Chinese Herbal Medicine Targets Gut Microbiota to Combat Neurodegenerative Diseases: Potential Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

Due to the aging of the population, neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) have gradually become a major public health problem worldwide. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that the gut microbiota and its metabolites were closely related to the occurrence and development of NDs. At present, Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is known for its multi-dimensional, multi-target, and multi-pathway approach in the prevention and treatment of various diseases by regulating the gut microbiota, and different CHMs can regulate the diversity of gut microbiota and the abundance of probiotics. Modern studies have also revealed that CHM possessed therapeutic effects against NDs by targeting gut microbiota, regulating the secretion of neuroactive metabolites, reducing amyloid-beta deposition and oxidative stress, and improving the function of the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, the dynamic interaction among CHM, gut microbiota, and NDs has become a research hotspot. This review elaborates on the research progress related to CHM, gut microbiota, and NDs, aiming to provide a new perspective and theoretical basis for the prevention of NDs by CHM administration.