title: [Study on the law of compatibility in three categorized formulas for tonifying Shen Yang: Shenqi pill, Yougui pill, and Yougui drink based on rough set].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of three categorized formulas for tonifying Shen yang, i.e. Shenqi Pill (SP), Yougui Pill (YP), and Yougui Drink (YD) based on rough set, thus exploring the law of compatibility between the core herbs and the edge herbs as well as the law of compatibility between the yang-tonifying herbs and the yin-tonifying herbs in the core herbs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rats were divided into the normal group, the Shen-yang deficiency model group, and the original prescription group, the core herbs group, and the edge herbs group of this three categorized formulas for tonifying Shen yang, 11 groups altogether. Thyroxine (T4), cortisol (CORT), and testosterone (T) were detected respectively. The decision rules model based on rough set was set up, the interactions between various herbs were analyzed according to the decision rules.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were synergies between yam and cinnamon, yam and aconite, as well as yam and wolfberry. Poria alisma, Cortex Moutan, and oriental waterplantain tuber had no effect themselves, but they had synergistic effects with the core herbs in SP. Angelica had a certain effect itself, but its functions were different to different core herbs in YP. Licorice had no effect itself, and it was antagonistic with the core herbs in YD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The compatibility of core herbs of categorized formula for tonifying Shen yang should focus on benefiting both yin and yang, as well as mutual rooting of yin-yang. Appropriate edge herbs should be chosen for compatibility according to different core herbs. The decision rules model based on rough set has a good prospect in exploring the law of compatibility of the categorized formulas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, Basic School of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
authors.forename: Xiu-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li-Na
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lai-Cheng
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004344:Drug Incompatibility; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C585913:shenqi; C552041:yougui