Yang Liu1, Bao-Guo Li2, Yu-Hua Su3, Ruo-Xi Zhao4, Peng Song1, Hui Li5, Xin-Hai Cui1, Hong-Mei Gao5, Run-Xiang Zhai5, Xian-Jun Fu6, Xia Ren7. 1. College of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China; Marine Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Center, Qingdao Academy Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qingdao, 266114, China; Shandong Engineering and Technology Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China. 2. College of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China. 3. Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical College, Weifang, 261000, China. 4. TCM Specialty Class 4, 2018, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China. 5. Marine Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Center, Qingdao Academy Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qingdao, 266114, China; Shandong Engineering and Technology Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China. 6. Marine Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Center, Qingdao Academy Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qingdao, 266114, China; Shandong Engineering and Technology Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China. Electronic address: xianxiu@hotmail.com. 7. Marine Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Center, Qingdao Academy Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qingdao, 266114, China; Shandong Engineering and Technology Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China. Electronic address: 1989renxia@163.com.
Abstract
ETHNIC PHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Plant materials are used as complementary and alternative therapies all over the world for the treatment of various diseases. Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic nonspecific inflammatory bowel disease listed as one of the modern refractory diseases by the World Health Organization, has a long course, is challenging to cure, and is prone to cause cancer. Recent years have witnessed a growing trend of applying traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to UC. AIM OF THIS REVIEW: This review presents an overview of the pathogenesis of UC and reports the therapeutic effect of TCM on UC (including TCM prescriptions, single TCM, and treatments using TCM ingredients) to provide a theoretical basis for the use of TCM in treating UC. METHODS: We performed a collection and collation of relevant scientific articles from different scientific databases regarding TCM and its usefulness in treating UC. In this paper, the therapeutic effect of TCM is summarized and analyzed according to the existing experimental and clinical research. RESULTS: There are positive signs that TCM primarily regulates inflammatory cytokines, intestinal flora, and the immune system, and also protects the intestinal mucosa. Hence, it can play a role in treating UC. CONCLUSION: TCM has a definite curative effect in the treatment of UC. It can alleviate and treat UC in a variety of ways. We should take syndrome differentiation and treatment differentiation as the basis. With the help of modern medicine, TCM's clinical curative effects can be enhanced for the treatment of UC.
ETHNIC PHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Plant materials are used as complementary and alternative therapies all over the world for the treatment of various diseases. Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic nonspecific inflammatory bowel disease listed as one of the modern refractory diseases by the World Health Organization, has a long course, is challenging to cure, and is prone to cause cancer. Recent years have witnessed a growing trend of applying traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to UC. AIM OF THIS REVIEW: This review presents an overview of the pathogenesis of UC and reports the therapeutic effect of TCM on UC (including TCM prescriptions, single TCM, and treatments using TCM ingredients) to provide a theoretical basis for the use of TCM in treating UC. METHODS: We performed a collection and collation of relevant scientific articles from different scientific databases regarding TCM and its usefulness in treating UC. In this paper, the therapeutic effect of TCM is summarized and analyzed according to the existing experimental and clinical research. RESULTS: There are positive signs that TCM primarily regulates inflammatory cytokines, intestinal flora, and the immune system, and also protects the intestinal mucosa. Hence, it can play a role in treating UC. CONCLUSION: TCM has a definite curative effect in the treatment of UC. It can alleviate and treat UC in a variety of ways. We should take syndrome differentiation and treatment differentiation as the basis. With the help of modern medicine, TCM's clinical curative effects can be enhanced for the treatment of UC.