Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer characterized by the absence of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression. It exhibits high invasiveness, elevated rates of recurrence and metastasis, poor prognosis, and currently lacks effective targeted therapeutic approaches. The Coptidis Rhizoma-Euodiae Fructus herb pair is a classic Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), its major active components include alkaloid compounds such as berberine, coptisine, evodiamine, and rutaecarpine. In recent years, Coptidis Rhizoma-Euodiae Fructus herb pair has demonstrated tremendous potential in the field of anti-tumor therapy, with increasing research focusing on the pharmacological effects of their alkaloid components in ameliorating TNBC. Accordingly, this review briefly summarizes the alkaloid components of Coptidis Rhizoma and Euodiae Fructus, emphasizing their mechanisms of action in enhancing TNBC treatment, which include inhibiting cell invasion and metastasis, regulating the cell cycle, and inducing apoptosis. This aims to provide references for the further development and utilization of the Coptidis Rhizoma-Euodiae Fructus herb pair and to offer new insights and scientific evidence for the application of TCM in the prevention and treatment of TNBC.

Coptidis Rhizoma  /  Euodiae Fructus  /  alkaloids  /  triple-negative breast cancer  /  mechanisms of action  /  cell invasion and metastasis  /  cell cycle  /  apoptosis