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Review
. 2025 Jul 31:16:1592458.
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1592458. eCollection 2025.

Exploring the pathogenesis of acute lung injury and its treatment through Traditional Chinese Medicine: a state-of-the-art review

Jiayun Wang #  1 , Zhiqiang Yan #  2 , Xinxin Zhang #  3 , Shun Wang  1 , Liangbo Jiao  1 , Binghua Zhu  4 , Bo Tan  2 , Aidong Yang  1
Affiliations
Review

Exploring the pathogenesis of acute lung injury and its treatment through Traditional Chinese Medicine: a state-of-the-art review

Jiayun Wang et al. Front Pharmacol. .

Abstract

Acute Lung Injury (ALI) is a severe and progressive condition characterized by hypoxic respiratory failure, often triggered by multiple contributing factors. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates and can advance to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in severe cases. The pathogenesis of ALI involves a complex interplay of pathological mechanisms, including immune-inflammatory responses, disruption of the alveolar-capillary barrier, damage to mesenchymal stem cell organelles, metabolic dysregulation, ferroptosis, and alterations in gut microbiota. From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the development of ALI is primarily attributed to the invasion of toxic pathogens, which result in lung dysfunction. TCM treatment strategies, which emphasize heat-clearing, detoxification, promoting blood circulation, and resolving stasis, have demonstrated promising clinical efficacy. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the pathogenesis of ALI and explores the therapeutic mechanisms of TCM compounds and bioactive monomers with potential therapeutic benefits. The goal is to establish a solid theoretical foundation for the clinical application of TCM in ALI treatment and to further validate its scientific rationale.

Keywords: Traditional Chinese Medicine; acute lung injury; bioactive compounds; pathogenesis; treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Investigation into the mechanism of TCM Compound in treating ALI.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Investigation into the targets of TCM monomers and derivatives for the treatment of ALI.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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