Role of Medicinal Plants for Liver‐Qi Regulation Adjuvant Therapy in Post‐stroke Depression: A Systematic Review of Literature

• Published in: Phytotherapy research 2017-01, Vol.31 (1), p.40-52
• Main Authors: Zeng, Ling‐Feng, Cao, Ye, Wang, Lu, Dai, Yun‐Kai, Hu, Ling, Wang, Qi, Zhu, Li‐Ting, Bao, Wen‐Hu, Zou, Yuan‐Ping, Chen, Yun‐Bo, Xu, Wei‐Hua, Liang, Wei‐Xiong, Wang, Ning‐Sheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adjuvant therapy; Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use; Depression - drug therapy; Depressive Disorder - drug therapy; Humans; Liver - pathology; meta‐analysis; MPLR; Plants, Medicinal - drug effects; post‐stroke depression; Quality of Life; Stroke - complications; Stroke - drug therapy; systematic review
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5740

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