Deciphering the combination principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine from a systems pharmacology perspective based on Ma-huang Decoction.
BACKGROUND
The main therapeutic concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is herb formula, which treats various diseases via potential herb interactions to maximize the efficacy and minimize the adverse effects. However, the combination principle of herb formula still remains a mystery due to the lack of appropriate methods.


METHODS
A systems pharmacology method integrating the pharmacokinetic analysis, drug targeting, and drug-target-disease network is developed to dissect this rule embedded in the herbal formula. All these are exemplified by a representative TCM formula, Ma-huang decoction, made up of four botanic herbs.


RESULTS
Based on the deep investigation of the function and compatibility of each herb, in a molecular/systems level, we demonstrate the different pharmacological roles that each herb might play in the prescription. By the way of enhancing the bioavailability and/or making the pharmacological synergy among different herbs, the four herbs effectively combine together to be suitable for treating diseases.


CONCLUSIONS
The present work lays foundations for a more comprehensive understanding of the combination rule of TCM, which might also be beneficial to drug development and applications.
Center of Bioinformatics, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; College of Life Sciences, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
Yao
Y
Yao
Xiaodong
X
Zhang
Zhenzhong
Z
Wang
Chunli
C
Zheng
Peng
P
Li
Chao
C
Huang
Weiyang
W
Tao
Wei
W
Xiao
Yonghua
Y
Wang
Luqi
L
Huang
Ling
L
Yang
D001682:Biological Availability; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D029790:Ephedra sinica; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D010599:Pharmacokinetics; D049490:Systems Biology
Combination rule; Systems pharmacology; Traditional Chinese Medicine