Study on Incompatibility of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Evidence from Formula Network, Chemical Space, and Metabolism Room

Abstract

A traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula network including 362 TCM formulas was built by using complex network methodologies. The properties of this network were analyzed including network diameter, average distance, clustering coefficient, and average degree. Meanwhile, we built a TCM chemical space and a TCM metabolism room under the theory of chemical space. The properties of chemical space and metabolism room were calculated and analyzed. The properties of the medicine pairs in “eighteen antagonisms and nineteen mutual inhibitors,” an ancient rule for TCM incompatibility, were studied based on the TCM formula network, chemical space, and metabolism room. The results showed that the properties of these incompatible medicine pairs are different from those of the other TCM based on the analysis of the TCM formula network, chemical space, and metabolism room. The lines of evidence derived from our work demonstrated that the ancient rule of TCM incompatibility, “eighteen antagonisms and nineteen mutual inhibitors,” is probably scientifically based.

Synergism of Chinese Herbal Medicine: Illustrated by Danshen Compound

“…Traditionally, there are eight pairs and one trio of substances that have mutually antagonistic effects on each other. Together they are referred to as the “nineteen antagonisms (十 九畏 shí jiǔ wèi) [ 34 ].” Ren Shen ( radix ginseng , Chinese ginseng) is capable of replenishing Qi, which increases the overall function of the body. This beneficial function can be reduced or abolished if combined with the herb Lai Fu Zi ( semen raphani , radish seed) [ 25 , 33 ].…”