Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a complicated disease. The pathogenesis of CRC is related to the abnormity in multiple signal pathways. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) have played a positive role in treatment of colorectal cancer. TCM can regulate multiple signal pathways

thus have an effect on multitudinous biological processes of CRC cells

such as cell proliferation

cell cycle

apoptosis

cell senescence

autophagy

resistance to chemotherapy

epithelial-mesenchymal transition

cell invasion and metastasis

and contributes to therapeutic effect of TCM against CRC. It has been reported that Tenglong Buzhong decoction(TLBZT) can regulate p16/p21-RB signaling

arrest cell cycle and induce cell senescence in CRC. Cantharidin

Hedyotidis Herba

TLBZT and other Chinese herbs and medicines regulate apoptotic signal pathways

and induce apoptosis in CRC. Baicalein

Honokiol

Zuojinwan and other Chinese herbs and medicines regulate NF-κB pathway

inhibit cell proliferation

induce apoptosis in CRC

and sensitize CRC cells to chemotherapy. Solasodine

Matrine

Tounong powder and other Chinese herbs and medicines regulate PI3K/Akt pathway

inhibit cell proliferation

and induce apoptosis in CRC. Diterpenoid C

Bufalin

Ponicidin and other Chinese herbs and medicines regulate MAPK pathway

inhibit cell proliferation

and induce apoptosis or autophagy in CRC. Curcumin

Scutellariae Barbatae Herba

Jianpi formula and other Chinese herbs and medicines regulate Wnt/β-catenin pathway and inhibit cell proliferation or metastasis in CRC. Norcantharidin

Ursolic acid

Laminarin and other Chinese herbs and medicines regulate epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) pathway

inhibit cell proliferation

arrest cell cycle

or induce apoptosis in CRC. Oxymatrine

Jianpi Jiedu recipe

Pien Tze Huang and other Chinese herbs and medicines regulate TGF-β/Smad pathway

and inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis in CRC. Hedyotidis Herba

Scutellariae Barbatae Herba

Chang-fu-kang and other Chinese herbs and medicines regulate Hedgehog pathway and inhibit angiogenesis in CRC.