Autophagy

the biodegradation and recycling system of eucaryote cells

is highly conservative and widely involves in the physiological and pathological process of the organism.Autophagy dysfunction（excessive activation or inhibition）might lead to imbalance of intracellular substance metabolism and influence the physiological activity of cells

or even induce cell death.There is some relevance between autophagy and the theories of Qi

phlegm

blood stasis and toxicity in Chinese medicine.For example

signal regulation of autophagy is like the intermediation of Qi in Chinese medicine

and autophagy dysfunction is the microscopically pathological basis of phlegm

blood stasis and toxicity.Monomers and their derivatives derived from some herbs show obvious effect in regulating autophagy.The main manifestation is promoting the conversion of LC3-Ⅰto LC3-Ⅱand up-regulating the expression level of Beclin 1 protein.