Application of Systems Biology to Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion in Traditional Chinese Medicine
系统生物学在中药ADME性质研究中的应用

Here we review the definition, research blueprint, and methodology of systems biology, as well as the recent applications and research progress of the related methods with regard to pharmaceutical researches, taking physiologically based pharmacokinetics (PBPK) and pharmacokinetic based pharmacodynamics (PBPD) studies as the examples. It is emphasized that systems biology is a kind of system theory with the reductionism as its solid foundation. TCM is a complex system under the guidance of holistic and dialectic philosophy of TCM, however, it is challenged by many fundamental questions with the implementation of systems biology. It is thought that the study of the ADME properties of herbal medicines would be the basis of the integrative study of TCM and systems biology, which bridge the studies of molecular level and organismal level. This review also briefly introduces the fruitful trials of the author's group in the abovementioned fields and suggests that the early ADME study of TCM is a powerful tool in elucidation of the riddle of TCM at the level of systems biology.