scholarly journals Chinese Herbal Medicine and Depression: The Research Evidence

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Butler ◽  
Karen Pilkington
Keyword(s):  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Chinese Literature ◽  
Chinese Herbs ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Chinese Herbal ◽  
Alternative Approaches ◽  
Event Rates

Background. Alternative approaches for managing depression are often sought and herbal mixtures are widely used in China. The aim of this paper was to provide an overall picture of the current evidence by analysing published systematic reviews and presenting a supplementary systematic review of trials in Western databases.Methods. Searches were conducted using AMED, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycINFO, and trial registers. Results were screened and selected trials were evaluated by two reviewers working independently. Systematic reviews were identified and assessed using key criteria.Results. Five systematic reviews were located addressing the Chinese literature, adjunctive use of Chinese herbs, and the formulae Chaihu-Shugan-San, Xiao Yao San, and Free and Easy Wanderer Plus. The supplementary review located 8 trials, 3 of which were not included in previous reviews. Positive results were reported: no significant differences from medication, greater effect than medication or placebo, reduced adverse event rates when combined or compared with antidepressants. However, limitations in methodology and reporting were revealed.Conclusions. Despite promising results, particularly for Xiao Yao San and its modifications, the effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine in depression could not be fully substantiated based on current evidence. Further well-designed, well-reported trials that reflect practice may be worth pursuing.

scholarly journals Chinese Herbal Medicine for Treatment of Hiv/aids-associated Diarrhea: a Protocol of Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trails

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bai-lin Chen ◽  
Ming-zhu Zhang ◽  
Zi-wei Huang ◽  
Hong-rui Zhang ◽  
Chang Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Beneficial Effect ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Biomedical Literature ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Cochrane Central Register ◽  
Chinese Herbal ◽  
Hiv Aids

Abstract Background: Diarrhea is a common symptom of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) occurring either at the early stage of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or advanced stage, generally not fetal but seriously affect the quality of life.The treatment of HIV/AIDS-associated diarrhea based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation or combined with conventional therapy has showed better effect, and improve the immune status of patients to a certain extent, which may have a good application prospect. This is a protocol for a systematicreview on health care intervention. The objective is toassess the beneficial effect and safety of Chinese herbal medicine for people with HIV/AIDS-associated diarrhea.Methods: We will search and include randomized controlled trials comparing Chinese herbal medicine with placebo or other active interventions, regardless of language and publication status. The primary outcome will be diarrhea frequency (per day or per week) and fecal character. Databases to be searched include The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in the Cochrane Library; PubMed;China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI); Wanfang Data; Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (SinoMed) and China Science and Technology Journal database (VIP). For each step, two reviewers will independently perform the selection of studies, data extractionand assess their methodological quality by the Cochrane risk of bias tool. We will analyze data, and performmeta-analyses if data available.Discussion: By providing current evidence of the beneficial effect and safety of Chinese herbal medicine for people with HIV/AIDS-associated diarrhea,we intend toidentify potentialtherapeutic modality that may be of benefits so to inform practice.

scholarly journals An Overview of Systematic Reviews of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Alzheimer’s Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nanyang Liu ◽  
Tingting Zhang ◽  
Jiahui Sun ◽  
Jiuxiu Yao ◽  
Lina Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Methodological Quality ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Quality Of Evidence ◽  
Chinese Herbal

Background: Multiple systematic reviews (SRs) have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here, we aim to perform an overview to assess the methodological quality and quality of evidence of the SRs to provide convincing data on the treatment of AD with CHM.Method: Six electronic databases including Chinese and English were searched, until April 31, 2021. Two researchers independently screen documents and extract data according to the predesigned rules. A Measure Tool to Assessment System Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2) was used to investigate the methodological quality, and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to determine the quality of evidence for outcomes.Results: Twelve qualified SRs including 163 randomized controlled trials were reviewed. The methodological quality of the included SRs was considered extremely low assessed through AMSTAR-2. Compared with western medicines (WM) alone, CHM as an adjuvant treatment has shown significant effects in improving Mini-mental State Examination, Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive, and Clinical Dementia Rating scores. The same is true for CHM alone. Regarding the effect on Activities Daily Living, neither the single CHM nor the combination with WM has an obvious effect. For the total effective rate, both single CHM and the combination with WM shown significant effects. Nine SRs suggested that CHM as adjuvant therapy or single-use had fewer adverse events than WM. Additionally, the quality of evidence for the main outcome was reviewed as low or extremely low according to GRADE profiler data.Conclusion: Current evidence suggests that CHM may be beneficial in improving the cognitive function of AD patients. However, we should be cautious about the evidence due to methodological flaws and low quality. High-quality RCTs are further needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of CHM for AD.

scholarly journals Chinese Herbal Medicine Hepatotoxicity: The Evaluation and Recognization Based on Large-scale Evidence Database

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi Liu ◽  
Xin He ◽  
Lili Wang ◽  
Yunhua Zhang ◽  
Yue Hai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Liver Injury ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Liver Toxicity ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Chinese Herbs ◽  
Data Resource ◽  
Chinese Herbal

Background:Due to the special nature of Chinese Herbal medicine and the complexity of its clinical use, it is difficult to identify and evaluate its toxicity and resulting herb induced liver injury (HILI).Methods:First, the database would provide full profile of HILI from the basic ingredients to clinical outcomes by the most advanced algorithms of artificial intelligence, and it is also possible that we can predict possibilities of HILI after patients taking Chinese herbs by individual patient evaluation and prediction. Second, the database would solve the chaos and lack of the relevant data faced by the current basic research and clinical practice of Chinese Herbal Medicine. Third, we can also screen the susceptible patients from the database and thus prevent the accidents of HILI from the very beginning.Results:The Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method (RUCAM) is the most accepted method to evaluate DILI, but at present before using the RUCAM evaluation method, data resource collection and analysis are yet to be perfected. Based on existing research on drug-metabolizing enzymes mediating reactive metabolites (RMs), the aim of this study is to explore the possibilities and methods of building multidimensional hierarchical database composing of RMs evidence library, Chinese herbal evidence library, and individualized reports evidence library of herb induced liver injury HILI.Conclusion:The potential benefits lie in its ability to organize, use vast amounts of evidence and use big data mining techniques at the center for Chinese herbal medicine liver toxicity research, which is the most difficult key point of scientific research to be investigated in the next few years.

scholarly journals Current Status and Major Challenges to the Safety and Efficacy Presented by Chinese Herbal Medicine

Medicines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xian Zhou ◽  
Chun-Guang Li ◽  
Dennis Chang ◽  
Alan Bensoussan
Keyword(s):  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Chinese Herbs ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Evidence Based Practices ◽  
Safety And Efficacy ◽  
Chinese Herbal ◽  
The Status ◽  
Chemical Profiles ◽  
Standards And Regulations

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is not only used prevalently in Asian countries but has also gained a stable market globally. As a principal form of TCM, Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is comprised of treatments using multiple Chinese herbs which have complex chemical profiles. Due to a lack of understanding of its modality and a lack of standardization, there are significant challenges associated with regulating CHM’s safety for practice and understanding its mechanisms of efficacy. Currently, there are many issues that need to be overcome in regard to the safety and efficacy of CHM for the further development of evidence-based practices. There is a need to better understand the mechanisms behind the efficacy of CHM, and develop proper quality standards and regulations to ensure a similar safety standard as Western drugs. This paper outlines the status of CHM in terms of its safety and efficacy and attempts to provide approaches to address these issues.

scholarly journals Chinese Herbal Medicine Qi Ju Di Huang Wan for the Treatment of Essential Hypertension: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Wang ◽  
Xingjiang Xiong ◽  
Guoyan Yang ◽  
Yuqing Zhang ◽  
Yongmei Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Essential Hypertension ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Antihypertensive Drugs ◽  
Chinese Herbs ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Chinese Herbal

Background. Chinese herbs are potentially effective for hypertension. Qi Ju Di Huang Wan (QJDHW) is a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine as a monotherapy or in combination with other antihypertensive agents for the treatment of essential hypertension (EH). However, there is no critically appraised evidence such as systematic reviews or meta-analyses on the effectiveness and safety of QJDHW for EH.Methods and Findings. CENTRAL, PubMed, CBM, CNKI, VIP, and online clinical trial registry websites were searched for published and unpublished randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of QJDHW for essential hypertension up to January 2013 with no language restrictions. A total of 10 randomized trials involving 1024 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed that QJDHW combined with antihypertensive drugs was more effective in lowering blood pressure and improving TCM syndrome for the treatment of essential hypertension than antihypertensive drugs used alone. No trials reported severe adverse events related to QJDHW.Conclusions. Our review suggests that QJDHW combined with antihypertensive drugs might be an effective treatment for lowering blood pressure and improving symptoms in patients with essential hypertension. However, the finding should be interpreted with caution because of the poor methodological quality of included trials. There is an urgent need for well-designed, long-term studies to assess the effectiveness of QJDHW in the treatment of essential hypertension.

scholarly journals Effect of a Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine Formulation on Cell Survival and Apoptosis of MPP+-Treated MES 23.5 Dopaminergic Cells

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuifen Ye ◽  
Ho Kee Koon ◽  
Wen Fan ◽  
Yihui Xu ◽  
Wei Wei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Cell Survival ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Chinese Herbs ◽  
Expression Ratio ◽  
Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Dopaminergic Cells ◽  
Chinese Herbal ◽  
Bax Protein

Progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) is implicated in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The efficacy of these currently used drugs is limited while traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used in the management of neurodegenerative diseases for many years. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of a modified traditional Chinese herbal medicine decoction, Cong Rong Jing (CRJ), on cell survival and apoptosis of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium- (MPP+-) treated MES23.5 dopaminergic cells. CRJ was prepared as a decoction from three Chinese herbs, namely,Herba Cistanches,Herba Epimedii, andRhizoma Polygonati. We reported here that CRJ significantly enhanced the cell survival of MES23.5 cells after the exposure of MPP+and inhibited the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by MPP+. CRJ also prevented the MPP+-treated MES23.5 cells from apoptosis by reducing the externalization of phosphatidylserine and enhancing the Bcl-2/Bax protein expression ratio. Signaling proteins such as JAK2, STAT3, and ERK1/2 were also involved in the action of CRJ. Taken together, these results provide a preliminary mechanism to support clinical application of the TCM formulation in PD and possibly other neurodegenerative diseases associated with ROS injury and apoptosis.

scholarly journals Chinese Herbal Medicine for Aspirin Resistance: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Ai-ju Liu ◽  
Hui-qin Li ◽  
Ji-huang Li ◽  
Yuan-yuan Wang ◽  
Dong Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Aspirin Resistance ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Chinese Herbal

Aspirin resistance (AR) is a prevalent phenomenon and leads to significant clinical consequences, but the current evidence for effective interventional strategy is insufficient. The objective of this systematic review is thus to assess the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for AR. A systematical literature search was conducted in 6 databases until December 2012 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of CHM for AR. As a result, sixteen RCTs with a total of 1011 subjects were identified, suggesting that the interests of the medical profession and the public in the use of CHM for AR have grown considerably in the recent years. Tongxinluo capsule and Danshen-based prescriptions were the most frequently used herbal prescriptions, while danshen root, milkvetch root, Leech, and Rosewood were the most frequently used single herbs. Despite the apparent reported positive findings, it is premature to determine the efficacy and safety of CHM for the treatment of AR due to poor methodological quality and insufficient safety data. However, CHMs appeared to be well tolerated in all included studies. Thus, CHM as a promising candidate is worthy of improvement and development for further clinical AR trials. Large sample-size and well-designed rigorous RCTs are needed.

scholarly journals Outcome Measures of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Coronary Heart Disease: An Overview of Systematic Reviews

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Luo ◽  
Hao Xu
Keyword(s):  
Coronary Heart Disease ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Angina Pectoris ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Chinese Herbal ◽  
Primary Endpoints

Objective. The aim of this overview was to summarize the outcome measures of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) as the treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD) based on available systematic reviews (SRs), so as to display the current situation and evaluate the potential benefits and advantages of CHM on CHD.Methods. An extensive search included the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, and 4 databases in Chinese. SRs of CHM for CHD were included. Besides evaluating and summarizing the outcome measures, we also estimated the quality of the included reviews by PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses). Data were extracted according to predefined inclusion criteria by two independent reviewers.Results. 46 articles were included. 20 kinds of CHM were reviewed. 7 SRs were concerned with myocardial infarction (MI), 38 SRs were related to angina pectoris. 11 SRs had primary endpoints, while others focused on secondary endpoints to evaluate CHM for CHD such as angina pectoris and electrocardiogram (ECG). One SR reported more adverse effects of CHM for CHD and of the SRs analyzed quality of life. Many CHM appeared to have significant effect on improving symptoms, ECG, biomarkers and so on. However, most SRs failed to make a definite conclusion for the effectiveness of CHM in CHD patients due specifically to the poor evidence. And according to PRISMA we found most of the trials in the SRs were of low quality.Conclusion. Primary endpoints were not used widely. The benefits of CHM for CHD need to be confirmed in the future with RCTs of more persuasive primary endpoints and high-quality SRs.

scholarly journals Biomedical Applications of Chinese Herb-Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles by Phytonanotechnology

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2757
Author(s):  
Rehmat Islam ◽  
Leming Sun ◽  
Lianbing Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Silver Nanoparticles ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Biomedical Applications ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Chinese Herb ◽  
Chinese Herbs ◽  
Bioactive Components ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Chinese Herbal

Recent advances in nanotechnology have opened up new avenues for the controlled synthesis of nanoparticles for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Chinese herbal medicine is a natural gift to humanity, and it has long been used as an antibacterial and anticancer agent. This study will highlight recent developments in the phytonanotechnological synthesis of Chinese herbal medicines to utilize their bioactive components in biomedical and therapeutic applications. Biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have emerged as a promising alternative to chemical and physical approaches for various biomedical applications. The comprehensive rationale of combinational or synergistic effects of Chinese herb-based AgNPs synthesis was investigated with superior physicochemical and biological properties, and their biomedical applications, including antimicrobial and anticancer activity and wound healing properties. AgNPs can damage the cell ultrastructure by triggering apoptosis, which includes the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA disintegration, protein inactivation, and the regulation of various signaling pathways. However, the anticancer mechanism of Chinese herbal medicine-based AgNPs is more complicated due to the potential toxicity of AgNPs. Further in-depth studies are required to address Chinese herbs’ various bioactive components and AgNPs as a synergistic approach to combat antimicrobial resistance, therapeutic efficiency of drug delivery, and control and prevention of newly emerged diseases.

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