BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies最新文献

{"title":"Unveiling the therapeutic potential of HZQYF: exploring the inhibitory impact of a clinical herbal formula on gastric cancer through network pharmacology and transcript analysis.","authors":"Zhong Feng, Ling Ou, Hui Li, Yajie Hao, Ruixia Wei, Guimin Zhang, Meicun Yao","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-04871-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04871-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hezi Qingyou Formula (HZQYF) is a clinical formulation known for its efficacy in treating gastrointestinal diseases. Nevertheless, its specific impact and underlying mechanism of action in gastric cancer remain to be fully elucidated. The major components of the formula were precisely identified and characterized using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a tandem mass spectrometer (UHPLC-MS/MS). Network pharmacology and transcript analysis were utilized to identify the targets associated with drug-disease interactions. Subsequently, Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Reactome analyses were conducted to unravel the pivotal pathways involved. Furthermore, in vitro experiments were performed to validate the anti-gastric cancer activity of HZQYF, including assessments of cell viability and clonogenic potential. These results revealed that 260 co-expressed targets were identified as shared between HZQYF and gastric cancer. These genes were significantly enriched in biological processes and pathways related to steroid metabolism, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-A receptor complex, steroid binding activity, extracellular ligand-gated ion channel activity, chemical carcinogenesis-reactive oxygen species, and GABAergic synapse. Furthermore, the principal components of the formula were characterized. Subsequent cell experiments confirmed the formula's ability to inhibit gastric cancer activity and suppress colony formation in vitro. In conclusion, these findings suggest that Hezi Qingyou Formula may exert its anti-gastric cancer activity by influencing reactive oxygen species and modulating GABAergic synapses in-silico methods. This study provides a foundation for further exploration of HZQYF as a potential therapeutic agent for gastric cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"142"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12004866/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143964341","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":"Effectiveness of qigong and Tai Chi for quality of life in patients with cancer: an umbrella review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Jing Xu, Hong Li, Daniel Man-Yuen Sze, Vincent Wan Shing Chan, Angela Wei Hong Yang","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-04875-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04875-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Qigong and Tai Chi (QTC) have been adopted by cancer patients as the complementary treatment to their conventional care. This umbrella review aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of QTC in cancer patients' quality of life (QoL) and its safety.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty-five databases were searched from their respective inception to March 2025. Systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing cancer patients' QoL after practicing QTC were included. The search strategy included Qigong, Tai Chi, quality of life, cancer, systematic review, and meta analysis. The extracted data was analyzed using standardized mean difference, mean difference, or odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Nine SRs were included in the qualitative analysis, and six of the SRs were included for the meta-analyses. Results showed that QTC may improve cancer patients' overall QoL, physiological scores (physical functioning, fatigue, and sleep quality), psychological scores (mental health and anxiety), and immunity, compared to the control groups. However, meta-analyses did not demonstrate significant differences in subgroup analyses of depression, although it showed that QTC may reduce depression in cancer patients. No serious adverse events of QTC were reported.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>QTC can be considered a safe intervention method for improving QoL in patients with cancer. Due to substantial heterogeneity, more rigorously-designed RCTs on QTC for cancer patients should be conducted, focusing on standardizing QTC practices and QoL instruments to assess QTC effects.</p><p><strong>Prospero registration number: </strong>CRD42021253216.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"141"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12004731/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143974237","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":"Diabetes, lowered mental health functioning and the use of conventional and complementary medicine: results from a secondary analysis of the complementary medicine use, health literacy and disclosure (CAMUHLD) study.","authors":"Tracey Oorschot, Jon Adams, David Sibbritt","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-04876-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04876-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Diabetes Mellitus is often a long-term health condition that continues to raise concerns regarding the burden upon an individual's mental health, due to the commitment required for day-to-day self-care. People living with diabetes frequently use complementary medicine as part of their diabetes self-care to manage their mental health and this raises a number of significant risk management issues. Unfortunately, no research has explored the influence of lowered mental health functioning upon both the conventional and complementary medicine health service use amongst people living with diabetes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An examination of the conventional and complementary medicine health service use amongst men and women living with diabetes and normative or lowered mental health functioning, was undertaken by completing a secondary analysis of the Complementary Medicine Use, Health Literacy and Disclosure study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 176 participants reporting a diabetes diagnosis, 74% reported lowered mental health functioning, compared to 60% without a diabetes diagnosis. Compared to people living with diabetes and normative mental health functioning, those with lowered mental health functioning were 9 times more likely to consult with a Western herbalist (OR = 9.17, 95% CI: 1.097-76.84), twice as likely to use vitamins or minerals (OR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.061-5.151), and 5 times more likely to engage in relaxation or meditation practice (OR = 5.10, 95% CI: 1.362-19.129).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>People living with diabetes who have lowered mental health functioning appear even more likely to use complementary medicine than conventional medicine, than those with normative mental health functioning. This reinforces the need to resolve clinical governance issues associated with complementary medicine use, especially what role complementary medicine practitioners can fulfil as part of coordinated diabetes care teams, to support patient health and well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"140"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12004669/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143954275","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":"Refining a hybrid music therapy intervention for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure: a single arm pilot study.","authors":"Haitong Yu, Angelique Foss, Tracy L Segall, Seneca Block, Kayleigh Risser, Rab Razzak, Michael Zacharias, Catalina V Teba, Samuel N Rodgers-Melnick","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-04887-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04887-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure (HF) pose significant challenges to patients and the health systems that care for them. Music therapy has the potential to address these challenges, but its impact on readmission rates and quality of life remains largely underexplored. This study evaluated the feasibility, fidelity, and acceptability of a hybrid music therapy intervention as a precursor to a randomized controlled trial (RCT).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using a single-arm, mixed-methods approach, inpatients aged 30 - 89 with COPD or HF and access to home videoconferencing technology, a mobile device with a data plan, and a reliable support person were recruited during their hospitalizations. Patients with significant hearing/visual impairments, severe psychological comorbidities, terminal medical conditions, stage IV HF, or end-stage COPD were excluded. The intervention included 2 inpatient in-person sessions and 2 virtual sessions following discharge. Feasibility was assessed by rates of recruitment, retention, session attendance, and measure completion. Fidelity was evaluated by adherence to the session protocol, while acceptability was assessed through semi-structured interviews with randomly selected participants.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 113 patients approached, 20 (17.7%) were enrolled, and 85% were retained. Median participant age was 61.5 years, with 80% having HF and participants having high rates of anxiety (50%) and depression (35%). Overall session attendance was 57.5%, with higher rates for in-person (75%) compared to virtual sessions (40%). Adherence to the intervention protocol was > 80% across all monitored sessions. Challenges with the trial included difficulty reaching participants following discharge, frequent virtual session rescheduling, and participants' challenges using technology. Semi-structured interviews supported the acceptability of the intervention with three emerging themes (1) the therapeutic relationship facilitated a positive intervention experience, (2) need for strategies to improve post-discharge engagement in the intervention, and (3) impacts on mental health.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Findings support the feasibility of hybrid music therapy among patients with COPD or HF. However, challenges in post-discharge communication and virtual session attendance were noted. These issues will be addressed in a subsequent feasibility RCT through implementing secure text-based communication in addition to phone communication to reach participants post-discharge, refined eligibility criteria (e.g., excluding patients on dialysis), and in-person technology instruction.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06214325. Registered on January 9, 2024.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"139"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11995564/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143958517","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":"Are alterations needed in Silybum marianum (Silymarin) administration practices? A novel outlook and meta-analysis on randomized trials targeting liver injury.","authors":"Kasra Shahsavari, Shireen Shams Ardekani, Mohammad Reza Shams Ardekani, Majid Mokaber Esfahani, Hossein Kazemizadeh, Tannaz Jamialahmadi, Mehrdad Iranshahi, Mahnaz Khanavi, Maede Hasanpour","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-04886-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04886-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>It is widely believed that Silybum marianum (Silymarin) alleviates liver injury arising from various etiologies with different degrees of damage through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. This meta-analysis investigated the effects of silymarin administration on serum levels of liver enzymes including AST, ALT and ALP. From inception to November, 2023, a comprehensive literature search was conducted. Inclusion criteria for this study were randomized trials that provided sufficient data for each group at the beginning and end of the follow-up period. Ultimately, 55 studies with a total of 3545 patients were included. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) V4 software was used for meta-analysis. Begg's funnel plot symmetry status, Begg's rank correlation, and Egger's weighted regression tests were used to examine potential publication bias. According to the findings of this meta-analysis silymarin administration showed a significant reduction in AST (SMD [95% CI]: - 0.670 [- 0.931, - 0.408], p-value = 0.000), and ALT (SMD [95% CI]: - 0.912 [- 1.177, - 0.646], p-value = 0.000) levels. While it had no statistically significant effect on ALP level (SMD [95% CI]: - 0.236 [- 1.929, 1.458], p-value = 0.159). Meta-regression analysis showed that there is no significant association between dose, age, BMI, treatment duration and hepatoprotective effects of silymarin. In subgroup analysis, a greater reduction in liver enzymes levels was observed in patients under 50 years old. The subgroup analysis was also showed significant decrease in AST and ALT levels for patients with BMI less than 30, while silymarin treatment had no significant effects on AST and ALT levels in patients with BMI ≥ 30. Silymarin at a dose of less than 400 mg and treatment duration ≤ 2 months showed greater decreasing effects on AST and ALT levels compared to its high doses and longer treatment duration. AST and ALT levels significantly decreased in patients with NAFLD and viral hepatitis, while it had no significant hepatoprotective effects in patients with drugs induced liver injury and alcohol-related liver disease. Modifying the dose and treatment duration with silymarin is recommended in patients with various causes of liver damage.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"134"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11992775/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143961546","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":"Protective effect of the hydroethanolic extract of camelthorn (Alhagi maurorum) on benign prostatic hyperplasia induced by testosterone in rats.","authors":"Fatemeh Hoseinpour, Mohammad Hashemnia, Hadi Cheraghi, Mohammad Mohsen Salari Asl, Farshad Zare, Iman Ahmadi Zanjani","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-04862-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04862-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>One of the Iranian medicinal plants is Alhagi maurorum, which belongs to the Fabaceae family. The plant is used to treat different conditions, such as aphthous ulcers, cardiac pains, hemorrhoids, kidney stones, dysuria, etc. Given that A. maurorum is characterized by its richness in flavonoids and phenolic compounds, and it is used to treat urinary tract disorders, this study aimed to investigate the protective effects of its hydroethanolic extract in a rat model of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>After preparing the hydroethanolic extract, phytochemical analysis, including GC-MS, was conducted. Adult male Wistar rats (n:35) were randomly divided into five groups (n:7): A sham surgery was conducted on the first group, while the other four groups underwent castration through the scrotal route. Seven days after the surgery, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was induced in all groups except the first one, using a subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate at a dosage of 10 mg/kg/day. The treatment duration lasted 28 days, during which the animals received oral treatments as follows: 1. Sham control: normal saline, 2. Positive control (BPH group): normal saline, 3. Comparative control: finasteride at 5 mg/kg/day, 4. T1 group: A. maurorum extract at 200 mg/kg/day, and 5. T2 group: A. maurorum extract at 400 mg/kg/day. At the end of the experiment, following an overnight fast and after administering anesthesia with ketamine and xylazine, blood was collected through cardiac puncture, and sera were harvested for hormone assay. Finally after euthanizing the rats, the ventral prostatic lobes were dissected for biochemical, histopathological, and gene expression analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>GC-MS analysis showed the presence of nine components. A. maurorum extract and/or Finasteride led to a significant reduction of the prostate weight and prostatic index, serum, and prostatic levels of testosterone. These compounds led to the downregulation of 5-α reductase and androgen receptor genes expression, boosted total antioxidant capacity, and declined prostatic malondialdehyde levels. Intervention using the extract, comparable to Finasteride, led to BPH-induced histopathological enhancements in the prostate.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Treatment using A. maurorum extract resulted in significant protection of the prostate against BPH, which is attributable to its antioxidant and androgen-modulating characteristics.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"136"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11992843/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143961653","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 potential of novel gut microbiota supplement in mitigating gut inflammation, alleviating oxidative stress linked to aging, and improving cognitive function in aged mice.","authors":"Kaikwa Wuttisa, Pol Sookpotarom, Benjamaporn Poopan, Chantanapa Chantarangkul, Praewpannarai Jamjuree, Jirapat Namkeaw, Thiranut Jaroonwitchawan, Malai Taweechotipatr","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-04881-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04881-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Aging is a physiological process that impacts multiple systems of organs. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly, and it is a major problem in aging societies. The development of AD is linked to an accumulation of amyloid beta and Tau proteins, which impair cognition and cause memory loss.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>We studied whether probiotics strains could protect and how effectively probiotics might delay age-related changes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Two probiotics, Lactobacillus paracasei MSMC39-1 and Bifidobacterium animalis MSMC83 strain, were administered orally to mice beginning in middle age and continuing into aged mice. The mice were subsequently monitored and assessed for inflammation and oxidative stress in the colon, brain, and liver tissues, as well as for overall health, over a period of 16 weeks.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found aged mice received the combination of these probiotics showed a lower level of inflammatory markers and improved overall health compared to the control group. MSMC39-1 and MSMC83 enhance gut integrity and general well-being in aged mice and result in improved cognitive memory.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings suggest that these probiotics supplements may be particularly useful in strategies for the prevention of age-related pathologies by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, which in turn would slow disease progression.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial number: </strong>Not applicable.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"137"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11992705/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143974242","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":"Quorum sensing inhibition by South African medicinal plants species: an in vitro and an untargeted metabolomics study.","authors":"Phanankosi Moyo, Olusola Bodede, Madelien Wooding, Ibukun M Famuyide, Fikile N Makhubu, Ndivhuwo K Khorommbi, Michael Ofori, Cynthia A Danquah, Lyndy J McGaw, Vinesh J Maharaj","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-04880-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04880-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is imperiling global health, hence, the need to remedy this challenge by discovering new therapeutic strategies and agents. Quorum sensing inhibition (QSI) is opined as a potential novel strategic approach in the fight against AMR by abrogation of bacterial virulence and pathogenicity. Currently, there are no clinically approved QSI drugs. Based on this, this study evaluated the QSI properties of South African plant species.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty-nine extracts and their corresponding 203 fractions generated using solid phase extraction were screened for QSI activity in vitro against Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472. Active and inactive fractions of the most potent plant species were analysed using UPLC-HRMS. The acquired mass spectral data was subjected to chemometric analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From the QSI assays, three plant species showed remarkable QSI activity, measured by dose-dependent inhibition of violacein production (IVP), at sublethal concentrations. Terminalia phanerophlebia emerged as the most active species, with the extract and five of its fractions showing good activity in IVP (IVP IC₅₀ ≤ 0.1 mg/mL). This was closely followed by Momordica cardiospermoides whose crude extract and two of its corresponding fractions showed good activity (IVP IC₅₀ ≤ 0.1 mg/mL). Three fractions of Helichrysum odoratissimum also had good activity (IVP IC₅₀ ≤ 0.1 mg/mL) marking it one of the most potent selected species. Chemometric analysis identified five compounds including olivetol and hydroxytyrosol as chemical markers positively associated with the QSI activity of T. phanerophlebia.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In conclusion, the findings of our study provided insight into the QSI properties of South African plant species. Further studies will focus on the isolation of the putative active compounds and the in vitro evaluation of their QSI activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"138"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11994000/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143971686","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":"Molecular mechanisms of the Xiao-chai-hu-tang on chronic stress-induced colorectal cancer growth based on an integrated network pharmacology and RNA sequencing approach with experimental validation.","authors":"Wang Yao, Dong-Ming Hua, Ying-Ru Zhang, Yi-Yang Zhao, Ying Feng, Zhao-Zhou Zhang, Zhong-Ya Ni, Hai-Dong Guo, Yun-Feng Guan, Yan Wang","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-04860-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04860-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic stress is a risk factor for the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Xiao-chai-hu-tang (XCHT) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription and has been widely used to treat chronic stress-related diseases and cancer. However, its role in chronic stress-induced CRC remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Our study aimed to investigate the roles of XCHT in CRC development under chronic stress. A xenografted CRC mouse model subjected to chronic restraint stress (CRS) was utilized to determine the effects of XCHT on CRC growth in vitro and in vivo. XCHT was administered via oral gavage once daily at dosages of 10.27 g/kg and 20.54 g/kg. RNA-sequencing was combined with network pharmacology to investigate potential target and pathway in this study. ELISA, RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence were performed to detect the expression of inflammation related genes. Glycolysis related genes and phenotype were evaluated by western blot, RT-qPCR and seahorse.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>XCHT significantly alleviated depression-like behaviors in CRS mice (p < 0.05) and effectively reduced tumor size and weight in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.01). Mechanistic studies revealed that XCHT inhibited the CRS-induced upregulation of IL-6, attenuated the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway (p < 0.05), and suppressed glycolysis by downregulating glycolytic enzymes (p < 0.01). Additionally, XCHT treatment reversed the CRS-induced decrease in immune cell infiltration, including CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, and reduced F4/80⁺ macrophage levels.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>XCHT could reverse the tumor energy metabolism reprogramming and improve the inflammatory microenvironment in CRC under chronic stress through the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Therefore, XCHT might represent a promising therapeutic strategy for suppressing psychologically associated CRC progression.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"135"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11992767/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143954281","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":"Effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy in improving health indicators in obese patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs.","authors":"Wenjuan Sun, Zexiang Zhuang, Li Yang, Jie Zhou, Linan Zhang, Junhua Yuan","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-04874-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04874-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This meta-analysis is aimed to verify the effectiveness and safety of Photobiomodulation (PBM) on body measurements, metabolic indicators, and inflammation indicators in obese patients across randomized controlled trials with various comparators.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>From the inception of databases to January 5, 2025, we conducted a comprehensive literature search across PubMed, OVID, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, LILACS, Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP), Wanfang and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Two reviewers independently performed the search, extracted data, and assessed study quality based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data analysis was carried out using Review Manager 5.4 software. The reporting and quality assessment of this review study was guided by the PRISMA and AMSTAR.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eleven RCTs with a total of 569 patients were included in meta-analysis. The pooled data revealed that PBM demonstrated significantly improvements in body anthropometric measurements, such as waistline [MD = - 7.28, 95% CI (- 9.97 to - 5.67), p < 0.00001], weight [MD = - 3.54, 95% CI (- 5.97 to - 1.11), p < 0.00001], BMI [MD = - 1.18, 95% CI (- 1.93 to - 0.43), p = 0.002]. PBM also showed potential in the reduction of CRP [MD = - 0.99, 95% CI (- 1.17 to - 0.82), p < 0.00001], as well as in TC, and HOMA-IR, which is [MD = - 23.01, 95% CI (- 31.68 to - 14.35), p < 0.00001] and [MD = - 0.46, 95% CI (- 0.73 to - 0.20), p = 0.0007] respectively. No significant differences were found in reducing WHR [MD = - 0.05, 95% CI (- 0.1 to 0.00), p = 0.05], fat mass percentage [MD = - 0.28, 95% CI (- 1.25 to 0.69), p = 0.57] and insulin [MD = - 1.98, 95% CI (- 4.20 to 0.23), p = 0.08].</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results of our study suggest that PBM may offer potential benefits for treating obesity, showing some improvements in key indicators such as BMI, weight, waist circumference, CRP, TC, and HOMA-IR compared to exercise, dietary changes, and sham PBM. However, further theoretical exploration of PBM is needed, and multi-center, large-scale trials with longer follow-up durations and demographic range are necessary to confirm and validate the findings of our study. REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42024532988.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"133"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11992763/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143973840","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}