- 2026-05
- Journal of ethnopharmacology 362
- Xin Li
- Yun Shi
- Jiaojiao Zhang
- Tongming Liu
- Chenfeng Zhang
- Xun Gao
- Chunhui Liu
- Qing Zhang
- Kunming Qin
Study Design
- Type
- Review
- Methods
- Systematic literature search in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and CNKI from 2013 to 2025; original research articles, reviews, and clinical studies included; duplicates and unrelated studies excluded.
- Funding
- Unclear
Ethnopharmacological relevance
As a classical prescription, Wuwei Xiaodu Decoction (WWXDD) () is composed of five medicinal components: Lonicerae Japonicae Flos, Taraxaci Herba, Chrysanthemi Indici Flos, Violae Herba, and Semiaquilegiae Radix. Originating from the Qing Dynasty, WWXDD has been widely employed in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for treating inflammatory diseases. Although numerous studies have explored various aspects of WWXDD, few comprehensive reviews have systematically synthesized its ethnopharmacological basis, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical applications, which hinders the further application and commercialization of WWXDD.Aim of the study
This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the traditional theory, chemical composition, pharmacological activity, and clinical evidence related to WWXDD, with a focus on current challenges and future perspectives.Materials and methods
The literature was systematically searched in databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The search period covered publications from 2013 to 2025. Keywords included "Wuwei Xiaodu Decoction", "WWXDD", "traditional Chinese medicine", "phytochemistry", "pharmacology", and "clinical application". Original research articles, reviews, and clinical studies relevant to the composition, pharmacological activities, quality control, and clinical applications of WWXDD were included. Duplicates, unrelated studies, and articles lacking sufficient methodological information were excluded. Chemical structures were drawn using ChemDraw 23, and the graphical abstract and schematic illustrations were created using BioRender and PowerPoint.Results
This review firstly summarized the progress of the chemical constituents of WWXDD and discussed the advanced methods in monitoring quality of WWXDD and its herbal ingredients. Meanwhile, the attribution of each herb in WWXDD provides some theoretical basis for its efficacy. Pharmacological investigations reveal that WWXDD exhibits anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antibacterial properties, attributable to its constituent herbs. Clinically, it has demonstrated efficacy in managing facial acne and preventing postoperative infections. Finally, it is important to note in WWXDD use that even though there is no toxicity, most drugs are cold in nature, so it is important to pay attention to the people for whom the use is contraindicated.Conclusions
Through systematic investigation of WWXDD's herbal components, this study enhances the mechanistic understanding of its therapeutic actions. Both preclinical and clinical evidence underscores its potential in managing complex diseases. On this basis, we summarize an actionable compound-level quality-control framework (chemical fingerprinting/multi-component quantification-spectrum-effect and bioactivity consistency-mutual confirmation with mechanistic and clinical evidence), and highlight that standardization and formula-level indicators remain key bottlenecks. In this review, current issues are discussed to inform and inspire subsequent research of WWXDD and other classical prescriptions.