to the modernization of volatile oils and broaden their application value.

Abstract Background As a Traditional Chinese Medicine with an antipyretic effect, Indigo Naturalis (IN) has a long history of application in China. It is often used with other heat-clearing drugs to treat high fever in children, which is different from other heat-clearing medicines. But its antipyretic effect and mechanism have not been fully elucidated yet. And the heat-clearing development of IN lacks convincing current evidence. Methods This study aimed to uncover the antipyretic effect and mechanism of IN on infectious fever by rectal temperature, pyrogen cytokines and metabolomics. Materials and Methods Firstly, the antipyretic effect of IN on LPS-induced fever rats was evaluated by the changes in rat rectal temperature. Then, the content of PGE2 and cAMP in the hypothalamus and TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the serum were determined by ELISA. Finally, the plasma and urine samples of febrile rats were analyzed in combination with UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS to explore the antipyretic mechanism of IN. Results Compared with pyrexia model rats, the rectal temperature of rats treated with Indigo Naturalis was suppressed after 0.5 h (P <0.01). The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that the expression of tumor necrosis TNF-α (P <0.01) and IL-6 (P <0.05) were suppressed by IN. A total of 11 endogenous metabolites were identified from the plasma samples of the IN group, the model group and the control group. Furthermore,15 metabolites were identified in the urine samples. Pathway analysis showed that IN mainly regulated glycerophospholipid metabolism, glucuronide mutual conversion and tryptophan metabolism. Conclusion This study clarified the exact effect of IN on infectious fever. It mainly works by regulating pyrogenic cytokines and glycerophospholipid pathways. The present research provided a deeper understanding of the traditional heat-clearing effect of IN. It provided a reference for the further scientific research of IN and the selection of antipyretic drugs in clinical practice.

Asarum essential oil (AEO) has been shown to have good pharmacological activities for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, but increasing the dose may cause toxicity. Therefore, we studied the toxic and pharmacodynamic components of AEO by molecular distillation (MD). Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using RAW264.7 cells. Neurotoxicity was assessed in PC12 cells and the overall toxicity of AEO was evaluated in the mouse acute toxicity assay. The results showed that AEO is primarily composed of safrole, methyl eugenol, and 3,5-dimethoxytoluene. After MD, three fractions were obtained and contained different proportions of volatile compounds relative to the original oil. The heavy fraction had high concentrations of safrole and methyl eugenol, while the light fraction contained high concentrations of α-pinene and β- pinene. The original oil and all three fractions exhibited anti-inflammatory effects, but the light fraction demonstrated more excellent anti-inflammatory activity than the other fractions. Asarum virgin oil and MD products are all neurotoxic. The exposure of PC12 cells to high concentrations of AEO resulted in abnormal nuclei, an increased number of apoptotic cells, increased ROS formation, and decreased SOD levels. Moreover, the results of acute toxicity tests in mice revealed that the light fractions were less toxic than virgin oils and other fractions. In summary, the data suggest that the MD technology enables the enrichment and separation of essential oil components and contributes to the selection of safe concentrations of AEO.

青黛作为临床常用中药,具有广泛的药理作用,在我国中药产业中的地位和作用越来越突出.该研究基于专利数据方法,重点分析了青黛相关专利国内技术分布和国内外申请人、国内申请省市排名、专利法律运营等专利状况,结合市场信息,采用SWOT分析法综合评价了青黛产业发展的优势、劣势、机遇与挑战,最后从青黛加工技术提升、新药研发、PCT专利申请和校企协同合作四个角度提出产业发展针对性建议.

Background. The Citrus aurantium- (ZhiShi, ZS-) Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (BaiZhu, BZ) pairs are often found in herbal formulas for constipation. The volatile oils of ZS and BZ (ZBVO) have good pharmacological activity against constipation, but the mechanism for treatment of slow transit constipation (STC) remains unclear. Method. A rat model using diphenoxylate tablets was constructed to investigate if transdermal administration of ZBVO would mediate intestinal microorganisms and fecal metabolites and improve STC symptoms. The regulatory effects of ZBVO at 0.15, 0.30, and 0.60 mL kg-1 d-1 on STC rats were assessed by measuring fecal water content, intestinal propulsion rate, histopathology, expression of gastrointestinal hormones, brain and intestinal peptides, and inflammatory factors. The changes in intestinal flora of STC rats were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Moreover, the untargeted fecal metabolomics analysis was performed by ultraperformance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) technology. Results. The results showed that ZBVO had a modulating effect on STC by increasing the fecal water content and intestinal propulsion rate. Transdermal administration of ZBVO decreased serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and increased the levels of gastrin (GAS) and substance P (SP). In addition, ZBVO increased 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels and decreased vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) levels in colon and hippocampus tissues. The results of intestinal microbiota showed that ZBVO improved the diversity and abundance of intestinal microbiota and changed the community composition by decreasing Romboutsia and increasing Proteobacteria, Allobaculum, and Ruminococcaceae. And the feces metabolomics found that nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, purine metabolism, citrate cycle (TCA cycle), pyruvate metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, and primary bile acid biosynthesis were modulated. Conclusion. These findings suggest that ZBVO can alleviate STC symptoms by promoting intestinal peristalsis, increasing fecal water content, regulating gastrointestinal hormone level, reducing the inflammatory response, and regulating brain and intestinal peptides after transdermal administration. And structural changes in the intestinal microbiota are closely related to host metabolism and intestinal microbiota destroyed in STC modeling could be significantly improved by the ZBVO, which provides a reference for the development of aromatic drug macrohealth products.

Background. The Caoguo-4 decoction, a classical Mongolian medicine formula, is widely used to treat spleen deficiency diarrhea (SDD) in Mongolian for decades. Previously, the Caoguo-4 decoction volatile oil has been confirmed to be effective in ameliorating symptoms of spleen deficiency diarrhea in an animal model. However, the underlying mechanism of the Caoguo-4 decoction volatile oil is yet to be established. The aim of the current study was to investigate the antidiarrheal effects and mechanism of the Caoguo-4 decoction volatile oil. Method. Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 10 animals including control, model, positive, Caoguo-4 decoction, and Caoguo-4 decoction volatile oil groups (10 rats in each group). All the rats, besides those in the control group, were induced to develop SDD by a bitter-cold purgation method with Xiaochengqi decoction. The antidiarrheal effect of Caoguo-4 decoction volatile oil was evaluated by pathological section, serum D-xylose and AMS content, plasma MTL content, and gut microbiota analysis via 16S rRNA sequencing. Results. The results showed that the developed SDD rat model (model group) had decreased food intake, increased weight loss, soft stool, and bad hair color. When compared with the control group, serum was significantly reduced serum D-xylose and AML but increased MTL levels in the model group ( p < 0.05 ). However, after treatment with either the Caoguo-4 decoction (the decoction group) or Smecta (the positive group) or volatile oil from the Caoguo-4 decoction (the volatile oil group), a significant increase in the serum D-xylose levels was observed. Additionally, AML levels significantly increased in the positive and volatile oil groups, and MTL levels significantly decreased in the decoction and volatile oil groups, when compared with the model group ( p < 0.05 ). The pathological changes of the intestinal mucosa showed that the structure of the epithelium in the villi of the small intestine was affected, deformed, and incomplete in the model group when compared with the control group. However, either the decoction group or the volatile oil group recovered the villous morphology. The results of OTU analysis and alpha diversity analysis of intestinal bacteria showed that the intestinal microbiota of the SDD model rats showed an obvious decrease in richness and diversity of intestinal microbiota. But the intervention treatment of decoction and volatile oil could significantly recover the richness and diversity of intestinal microbiota. Conclusion. The intestinal microbiota destroyed in SDD modelling could be significantly improved by the Caoguo-4 decoction volatile oils, which provides reference for clinical medication.

Purpose To investigate the effective components and possible mechanism of action of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. essential oil (LEO) in preventing vomiting through the olfactory pathway. Materials and Methods A new network pharmacology–based method was established to analyze main components and pathways of LEO involved in antiemetic effects by introducing component content; biological activities of key proteins of the olfactory pathway and their corresponding compounds were verified by molecular docking technique; and finally pica in a rat model was established to verify the molecular mechanism of antiemetic effects of LEO by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the serum 5-HT, substance P, and DA levels in each group and by immunohistochemistry to determine the contents of 5-HT3R, CaMKII and ERK1/2 proteins in the medulla oblongata tissue. Results Network pharmacology combined with molecular docking analysis showed that the mechanism of the antiemetic effect of LEO may be related to (2Z)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl acetate, linalyl acetate, butanoic acid, hexyl ester, 4-hexen-1-ol, 5-methyl-2-(1-methylethenyl)-, acetate, .tau.-cadinol and other active ingredients, which regulate the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathway and the expression of BRAF, PDE and other targets on the pathway. An ELISA revealed that LEO reduced the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), substance P, and dopamine in serum compared with the model group (P <0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis showed that LEO decreased the expression of 5-HT3R, CaMKII, and ERK1/2 proteins in the medulla oblongata of rats compared with the model group (P <0.01). Conclusion LEO may achieve the antiemetic effect by reducing the content of 5-HT and inhibiting its related receptors, thereby regulating downstream Ca2+/CaMKII/ERK1/2 pathway of the cAMP signaling pathway.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Isatidis Radix (called Banlangen, BLG in Chinese) and Isatidis Folium (called Daqingye, DQY in Chinese) are common traditional edible-medicinal herbs in detoxifying for thousands of years, have been traditionally applied in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Both of them are bitter in taste, coolness in nature, acting on the heart and stomach channels. They are often used to treat influenza and other viral infectious diseases in clinic, as well as could treat fever, dizziness, and cough and sore throat caused by lung heat. Aims of the review: This review aimed at summarizing the latest and comprehensive information of BLG and DQY on the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity and clinical application to explore the therapeutic potential of them. In addition, outlooks and perspective for possible future researches that related are also discussed. Materials and methods: Related information concerning BLG and DQY were gathered from the internet database of Google Scholar, PubMed, Baidu Scholar, GeenMedical, CNKI and Web of Science, as well as other relevant textbooks, reviews, and documents (e.g., Chinese Pharmacopoeia, 2020 edition, Chinese herbal classic books and PhD and MSc thesis, etc.). Among of them with the keywords including "Isatis indigotica" "Isatidis Radix", "Isatidis Folium", "phytochemistry", "pharmacology", "toxicology", "clinical application" etc. and their combinations. Results: To date, 39 Chinese patent medicines containing BLG and/or DQY have been developed on basis of the data of NMPA. Besides, 304 and 142 compounds have been found in BLG and DQY, respectively. The main chemical differences between BLG and DQY were concentrated on alkaloids and lignans, such as indican, indirubin, (R, S)-epigoitrin, 4(3H)-quinazolinone, clemastanin B and isatindigotindolines A-D. In 2020 Edition ChP, (R, S)-goitrin and indirubin are now used as the official marker to monitor the quality of BLG and DQY, respectively. Modern pharmacology has mainly studied some monomer components such as 4(3H)-quinazolinone, clemastanin B, erucic acid and adenosine, etc., all of which have shown good effects. These active compounds can resist various viruses, such as influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, herpes simplex virus, etc.. By regulating the level of immunity and a variety of inflammatory factors, inhibit the growth and reproduction of the virus. At the same time, it is worth noting that different components of BLG and DQY lead to BLG is more powerful in antiviral and immunomodulatory activity than DQY, while DQY possesses a higher intensity than BLG in anti-oxidant activity. Conclusion: By collecting and collating a large number of literature and various data websites, we concluded that the common compounds are mainly alkaloids. Recent findings regarding the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of BLG and DQY have confirmed their traditional uses in antiviral, antibacterial and treatment immune diseases. Without doubt, their significant differences on ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacology can be used as evidence of separate list of BLG and DQY. For shortcomings, some comprehensive studies should be well designed for further utilization of BLG and DQY.

Background and Objective Wound healing is a complex and multifactorial response to the disruption of the normal anatomy and function of skin tissue, which mainly includes four progressive stages: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remodeling. Wound healing is a complex process, and multiple conditions can lead to impaired wound healing and, consequently, scar formation. Natural products discovered and applied for a long time have always been the source of new drugs. With the deepening of research, the role of natural products in promoting wound repair has gradually been a focus. Some natural products and compound drugs are effective in promoting skin wound healing and in reducing adverse reactions after wound healing. Methods This article reviews the mechanism of natural products and some compound drugs in healing skin wounds from the following aspects: related cellular effects during wound repair and scar formation, regulation of growth factors, extracellular matrix (ECM), and collagen metabolism. Key Content and Findings Proteolysis by proteolytic enzymes, such as plasmin, matrix metalloproteinases, and their activators and inhibitors, plays a critical role in wound repair. Some keratinocytes often express some matrix metalloproteinases and plasminogen activators, thus promoting the hydrolysis of components such as fibrin in blood clots to facilitate migration. Conclusions In this paper, we review recent studies on the role and mechanism of some natural products on scar formation found in wound repair. We aim to provide a basis for the in-depth study of the intrinsic mechanism of natural products in repairing wounds and a reference for further development of drugs for wound repair with better efficacy and fewer side effects.

Prunella vulgaris L. is a well‐known traditional Chinese medicine for blood glucose homeostasis and antioxidant potential. Ethyl acetate fraction of P. vulgaris L. demonstrated higher phenolic content (85.53 ± 6.74 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram dry weight), α‐glucosidase inhibitory (IC50, 69.13 ± 2.86 μg/ml), and antioxidant (IC50, 8.68 ± 1.01 μg/ml) activities. However, the bioactive polyphenols responsible for the beneficial properties remain unclear. Here, bioreaction–HPLC–quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight‐MS/MS method was developed for rapid, accurate, and efficient screening and identification of polyphenols with α‐glucosidase inhibitory and antioxidant activities from P. vulgaris L. Bioactive polyphenols can specifically bind with α‐glucosidase or react with 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picryl‐hydrazyl radical, which was easily discriminated from nonactive compounds. Subsequently, 20 bioactive polyphenols (16 phenyl propionic acid derivatives and four flavonoids) were screened and identified. Furthermore, molecular docking analysis revealed that screened 20 polyphenols bind with the active sites of α‐glucosidase through hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking. Density functional theory calculations demonstrated their electron transport ability and chemical reactivity. The in silico analysis confirmed the screened results. In summary, this study provided a valuable strategy for rapid discovering bioactive compounds from complex natural products and offered scientific evidence for further development and application of P. vulgaris L.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:In recent years, there are increasing that the number of patients with psoriasis day by day, and it has become a common disease endangering public health. However, there is no specific cure for psoriasis or control of recurrence. Therefore, it's necessity to seek alternative and efficient therapy, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). As a TCM and effective medicine for the treatment of psoriasis, Indigo Naturalis (Baphicacanthus Cusia (Nees) Bremek.) has the effect of clearing heat, detoxifying blood, eliminating spots, reducing fire and calming panic, and it is used in many classical prescriptions for the treatment of psoriasis.AIM OF REVIEW:To review the latest progress and strategies of Indigo Naturalis in the treatment of psoriasis. This manuscript mainly clarifies the traditional medicinal applications, the mechanism of action and application strategies of Indigo Naturalis, and its preparations in the treatment of psoriasis.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Detailed information on Indigo Naturalis was collected from various online databases (PubMed, GeenMedical, Web of Science, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, and National Intellectual Property Administration).RESULTS:This manuscript reviews a great deal of information about how Indigo Naturalis can treat psoriasis through immune cells, signal pathways and disease-related mediators. The mechanism of cymbididae is expounded from the aspects of regulating keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation, regulating inflammatory infiltration of cellular immune system and improving microvascular dilation and hyperplasia in skin lesions.CONCLUSION:The action mechanisms of Indigo Naturalis on psoriasis reflect the characteristics of multiple components, multiple targets, and multiple pathways of Traditional Chinese medicine. However, some pharmacological and clinical research methods are improper, so that the results are difficult to explain at present. Therefore, further in-depth research is needed to provide knowledge in a wider range of areas to confirm the great therapeutic potential of Indigo Naturalis.

To determine the active ingredients in German chamomile volatile oil and the mechanism of action in the treatment of eczema, this study used two parameters (ingredient content and oil–water partition coefficient) and established a new network pharmacology method based on the dose–effect weight coefficient. Through the new network pharmacology method, we found that German chamomile volatile oil regulated T-cell lymphatic subpopulations to inhibit the Th17 cell differentiation signaling pathway. This resulted in a reduction of interleukin 17 (IL-17), thereby inhibiting the activation of the nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB) and MAPK pathways, decreasing the secretion of the pro-inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6)), and reducing inflammation. In this study, a new dose–effect relationship synergistic network pharmacology method was established to provide a new method for the screening of effective ingredients and pathways of drugs, and to provide a basis for the follow-up studies of German chamomile volatile oil in the treatment of eczema.

Traditional bioassay-guided investigation of bioactive compounds from natural products comprises critical steps, such as extraction, repeated column separation, and activity assay. Thus, the development of facile, rapid, and efficient technology is critically important. Here, a HepG2 cell-based extraction method was first developed to rapidly screen potential antitumor compounds from the seeds ofCassia obtusifolia. Then, an online extraction and enrichment-high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) strategy was fabricated to facilely and efficiently isolate target antitumor compounds, which included direct extraction from solid C. obtusifolia, removal of polar interferences, enrichment of target compounds, and preparative isolation by HSCCC using flow rate stepwise increasing mode. After further purification by Sephadex LH-20 column, five antitumor anthraquinones, aurantio-obtusin, 1-desmethylaurantio-obtusin, chryso-obtusin, obtusin, and questin, were obtained for structural characterization and bioassay verification. The results may not only provide new perspectives for facile and rapid investigation of bioactive compounds from complex natural products, but also offer a scientific basis for the potential applications of C. obtusifolia.

目的 预测当归挥发油质量标志物(quality marker,Q-Marker).方法 采用GC-MS检测当归挥发油化学成分,网络药理学构建成分-靶点网络、蛋白-蛋白互作网络、成分-靶点-通路网络、靶点-组织分布网络预测当归挥发油Q-Marker,分子对接验证Q-Marker生物活性,查阅文献佐证Q-Marker有效性.结果 18批次当归挥发油GC-MS分析获得了 5个共有成分,以共有成分为Q-Marker候选成分做网络药理学分析,预测藁本内酯与丁烯基酞内酯为当归挥发油Q-Marker,Q-Marker作用于核心靶点PIK3R1,CHRM1、CHRM2、SRC、CREBBP,通过重要通路肌动蛋白细胞骨架调节,分布于大脑皮层、胆囊、平滑肌、前列腺、膀胱、扁桃体、基底神经节及海马中发挥药理作用;分子对接中藁本内酯、丁烯基酞内酯与核心靶点有较好的结合能力,体现当归挥发油Q-Marker较好的生物活性,文献佐证了Q-Marker有效性.结论 预测的Q-Marker为当归挥发油质量标准的建立及当归挥发油质量评价奠定物质基础.

The fruit of Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle is a functional food with rich nutrients and medicinal values because of its content of bioactive compounds. A bioactivity-guided chemical investigation from the fruits of C. medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle afforded three new benzodioxane neolignans (1-3), three new phenanthrofuran neolignan glycosides (4-6), two new biphenyl-ketone neolignans (7-8), two new 1',7'-bilignan neolignans (9-10), as well as fourteen known neolignan derivatives (11-24), which were isolated and characterized from the fruits of C. medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle for the first time. These neolignan derivatives were determined by extensive and comprehensive analyzing NMR, HR-ESI-MS, UV, IR spectral data and compared with the data described in the literature. Among them, compounds 1-3 and 12-13 exhibited moderate hepatoprotective activities to improve the survival rates of HepG2 cells from 46.26 +/- 1.90% (APAP, 10 mM) to 67.23 +/- 4.25%, 62.87 +/- 4.43%, 60.06 +/- 6.34%, 56.75 +/- 2.30%, 58.35 +/- 6.14%, respectively. Additionally, compounds 7-8 and 21-22 displayed moderate neuroprotective activities to raise the survival rates of PC12 cells from 55.30 +/- 2.25% to 66.94 +/- 3.37%, 70.98 +/- 5.05%, 64.64 +/- 1.93%, and 62.81 +/- 4.11% at 10 mu M, respectively. The plausible biogenetic pathway and preliminary structure-activity relationship of the selected compounds were scientifically summarized and discussed in this paper.

This study explores the emulsifying material basis of Angelicae Sinensis Radix volatile oil (ASRVO) based on partial least squares (PLS) method and hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) value.The turbidity of ASRVO emulsion samples from Gansu,Yunnan,and Qinghai was determined and the chemical components in the emulsion were analyzed by GC-MS.The PLS model was established with the chemical components as the independent variable and the turbidity as the dependent variable and evaluated with indexes R~2X and R~2Y.The chemical components which were in positive correlation with the turbidity were selected and the HLB values were calculated to determine the emulsification material basis of ASRVO.The PLS models for the 81 emulsion samples had high R~2X and R~2Y values,which showed good fitting ability.Seven chemical components,2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol,trans-ligustilide,3-butylidene-1(3H)-isobenzofuranone,dodecane,1-methyl-4-(1-methylethylidene)-cyclohexene,trans-beta-ocimene,and decane,had positive correlation with turbidity.Particularly,the HLB value of 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol was 4.4,which was the HLB range of surfactants to be emulsifiers and 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol was positively correlated with turbidity of the ASRVO emulsion samples from the main producing area.Therefore,2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol was the emulsifying material basis of ASRVO.The selected emulsifying substances can lay a foundation for exploring the emulsification mechanism and demulsification solution of ASRVO.

Indigo Naturalis has a long history of medicinal use with particularity and complexity in its processing. Before the Ming dynasty,Indigo Naturalis was extracted from the top layer of zymotic fluid,called &quot; purified Indigo Naturalis&quot;. In modern processing,the precipitate &quot; crude Indigo Naturalis&quot; is dried to produce Indigo Naturalis after impurity removal. The form of Indigo Naturalis slices has undergone significant changes in ancient and modern times. In view of this,the quality comparison between crude Indigo Naturalis and purified Indigo Naturalis was conducted in this study with modern analytical techniques. Firstly,chemical composition was analyzed with UPLC-Q-TOF-MS,and the chemical composition of scent with HS-SPME/GC-MS/MS. The content of indigo,indirubin,total ash,and water-soluble extract was determined as well as the inorganic composition in crude Indigo Naturalis and purified Indigo Naturalis. Then,their microscopic morphology was observed and the surface element composition was investigated. Finally,the antipyretic activities of crude Indigo Naturalis and purified Indigo Naturalis were compared in the fever rat model induced by lipopolysaccharide and 2,4-dinitrophenol. The results demonstrated that the purified Indigo Naturalis had a faster and more lasting antipyretic effect,while the crude Indigo Naturalis had almost no antipyretic effect. This study is of great significance to the research on processing technology of Indigo Naturalis and provides reference for the formulation of its quality standards,production specifications and calibration procedures.

Due to worldwide abuse of chemical antibiotics and continuous emergence of superbugs, the harm of bacterial drug resistance to human beings has become more and more serious. Therefore, it is of great significance to look for green antibiotics with a wide range of sources, broad antibacterial spectrum, non-toxicity or low toxicity, environmentally friendliness, diverse active components and low drug resistance. The volatile oil of traditional Chinese medicine is a kind of volatile oily liquid that exists in plants and can be distilled with steam and immiscible with water. Because of its good potential to resist drug-resistant pathogens, it is widely used in food, medicine and other fields. This paper summarized the antibacterial advantages and characteristics of volatile oil of traditional Chinese medicine, and the antibacterial effect and antibacterial mechanism of combined application of volatile oil of traditional Chinese medicine, in order to provide some theoretical basis and study ideas for solving the problem of bacterial drug resistance and developing natural and green antibiotics.

Traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) processing is a traditional pharmaceutical technology unique to China,which is an important means to ensure the safety and effectiveness of clinical medication. As China' s intangible cultural heritage,it contains a wealth of wisdom. With the evolution and optimization of processing methods,Indigo Naturalis,an ancient dye,has gradually become an effective medicine for the treatment of high fever in children,colitis,psoriasis,and leukemia. However,the quality of Indigo Naturalis pieces is difficult to be fundamentally improved due to the unique traditional processing method,complex technology,unclear principle,and outdated equipment. After spending 20 years in exploring the inheritance,innovation,and transformation of ancient lawtheory-principle-technology-equipment-quality control in Indigo Naturalis processing,our research group has basically expounded the processing principle and realized the modern expression and industrial transformation of traditional technology. As China enters a new era,the TCM industry has begun to undergo the high-quality transformation. It is urgent to carry out new excavations and improve the processing,quality,and clinical application of Indigo Naturalis pieces,to better inherit and innovate traditional processing technologies and meet people's demand for high-quality TCM health services.

Indigo Naturalis( IN) is mainly composed of 10% organic matter and 90% inorganic matter,with a poor wettability and strong hydrophobicity. Indigo,indirubin and effective ingredients are almost insoluble in water. And how it exerts its effect after oral administration still needs to be revealed. For this reason,this study put forward the hypothesis that &quot; Indigo Naturalis forms a slightly soluble calcium carbonate carrier in a strong acid environment of gastric fluid,and organic substances are solubilized in the bile environment of intestinal fluid&quot;,and then verified the hypothesis. First,the dissolution apparatus was used to simulate the change process of IN in different digestive fluid,and the effects of low-dose and normal bile on the dissolution of inorganic substances and the release of organic substances were compared. After the surface morphology and element changes of IN in different digestive fluid were observed,it was found that bile is the key to promoting the dissolution of organic and inorganic substances in IN. Furthermore,the rat fever model induced by 2,4-dinitrophenol was used to study the antipyretic effect of IN in normal rats and bile duct ligation rats. It was found that the antipyretic effect of IN on normal rats was better than that of bile duct ligation rats. The above results indicated that after oral administration of IN,the calcium carbonate carrier was transformed into a slightly soluble state in acidic gastric fluid,and a small amount of organic matter was released. When IN entered the intestinal fluid mixed with bile,the carrier dissolved in a large amount,and indigo and indirubin were dissolved in a large amount,so as to absorb the blood and exert the effect. This study has a certain significance for guiding clinical application of IN. For patients with insufficient bile secretion( such as bile duct resection),oral administration with IN may not be effective and shall be paid attention.