Spectrum-effect relationship research in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) serves as a crucial technical bridge between traditional therapeutic efficacy and modern scientific research. By elucidating the intrinsic correlations between the chemical spectra of TCM and their pharmacological activities, this approach enables accurate identification of pharmacodynamically active substances and elucidation of their mechanisms of action. It thereby provides an innovative foundation for scientific quality control of TCM. However, inherent characteristics of TCM and current research limitations present significant challenges in this field. Centered on framework of “spectrum-efficacy, spectrum-effect relationships and achievement transformation”, this review systematically summarizes the key challenges facing spectrum-effect research in TCM, analyzes their underlying causes, and offers recommendations for standardizing future studies and industrializing research outcomes. This work aims to advance spectrum-effect research toward greater scientific rigor, systematicity, and practical value.

traditional Chinese medicine  /  spectrum-effect relationship  /  chemical spectra  /  pharmacodynamic evaluation  /  achievement transformation