Systems Biology For Traditional Chinese Medicine

The application of systems biology methods to Traditional Chinese Medicine Emphasizing the harmony of the human body with the environment, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has evolved over thousands of years. It is a systemic theory derived from clinical experience, the philosophy of holism and systematology, and the belief that man is an integral part of nature. Systems Biology for Traditional Chinese Medicine describes how the latest methods in systems biology can be applied to TCM, providing a comprehensive resource for the modernization and advancement of TCM as well as general drug discovery efforts. It is the first comprehensive work to propose a system-to-system research methodology to study the interaction between TCM and the human body and its applications in drug research and development. Using three popular traditional Chinese medicines—Shuanglongfang, Qingkailing, and Liushenwan—as examples, the authors set forth case examples demonstrating how to find material groups, perform efficacy screenings, and conduct safety evaluations of TCM. The book also: Describes the mechanisms of TCM at the molecular and systems levels using chemomics, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and bioinformatics Places modern scientific technologies within the context of TCM, helping drug researchers improve experimental designs and strategies Illustrates how a systems biology approach is compatible with TCM's traditional, holistic therapeutic strategies and treatment modalities Presents topics of current interest, such as integrated global systems biology and the application of chemometrics research to herbal medicines This book not only opens a new pathway for the continued development of TCM, but also for systems biology. In addition, it fosters collaboration and discussion among Eastern and Western scientists by applying systems biology to TCM.

Systems Biology and Its Application in TCM Formulas Research presents a theoretical research system formed for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulas, along with information on the study of Shexiang Baoxin Pill (SBP), a TCM formula that has shown significant clinical efficacy in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The content combines theory and practice, and includes guidance for both theoretical concepts and operable technical routes. This is a valuable source not only for biomedical researchers involved in Systems Biology studies, but also for students and scientists interested in learning more about Traditional Chinese Medicine and its applications in contemporary medicine. Explains, in detail, the Shexiang Baoxin Pill (SBP), a TCM formula efficiently applied in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases Presents TCM formulas from perspectives of systems biology, basic chemical material groups, modern pharmacology and network biology Offers an overview on biology, modern chemistry and information technology as applied in Systems Biology research

This book focuses on the multi-omics big-data integration, the data-mining techniques and the cutting-edge omics researches in principles and applications for a deep understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and diseases from the following aspects: (1) Basics about multi-omics data and analytical methods for TCM and diseases. (2) The needs of omics studies in TCM researches, and the basic background of omics research in TCM and disease. (3) Better understanding of the multi-omics big-data integration techniques. (4) Better understanding of the multi-omics big-data mining techniques, as well as with different applications, for most insights from these omics data for TCM and disease researches. (5) TCM preparation quality control for checking both prescribed and unexpected ingredients including biological and chemical ingredients. (6) TCM preparation source tracking. (7) TCM preparation network pharmacology analysis. (8) TCM analysis data resources, web services, and visualizations. (9) TCM geoherbalism examination and authentic TCM identification. Traditional Chinese Medicine has been in existence for several thousands of years, and only in recent tens of years have we realized that the researches on TCM could be profoundly boosted by the omics technologies. Devised as a book on TCM and disease researches in the omics age, this book has put the focus on data integration and data mining methods for multi-omics researches, which will be explained in detail and with supportive examples the “What”, “Why” and “How” of omics on TCM related researches. It is an attempt to bridge the gap between TCM related multi-omics big data, and the data-mining techniques, for best practice of contemporary bioinformatics and in-depth insights on the TCM related questions.

After the successful introduction of acupuncture to the West, recent advances in analytical methods in chemistry, molecular biology and systems biology – especially the development of the “omic” technologies – have again brought Chinese drugs into the focus of research on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). With more than 1000 publications on the chemistry, molecular biology and pharmacology of TCM drugs in international journals over the last 10 years, Chinese drugs are gaining increasingly reputation and impact. These data offer great opportunities for the development of new pharmaceuticals for various clinical applications. International scientists have compiled relevant and trend setting research results in this book. Topics range from the latest methods of quality and safety assurance by chemical and genetic fingerprints to the development of new pharmaceuticals for a future evidence-based therapy e.g. for cancer, cardiovascular, inflammatory or infectious diseases as well as to recent experimental results on multitarget and synergy research for the preparation of multi-extract-pharmaceuticals from TCM.

Recognized as an essential component of Chinese culture, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is both an ancient medical system and one still used widely in China today. TCM's independently evolved knowledge system is expressed mainly in the Chinese language and the information is frequently only available through ancient classics and confidential family records, making it difficult to utilize. The major concern in TCM is how to consolidate and integrate the data, enabling efficient retrieval and discovery of novel knowledge from the dispersed data. Computational approaches such as data mining, semantic reasoning and computational intelligence have emerged as innovative approaches for the reservation and utilization of this knowledge system. Typically, this requires an inter-disciplinary approach involving Chinese culture, computer science, modern healthcare and life sciences. This book examines the computerization of TCM information and knowledge to provide intelligent resources and supporting evidences for clinical decision-making, drug discovery, and education. Recent research results from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Informatics Group of Zhejiang University are presented, gathering in one resource systematic approaches for massive data processing in TCM. These include the utilization of modern Semantic Web and data mining methods for more advanced data integration, data analysis and integrative knowledge discovery. This book will appeal to medical professionals, life sciences students, computer scientists, and those interested in integrative, complementary, and alternative medicine. Interdisciplinary book bringing together Traditional Chinese Medicine and computer scientists Introduces novel network technologies to Traditional Chinese Medicine informatics Provides theory and practical examples and case studies of new techniques

"Molecular Pharmacognosy” discusses the application of molecular biology in resource science and authentication of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This book reviews the latest developments in pharmacognosy, introduces a series of new views and insights, presents the hotspots and focus of the field of study on molecular pharmacognosy, and predicts a new direction of study on the resource science of TCM. Furthermore, the book also provides an open communications platform for the development of molecular pharmacognosy. This book is intended for biomedical scientists and researchers in the fields of molecular biology, traditional medicine and natural pharmaceutics. Professor Lu-qi Huang is Director of the Collaborating Centre of the World Health Organization for Traditional Medicine (Chinese Materia Medica) and Vice-Chairman of the Australia Chinese Association for Biomedical Sciences Inc.

Traditional Chinese medicine has a strong scientific basis, but the science of these important preparations is often rarely discussed. Western approaches often simplify traditional Chinese medicine to drug discovery in Chinese plants, however, the majority of traditional Chinese medications use complex mixtures of plant extracts, rather than single purified drugs. The combination of different extracts is based on yin, yang and chi theories, which are often poorly understood in the West. Yin and yang are known to be the balance of agonists and antagonists, whereas chi derives from signalling processes in the body and regulates bodily functions. Traditional Chinese medical practitioners understand that yin, yang and chi constantly interact in the body to maintain health. Western medical practitioners understand how to use agonists and antagonists and how to modify signalling processes, but generally do not accept the use of complex plant extracts to perform these functions. Aimed at medical scientists, and including detailed explanations of the theories behind the science, this text may help researchers to understand, and communicate more effectively with, Chinese medical practitioners and will lead to greater acceptance of traditional medications in the West. Presenting a clear rationale for the use of traditional Chinese medications in Western medical facilities, it enables scientists to find new directions in experimental design and encourage examination of these useful, but often poorly understood, preparations in clinical trials.

This book introduces “network pharmacology” as an emerging frontier subject of systematic drug research in the era of artificial intelligence and big data. Network Pharmacology is an original subject of fusion system biology, bioinformatics, network science and other related disciplines. It emphasizes on starting from the overall perspective of the system level and biological networks, the analysis of the laws of molecular association between drugs and their treatment objects, reveals the systematic pharmacological mechanisms of drugs, and guides the research and development of new drugs and clinical diagnosis and treatment. After it was proposed, network pharmacology has been paid attention by researchers, and it has been rapidly developed and widely used. In order to systematically reveal the biological basis of diagnosis and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine and modern medicine, we proposed a new concept of "network target" for the first time, which has become the core theory of "network pharmacology". The core principle of a network target is to construct a biological network that can be used to decipher complex diseases. The network is then used as the therapeutic target, to which multicomponent remedies are applied. This book mainly includes four parts: 1) The concept and theory of network pharmacology; 2) Common analysis methods, databases and software in network pharmacological research; 3) Typical cases of traditional Chinese medicine modernization and modern drug research based on network pharmacology; 4) Network pharmacology practice process based on drugs and diseases.