Targeting inflammasome in digestive diseases: A dual approach of Western and Chinese medicine

Table 2 Summary of Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine agents targeting the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 inflammasome for digestive system diseases

Category	Name	Target pathway	Disease model	Key efficacy indicators	Ref.
Western medicine inhibitor	MCC950	NLRP3 ATPase/NEK7 interaction	MASLD, AP, UC	Reduced IL-1β, reduced IL-18, ameliorated hepatic steatosis, reduced pancreatic necrosis, improved colitis	Coll et al[89], Perera et al[90], Zheng et al[91]
Western medicine inhibitor	CY-09	NLRP3 ATPase (direct binding)	MASLD, gouty arthritis	Reduced caspase-1, reduced IL-1β, blocked NLRP3 oligomerization	Wang et al[1], Li et al[2]
Western medicine inhibitor	OLT1177	NLRP3 (allosteric inhibition)	MASH, AP	Reduced IL-1β, reduced IL-18, safe in humans (phase II)	Yao et al[3], Xu and Núñez[4]
Western medicine pathway modulator	Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate	NF-κB	IBD, colitis	Downregulated NLRP3 expression, inhibited cytokine release	Blevins et al[95], Zhai et al[96], Bae and Park[97]
TCM single component	Saikosaponin-d (already present, but enriched mechanism)	NF-κB/NLRP3 ubiquitination	MASLD, liver fibrosis	Reduced NLRP3 inflammasome activation, reduced hepatic inflammation, increased NLRP3 degradation	Islamuddin and Qin[5], Fan et al[104], Lai et al[105], Lim et al[106]
TCM single component	Ursolic acid	ROS scavenging/TXNIP-NLRP3 axis	UC, colitis-associated cancer	Reduced ROS, reduced NLRP3 oligomerization, protected intestinal barrier	Liu et al[6], Swanson et al[7]
TCM single component	Emodin	Autophagy/NLRP3 assembly	AP, colitis	Increased autophagic flux, reduced caspase-1, reduced IL-1β, reduced pancreatic injury	Wang and Ma[8], Zhen and Zhang[9]
TCM single component	Curcumin	ROS/NF-κB/NLRP3	Viral hepatitis, MASLD	Reduced ROS, reduced NF-κB nuclear translocation, reduced NLRP3, reduced IL-1β	Wang et al[10], Man[11]
TCM classic formula	Buzhong Yiqi decoction	Gut microbiota/TLR4/NF-κB	UC, IBD	Improved intestinal barrier, reduced NLRP3, reduced IL-1β, restored tight junctions	Martinon et al[12], Agostini et al[13]
TCM classic formula	Shaoyao decoction	MKP1/NF-κB/NLRP3	DSS-induced colitis	Reduced NLRP3, reduced caspase-1, reduced IL-1β, reduced macrophage infiltration	Mariathasan et al[14], Schroder and Tschopp[15]
TCM classic formula	Qingyi decoction	NLRP3/caspase-1	AP	Reduced serum amylase/lipase, mitigated pancreatic injury	Jiang et al[122], Su et al[123], Fu et al[124]

NLRP3: NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3; NF-κB: Nuclear factor kappa B; MKP1: Mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 1; TXNIP: Thioredoxin-interacting proteins; TCM: Traditional Chinese medicine; MASLD: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease; UC: Ulcerative colitis; AP: Acute pancreatitis; IL: Interleukin; MASH: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis; IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease; ROS: Reactive oxygen species; TLR4: Toll-like receptor 4.