Supramolecular “imprinting template” theory to analyze five flavors of Chinese materia medica / 中草药

ABSTRACT

The five-flavor theory of Chinese materia medica (CMM) is the core content of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which characterizes the characteristic property of CMM components and is used for clinical guidance. However, it is still unclear how the five flavors are used to characterize the many groups of ingredients, the criteria for dividing the five flavors of herbs, and the scientific issues of the five flavors and the five internal organs. This paper analyzes and summarizes the historical evolution and research status of five-flavor theory of CMM. The supramolecular “imprint template” theory is used to analyze the five flavors of CMM human and CMM are biological supramolecular bodies, and traditional Chinese medicine is used as a natural supramolecular “imprint template” aggregation. After the human body, it is inevitable to find self-recognition, self-organization, self-assembly and self-replication of the supramolecular body of the human organ that coincides with its own “imprint template”, so as to produce specific effects, and macroscopically show the five flavors of CMM with meridian tropism in five internal organs. Therefore, through the qualitative and quantitative study of the characteristics and action of the supramolecular “imprinting template” of various components of five flavors of CMM in vivo and in vitro and its network pharmacology, “Chinese herbal medicine group-taste bud supramolecular pore structure-meridian visceral cavity” correlation research method was established. From the macroscopic and microscopic aspects, the five flavors of CMM are studied. The combination of supramolecular chemistry theory and traditional Chinese medicine will certainly promote the development of TCM and realize the modernization of TCM.