Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulas in Delaying Aging: From Theoretical Foundations to Molecular Mechanisms and Translational Perspectives.

Chenrong Jin, Ding Du, Xiaorui Yu, Xiaoyan Ji, Xiuyun Zhang, Anning Li, Shuang Zu, Bo Qu, Daqing Zhao, Dianpeng Wu, Meichen Liu

Northeast Asian Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory for Efficacy Research and Utilization of Characteristic Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China.Northeast Asian Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory for Efficacy Research and Utilization of Characteristic Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

Aging is a systemic decline in physiological integrity, driving chronic diseases such as neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disorders, and metabolic syndromes. Rapid global population aging urgently demands effective interventions. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas, characterized by multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway synergy, offer a promising paradigm for delaying aging. This review systematically integrates recent advances in TCM formula-based anti-aging research, bridging classical TCM gerontology with the 14 modern hallmarks of aging. We categorize representative formulas into four mechanistic groups targeting mitochondrial homeostasis and autophagy, cellular senescence and inflammatory microenvironment, stem cell maintenance and epigenetic reprogramming, and gut microbiota and systemic metabolism, and explore their holistic efficacy, key bioactive constituents, and multi-component synergy. In terms of methodological innovations, we introduced network pharmacology combined with AI-driven target screening and proteomic aging clocks to assess biological age. We discussed challenges in chemical complexity, mechanistic completeness, and clinical translation, and proposed a roadmap for development. This review establishes an integrative model that integrates TCM principles with modern aging biology, offering insights for translational research toward healthy longevity.

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Research summary

This review synthesizes existing literature on Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas, proposing that their multi-target synergy can delay aging by modulating specific hallmarks such as mitochondrial homeostasis and cellular senescence. While the topic addresses the root causes of aging, the paper is a descriptive review that aggregates known mechanisms and theoretical frameworks without presenting novel experimental data, new discoveries, or a significant methodological breakthrough, resulting in only a minor incremental contribution to the field.

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