Figure 6

Schematic for gene expression bioresponse fingerprint. A Scheme of generating the bioresponse gene expression pattern for a botanical extract. The bioresponse of a living cell, provides a unique biological fingerprint of complex actions by the full extract of the botanical drug. The bioresponse can be one of many multifactorial responses, including differential gene expression, differential protein expression or post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation. We illustrate the process using living cells as "detectors" and genomic expression levels as the observed bioresponse. Well characterized gene chips (Affymetric UA133A) serve as the first filter to reduce the 18,000+ possible genes down to the candidate gene expression pattern of 100-300 genes. This gene list is then compared against a botanical bioresponse database, filtered and analyzed to produce unique sets of bioresponse genes. This list is further refined by statistical evaluation, gene function, transcriptional level, relevance, etc. before validation with qRT-PCR. This iterative process generates a signature set of 15-30 genes that are stable, quantitative, reproducible and unique to both the botanical formulation and manufacturing process.