Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the digestive tract worldwide, with its morbidity and mortality consistently ranking among the highest of all cancers. The development and progression of CRC involve complex pathological mechanisms mediated by multiple genes and pathways. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with its characteristics of multi-component, multi-target, and low toxicity, has demonstrated unique advantages in intervening in CRC. Through holistic regulation across multiple pathways and levels, TCM shows significant potential in inhibiting tumor growth, inducing apoptosis, suppressing angiogenesis, reversing multi-drug resistance, and modulating the tumor microenvironment. CiteSpace was used to conduct a visual analysis of Chinese and English literature on TCM for CRC treatment, focusing on keyword co-occurrence networks, keyword clustering maps, and burst word detection, aiming to intuitively present research hotspots in this field. Furthermore, the latest advances in the mechanisms of action and molecular targets of Chinese herbal compound formulas, herb pairs, and single herb along with its active constituents against CRC were systematically reviewed. This provides a theoretical foundation for the clinical application and drug development of TCM in the field of CRC.

colorectal cancer  /  CiteSpace  /  herb pairs  /  inhibiting tumor growth  /  inducing apoptosis  /  suppressing angiogenesis  /  reversing multidrug resistance  /  modulating tumor microenvironment