Published by: MedSci
Release Date: January 14, 2026
Location: Shanghai, China
The "Top 10 Chinese Medical Research Studies of 2025 in the Field of Traditional Chinese Medicine" have been officially unveiled. Looking back at 2025, Chinese scientists have achieved fruitful results in the medical field. These achievements not only demonstrate the steady improvement of China's scientific research strength but also inject significant momentum into global medical development.
MedSci has authoritatively released the annual top ten medical research progress reports for eight consecutive years. This year, through an open and transparent online selection mechanism, the selected studies continue to embody originality, breakthrough potential, and leadership, holding profound significance for promoting clinical practice innovation and improving healthcare quality.
In the field of TCM, we once again selected 15 studies for the final evaluation through online voting. The top 10 studies by vote count have been included in the "Top 10 Most High-Profile Chinese Medical Research Studies of 2025." (Note: The ranking is based on the number of online votes; in the event of a tie, the order is determined by the voting sequence number.)— 01 —
Allergy: Teams led by Zhang Qinxiu, Wang Deyun, and Wang Qi formulate the World’s First international TCM prevention and treatment Guidelines for Allergic Rhinitis.
Fu QW, Liu P, Ruan Y, et al. International Evidence-Based Guidelines for Traditional Chinese Medicine Management of Allergic Rhinitis. Allergy. Published online September 13, 2025. doi:10.1111/all.70057.
Allergic Rhinitis is a common allergic disease where TCM prevention and treatment offer unique advantages, yet there has been a lack of internationally recognized evidence-based guidelines. Led by Zhang Qinxiu’s team from the Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM, more than 60 experts from 23 institutions across China, Singapore, Japan, and Canada collaborated on the guideline's development. Based on "theory-experiment-clinical" closed-loop research and using evidence-based medical standards, the guideline systematically integrates global evidence on TCM management of allergic rhinitis.
This is the first time Allergy has published a TCM guideline. It has been included in the "International Promotion Project of TCM Standards" by the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies. Multilingual translation and global training will be launched, with plans to establish 10 clinical demonstration centers along "Belt and Road" countries. This guideline marks the official international debut of research results for TCM in treating allergic rhinitis, providing an "Oriental Solution" for global treatment and advancing the internationalization of TCM.
lJournal: Allergy
lCorresponding / Key Authors: Zhang Qinxiu, Wang Deyun, Wang Qi
lAffiliation: Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine— 02 —
Cell Reports: Teams led by Xia Yucen and Chen Yongjun Discover Electroacupuncture Regulates Maternal-Fetal Immune Activation via the Brain-Spleen Axis to Protect Offspring Neurodevelopment
Zhang Z, Lin W, Yan J, et al. Prenatal electroacupuncture modulates maternal-fetal immune activation via a brain-to-splenic signal. Cell Rep. 2025;44 (11):116576. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116576.
Maternal-Fetal Immune Activation (MIA) can lead to increased miscarriage rates in mother mice, decreased survival of offspring, and schizophrenia-like behavior in adulthood. Its regulatory mechanisms and non-pharmacological interventions remain unclear. The team of Xia Yucen and Chen Yongjun from the Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of TCM, focused on the intervention effects and mechanisms of prenatal electroacupuncture.
The study reveals that MIA activates α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7 nAChR) in splenic macrophages, triggering an IL-6 driven inflammatory cascade. Prenatal electroacupuncture at the ST36 acupoint (0.5 mA) activates the paraventricular nucleus (PVN)-vagus nerve-α7 nAChR-spleen circuit, regulates splenic macrophage polarization, inhibits IL-6 mediated systemic inflammation, and restores maternal-fetal immune balance.
This study clarifies for the first time the core role of the brain-spleen axis in pregnancy immune homeostasis and confirms prenatal electroacupuncture as an effective non-pharmacological means to prevent MIA-related complications, providing new targets and protocols for clinical intervention.
lJournal: Cell Reports
lCorresponding / Key Authors: Xia Yucen, Chen Yongjun
lAffiliation: Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine— 03 —
PNAS: Sun Chengpeng’s Team Discovers Components of Inula britannica Targeting PBK to Treat Neuroinflammation
Zhang J, Zhang HL, Xu XR, et al. Targeting PBK with small-molecule 1-O-acetyl-4R,6S-britannilactone for the treatment of neuroinflammation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025;122 (29):e2502593122. doi:10.1073/pnas.2502593122.
Inula britannica is a traditional Chinese medicine whose active component, 1-O-acetyl-4R,6S-britannilactone (AB), has anti-inflammatory effects, though its regulatory mechanism in neuroinflammation was previously unclear. Neuroinflammation is a critical pathological basis for central nervous system diseases, yet effective therapeutic targets are lacking. Sun Chengpeng’s team at Tianjin University of TCM, in collaboration with Bruce D. Hammock’s team at UC Davis, conducted this joint study.
The research discovered for the first time a potential neuroinflammation target, PDZ-binding kinase (PBK), which promotes the ubiquitination and degradation of TIPE2 by regulating its phosphorylation, thereby triggering neuroinflammation. Simultaneously, the PBK inhibitor AB was screened from Inula britannica. This compound directly binds covalently to the C70 site of the PBK protein, exerting a dual "anti-inflammatory and autophagy-activating" effect. This research provides a new strategy for treating neuroinflammation and opens a new direction for drug development based on the PBK/TIPE2 axis, highlighting the potential value of traditional Chinese medicine in neurological diseases.
lJournal: PNAS
lCorresponding / Key Author: Sun Chengpeng
lAffiliation: Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine— 04 —
Journal of Hepatology: Teams led by Li Xiaojiaoyang and Liu Runping Reveal a New Mechanism for HDCA from Pig Bile in Treating Cholestatic Liver Fibrosis
Xue X, Liu R, Cai Y, et al. Hyodeoxycholic acid ameliorates cholestatic liver fibrosis by facilitating m6A-regulated expression of a novel anti-fibrotic target ETV4. J Hepatol. 2025;83 (1):52-69. doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2025.01.020.
Pig bile (Pulvis Fellis Porci) in TCM functions to clear heat, moisten dryness, and detoxify. Its primary active component, Hyodeoxycholic acid (HDCA), has been proven to regulate lipids and improve metabolic liver diseases, but its role in cholestatic liver disease remained unknown. The teams of Li Xiaojiaoyang and Liu Runping at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine conducted multi-year research to explore the therapeutic potential and molecular mechanism of HDCA.
The study found that HDCA levels are significantly reduced in patients with cholestasis and mouse models; supplementing HDCA significantly improves cholestatic liver injury in mice. Mechanistically, HDCA promotes N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of ETS variant transcription factor 4 (ETV4) in cholangiocytes, increasing ETV4 expression. This subsequently promotes matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) transcription, degrades deposited extracellular matrix, and delays fibrosis. The loss of ETV4 exacerbates fibrosis and weakens HDCA's protective effects.
This study identified ETV4 as a new therapeutic target and clarified that HDCA exerts anti-fibrotic effects through m6A-dependent ETV4 expression, providing a new drug candidate and potential target for cholestatic liver disease.
lJournal: Journal of Hepatology
lCorresponding / Key Authors: Li Xiaojiaoyang, Liu Runping
lAffiliation: Beijing University of Chinese Medicine— 05 —
Phytomedicine: Teams led by Wang Wen and Sun Xin Confirm Tanreqing Injection Can Prevent and Treat Multidrug-Resistant Organism Infections in Critically Ill Patients
Wang W, Xu J, Lai Q, et al. Effect of Tanreqing injection on multidrug resistance organisms: A test-negative case-control study and network pharmacology analysis. Phytomedicine. 2025;136:156358. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2024.156358.
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) organism infection is a major burden for critically ill patients, characterized by high incidence (20%-40%) and high mortality (20%-50%). There is currently no specific Western drug treatment. While integrated TCM and Western medicine is an important prevention and treatment method, accurately evaluating the efficacy of TCM remains difficult.
The team of Wang Wen and Sun Xin from West China Hospital, Sichuan University, conducted research based on the largest domestic integrated ICU cohort (>120,000 patients, >1.2 billion medical records). The study utilized a test-negative case-control design combined with time-dependent Target Trial Emulation (tdTTE) models, XGBoost algorithms, and marginal structural models to control for time-dependent confounding, comparing the efficacy of Tanreqing injection plus antibiotics versus antibiotics alone.
Results showed that combined treatment significantly reduced the risk of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (OR 0.510, 95% CI 0.350–0.742) and Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infections (OR 0.546, 95% CI 0.357–0.834). This study confirms for the first time the preventive and therapeutic efficacy of Tanreqing injection, providing critical evidence for MDR infections and establishing a precise evaluation model for TCM efficacy in critical care.
lJournal: Phytomedicine
lCorresponding / Key Authors: Wang Wen, Sun Xin
lAffiliation: Chinese Evidence-Based Medicine Center of West China Hospital, West China School of Public Health— 06 —
Cell Reports: Researchers Yang Hongjun and Chen Peng Discover Scutellarin Can Delay Mesenchymal Stem Cell Senescence by Activating the IDH1-AKG Axis
Cui Z, Li J, Li C, et al. Identifying the target, mechanism, and agonist of α-ketoglutaric acid in delaying mesenchymal stem cell senescence. Cell Rep. 2025;44 (7):115917. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115917.
Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) is a key metabolic compound believed to delay aging, but the anti-aging molecular mechanisms and targets of the IDH1-AKG signaling axis remained unclear. Stem cell senescence is a vital marker of organismal aging, and proteostasis imbalance is a core feature of aging. The team of researchers Yang Hongjun and Chen Peng from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences focused on the link between this signaling axis and stem cell senescence.
The study reveals that AKG, driven by isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1), can maintain proteostasis by promoting hydroxylation of ribosomal protein S23 (RPS23) and enhancing translation fidelity, thereby promoting mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) self-renewal and delaying cellular senescence. The TCM active component Scutellarin (Scu) can activate this process, alleviating aging phenotypes in mice. This research integrates two key factors of aging—metabolic dysregulation and loss of proteostasis—providing new evidence for anti-aging therapies and clarifying the potential anti-aging value of Scutellarin.
lJournal: Cell Reports
lCorresponding / Key Authors: Yang Hongjun, Chen Peng
lAffiliation: China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences— 07 —
J Nanobiotechnology: Teams led by Li Ling, Lu Fangguo, and Ning Yi Discover Fresh Platycodon grandiflorum Exosome-like Nanoparticles Can Treat Acute Lung Injury
Fu J, Liu Z, Feng Z, et al. Platycodon grandiflorum exosome-like nanoparticles: the material basis of fresh platycodon grandiflorum optimality and its mechanism in regulating acute lung injury. J Nanobiotechnology. 2025;23 (1):270. Published 2025 Apr 4. doi:10.1186/s12951-025-03331-z.
Acute Lung Injury (ALI) is a severe respiratory disease accompanied by a diffuse inflammatory response. Fresh medicinal plants often exhibit better efficacy than dried forms. Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) is a classic herbal medicine for pneumonia, but the benefits and material basis of "fresh" PG were unclear.
The team of Li Ling, Lu Fangguo, and Ning Yi from Hunan University of Chinese Medicine addressed this gap. The study found that fresh PG is superior to dried forms in anti-inflammatory and lung injury repair effects, with its key active substances being Platycodon grandiflorum exosome-like nanoparticles (PGLNs). Mechanistically, PGLNs regulate macrophage inflammation and polarization by modulating lipid metabolism and glycolysis, thereby reducing inflammation and repairing lung injury. This study provides scientific evidence for the modernization of fresh TCM, offers a new natural nanomedicine candidate for ALI, and opens new directions for plant exosomes in inflammatory diseases.
lJournal: J Nanobiotechnology
lCorresponding / Key Authors: Li Ling, Lu Fangguo, Ning Yi
lAffiliation: Hunan University of Chinese Medicine— 08 —
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B: Liu Yue’s Team Proposes Integrated TCM and Intermittent Fasting Therapy, Providing a New Strategy for Diabetic Vascular Complications
Wang W, Liu Y, Li Y, et al. Chinese medicine and intermittent fasting integration therapy attenuate diabetic vascular calcification via miR21-5p/Tpm1-mediated osteogenic differentiation of VSMCs. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsb.2025.11.016
Vascular Calcification (VC) is a common early vascular pathological injury in diabetes and an independent risk factor for adverse cardiovascular events, yet effective treatments are lacking. Liu Yue’s team at Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, explored the value of integrating TCM and dietary therapy. The study utilized a diabetic VC rat model induced by streptozotocin and vitamin D overload, comparing Danlian Tongmai formula (DLTM) alone, intermittent fasting (IF) alone, and the combination (CMIT).
The results showed that CMIT was superior to individual interventions in improving calcium and phosphorus metabolism disorders, alleviating arterial calcification, and inhibiting the osteogenic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Mechanistically, CMIT exerts therapeutic effects by inhibiting the activation of the miR21-5p/Tpm1 axis to prevent VSMC osteogenic differentiation. This study confirms for the first time the synergistic effect of TCM and intermittent fasting, providing new "medicine-food integration" evidence for preventing and treating diabetic VC.
lJournal: Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B
lCorresponding / Key Author: Liu Yue
lAffiliation: Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences; National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology— 09 —
BMJ: Siu Ming-Fai’s Team Confirms Tai Chi as a Long-term Management Alternative for Chronic Insomnia in Middle-Aged and Older Adults, with Effects Non-inferior to CBT
Siu PM, Yu DJ, Yu AP, et al. Tai chi or cognitive behavioural therapy for treating insomnia in middle aged and older adults: randomised non-inferiority trial. BMJ. 2025 Nov 26;391:e084320. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2025-084320.
Chronic insomnia is a high-incidence sleep disorder among middle-aged and older adults, increasing risks of physical illness, mental disorders, and public safety issues. Although Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the first-line treatment, it is difficult to popularize due to the need for professional guidance and high costs. Previous studies showed Tai Chi can improve sleep, but none compared it directly to CBT-I. The team led by Siu Ming-Fai at the LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, conducted a randomized non-inferiority trial.
The results showed that at 3 months, Tai Chi was less effective than CBT-I; however, at follow-up, evaluations using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) showed Tai Chi's efficacy was non-inferior to CBT-I. Tai Chi offers advantages of low cost, ease of promotion, and high safety. This study confirms for the first time that long-term Tai Chi intervention is comparable to CBT-I for insomnia management in older adults, supporting its inclusion in long-term management protocols.
lJournal: BMJ
lCorresponding / Key Author: Siu Ming-Fai (Xiao Minghui)
lAffiliation: LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong— 10 —
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B: Li Lanjuan’s Team and Chen Enguo’s Team Discover Akkermansia muciniphila-derived Acetate Improves Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease
Zhuge A, Li S, Han S, et al. Akkermansia muciniphila-derived acetate activates the hepatic AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α axis to alleviate ferroptosis in metabolic-associated fatty liver disease. Acta Pharm Sin B. 2025;15 (1):151-167. doi:10.1016/j.apsb.2024.10.010.
In Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD), the role of ferroptosis regulation and probiotic intervention mechanisms remain unclear. The team of Li Lanjuan from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and Chen Enguo from Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital conducted a joint study. They found that as MAFLD worsens, the pro-ferroptotic gene Acsl4 increases, while the anti-ferroptotic gene Gpx4 is inhibited, leading to MDA accumulation.
Intervention with the probiotic Akkermansia muciniphila (A.muc) significantly improved these states, reducing MDA levels by 42% and restoring the GSH/GSSG ratio to near normal. Mechanistically, A.muc-derived acetate activates the hepatic AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α axis, inhibiting PUFA synthesis while directly suppressing Acsl4 overexpression and restoring Gpx4 synthesis, thereby dual-blocking the ferroptosis pathway. This research reveals a new mechanism for A.muc in improving MAFLD, providing new potential targets for treatment.
lJournal: Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B
lCorresponding / Key Authors: Li Lanjuan, Chen Enguo
lAffiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine; Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine
This article highlights only a portion of the blockbuster research achievements published by Chinese scientists in 2025. We believe that in 2026, Chinese scientists will reach new heights and achieve even more important research breakthroughs!
撰文 | 梅斯医学
编辑 | 阿拉斯加宝
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