ADVANCES IN INVESTIGATING IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME WITH TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE: A SIGNALING PATHWAY REVIEW

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and gastrointestinal symptoms, remains a challenging functional bowel disorder with unclear specific pathogenesis. Visceral hypersensitivity, abnormal brain-gut axis interaction, and low-grade intestinal inflammation are believed to contribute to IBS. Clinical interventions include dietary adjustments, exercise, symptomatic drugs, and psychological therapies, but standardized approaches are lacking, leading to variable treatment outcomes and frequent relapses. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a multifaceted approach to IBS treatment, improving patient symptoms and quality of life through diverse pathways and multi-target strategies. Yet, there is a scarcity of comprehensive literature summarizing the signaling pathways influenced by TCM from an IBS pathogenesis perspective. To address this gap, this review provides an overview of the signaling pathways related to IBS that are modulated by TCM.