Abstract: The study of metabolism is of great significance to the clarification of effective substances of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) and their mechanisms of action. Due to the characteristics of replacement, reduction and refinement, in vitro experimental models have become one of the important measures for in vivo metabolic studies. The in vitro models commonly used in the study of in vivo processes of drugs and their characteristics are reviewed, and their application in metabolic study of TCMs is summarized, in an attempt to provide theoretical and methodological references for the study of metabolism of TCMs.