Targeting the Microbiota–Metabolism–Immunity Axis: Active Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer
- 1Engineering Research Center of Innovative Drug of Traditional Chinese and Zhuang Yao Medicine, Ministry of Education, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530200, China
- 2Institute of Traditional Chinese and Zhuang-Yao Ethnic Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530200, China
- 3Foshan Joint Key Laboratory for the Research and Development and Industrialization of Chinese Medicinal Formulations, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Foshan 528000, China
Abstract
Colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) develops in the setting of long-standing intestinal inflammation and remains a major complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although effective control of inflammation may reduce cancer risk, approaches that specifically prevent the progression from chronic colitis to neoplasia remain limited. Disruption of the gut microbiota–metabolism–immunity axis is increasingly implicated in this process, as microbial dysbiosis and altered metabolite production can compromise epithelial barrier integrity, sustain inflammatory signaling, and disturb mucosal immune homeostasis. This review examines how active components derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), particularly flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, and polysaccharides, influence this interconnected network in CAC-related models. Rather than treating these constituents as a single group, we compare the mechanistic patterns and evidence base associated with each class. Flavonoids and alkaloids have been studied mainly in relation to inflammatory signaling and epithelial barrier protection, whereas saponins are more often linked to regulation of the immune microenvironment. Polysaccharides have been studied most frequently in relation to microbiota remodeling, short-chain fatty acid production, and mucosal immune balance. These distinctions are not absolute, and substantial overlap exists across component classes. Moreover, most evidence is derived from animal or cell-based studies, with marked variation in experimental models, compound characterizations, dosing, and outcome assessments. The microbiota–metabolism–immunity axis provides a coherent framework for interpreting the multi-level actions of TCM-derived components, but their causal mechanisms and clinical relevance to human CAC require further validation.
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BibTeX
@article{chen2026targeting,
title = {{Targeting the Microbiota–Metabolism–Immunity Axis: Active Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer}},
author = {Qiuying Chen and Hanyi Zhang and Lei Fu and Feifei Liu and Qi Yang and Guangfa Zhang and Yaozhong Huang and Yanxi Yang and Chun Yao and Yitao Wang and Zhengcai Du and Hua Luo},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27198836},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/19/8836},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Targeting the Microbiota–Metabolism–Immunity Axis: Active Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer
AU - Qiuying Chen
AU - Hanyi Zhang
AU - Lei Fu
AU - Feifei Liu
AU - Qi Yang
AU - Guangfa Zhang
AU - Yaozhong Huang
AU - Yanxi Yang
AU - Chun Yao
AU - Yitao Wang
AU - Zhengcai Du
AU - Hua Luo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/03
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27198836
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/19/8836
AB - Colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) develops in the setting of long-standing intestinal inflammation and remains a major complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although effective control of inflammation may reduce cancer risk, approaches that specifically prevent the progression from chronic colitis to neoplasia remain limited. Disruption of the gut microbiota–metabolism–immunity axis is increasingly implicated in this process, as microbial dysbiosis and altered metabolite production can compromise epithelial barrier integrity, sustain inflammatory signaling, and disturb mucosal immune homeostasis. This review examines how active components derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), particularly flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, and polysaccharides, influence this interconnected network in CAC-related models. Rather than treating these constituents as a single group, we compare the mechanistic patterns and evidence base associated with each class. Flavonoids and alkaloids have been studied mainly in relation to inflammatory signaling and epithelial barrier protection, whereas saponins are more often linked to regulation of the immune microenvironment. Polysaccharides have been studied most frequently in relation to microbiota remodeling, short-chain fatty acid production, and mucosal immune balance. These distinctions are not absolute, and substantial overlap exists across component classes. Moreover, most evidence is derived from animal or cell-based studies, with marked variation in experimental models, compound characterizations, dosing, and outcome assessments. The microbiota–metabolism–immunity axis provides a coherent framework for interpreting the multi-level actions of TCM-derived components, but their causal mechanisms and clinical relevance to human CAC require further validation.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -