Open research questions in Traditional Chinese Medicine Analysis

What the literature leaves open

• Current treatments for cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury have limited efficacy and narrow therapeutic windows. The mechanisms of Paeoniflorin in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury are unclear. There is a need for novel multi-target therapies to address core processes such as survival signaling, angiogenesis, and ECM repair.

  Paeoniflorin Alleviates Oxygen–Glucose Deprivation/Reoxygenation Injury by Mediating Crosstalk Between Neurons and Endothelial Cells Through the VEGF/PI3K-AKT/mTOR Pathway · 2026 · DOI

• The paper identifies a gap in the understanding of the chemical composition and pharmacological effects of Ligusticum chuanxiong. The review aims to fill this gap by providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge.

  Ligusticum chuanxiong: a chemical, pharmacological and clinical review · 2025 · DOI

• Future cost-effectiveness analyses are warranted to comprehensively evaluate the economic viability of standardized cultivation.

  Comprehensive Quality Assessment of Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma Between Standardized Bases and Retail Market Samples in Pan’an County · 2026 · DOI

• However, systematic evaluations comparing the quality of AMR derived from different supply chain sources remain insufficient.

  Comprehensive Quality Assessment of Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma Between Standardized Bases and Retail Market Samples in Pan’an County · 2026 · DOI

• Further research and clinical exploration of CX are warranted to fully harness its therapeutic potential.

  Ligusticum chuanxiong: a chemical, pharmacological and clinical review · 2025 · DOI

• However, a comprehensive mechanistic synthesis of TCM-mediated Treg regulation remains lacking.

  Pharmacological mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine metabolites in regulating Treg cells: an integrative pathway review · 2025 · DOI

• Our previous studies have shown that Astragalus membranaceus - Cornus officinalis (AM-CO) improves DN lipid metabolism disorders, however, the exact mechanism of which is also not well defined.

  Regulation of autophagy by the PI3K-AKT pathway in Astragalus membranaceus -Cornus officinalis to ameliorate diabetic nephropathy · 2025 · DOI

• Aims and background Autophagy plays an increasingly significant role in diabetic nephropathy (DN), but the mechanism by which autophagy participates in DN injury is not well understood.

  Regulation of autophagy by the PI3K-AKT pathway in Astragalus membranaceus -Cornus officinalis to ameliorate diabetic nephropathy · 2025 · DOI

• Although evidence suggests that astragaloside IV holds promise in arrhythmia treatment, comprehensive reviews of its specific mechanisms and clinical applications in arrhythmia are scarce.

  Therapeutic potential and mechanistic insights of astragaloside IV in the treatment of arrhythmia: a comprehensive review · 2025 · DOI

• Further research on the mechanisms of SalB and innovative drug delivery strategies is needed to advance its application in neurological disease therapy.

  Preclinical and experimental evidence of salvianolic acid B in the treatment of neurological diseases · 2025 · DOI

• The therapeutic efficacy is mediated through multiple mechanisms, including but not limited to anti-atherosclerotic effects, lipid homeostasis regulation, anti-arrhythmic properties, myocardial functional enhancement, and hemodynamic stabilization.

  Harnessing the therapeutic value of Tanshinone IIA: a breakthrough therapy in cardiovascular diseases · 2025 · DOI

• However, it remains unclear whether STS can promote spinal cord injury repair in rats by modulating the proliferation and differentiation of ENSCs, and the underlying regulatory mechanisms are yet to be elucidated.

  Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate promotes proliferation and differentiation of endogenous neural stem cells to repair rat spinal cord injury via the Notch pathway · 2025 · DOI

• Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen), a traditional Chinese herb, has demonstrated efficacy against neuropathic pain, but its active analgesic components and underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

  Danshenol B alleviates central post-stroke pain by regulating the PIK3CG/NLRP3 signaling pathway · 2025 · DOI

• In conclusion, this study revealed the chemical basis underlying the complexity of ZJTSD and investigated the metabolite profiling and pharmacokinetics of ZJTSD-related xenobiotics in rats, thus providing a foundation for further investigation into the pharmacodynamic substance basis and metabolic regulations of ZJTSD.

  Integrated chemical characterization, metabolite profiling, and pharmacokinetics analysis of Zhijun Tangshen Decoction by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS · 2024 · DOI

• However, the chemical basis underlying the therapeutic effects of ZJTSD in treating DN remains unknown.

  Integrated chemical characterization, metabolite profiling, and pharmacokinetics analysis of Zhijun Tangshen Decoction by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS · 2024 · DOI

• Pre-laboratory studies confirmed the immunomodulatory effects of DBD, but its mechanisms have not been thoroughly studied.

  Danggui Buxue decoction regulates the immune function and intestinal microbiota of cyclophosphamide induced immunosuppressed mice · 2024 · DOI

• However, there are various types of DSCIs available on the market, and it remains uncertain which DSCI has the best clinical efficacy, as well as which one is most effective in regulating inflammatory markers and oxidative stress indicators.

  Efficacy and safety of danshen class injections in the treatment of coronary heart disease: a network meta-analysis · 2024 · DOI

• However, the role of SalB in protecting the myocardium from ischemia/reperfusion injury remains unclear.

  Protective effect of salvianolic acid B against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury: preclinical systematic evaluation and meta-analysis · 2024 · DOI

• This review will provide substantial data support and broader perspective for further research on the renowned formula.

  Danshen-Shanzha formula for the treatment of atherosclerosis: ethnopharmacological relevance, preparation methods, chemical constituents, pharmacokinetic properties, and pharmacological effects · 2024 · DOI

• LGS is rich in polysaccharides, however, the activity and quality evaluation of LGS-derived polysaccharides remain unexplored.

  Fingerprint profiling for quality evaluation and the related biological activity analysis of polysaccharides from Liuweizhiji Gegen-Sangshen beverage · 2024 · DOI

• The proportions of the constituent herbs in Jakyakgamcho-tang are important but underexplored. The efficacy of herbal medicine may vary with the extraction solvent, mixing ratio, and extraction method.

  Multidimensional transcriptome dataset for systematic evaluation of Jakyakgamcho-tang-induced cell signatures · 2026 · DOI

• The proportions of the constituent herbs in Jakyakgamcho-tang are important but underexplored. The study aims to investigate the organ systems associated with the pathophysiology of muscle spasms and pain targeted by Jakyakgamcho-tang.

  Multidimensional transcriptome dataset for systematic evaluation of Jakyakgamcho-tang-induced cell signatures · 2026 · DOI

• Prioritize mechanistic studies of key active constituents. Conduct rigorous pharmacological validation of traditional uses. Investigate the relationship between altitudinal gradients and chemical diversification.

  The “habitat-phytochemistry-pharmacological effect” nexus: a multidimensional review of ethnomedicinal Salvia in China · 2026 · DOI

• There is a lack of rigorous pharmacological validation of traditional uses of Salvia species. Less than 30% of studies met high-evidence criteria due to inadequate botanical authentication, uncharacterized extracts, and non-physiological dosing.

  The “habitat-phytochemistry-pharmacological effect” nexus: a multidimensional review of ethnomedicinal Salvia in China · 2026 · DOI

• There is a lack of effective clinical treatments for myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. The mechanisms of Astragalus membranaceus-Salvia miltiorrhiza in treating myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury are not well understood. There is a need for comprehensive studies on the bioactive compounds and targets of herbal compounds in the development of therapeutic strategies.

  Network pharmacology and molecular dynamics study of Astragalus membranaceus-Salvia miltiorrhiza in the treatment of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Traditional Chinese Medicine Analysis

• Interactions of Herbs with Cytochrome P450 · Drug Metabolism Reviews · 2003 · 304 citations
• A novel microbial and hepatic biotransformation-integrated network pharmacology strategy explores the therapeutic mechanisms of bioactive herbal products in neurological diseases: the effects of Astragaloside IV on intracerebral hemorrhage as an example · Chinese Medicine · 2023 · 170 citations
• Bioactive compounds from Huashi Baidu decoction possess both antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects against COVID-19 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2023 · 129 citations
• ETCM v2.0: An update with comprehensive resource and rich annotations for traditional Chinese medicine · Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B · 2023 · 120 citations
• Multi-compound and drug-combination pharmacokinetic research on Chinese herbal medicines · Acta Pharmacologica Sinica · 2022 · 115 citations
• Astragali Radix: comprehensive review of its botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology and clinical application · Archives of Pharmacal Research · 2024 · 91 citations
• Antimicrobial activity of Chinese medicine herbs against common bacteria in oral biofilm. A pilot study · International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery · 2010 · 86 citations
• Anti-inflammatory effect of honokiol is mediated by PI3K/Akt pathway suppression · Acta Pharmacologica Sinica · 2008 · 85 citations
• Transport and metabolism of flavonoids from Chinese herbal remedy Xiaochaihu-tang across human intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers1 · Acta Pharmacologica Sinica · 2008 · 77 citations
• Breaking the Language Barrier: Multilingual Phonathons Are Starting to Make Those Calls More Donor-Friendly. · Currents · 1991 · 74 citations

Most recent work

• Multidimensional transcriptome dataset for systematic evaluation of Jakyakgamcho-tang-induced cell signatures · Scientific Data · 2026
• Advancements in pharmaceutical research on traditional Chinese medicine-metal complexes · Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis · 2026
• Identification of Chemical Constituents and Metabolites of Shipi Powder In Vitro and In Vivo Based on Ultra‐High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled With Quadrupole Time‐of‐Flight Tandem Mass Spectrometry · Journal of Separation Science · 2026
• Combined treatment with Acorus tatarinowii Schott and Panax notoginseng saponins ameliorates brain–gut axis dysfunction in MCAO/R rats with suppression of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling and associated gut microbiota changes · Frontiers in Pharmacology · 2026
• Dissection of potential mechanism of Bao-Yuan tablet against Spleen-Qi Deficiency by UPLC-Q/TOF MS and network pharmacology · Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis · 2026
• A Critical Review of Cytochrome P450 Enzyme Inhibition by Herbal Phytochemicals: Implications for Drug Interaction Prediction and Herbal Safety · Phytotherapy Research · 2026
• Cardiovascular Benefits of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) Supplementation: Bioactive Constituents, Mechanisms, Clinical Evidence and Implications for Nutritional Care · Food Science & Nutrition · 2026
• The “habitat-phytochemistry-pharmacological effect” nexus: a multidimensional review of ethnomedicinal Salvia in China · Frontiers in Pharmacology · 2026
• Identification and Multidimensional Evaluation of Quality Markers in Yupingfeng via UPLC‐Q‐Orbitrap‐MS, Network Pharmacology, UPLC‐UV Fingerprint, and UPLC‐QQQ‐MS · Biomedical Chromatography · 2026
• Mechanisms of Tianma Gouteng Yin in Treating Hypertension-Associated Vascular Cognitive Impairment: Insights from Experiments, Network Pharmacology, and Molecular Docking · Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine · 2026

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