TGFB1 and diabetic kidney disease: In animal studies, natural medicines provide robust pathological evidence for ameliorating fibrosis in DKD: for example, Fuxin Granules can block epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad pathway [163], while asiatic acid simultaneously suppresses the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway and enhances extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation [164], resulting in reduced renal ECM deposition supported by clear pathological evidence.