Aging is a complex process involving various interconnected mechanisms that can lead to a decline in healthspan. This review, published in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, focuses on the potential of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)-derived natural products and formulations as pharmacological modulators of aging-related pathways.
Objectives
The primary objective of this review is to summarize the mechanisms associated with aging and evaluate how TCM-derived natural products can serve as multi-target pharmacological agents. The authors emphasize the importance of addressing interconnected processes such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, metabolic dysregulation, impaired autophagy, genomic instability, proteostasis loss, stem cell exhaustion, and gut microbiota dysbiosis.
Methods
This narrative review integrates evidence from various studies on aging-related pathways and representative bioactive compounds derived from TCM. The authors focus on plant polysaccharides, herbal extracts, and classical TCM formulations that have reported geroprotective effects. The review highlights mechanisms involving redox homeostasis, inflammatory signaling, energy metabolism, autophagy, mitochondrial regulation, and gut microbiota modulation.
Key Findings
The review identifies that TCM-derived natural products and formulations can modulate multiple aging-related pathways rather than targeting isolated mechanisms. Key constituents such as ginsenosides and plant polysaccharides have been shown to regulate oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, metabolic signaling, and autophagy. Additionally, classical TCM formulations exhibit multi-component effects on genomic stability, mitochondrial function, immune regulation, and microbiota homeostasis.
These findings suggest that TCM-derived natural products and formulations hold promise as multi-target pharmacological strategies for promoting healthy aging.
What this study does not show
This review does not provide direct evidence from clinical trials or specific health outcomes related to the use of TCM-derived products in aging populations.
Evidence scorecard
- Analytic validity: Not established
- Clinical validity: Not established
- Clinical utility: Not established