The application and functional mechanism of Chinese herbal medicines in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B
Creators: name: Zhang, Jiao
name: Ma, Junrui
name: Dai, Hongyang
name: Zhang, Hushan
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Biochemistry
subject: Pharmacology
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Cancer
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: FOS: Health sciences
subject: Virology

description: Hepatitis B, caused by the hepatitis B Virus (HBV), is an inflammatory liver disease that poses a significant threat to public health. HBV, a hepatotropic DNA virus, can cause chronic and acute Hepatitis B and persistent infection may cause serious complications like cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure. Though nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) is the first-line drug for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), they still have several drawbacks such as drug resistance, and low-level viremia. Recent studies suggest that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and its active ingredients can inhibit HBV activity and replication, indicating their potentials for CHB treatment. This article focuses on the anti HBV activity and mechanism of TCM, aiming to help develop new anti-HBV drugs and improve the cure rate of CHB. The liver is the biggest organ in our body. It is important for our health, for example, it helps to clear toxins from the body. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause an illness of the liver. It can cause severe illness, such as loss of liver function. There are a handful of drugs that can fight HBV, but these drugs have some shortcomings. In recent years, some traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have shown promise against HBV. Here, this paper considers which TCMs can fight HBV, and how. This could be useful when looking for new medicines. Firstly, an introduction was given to the concept, characteristics and other aspects of HBV. Secondly, the epidemiology and treatment status of CHB were introduced, as well as the reasons why traditional Chinese medicine may have the potential to treat CHB. TCM monomers and extracts exhibiting anti-HBV activity has been reviewed, such as Herba Artemisiae Scopariae (ASH), Radix Astragali (RA, known as Huangqi in Chinese), Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Sophora Flavescens, Herba Artemisiae Annuae and Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati and compounds extracted from TCM monomers. Presented different traditional Chinese medicine formulas with anti HBV activity, such as Xiaochaihu Decoction (XCHD), Fuzheng Huayu (FZHY), Yin Chen Hao Decoction (YCHD), etc. It reviews the combination therapy of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine in the inhibition of HBV and the therapeutic effect on CHB. Presented evidence that some traditional Chinese medicine single drugs and compounds are effective in treating chronic hepatitis B by inhibiting HBV-DNA replication. Furthermore, the mechanism by which traditional Chinese medicine exerts its anti HBV effect by regulating the cell cycle of host cells was elucidated. Review on the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine and its active ingredients in inhibiting HBV by reducing the secretion of HBeAg and HBsAg. By clarifying the host immune response caused by HBV infection, it is presented that traditional Chinese medicine based on this may exert potential anti HBV mechanisms. Other mechanisms by which traditional Chinese medicine exerts anti HBV effects, including synergistic regulation of multiple targets. Summarized the challenges and limitations that traditional Chinese medicine may face in the clinical application of treating CHB, such as the specific active components remaining undetermined, The precise targets and interaction mechanisms of TCM against HBV are still unclear, etc. Traditional Chinese medicine is one of the potential effective options for treating CHB, but currently its research is mostly limited to <i>in vitro</i> studies, and further in-depth and accurate research is needed. The further clarification of the specific effective ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine with anti HBV effects, as well as the combined use of traditional Chinese medicine with other drugs, are potential exploration directions for the application of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of CHB.