Innovative approaches in atherosclerosis treatment: Harnessing traditional Chinese medicine to target long non-coding...

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a major contributor to cardiovascular diseases, characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs), as members of non-protein coding RNAs, play a crucial role in various biological processes that maintain homeostasis and influence disease progression. Research indicates that lncRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of AS.

In this study, we aim to explore the role of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of AS and the latest progress in the prevention and treatment of AS by targeted regulation of lncRNAs by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), in order to provide more new beneficial targets for the treatment of AS and expand the application of TCM in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

The literature was retrieved, analyzed, and collected using PubMed, Web of Science, Sci-Hub, CNKI, Elsevier, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Search terms include "atherosclerosis", "traditional Chinese medicine", "natural products", "active ingredient", "lncRNAs", "herbal medicine", "cardiovascular diseases", "pharmacology", "toxicology", "clinical trials", etc., and several combinations of these keywords.

This study examines the primary mechanisms through which lncRNAs induce AS, such as dysfunction in endothelial cells, abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, cholesterol buildup in macrophages, formation of foam cells, inflammatory responses, and imbalances in lipid metabolism. Additionally, it summarizes 16 herbal monomers and 6 Chinese herbal compounds, along with an analysis of the toxicological aspects of TCM.

The study explores the existing approaches for modulating lncRNAs and emphasizes the significance and potential of herbal monomers, extracts, and formulations in this context.