Chinese Herbal Medicines最新文献

{"title":"Potential of Panax ginseng for bone health and osteoporosis management","authors":"Wenjie Fang,&nbsp;Kaisong Huang,&nbsp;Jinlian Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.06.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.06.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Panax ginseng</em> is a medicinal and food-homologous herb with a long-standing reputation as a tonic. Extensive research has explored its potential in improving osteoporosis, a condition characterized by progressive bone loss that increases the risk of fractures. In this review, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Medical Journal Database are searched with no lower time limit up to August 2024. This review offers a comprehensive overview of how <em>P. ginseng</em> and its formulations can enhance bone health and alleviate osteoporosis. It also explores the signaling pathways influenced by compounds derived from <em>P. ginseng</em> in bone turnover. <em>P. ginseng</em> shows promise in regulating sex hormones, exerting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and enhancing bone turnover. It suppresses MAPKs and NF-κB pathways to inhibit bone resorption, while activating pathways like Wnt/<em>β</em>-catenin, AMPK, PI3K/Akt, and BMP/Smad to promote bone formation. In addition, this review describes the global production and trade of ginseng, the metabolism of <em>P. ginseng</em> after oral ingestion, and network pharmacology studies. Given its multi-target mechanisms, <em>P. ginseng</em> shows promise in the clinical management of osteoporosis. At doses below 10 g with sustained use (several months to one year), it may serve as a viable daily supplement for bone health maintenance. Furthermore, its synergistic interactions with conventional anti-osteoporosis drugs (e.g., bisphosphonates) could enhance therapeutic efficacy, positioning it as a complementary adjunct in clinical treatment regimens.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9916,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Herbal Medicines","volume":"17 4","pages":"Pages 673-684"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145340088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Target deconvolution strategies in TCM: Bridging medicinal properties with therapeutic efficacies","authors":"Yuanyuan Hou,&nbsp;Min Jiang,&nbsp;Gang Bai","doi":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.08.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.08.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The discovery and characterization of molecular targets from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) represents a paradigm shift in contemporary drug development. This approach systematically bridges empirical TCM knowledge with modern pharmacological principles, establishing a robust framework for rational drug design. Through integrative systems-chemical biology approaches, we can now mechanistically elucidate the therapeutic basis of TCM’s bioactive properties, facilitating the accelerated identification of both novel molecular targets and conserved pharmacological pathways. This multidisciplinary strategy significantly enhances drug development efficiency while advancing therapeutic innovation to address critical unmet medical needs. With the rapid advancement of next-generation target deconvolution technologies and AI-driven computational platforms, TCM is poised to make increasingly substantial contributions to modern pharmacotherapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9916,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Herbal Medicines","volume":"17 4","pages":"Pages 720-723"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145340098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling bioactive components in Sargassum fusiforme via phytochemical and biological evaluation: A heterogeneous information ensemble approach","authors":"Yue Zhu ,&nbsp;Yuting Ai ,&nbsp;Jianfu Zhou ,&nbsp;Xiaozhuan Jia ,&nbsp;Shuying Liu ,&nbsp;Bo Zhu ,&nbsp;Yimin Qin ,&nbsp;Jianping Jiang ,&nbsp;Zhenzhong Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.08.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.08.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div><em>Sargassum fusiforme</em> (SF), a brown algae, is a marine traditional Chinese medicine with nutritional value. However, studies on the bioactive components in SF are limited. The aim of this study is to investigate phytochemical and biological properties of SF from different geographical origins and botanical parts, as well as to explore bioactive components within SF.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>SF from different origins and botanical parts were collected for integrated phytochemical analyses using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), mass spectral molecular networking and liquid chromatography-single quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MSD), etc., followed by the systematic chemical profile evaluation. Subsequently, the glycolipid metabolism regulation and anticoagulation of SF were examined. Furthermore, the overall information acquired was assembled using multivariate analysis and machine learning to discover bioactive components.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 123 compounds in SF were identified with the assistance of mass spectral molecular networking. The variations in the content of amino acids, fucoidan, alginate, phlorotannin, alkaloids, terpenoids, etc. were observed in SF from different origins and botanical parts. SF possessed the hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic and anticoagulant effects, and SF from Dongtou, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, was outstanding among origins in both phytochemical and biological evaluations. A heterogeneous information ensemble approach was adopted to discover the bioactive components in SF, namely 3-indoleacrylic acid, phlorotannin and fucoidan.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study evaluated the phytochemical and biological properties of SF, revealed the bioactive components using heterogeneous information and provided a reference for the rational consumption and further development of SF.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9916,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Herbal Medicines","volume":"17 4","pages":"Pages 822-836"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145339826","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Therapeutic potential and mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine in regulating energy metabolism imbalance in heart failure","authors":"Ailian Li ,&nbsp;Xuexi Wang ,&nbsp;Ruoyu Yang ,&nbsp;Jingping Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaotong Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.07.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.07.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heart failure (HF) is a disease in which the heart fails to efficiently pump blood due to diminished cardiac function, which seriously affects the quality of life and prognosis of patients. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as a national treasure of China, has been shown to regulate cardiac energy metabolism and has been widely used in the treatment of HF. This article summarised commonly used TCMs for the treatment of HF, mainly from the perspective of improving energy metabolism. The results showed that TCMs can enhance the cardiac energy supply and improve cardiac function by altering the heart’s preference for metabolic substrates, regulating the activity of key metabolic enzymes and the expression of related proteins, and attenuating impaired mitochondrial function. Among them, <em>Astragali Radix</em> (Huangqi in Chinese), <em>Ginseng Radix</em> et <em>Rhizoma</em> (Renshen in Chinese), <em>Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix</em> et <em>Rhizoma</em> (Danshen in Chinese), and their extracts can exert significant cardioprotective effects. In addition, some TCM herbal formulas, such as Shengmai San and Zhenwu Tang, have been widely used in the treatment of HF. The application of these herbal extracts and formulas provides an effective option for the treatment of HF, but further studies are needed to clarify their mechanisms of action and clinical applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9916,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Herbal Medicines","volume":"17 4","pages":"Pages 685-702"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145340096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Jiaotaiwan activates serum SCFAs and upregulates cAMP-PKA-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway for antidepressant effects: A multicenter, randomized, controlled study","authors":"Mengnan Huang ,&nbsp;Yuanyuan He ,&nbsp;Tong Yang ,&nbsp;Lu Yu ,&nbsp;Qina Lei ,&nbsp;Lina Gao ,&nbsp;Shan Gao ,&nbsp;Lin Li ,&nbsp;Chunquan Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.03.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.03.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Jiaotaiwan (JTW) is a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription for treating depression, but its potential mechanisms are not fully understood. The aim of this study is to detect the levels of serum Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-protein kinase A (PKA)-cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB)-brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway, further revealing the scientific connotation of the antidepressant effect of JTW.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this multicenter, randomized, controlled study, 120 patients with depression were divided into the JTW (16.5 g/d) group, JTW (16.5 g/d) + selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) group, and SSRIs group. Hamilton depression Scale-24 (HAMD-24) and Self-rating depression scale (SDS) were used for efficacy evaluation. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to evaluate the expression levels of cAMP-PKA-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway. Serum SCFAs concentrations were analyzed using liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) targeted metabolomics.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>After eight weeks of treatment, HAMD score and SDS score were significantly decreased in the three groups, and HAMD score in JTW + SSRIs group was significantly lower than that in SSRIs group. After treatment, the expression levels of cAMP-PKA-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway were significantly increased in the three group, with the JTW + SSRIs group showing more significant increase. After treatment, the levels of isobutyric, butyric, isovaleric, and valeric acids in the JTW + SSRIs groups were significantly higher than that before treatment, and the levels of isobutyric, and isovaleric acids in the JTW + SSRIs group was significantly higher than that in the JTW group and SSRIs groups.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>JTW can alleviate symptoms in patients with depression, and its antidepressant mechanism may be related to regulating serum SCFAs and cAMP-PKA-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9916,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Herbal Medicines","volume":"17 4","pages":"Pages 790-797"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145340583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Natural compounds from traditional Chinese medicine regulating stem cell fate: Identification and therapeutic potential","authors":"Zhigao Zhao ,&nbsp;Yu Ma ,&nbsp;Shizhe Wang ,&nbsp;Mengyuan Zhou ,&nbsp;Yang Tian ,&nbsp;Li Yang ,&nbsp;Jian Gu ,&nbsp;Rui Tan","doi":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.05.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.05.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The problems of uncontrolled stem cell differentiation and the limited number of cells available represent significant obstacles to the advancement of stem cell research in the medical field. It is therefore imperative to control the potential of stem cells and to develop effective methods to regulate stem cell fate. A number of natural products derived from TCM have been shown to provide valuable insights into the regulation of biological signals and epigenetic mechanisms in stem cells. Furthermore, the structural modification of these natural products by synthetic means promises to unlock a wealth of possibilities in the field of precision regenerative medicine. However, a systematic and comprehensive review of these natural products has yet to be conducted. This article presents an overview of the natural products that have been identified as regulating the fate of stem cells. It includes a discussion of the classification, mechanism of action, and current prospects for the application of these natural products as lead compounds. This provides valuable insights for the advancement of TCM modernization and internationalization, precision regenerative medicine involving natural products and stem cells, the discovery of green lead compounds, and the development of new drugs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9916,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Herbal Medicines","volume":"17 4","pages":"Pages 611-627"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145340093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploration of chemical components and Rac1-dependent anti-hepatic fibrosis mechanism by total flavonoids derived from Tetrastigma hemsleyanum","authors":"Xin Wu ,&nbsp;Cuiwei Chen ,&nbsp;Hongyan Zhang ,&nbsp;Keda Lu ,&nbsp;Gang Cao","doi":"10.1016/j.chmed.2024.12.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chmed.2024.12.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study is mainly to elucidate the characteristic components, hepatoprotective effect, and the underlying anti-hepatic fibrosis molecular mechanism of the total flavonoids of <em>Tetrastigma hemsleyanum</em> Diels &amp; Gilg (SYQTF).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The components of SYQTF were confirmed based on global natural products social molecular networking (GNPS) as well as the hepatoprotective effect on CCl₄-induced acute liver injury. Cell toxicity and viability, cell cycle, and apoptosis analyses were then performed to determine the effects of SYQTF in transforming growth factor-<em>β</em>1 (TGF-<em>β</em>1) (10 ng/mL)-induced HSC-T6 hepatic fibrosis cell model. Finally, the lentiviral particles to package recombinant Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) over-expression and Rac1 knockdown plasmids were transfected into TGF-β1-induced HSC-T6 cells to elucidate the mechanism of anti-hepatic fibrosis of SYQTF targeting Rac1, respectively.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Our findings demonstrated that 86 components in SYQTF were identified in MS^E and FastDDA mode with the aid of GNPS. Moreover, S₁₅-ZJ, the genuine functional food and medicinal materials of <em>T. hemsleyanum</em>, was significantly different from other regions by multivariate statistical methods based on progenesis QI. Remarkably, kaempferol-3-<em>O</em>-furananose7-<em>O</em>-rhamnosyl-glucoside, the highest response intensity in S₁₅-ZJ, may act as the potential Q-marker of genuine functional food and medicinal materials of <em>T. hemsleyanum</em> in Zhejiang Province distinguished from other areas. In addition, the <em>in vivo</em> experiments revealed that SYQTF greatly alleviated CCl₄-induced acute liver injury. Furthermore, SYQTF can reversible the activation and proliferation of HSC-T6 cells, block the cell cycle in the G₀/G₁ phase, and promote cell apoptosis. Remarkably, the study is the first to reveal that SYQTF exhibited the anti-hepatic fibrosis effect through targeting Rac1 in the hedgehog signaling pathway.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Rac1 is an important signaling molecule for the activation of the hedgehog pathway in HSC-T6. Importantly, SYQTF exerted its anti-hepatic fibrosis effect by inhibiting the Rac1-hedgehog signaling pathway. Furthermore, kaempferol-3-<em>O</em>-furananose7-<em>O</em>-rhamnosyl-glucoside could be a potential Q-marker of <em>T. hemsleyanum</em> in Zhejiang Province distinguished from other areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9916,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Herbal Medicines","volume":"17 4","pages":"Pages 837-849"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145339827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"NLRP3 inflammasome in acute lung injury: Cumulative evidence for traditional Chinese medicine and natural products","authors":"Yiman Liu ,&nbsp;Junyu Meng ,&nbsp;Jia Liu,&nbsp;Fan Zhang,&nbsp;Chen An,&nbsp;Jian Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.06.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.06.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Acute lung injury (ALI) and its more severe manifestation, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), continue to pose a substantial challenge for contemporary society. Having been linked to the processes of injury and inflammation, NLRP3 inflammasome is activated by various stimuli, including inhaled allergens, pathogens, and environmental pollutants, subsequently contributing to the dysfunction of the innate immune system. Understanding how the innate immune NLRP3 inflammasome is altered during ALI may facilitate the identification of new therapeutic targets. To further enrich the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in treating ALI with traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this review aims to thoroughly summarize the latest scientific research achievements on the effects of NLRP3 inflammasome in ALI, and the existing underlying therapeutic targets from TCM and natural products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9916,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Herbal Medicines","volume":"17 4","pages":"Pages 703-719"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145340097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ganoderic acid a derivative induces apoptosis of cervical cancer cells by inhibiting JNK pathway","authors":"Mengchen Wang ,&nbsp;Qin Han ,&nbsp;Xuelian Zhang ,&nbsp;Xi Dong ,&nbsp;Jiadong Ran ,&nbsp;Fei Wei ,&nbsp;Yun Luo ,&nbsp;Xiaobo Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.chmed.2024.07.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chmed.2024.07.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Ganoderic acid A can inhibit the proliferation and promotes the apoptosis of cancer cells. Surprisingly, the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer effects of ganoderic acid A still remain poorly defined. Ganoderic acid A derivative (GaAD19) is an effective ingredient obtained by structural modification of ganoderic acid A. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-proliferation effect of GaAD19 on cervical cancer cells.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Through the HeLa cervical cancer cell model, the drug target of GaAD19 was predicted using the SwissTargetPrediction database and molecular docking. Subsequently, computer analysis results were verified by a series of molecular biology experiments, such as flow cytometry, Western blot, immunocytochemical staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and so on. Then, pathway agonists and inhibitors were used to investigate the mechanism of GaAD19. Finally, the mouse model of cervical cancer was established to evaluate the inhibitory effect of GaAD19 on tumor growth in U14 cervical cancer mice.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>GaAD19 induced apoptosis and inhibited the growth of tumors. It also blocked the transition from the G₁ to the S phase of the cell cycle. However, in the presence of a c-Jun <em>N</em>-terminal kinase (JNK)agonist, the effects of GaAD19 on the proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle transition of cancer cells were suppressed.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study showed that GaAD19 can play an anti-cervical cancer role by inhibiting the JNK signaling pathway. These results will be helpful in further exploring the mechanism of GaAD19 in the treatment of cervical cancer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9916,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Herbal Medicines","volume":"17 4","pages":"Pages 756-767"},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141839901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Coptis chinensis shows distinct effects on hyperlipidemia and gut microbiota in high-fat diet induced mice with cold or hot syndrome","authors":"Yanan Yang ,&nbsp;Jiaguo Zhan ,&nbsp;Jiale Cheng ,&nbsp;Ying Cao ,&nbsp;Chongming Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.04.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chmed.2025.04.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div><em>Coptis chinensis</em> (Huanglian in Chinese, HL) is commonly utilized in clinical settings to counteract dyslipidemia in patients with hot syndrome. Its lipid-reducing efficacy has been consistently demonstrated in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemic animal models. However, whether HL’s efficacy differs in HFD-fed animals with hot or cold syndromes remains unclear. This study aims to discern the variations in the anti-hyperlipidemic effects of HL in HFD-fed mice with hot or cold syndromes.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>HFD-induced C57BL/6 mice were subjected to cold or hot syndrome via two weeks of ice water (0 °C) and levothyroxine sodium (240 µg/kg) treatment, respectively. Then, an aqueous extract of HL was administered to the mice via oral gavage over the following four-week period. Lipid levels in the serum and liver were gauged to determine the lipid-reducing effects of HL. Furthermore, gut microbiota composition was elucidated using full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>HL notably reduced lipid levels in HFD-induced hyperlipidemic mice. Its efficacy was amplified in hyperlipidemic mice with a hot syndrome but was markedly reduced in those with a cold syndrome. HL treatment led to a decline in alpha-diversity (characterized by ACE, Chao1, Shannon and Simpson index) of the gut microbiota in both sets of mice but affected specific microbial populations based on the syndrome. Specifically, while HL led to a notable increase in <em>Eubacterium</em>, <em>Robinsoniella</em>, and <em>Lachnoclostridium</em> genera, along with the enhancement of <em>Clostridium innocuum</em> and <em>Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron</em> species across all conditions, it syndrome-dependently stimulated <em>Romboutsia ilealis</em> and <em>Parabaceroides</em>_sp_HGS0025 species in mice with hot syndrome.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>HL shows stronger lipid-lowering effect on hyperlipidemic mice with hot syndrome, which is in accordance with its traditional usage in clinic. The therapeutic outcomes of HL are intrinsically tied, at least in part, to its modulatory effects on the gut microbiota, offering fresh insights into the foundational principles of traditional Chinese medicine.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9916,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Herbal Medicines","volume":"17 3","pages":"Pages 529-538"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144656023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}