Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40783939›Full record

ArticlePharmaceutical biology2025

Uncovering the mechanistic basis of

Wenjing He, Zhen Wei, Siwei Li, Songji Han, Jing Ma, Lei Wu, Dan Lu, Guang Ta

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pharmaceutical biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing 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

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
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

8 authors.

Wenjing HeMedical Intensive Care Unit, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Jilin, China.
Zhen WeiMedical Intensive Care Unit, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Jilin, China.
Siwei LiDepartment of Emergency Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Jilin, China.
Songji HanDepartment of Encephalopathy Rehabilitation, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Jilin, China.
Jing MaDepartment of Encephalopathy Rehabilitation, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Jilin, China.
Lei WuDepartment of Encephalopathy Rehabilitation, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Jilin, China.
Dan LuDepartment of Nephrology, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Jilin, China.
Guang TaDepartment of Encephalopathy Rehabilitation, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Jilin, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

context

objectiveThis study investigates rhubarb's therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms in CKD. MATERIALS AND

methodsHigh-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) established a rhubarb fingerprint to ensure quality control. Network pharmacology and Mendelian randomization identified primary CKD therapeutic targets. Inflammation, oxidative stress, and renal performance were assessed through ELISAs and biochemical tests. Renal structure and fibrosis were examined using hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining. Protein expression related to fibrosis, apoptosis, and NF-κB pathway activity was measured

resultsHPLC fingerprinting confirmed high batch-to-batch consistency of rhubarb, identifying five key anthraquinones (aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol, physcion) with similarity indices >0.91. Network pharmacology identified 19 active compounds targeting 2,597 CKD-related proteins, with 47 overlapping targets including IL6, TNF, TP53, CASP3, and IL1B as core nodes. MR analysis demonstrated a statistically significant causal association between TNF and CKD (OR = 1.02,

conclusionRhubarb significantly reduces renal impairment, fibrosis, inflammation, and apoptosis through the NF-κB pathway, supporting its traditional use and potential as an adjunct therapy for CKD.

Indexed as

Plant ExtractsRenal Insufficiency, ChronicRheumAnimalsAnthraquinonesApoptosisChromatography, High Pressure LiquidDisease Models, AnimalKidneyMaleMolecular Docking SimulationNetwork PharmacologyOxidative StressRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyAnthraquinonesPlant Extractschronic kidney diseaseMendelian randomizationnetwork pharmacologyNF-κB signaling pathwayRhubarb

Identifiers

PMID40783939
PMCPMC12337733

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.