Chinese Herbal Medicine in Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension Treatment: Mechanisms, Progress, and Future Directions

Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) is a severe subtype of pulmonary hypertension(PH) characterized by chronic lung disease or prolonged hypoxia, leading to pulmonary vascular remodeling and right heart failure. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has garnered significant attention for its potential therapeutic effects on HPH due to its minimal side effects, multiple target actions, affordability, and cultural acceptance. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of TCM in inhibiting pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation, modulating inflammation, and oxidative stress. This review aims to explore the mechanisms of action of TCM in treating HPH, focusing on its ability to modulate key signaling pathways involved in pulmonary vascular remodeling, such as PI3K/Akt, Nrf2, NF-κB, and RhoA/ROCK. The goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current progress and future directions in the application of TCM for HPH treatment. TCM demonstrates significant therapeutic potential in HPH by modulating signaling pathways involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, and pulmonary vascular remodeling. Key compounds such as taxifolin glycoside, resveratrol, and salidroside have shown promising effects in inhibiting abnormal proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and reducing oxidative stress. These mechanisms contribute to the overall efficacy of TCM in preventing and treating HPH. By modulating key signaling pathways and exerting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, TCM offers a promising therapeutic approach for HPH. Further research is needed to validate the clinical efficacy and safety of TCM formulations, and to explore the underlying mechanisms through modern scientific methods. The integration of TCM with modern medicine could provide new strategies for the treatment of HPH.