Target deconvolution strategies in TCM: Bridging medicinal properties with therapeutic efficacies
Yuanyuan Hou, Min Jiang, Gang Bai · Chinese Herbal Medicines · 2025
The discovery and characterization of molecular targets from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) represents a paradigm shift in contemporary drug development. This approach systematically bridges empirical TCM knowledge with modern pharmacological principles, establishing a robust framework for rational drug design. Through integrative systems-chemical biology approaches, we can now mechanistically elucidate the therapeutic basis of TCM's bioactive properties, facilitating the accelerated identification of both novel molecular targets and conserved pharmacological pathways. This multidisciplinary strategy significantly enhances drug development efficiency while advancing therapeutic innovation to address critical unmet medical needs. With the rapid advancement of next-generation target deconvolution technologies and AI-driven computational platforms, TCM is poised to make increasingly substantial contributions to modern pharmacotherapy.