Developing an integrated model of toxicity and efficacy of Chinese medicine based on supramolecular “imprinting template” analysis

Chinese material medica (CMM) is the foundation for treating disease using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is not only guided by the basic theory of TCM but also follows the general rules of drug action. There are both toxicity and efficacy in TCM. For TCM the integrated regularities of its toxicity and efficacy were demonstrated in their prescription, which were qualitatively characterized by compatible experiences such as "seven emotions", "Yin" and "Yang" compatibility, etc. When the toxicity is still produced by oral administration according to the prescription of TCM theory or administration is not abided by original requirement, the integral regularities of toxicity and efficacy that depends on experience appears to be at a loss what to do. Especially in recent years, with the modernization of TCM and the continuous advantages in new medicinal innovation, the CMM safety incidents occurred frequently. It is very urgent for us how to establish a set of integrated methods that are adequately situated to multiple components for TCM. With the combination of the biological supramolecular chemistry and the basic theory of TCM, an integrated model of toxicity and efficacy based on TCM supramolecular "imprinting template" has begun to take shape. The CMM and the human body are both biological supramolecular bodies that follow the autonomic action rules of their "imprinting template". The integrated trends of toxicity and efficacy are able to build on systematical results of single components in CMM based on the theory of TCM to treat diseases by prescription on syndromes. It is also the systematic actions resulting from single effective components in CMM by the supramolecular "imprinting template" self-acted regularities. Through the qualitative and quantitative analysis of supramolecular "imprinting templates" characteristics and actions and their network chromatotoxicometrology (chromatopharmacometrology), a toxic and effective integrated analysis methods will be established on an integrated "therapeutic window" for components in the CMM. This effort will finally permit the description of the components of the pharmacokinetic overlaid law of "therapeutic window", plotted to lower-overflow, entering and higher-overflow profiles.