[A new idea for studying processing mechanism based on formation of supramolecular aggregates in traditional Chinese medicine decoctions]

Traditional Chinese medicines must be processed into decoction pieces before they can be used medicinally, and decoctions are the most common dosage form in TCM. Recent studies have shown that these decoctions are complex multiphase disperse systems containing supramolecular aggregates. These aggregates form through self-assembly interactions among chemical components du-ring the decocting process, in which hydrogen bonding, π-π interactions, van der Waals' forces, and hydrophobic interactions playing crucial roles. Exploring supramolecular aggregates in traditional Chinese medicine decoctions can help address the limitations of a single-component perspective in understanding the medicinal substances, thus becoming a research hotspot. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the methods for the separation and purification, structure characterization, and self-assembly mechanism revealing of these aggregates and summarizes the self-assembly mechanisms and chemical components of these aggregates. By examining several examples of supramolecular aggregates in traditional Chinese medicine decoctions and assessing processing adjuvants, this paper proposes a new idea of analyzing the processing mechanism based on the formation of supramolecular aggregates. This idea combines the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine processing with medicine compatibility principles to improve the understanding about the scientific connotation of processing with adjuvants.