Immune Modulation by Chinese Herbal Medicine: Mechanisms, Applications and Prospects for Translational Research

Background: Immunological homeostasis imbalance can trigger various immune-related diseases. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) possesses multi-pathway effects, and some studies have observed its bidirectional immunoregulatory effects. Compared with immunoregulatory drugs, it has relatively lower toxicity, although some components carry potential toxic risks. However, research on its mechanisms is relatively fragmented, its in vivo bioavailability is low, and clinical evidence is insufficient, which limits its practical application. Purpose of research: This research summarized the immunoregulatory mechanisms of traditional CHM and the translational bottlenecks, providing certain insights for drug development and clinical research. Research Design: Relevant information for this review was collected from academic papers published in databases such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, and CellPress, as well as from specific academic journals. The search keywords for this review included ”Chinese herbal medicine(CHM)”, “secondary metabolites”, “active ingredient”, “medicinal and edible resources”, “polysaccharide”, “saponin”, “alkaloids”, “herbal formulas”, “immunometabolism”, “pharmacokinetics”, “immune-related diseases”, and “immune regulation”. Results: Preclinical and some clinical studies suggest that bioactive components and compound formulations in traditional Chinese medicine can regulate immune functions through multiple pathways, showing certain prospects for research and development. Conclusion: CHM can restore immune homeostasis. Solving pharmacokinetic and clinical evidence problems will advance its clinical application for immune diseases.