The role of trimethylamine N-oxide in disease pathogenesis and the therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite derived from gut microbiota, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various chronic diseases, including cardiovascular, digestive, neurological, and renal disorders. This review explores the complex mechanisms by which TMAO contributes to disease progr...

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Main Authors: Zizhen Qin, Wanning Wu, Xinyu Yang, Xiao Wang, Anni Ding, Yueyi Huang, Jiaxuan Tang, Siyuan Jiang, Peng Zhang, Chenwei Qian, Xiangrui Zhang, Shihan Zhou, Yanqing Wang, Zhouchenghao Song, Minjie Sun, Mingqiang Wang, Shuang Shen, Boran Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1592524/full
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author Zizhen Qin
Wanning Wu
Xinyu Yang
Xiao Wang
Anni Ding
Yueyi Huang
Jiaxuan Tang
Siyuan Jiang
Peng Zhang
Chenwei Qian
Xiangrui Zhang
Shihan Zhou
Yanqing Wang
Zhouchenghao Song
Minjie Sun
Mingqiang Wang
Mingqiang Wang
Mingqiang Wang
Shuang Shen
Boran Zhu
Boran Zhu
Boran Zhu
author_facet Zizhen Qin
Wanning Wu
Xinyu Yang
Xiao Wang
Anni Ding
Yueyi Huang
Jiaxuan Tang
Siyuan Jiang
Peng Zhang
Chenwei Qian
Xiangrui Zhang
Shihan Zhou
Yanqing Wang
Zhouchenghao Song
Minjie Sun
Mingqiang Wang
Mingqiang Wang
Mingqiang Wang
Shuang Shen
Boran Zhu
Boran Zhu
Boran Zhu
author_sort Zizhen Qin
collection DOAJ
description Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite derived from gut microbiota, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various chronic diseases, including cardiovascular, digestive, neurological, and renal disorders. This review explores the complex mechanisms by which TMAO contributes to disease progression, including its role in inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic disorders. The study focused on the potential of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to regulate TMAO levels and mitigate its adverse effects. TCM interventions, through modulation of gut microbiota and inhibition of key enzymes like flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3), offer promising therapeutic avenues. Despite the positive outcomes observed in preliminary studies, further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms by which TCM interacts with TMAO and to establish its efficacy in clinical settings.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Pharmacology
spelling doaj-art-672ef4962ff24158a8edfda3bf2eeae72025-08-20T03:56:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-07-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15925241592524The role of trimethylamine N-oxide in disease pathogenesis and the therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicineZizhen Qin0Wanning Wu1Xinyu Yang2Xiao Wang3Anni Ding4Yueyi Huang5Jiaxuan Tang6Siyuan Jiang7Peng Zhang8Chenwei Qian9Xiangrui Zhang10Shihan Zhou11Yanqing Wang12Zhouchenghao Song13Minjie Sun14Mingqiang Wang15Mingqiang Wang16Mingqiang Wang17Shuang Shen18Boran Zhu19Boran Zhu20Boran Zhu21Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaUnion Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Brain Science and Gerontology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaSchool of Elderly Care Services and Management, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaUnion Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Brain Science and Gerontology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaJiangsu Association of Medicated Diet, Nanjing, ChinaTrimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite derived from gut microbiota, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various chronic diseases, including cardiovascular, digestive, neurological, and renal disorders. This review explores the complex mechanisms by which TMAO contributes to disease progression, including its role in inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic disorders. The study focused on the potential of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to regulate TMAO levels and mitigate its adverse effects. TCM interventions, through modulation of gut microbiota and inhibition of key enzymes like flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3), offer promising therapeutic avenues. Despite the positive outcomes observed in preliminary studies, further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms by which TCM interacts with TMAO and to establish its efficacy in clinical settings.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1592524/fulltrimethylamine N-oxidegut microbiotachronic diseasestraditional Chinese medicineinflammationoxidative stress
spellingShingle Zizhen Qin
Wanning Wu
Xinyu Yang
Xiao Wang
Anni Ding
Yueyi Huang
Jiaxuan Tang
Siyuan Jiang
Peng Zhang
Chenwei Qian
Xiangrui Zhang
Shihan Zhou
Yanqing Wang
Zhouchenghao Song
Minjie Sun
Mingqiang Wang
Mingqiang Wang
Mingqiang Wang
Shuang Shen
Boran Zhu
Boran Zhu
Boran Zhu
The role of trimethylamine N-oxide in disease pathogenesis and the therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine
Frontiers in Pharmacology
trimethylamine N-oxide
gut microbiota
chronic diseases
traditional Chinese medicine
inflammation
oxidative stress
title The role of trimethylamine N-oxide in disease pathogenesis and the therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine
title_full The role of trimethylamine N-oxide in disease pathogenesis and the therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine
title_fullStr The role of trimethylamine N-oxide in disease pathogenesis and the therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine
title_full_unstemmed The role of trimethylamine N-oxide in disease pathogenesis and the therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine
title_short The role of trimethylamine N-oxide in disease pathogenesis and the therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine
title_sort role of trimethylamine n oxide in disease pathogenesis and the therapeutic potential of traditional chinese medicine
topic trimethylamine N-oxide
gut microbiota
chronic diseases
traditional Chinese medicine
inflammation
oxidative stress
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1592524/full
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