Department of Brain Disease, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, 400021, China.
Department of Anorectal Surgery, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610072, China.
Arch Pharm Res. 2024 Feb;47(2):146-164. doi: 10.1007/s12272-023-01484-9. Epub 2024 Jan 15.
The gut microbiota that exists in the human gastrointestinal tract is incredibly important for the maintenance of general health as it contributes to multiple aspects of host physiology. Recent research has revealed a dynamic connection between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system, that can influence neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Indeed, imbalances in the gut microbiota, or dysbiosis, play a vital role in the pathogenesis and progression of human diseases, particularly NDs. Herbal medicine has been used for centuries to treat human diseases, including NDs. These compounds help to relieve symptoms and delay the progression of NDs by improving intestinal barrier function, reducing neuroinflammation, and modulating neurotransmitter production. Notably, herbal medicine can mitigate the progression of NDs by regulating the gut microbiota. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the potential mechanisms by which herbal medicine regulates the gut microbiota in the treatment of NDs can help explain the pathogenesis of NDs from a novel perspective and propose novel therapeutic strategies for NDs. In this review, we investigate the potential neuroprotective effects of herbal medicine, focusing on its ability to regulate the gut microbiota and restore homeostasis. We also highlight the challenges and future research priorities of the integration of herbal medicine and modern medicine. As the global population ages, access to this information is becoming increasingly important for developing effective treatments for these diseases.
存在于人类胃肠道中的肠道微生物群对于维持整体健康非常重要，因为它有助于宿主生理学的多个方面。最近的研究揭示了肠道微生物群与中枢神经系统之间的动态联系，这种联系可以影响神经退行性疾病（NDs）。事实上，肠道微生物群的失衡或失调在人类疾病的发病机制和进展中起着至关重要的作用，特别是 NDs。草药医学已经使用了几个世纪来治疗人类疾病，包括 NDs。这些化合物通过改善肠道屏障功能、减少神经炎症和调节神经递质产生来帮助缓解症状并延缓 NDs 的进展。值得注意的是，草药可以通过调节肠道微生物群来减缓 NDs 的进展。因此，深入了解草药调节肠道微生物群治疗 NDs 的潜在机制，可以帮助从新的角度解释 NDs 的发病机制，并为 NDs 提出新的治疗策略。在这篇综述中，我们研究了草药的潜在神经保护作用，重点关注其调节肠道微生物群和恢复体内平衡的能力。我们还强调了草药与现代医学整合的挑战和未来研究重点。随着全球人口老龄化，获取这些信息对于开发这些疾病的有效治疗方法变得越来越重要。
