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Chen J, Li T, Huang D, Gong W, Tian J, Gao X, Qin X, Du G, Zhou Y. Integrating UHPLC-MS/MS quantitative analysis and exogenous purine supplementation to elucidate the antidepressant mechanism of Chaigui granules by regulating purine metabolism. J Pharm Anal 2023; 13:1562-1576. [PMID: 38223448 PMCID: PMC10785246 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2023.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Chaigui granules (CG) are a compound composed of six herbal medicines with significant antidepressant effects. However, the antidepressant mechanism of CG remains unclear. In the present study, we attempted to elucidate the antidepressant mechanism of CG by regulating purine metabolism and purinergic signaling. First, the regulatory effect of CG on purine metabolites in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rats was analyzed by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) targeted quantitative analysis. Meanwhile, purinergic receptors (P2X7 receptor (P2X7R), A1 receptor (A1R) and A2A receptor (A2AR)) and signaling pathways (nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-protein kinase A (PKA) pathway) associated with purine metabolism were analyzed by western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Besides, antidepressant mechanism of CG by modulating purine metabolites to activate purinergic receptors and related signaling pathways was dissected by exogenous supplementation of purine metabolites and antagonism of purinergic receptors in vitro. An in vivo study showed that the decrease in xanthine and the increase in four purine nucleosides were closely related to the antidepressant effects of CG. Additionally, purinergic receptors (P2X7R, A1R and A2AR) and related signaling pathways (NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and cAMP-PKA pathway) were also significantly regulated by CG. The results of exogenous supplementation of purine metabolites and antagonism of purinergic receptors showed that excessive accumulation of xanthine led to activation of the P2X7R-NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, and the reduction of adenosine and inosine inhibited the A1R-cAMP-PKA pathway, which was significantly ameliorated by CG. Overall, CG could promote neuroprotection and ultimately play an antidepressant role by inhibiting the xanthine-P2X7R-NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and activating the adenosine/inosine-A1R-cAMP-PKA pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajun Chen
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Tian Li
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Dehua Huang
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Wenxia Gong
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Junsheng Tian
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Xiaoxia Gao
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Xuemei Qin
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Guanhua Du
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Yuzhi Zhou
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, 030006, China
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Tian JS, Wu ZN, Wu D, Yang C, Gao Y, Yan DL, Qin XM. Combining network pharmacology and experimental verification to reveal the mechanism of Chaigui granules in the treatment of depression through PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways. Metab Brain Dis 2023; 38:2849-2864. [PMID: 37906393 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-023-01312-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chaigui granules are a novel manufactured traditional Chinese antidepressant medicine, which is originated from the ancient classical prescription of Xiaoyaosan. It ameliorated depression-like behavior and concomitant symptoms in animal models. But its antidepressant mechanism is still unclear. Therefore, network pharmacology and molecular biology were used to explore underlying antidepressant mechanism in this study. METHODS Firstly, network pharmacology was used to screen main active ingredients and potential targets in the treatment of depression with Chaigui granules, and to perform pathway enrichment analysis. Secondly, chronic and unpredictable mild stress-induced depression model rats were used, and behavioral tests were used to evaluate the antidepressant effect of Chaigui granules. Finally, the core targets and key pathways predicted by network pharmacology were validated by qRT-PCR and Western blot to determine the relevant gene and protein expression levels in rat hippocampus. RESULTS The results of network pharmacology indicated that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway may play a key role in antidepressant of Chaigui granules. The results of animal experiments showed that Chaigui granules significantly modulated behavioral indicators. Subsequently, the upregulation of relative mRNA levels of mTOR, Akt and PI3K and downregulation of GSK-3β and FoxO3a were observed in rat hippocampus by molecular biology diagnosis. In addition, the decreased expression of Akt and mTOR in CUMS rats hippocampus was significantly reversed, and the expression levels of GSK-3β and FoxO3a were upregulated. CONCLUSIONS Based on the results of network pharmacology and animal experiment validation, Chaigui granules may reverse CUMS-induced depression-like behavior in rats through PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Sheng Tian
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030006, China.
| | - Zhen-Ning Wu
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030006, China
| | - Dan Wu
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030006, China
| | - Chen Yang
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030006, China
| | - Yao Gao
- Department of Psychiatry, First Hospital/First Clinical Medical College of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | | | - Xue-Mei Qin
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030006, China.
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Liu M, Ma W, He Y, Sun Z, Yang J. Recent Progress in Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics in Major Depressive Disorder Research. Molecules 2023; 28:7430. [PMID: 37959849 PMCID: PMC10647556 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28217430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious mental illness with a heavy social burden, but its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based metabolomics is providing new insights into the heterogeneous pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of MDD by revealing multi-parametric biomarker signatures at the metabolite level. In this comprehensive review, recent developments of MS-based metabolomics in MDD research are summarized from the perspective of analytical platforms (liquid chromatography-MS, gas chromatography-MS, supercritical fluid chromatography-MS, etc.), strategies (untargeted, targeted, and pseudotargeted metabolomics), key metabolite changes (monoamine neurotransmitters, amino acids, lipids, etc.), and antidepressant treatments (both western and traditional Chinese medicines). Depression sub-phenotypes, comorbid depression, and multi-omics approaches are also highlighted to stimulate further advances in MS-based metabolomics in the field of MDD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxia Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China; (M.L.)
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Wen Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yi He
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China; (M.L.)
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Zuoli Sun
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China; (M.L.)
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Jian Yang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China; (M.L.)
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
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Wang C, Zhou J, Wang S, Liu Y, Long K, Sun T, Zhi W, Yang Y, Zhang H, Zhao Y, Zheng X, Zheng X, Li Y, Jia P. Guanxining injection alleviates fibrosis in heart failure mice and regulates SLC7A11/GPX4 axis. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 310:116367. [PMID: 36914037 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Radix et Rhizoma Salviae Miltiorrhizae (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge., Lamiaceae, Danshen in Chinese) and Chuanxiong Rhizoma (rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., Apiaceae, Chuanxiong in Chinese) both are important traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for activating blood and eliminating stasis. Danshen-chuanxiong herb pair has been used for more than 600 years in China. Guanxinning injection (GXN) is a Chinese clinical prescription refined from aqueous extract of Danshen and Chuanxiong at the ratio of 1:1 (w/w). GXN has been mainly used in the clinical therapy of angina, heart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease in China for almost twenty years. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aimed to explore the role of GXN on renal fibrosis in heart failure mice and the regulation of GXN on SLC7A11/GPX4 axis. MATARIALS AND METHODS The transverse aortic constriction model was used to mimic HF accompanied by kidney fibrosis model. GXN was administrated by tail vein injection in dose of 12.0, 6.0, 3.0 mL/kg, respectively. Telmisartan (6.1 mg/kg, gavage) was used as a positive control drug. Cardiac ultrasound indexes of ejection fraction (EF), cardiac output (CO), left ventricle volume (LV Vol), HF biomarker of pro-B type natriuretic peptide (Pro-BNP), kidney function index of serum creatinine (Scr), kidney fibrosis index of collagen volume fraction (CVF) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were evaluated and contrasted. Metabolomic method was employed to analyze the endogenous metabolites changes in kidneys. Besides, contents of catalase (CAT), xanthine oxidase (XOD), nitricoxidesynthase (NOS), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), the x(c)(-) cysteine/glutamate antiporter (SLC7A11) and ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) in kidney were quantitatively analyzed. In addition, ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was used to analyze the chemical composition of GXN and network pharmacology was used to predict possible mechanisms and the active ingredients of GXN. RESULTS The cardiac function indexes of EF, CO and LV Vol, kidney functional indicators of Scr, the degree of kidney fibrosis indicators CVF and CTGF were all relieved to different extent for the model mice treated with GXN. 21 differential metabolites involved in redox regulation, energy metabolism, organic acid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, etc were identified. Aspartic acid, homocysteine, glycine, and serine, methionine, purine, phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism were found to be the core redox metabolic pathways regulated by GXN. Furthermore, GXN were found to increase CAT content, upregulate GPX4, SLC7A11 and FTH1 expression in kidney significantly. Not only that, GXN also showed good effect in down-regulating XOD and NOS contents in kidney. Besides, 35 chemical constituents were initially identified in GXN. Active ingredients of GXN-targets-related enzymes/transporters-metabolites network was established to find out that GPX4 was a core protein for GXN and the top 10 active ingredients with the most relevant to renal protective effects of GXN were rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, senkyunolide E, protocatechualdehyde, protocatechuic acid, danshensu, L-Ile, vanillic acid, salvianolic acid A. CONCLUSION GXN could significantly maintain cardiac function and alleviate the progression of fibrosis in the kidney for HF mice, and the mechanisms of action were related to regulating redox metabolism of aspartate, glycine, serine, and cystine metabolism and SLC7A11/GPX4 axis in kidney. The cardio-renal protective effect of GXN may be attributed to multi-components like rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, senkyunolide E, protocatechualdehyde, protocatechuic acid, danshensu, L-Ile, vanillic acid, salvianolic acid A et al.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunliu Wang
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education/College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shixiang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education/College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Kaihua Long
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Tingting Sun
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wenbing Zhi
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education/College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ye Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education/College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaopu Zheng
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiaohui Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education/College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ye Li
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Pu Jia
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education/College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
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Guo S, Qiu S, Cai Y, Wang Z, Yang Q, Tang S, Xie Y, Zhang A. Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics for discovering active ingredients and exploring action mechanism of herbal medicine. Front Chem 2023; 11:1142287. [PMID: 37065828 PMCID: PMC10102349 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1142287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural products derived from herbal medicine are a fruitful source of lead compounds because of their structural diversity and potent bioactivities. However, despite the success of active compounds derived from herbal medicine in drug discovery, some approaches cannot effectively elucidate the overall effect and action mechanism due to their multi-component complexity. Fortunately, mass spectrometry-based metabolomics has been recognized as an effective strategy for revealing the effect and discovering active components, detailed molecular mechanisms, and multiple targets of natural products. Rapid identification of lead compounds and isolation of active components from natural products would facilitate new drug development. In this context, mass spectrometry-based metabolomics has established an integrated pharmacology framework for the discovery of bioactivity-correlated constituents, target identification, and the action mechanism of herbal medicine and natural products. High-throughput functional metabolomics techniques could be used to identify natural product structure, biological activity, efficacy mechanisms, and their mode of action on biological processes, assisting bioactive lead discovery, quality control, and accelerating discovery of novel drugs. These techniques are increasingly being developed in the era of big data and use scientific language to clarify the detailed action mechanism of herbal medicine. In this paper, the analytical characteristics and application fields of several commonly used mass spectrometers are introduced, and the application of mass spectrometry in the metabolomics of traditional Chinese medicines in recent years and its active components as well as mechanism of action are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sifan Guo
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center and Hainan General Hospital, College of Chinese Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
- Graduate School, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Shi Qiu
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center and Hainan General Hospital, College of Chinese Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
- *Correspondence: Shi Qiu, ; Songqi Tang, ; Yiqiang Xie, ; Aihua Zhang,
| | - Ying Cai
- Graduate School, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Zhibo Wang
- Graduate School, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Qiang Yang
- Graduate School, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Songqi Tang
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center and Hainan General Hospital, College of Chinese Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
- *Correspondence: Shi Qiu, ; Songqi Tang, ; Yiqiang Xie, ; Aihua Zhang,
| | - Yiqiang Xie
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center and Hainan General Hospital, College of Chinese Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
- *Correspondence: Shi Qiu, ; Songqi Tang, ; Yiqiang Xie, ; Aihua Zhang,
| | - Aihua Zhang
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center and Hainan General Hospital, College of Chinese Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
- Graduate School, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
- *Correspondence: Shi Qiu, ; Songqi Tang, ; Yiqiang Xie, ; Aihua Zhang,
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