Objective: To summarize the application progress of metabonomics in study of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Method: Literature about application of metabonomics in the study of TCM in recent years was reviewed. Result: Metabonomics could reveal the changes of metablites and metabolic pathway in the biological systems when using TCM to cure diseases. It laid stress on the studying the function level of organism in an overall perspective

which was in accord with the TCM theory of viewing human body as the unity and similar to its characteristics of multiple-components and targets and whole

combined effects also. It was widely used in the research of TCM syndromes

meridians and acupuncture

effect

mechanism

material basis and safety evaluation of TCM. When metabonomics was used to study TCM

it was important to raise further analysis and determination standards and to integrate useful analysis technology to make simultaneous detection of various chemicals coming true. Metabonomics database should be perfected also. It was vital to enhance the intergration of data processing and analysising to meet the high throughput and mass requirement in the study of metabonomics. Conclusion: Metabonomics has a vast potential for future application in the research of TCM.