Application of Mass Spectrometry Imaging in Research on Material Basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine： A Review
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20260206
- VernacularTitle:质谱成像技术在中药物质基础研究中的应用进展
- Author:
Cong'en ZHANG
1
;
Yue XU
1
;
Fuzhi MA
1
;
Lin ZHU
1
;
Yeerjiang AYIMAN
1
;
Zhijie MA
1
Author Information
1. Beijing Ditan Hospital， Capital Medical University， Beijing 100015，China
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）;
mass spectrometry imaging （MSI）;
material basis;
spatial distribution;
application prospect
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2026;32(19):296-302
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
The scientific connotation of the material basis of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） depends not only on the composition and abundance of its constituents， but more critically on their spatial distribution within medicinal materials and in vivo. However， conventional analytical approaches have limited capacity to resolve in situ spatial information， failing to delve into therapeutic mechanisms of complex TCM systems. Mass spectrometry imaging （MSI） enables label-free in situ analysis with spatial visualization of multiple constituents， providing essential technical support for investigations into the material basis of TCM. In recent years， the application of MSI has continuously expanded across studies of single medicinal materials， processing， compound preparations， and in vivo distribution， systematically elucidating microscale spatial distribution patterns of TCM constituents. Accumulating evidence indicates that MSI facilitates clarification of the relationships among endogenous constituents， biosynthetic pathways， medicinal parts， and geo-authenticity （Daodi）. Moreover， MSI can dynamically depict spatiotemporal transformation of constituents during processing， offering intuitive evidence for the mechanisms underlying toxicity reduction and efficacy enhancement. In the studies of compound preparations， MSI can resolve microregional distribution characteristics of diverse constituents and their potential interactions， thereby deepening the understanding of compatibility principles. In addition， MSI demonstrates unique advantages in in situ tracing of constituents in vivo， as well as in spatially informed quality evaluation and authentication/adulteration identification. Overall， MSI is driving a shift in the research on the material basis of TCM from conventional compositional profiling toward spatial-functional elucidation， providing important technical support for establishing "material-space-efficacy" relationships. Despite remaining challenges in quantification， spatial resolution， and data processing， MSI shows broad promise for application in modern TCM research.
