ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Mol. Biosci.
Sec. Molecular Diagnostics and Therapeutics
This article is part of the Research TopicInnovations in Molecular Diagnostics and Treatments for Cerebrovascular DisordersView all 3 articles
Herbal Monomer–Based Therapeutic Insights from Traditional Chinese Medicine in Myocardial Infarction
Provisionally accepted
- 1The Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
- 2Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
- 3The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
- 4Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
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Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, often resulting in heart failure due to adverse cardiac remodeling triggered by inflammation and fibrosis. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), particularly compounds like Quercetin from Licorice and Peony, has shown promise in modulating inflammation and oxidative stress in cardiovascular diseases. This study integrates bioinformatics and experimental validation to explore the therapeutic potential of Quercetin in MI. Using Mendelian Randomization (MR) and colocalization analysis, we identified key MI-related genes, such as VEGFA, PTK2, and GGT1, whose expression is influenced by Quercetin. Bioinformatics tools predicted these genes as targets of Quercetin, with molecular docking revealing stable interactions between the compound and these genes. Single-cell RNA-sequencing of MI samples confirmed the expression of these genes in cardiac muscle cells (CMs) and macrophages, highlighting their role in tissue repair and inflammation. In experimental models, Quercetin treatment significantly altered the expression of these genes, enhancing myocardial cell recovery and reducing infarct size. This study provides molecular insights into how Quercetin and other TCM compounds could modulate critical pathways involved in MI recovery, supporting their potential as adjunct therapies. The findings bridge traditional medicine with modern bioinformatics, opening new avenues for therapeutic strategies to improve cardiac function and patient outcomes in MI.
Keywords: Myocardial Infarction, Quercetin, Mendelian randomization, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Single-cell RNA-sequence
Received: 10 Oct 2025; Accepted: 27 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Bian, Xia, Xiong, Chen and Chen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Ying Chen
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