Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a highly prevalent malignant tumor of the digestive tract globally, ranking among the top in terms of incidence worldwide. Metabolic reprogramming is a key hallmark of CRC, involving the abnormal remodeling of glucose, lipid, and amino acid metabolism, which is precisely regulated by signaling pathways such as phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin, hypoxia inducible factor-1α, and c-Myc. In recent years, targeting metabolic reprogramming has emerged as a novel strategy for CRC treatment. However, single-target chemical inhibitors face challenges like drug resistance. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) demonstrates unique advantages in intervening in CRC metabolic reprogramming through its multi-component and multi-target characteristics. Based on a brief overview of the core mechanisms of metabolic reprogramming in CRC, this review systematically summarizes the mechanisms by which active TCM components (berberine, ginsenosides, wogonin, etc.) and TCM formulas (Huangqin Decoction, Wumei Wan, etc.) inhibit CRC progression by regulating key metabolic enzymes and signaling pathways, thereby reversing the Warburg effect, inhibiting de novo fatty acid synthesis, and intervening in amino acid metabolism. This article aims to offer new research ideas and a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of CRC with TCM.

colorectal cancer  /  glucose metabolism  /  fatty acid metabolism  /  amino acid metabolism  /  metabolic reprogramming  /  metabolic pathway  /  berberine  /  ginsenosides  /  wogonin