Herb-Herb Combination for Therapeutic Enhancement and Advancement: Theory, Practice and Future Perspectives
Open Access
- 3 May 2013
- Vol. 18 (5), 5125-5141
- https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules18055125
Abstract
Herb-herb combinations have been used in Chinese medicine practice for thousands of years, yet scientific evidence of their therapeutic benefits is lacking. With increasing interest in shifting from the one-drug-one-target paradigm to combination therapy or polypharmacy to achieve therapeutic benefits for a number of diseases, there is momentum to explore new knowledge by tapping the past empirical experiences of herb-herb combinations. This review presents an overview of the traditional concept and practice of herb-herb combination in Chinese medicine, and highlights the available scientific and clinical evidence to support the combined use of herbs. It is hoped that such information would provide a lead for developing new approaches for future therapeutic advancement and pharmaceutical product development. Very likely modern technologies combined with innovative research for the quality control of herbal products, identification of active components and understanding of the molecular mechanism, followed by well-designed animal and clinical studies would pave the way in advancing the wealth of empirical knowledge from herb-herb combination to new therapeutic modalities.This publication has 62 references indexed in Scilit:
- Shengmai Injection, a Traditional Chinese Patent Medicine, for Intradialytic Hypotension: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisEvidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013
- Herb-Drug Interactions and Mechanistic and Clinical ConsiderationsCurrent Drug Metabolism, 2012
- Chinese herbal medicines for hypercholesterolemiaEmergencias, 2011
- Whole plant extracts versus single compounds for the treatment of malaria: synergy and positive interactionsMalaria Journal, 2011
- A Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: mechanism, efficacy, and safetyRheumatology International, 2011
- Network target for screening synergistic drug combinations with application to traditional Chinese medicineBMC Systems Biology, 2011
- Herbal interactions on absorption of drugs: Mechanisms of action and clinical risk assessmentPharmacological Research, 2010
- An integrated web medicinal materials DNA database: MMDBD (Medicinal Materials DNA Barcode Database)BMC Genomics, 2010
- [Modulation of the activities and mRNA expression of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes in rat liver by Panax gingseng and coadministration with Veratrum nigrum].2004
- Medicinal cannabis: is Δ9–tetrahydrocannabinol necessary for all its effects?Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2003