Mechanisms and potential roles of active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

OBJECTIVES: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory condition with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Recent studies have shown that the increasing research on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) also plays an important role in COPD. The purpose of this review is to categorize TCM and its active ingredients and to summarize their pharmacological effects. METHODS: Articles published up to December 2024 were searched through PubMed, X-MOL, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure. The keywords included TCM and its combination with COPD, pharmacologic activity, anti-inflammatory effects, pharmacology, as well as in vivo and in vitro studies. KEY FINDINGS: Thus far, we have summarized the progress of research on the mechanisms of action of TCM and its active ingredients, such as flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenols, in the treatment of COPD. These mechanisms encompass the reduction of inflammatory responses and lung injury, regulation of the oxidation-antioxidation balance, and modulation of cellular apoptosis and aging, among other effects. CONCLUSION: TCM and its active ingredients demonstrate strong anti-COPD properties. This provides a reference for accelerating the development of herbal components for the treatment of COPD and for exploring new potential multi-target therapeutic mechanisms. This will mitigate the geographical limitations of using TCM and enhance its application in future management strategies.