Narrative review of TCM-derived products as modulators of ageing-related pathways
This narrative review reports that natural products and formulations from traditional Chinese medicine act on several ageing-related pathways at once, not on isolated targets; it describes mechanisms and potential, not tested effects on human lifespan. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The review lists interconnected ageing processes including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, impaired autophagy and gut microbiota dysbiosis. [1]
The authors describe a narrative review integrating evidence on ageing-related pathways with representative TCM-derived compounds, polysaccharides, extracts and classical formulations. [1]
The abstract states that TCM-derived products modulate multiple ageing-related pathways rather than isolated targets. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Narrative review (abstract)
- Population / context
- Ageing-related biological processes and TCM-derived natural products and formulations described in the review
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- October 1, 2026
Ageing pathways and multi-target TCM review aim
The review starts from population ageing and the need for interventions that extend healthspan. It lists interconnected ageing processes: oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, metabolic dysregulation, impaired autophagy, genomic instability, loss of proteostasis, stem cell exhaustion and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Its aim is to summarise these mechanisms and to evaluate natural products and formulations derived from traditional Chinese medicine as multi-target pharmacological modulators.
Supporting source [1]
Narrative review of redox, inflammation, metabolism and microbiota
The authors describe a narrative review that integrates evidence on ageing-related pathways with representative traditional Chinese medicine compounds, plant polysaccharides, herbal extracts and classical formulations reported to have geroprotective effects. The focus was on mechanisms of redox homeostasis, inflammatory signalling, energy metabolism, autophagy, mitochondrial regulation and gut microbiota modulation. The abstract does not report a systematic search, study counts or effect sizes.
Supporting source [1]
Reported multi-pathway effects of ginsenosides and formulations
According to the abstract, the reviewed products modulate multiple ageing-related pathways rather than isolated targets. Representative constituents such as ginsenosides and plant polysaccharides are said to regulate oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, metabolic signalling and autophagy. Classical formulations are described as having multi-component effects on genomic stability, mitochondrial function, immune regulation and microbiota homeostasis. The authors conclude that these findings support potential as multi-target strategies for healthy ageing; this is a mechanistic narrative review, not evidence of benefit in humans.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. This is a narrative review without reported systematic search, study counts, effect sizes or human outcome data in the abstract. The described geroprotective effects are mechanistic and potential, not established human lifespan benefits.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Li J, Cai M, Li H, Cui H, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Wang W, Li S. · europepmc.org · October 1, 2026