Advancing Chinese Herbal Medicine Research Through Phosphoproteomics: A Review (2014–2024)

ABSTRACT Traditional Chinese medicine possesses a long history of application, widely utilized for disease treatment and daily healthcare, primarily through herbal remedies. However, due to the complexity of the components in Chinese herbal medicines and the presence of multiple therapeutic targets, research on their mechanisms of action remains limited. Phosphoproteomics offers a comprehensive approach to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of these remedies, aligning with the multi‐target strategy inherent in traditional practices. The application of phosphoproteomics has significantly advanced our understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to the therapeutic effects of herbal medicines and has facilitated ecological studies on medicinal plants. Moreover, integrating phosphoproteomics with other omics technologies enables a multilayered and multi‐perspective exploration of drug efficacy mechanisms, which holds great potential for the clinical application of Chinese herbal medicines. This article reviews the development of phosphoproteomics enrichment and quantitative detection technologies in the field of medicinal plants, with a particular focus on investigating the action mechanisms of both single and compound Chinese herbal medicines through phosphoproteomics, as well as the molecular responses of medicinal plants to abiotic stress. Furthermore, we examine how phosphoproteomics can be combined with other omics approaches to assess the pharmacological mechanisms of Chinese herbal medicines. Overall, this study underscores the role of phosphoproteomic analysis in deepening our understanding of the therapeutic effects of Chinese herbal medicines, both at the molecular level within the human body and within the medicinal plant systems themselves.