Ph.D in Biochemistry (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

Dr. Jihang CHEN is currently serving as an Assistant Professor at the School of MEDICINE, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen). He is recognized as a Shenzhen Peacock Plan High-Level Talent, a recipient of the CUHK-Shenzhen Presidential Exemplary Teaching Award, and a CUHK-Shenzhen Presidential Young Scholar. He is an independent Principal Investigator (PI), as well as a supervisor for Ph.D. students and postdoctoral researchers. His research interests include the pharmacological activity, mechanisms of action, and chemical basis of traditional Chinese medicine and natural drugs, as well as studies in food and nutrition. He particularly focuses on investigating the mechanisms by which medicinal food homologous Chinese medicines improve diabetes and its complications.

He has led over 10 research projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Youth/General Program), Guangdong Province General Program, Shenzhen Municipal General Program, international collaboration projects, and research projects in partnership with enterprises and institutions. Moreover, he serves as a guest editor for international academic journals such as Phytomedicine, Phytotherapy Research, Journal of Food Biochemistry, and eCAM. With extensive experience in Chinese medicine analysis, pharmacology, and research on functional health foods, he has made significant contributions to these fields.

Selective Publications in the past five years

1. Daozheng Fang, Qixiang Shang, Zhihao Liu, Xinyue Li, Quanrun He, Yining Liu, Yong Zhu, Haimeng Li, Tong Wu, Yan-Fang Xian*, Jianping Chen* and Jihang Chen*, Exploring the protective effects of Schisandrin A and Schisandrin B against diabetic cardiomyopathy with possible mechanism involving complement inhibition, Phytotherapy Research. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.8437
2. Quanrun He^#, Xinhang Li^#, Haimeng Li, Aditya Tan, Yunlin Chi, Daozheng Fang, Xinyue Li, Zhihao Liu, Qixiang Shang, Yong Zhu, Judyta Cielecka-Piontek, Jihang Chen*, TGR5 Activation by Dietary Bioactives and Related Improvement in Mitochondrial Function for Alleviating Diabetes and Associated Complications, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2025, 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c10395 (Selected as supplementary cover)
3. Yong Zhu^#, Bingmin Wu^#, Songyan Xia^#, Guangzhen Zheng, Juanjuan Cheng, Song Huang, Qingping Xiong, Jing Chen, Hailun Li*, Hajime Hirao*, Yisheng He*, Jihang Chen* (2024). Toward separation and purification of chlorogenic acid from Lonicerae Japonicae Flo (honeysuckle) using melamine–formaldehyde aerogel: A green and efficient approach. Chemical Engineering Journal, 500, 157455 (Lead Contact)
4. Zhihao Liu^#, Qihao Li^#, Fu Zhao, Jihang Chen*, A decade review on phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of Cynomorium songaricum Rupr.: Insights into metabolic syndrome, Phytomedicine, Volume 140, 2025, 156602, ISSN 0944-7113, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2025.156602.
5. Yong Zhu^#, Jingrui Ma^#, Xinhang Li, Quanrun He, Bingmin Wu, Juanjuan Cheng, Song Huang, Jihang Chen*. A novel deproteinization method from crude polysaccharide of Meretrix meretrix L. based on palygorskite-chitosan composite aerogel sieving effect. eFood. 2025, 6(2), e70014. https://doi.org/10.1002/efd2.70014
6. Zhihao Liu^#, Qixiang Shang^#, Huali Zuo^#, Haimeng Li, Daozheng Fang, Zhang, J. and Huang, H.-D. * and Granato, D.*and Jianping Chen* and Jihang Chen*. Cynomorium songaricum: UHPLC/ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS analysis and mechanistic study on insulin sensitivity of a flavonoid-enriched fraction, Phytomedicine, 2024, DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155862
7. Emma Brennan, Carolina Girotto Pressete, Nima Mohammadi, Lusânia Maria Greggi Antunes, Qixiang Shang, Jihang Chen, Jason Bennett, Marcelo Franchin, Daniel Granato. Ultrasound-assisted recovery of blackcurrant press cake anthocyanins: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, bioaccessibility, and application in functional gummies. Food Chemistry: X, 2025.
8. Zhihao Liu^#, Qixiang Shang^#, Haimeng Li^#, Daozheng Fang, Zhuohuan Li, Yuqi Huang, Mimi Zhang, Kam Ming Ko, Jihang Chen* (2023). Exploring the possible mechanism(s) underlying the nephroprotective effect of Zhenwu Decoction in diabetic kidney disease: An integrated analysis, Phytomedicine, 119, 154988.
9. Ruipei Yang, Lifang Wei, Jie Wang, Shiying Huang, Pingli Mo, Qiugu Chen, Ping Zheng, Jihang Chen*, Shangbin Zhang*, Jianping Chen*. Chemical characterization and metabolic profiling of Xiao-Er-An-Shen Decoction by UPLC-QTOF/MS. Frontiers in Pharmacology, Volume 14, 2023
10. Yun Tang^#, Yi-Gang Chen^#, Hsi-Yuan Huang, Shang-Fu Li, Hua-Li Zuo, Ji-Hang Chen, Li-Ping Li, Run-Bo Mao, Yang-Chi-Dung Lin* and Hsien-Da Huang*. Panax notoginseng alleviates oxidative stress through miRNA regulations based on systems biology approach. Chinese Medicine, 2023:18, 74
11. Jihang Chen*, Pou Kuan Leong, Hoi Yan Leung, Wing Man Chan, Hoi Shan Wong & Kam Ming Ko*. Biochemical mechanisms of the anti-obesity effect of an ursolic acid-enriched extract of Cynomorium songaricum in high fat diet-induced obese mice. Phytomedicine 2020,73: 153038.
12. Jiayi Tian^#, Yuqi Huang^#, Tong Wu, Hsien-Da Huang, Kam Ming Ko*, Bao Ting Zhu*, Jihang Chen* (2021). The Use of Chinese Yang/Qi-Invigorating Tonic Botanical Drugs/Herbal Formulations in Ameliorating Chronic Kidney Disease by Enhancing Mitochondrial Function, Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12, 622498.
13. Guangzhen Zheng^#, Yong Zhu^#, Bingmin Wu^#, Xiaoyuan Xu, Juanjuan Cheng, Yan Liu, Song Huang, Jing Chen, Qingping Xiong*, Jihang Chen*. Pilot study of toxicological biosafety evaluation in acute and chronic oral assessment of resorcinol-formaldehyde aerogel nanomaterial in Kunming mice. Journal of Applied Toxicology. https://doi.org/10.1002/jat.4735
14. Jing Li, Yixian Huang, Jiatong Xu, Huali Zuo, Yun Tang, Hsi-Yuan Huang, Jihang Chen, Yang-Chi-Dung Lin*, Hsien-Da Huang*. Mechanism of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (Kushen) in treating NSCLC: Insights from miRNA-mRNA network analysis. J Ethnopharmacol. 2024 Jan 30;319(Pt 3):117232. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117232. Epub 2023 Sep 25. PMID: 37757992
15. Jihang Chen, Wing Man Chan, Hoi Yan Leung, Pou Kuan Leong, Choly Tat Ming Yan and Kam Ming Ko*. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of a Cordyceps sinensis Mycelium Culture Extract (Cs-4) on Rodent Models of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma. Molecules 2020, 25(18), 4051