Effect of fingerprintology of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the innovative development of TCM
中药指纹图谱学体系在中药创制中的作用

The background and main task of the system of TCM fingerprintology from holism, systematology and complexity science are elaborately discussed. The fingerprintology of TCM is a novel system, in which the pharmacologic substance bases, mechanism and the law of pharmacokinetics on TCM (herbal medicine) and technologies for other related preparations are systematically and integrally studies. The core position and bridge effect of the fingerprint informatics of TCM were set forth. The system of TCM fingerprintology comprises the fingerprint testology, the fingerprint quality controlology, the fingerprint pharmacodynamics, the fingerprint pharmacokinetic, the fingerprint-pharmaceutics and the biofingerprintology of TCM. The theories and methods of complexity science and system science should be applied in the study of the system. The new mode of the innovative development of TCM is established by breaking through the linear thinking and reduction analysis, highly emphasizing mathematical principles and methods from a integral and systematic point of view. The theories and methods of the TCM fingerprintology are the main forces in the analysis of the leading technology and modernization of TCM. The maturity and perfection of the theories and methods will powerfully support he development of innovative TCM. The ultimate purpose of the system of the TCM fingerprintology is to develope effective, safety and controllable TCMs for human and other beneficial organisms.