Background: The main objectives of this study were to assess the current research and development of traditional Uighur medicine in Xinjiang (China), and to evaluate the promising pharmacological products of traditional Uighur medicine for further studies. Materials and Methods: Traditional Uighur medicine data of medicine registry, patent, and academic publications was collected and analyzed. Results: Data showed that, among the registered and studied traditional Uighur medicine, the main therapeutic areas of traditional Uighur medicine focused on skin disease, urogenital disease, rheumatism and digestive system disease. The representative traditional Uighur patent medicine included the following: BaixuanXiatare Tablets, Kaliziran Tincture and Vernoniaanthelmintica Injection (Psoriasis and vitiligo); Xi-payimazibiziLiquid (prostatitis); KursiKaknaq (urinary tract infection); Tongzhisurunjiang Capsules (anti-rheumatism medicine); HuganBuzure Granules (digestive system disease). Moreover, ten Uighur herbs were widely used, including: ResinaScammoniae, Folium FumicisDentati, HerbaDracocephali, Semen AmygdaliDulcis, HerbaChamomillae, FructusPimpinellaeanisi, Cortex Foeniculi, FructusVernoniae, FructusApii, and Radix AnacycliPyrethri. Conclusion: This study concluded by indicating that traditional Uighur medicine with excellent curative effect should be screened in details for their phytochemical properties and pharmacological activity to discover new bioactive constituents.

Background: Safety, quality and effectiveness of Chinese patent medicine (CPM) are highly relevant to the manufacturing process. However, the level of manufacturing practice (GMP) for CPM as implemented in China is less reported in literatures. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to reveal the implementation status of GMP for CPM in China, in terms of implementation principle, implementation content, industrial impacts, and implementation barriers from both macro and micro aspects. Methods: A comprehensive analysis was carried out with archival data and field work at CPM manufacturers. Results: Both implementation principle and content of GMP for CPM in China indicated a transformation from provision-oriented to human-oriented, leaving more flexible operation space to CPM manufacturers. However, poor manufacturing practices may still exist because the implementation of GMP in China is not strict enough to eliminate all the unqualified CPM manufacturers from market. Moreover, compared with international WHO GMP, there are barriers for implementing GMP for CPM, including main deficiencies in quality control management, cost of GMP renovation projects, lack of education and training, and lack of expertise. Conclusion: This paper found that the implementation of GMP for CPM still faced many barriers though GMP had generated some positive impacts on CPM manufacturing. Removal of implementation barriers could be considered, including strengthening personnel competence, improving the quality management system and enhancing the international communication with advanced GMP regulators.

Purpose – The aim of this paper was to attempt to investigate the transformation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) industry in Guangdong Province of China by applying a perspective of sectoral system of innovation (SSI). TCM industry in China has experienced an evolution path from low-tech to modern industry. Design/methodology/approach – An analytical framework of sectoral system innovation for explaining the change in TCM industry in Guangdong Province has been conducted. Findings – It shows that during the successful transformation of the TCM industry in Guangdong from low-tech to modern sector, national and provincial institution are acting as main drivers. Knowledge integration is the decision factor of modernization and innovation strategy as an actor that makes the transformation adjust and operate efficiently. Other actors, such as demand and external networks interplay together and led to a gradual organizational, structural and institutional change and modernization of TCM industry. Originality/value – SSI analyses of TCM in China have never been conducted before, this paper also contributes to enrich the experience of low-tech industry transformation and provide references to other low-tech industries around the world.