Comprehensive Advances on Probiotic-Fermented Medicine and Food Homology

In China, Medicine and Food Homology (MFH) is a prevalent concept that stems from the ancient tradition of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). However, the low bioactive ingredients and absorption efficiency of MFH are crucial problems that need to be solved, as well as the toxic side effects of some MFH. Probiotic fermentation is a promising approach to modify MFH, as it can effectively transform and enhance the active ingredients of MFH by utilizing their specific metabolism. This review summarizes the reciprocal effects between MFH and probiotics, the pharmacological effects of probiotic-fermented MFH, the development of an effective probiotic fermentation system, and quality control of MFH fermentation. Additionally, this article covers the challenges and perspectives of MFH fermentation. Artificial intelligence (AI) and synthetic biology techniques can promote probiotic-fermented MFH with high efficiency and effectiveness. In sum, this article presents a detailed analysis of the potential of probiotic-fermented MFH to accelerate the modernization process of TCM.