Abstract: AIM: This study was designed to develop and validate a classified and integrated pharmacokinetic approach to assessing the holistic pharmacokinetic properties of traditional Chinese compound recipes using Gegen-Qinlian decoction (GQD) as a model medicine.METHODS: 11 effective constituents were determined by Triple Quadrupole LC-ESI-MS/MS method after intragastric administration of 20 mL/kg dosage of GQD. An approach of self-defined weighting coefficient has been created to the holistic pharmacokinetic profiles of flavonoids and alkaloids in GQD. The classified and integrated synthetic concentrations were obtained, and then the pharmacokinetic parameters of flavonoids and alkaloids were calculated from non-compartmental model analysis.RESULTS: Based on the self-defined AUC weighting coefficients integration approach, the holistic pharmacokinetic profiles of both flavonoids and alkaloids were obtained and consistent with regularity of drug disposition in the body. The holistic t_1/2 and AUC_0-∝ of flavonoids were 6.08 h, 30.00 mg·h·L^-1 and those of alkaloids were 28.86 h, 1.07 mg·h·L^-1, respectively.CONCLUSION: A classified and integrated pharmacokinetic approach to describing the holistic pharmacokinetic properties has been successfully developed and validated using GQD as a model traditional Chinese compound recipe. This study would be useful for guiding the holistic pharmacokinetic study in consistence with the intrinsic theory and characteristics of traditional Chinese compound recipe.

Key words: Traditional Chinese compound recipe, Gegen-Qinlian decoction, Classified and integrated pharmacokinetic  ,  ,  ,  ,