The present study was designed to reveal the composition principles of four herbs in compound xueshuantong capsule (CXC) based on grey relational analysis approach. According to uniform design

CXC samples with different proportions of the four herbs were prepared on the premise of the original formula proportion. Efficacy experiments on animals were conducted to evaluate the CXC samples effects of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Grey relational analysis approach was used to analyze the relevance between CXC samples and efficacy. The results demonstrated that Panax notoginseng was the key herb performing an obviously higher efficacy contribution in CXC. It could significantly regulate blood clotting activity

improve microcirculation and alleviate the blocking in the capillaries and small veins. Meanwhile

  Radix astragali

Salvia miltiorrhizae and Radix scrophulariaceae could significantly reduce the aggregation between red blood cells

resulting in smooth blood flow and prevention of blood hypercoagulable state. Therefore

four herbs together could influence different aspects of blood system

which fully embodies the multi-component and multi-target peculiarities of CXC.