The American journal of Chinese medicine
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Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer. Conventional treatment options for TNBC often have limited efficacy and significant side effects. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown promising results in the treatment of TNBC. ⋯ The method of strengthening the body's resistance emphasizes enhancing the body's original Qi to fight against pathogenic factors; the method of dispelling phlegm seeks to eliminate phlegm stagnation and alleviate the burden on affected organs; the method of removing cancer toxins focuses on detoxification and detumescence to remove the toxic elements associated with TNBC. Although these methods treat TNBC from different etiologies, they have achieved good therapeutic effects and represent an important academic approach: That is, to cure the disease with a comprehensive view of the body and restore the balance of Yin and Yang. This knowledge lays a foundation for the future development and reasonable application of TCM in the clinic.
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Ulcerative colitis (UC), one among other refractory diseases worldwide, has shown an increasing trend of progression to colorectal cancer in recent years. In the treatment of UC, traditional Chinese medicine has demonstrated good efficacy, with a high cure rate, fewer adverse effects, great improvement in the quality of patient survival, and reduction in the tendency of cancerous transformation. ⋯ We also summarized the mechanisms of action of various Chinese medicines (active ingredients or extracts) and herbal formulas, through signaling pathways and gut microbiota, with the expectation that they can provide references and evidence for treating UC and preventing inflammation-associated colorectal cancer by traditional Chinese medicine. We illustrate that multiple signaling pathways, such as TLR4, STAT3, PI3K/Akt, NF-[Formula: see text]B, and Keap1/Nrf2, can be inhibited by Chinese herbal treatments through the combined regulation of signaling pathways and gut microbiota, which can act individually or synergistically to inhibit intestinal inflammatory cell infiltration, attenuate gut oxidative responses, and repair the intestinal barrier.
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The formation of fibrotic tissue, characterized by the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components such as collagen and fibronectin, is a normal and crucial stage of tissue repair in all organs. The over-synthesis, deposition, and remodeling of ECM components lead to organ dysfunction, posing a significant medical burden. Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, is commonly used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. ⋯ In this review, we systematically introduce the effective role of berberine in fibrosis-related diseases. Specifically, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the therapeutic role of berberine in treating fibrosis in organs such as the heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys. By summarizing its various pathways and mechanisms of action, including the inhibition of the transforming growth factor-[Formula: see text]/Smad signaling pathway, PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, RhoA/ROCK signaling, and mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway, as well as its activation of the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway, AMPK signaling pathway, phosphorylated Smad 2/3 and Smad 7, and other signaling pathways, this review offers additional evidence to support the treatment of fibrotic diseases.
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Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative articular disease that leads to physical disability and reduced quality of life. The key pathological events in OA are cartilage degradation and synovial inflammation. Conventional therapies often lead to adverse effects that some patients are unwilling to endure. ⋯ This work underscores the pivotal role of the Wnt signaling pathway in OA pathogenesis and progression, suggesting that targeting this pathway holds promise as a prospective therapeutic strategy for OA management in the future. TCMs and their active components have the potential to alleviate OA by modulating the Wnt signaling cascade. Harnessing TCMs and their active components to regulate the Wnt signaling pathway presents an encouraging avenue for delivering substantial therapeutic benefits to individuals with OA.
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Osteoporosis (OP) represents a substantial public health issue and is associated with increasing rates of morbidity and mortality. It is characterized by reduced bone mineral density, deterioration of bone tissue quality, disruption of the microarchitecture of bones, and compromised bone strength. These changes may be attributed to the following factors: intercellular communication between osteoblasts and osteoclasts; imbalanced bone remodeling; imbalances between osteogenesis and adipogenesis; imbalances in hormonal regulation; angiogenesis; chronic inflammation; oxidative stress; and intestinal microbiota imbalances. ⋯ These TCMs balance the activity of osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) and osteoclasts (bone-resorbing cells), and they exhibit anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-oxidative, and estrogen-like functions. These multifaceted mechanisms underlie the efficacy of these herbs in the management and treatment of OP. Herein, we examine the efficacy of various Chinese herbs and Chinese patent drugs in treating OP by reviewing previous clinical trials and basic experiments, and we examine the potential mechanism of these therapies to provide evidence regarding the use of TCM for treating OP.