Tianshu capsule

Migraine is widely recognized as the third most prevalent medical condition globally. Tianshu capsule (TSC), derived from "Da Chuan Xiong Fang" of the Jin dynasty, is integral in the clinical treatment of migraine. However, the chemical properties and therapeutic mechanisms of TSC different portions remain unclear.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of TSC different portions (including small molecular TSCP-SM and polysaccharides TSC-P) on migraine and explore the underlying mechanisms.

First of all, migraine rats were established by nitroglycerin injection and treated with TSC, TSC-P, and TSC-SM. ELISA, qPCR, and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate the pharmacological effects on migraine rats. Secondly, UPLC-Q/TOF-MS and GC--MS were employed to detect the components of TSC-SM. PMP-HPLC, NMR, FT-IR, UV-Vis, AFM, and SEM were used for the chemical profiling of polysaccharides. Thirdly, the metabolic behavior profile of TSC-P was characterized by oral administrated fluorescence-labeled TSC-P and detected by NIRF imaging. Finally, the anti-migraine mechanisms were explored by determining the composition of gut microbiota, analyzing colonic short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and examining serum tryptophan-related metabolites.

Both small molecules (45 volatiles and 114 small molecules) and polysaccharides (including Glc, Ara, Gal, and Gal A) have exhibited effectiveness in alleviating migraine, and this efficacy is associated with reduced CGRP and iNOS levels, along with increased β-EP expressions. Further mechanistic exploration revealed that small-molecules exhibited effectiveness in migraine treatment by exerting antioxidative actions, while polysaccharides demonstrated superior therapeutic effects in regulating 5-HT levels. By monitoring the metabolic behavior of polysaccharides with fluorescent labeling, it was observed that TSC-P exhibited poor absorption. Instead, TSC-P demonstrated its therapeutic effects by modulating the aberrations in gut microbiota (including Alloprevotella, Muribaculaceae_ge, and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005), cecum short-chain fatty acids (such as isobutyric, isovaleric, and valeric acids), and serum tryptophan-related metabolites (including indole-3-acetamide, tryptophol, and indole-3-propionic acid).

This research provides innovative insights into chemical composition, metabolic behavior, and proposed anti-migraine mechanisms of TSC from a polarity-based perspective, and pioneering an exploration focused on the polysaccharide components within TSC for the first time.

To systemically assess the clinical efficacy of oral Chinese patent medicine for migraine by using network Meta-analysis. Four Chinese databases(CNKI, VIP, WanFang, CBM), three English databases(Medline, EMbase, Cochrane Library) and ClinicalTrials.gov were systematically and comprehensively retrieved from the establishment of each database to April 24, 2020. Rando-mized controlled trial(RCT) on oral Chinese patent medicine combined with Flunarizine for migraine were screened out according to inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria. Literature screening and data extraction were conducted independently by 2 researchers. The included studies were evaluated with the Cochrane bias risk assessment tool. Data analysis was conducted by using Stata 16.0 software. Finally, a total of 52 RCTs were included, involving 11 kinds of oral Chinese patent medicines. The results of the network Meta-analysis showed that in terms of headache frequency, the order of efficacy was: Flunarizine combined with Tongtian Oral Liquid>combined with Zhengtian Pills>combined with Toutongning Capsules>combined with Yangxue Qingnao Granules>combined with Tianshu Capsules>combined with Xuefu Zhuyu Capsules>combined with Danzhen Toutong Capsules>combined with Chuanxiong Qingnao Granules>combined with Songling Xuemaikang Capsules. In terms of headache intensity, the order of efficacy was: Flunarizine combined with Tongtian Oral Liquid>combined with Zhengtian Pills>combined with Danzhen Toutong Capsules>combined with Tianshu Capsules>combined with Toutongning Capsules>combined with Chuanxiong Qingnao Granules>combined with Yuntongding Capsules>combined with Yang-xue Qingnao Granules>combined with Danqi Soft Capsules. In terms of headache lasting time, the order of efficacy was: Flunarizine combined with Tongtian Oral Liquid>combined with Yangxue Qingnao Granules>combined with Toutongning Capsules>combined with Zhengtian Pills>combined with Danzhen Toutong Capsules>combined with Tianshu Capsules>combined with Xuefu Zhuyu Capsules>combined with Yuntongding Capsules>combined with Chuanxiong Qingnao Granules>combined with Songling Xuemaikang Capsules. The results showed that oral Chinese patent medicines combined with Flunarizine were effective in improving the clinical efficacy for migraine. Due to the differences in the number and quality of studies included in studies of different Chinese patent medicines, and the lack of direct comparison of Chinese patent medicines, the results of the above order of Chinese patent medicines need to be demonstrated in future multi-center, large-sample, and double-blind randomized trial.