Systems Biology for Traditional Chinese Medicine (ePub)

The application of systems biology methods to Traditional
Chinese Medicine

Emphasizing the harmony of the human body with the environment,
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has evolved over thousands of
years. It is a systemic theory derived from clinical experience,
the philosophy of holism and systematology, and the belief that man
is an integral part of nature.

Systems Biology for Traditional Chinese Medicine
describes how the latest methods in systems biology can be applied
to TCM, providing a comprehensive resource for the modernization
and advancement of TCM as well as general drug discovery efforts.
It is the first comprehensive work to propose a system-to-system
research methodology to study the interaction between TCM and the
human body and its applications in drug research and
development.

Using three popular traditional Chinese
medicines--Shuanglongfang, Qingkailing, and
Liushenwan--as examples, the authors set forth case examples
demonstrating how to find material groups, perform efficacy
screenings, and conduct safety evaluations of TCM. The book
also:

* Describes the mechanisms of TCM at the molecular and systems
levels using chemomics, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and
bioinformatics

* Places modern scientific technologies within the context of
TCM, helping drug researchers improve experimental designs and
strategies

* Illustrates how a systems biology approach is compatible with
TCM's traditional, holistic therapeutic strategies and treatment
modalities

* Presents topics of current interest, such as integrated global
systems biology and the application of chemometrics research to
herbal medicines

This book not only opens a new pathway for the continued
development of TCM, but also for systems biology. In addition, it
fosters collaboration and discussion among Eastern and Western
scientists by applying systems biology to TCM.