中藥材在中國已經有數千年歷史，隨著現今中國的市場開放，一些國際性藥業逐漸進軍中國的中西藥市場。在二十一世紀，中藥業界必需透過現代化來符合國際嚴格的質量安全標準，否則其競爭能力將會盡失。
中藥標準化是中藥現代化和國際化的基礎，也是保障中藥安全和有效的關鍵，但中藥標準化的不完善正阻礙著中藥的發展。例如中藥市場上常出現異物同名和同物異名的問題；即使是同一植物，在不同地區栽種或在不同季節收成，它們的化學成份和生物活性都會出現很大差異；大部分中藥都沒有具專屬性的生物標記，而中藥傳統是以各種藥材組合成的方劑服用，方劑中各種成份的相互作用複雜，令研究方劑中的作用機理變得相當困難。
除此之外，中藥的質量控制還存在著其他問題，包括：不適當的炮制過程(例如烏頭鹼)、混淆物種(例如有毒的尋骨風和無毒的白英)、偽品(例如冬蟲夏草)、重金屬污染(例如砷、鉻、鉛、汞)，農藥殘留(例如雙對氯苯基三氯乙烷)、黃曲霉素(肝毒性)、及二氧化硫殘留(用於滅菌及漂白，但有肝、腎毒性)。
為了解決這些問題和促進中藥的現代化，香港科技大學於2006年8月正式成立中藥研發中心。
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to
improve the well-being of the Chinese people for thousands
of years. Since the market opening-up of China, international
pharmaceutical companies have been gaining a market
share in both conventional and herbal medicine products
in China. In the 21st century, TCM products should meet
stringent international quality and safety standards
through modernization; otherwise they will lose their
competitiveness.
Standardization as the basis of modernization and internationalization
of TCM is the key to ensure the safety and efficacy
of TCM products. At present, lack of standardization
in TCM products impedes the development of TCM. For
instance, it is common that different herbs have the
same name or a single herb has different names in the
market. Some herbs cultivated in different regions or
harvested in different seasons may vary considerably
in their chemical and biological properties. Most of
the TCM products do not have specific biomarkers. TCM
is traditionally administered in the form of a decoction
with a combination of different herbs. The complexity
of biological effects of the interactions among different
compounds within a decoction complicates experimental
studies to reveal the action mechanisms.
Also, other problems with quality of TCM products include:
unsuitable processing (e.g. aconitine); misused species
(e.g. Aristolochia mollissima Hance (toxic)
vs Solanum lyratum Thunb (safe)); fake materials
(e.g. fake Cordyceps); heavy metal pollution (e.g. As,
Cr, Pb, Hg); pesticide residue (e.g. DDT); aflatoxins
(causing liver damage); sulfur dioxide (for sterilizing,
whitening, but causing liver and kidney damage).
In order to solve these problems and promote the modernization
of TCM, Center for Chinese Medicine R&D was established
at Hong Kong University of Science and technology in
August, 2006.
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