Chinese medicine to regulate intestinal bacteria in the treatment of atherosclerosis: A review

In recent years, several studies have shown that the stability of intestinal bacteria, which acts as a natural barrier, plays a key role fighting against cardiovascular disease. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome can trigger inflammatory responses and oxidative stress damage, cause abnormal cholesterol metabolism and disrupt the levels of short-chain fatty acids, oxidized trimethylamine and bile acids, thus influencing the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis. Chinese medicine believes that the formation of atherosclerosis is related to the malfunction of the spleen in transportation and transformation, with the interplay of phlegm and blood stagnation being the primary pathogenesis. In addition, the gut micro biome is inextricably linked to the spleen. Ancient medical books recorded “the spleen is the source of phlegm production” and “the heart and small intestine are in close proximity to each other”, exploring its TCM pathogenesis from the perspective of phlegm and stasis. Therefore, this review explores the mechanisms by which intestinal micro biota affects atherosclerosis and summarizes the role of Chinese herbal medicine in modulating intestinal microbes in the treatment of AS, providing new ideas for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.