Analysis of Medication Rules for Chinese Herbs in Treating Asthma-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overlap Syndrome Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System
Abstract: Objective: To analyze the medication rules for Chinese herbs in the treatment of asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome (ACO) based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System. Methods: Literatures of clinical randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the treatment of ACO with Chinese herbs published in the China Biology Medicine disc (CBM disc),China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform (Wanfang), and China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP) from the database establishment day to October 30,2023 were retrieved. After data collection,the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System (V2.5) was used to calculate the frequency of Chinese herbal use and their natures, flavors, and channel entries. Association rule analysis was conducted to extract core combinations and new prescriptions. Results:A total of 60 prescriptions involving 109 Chinese herbs were screened out. The herbs used most frequently (≥10 times) included Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,Pinelliae Rhizoma,Ephedrae Herba,Armeniacae Semen Amarum,Poria,Astragali Radix and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium. The main medicinal natures were warm and cold,with flavors being sweet,acrid,and bitter. The Chinese herbs mainly belonged to the lung and spleen channels. Association rule analysis of the Chinese herbs yielded 25 herbal pairs (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Armeniacae Semen Amarum; Ephedrae Herba and Armeniacae Semen Amarum; Pinelliae Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,etc.),and six rules (Pheretima → Ephedrae Herba;Perillae Fructus and Armeniacae Semen Amarum → Ephedrae Herba; Perillae Fructus and Ephedrae Herba → Armeniacae Semen Amarum, etc.). Cluster analysis extracted three core herbal combinations: Perillae Fructus, Ephedrae Herba and Armeniacae Semen Amarum; Armeniacae Semen Amarum, Mori Cortex and Ephedrae Herba; Ephedrae Herba and Pheretima. From these core combinations, two new prescriptions were obtained: Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Morindae Officinalis Radix, Inulae Flos, Perillae Fructus, Armeniacae Semen Amarum, Mori Cortex and Ephedrae Herba; Poria, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Trichosanthis Fructus and Gypsum Fibrosum. Conclusion: Chinese herbs for ACO are mainly for boosting qi and fortifying the spleen, and resolving phlegm and suppressing cough and the prescription medication should pay attention to the adjustment of balance of five viscera and six bowels.