Effects of processing adjuvants on traditional Chinese herbs
Lin-Lin Chen a, Robert Verpoorte b, Hung-Rong Yen c, Wen-Huang Peng d, Yung-Chi Cheng e, Jung Chao f,*, Li-Heng Pao g,h,**
a Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resource and Compound Prescription, Ministry of Education, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
b Natural Products Laboratory, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
c Department of Chinese Medicine, Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, School of Chinese Medicine, Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taiwan
d Department of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Resources, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
e Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
f Chinese Medicine Research Center, Department of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Resources, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
g Graduate Institute of Health Industry Technology, Research Center for Food and Cosmetic Safety, and Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine, College of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan
h Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Processing of Chinese medicines is a pharmaceutical technique that transforms medicinal raw materials into decoction pieces for use in different therapies. Various adjuvants, such as vinegar, wine, honey, and brine, are used in the processing to enhance the efficacy and reduce the toxicity of crude drugs. Proper processing is essential to ensure the quality and safety of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). Therefore, sound knowledge of processing principles is crucial to the standardized use of these processing adjuvants and to facilitate the production and clinical use of decoction pieces. Many scientific reports have indicated the synergistic effects of processing mechanisms on the chemistry, pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics of the active ingredients in TCMs. Under certain conditions, adjuvants change the content of active or toxic components in drugs by chemical or physical transformation, increase or decrease drug dissolution, exert their own pharmacological effects, or alter drug pharmacokinetics. This review summarizes various processing methods adopted in the last two decades, and highlights current approaches to identify the effects of processing parameters on TCMs.
Keywords: Adjuvant, Processing, Synergism, Traditional Chinese medicine