Systems Biology Approaches and Metabolomics for Understanding Japanese Traditional Kampo Medicine

Farit      Mochamad Afendi; Tetsuo      Katsuragi; Akira      Kato; Noritaka      Nishihara; Kensuke      Nakamura; Yukiko      Nakamura; Ken      Tanaka; Aki      Hirai Morita; Altaf-Ul-Amin; Hiroki      Takahashi; Shigehiko      Kanaya

doi:10.2174/187569212800626377

Abstract

Blended herbal medicines are used in China (traditional Chinese medicine, TCM), Japan (Kampo medicine) and many other countries around the world. Here, we critically examine the metabolomics studies to develop a systematic understanding of Kampo medicines based on multivariate analyses in the context of an integrated platform, combining current and traditional knowledge of blended herbal medicines with data-intensive -omics approaches. First, we examine - omics analyses of herbs used in Kampo medicine. Second, we focus on defining the connections underlying metabolites in blended herbal medicines with their physiological activities in humans. Third, we develop informatics methods to systematize the globalization of blended herbal medicines. Finally, we propose that systems biology approaches applied to an integrated platform of blended herbal medicine and -omics datasets allow for the systematization of current and traditional knowledge of herbal medicines such as Kampo, and importantly, for the application of this emerging body of knowledge to the development of new personalized drugs for complex human diseases, including those which are currently untreatable. To be sure, the current convergence of genomics and –omics approaches with traditional medicine in Asia-Pacific, whether in Japan or elsewhere in the region, is here to stay with us in the coming decade. We further underscore that this body of knowledge has significance not only in the Asia-Pacific but also in global public health as traditional Asian medicine is increasingly being used in tandem with western medicine throughout the world including in developed countries. If we are to truly reap the benefits of personalized medicine in an interconnected and global science, such broadening of the focus beyond small molecule drugs and from “lab to global society” is fundamentally significant.

Keywords: Bioinformatics, convergence of innovations, emerging biotechnologies, Japanese traditional Kampo medicine, KNApSAcK, metabolomics, personalized medicine and Asia-Pacific, systems biology