In the process of modernization research of traditional Chinese medicine

more and more advanced technologies are applied. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

as an important research tool

is also used in the study of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR is a highly sensitive nucleic acid quantification technique that is developed on the basis of technology of PCR. In PCR reaction system

fluorescent dyes or fluorescent probes are added; then the PCR reaction is monitored in real time by using fluorescence signal accumulation; and finally the unknown template is analyzed quantitatively by using standard curve. With the characteristic of simple

fast

efficient

high-throughput and high sensitivity as well

real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR overcomes the deficiency of traditional one greatly and gradually becomes an important means of studying the Chinese medicine at present. The applications in the diagnosis of TCM

pharmacology research of TCM

essence research of TCM syndrome and the study of acupuncture mechanism are introduced in this review. Many studies have showed: Molecular mechanism of the prescription

single herb and effective components at tissue

cell and molecular levels could be explored and target site of drug could be found by using real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR; Additionally

it helped to reveal the pathophysiological basis of TCM symptoms and provide new ideas for elucidating the biological essence; What's more

the science of traditional Chinese medicine has been validated at the genetic level of molecular biology. Based on these studies

real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR would be widely used in the research of traditional Chinese medicine.