1）中药及复方有效性评价研究：对临床疗效确切的经典复方进行物质基础与药效活性、毒副反应的相关性研究，阐明其作用机制、特色和活性物质基础；（2）中药复方配伍原理的研究：从方剂药物组成、化学成分、剂量配比与药效学的关系，探讨方剂配伍的原理；（3）适用于临床疑难杂症的中药新药创制研究：对疗效确切的中药复方组方精简优化、有效部位或成分的合理配比，创制现代中药创新药物。从而为探明中药及复方的作用及机制、阐明中药复方配伍理论提供了借鉴，也为开发中药新药奠定了基础

Lan Z, Chen L, Fu Q, Ji W, Wang S, Liang Z, Qu R, Kong L, Ma SP*. Paeoniflorin attenuates amyloid-beta peptide-induced neurotoxicity by ameliorating oxidative stress and regulating the NGF-mediated signaling in rats. Brain Res. 2013.

2) Lan Z, Liu J, Chen L, Fu Q, Luo J, Qu R, Kong L, Ma SP*. Danggui-Shaoyao-San ameliorates cognition deficits and attenuates oxidative stress-related neuronal apoptosis in d-galactose-induced senescent mice. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012; 141(1):386-95.

3) Song Y, Qu R, Zhu S, Zhang R, Ma SP*. Rhynchophylline attenuates LPS-induced pro-inflammatory responses through down-regulation of MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways in primary microglia. Phytother Res. 2012; 26(10):1528-33.

4) Xu CL, Wang QZ, Sun LM, Li XM, Deng JM, Li LF, Zhang J, Xu R, Ma SP*. Asiaticoside: attenuation of neurotoxicity induced by MPTP in a rat model of Parkinsonism via maintaining redox balance and up-regulating the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2012; 100(3):413-8.

5) Li XM, Xu CL, Deng JM, Li LF, Ma SP*. Qu R. Protective effect of Zhen-Wu-Tang (ZWT) through keeping DA stable and VMAT 2/DAT mRNA in balance in rats with striatal lesions induced by MPTP. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011; 134(3):768-74.