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Multi-pathway targeting by natural products in chronic respiratory diseases: Opportunities, challenges, and future

Siqi Lin1,2, Lili Li3, Shiqing Zhuo1,2

  • 1School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China.

Chinese Herbal Medicines
|July 23, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Natural products offer a multi-target approach for chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) by modulating complex biological networks. Integrating systems biology, network pharmacology, and AI can advance their clinical use as next-generation CRD therapeutics.

Area of Science:

  • * Integrative medicine and pharmacology
  • * Computational biology and bioinformatics
  • * Natural product chemistry

Background:

  • * Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) involve complex, multifactorial pathologies including inflammation, oxidative stress, and tissue remodeling.
  • * Conventional single-target therapies are inadequate for managing CRD progression.
  • * There is a growing need for innovative therapeutic strategies to address the complexity of CRDs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To highlight the potential of natural products as multi-target therapeutics for CRDs.
  • * To emphasize the role of natural products as network modulators in complex diseases.
  • * To explore the integration of systems biology, network pharmacology, and artificial intelligence (AI) for understanding natural product mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • * Review and synthesis of current research on natural products for CRDs.
  • * Conceptual framework integrating systems biology, network pharmacology, and AI.
  • * Discussion of strategies for clinical translation, including multi-omics, AI, targeted delivery, and blockchain.

Main Results:

  • * Natural products possess inherent multi-target properties suitable for complex diseases like CRDs.
  • * Network pharmacology and AI are essential tools for elucidating the polypharmacological effects of natural products.
  • * A network-centric approach is superior to reductionist methods for understanding CRD pathogenesis and treatment.

Conclusions:

  • * Natural products represent a promising therapeutic avenue for CRDs, acting as network modulators.
  • * The synergy of systems biology, network pharmacology, and AI is critical for unlocking their full potential.
  • * Strategic implementation of advanced technologies will facilitate the clinical translation of natural products for CRDs.
Keywords:
chronic respiratory diseasesclinical translationmulti-pathway targetingnatural productsnetwork modulationtraditional Chinese medicine

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