Table 4.

Application of proteomics in the studies of TCM

Chinese crude drug/active ingredients	Analytes and methods	Results	Reference
Puerarin	Total protein from lung tissue Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS	The expression of calreticulin precursor was almost at zero level in the normal group and puerarin group, but a great quantity in 3-week-monocrotaline group. It could be concluded that the pueratin could inhibit the form of pulmonary hypertension by interfering with calreticulin precursor.	26
Gui-zhi Decoction*	Proteins in hypothalamus Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis	There were obvious differences in expression of some proteins between model group and treated group. In treated groups, the expression of eight proteins (Mr/pI: 28.9 kD/4.47, 24.4 kD/6.28, 25.4 kD/6.39, 25.9 kD/6.39, 17.6 kD/7.38, 17.2 kD/7.43, 24.9 kD/7.39, 26.9 kD/7.59) was increased, whereas six proteins (Mr/pI: 14.3 kD/4.83, 28.5 kD/4.39, 16.2 kD/4.11, 15.3 kD/6.70, 30.5 kD/7.09, 30.5 kD/7.13) were decreased and one changed in isoelectric point. The changes in expression level and modification of some proteins may contribute to the antipyretic action of Gui-zhi Tang.	27
Dry Radix Ginseng	Proteins of small intestinal epithelia of the splenic asthenia syndrome mice Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, proved technique of Coomassie brilliant blue staining, PDQust software and MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS	Among 33 identified protein spots, the expression of 27 protein spots decreased and 6 increased. After treated with traditional dry Radix Ginseng decoction, the expression of those proteins was adjusted to normal levels. The adjustive action of dry Radix Ginseng of Chinese traditional medicine on proteomics of small intestinal epithelia is one of the important mechanism of invigorating spleen of dry Radix Ginseng.	28
Tianma Gouteng Decoction†	Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, MALDI-TOF-MS and database analysis	About 20 protein spots were expressed at different levels between normal and disease groups. Among these spots, five were up-regulated twofold and 10 were down-regulated at least twofold in disease group. After being treated Tianmai Gouteng Decoction, the expression of those proteins was adjusted to the normal levels.	29
Total flavones of hippophae rhamnoides L. and choerospondias axillaries fructus	Proteins from myocardial ischaemia Surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry, protein chip (IMAC3, SAX2 and NP20)	Six differentially expressed proteins were identified in total flavones of hippophae rhamnoides L. (TFH) treated myocardium, in which five down-regulated and one up-regulated. Seven differentially expressed proteins were identified in total flavones of choreospondias axillaries fructus (TFC) treated myocardium, among these proteins, five down-regulated and two up-regulated. The myocardial protection of TFH and TFC may be mediated by the differential expression of these proteins which could be the key protein candidates for different kinds and amounts.	30
Qi-Boosting Toxin-Resolving Granule	Proteins from HNEI cells Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, silver staining and PDQuest 2-de microsoft	The mean number of protein spots was 1120 ± 89 for treated HNEI cells with Qi-Boosting Toxin-Resolving Granule and that was 1281 ± 102 for untreated cells, the differentially expressed protein spots were 673, among which 218 were up-regulated whereas 455 down-regulated in treated HNEI cells.	31

^*Guizhi Decoction is one of the most famous prescription, first recorded in the ‘Treatise on Cold-induced Febride Diseases’. It was containing ramulus cinnamomi, paeonia lactiflora, radix glycyrrhiza, rhizome zingiberis recens and ziziphus jujube Mill.

^†Tianma Gouteng Decoction contains gastrodia elata Blume, gardenia jasminoides Ellis, scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, eucommia ulmoides Oliver, leonurus japonicus Houtt, Chinese taxillus Twing, caulis polygoni Multiflori, cyathula officinalis Kuan and ramulus uncariae cumuncis.