A research method of compatibility mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine prescription-taking Yupingfeng San as an example.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: To study the compatibility mechanism of Yupingfeng San composed of HuangQi (Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge), BaiZhu (Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.) and FangFeng (Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk.) OBJECTIVE: To explore the compatibility mechanism of Yupingfeng San and establish a research method for the compatibility mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Yupingfeng San was divided into all drug group, reducing monarch drug group, reducing minister drug group and reducing adjuvant drug group. HPLC and t-test were used to analyze the differences in the common peak area of each group, and the marker drug components were screened. LC-MS was used to identify the structure of common components. The model of allergic rhinitis in mice was established, and the difference of drug efficacy in each group was analyzed by ELISA and t-test, and the drug efficacy index was screened. Pearson correlation analysis was performed on the corresponding marker components and marker efficacy indexes of monarch, minister and adjuvant respectively to determine their respective roles in the compatibility of prescriptions, and then to explain the compatibility mechanism of Yupingfeng San in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. RESULTS: A total of 12 marker components of monarch drug were identified, and the marker efficacy indexes in Yupingfeng San were IL-2 and IL-4. There were 4 marker components of ministerial drug, and the marker efficacy index was IGE. There were 4 marker components of adjuvant drug, and the marker efficacy indexes were IL-2 and TGF-β. Citric acid, Calycosin-7-o-beta-d-glucoside, Ononin and Calycosin in the characteristic peaks of monarch drug were strongly correlated with IL-2 index, and Calycosin-7-o-beta-d-glucoside, ononin, calycosin and astragaloside I were strongly correlated with IL-4 index. The atractylenolide I and atractylenolide III in the characteristic peaks of the ministerial drug were strongly correlated with the IGE index; the cimicifugoside and Sec-O-Glucosylhamaudol in the characteristic peak of adjuvant were strongly correlated with IL2 index. Cimicifugoside and 5-O-methylvisammioside were strongly correlated with TGF-β index. CONCLUSION: The effect of the all drug is better than that of each split group. The role of monarch, minister and adjuvant in the compatibility of Yupingfeng San is to regulate the content of certain components to achieve the effect of regulating certain indicators. By combining the theory of traditional Chinese medicine with modern research methods, the compatibility research is more comprehensive, and the research method is effective and feasible.