Metabolic insights into gut microbiota in the pharmacology of natural medicines.
10.1016/S1875-5364(25)60820-X
- Author:
Zixin CHEN
1
;
Junchi ZHOU
1
;
Xiao ZHENG
2
;
Hao XIE
3
;
Haiping HAO
4
Author Information
1. State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Laboratory of Metabolic Regulation and Drug Target Discovery, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
2. State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Laboratory of Metabolic Regulation and Drug Target Discovery, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. Electronic address: xzheng@cpu.edu.cn.
3. State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Laboratory of Metabolic Regulation and Drug Target Discovery, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. Electronic address: xiehao19880302@gmail.com.
4. State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Laboratory of Metabolic Regulation and Drug Target Discovery, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. Electronic address: haipinghao@cpu.edu.cn.
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Drug discovery;
Gut microbiota;
Metabolic signals;
Natural medicines;
Pharmacokinetics
- MeSH:
Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects*;
Humans;
Biological Products/metabolism*;
Animals
- From:
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.)
2025;23(2):158-168
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Natural medicines (NMs) demonstrate distinct advantages in the clinical management of chronic diseases. Recent years have seen growing recognition of the gut microbiota's role in the efficacy and synergy of NMs, providing new impetus for elucidating the material basis and mechanisms of NMs and their path toward modernization. A fundamental question that has emerged is how NM-microbiota interactions integrate into the multi-target holistic mechanisms of NMs, the answer to which may also illuminate new avenues for drug discovery. Metabolic regulation via small-molecule metabolites has been increasingly implicated in host-microbe interaction. This review presents an integral metabolic perspective on NMs-microbiota interaction in host health and disease. It highlights the emerging understanding of gut microbiota-related metabolic signals implicated in NM components' local and systemic actions. Additionally, it discusses key issues and prospects related to drug development and the translational study of NMs.
