Abstract: OBJECTIVE To introduce the progress in the study of profile-effect since it has been posed and to provide ideas and references for studying the therapeutic basis of traditional Chinese medicine. METHODS The study of fingerprint, technical roadmap for studying the profile-effect of single Chinese herbs and formula were summarized along with the experimental methods commonly used. RESULTS AND CONCLUTION The study of the profile-effect following the fingerprint of traditional Chinese medicine is an in-depth scientific research direction. It combines the chemical compositions in fingerprint with its efficacy results. The purpose of the profile-effect study is to make the control standards that can truly reflect the inherent quality of products. It plays important role in the establishment of the therapeutic basis of traditional Chinese medicine.