The research of the Department of Pharmacology focuses on the pharmacological study of traditional Chinese medicine. Since the Department’s establishment, the team has investigated the mechanisms behind the pharmacological effects of traditional Chinese medicines from various sources, including Duhuo, Dilong, Fengjiao and Carthamus tinctorius L. In 1994, the Department began examining the mechanism for activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis of C. tinctorius L., and have continued to study this medicine up to the present day. The Department’s projects in this field have been sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Beijing Natural Science Foundation.

From studying platelet-activating factor antagonistic effects, thrombosis inhibition and antioxidant and myocardium ischemic effects of the effective ingredients of C. tinctorius L., the Department learned that the main active ingredient of C. tinctorius L. is hydroxysafflor yellow A. The Department then examined the inflammation inhibitory effect of this ingredient on acute lung injury, and the attenuating effect on pulmonary fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Additionally, the team looked at the inhibitory effect of hydroxysafflor yellow A on lipopolysaccharide-triggered cellular injury. From this research, the Department established a chromatographic isolation method to prepare ingredients from C. tinctorius L., and high-performance liquid chromatography and thin-layer chromatography technologies to analyze the ingredients. The various methods have been applied to pharmacological studies, which include animal experiments, cellular experiments and molecular biology technologies. Further, the Department has studied the pharmacological mechanisms of the components of C. tinctorius L. step-by-step.

The Department applied for a patent for a method of deleting the impurities from the aqueous extract of C. tinctorius L., which was authorized in 2002. The Department then entered into an agreement with Shanxi Huahuikaide Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. for the authorized use of the patent. Through the methodology contained in the patent, the company developed a new injection medicine to treat coronary heart disease. Currently, sales from the medicine are over 1 billion Yuan per year. This has been very significant research to date and creates new hope for patients.

Over the past several decades, the Department has developed and cultivated a culture of “creation, reality and application”. Creation means searching for novel discoveries, using new technologies and establishing new mechanisms in research. Reality means conducting research in an objective, real-world way. Application means trying to connect the theoretical study with clinical application, and actively using the fruits of theoretical study in clinical treatment.