An eight-herb formula for menopausal symptoms may act across hormone, inflammation, metabolism, and cell-survival pathways rather than through a single target.
The study analysed clinical herbal prescriptions collected over one year to identify frequently used herbs, herb pairs, and clustered treatment patterns, producing an eight-herb core formula that was reviewed by experts. Researchers then identified potentially active chemical components and matched their biological targets with targets associated with menopausal syndrome using multiple biomedical databases. They mapped interactions among shared targets, examined enriched biological pathways, and used molecular docking simulations to assess whether selected compounds could bind strongly to key proteins.
The analysis suggested that the treatment approach centres on nourishing yin and blood, clearing heat, and regulating qi. The core formula was linked to proteins involved in hormone signalling, cellular stress responses, lipid metabolism, inflammatory signalling, and cell-survival pathways. Luteolin showed particularly strong predicted binding to mitogen-activated protein kinase one, supporting the view that the formula may relieve menopausal symptoms through coordinated actions on several biological systems.
