Therapeutic potential and mechanism of Chinese herbal medicines in treating fibrotic liver disease.
10.1016/S1875-5364(23)60443-1
- Author:
Yanwei LI
1
;
Yunrui LU
2
;
Mozuo NIAN
1
;
Qiuju SHENG
1
;
Chong ZHANG
1
;
Chao HAN
1
;
Xiaoguang DOU
1
;
Yang DING
3
Author Information
1. Department of Infectious Diseases, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, China.
2. Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang 110000, China.
3. Department of Infectious Diseases, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, China. Electronic address: yding0903@163.com.
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Active ingredient;
Anti-hepatic fibrotic therapy;
Chinese herbal medicine;
Liver fibrosis;
Molecular mechanism
- MeSH:
Humans;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*;
Fibrosis;
Liver Diseases/drug therapy*;
Treatment Outcome;
Liver Cirrhosis/drug therapy*
- From:
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.)
2023;21(9):643-657
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Liver fibrosis is a pathological condition characterized by replacement of normal liver tissue with scar tissue, and also the leading cause of liver-related death worldwide. During the treatment of liver fibrosis, in addition to antiviral therapy or removal of inducers, there remains a lack of specific and effective treatment strategies. For thousands of years, Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) have been widely used to treat liver fibrosis in clinical setting. CHMs are effective for liver fibrosis, though its mechanisms of action are unclear. In recent years, many studies have attempted to determine the possible mechanisms of action of CHMs in treating liver fibrosis. There have been substantial improvements in the experimental investigation of CHMs which have greatly promoted the understanding of anti-liver fibrosis mechanisms. In this review, the role of CHMs in the treatment of liver fibrosis is described, based on studies over the past decade, which has addressed the various mechanisms and signaling pathways that mediate therapeutic efficacy. Among them, inhibition of stellate cell activation is identified as the most common mechanism. This article provides insights into the research direction of CHMs, in order to expand its clinical application range and improve its effectiveness.
