Multi-component Chinese medicine formulas for drug discovery: State of the art and future perspectives

Abstract

For hundreds of years, the drug discovery and development industry has aimed at identifying single components with a clear mechanism of action as desirable candidates for potential drugs. However, this conventional strategy of drug discovery and development has faced challenges including a low success rate and high development costs. Herein, we critically review state-of-the-art drug discovery and development based on multi-component Chinese medicine formulas. We review the policies and application status of new drugs based on multi-component Chinese medicines in the US, China, and the European Union. Moreover, we illustrate several excellent cases of ongoing applications. Biomedical technologies that may facilitate drug discovery and development based on multi-component Chinese medicine formulas are discussed, including network pharmacology, integrative omics, CRISPR gene editing, and chemometrics. Finally, we discuss potential problems and solutions in pre-clinical and clinical research in drug discovery and development based on multi-component Chinese medicine formulas. We hope that this review will promote discussion of the roles of multi-component Chinese medicine formulas in the discovery and development of new drugs for the treatment of human diseases.

On‐site analysis and rapid identification of citrus herbs by miniature mass spectrometry and machine learning

“…Then, OPLS‐DA, a supervised classification technique, was employed to discern chemical similarities or differences, 33,34 , 35 thereby distinguishing between CP, QP, and GCP categories. Initially, the mass spectral data collected from mini MS were processed in Excel for preliminary manipulation, and subsequently analyzed using SIMCA software for OPLS‐DA (illustrated in Figure 3A).…”

“…Then, OPLS-DA, a supervised classification technique, was employed to discern chemical similarities or differences, 33,34,35 thereby distinguishing between CP, QP, and GCP categories.…”

LuQi Formula relieves ventricular remodeling through improvement of HIF-1α-mediated intestinal barrier integrity

“…For instance, the signaling pathways responsible for LQF-mediated upregulation of HIF-1α in colon tissue and the interactions between cell death signaling of cardiomyocyte warrant further investigation. Additionally, it is essential to conduct activity-based separation analyses to identify the bioactive compounds of LQF, which would facilitate target identification and ultimately contribute to modern prescription development [ 42 ]. Future research should explore these questions and further elucidate LQF's underlying mechanisms in HF treatment, thereby refining and enhancing current therapeutic approaches for patient benefit.…”

The Evolution and Significance of Medicine and Food Homology

“…It is essential to focus on several key areas for the high-quality advancement of the MFH concept. First, there is a need for interdisciplinary research that combines traditional medicine with modern scientific approaches, particularly in bioinformatics, pharmacology, and nutrition science [29] . Second, sustainable and ethical practices should be prioritized to ensure the responsible use of natural resources and preservation of biodiversity.…”