Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoctions are not single true-solution systems, but complex heterogeneous and multiphase dispersed systems formed through the self-assembly of multiple constituents via non-covalent interactions. The supramolecular “imprinting template” theory of TCM provides an analytical perspective for interpreting multi-component recognition, non-covalent assembly, phase-state formation, and the material forms underlying pharmacological activity in decoctions. From this theoretical perspective, this review summarizes the formation mechanisms, physicochemical characterization, component distribution patterns, and pharmacological relevance of different phase states in TCM decoctions, including true solution, colloidal, suspension, and precipitate phases. Different phase states show marked physical differences in particle size, potential, and microscopic morphology, and chemical constituents exhibit phase-preferential distribution. Key active constituents such as alkaloids and flavonoids are often selectively enriched in colloidal or precipitate phases. These specific supramolecular phase-state structures may represent important material forms mediating pharmacological effects and are closely related to drug dissolution, stability, in vivo transport, and bioavailability. Among them, colloidal phases often show potential passive targeting characteristics and solubilization effects, whereas suspension and precipitate phases may play important roles in toxicity attenuation and sustained release through physical encapsulation, providing a phase-state-based explanation for understanding the compatibility of TCM formulas. In addition, this review further summarizes the main research strategies, including decoction kinetic evolution, phase separation based on particle size differences, physicochemical characterization and pharmacological evaluation of different phase states, and reverse assembly and mechanism verification based on characteristic constituents. The key challenges in applying phase-state characteristics to TCM quality evaluation are also discussed. Future studies may be deepened in terms of in situ characterization, in vivo transformation processes, quantitative analysis of phase-state fingerprints, and quality evaluation, providing references for elucidating the pharmacodynamic material basis of TCM decoctions and promoting the modern formulation transformation of classical prescriptions.

traditional Chinese medicine decoction  /  phase state  /  supramolecular  /  imprinting template  /  nanophase  /  material basis