ABSTRACT
Cinnamomi Ramulus is a dry tender branch of <italic>Cinnamomum cassia</italic> Presl, which is a multifunctional traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Cinnamomi Ramulus has different efficacy under different compatibility environment. Complet medicine is a commonly used and relatively fixed compatibility form of two drugs, and it is the smallest unit in the compatibility of TCM. The four kinds of complet medicine commonly used in Cinnamomi Ramulus were as follows: the diaphoretics pungent in flavour and warm in property pairs include Cinnamomi Ramulus Ephedrae Herba and Cinnamomi Ramulus Bupleuri Radix complet medicine. The stasis dredge collaterals pairs involve Cinnamomi Ramulus Poria and Cinnamomi Ramulus Persicae Semen complet medicine. The regulation Qi and Blood Cinnamomi Ramulus Paeoniae Radix Alba complet medicine. Wenda Tongyang pairs consist of Cinnamomi Ramulus Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparaia, Cinnamomi Ramulus Astragali Radix, and Cinnamomi Ramulus Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma complet medicine. After compatibility, some changes have taken place in the chemical composition of complet medicines. For example, after compatibility of Cinnamomi Ramulus and Ephedrae Herba, the content of effective components of both herbs decreases, and the chemical constituents that are not found in single herbs are produced. After compatibility of Cinnamomi Ramulus and Bupleuri Radix, the dissolution of active ingredients is related to compatibility ratio. The active ingredients of Cinnamomi Ramulus Poria, Cinnamomi Ramulus Paeoniae Radix Alba pair and Cinnamomi Ramulus Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparaia have also changed to some extent.The content of active ingredients in Astragali Radix and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma both increase after compatibility with Cinnamomi Ramulus. Different complet medicine have different pharmacological effects, Cinnamomi Ramulus Ephedrae Herba complet medicine have the effect of transpiration and antipyretic, Cinnamomi Ramulus Bupleuri Radix complet medicine can analgesia. Cinnamomi Ramulus Poria complet medicine have the effect of diuretic, improve myocardial ischemia and so on. Cinnamomi Ramulus Persicae Semen complet medicine have the anti-coagulation action.Cinnamomi Ramulus Paeoniae Radix Alba complet medicine have the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Cinnamomi Ramulus Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparaia complet medicine have the effect of dispelling cold to relieve pain. Cinnamomi Ramulus Astragali Radix complet medicine have the many effects in relieving anti-coagulation, antioxidation and anti-myocardial ischemia. Cinnamomi Ramulus Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma complet medicine displays diverse activities, including antiarrhythmic, antithrombosis. In this paper, the chemical constituents and pharmacology of four kinds of complet medicine of Cinnamomi Ramulus were reviewed, which provided a reference for the better open utilization of Cinnamomi Ramulus complet medicine.