Table 1 Examples of TCM regulating pathological EMT [19, 133]

Salvia miltiorrhiza and ligustrazine

TNF-α and TGF-β

Pulmonary fibrosis [47]

Genistein

IL-6, TNFα, myeloperoxidase SFRP1 and SMAD4

Hepatic fibrosis [18]

Prostate cancer [127]

Betulin

TNF-α, TGF-β1, TIMP-1, TIMP-2/MMP-2

Liver fibrosis [19]

Silybinin

TGF-β1/oxidase stress

Liver fibrosis [133]

Diwu Yanggan formula

Modulated the EMT and MET balance

Liver fibrosis [44]

Salvianolic acid B

Abrogated EMT-induced fibrogenesis

Renal fibrosis [134]

Fuzheng Huayutablet

α-SMA, TGF-β1, and SMAD3

Renal fibrosis [135]

Handan Ganle

Modulated the EMT and MET balance

Liver fibrosis [136]

Shikonin

Stimulate EMT related microRNAs

Skin wound healing [55]

Tanshinone IIA

TLR4/MYD88/NF-κB

Ventricular remodeling [56]

Curcumin

TGF‐β/SMAD and SNAIL; PI3 K/AKT/mTOR; PPARγ

Renal fibrosis [45] /hepatocellular [89] /lung carcinoma [137]

Polyphyllin I

IL-6/STAT3

Non-small-cell lung cancer [138]

Ginsenoside Rg3

NF-κB

Lung cancer [69]

Matrine

ROS/NF-κB/MMPs

Pancreatic cancer [117]

Toosendanin

AKT/mTOR

Pancreatic cancer [139]

Brucine

MMP-2 and MMP-9

Breast cancer [140]

Yiqi Huayu Jiedu decoction

TGF‐β/SMAD

Gastric cancer [141]

Yi Ai Fang

HIF‐1α

Colorectal cancer [116]

Jianpi Huayu decoction

SMAD3/SMAD7

Hepatocellular carcinoma [90]

Resveratrol

LPS‑induced EMT

Prostate cancer [70]

Triptolide

MMP‐7 and MMP‐19

Ovarian cancer [51]

Thymoquinone

TWIST1/ZEB1/E-cadherin

Cervical cancer [72]

Shaoyao decoction

IL1β, IL6, TNF-α, tumor-associated macrophages, and p65

Colorectal cancer [94]

Qingyihuaji formula

Tumor-associated macrophage and IL-6

Pancreatic cancer [67]

Sheng Qi formula

Myeloid immune-suppressor cells (MDSC)

Breast cancer [81]

Feiyanning decoction

CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells

Lewis lung carcinoma [80]

Ginsenoside Rb1

MicroRNA (mir)-25

Ovarian cancer [66]

Jin-Fu-An decoction

P120ctn, isoform 1A

Lung cancer [129]