摘要
Background Identifying the active ingredients from natural herbal medicines and demonstrating their potential mechanisms are key points in the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)field.In recent years,increasing studies have focused on the effects and mechanisms of Chinese herbal formulas.Basic studies on these formulas further coincide with the theory and practical use of TCM according to the clinical experiences for thousands of years.Single compounds have specific molecular structures;therefore,their methodologies in effect and mechanism studies are similar in both Western and Eastern medicines,making them more acceptable by researchers worldwide.