Pharmacodynamic Differential Serum Chromatography for Identifying the Pharmacodynamic Material Basis of a Traditional Chinese Medicine

The modernization and marketing of traditional Chinese medicine is difficult primarily because its pharmacodynamic material basis has not been elucidated. Moreover, a central problem is the lack of effective research methods and strategies. After >20 years of study, here, we propose the theory of pharmacodynamic differential serum chromatography. The method described here can be used to identify (and possibly develop) effective pharmacodynamic materials. In light of the theory, we identified hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) to be the effective pharmacodynamic material of Carthamus tinctorius L. (safflower). With the help of the methodology described here, the modernization and understanding of traditional Chinese medicine may be accelerated.