Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine
Correction to: Stem Cell Research & Therapy (2024) 15:440. The original article initially erroneously presented co-author, Min Xu's name as Xu Min; this has since been amended.
This study systematically evaluated the impact of three processing methods—fire treatment, dry distillation, and water boiling—on the chemical composition and antitussive/expectorant efficacy of Bambusae Succus (BS). GC-MS analysis quantified guaiacol and syringol contents: fire treatment yielded 4.68% and 2.22% respectively, with total phenolics at 14.93%; dry distillation yielded 5.98% and 6.96%, with total phenolics at 24.77%; water boiling produced total phenolics of 3.65%, with both target compounds below detection limits. PCA and OPLS-DA identified 13 discriminatory components, including 2-methylphenol, creosol, eugenol, and vanillin. Microscopic examination revealed that water boiling preserved bamboo microstructure similar to fresh bamboo, whereas fire treatment and dry distillation induced significant structural degradation. In a COPD mouse model, all three preparations exhibited antitussive and expectorant effects, but dry distillation significantly prolonged cough latency (P<0.05) and increased phenol red excretion (P<0.01). The superior efficacy of dry distillation is attributed to its higher retention and thermal conversion of lignin-derived phenolics, specifically 4-ethylguaiacol and maltol, which modulate Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB pathways. These findings establish dry distillation as the optimal processing method for maximizing bioactive phenolic content and therapeutic efficacy, providing a scientific basis for clinical application and new formulation development.