Author(s)

Yan Cao ¹, Yukai Zhao ¹, Minglang Zhang ¹, Haibo Yang ¹, Peng Lei ^1,2

Affiliation(s)

¹ The First Clinical Medical College, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712046, Shaanxi, China
² Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi, China

Corresponding Author

Peng Lei

ABSTRACT

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic vascular disorder characterized by lipid metabolism disturbance, chronic inflammation and vascular endothelial dysfunction, which acts as a critical pathological basis for the occurrence and progression of diverse cardiovascular-cerebrovascular diseases. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent regulated cell death, is closely associated with iron metabolic dysregulation, lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress, and has been recognized as an important mechanism involved in AS progression. Ferroptosis in vascular endothelial cells can accelerate AS progression by promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, aggravating lipid peroxidative injury and destroying vascular homeostasis. Existing studies demonstrate that active components and formulas of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can relieve ferroptosis-related damage of vascular endothelial cells via regulating iron homeostasis, enhancing the System Xc^-/glutathione (GSH)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) antioxidant defense system, reducing lipid peroxidation and alleviating oxidative stress, so as to exert anti-atherosclerotic effects. This review summarizes the mechanism of ferroptosis and its role in AS, and discusses research advances of TCM-derived bioactive compounds and formulas targeting endothelial ferroptosis for AS intervention, aiming to provide theoretical basis and novel research perspectives for TCM prevention and treatment of AS.

KEYWORDS

Atherosclerosis; Ferroptosis; Vascular Endothelial Cells; Lipid Peroxidation; Traditional Chinese Medicine

CITE THIS PAPER

Yan Cao, Yukai Zhao, Minglang Zhang, Haibo Yang, Peng Lei. Research Progress of Traditional Chinese Medicine Targeting Endothelial Cell Ferroptosis for the Intervention of Atherosclerosis. MEDS Chinese Medicine (2026). Vol. 8, No. 1, 157-164. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/medcm.2026.080118.

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