Preclinical studies using diverse animal models — such as unilateral ureteral obstruction, DN, 5/6 nephrectomy, and aristolochic acid nephropathy-demonstrate that C. sinensis alleviates renal fibrosis primarily through inhibition of EMT, modulation of TGF-β1/Smad, mitogen-MAPK, NF-κB, Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), and NLRP3 inflammasome pathways, and enhancement of anti-inflammatory responses. The gene discussed is TGFB1; the disease is renal fibrosis.