A Study on the Medicinal Patterns of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treating Liver Fibrosis

Abstract

Liver fibrosis represents a pivotal stage in the progression of chronic liver disease towards cirrhosis, exhibiting reversibility and thus underscoring the critical importance of early intervention. Presently, Western medicine lacks specific anti-fibrotic agents, whereas traditional Chinese medicine demonstrates unique advantages in preventing and treating liver fibrosis. This study employed data mining on 147 patented TCM compound formulas to analyse their prescribing patterns, including drug frequency, properties, meridian tropism, and combination formulations. High-frequency herbs predominantly comprised Astragalus membranaceus, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Carapax Testudinis, and Angelica sinensis, exhibiting predominantly cold, warm, or neutral natures. Their tastes were chiefly bitter, sweet, or pungent, with primary meridian tropism towards the liver and spleen channels. Blood-activating and stasis-resolving agents, alongside tonic herbs, form the therapeutic core, supplemented by heat-clearing, dampness-draining, and qi-regulating substances. Cluster analysis further identified multiple core drug combinations, whose mechanisms of action were explored through network pharmacology. These findings provide theoretical foundations for TCM treatment of liver fibrosis, while also offering guidance for novel drug development and optimisation of clinical prescribing.