An improved association-mining research for exploring Chinese herbal property theory: based on data of the Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica

Knowledge Discovery in Databases is gaining attention and raising new hopes for traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） researchers. It is a useful tool in understanding and deciphering TCM theories. Aiming for a better understanding of Chinese herbal property theory （CHPT）, this paper performed an improved association rule learning to analyze semistructured text in the book entitled Shennong＇s Classic of Materia Medica. The text was firstly annotated and transformed to well-structured multidimensional data. Subsequently, an Apriori algorithm was employed for producing association rules after the sensitivity analysis of parameters. From the confirmed 120 resulting rules that described the intrinsic relationships between herbal property （qi, flavor and their combinations） and herbal efficacy, two novel fundamental principles underlying CHPT were acquired and further elucidated： （1） the many-to-one mapping of herbal efficacy to herbal property; （2） the nonrandom overlap between the related efficacy of qi and flavor. This work provided an innovative knowledge about CHPT, which would be helpful for its modern research.

In silico method for studying property combination of traditional Chinese herbs

Objective:This paper discusses the composition of prescription qualitative,quantitative design principles and methods based on herbal property combination,describing the method application in new prescription design.Method:Qualitative property-combination pattern(PP)calculation was based on bipartite graphing and performing a greedy algorithm which was designed to optimize obtaining a new herbal prescription.Quantitative PP calculation was based on the qualitative computation.To calculate the Euclidean distance for the PP of the new prescription,an optimized algorithm for solving the unknown minimum Euclidean distance was used with,the new weighted proportions.Finally,non-linear optimization software was used to find the minimum Euclidean distance.Results:Using the PP of classic prescription Large Yin-Nourishing Pill,applying quantitative PP calculation a new prescription was created.Mathematical algorithms based on property combinations of traditional Chinese herbs can be applied to identify compatibility and synergies of herbs within prescriptions,especially classic formulas.Conclusion:In silico methods can then be used to create new prescriptions or modify existing ones depending on need.This type of automated approach may increase efficiency in designing new drugs based on Chinese herbs.

Therapeutic Actions of the Chinese Herbal Formulae with Cold and Heat Properties and Their Effects on Ultrastructures of Synoviocytes in Rats of the Collagen-Induced Arthritis

The therapeutic actions of Qing Luo Yin (QLY清络饮) with heat property and Wen Luo Yin (WLY温络饮) with cold property on pain, swelling of the ankle, arthritis index and ultrastructures of synoviocytes were compared in rats of type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), with tripterygium glycosidorum (TG) used as control. The results indicated that both QLY and WLY could reduce pain, swelling of the ankle and the arthritis index of CIA, and QLY had better effects in reducing the swelling of the ankle and controlling the secondary pathological lesions as compared with WLY. Investigation on the ultrastructures of synoviocytes indicated that both QLY and WLY could reduce the number of Golgi apparatus, rough surface endoplasmic reticulum, dense bodies, matrix filaments and vacuoles so as to suppress the excessive secretion of synoviocytes in rats of CIA.