Traditional Chinese medicines （TCMs） have a long history of clinical testing and reliable therapeutic efficacy. They have attracted international attention as excellent sources of bioactive compounds for the discovery of new drugs. However, TCMs usually contain hundreds or even thousands of components and only a few of these compounds are responsible for the pharmacological effects. The large number of components in TCMs makes the analysis and screening for bioactive compounds extremely difficult. Therefore, strategies for analysis and screening of bioactive compounds in TCMs have long been a focus of studies on TCMs. Cell membrane chromatography （CMC） has become a useful tool for studying the bioactive compounds of TCMs. This review summarizes the principles, characteristics, and application of CMC, and the possible problems faced when working with TCMs. This method will likely become increasingly important for screening and analysis of hioactive compounds in TCMs.
