Integration of Gut Microbiota and Metabolomics for Chinese Medicine Research: Opportunities and Challenges.

Chinese medicines (CM) are gaining more attentions from all over the world. However, there are a large body of questions to be answered because of the chemical complexity of CM and intricate molecular reactions within human body. In recent years, gut microbiota and metabolomics have emerged as two cynosures in deciphering the mechanisms of how our body is functioning. Since gut microbiota and host is a closely interrelated system, paying attention only to gut microbiota or metabolites may omit the interplays among CM, gut microbiota, and hosts. To systemically study these interplays, a network understanding of CM components, gut microbiota, metabolites of gut microbiota, metabolites in human body is necessary. Although there are some obstacles impeding the application of this integrative approach, the potential areas for implementation of the integrative approach is vast. These areas include, but not limited to, elucidating the mechanisms of CM at system level, screening bioactive compounds in CM, and guiding quality control of CM.