Table 2

Representative formula and components and potential mechanisms

FormulaHerbsMain componentsBeneficial effects
Chen 2011Tianqi Jiangtang capsuleRadix Trichosanthis, Radix Astragali seu Hedysari, Rhizoma Coptidis, Radix Ginseng, Herba Dendrobii, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi, Cortex Lycii, Fructus Corni, Herba Ecliptae, Galla ChinensisBerberine, trichosanthin, astragaloside IV, ginseng polysaccharide, ginsenosides, kukoamine AAntioxidant stress, alleviating insulin resistance; anti-inflammation; reducing fibrosis; increasing insulin sensitivity; reducing fat accumulation in the liver; regulating secretion of insulin and glucagon.
Fan 2012Wuling powderRhizoma Alismatis, Polyporus, Poria, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Ramulus CinnamomiAlisol A 24-acetate, ergone, grifola polysaccharide, pachyman polysaccharides, polysaccharide of Atractylodes macrocephala, atractylenolide I, cinnamaldehydeProtecting islet, promoting insluin secretion, regulating lipid metabolism, diuresis, decreasing weight, increasing antioxidant activity, inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, vasodilation
Huang 2019Erchen combined with Taohong Siwu decoctionRhizoma Alismatis, Polyporus, Poria, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Ramulus Cinnamomi, Rhizoma Pinelliae Pericarpium Cirri Reticulatae, Poria, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Ginger, Fructus Mume, Semen Persicae, Flos Carthami, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, Radix Paeoniae AlbaAlkaloids from Pinelliaternata, naringin, tangeretin, pachyman polysaccharides, ursolic acid, citric acid, malic acid, Angelicasinensis olysaccharide, ferulic acid, tetramethylpyrazine, total glucosides of paeonyDecreasing PGE-2 and NO, regulating blood lipid metabolism, inhibiting the generation of adipocytes, decreasing weight, enhancing the expression of insulin receptor in liver, antioxidation, antiapoptosis, inhibiting platelet agglutination, antithrombosis, antagonizing ischemic reperfusion injury, vasodilation
Lian 2012Yi Tang KangRadix Astragali seu Hedysari, Poria, Rhizoma Alismatis, Radix Ginseng Rubra, Rhizoma Polygonati, Rhizoma Coptidis, Radix et Rhizoma NotoginsengAstragaloside IV, pachyman polysaccharides, alisol A 24-acetate, arginyl-fructosyl-glucose, arginyl-fructos, Polygonatum polysaccharide, berberine, Panaxnotoginseng saponinsAlleviating insulin resistance, promoting insulin release, antioxidation, decreasing weight, improving lipid metabolism, protecting islet, increasing the concentration of cAMP in platelets, blocking calcium influx
Liu 2017Wenpi Fuzhen decoctionRadix Codonopsis, Poria, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Ramulus Cinnamomi, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Radix Aucklandiae, Radix Aconiti Lateral is Preparata Codonopsispilosula polysaccharide, pachyman polysaccharides, polysaccharide of Atractylodes macrocephala, atractylenolide I, cinnamaldehyde, total glucosides of paeony, costunolideIncreasing SOD activity, decreasing generation of MDA, regulating blood lipid metabolism, decreasing weight, reducing plasma insulin, inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, vasodilation, diuresis, decreasing NO and IL-6, inhibiting PTP-1B activity
Wang 2012Jiangtang pillRadix Ginseng Rubra, Radix Astragali seu Hedysari, Rhizoma Polygonati, Poria, Rhizoma Coptidis, Radix Puerariae, Fructus Schisandrae ChinensisArginyl-fructosyl-glucose, arginyl-fructos, astragaloside IV, Polygonatum polysaccharide, pachyman polysaccharides, berberine, puerarin, S. chinensis lignansAlleviating insulin resistance, promoting insulin release, antioxidation, decreasing weight, increasing the activity of intracellular LDL receptor, inhibiting β-epinephrine, decreasing NOS
Wang 2013Heye Jiangzhi decoctionFolium Nelumbinis, Rhizoma Polygonati, Radix Polygoni Multiflori, Rhizoma Alismatis, Pollen Typhae, HirudoNuciferine, Polygonatum polysaccharide, stilbene glucoside，alisol a 24-acetate, total flavone in pollen Typhae, hirudinImproving lipidemic disturbance, weight reduction, antioxidative stress, decreasing IGF-1, inhibiting the effect of free fatty acid-induced insulin resistance, antioxidation, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulation, preventing the polymerization of fibrin by thrombin, increasing the CTGFm RNA for anti-fibrosis
Wang 2016Yiqi Huaju formulaRadix Astragali seu Hedysari, Rhizoma Coptidis, Pollen Typhae, Herba Artemisiae Scopariae, Rhizoma AlismatisAstragaloside IV, berberine, total flavone in pollen Typhae, coumarins, flavonoids of Artemisia, alisol A 24-acetateImproving insulin resistance, inhibiting the effect of free fatty acid-induced insulin resistance, antioxidation, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulation, vasodilation, reducing visceral fat deposition, promoting the use of glucose in peripheral tissue, promoting insluin secretion, regulating lipid metabolism
Yang 2013Huayu Fuyuan capsuleEupolyphaga seu Steleophaga, Hirudo, Radix et Rhizoma NotoginsengTotal alkaloids from Eupolyphage Sinensis walk, hirudin, Panax notoginseng saponinsRegulating blood lipid metabolism, dilating blood vessels, preventing the polymerization of fibrin by thrombin, increasing the CTGFm RNA for antifibrosis, increasing the concentration of cAMP in platelets, blocking calcium influx
Zhang 2014Sanhuang Danshen decoctionRadix et Rhizoma Rhei, Ramulus Cinnamomi, Poria, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Rhizoma Alismatis, Pericarpium Cirri Reticulatae, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, Fructus Crataegi, Radix Astragali seu Hedysari, Radix Rehmanniae Recens, Radix GlycyrrhizaeEmodin, rheidin, cinnamaldehyde, pachyman polysaccharides, polysaccharide of Atractylodesmacrocephala, atractylenolide I, alisol A 24-acetate, naringin, tangeretin, tanshinone, hawthorn flavonoids, astragaloside IV, catalpolRegulating blood lipid metabolism, immunoregulation; up-regulating P-glycoprotein; vasodilation, diuresis, inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, inhibiting PGE-2 release, inhibiting the generation of adipocytes, antiatherosclerosis, promoting GLP-1/GIP secretion
Zhang 2016Yangyin Jiangya capsule+Jiangzhuo Quyu granuleCarapax et Plastrum Testudinis, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Radix Ginseng, Margarita, Haematitum, Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis, Spica Prunellae, Rhizoma Gastrodiae, Calculus Bovis, Gypsum Fibrosum, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, Flos Sophorae, Radix Aucklandiae, Fructus Crataegi, Semen Raphani, Fructus Aurantii Immaturus, Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis, Pericarpium Cirri Reticulatae, Fructus Hordei Germinatus, Massa Medicata Fermentata, Flos Chrysanthemi, Camellia sinensisTotal glucosides of paeony, ginseng polysaccharide, ginsenosides, rhynchophylline, isorhynchophylline, emodin, rheidin, costunolide, hawthorn flavonoids, naringin, tangeretin, magnolol, honokiol, total flavonoids of Prunellavulgaris, gastrodin, taurineDecreasing NO and IL-6; protecting islet cells, improving myocardial ischemia, vasodilation, blocking calcium influx, regulating blood lipid metabolism, immunoregulation, upregulating P-glycoprotein, inhibiting PTP-1B activity, inhibiting PGE-2 release, inhibiting the generation of adipocytes, promoting the use of glucose by muscle cells, expanding peripheral vessels, promoting the production of NO by endothelial cells
Chen 2014Heye Jiangzhi decoctionFolium Nelumbinis, Rhizoma Polygonati, Radix Polygoni Multiflori, Rhizoma Alismatis, Pollen Typhae, HirudoNuciferine, Polygonatum polysaccharide, stilbene glucoside，alisol A 24-acetate, total flavone in pollen Typhae, hirudinImproving lipidemic disturbance, weight reduction, antioxidative stress, decreasing IGF-1, inhibiting the effect of free fatty acid-induced insulin resistance, antioxidation, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulation, preventing the polymerization of fibrin by thrombin, increasing the CTGFm RNA for antifibrosis
Ji 2017Chaihu Sanren decoctionRadix Bupleuri, Radix Scutellariae, Semen Armeniacae Amarum, Semen Coicis, Fructus Ammomi Rotundus, Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis, Rhizoma Pinelliae, Talcum, Medulla Tetrapanacis, Herba Lophatheri Saikosaponin, baicalin, amygdalin, coixenolide, Coix polysaccharides, magnolol, honokiol, alkaloids from Pinellia Ternata.Anti-inflammatory, antioxidation; regulating blood lipid metabolism, protecting islet, decreasing TNF-α activity, decreasing PGE-2 and NO
Li 2012Tang Zhi PingCortex Mori, Rhizoma Alismatis, Rhizoma Coptidis, Euonymus alatus, Radix et Rhizoma RheiSanggenon, alisol A 24-acetate, berberine, flavonoids of Euonymus, emodin, rheidinAlleviating insulin resistance, decreasing Ang-II, inhibiting myocardial hypertrophy, increasing SOD activity, protecting islet, regulating lipid metabolism, anti-inflammatory, antioxidation, upregulating P-glycoprotein
Wang 2019Yiqi Huazhuo Gushen granulesRadix Astragali seu Hedysari, Rhizoma Coptidis, Pollen Typhae, Rhizoma Alismatis, Phaseolus radiatus L., Serissa serissoides, Radix Aconiti Lateral is PreparataAstragaloside IV, berberine, total flavone in pollen Typhae, Alisol A 24-acetateIncreasing insulin sensitivity, inhibiting the effect of free fatty acid-induced insulin resistance, antioxidation, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulation, protecting islet, promoting insluin secretion, regulating lipid metabolism
Yu 2018Jiangtang Tiaozhi formulaAloe, Rhizoma Coptidis, Rhizoma Anemarrhenae, Monascus in Oryzae Fructus, Momordica charantia L., Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis, Rhizoma ZingiberisBarbaloin, arboran A, berberine, Anemarrhena Saponin, monacolin K, total saponins from bitter melon, tanshinone, S. chinensis lignansAlleviating insulin resistance, increasing insulin sensitivity, inhibiting glucagon activity, antioxidation, antiplatelet aggregation, inhibiting mTOR and TXNIP activity, inhibiting angiotensin and ACE, inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, increasing insulin release and islet β cell, antiatherosclerosis, regulating blood lipid metabolism

  • cAMP, cyclic adenosine monophosphate; CTGF, connective tissue growth factor; GIP, glucose-dependent insulin-stimulating polypeptide; GLP-1, glucagon like peptide-1; HMG-CoA, hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A; IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor-1; IL, interleukin; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; MDA, malondialdehyde; mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin; NO, nitric oxide; NOS, nitric oxide synthetase; PGE-2, prostaglandin E-2; PTP-1B, proteintyrosinephosphatase1B; SOD, superoxide dismutase; TXNIP, thioredoxin interacting protein.