Objective To explore the law of medicinal combinationin traditional Chinese medicine for coronary heart disease using data mining method in order to provide reference for research and development of new drug. Methods This study built a new database based on 263 compound Chinese medicine formulas for coronary heart disease

which were selected from the National Patent Database from September 1985 to July 2015. Association rules

complex network analysis and entropy method were applied to explore the combination law of traditional Chinese compound formula using the traditional Chinese medicine inheritance system software（ V2. 5）. Results Among the selected 263 compound formulas

the most complex one consisted of 30 herbs; the simplest

only one herb; with an average of6. 20 ± 6. 10 herbs in one formula. Activating blood and resolving stasis was the most common therapeutic principle（ 87 cases

33. 08%）. Radix et Rhizoma Salviae Miltiorrhizae（ Danshen root

Danshen） was the most frequently used herb（ 143 cases

54. 40%）; the combination of Danshen and Rhizoma Chuanxiong（ Chuanxiong Rhizome

Chuanxiong）

and Danshen

Chuanxiong

and Flos Carthami（ Safflower

Honghua）

were the most frequent couple and triple combination respectively（ 62

23. 57% and 33

12. 55%）; Based on the association rules

frequent medicinal combination were Semen Persicae（ Peach Kernel

Taoren） → Honghua（ CC = 0. 844）; Lignum Dalbergiae Odoriferae（ Rosewood

Jiangxiang） →Danshen（ CC = 0. 84）; Honghua

Radix Paeoniae Rubra（ red peony root

Chishao） →Chuanxiong（ CC= 1）; Chuanxiong

Taoren → Honghua（ CC = 0. 952）. Based on complex network analysis

the core medicinals identified were Radix et Rhizoma Notoginseng（ Pseudoginseng Root

Sanqi）

Danshen

Honghua

Radix Angelicae Sinensis（ Chinese Angelica

Danggui）

Chuanxiong

Radix Astragali（ Astragalus Root

Huangqi）

Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae（ Licorice Root

Gancao）

and Radix Ophiopogonis（ Dwarf Lilyturf Tube

Maidong）. The new compound extracted by entropy method involved Radix Aucklandiae（ Common Aucklandia Root

Muxiang）

Styrax（ Storax

Suhexiang） Benzoinum（ Benzoin

Anxixiang）

Camphora（ Camphor

Zhangnao）

Herba Menthae（ Field Mint

Bohe）

Rhizoma Alpiniae Officinarum（ Galangal

Gaoliangjiang）

Radix Paeoniae Alba（ Galangal White Peony Root

Baishao）

Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae（ Citrus

Chenpi） Endothelium Corneum Gigeriae Galli（ Chicken Gizzard Lining

Jineijin）

and Radix Glehniae（ Straight Ladybell Root

Beishashen）.Conclusion This study sheds light on the combination law of Chinese medicine for coronary heart disease

and provides reference for clinical practice.