[Thinking and practice on research of effective components of traditional Chinese medicine compound prescriptions]

By analyzing current research status and considering our own previous research results, we hold that research on active substance of Chinese herbal formula should be focused on the effect of active components according to its functions, thus determining the main effective components of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound prescriptions. Study of compatibility of effective components should be carried out and compound prescriptions composed of effective components should be developed. It is a pivotal way to deepen research on active components of TCM compound prescription by further analyzing the compatibility of effective components and the relationship between functional components and active components by multilink and multitarget methods.