Application of gene differential expression technology in the mechanism studies of nature product-derived drugs

Abstract

Introduction: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) efficacy is a comprehensive result of influences of complex chemical components contained in TCM having on different targets at gene, cell, and tissue levels. Multi-component, multi-target, and multi-level characteristics cause barriers to molecular mechanism research of TCM. The emergence of gene differential expression technology provides a strong arm for TCM study, which enables researchers to assay target-genetic differential expression after TCM treatment in high-throughput manner.

Areas covered: Focused and comprehensive literature and references are undertaken to introduce the technologies at gene level and at protein level. The former includes genechip, semi-quantitative/fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction), northern blot, etc. The latter includes western blot, immunohistochemistry, ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), etc. The literature reviews applications of technologies above in TCM mechanisms research over the past decade and also makes a comparison of different technologies for reference.

Expert opinion: Although gene differential expression technology has obvious advantages in studying the mechanism of TCM, biotechnology should be further explored to meet the requirements of TCM investigation.

Keywords::

• gene differential expression technology
• natural botanicals
• pharmacology
• traditional Chinese medicine

Notes

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