The application and functional mechanism of Chinese herbal medicines in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B

Hepatitis B, caused by the hepatitis B Virus (HBV), is an inflammatory liver disease that poses a significant threat to public health. HBV, a hepatotropic DNA virus, can cause chronic and acute Hepatitis B and persistent infection may cause serious complications like cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure. Though nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) is the first-line drug for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), they still have several drawbacks such as drug resistance, and low-level viremia. Recent studies suggest that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and its active ingredients can inhibit HBV activity and replication, indicating their potentials for CHB treatment. This article focuses on the anti HBV activity and mechanism of TCM, aiming to help develop new anti-HBV drugs and improve the cure rate of CHB.