At present

anti-inflammatory drugs are used as major drugs only second to anti-infection drugs in the clinical treatment

including steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Because many synthetic drugs have severe side effects

more and more attention has been paid to the development of anti-inflammatory drugs from natural drugs. Based on the overall syndrome differentiation-based thinking mode

TCM with unique effects and low side effects has attracted attention of inflammation researchers and clinicians around the world. Antipyretic and detoxifying TCM have a significant anti-inflammatory effect. In this paper

we reviewed the advance of studies on these herbs and their active constituents by referring to relevant literatures published in the past decade at home and abroad

and summarized the anti-inflammatory mechanisms. The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of antipyretic and detoxifying herbs could be analyzed in eight aspects

including the effects on vasoactive amines

arachidonic acid metabolites

inflammatory cytokines

inflammatory signaling pathway nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB)and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)

NO and chemokines

the removal of free radicals

and the adjustment of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex axis function. In addition

the current situations and existing problems were reviewed and analyzed

in order to screen out the antipyretic and detoxifying Chinese medicines and their active components

and further benefit clinical application.