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Research progress on traditional Chinese medicines for metabolic diseases via the microbiota-derived bile acid-receptor axis based on the "harmonizing liver-spleen" theory
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Shi-cong WANG2, Shu-yan CHEN1, Lu-ye LIN1, Fang WU1, *
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica | 2026, 61(7) : 2407 - 2416
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Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica | 2026, 61(7): 2407-2416
• Reviews •
Research progress on traditional Chinese medicines for metabolic diseases via the microbiota-derived bile acid-receptor axis based on the "harmonizing liver-spleen" theory
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Shi-cong WANG2, Shu-yan CHEN1, Lu-ye LIN1, Fang WU1, *
Affiliations
  • 1Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
  • 2Zhangzhou Pien Tze Huang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Fujian Pien Tze Huang Enterprise Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Research and Development, Zhangzhou 363000, China
Published: 2026-07-12 doi: 10.16438/j.0513-4870.2025-1267
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Bile acids (BAs) have evolved from their traditional role as auxiliary molecules in lipid digestion to critical signaling molecules regulating host metabolism. In recent years, the role of microbiota-derived bile acid-modifying enzymes and their mediated novel bile acid metabolic pathways in the pathogenesis and progression of metabolic diseases has become increasingly prominent. These microbial enzymes fine-tune glucose and lipid metabolism, energy homeostasis, and inflammatory responses by modulating the composition and proportion of the bile acid pool, thereby influencing the activity of key receptors such as the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and the G protein-coupled bile acid receptor (TGR5). The theory of "harmonizing the liver and spleen" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is closely related to the maintenance of homeostasis of the liver-spleen axis. TCM posits that "liver Qi failing to ensure free flow" (liver dysfunction) and "spleen failing to transport and transform" (spleen dysfunction) are the core pathogenesis of metabolic diseases, while modern research has confirmed their intrinsic pathophysiological links to bile acid metabolic disorders and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Studies have shown that TCM formulations and active ingredients based on the "harmonizing the liver and spleen" principle can effectively ameliorate metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and lipid accumulation by targeted intervention of microbiota-derived bile acid-modifying enzymes, regulating downstream receptor signaling pathways like FXR and TGR5, consequently correcting bile acid metabolic abnormalities and remodeling the gut microbiota structure. This review systematically summarizes the key targets of the microbiota-derived bile acid-receptor axis in metabolic diseases and delves into the intervention mechanisms of "harmonizing the liver and spleen" TCM strategies based on this axis, aiming to provide a new scientific explanation and potential therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases with TCM.

harmonizing liver and spleen  /  microbiota-derived bile acid  /  bile acid receptor  /  metabolic disease  /  traditional Chinese medicine
王世聪, 陈淑妍, 林璐烨, 吴方. “肝脾同调”中药通过菌源胆汁酸-受体轴改善代谢性疾病的研究进展. 药学学报, 2026 , 61 (7) : 2407 -2416 . DOI: 10.16438/j.0513-4870.2025-1267
Shi-cong WANG, Shu-yan CHEN, Lu-ye LIN, Fang WU. Research progress on traditional Chinese medicines for metabolic diseases via the microbiota-derived bile acid-receptor axis based on the "harmonizing liver-spleen" theory[J]. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica, 2026 , 61 (7) : 2407 -2416 . DOI: 10.16438/j.0513-4870.2025-1267
Year 2026 volume 61 Issue 7
393
186
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Article Info
doi: 10.16438/j.0513-4870.2025-1267
  • Receive Date:2025-10-28
  • Online Date:2026-09-21
  • Published:2026-07-12
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  • Received:2025-10-28
  • Revised:2026-02-11
Affiliations
    1Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
    2Zhangzhou Pien Tze Huang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Fujian Pien Tze Huang Enterprise Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Research and Development, Zhangzhou 363000, China
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表12种不同金属材料的力学参数
科
Family
属数
Number of
genus
种数
Number of
species
占总种数比例
Percentage of
total species (%)
属
Genus
种数
Number of
species
占总种数比例
Percentage of total
species (%)
鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae 2 11 5.26 鹅膏菌属 Amanita 10 4.78
小菇科 Mycenaceae 2 12 5.74 丝盖伞属 Inocybe 5 2.39
多孔菌科 Polyporaceae 8 14 6.70 蜡蘑属 Laccaria 5 2.39
红菇科 Russulaceae 3 23 11.00 小皮伞属 Marasmius 6 2.87
小菇属 Mycena 11 5.26
光柄菇属 Pluteus 5 2.39
红菇属 Russula 17 8.13
栓菌属 Trametes 5 2.39
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