Standardized TCM Herbal Formulation for Research

Both TSF (Lot number0606320) and the placebo were prepared and standardized by an established company recognized for high quality control standards: Jiangyin Tianjiang Pharmaceutical, Jiangsu, China (http://www.tianjiang.com). TSF consists of seven natural herbs: astragalus (A.membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge.), burning bush (E.alatus (Thunb.) Sieb.), rehmannia (R.glutinosa Libosch), bitter orange (C.aurantium L.), cornus (C.officinalis Sieb. Et Zuce), rhubarb (R.palmatum L.) and notoginseng (P.notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen) (Table 1). Each component in TSF was produced by soaking in distilled water for 30 minutes, boiling in 10 volumes of water (v/w) for 1 hour, extracting with water twice, filtrating and condensing to the concentration of 1 g/ml and processed to fine granular by spray drying. The final product was made by combining the individual herbal granules in the proportions indicated in Table 1.TSF is a dispensing formula in its scientific research stage and has not yet been licensed for clinical use in China.
Ingredients of the placebo were lactose (78.43%), maltodextrin (14.88%), tartrazine (0.07%), sunset yellow (0.026%), caramel (6.5%), picric acid (0.026%), and sucralose (0.07%).These were prepared by the same company as TSF. Based on our knowledge, none of the ingredients in the placebo at this dosage has been reported to have physiological effects.