The exciting and magical journey of components from compound formulae to where they fight

复方中化学成分的变化及其发挥作用的精彩之旅

With its long-term empirical clinical practice and increasing number of health benefits reported,Chinese Materia Medica(CMM)is gaining increasing global acceptance.Importantly,the identification of chemical constituents in vitro and exposed forms in vivo is a prerequisite for understanding how CMM formulae prevent and treat diseases.This review systematically summarizes the exciting and magical journey of CMM components from compound formulae to where they fight,the possible structural transformation of CMM components in vitro and in vivo,and their pharmacological contribution.When a decoction is prepared,significant chemical reactions are observed,including degradation and production of polymers and self-assembling supramolecules,leading to the construction of a component library with diverse decoction structures.After ingestion,compounds pass through the intestinal and blood-brain barriers and undergo a more wonderful journey involving the gut microbiota,microbial enzymes,and endogenous drug-metabolizing enzymes(mainly liver enzymes).At this stage,they are modified and assembled into novel and complex compounds,such as newly generated metabolites,conjugates,and self-assembling superamolecules.This review might provide a strategic orientation to explore the active compounds of CMM formulae in vivo.

方剂是长期临床实践经验积累的宝贵财富,在预防和治疗疾病方面发挥了重要作用,在全世界范围获得了越来越广泛的认可。因此,阐明方剂在体内外的物质暴露形式是揭示其预防和治疗疾病的先决条件。该综述系统总结了复方中化学成分的变化及其发挥作用的精彩之旅,包括化学成分在该过程中可能的分子转化及其药理作用。方剂在煎煮过程中新生成一系列化合物,包括降解产物,聚合物、自组装超分子,中药汤剂是一个包含上述多类型成分的宝库。中药汤剂口服后,其化合物通过人体的肠道屏障、血脑屏障等多道屏障,经过肠道菌群、微生物代谢酶、内源性酶(主要是肝脏中的酶)的代谢、转化、修饰,形成了新的化合物、配合物、自组装超分子等新形式。该综述将为探索方剂体内活性成分暴露形式提供了重要参考。