Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40221743›Full record

ArticleBMC complementary medicine and therapies2025

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.

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

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Gut Microbiota-Driven Pathways Linking Chronic Stress to Tumor Progression.International journal of biological sciences · 2026
    Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Wang Yao *Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
Dong-Ming Hua *Department of Medical Oncology, Pudong New Area, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 528, Zhangheng Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai, 201203, China.
Ying-Ru ZhangDepartment of Medical Oncology, Pudong New Area, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 528, Zhangheng Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai, 201203, China.
Yi-Yang ZhaoDepartment of Medical Oncology, Pudong New Area, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 528, Zhangheng Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai, 201203, China.
Ying FengAcademy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
Zhao-Zhou ZhangAcademy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
Zhong-Ya NiDepartment of Medical Oncology, Pudong New Area, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 528, Zhangheng Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai, 201203, China.
Hai-Dong GuoAcademy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
Yun-Feng GuanDepartment of Medical Oncology, Pudong New Area, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 528, Zhangheng Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai, 201203, China. gyf608@163.com.
Yan WangDepartment of Medical Oncology, Pudong New Area, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 528, Zhangheng Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai, 201203, China. yanwang@shutcm.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChronic 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.

methodsOur 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.

resultsXCHT 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

conclusionsXCHT 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.

Indexed as

Colorectal NeoplasmsDrugs, Chinese HerbalStress, PsychologicalAnimalsCell Line, TumorDisease Models, AnimalHumansMaleMedicine, Chinese TraditionalMiceMice, Inbred BALB CNetwork PharmacologySequence Analysis, RNADrugs, Chinese HerbalChronic stressColorectal cancerGlycolysisIL-6/JAK2/STAT3Network pharmacologyXiao-Chai-Hu-Tang

Identifiers

PMID40221743
PMCPMC11992767

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.