Efficacy and Safety of Sophora flavescens (Kushen) Based Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis: Clinical Evidence and Potential Mechanisms

Chen M, Ding Y, Tong Z · Frontiers in Pharmacology · 2020 December 10

DOI 10.3389/fphar.2020.603476

Objective

To investigate the clinical efficacy and potential mechanisms of Kushen-based Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulations in treating ulcerative colitis (UC) with damp-heat accumulation syndrome (DHAS).

Conclusions

Kushen-based TCM formulations demonstrate higher clinical remission rates and lower incidence of adverse events in the treatment of UC with DHAS, likely involving key components and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

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Insights

Kushen-based traditional Chinese medicine formulations show considerable potential and effectiveness in treating ulcerative colitis with meaningful improvement in clinical remission rate.

In the study, researchers sourced multiple databases, specifically PubMed, EMBASE, Chinese Biomedical Literature database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure database, Chongqing VIP Information database, and Wanfang database, to find articles published from January 2000 to July 2020. These articles focused on randomized controlled trials using Kushen-based traditional Chinese medicine formulations for ulcerative colitis treatment. Additionally, they utilized a network pharmacology approach to discern the potential pathways of Kushen's influence against ulcerative colitis. Regarding the results, eight randomized controlled trials encompassing a total of 983 subjects were analyzed. When compared to subjects treated with standard therapy, patients who underwent treatment with Kushen-based formulations showed an increased clinical remission rate alongside a decreased incidence of adverse events. A detailed component-target-pathway network associated with Kushen treatment against ulcerative colitis was established. This highlighted five primary components, three primary targets, and one crucial therapeutic pathway.