Targeting ferroptosis in treating traumatic brain injury: Harnessing the power of traditional Chinese medicine

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) exhibits high prevalence and mortality, but current treatments remain suboptimal. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has long been effectively used for TBI intervention. Moreover, the recently discovered iron-dependent cell death pathway, known as ferroptosis, characterized by lipid peroxidation, as a key target in TCM-based treatments for TBI. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in TCM strategies targeting ferroptosis in TBI therapy, covering natural product monomers, classic formulas, and acupuncture/moxibustion. The review also addresses current challenges and outlines future research directions to further advance the development and application of TBI management strategies.