Anti-tumor Effect and Mechanism of Active Ingredients from Yin-nourishing Chinese Herbs： A Review
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20250324
- VernacularTitle:滋阴中药活性成分抗肿瘤作用及机制研究进展
- Author:
Qimeng FAN
1
;
Yanran HE
1
;
Liangshan MING
1
;
Zishu DONG
1
;
Yingjiao LIU
1
;
Zhixin LI
1
;
Jia HUANG
1
;
Hongning LIU
1
Author Information
1. Institute of Advanced Studies， Research Center for the Differentiated Development of Basic Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine， Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pathogenesis and Biology， School of Pharmacy， Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine， Nanchang 330004， China
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
tumor;
Yin-nourishing Chinese medicine;
active ingredients;
polysaccharides;
saponins;
alkaloids;
flavones;
anti-tumor;
mechanism
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2025;31(20):252-265
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Tumor has become a major disease that seriously threatens human health and life. The incidence rate is increasing year by year， yet the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， a treasure of the Chinese nation and a wealth for people worldwide， plays an important role in the treatment of tumors and has been receiving increasing attention both in China and abroad. In earlier work， based on the symptoms and metastatic characteristics of tumors， and drawing on the TCM theory of Yin and Yang in combination with modern medical research on tumors， the ''Yin deficiency-cancer correlation'' hypothesis was proposed. This hypothesis holds that ''Yin deficiency'' of the body is a major cause of malignant tumors， and that nourishing Yin to eliminate the pathogenic factor of Yin deficiency can treat cancer. By using Yin-nourishing drugs to tonify Yin deficiency， the occurrence and development of malignant tumors can be effectively prevented. Common anti-tumor Yin-nourishing drugs include Glehniae Radix， Lilii Bulbus， Ophiopogonis Radix， Liriopes Radix， Asparagi Radix， Dendrobii Caulis， Dendrobii Officinalis Caulis， Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma， Polygonati Rhizoma， Lycii Fructus， Mori Fructus， Ligustri Lucidi Fructus， Ecliptae Herba， Rehmanniae Radix， and Anemarrhenae Rhizoma. These drugs are generally sweet in flavor， cold and cool in nature， and moist in texture. They have the functions of nourishing Yin fluids， generating body fluids， and moistening dryness， and can also clear heat， being primarily indicated for Yin deficiency with depletion of body fluids. In view of the potential advantages and value of treating malignant tumors by tonifying Yin deficiency with Chinese medicine， this paper reviews recent studies on the anti-tumor effects of active components of Yin-nourishing drugs. It further summarizes their mechanisms of action in inducing apoptosis of tumor cells， arresting tumor cell proliferation， inhibiting tumor invasion， metastasis， and angiogenesis， enhancing and regulating immune function， augmenting the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs， and reversing tumor drug resistance. This study provides an objective overview of research progress on Yin-nourishing drugs in tumor treatment and offers new ideas for cancer therapy.
