title: Systems pharmacology-based approach for dissecting the addition and subtraction theory of traditional Chinese medicine: An example using Xiao-Chaihu-Decoction and Da-Chaihu-Decoction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Addition and subtraction theory (AST), a basic theory of herb combination in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is often used to add or subtract the "fundamental formulae" to generate more targeted prescriptions. This theory plays a core role in individualized medicine and compound compatibility of TCM. However, the mechanisms underlying AST have largely remained elusive.
  
  
  METHODS
  An integrated platform of systems pharmacology was proposed for revealing how the oral administration, drug half-life, and target interactions affect the pharmacological functions of herbal medicines. This platform was further applied on two classical prescriptions, i.e., Xiao Chaihu decoction (XCHD) and Da Chaihu decoction (DCHD) to dissect the addition and subtraction theory (AST).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We uncovered the candidate compounds, key molecular targets and interaction network involved in XCHD and DCHD, and summarized its pharmacological characters and therapeutic indications. The results show that the "fundamental formula" is responsible for the major therapeutic effects, whereas the "additive herbs" synergistically enhance the treatment outcomes by targeting the same or complementary proteins between the foundational and additive herbs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This work has established a novel method to comprehensively understand the mechanism of AST, which would be beneficial for the TCM recipe optimization as well as the production of new herbal formula with desirable therapeutic effects.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Lab of Systems Pharmacology, Bioinformatics Center, Northwest A&F University, China.
authors.forename: Bohui
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Lab of Systems Pharmacology, Bioinformatics Center, Northwest A&F University, China.
authors.forename: Weiyang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Lab of Systems Pharmacology, Bioinformatics Center, Northwest A&F University, China.
authors.forename: Chunli
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Lab of Systems Pharmacology, Bioinformatics Center, Northwest A&F University, China; College of International, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Piar Ali
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Shar
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Lab of Systems Pharmacology, Bioinformatics Center, Northwest A&F University, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Lab of Systems Pharmacology, Bioinformatics Center, Northwest A&F University, China.
authors.forename: Yingxue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Lab of Systems Pharmacology, Bioinformatics Center, Northwest A&F University, China. Electronic address: yh_wang@nwsuaf.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yonghua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020834:Ethnopharmacology / Q000379:methods*; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D008962:Models, Theoretical
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal
keywords: Addition and subtraction theory; Da chaihu decoction; Systems pharmacology; Traditional Chinese medicine; Xiao chaihu decoction