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TL;DR
This narrative review summarizes preclinical and limited clinical evidence that Chinese herbal medicines may protect against ulcerative colitis by modulating the gut microbiota-intestinal immunity axis.
Chinese Herbal Medicines · 16 authors, 6 centres
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This narrative review summarizes preclinical and limited clinical evidence that Chinese herbal medicines may protect against ulcerative colitis by modulating the gut microbiota-intestinal immunity axis.
This narrative review synthesizes knowledge on using Chinese herbal medicines (single herbs, formulas, and constituents) for ulcerative colitis (UC), focusing on their mechanisms of regulating gut microbiota and intestinal immunity. The authors describe UC pathogenesis as involving microbial dysbiosis and abnormal gut immunity, proposing this axis as a key therapeutic target. Limited clinical trials are summarized, showing some promising results. Major limitations noted include a lack of proof that the protective effects are directly dependent on microbiota or immune modulation, poor quality control of herbal formulas, overreliance on chemically-induced animal models, and a shortage of high-quality randomized controlled trials. Implications suggest targeting the gut microbiota-intestinal immunity axis is a promising strategy, but large-scale, evidence-based studies are needed.