From ancient wisdom to modern science:Gut microbiota sheds light on property theory of traditional Chinese medicine  

作　　者：Ya-nan Yang Jia-guo Zhan Ying Cao Chong-ming Wu 

机构地区：[1]School of Chinese Materia Medica,Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Tianjin 301617,China [2]Tianjin Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Substance of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Tianjin 301617,China

出　　处：《Journal of Integrative Medicine》2024年第4期413-444,共32页结合医学学报（英文版）

基　　金：supported financially by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81973217)。

摘　　要：The property theory of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has been practiced for thousands of years,playing a pivotal role in the clinical application of TCM. While advancements in energy metabolism,chemical composition analysis, machine learning, ion current modeling, and supercritical fluid technology have provided valuable insight into how aspects of TCM property theory may be measured, these studies only capture specific aspects of TCM property theory in isolation, overlooking the holistic perspective inherent in TCM. To systematically investigate the modern interpretation of the TCM property theory from multidimensional perspectives, we consulted the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition) to compile a list of Chinese materia medica(CMM). Then, using the Latin names of each CMM and gut microbiota as keywords, we searched the PubMed database for relevant research on gut microbiota and CMM. The regulatory patterns of different herbs on gut microbiota were then summarized from the perspectives of the four natures, the five flavors and the meridian tropism. In terms of the four natures, we found that warm-natured medicines promoted the colonization of specific beneficial bacteria,while cold-natured medicines boosted populations of some beneficial bacteria while suppressing pathogenic bacteria. Analysis of the five flavors revealed that sweet-flavored and bitter-flavored CMMs positively influenced beneficial bacteria while inhibiting harmful bacteria. CMMs with different meridian tropism exhibited complex modulative patterns on gut microbiota, with Jueyin(Liver) and Taiyin(Lung) meridian CMMs generally exerting a stronger effect. The gut microbiota may be a biological indicator for characterizing the TCM property theory, which not only enhances our understanding of classic TCM theory but also contributes to its scientific advancement and application in healthcare.

关 键 词：Traditional Chinese medicine Property theory Gut microbiota Four natures Five flavors Meridian tropism 

分 类 号：R285.1[医药卫生—中药学]