[Regulation of pyroptosis by traditional Chinese medicine compound formulas for prevention and treatment of ulcerative colitis: a review].

Ulcerative colitis(UC) is a refractory inflammatory bowel disease with a high recurrence rate, characterized by inflammation and damage to the colonic mucosa, which severely impacts patients' quality of life. Current treatments for UC primarily rely on pharmacological interventions, including corticosteroids, aminosalicylates, biologics, and immunomodulators, but these approaches are limited by strong drug resistance and significant adverse effects. Pyroptosis, a highly inflammatory form of programmed cell death, can regulate the occurrence and progression of UC through multiple pathways by modulating diverse downstream targets, thereby providing a novel direction for UC therapy. Multiple studies have shown that pyroptosis can intervene in UC development by regulating the release of inflammatory cytokines, inflammasome activity, intestinal homeostasis, and the gut microbiota. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has gained increasing attention due to its minimal adverse effects, personalized therapeutic strategies, and unique advantages in enhancing efficacy while reducing toxicity. Beyond traditional compound formulas, individual TCM herbs and extracts play a pivotal role owing to their more precise target specificity. Research indicates that TCM compound formulas classified as heat-clearing and dampness-eliminating, blood-activating and collaterals-unblocking, Qi-and blood-tonifying, or addressing cold-heat complex patterns can effectively alleviate inflammation by targeting pyroptosis. This is achieved through mechanisms such as maintaining intestinal homeostasis, regulating the gut microbiota, and inhibiting intestinal oxidative stress, thereby intervening in UC progression and offering new possibilities for precision therapy. Based on this, this paper discusses three aspects: an overview of pyroptosis, the relationship between pyroptosis and UC, and the regulatory mechanisms of TCM. It summarizes recent research findings in this field, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for future clinical treatment and drug development for UC.