Classification-based strategies to simplify complex traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) researches through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in the last decade (2011-2020): Theory, technical route and difficulty

The difficulty of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) researches lies in the complexity of components, metabolites, and bioactivities. For a long time, there has been a lack of connections among the three parts, which is not conducive to the systematic elucidation of TCM effectiveness. To overcome this problem, a classification-based methodology for simplifying TCM researches was refined from literature in the past 10 years (2011-2020). The theoretical basis of this methodology is set theory, and its core concept is classification. Its starting point is that although TCM may contain hundreds of compounds, the vast majority of these compounds are structurally similar. The methodology is composed by research strategies for components, metabolites and bioactivities of TCM, which are the three main parts of the review. Technical route, key steps and difficulty are introduced in each part. Two perspectives are highlighted in this review: set theory is a theoretical basis for all strategies from a conceptual perspective, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is a common tool for all strategies from a technical perspective. The significance of these strategies is to simplify complex TCM researches, integrate isolated TCM researches, and build a bridge between traditional medicines and modern medicines. Potential research hotspots in the future, such as discovery of bioactive ingredients from TCM metabolites, are also discussed. The classification-based methodology is a summary of research experience in the past 10 years. We believe it will definitely provide support and reference for the following TCM researches. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The complexity in traditional Chinese medicine research stems from the diversity in components, metabolites, and bioactivities, with a lack of connections among them hindering systematic elucidation of TCM effectiveness. A classification-based methodology has been developed from literature in the past decade to simplify TCM research, focusing on set theory as the theoretical basis and classification as the core concept. This methodology integrates strategies for components, metabolites, and bioactivities, utilizing liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry as a common tool to bridge traditional and modern medicines and pave the way for future research hotspots.