Recommended Cover Article for Issue 24, 2024: "Clinical and Basic Research Topics of Ruyi Zhenbao Pills"
Cover meaning: A delicate jade ruyi placed on the table symbolizes good wishes for good luck and prosperity; The nearby Chinese medicinal herbs such as short ear rabbit ear grass, mother of pearl, safflower, nutmeg, hairy seeds, long pepper, cinnamon, etc. are directly related to the main components of the classic Tibetan medicine formula Ruyi Zhenbao Wan. The magnificent snow capped mountains of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau visible through the window highlight the unique charm of Tibetan medicine and its profound regional characteristics.
Editor's note: Ruyi Zhenbao Wan originates from the classic Tibetan medicine formula Zhenbao Wan. It is composed of 30 medicinal herbs, including short ear rabbit ear grass, mother of pearl, safflower, nutmeg, hairy hawthorn, long pepper, cinnamon, Tibetan wood fragrance, artificial musk, agarwood, hezi, and cassia seed. It has the effects of clearing heat, awakening the brain, relaxing tendons and unblocking collaterals, and drying yellow water. It is the preferred medication for the treatment of white vein disease in Tibetan medicine and has good clinical efficacy in the treatment of neuropathic pain, joint pain, and post-stroke sequelae such as trigeminal neuralgia, migraine, and postherpetic neuralgia. However, its clinical efficacy characteristics, advantageous links, active substances, and mechanisms of action are not clear. Based on the key scientific issues mentioned above, a special topic has been compiled, which includes: through prospective multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel controlled clinical trials, it has been confirmed that Ruyi Zhenbao Pill has good clinical efficacy in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis in patients with primary and early stages, including the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score response rate, WOMAC pain score, WOMAC functional score, and Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome score, filling the gap in evidence-based treatment of knee osteoarthritis with this variety; By using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole/electrostatic field orbital trap high-resolution mass spectrometry, the chemical components and blood and brain components of Ruyi Zhenbao Pill were qualitatively analyzed, laying a data foundation for interpreting its multi-component, multi-target, and multi-level synergistic mechanism; A mouse model of post-stroke central pain was successfully prepared by microinjection of type IV collagenase into the ventral posterior lateral nucleus of the thalamus. Based on this, a series of pharmacological experiments were conducted, which not only confirmed that Ruyi Zhenbao Pill can effectively alleviate secondary injury and central pain, but also confirmed its efficacy in reducing post-stroke hyperalgesia and spinal cord sensitization. Furthermore, the mechanism of Ruyi Zhenbao Pill in repairing neurovascular units and regulating chemokine signaling axes was explained from the perspective of neuroinflammation; From the multidimensional correlation perspective of "efficacy target composition pharmacokinetics", the main effectors of Ruyi Zhenbao Wan, such as glycyrrhizic acid, gallic acid, apigenin 7-O-glucuronide, and apigenin, which have high exposure levels in plasma or cerebrospinal fluid and strong intervention effects on neuropathic pain, were systematically analyzed. The relevant results provide reliable experimental evidence for clarifying the substance basis of Ruyi Zhenbao Wan and formulating its quality standards. The above clinical and basic research content helps to clarify the unique therapeutic advantages of Ruyi Zhenbao Pill, reveal the interaction and laws between its material basis and the body's life activities, and provide a good demonstration for analyzing the complex system of Tibetan medicine. This topic aims to provide valuable information for peers and promote the inheritance and development of ethnic medicine.