Traditional Chinese medicine regulates the gut microbiota-bile acids-FXR axis to intervene in the development of colorectal cancer

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). The imbalanced gut microbiota causes damage to the body and disrupts bile acids metabolism, increases susceptibility to CRC, and affects the signaling of farnesol X receptor (FXR), thereby promoting CRC progression. Traditional Chinese medicine has unique advantages in the treatment of CRC due to its synergistic regulatory effects of multiple components, targets, and pathways. It can regulate gut microbiota, intervene in bile acids metabolism, and activate its receptor FXR to inhibit the occurrence and development of CRC. Based on this, this article discusses the main role of the gut microbiota-bile acids-FXR axis in the development of CRC, and reviews the anti CRC effects and mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine intervention on gut microbiota-bile acids-FXR axis, in order to provide new ideas and methods for the prevention and treatment of CRC.