Volume 21, Issue 11, 25 September 2014, Pages 1281–1286
Data mining and frequency analysis for licorice as a “Two-Face” herb in Chinese Formulae based on Chinese Formulae Database
Abstract
Liquorice is the root of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. or Glycyrrhiza glabra
L., Leguminosae. Licorice is described as ‘National Venerable Master’
in Chinese medicine and plays paradoxical roles, i.e.
detoxification/strengthen efficacy and inducing/enhancing toxicity.
Therefore, licorice was called “Two-Face” herb in this paper. The aim of
this study is to discuss the paradoxical roles and the perspective
usage of this “Two-Face” herb using data mining and frequency analysis.
More
than 96,000 prescriptions from Chinese Formulae Database were selected.
The frequency and the prescription patterns were analyzed using
Microsoft SQL Server 2000. Data mining methods (frequent itemsets) were
used to analyze the regular patterns and compatibility laws of the
constituent herbs in the selected prescriptions.
The result showed that licorice (Radix glycyrrhizae) was the most frequently used herb in Chinese Formulae Database, other frequently used herbs including Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Dang gui), Radix et rhizoma ginseng (Ren shen), etc. Toxic herbs such as Radix aconiti lateralis praeparata (Fu zi), Rhizoma pinelliae (Ban xia) and Cinnabaris (Zhu sha) are top 3 herbs that most frequently used in combination with licorice. Radix et rhizoma ginseng (Ren shen), Poria (Fu ling), Radix Angelicae Sinensis
(Dang gui) are top 3 nontoxic herbs that most frequently used in
combination with licorice. Moreover, Licorice was seldom used with sargassum (Hai Zao), Herba Cirsii Japonici (Da Ji), Euphorbia kansui (Gan Sui) and Flos genkwa (Yuan Hua), which proved the description of contradictory effect of Radix glycyrrhizae and these herbs as recorded in Chinese medicine theory.
This
study showed the principle pattern of Chinese herbal drugs used in
combination with licorice or not. The principle patterns and special
compatibility laws reported here could be useful and instructive for
scientific usage of licorice in clinic application. Further
pharmacological and chemical researches are needed to evaluate the
efficacy and the combination pattern of these Chinese herbs. The
mechanism of the combination pattern of these prescriptions should also
be investigated whether additive, synergistic or antagonistic effect
exist using in vitro or in vivo models.
Graphical abstract
Keywords
- Data mining;
- Licorice;
- Chinese Formulae Database
- Corresponding authors. Tel.:
+86 25 85811116; fax: +86 25 85811116.
- 1
- These authors contributed equally to this work.
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