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Review
. 2023 Nov 11;9(12):e22250.
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22250. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Targeting ferroptosis: New perspectives of Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of diabetes and its complications

Cuiping Liu  1   2 , Wuxi Wang  3 , Junling Gu  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Targeting ferroptosis: New perspectives of Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of diabetes and its complications

Cuiping Liu et al. Heliyon. .

Abstract

Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic mode of cell death. A large number of studies have confirmed that ferroptosis plays a vital role in the occurrence and development of diabetes and diabetic complications. Previous studies have found that Chinese herbal medicines have very promising results in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and diabetic complications, and some of these herbs or herbal natural compounds may act via the inhibition of ferroptosis. In this review, we summarized the relationship between ferroptosis and diabetes and diabetic complications, and discussed its molecular mechanisms. We also reviewed the published studies of herbal medicines or herbal natural compounds that improved diabetes or diabetic complications via the ferroptosis pathway. In addition, we are trying to provide new insights for better treatment of diabetes and diabetic complications with Chinese herbal medicine and its herbal compounds.

Keywords: Chinese herbal medicine; Diabetes; Diabetic complications; Ferroptosis; Natural compounds.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
High glucose induces ferroptosis by various pathways, participating in the occurrence of diabetes nephropathy. Partial abbreviation: ACSL4: Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4; ZIP14: ZRT/IRT-like protein 14; HIF-1α：hypoxia-inducible factor-1α; HMGB1: High-mobility group box-1; Nrf2:nuclear factor E2-related factor 2; SP1:specificity protein 1; GPX4:glutathione peroxidase 4. ROS: reactive oxygen species.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
High glucose induces ferroptosis via various pathways, participating in the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Partial abbreviation: TRIM46: a member of The E3 ubiquitin ligase family; GMFB: Glia maturation factor-β; ACSL4: Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4; FABP-4: Fatty acid binding protein 4; PPARγ: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ; SLC1A5: Recombinant solute carrier family 1, member 5; CFL2: Cofilin-2; GPX4: glutathione peroxidase 4. ROS: reactive oxygen species.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
High glucose (HG) induces ferroptosis via various pathways, participating in the occurrence of diabetic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications. Partial abbreviation: AGEs: Advanced glycation end-products; SLC7A11: Solute carrier family 7 member 11; GSH: glutathione; AMPK: Adenosine 5′-monophosphate activated protein kinase; ZFAS1: Zinc finger antisense 1; CCND2: Cyclin D2; FPN1: Ferroportin1; DNMT: DNA methyltransferase; NCOA4: Nuclear receptor coactivator 4; NOX2: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase; IRI: ischemia/reperfusion injury.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
High glucose induces ferroptosis via various pathways, participating in the occurrence of diabetic osteoporosis (DOP). Partial abbreviation: FtMt: Mitochondrial ferritin; METTL3: methyltransferase-like 3; ASK1: Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1; HO-1: Heme oxygenase-1.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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