BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies最新文献

{"title":"Effectiveness and safety analysis of Qifu Yixin Prescription for the treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: study protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.","authors":"Zhaohui Xu, Yinqin Hu, Jiahui Yang, Qiqi Wan, Xinyu Zhang, Weilin Wang, Yongming Liu","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05106-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12906-025-05106-3","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"345"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12487173/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145205586","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Probiotics mitigates ovarian angiogenic disturbance in letrozole-induced PCOS.","authors":"Stephanie E Areloegbe, Ikenna A Abugu, Isaac O Ajadi, Ayodeji Aturamu, Mary B Ajadi, Chukwubueze L Atuma, Christopher O Akintayo, Gloria O Omoruyi, Samuel O Onyekweli, Olabimpe C Badejogbin, Oluwatobi A Amusa, Oluseyi E Adelekan, Kayode Ajayi, Paul A Oyewole, Kehinde S Olaniyi","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05109-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12906-025-05109-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Among metabolic/endocrine diseases affecting women in the reproductive years, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is well documented as the leading cause of female infertility and several complications including dyslipidemia, cardiomorbidities, among others. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a proangiogenic marker which plays crucial roles in endothelial dysfunction, including ovarian dysfunction. Probiotics are gut microbiome that regulate metabolic health via epigenetic modulation of histone. Nevertheless, the present study was designed to investigate the beneficial effect of probiotics on aberrant ovarian angiogenesis in a PCOS rat model.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Eight-week-old female Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 5). The administration of 1 mg/kg (p.o) letrozole for three weeks induced PCOS. thereafter the animals were treated with 3 × 10⁹ CFU (p.o) from probiotics for six weeks.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The rats that received letrozole exhibited obesity, ovarian weight gain, hyperandrogenism, hypoestrogenism, and multiple ovarian cysts and demonstrated an increased level of anti-Mullerian hormone. Animals in this group also demonstrated ovarian triglyceride accumulation, inflammation, lipid peroxidation, elevated corticosterone as a parameter that show metabolic stress and elevated angiogenic factor (VEGF). Also, a decreased level of antioxidant defense (NrF2), and HIF-1a and a significant decrease in mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) was observed while histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) was significantly elevated when compared to the control group. Interestingly, treatment with probiotics significantly reversed these ovarian metabolic, biochemical and morphological changes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Collectively, the present result suggests that probiotics ameliorates aberrant ovarian angiogenesis with subsequent improvement of ovarian function in PCOS model. This beneficial effect of probiotics is accompanied by modulation of Mfn2 and suppression of HDAC2.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"346"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12486965/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145205545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of manual diaphragm release on pain, disability and diaphragm function in patients with chronic neck pain: a pilot randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Kai-Chia Cheng, Everlynn Yi Xuan Hii, Yao-Nan Lin, Yi-Liang Kuo, Yi-Ju Tsai","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05090-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12906-025-05090-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic neck pain (CNP) is a prevalent musculoskeletal problem associated with impaired cervical functions, faulty breathing patterns, and declined respiratory functions. Diaphragm is a critical respiratory muscle and also connects to cervical spine through different fascial connections. However, the effects of diaphragm manual release (DMR) on CNP remain unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of DMR intervention on pain, disability, and diaphragm function in people with CNP.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 33 participants with CNP were randomized into the DMR and sham release group (SG), and received the allocated intervention twice a week for 2 weeks. The DMR group received a firm pressure release technique at the 7th to 10th subcostal region along with deep breathing, while the SG group received the same technique with light touch instead. Primary outcomes including pain, disability, and diaphragm function, and secondary outcomes including neck range of motions, strength, and chest expansion were performed before and after the intervention for all participants.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After receiving 4 sessions of intervention, the DMR group demonstrated clinically significant improvements in pain and cervical range of motion, along with potential clinically improvements in diaphragm mobility. In the SG group, only pain showed a clinical significant improvement. Cervical strength and chest expansions showed potential clinical improvements in both groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The current results provide preliminary evidence that the DMR shows promise as an intervention for improving pain, cervical range of motion, and potentially diaphragm mobility, cervical strength, and chest expansion in patients with CNP. However, its effects may not be clearly superior to sham intervention after 4 sessions. Future studies with larger sample sizes and longer durations are required to confirm its efficacy and establish its role in CNP management.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>The study was registered with ClinicalTrial.gov (NCT04664842) on 11/12/2020.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"349"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12486538/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145205565","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of danshen ligustrazine injection as adjuvant therapy on serum levels of salusins, catestatin, MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 in patients with primary hypertension.","authors":"Dezhi Hong, Changzhang He, Wenjie Dai, Mingchun Zhong, Chengwei Xu, Shengqiang Zeng, Changsheng Ouyang, Hengli Lai","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05017-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12906-025-05017-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Primary hypertension is a leading public health issue, contributing significantly to cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular events, and renal complications. Despite advancements in pharmacotherapy, optimal blood pressure control remains challenging. Danshen Ligustrazine Injection, derived from Salvia miltiorrhiza and Ligusticum chuanxiong, is purported to have cardiovascular benefits. This study aimed to fill the gap in understanding how Danshen Ligustrazine Injection affects key biomarkers associated with hypertension, which have been underexplored in current research. We investigated its effect as an adjunctive therapy on serum levels of salusin-α, catestatin, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) in patients with primary hypertension.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 300 patients with primary hypertension admitted from June 2021 and June 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: a conventional group (n = 163) receiving levamlodipine besylate and a combined group (n = 137) receiving levamlodipine besylate plus Danshen Ligustrazine Injection for 5 weeks. Serum levels of salusin-α, catestatin, MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 were measured before and after treatment using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clinical efficacy and adverse reactions were also evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Baseline characteristics, blood routine profiles, and lipid levels were comparable between the groups (P > 0.05). Post-treatment, the conventional group showed a reduction in salusin-α levels to 227.0 ± 22.8 pg/mL (P = 0.006 compared to pre-treatment), while the combined group exhibited a more pronounced decrease to 214.5 ± 26.4 pg/mL (P < 0.001 compared to pre-treatment, P < 0.001 between groups). Catestatin levels increased significantly more in the combined group (186.2 ± 22.3 pg/mL) than in the conventional group (177.5 ± 23.4 pg/mL, P = 0.001). Both MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels were significantly lower in the combined group post-treatment (MMP-2: 207.9 ± 21.6 ng/mL; MMP-9: 125.8 ± 21.3 ng/mL, P < 0.01) compared to the conventional group. TIMP-1 levels were higher in the combined group (126.9 ± 14.8 ng/mL) versus the conventional group (121.8 ± 13.4 ng/mL, P = 0.002). The total effective rate was higher in the combined group (90.5%) than the conventional group (72.4%, P < 0.001), with no significant difference in adverse reactions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Danshen Ligustrazine Injection as adjuvant therapy favorably modulates serum levels of salusin-α, catestatin, MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 in patients with primary hypertension, which appears to correlate with improved clinical outcomes without increasing adverse reactions.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial number: </strong>Not applicable.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"347"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12487125/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145205547","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors associated with acupuncture treatment use among middle-aged and older adults with low back pain in China.","authors":"Yifan Lei, Xinyu Xia, Xinyun Huang, Zhihua Jiao, Chunling Bao, Xiaopeng Ma","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05086-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12906-025-05086-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Acupuncture is used globally as an alternative treatment for patients with low back pain (LBP), effectively reducing pain and improving physical activity. However, the use and profile of acupuncture for LBP in middle-aged and older adults remains understudied. The aim of this study was to identify key factors associated with the use of acupuncture treatment in this population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) dataset, a cross-sectional analysis of 7,929 respondents aged 45 years and older with LBP was conducted. A two-way stepwise regression model was used to identify significant correlates of demographics, health status, and healthcare choice factors with acupuncture use, and multiple theory-driven interaction terms were introduced into the stepwise model and assessed for their enhancement of model fitting and predictive performance by likelihood ratio tests with AUC comparisons. In addition, stratified analyses by gender, age (45-59, 60-74, and ≥ 75 years), and residence were conducted to verify the stability of the model findings.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 7,929 respondents with LBP from the CHARLS 2018 dataset, 1,097 (13.8%) comprised the acupuncture group while 6,832 (86.2%) formed the non-acupuncture group. Significant correlates included females (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.09-1.49), pain distress level (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.32-1.78), massage (OR = 8.81, 95% CI: 7.53-10.32), herbal medicine (OR = 2.65, 95% CI. 95% CI: 2.28-3.09), western medications (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.65-2.24).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>LBP patients with certain characteristics tend to use complementary and alternative interventions, including acupuncture. In the future, it is necessary to combine the evaluation of efficacy and mechanism studies to clarify the optimal combination of multimodal treatment and the applicable population, in order to promote the use of acupuncture in the treatment of LBP.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"343"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12482195/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145198258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Therapeutic potential of Atractylodes lancea in restoring cardio-renal function in rats with diet-induced metabolic syndrome.","authors":"Yun Jeong Yang, Mi Hyeon Hong, Jung Joo Yoon, Ai Lin Tai, Ho Sub Lee, Sung Joo Park, Hye Yoom Kim, Dae Gill Kang","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05074-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12906-025-05074-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cardio-Renal Metabolic Syndrome (CRS) encompasses metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, chronic kidney disease, and heart failure. It is associated with obesity, systemic inflammation, and insulin resistance. Atractylodes lancea (AL), a traditional herbal remedy, has been previously reported to exhibit diuretic, sedative, antibacterial, and anticancer effects. However, the impact of AL on cardiovascular and renal functions within a metabolic syndrome (MS) model remains to be explored.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Metabolic syndrome was induced in rats through an 8-week high-fat, high-fructose diet. After induction, experimental groups were orally administered olmesartan (10 mg/kg/day) or Aqueous extract of Atractylodes lancea (AAL) at 100 or 200 mg/kg/day for an additional 8 weeks. Body weight, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, abdominal circumference, systolic blood pressure, and HDL-cholesterol levels were measured. Insulin levels and oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were conducted to evaluate insulin resistance. Cardiac function was assessed using echocardiography, and ejection fraction and fractional shortening were analyzed. Masson's trichrome and Picrosirius red staining were performed to evaluate fibrosis in the heart and aorta. Renal function was measured through creatinine clearance, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and electrolyte levels. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining was additionally performed to evaluate histological changes in the kidney.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Administration of AAL resulted in significant reductions in body weight, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, abdominal circumference, and systolic blood pressure, while HDL-cholesterol levels increased. AAL improved insulin resistance, as indicated by enhanced insulin levels and OGTT results. Echocardiography revealed improvements in ejection fraction and fractional shortening in AAL-treated groups compared to the MS group. Histological analysis showed that AAL reduced heart and aorta fibrosis, as well as attenuated kidney injury. Additionally, AAL improved renal function by enhancing creatinine clearance, reducing BUN levels, and stabilizing electrolyte balance.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The aqueous extract of Atractylodes lancea (AAL) effectively ameliorated cardiovascular and renal dysfunction in a rat model of metabolic syndrome model. These results suggest that AAL may have preventive and therapeutic potential for cardio-renal complications associated with MS. However, further investigation is needed to evaluate its suitability for diet-based interventions and evaluate its safety and pharmacological profile.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"338"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12482687/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145198320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of fennel extract on Anti-Müllerian Hormone and sonographic indices in infertile women with occult premature ovarian insufficiency: a randomized controlled clinical trial.","authors":"Maryam Banaei, Shirin Hasanpour, Reyhaneh Ivanbaga, Laya Farzadi, Sakineh Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi, Elnaz Shaseb, Elham Egbali, Vahideh Rahmani","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05078-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12906-025-05078-4","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"336"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12482802/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145198260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Herbal medicines and blood pressure control among hypertensive individuals across two of trinidad's regional health facilities.","authors":"A F Williams-Persad, G Carvalho, S Baboolal, A Brereton, K Chinemilly, M Premchand, R Ramdial, A Ramroop, P Richards, T Seepersad","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05080-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12906-025-05080-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Self-medication with herbal medicine (HM) to manage hypertension is an expanding trend worldwide. There is very little evidence to substantiate the motives for use in the control of blood pressure (BP). This study aims to ascertain the relationship between HM and antihypertensive treatment to manage hypertension across two regional health facilities in Trinidad.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional investigation surveyed hypertensive patients aged 35-64 from the North-Central and Eastern Regional Health facilities across Trinidad. Consent was obtained from 139 participants through convenience sampling. Data collection was obtained using a questionnaire designed and developed by the research team, included a self-reporting questions and patient medical records sections. Data was analysed using Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests for non-normally distributed variables, with statistical significance set at a 95% confidence interval.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>HM-users were either hypertensive stage 1 or 2 with no significant correlation between BMI and hypertensive stage (p-value = -0.053, p-value = 0.537). Garlic (Allium sativum L) (57%), most used as a tea, was taken daily 'to control BP'. The current systolic and diastolic blood pressures were not significantly different between HM-users and non-users. Among herbal medicine users, 15.7% achieved blood pressure control compared to 30.4% for non-users. Patients using herbal medicine (84.3%) were more likely to have uncontrolled blood pressure (p-value < 0.05), supported by a negative correlation (phi = -0.175) and an odds ratio (95% CI) of 0.426 (0.187-0.969). Patient non-concordance to conventional medication was found to be higher among HM-users identified by the negative association among patients with uncontrolled BP. However, there was no statistically significant difference in non-concordance between HM users (40%) and non-users (29.6%). Antihypertensives prescribed included calcium channel blockers (70.1%), ACE inhibitors (46.3%), and angiotensin-II receptor blockers (40.6%). The most used herb, A. sativum, was preferred for BP control, however, this study showed no significant changes in BP compared to non-users.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Patient medication concordance is imperative. Herb-drug interactions may be associated with the higher prevalence of patients at hypertensive stages 1 and 2 that are uncontrolled in this study.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"342"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12482603/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145198196","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Uncovering key anti-inflammatory constituents and mechanism of Wuwei Xiaodu Decoction by a combined strategy of phytochemistry, AIDD, network pharmacology, and in vitro and in vivo assay.","authors":"Binghui Li, Zhaoyin Zhou, Yong Zhang, Jing Zhu, Qiyuan Liu, Jing Ma, Zhangbin Gong, Zhijian Xu, Jingshan Shen, Weiliang Zhu, Jia Chen","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05072-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12906-025-05072-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Wuwei Xiaodu decoction (WXD), a renowned prescription in traditional Chinese medicine, is widely used to treat various skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis. However, the bioactive constituents and anti-inflammatory mechanisms remain unclear.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The study was designed to investigate the most important bioactive components and the anti-inflammatory molecular mechanisms of WXD that have not been fully elucidated.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The mixed herbs of WXD were extracted by different solvents, including ethyl-acetate (EA) and petroleum-ether (PE). HPLC/LC-MS and GC-MS were performed to identify the chemical composition of WXD-EA and WXD-PE, respectively. The RAW264.7 cell line was used to assess the inflammatory responses, while CCK8 assay was employed to assess the cytotoxicity. Nitric oxide (NO) levels were quantified using the Griess assay. The protein expression levels were evaluated by western blot analysis. Nuclear translocation of p-STAT3 were analyzed by immunofluorescence and western blot. The targets and pathways were predicted by open-source databases. 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced BALB/c mice was utilized for evaluating inflammatory responses. H&E staining was performed to assess the histopathological changes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The best anti-inflammatory active fractions of WXD were found to be WXD-PE and WXD-EA.123 compounds from WXD-PE and 7 representative compounds with high content from WXD-EA were successfully identified. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity studies confirmed that both WXD-PE and WXD-EA can significantly inhibit the production of NO, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, leading to a downregulation of COX-2 and iNOS expression, as well as a reduction in the phosphorylation levels of ERK, p38, and JNK proteins. Notably, the nuclear expression levels of phosphorylated STAT3 were significantly downregulated. Additionally, WXD-H2O and WXD-EA significantly alleviated DNCB-induced acanthosis, lymphocyte and neutrophil infiltration, and collagen over-deposition in the skin of BALB/c mice.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>WXD-PE and WXD-EA, are identified as the most potent anti-inflammatory constituents of WXD as these fractions can effectively inhibit the MAPK signaling pathway and prevent the nuclear translocation of phosphorylated STAT3 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. They also showed significant anti-inflammatory activity in the DNCB-induced inflammatory mouse model.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"344"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12482766/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145198333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Drug counseling for herbal medicines: patients' perspectives on the professional performance of pharmacists in urban pharmacies.","authors":"Mohammad Javad Khoshnoud, Afsaneh Hajian, Omid Asemani","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05079-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12906-025-05079-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The misuse of medications, including herbal medicines, is a significant public health concern. Providing effective drug counseling in pharmacies can play a crucial role in promoting the appropriate use of herbal medicines.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aims to explore patients' perspectives on herbal medicine products and the quality of drug counseling they receive during their visits to urban pharmacies in Shiraz, IR Iran.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This mixed-method study was conducted in two phases in 2021: an initial qualitative (exploratory) phase (Phase I), followed by a descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional phase using a researcher-developed questionnaire (Phase II). A total of 204 participants were selected through convenient cluster sampling. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 21.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 204 participants, 65.7% had purchased herbal medicines without a prescription, and 75.5% had never contacted a pharmacy for herbal counseling. While 71.6% were willing to recommend herbal products to others, only 24.5% had received guidance from pharmacists. Herbal products were commonly perceived as more affordable and safer than synthetic drugs, though counseling was inconsistent. Qualitative analysis identified key challenges, including public misconceptions about safety, frequent self-medication, limited pharmacist training, outdated academic content, and lack of reliable information sources. However, opportunities such as growing public demand, positive pharmacist attitudes, and cultural acceptance were also reported.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Despite increasing use of herbal medicines, gaps remain in public awareness and pharmacy counseling services. Targeted educational interventions are needed to improve pharmacists' knowledge and communication skills. Enhancing access to validated drug information and integrating personalized counseling approaches could promote safer and more rational use of herbal therapies in community settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"335"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12482764/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145198078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}