Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the liver caused by infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which in later stages can lead to the development of end-stage liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in severe cases, jeopardizing long-term quality of life, with a poor prognosis, and placing a serious financial burden on many families around the world. The pathogenesis of the disease is complex and closely related to the immune function of the body, which has not yet been fully elucidated. The development of chronic hepatitis B is closely related to the involvement of various signaling pathways, such as JAK/STAT, PI3K/Akt, Toll-like receptor, NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. A large number of studies have shown that Chinese medicine has obvious advantages in anti-hepatitis B virus, and it can effectively treat the disease by modulating relevant signaling pathways, strengthening immune resistance and defense, and inhibiting inflammatory responses, and certain research progress has been made, but there is still a lack of a comprehensive review on the modulation of relevant signaling pathways in Chinese medicine for the treatment of CHB. Therefore, this article systematically combed and elaborated the relevant literature on the modulation of relevant signaling pathways by traditional Chinese medicine in recent years, with a view to providing new ideas for the treatment of CHB and further drug development.

Background: As one of the common malignant tumors nowadays, liver cancer has more risk factors for its development and is characterized by a high recurrence rate, high mortality rate, and poor prognosis, which poses a great threat to people's health. The specific efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine is based on clinical practice, which is a high degree of generalization of the characteristics and scope of the clinical effects of prescription medicines and a special form of expression of the medical effects of the human body within the scope of traditional Chinese medicine. Because of its multi-ingredient, multi-target, and multi-pathway characteristics, it has a great advantage in the treatment of liver cancer. Still, at present, its specific molecular mechanism of action has not yet been clarified. Aim: This study reviews the current status and characteristics of network pharmacology research in the treatment of liver cancer, aiming to provide new ideas and methods for traditional Chinese medicine treatment of the disease. Methods: This study was searched on the Web of Science and PubMed using keywords, such as "traditional Chinese medicine", "liver cancer," and "network pharmacology." The citation dates of the literature cited in this review are from 2000 to 2024. Results: The discovery of the key molecular mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of liver cancer through the network pharmacology approach and the in-depth study of the related signaling pathways are conducive to a more in-depth exploration of traditional Chinese medicine. Conclusion: Network pharmacology research plays a key role in the treatment and prevention of liver cancer and deserves deeper exploration in the future.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the most prevalent form of primary liver cancer, characterized by high mortality rates, frequent recurrence and metastasis, poor clinical prognosis, and a complex pathogenesis with limited therapeutic options. Autophagy plays a pivotal role in the immune response and functions as a lysosome-mediated degradation mechanism essential for recycling cellular components and eliminating aggregated proteins, damaged organelles, and invasive pathogens, thereby maintaining cellular function and dynamic homeostasis. Additionally, autophagy regulates several critical proteins and signaling pathways, including mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR), Beclin-1, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mTOR signaling pathway, the Hippo/yes-associated protein signaling pathway, and the Janus kinase/signal transducer of activation signaling pathway. This regulatory capacity of autophagy can potentially prevent or delay the progression of HCC. Nowadays, many studies have shown that different types of herbal monomers such as the more common quercetin, baicalein, berberine and emodin can further regulate autophagy and exert preventive and therapeutic effects on HCC through the modulation of mTOR and other related signaling pathways and so on. In this paper, we examine the mechanisms of autophagy, key proteins and signaling pathways involved, and the modulation of autophagy by Chinese medicine monomers in the prevention and treatment of HCC. This review aims to provide valuable insights for the development of Chinese medicine strategies against HCC and to inform the rational use of these therapies in clinical practice.

Liver cirrhosis is a major manifestation of end-stage liver disease, and its pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies are key areas of research in hepatology. The limitations of traditional treatments have prompted researchers to turn their attention to immune regulatory mechanisms, among which macrophage polarization regulation has become the most promising therapeutic target. In this paper, the central role of macrophages in the development of cirrhosis and their regulatory network are described, with a focus on the critical role of M1/M2 polarization balance in the process of liver fibrosis. The dynamic polarization process of macrophages in the hepatic microenvironment is finely regulated: the M1 type activates hepatic stellate cells through proinflammatory factors, such as TNF-α and IL-1β, and promotes ECM deposition, whereas the M2 type participates in tissue repair and fibrosis reversal through the secretion of anti-inflammatory factors, such as IL-10 and TGF-β, and MMPs. On the basis of this mechanism, three main classes of intervention strategies have been developed: first, immunomodulatory therapies, including CCR2/CCR5 antagonists and cytokine modulation; second, small molecule-targeted drugs, such as JNK inhibitors and natural active ingredients; and third, cutting-edge biotherapeutic technologies, including genetically engineered macrophage and stem cell combination therapies. Importantly, the modulation of macrophage polarization through the targeted delivery of siRNA via nanocarriers or the induction of M2-type polarization using mesenchymal stem cells can significantly reduce the degree of fibrosis. However, these strategies still face challenges in translational applications, such as dynamic changes in the polarization state and insufficient target specificity. In the future, we need to analyse the heterogeneity of macrophages with the help of new technologies such as single-cell sequencing, develop spatiotemporal specific regulation schemes, and explore multitarget synergistic therapeutic strategies. The breakthroughs in this field will not only revolutionize the treatment mode of liver cirrhosis but also provide important reference information for the treatment of fibrotic diseases in other organs, marking the shift in liver disease treatment from traditional symptomatic treatment to a new era of precise immunomodulation. In conclusion, the targeted regulation of macrophage polarization has demonstrated significant therapeutic potential for liver cirrhosis, with its clinical application poised to revolutionize the treatment paradigm for liver diseases. Future studies should focus on leveraging single-cell technologies to elucidate macrophage heterogeneity and develop precision delivery strategies targeting macrophages, thereby advancing the clinical translation of personalized combination therapies based on macrophage modulation.