Ferroptosis and Traditional Chinese Medicine for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Ferroptosis, an emerging form of regulated programmed cell death, has garnered significant attention in the past decade. It is characterized by the accumulation of lipid peroxides and subsequent damage to cellular membranes, which is dependent on iron. Ferroptosis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including tumors and diabetes mellitus. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has unique advantages in preventing and treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and intestinal flora-regulating functions. Recent studies have determined that TCM may exert therapeutic effects on T2DM and its complications by modulating the ferroptosis-related pathways. Therefore, a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the role of ferroptosis in the pathogenesis and TCM treatment of T2DM is of great significance for developing therapeutic drugs for T2DM and enriching the spectrum of effective T2DM treatment with TCM. In this review, we review the concept, mechanism, and regulatory pathways of ferroptosis and the ferroptosis mechanism of action involved in the development of T2DM. Also, we develop a search strategy, establish strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, and summarize and analyze the application of the ferroptosis mechanism in TCM studies related to T2DM and its complications. Finally, we discuss the shortcomings of current studies and propose a future research focus.