SynthesisFrontiers in pharmacology2025
Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine for multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in Frontiers in pharmacology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- cGAS-STING as a Neuroimmune Traffic Molecule: Unraveling Pathogenic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential in Neurological Disorders.Journal of neuroimmune pharmacology : the official journal of the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology · 2026Review
- T cell-targeted immunotherapies for multiple sclerosis: molecular mechanisms to therapeutic perspectives from Traditional Chinese medicine.Acta pharmacologica Sinica · 2026Article
- Adjunctive Non-Disease-Modifying Therapies in Multiple Sclerosis: Immunometabolic, Neuroprotective and Remyelination-Oriented Approaches.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- T cell-mediated immunodysregulation in multiple sclerosis: from pathogenic subsets to therapeutic advances.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
- Modulatory effects of traditional Chinese medicine and derived active metabolites on autoimmune-inflammatory signaling pathways in multiple sclerosis: a narrative review.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an incurable, chronic, disabling disease that primarily affects young adults. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is increasingly recognized as a major form of complementary and alternative medicine; however, there is a limited number of systematic analyses regarding its therapeutic effects on MS. Aim of the study: This study aimed to evaluate whether CHM, when used alongside conventional treatment, offers additional therapeutic benefits for patients with MS, focusing on clinical efficacy and safety. Materials and methods: We searched eight databases from their inception until July 2025 to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving CHM therapy for MS. Key outcomes assessed included the expanded disability status scale (EDSS), annual relapse rate (ARR), neurological signs scores, clinical symptoms scores, and modified fatigue impact scale (MFIS). The risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Handbook for systematic reviews, while quantitative synthesis was performed with RevMan (version 5.4.1) and Stata (version 18.0) software. This review has been registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews database (Registration No. CRD42024605890). Results: This systematic review and meta-analysis included 28 RCTs involving a total of 1,971 participants. The combination of CHM and conventional therapy was superior to conventional therapy alone for individuals with MS. This was evidenced by a decrease in the EDSS (mean difference (MD) = -0.65; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.96, -0.35; Conclusion: Although the methodological quality of the included RCTs was relatively suboptimal, CHM therapy combined with conventional therapy manifests a promising effectiveness and safety for managing MS. Therefore, well-designed clinical studies are necessary to provide high-quality evidence. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024605890, identifer CRD42024605890.
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