title: Role of Medicinal Plants for Liver-Qi Regulation Adjuvant Therapy in Post-stroke Depression: A Systematic Review of Literature.
abstract: Current evidence demonstrated certain beneficial effects of medicinal herbs as an adjuvant therapy for post-stroke depression (PSD) in China; Chai-hu (Chinese Thorowax Root, Radix Bupleuri) is an example of a medicinal plant for Liver-Qi regulation (MPLR) in the treatment of PSD. Despite several narrative reports on the antidepressant properties of MPLR, it appears that there are no systematic reviews to summarize its outcome effects. Therefore, the aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness and safety of MPLR adjuvant therapy in patients with PSD. Seven databases were extensively searched from January 2000 until July 2016. Randomized control trials (RCTs) involving patients with PSD that compared treatment with and without MPLR were taken into account. The pooled effect estimates were calculated based on Cochrane Collaboration's software RevMan 5.3. Finally, 42 eligible studies with 3612 participants were included. Overall, MPLR adjuvant therapy showed a significantly higher effective rate (RR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.19, 1.27; p < 0.00001) compared to those without. Moreover, the administration of MPLR was superior to abstainers regarding Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) score changes after 3 weeks (WMD = -4.83; 95% CI = -6.82, -2.83; p < 0.00001), 4 weeks (WMD = -3.25; 95% CI = -4.10, -2.40; p < 0.00001), 6 weeks (WMD = -4.04; 95% CI = -5.24, -2.84; p < 0.00001), 8 weeks (WMD = -4.72; 95% CI = -5.57, -3.87; p < 0.00001), and 12 weeks (WMD = -3.07; 95% CI = -4.05, -2.09; p < 0.00001). In addition, there were additive benefits in terms of response changes for the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and other self-rating scores. No frequently occurring or serious adverse events were reported. We concluded that there is supporting evidence that adjuvant therapy with MPLR is effective in reducing the depressive symptoms and enhancing quality of life for patients with PSD. More well-designed RCTs are necessary to explore the role of MPLR in the treatment of PSD. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, PR China.|Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, PR China.
authors.forename: Ling-Feng
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research/National Clinical Trials Institute, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, PR China.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, Beijing, 100101, PR China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, PR China.
authors.forename: Yun-Kai
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, PR China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, PR China.|Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, PR China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, PR China.
authors.forename: Li-Ting
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, Beijing, 100101, PR China.
authors.forename: Wen-Hu
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, PR China.
authors.forename: Yuan-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, PR China.
authors.forename: Yun-Bo
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, PR China.
authors.forename: Wei-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, PR China.
authors.forename: Wei-Xiong
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, PR China.
authors.forename: Ning-Sheng
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000187:drug effects*; D019413:Qi; D011788:Quality of Life; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents
keywords: MPLR; adjuvant therapy; meta-analysis; post-stroke depression; systematic review