[Construction and application of organoid models in traditional Chinese medicine research]

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) research has long faced technical bottlenecks, including the complexity of chemical composition, multi-target mechanisms of action, and the difficulty of deeply elucidating holistic effects. There is an urgent need to establish novel research models and platforms that more closely recapitulate in vivo physiological and pathological states. In recent years, organoids, as emerging three-dimensional culture systems, have been widely applied in drug screening, toxicity evaluation, and personalized medicine, offering new technical tools and perspectives for TCM research. However, the application of organoid models in TCM research is still in its early stage, and relevant case studies and systematic summaries remain insufficient. This article systematically reviews the construction characteristics of different types of organoid models and their application value in TCM research, with a focus on the applications of organoids in the studies of medicinal herbs, TCM formulas, and TCM toxicity and safety evaluation. These applications include elucidation of mechanisms of action, screening of active components, toxicity and safety assessment, exploration of formula compatibility patterns, and development of novel TCM drugs. In view of the current challenges and limitations of organoid technology in standardized construction, simulation of complex microenvironments, maintenance of functional stability, adaptation to the complexity of TCM systems, and particularly the development of disease-syndrome combination models, this paper proposes corresponding solutions. Furthermore, this paper envisions the application prospects of integrating organoids with cutting-edge technologies such as microfluidics, artificial intelligence, 3D bioprinting, and multi-omics analysis to address the complexities of TCM research, aiming to provide a systematic reference and a theoretical basis for advancing the modernization of TCM.