Prescriptions are the main clinical application form of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

carrier of TCM

and its compatibility regularity and formulation principle are the essences of TCM theories. Pharmacological research of prescriptions is the key point of modern TCM study. Its difficulty is based on the various pathogenesis and TCM combinations. Modern scientific technology could significantly promote the modernization

scientific and innovative development of TCM theories. Modern studies on TCM should focus on TCM theories

and be integrated with modern system theories and technological methods

so as to reveal the mechanism of TCM prescriptions for preventing and treating disease theories in an all-round way. In recent years

pharmacological research methods are mainly concentrated in the following aspects

namely whole prescription study

decomposed prescription study

comparative study on similar prescriptions

dosage form study

decoction method study and pharmacokinetic study. The pharmacology methods are combined with modern techniques

such as biochemistry

medicinal chemistry

molecular chemistry

serum pharmacochemistry of TCM

prescription metabonomics

genomics and proteomics

so as to promote the prescription development significantly. Each method has its own application range and advantages

but some shortages

such as holistic TCM concept deficiency

separation between whole and parts

separation between macroscopic and microscopic views

and methods limitations. Therefore

we make conclusions on the above methods

in order to make good combination on prescriptions and modern techniques

avoid limitations and promote pharmacological research development.