Publication Name	World Journal of Diabetes
Manuscript ID	118936
Country	China

Category	Endocrinology & Metabolism
Manuscript Type	Opinion Review
Article Title	Gut microbiota: Unseen conductor of polyherbal efficacy in diabetic neuropathy
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Si Chen, Yu-Xiang Liu, Zhi-Bo Zhao, Shu-Qin Tang, Jun-Hu Li and Xiao-Shuang Zhou
Funding Agency and Grant Number	Funding Agency Grant Number National Natural Science Foundation of China No. 82300846 Project of the Central Government Guiding Local Technological Development No. YDZJSX2025B007
Corresponding Author	Xiao-Shuang Zhou, Department of Nephrology, The Fifth Clinical Medical College of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, No. 29 Shuangta Temple Street, Yingze District, Taiyuan 030012, Shanxi Province, China. xiaoshuangzhou69@163.com
Key Words	Diabetic neuropathy; Gut microbiota; Polyherbal formulation; Prebiotics; Short-chain fatty acids; Inflammation; Traditional medicine
Core Tip	This review proposes a gut-centric theoretical model to explain the broad therapeutic effects of a polyherbal extract (PHE) against diabetic neuropathy. We hypothesize that the PHE acts primarily by remodeling the gut microbiota. This single action restoring a healthy gut ecosystem can mechanistically account for the observed systemic reductions in inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysfunction. This perspective reframes traditional herbal medicine as a form of ecological intervention, highlighting the gut microbiome as a pivotal and unifying target for treating complex, multi-system diseases.
Citation	Chen S, Liu YX, Zhao ZB, Tang SQ, Li JH, Zhou XS. Gut microbiota: Unseen conductor of polyherbal efficacy in diabetic neuropathy. World J Diabetes 2026; In press

Received	2026-01-15 02:52
Peer-Review Started	2026-01-26 00:42
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-02-28 06:44
Return for Revision	2026-02-28 06:44
Revised	2026-03-17 04:51
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2026-05-11 02:45
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-05-11 06:53
Articles in Press	2026-05-11 06:53
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1948-9358 (online)
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Copyright	©Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. No commercial re-use. See Permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
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