Skip to main content
. 2025 Apr 11;16:1511701. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1511701

TABLE 3.

Lists of TCM compounds with potential anti-diabetes and its cardiovascular complications action.

TCM compounds Composition Diseases Model Optimal dose Duration of treatment Effects Potential mechanism References
Gegen Qinlian decoction Coptis Salisb, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, Panax quinquefolius L.,Paeonia lactiflora Pall., and Zingiber officinale Roscoe T2DM GK rats and Wistar rats 22 g/kg 12 weeks Lowered glucose ①② Xu et al. (2020)
Baihu Renshen decoction Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, Gypsum, Glycyrrhiza Tourn. ex L., Oryza sativa subsp. japonica Shig.Kato, and Panax ginseng C.A.Mey T2DM T2DM One dose per time, two times per day 4 weeks Decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibited the oxidative stress, altered the diversity of gut microbiotra ①② Yao et al. (2022)
Shen-Qi Compound Formula Panax ginseng C.A. Mey., Astragalus membranaceus Fisch. ex Bunge Fisch. ex Bunge Fisch. ex Bunge Fisch. ex Bunge, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Rheum palmatum L., Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim., Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. ex DC., and Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc. T2DM Wistar rats 1.44 g/kg 8 weeks Reduced the blood glucose fluctuations, decreased the level of serum LPS, increased the concentrations of SIgA and ZO-1 in intestinal tissue, inhibited the intestinal inflammatory injury and reduce the tissue damage index (TDI)scores ①② Zhang et al. (2024a)
Jinlida granules Panax ginseng C.A. Mey., Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce, Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC.,Sophora flavescens Aiton, Liriope Herb., Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. ex DC., Polygonum multiflorum Thunb., Cornus officinalis Siebold & Zucc., Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf, Eupatorium fortunei Turcz., Coptis chinensis Franch., Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, Epimedium Tourn. ex L., Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Pueraria thomsonii Benth., Litchi chinensis Sonn., Lycium chinense Mill. T2DM Not mentioned Not mentioned Not mentioned Antidiabetes ①③⑥ Gu et al. (2024)
Danggui Sini San Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, Cinnamomum cassia Presl, Paeonia lactiflora Pall., Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz., Bupleurum chinense DC., Citrus aurantium L., Tetrapanax papyrifer (Hook.) K. Koch, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, Astragalus membranaceus Fisch. ex Bunge, and Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi T2DM Patients Take 400 mL twice a day orally 3 months Lowered blood sugar and protected cardiovascular function ①③ Wu (2024)
Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi capsule Coptis chinensis Franch., Ligustrum lucidum W.T.Aiton, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Cirsium japonicum Fisch. ex DC.,
Eucommia ulmoides Oliv., Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis (Hoola van Nooten) Swingle, Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen, and Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz
DM-related coronary heart disease Chinese Wuzhishan minipigs 1.2 g/kg 22 weeks Ameliorated coronary atherosclerosis in diabetes mellitus-related coronary heart disease ①③⑥ Wang et al. (2022b)
HUVECs 5, 20, 50 μg/mL 24 h or 48 h
Gelan Xiaoke Pills Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim., Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. ex Fisch. & C.A. Mey., Dioscorea opposita Thunb., Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., Ophiopogon japonicus (L.f.) Ker Gawl., Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge T2DM Complicated with Cardiovascular Diseases Patients one bag per time, three bags 1 day Not mentioned Alleviated insulin resistance ①④ (Wang)
Coptis root and ginseng formula Coptis chinensis Franch., Panax ginseng C.A. Mey., Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis, Phellodendron amurense Rupr., Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. ex DC T2DM patients 11 g/d 3 months Regulated blood sugar and gut microbiota Jiang et al. (2022a)
Tang-ping-san Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim., Dioscorea opposita Thunb., Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., Ophiopogon japonicus (L.f.) Ker Gawl., Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. ex Fisch. & C.A. Mey. T2DM C57/BL6 mice Not mentioned 28 days Reduced the risk of hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, pathological organ changes, and inffammatory reactions Yin et al. (2022)
Qijian mixture Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf., Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz., Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. ex DC., Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, Paeonia lactiflora Pall. T2DM KKay mice and C57/BL6 mice 1.795, 5.385 g/kg/d 8 weeks Antidiabetic effects Gao et al. (2018)
Jiang Tang San Huang pill Coptis chinensis Franch., Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim., Dioscorea opposita Thunb., Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., Ophiopogon japonicus (L.f.) Ker Gawl., Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. ex Fisch. & C.A. Mey. T2DM SD rats 0.27, 0.54, 1.08 g/kg 4 weeks Ameliorated hyperglycaemia, insulin resistance, hyperlipidaemia, and pathological changes in the pancreas, liver, kidney and intestine and reduced the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines Tawulie et al. (2023)
Buyang Huanwu decoction Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, Paeonia lactiflora Pall., Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., Carthamus tinctorius L., Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, Pheretima aspergillum (E. Perrier) Co-morbid T2DM and obesity Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats and Zucker lean control (ZLC) rats 0.783 g/kg/d 7 weeks Decreased
the abnormally high blood glucose of high-fat diet-induced T2DM
②⑤ Liu et al. (2022a)
“maccog” traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) tea Morus alba L., Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, Zea mays L., Lycium chinense Mill., Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino, Ophiopogon japonicus (L.f.) Ker Gawl. T2DM patients 1,000–
1,500 mL every day, 6–7 days a week
12 weeks Improved glucolipid metabolism and significantly increased the abundance of beneficial gut microbiota ②⑤ Hu et al. (2023)
Huoxue Jiangtang Decoction Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. ex Fisch. & C.A. Mey., Carthamus tinctorius L., Ophiopogon japonicus (L.f.) Ker Gawl., Rheum palmatum L., Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, Dioscorea opposita Thunb., Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax ex Pax & Hoffm. T2DM SD rats 15.86 g/kg/day 8 weeks Improved the metabolism of glycolipid and the function of β-cell ②⑤ Huang et al. (2022a)
Bupiwei Xieyinhuo Shengyang Decoction Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf., Bupleurum chinense DC., Actaea cimicifuga L., Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC., Notopterygium incisum Ting ex H.T. Chang, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Gypsum Fibrosum, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. ex DC. T2DM Hartley guinea pig 7.74 mL/kg/d 6 weeks Reduced the risk of macroangiopathy Li et al. (2024)
Bupleurum chinense DC. Guizhi Ganjiang decoction Lonicera japonica Thunb., Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Ostreidae, Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim., Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J. Presl, Zingiber officinale (Willd.) Roscoe, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. ex DC. T2DM Wistar rats 11.24 g/kg twice 1 day 8 weeks Improved FBG and HbA1c Yue and Jin (2022)
Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi capsule Coptis chinensis Franch., Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen, Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton, Cirsium japonicum Fisch. ex DC., Eucommia ulmoides Oliv., Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis (Hoola van Nooten) Swingle, Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. Diabetes-accelerated atheroscleros ApoE−/− mice 1.2, 2.4 g/kg 12 weeks Improved glucolipid metabolic disorders, hypoglycemic and lipid-lowering effects and protection of vascular endothelial cell Zhang et al. (2023)
Shengmai San Panax ginseng C.A. Mey., Ophiopogon japonicus (L.f.) Ker Gawl., Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. Diabetic cardiomyopathy SD rats 5 mL/kg 10 weeks Reduced myocardial injury Li (2022a)
Sanggua drink (SGD) Morus alba L., Momordica charantia L., Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, Dioscorea opposita Thunb. T2DM SD rats 1,240 mg/kg b.w 42 days Increased hepatic glycogen
Production and a hypoglycemic effect
Cai et al. (2018)
Danhong injection Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Carthamus tinctorius L. Coronary heart disease angina pectoris and DM patients 40 mL/d 6 months Improved patient’s cardiac function and control angina attacks ④⑤ Li (2022b)
Tianhuang formula (THF) Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen ex C.Y. Wu & K.M. Feng, Coptis chinensis Franch. T2DM Male
C57BL/6 J Narl mice
60, 120 mg/kg/day 6 weeks Regulated adipocyte mitochondrial function ⑤⑥ Luo et al. (2023)
Jinlida granules Panax ginseng C.A. Mey., Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce, Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC., Sophora flavescens Aiton, Liriope Herb., Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. ex DC., Polygonum multiflorum Thunb., Cornus officinalis Siebold & Zucc., Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf, Eupatorium fortunei Turcz., Coptis chinensis Franch., Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, Epimedium Tourn. ex L., Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Pueraria thomsonii Benth., Litchi chinensis Sonn., Lycium chinense Mill. Diabetic cardiomyopathy db/db mouse 1.75, 3.5 g/kg/d 8 weeks Alleviated cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial inflammation, and decreased the expression of cardiac hypertrophy- and inflammation-related factors Fang et al. (2024)
AC16, H9C2 and HEK293 cells 50, 100, 200 μg/mL Not mentioned
Si wei jiang huang tang san Curcuma longa L., Phellodendron chinense Schneid., Tribulus terrestris L., Phyllanthus emblica L. T1DM HepG2 cells 100, 200 μg/mL 24 h Promoted glucose consumption Xu et al. (2024)
Male C57BL/6 N mice 61.25, 122.5, 225 mg/kg/d 7 days
Simiao wan Phellodendron amurense Rupr., Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC., Achyranthes bidentata Blume, Coix lacryma-jobi L. T2DM Male C57BL/6 J 1.2 g/kg/d 8 weeks Improved glucose tolerance, serum insulin,
HDL-C, hepatocyte morphology, and liver glycogen synthesis
Xia et al. (2022)
Cortex mori-polygonatum odoratum tablets Morus L. extract, Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce extract, Hippophae rhamnoides L. extract, Curcuma longa L. extract, Chromium rich yeast T2DM Patients twice a day, take two tablets each time 2 months Hypoglycemic effect Chen (2022)
Banxiaxiexin decoction Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Makino, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Panax ginseng C.A. Mey., Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. ex DC., Coptis chinensis Franch., Ziziphus jujuba Mill. T2DM cold-heat complicated syndrome patients 100 mL each morning and evening 12 weeks Hypoglycemic effect Zhang et al. (2024b)
Liuwei Dihuang pills Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. ex DC.,Cornus officinalis Siebold & Zucc., Dioscorea opposita Thunb., Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf.,Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juz., Paeonia × suffruticosa Andrews T2DM qi-yin deficiency syndrome patients 6 g/time, 2 times/d 1 month Hypoglycemic effect Zhu (2024)

①Reducing inflammation and regulating immunity. ②Regulation of Intestinal flora. ③Inhibiting apoptosis and enhancing cell function of islet cells or cardiovascular cells. ④Antioxidant Stress. ⑤Improving glucose and lipid metabolism. ⑥Other mechanisms. ⑦Not mentioned.