Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41884478›Full record

ReviewDrug design, development and therapy2026

Research Progress on the Application and Mechanisms of Baihe Dihuang Decoction in Major Depressive Disorder.

Longlong Yang, Yilong Wang, Hejia Wan, Hao Feng, Yi Liu, Guimin Xue, Yanle Zhi, Fengjiao Zhang, Yongsheng Liu, Zhiqiang Zhang

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Drug design, development and therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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.

Longlong Yang *School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.
Yilong Wang *School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.
Hejia Wan *School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0009-0003-3900-1967
Hao Feng *School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.
Yi LiuSchool of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.
Guimin XueSchool of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.
Yanle ZhiSchool of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.
Fengjiao ZhangSchool of Food Science, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.
Yongsheng LiuMedical Examination Center, Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (The Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine), Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.
Zhiqiang ZhangSchool of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0000-0002-7729-1104

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: The treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) is often plagued by inadequate therapeutic efficacy, high relapse rates, and adverse drug effects. Baihe Dihuang Decoction (BHDH, Lily Bulb and Rehmannia Decoction), a classic Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula, shows promise for depression, but a comprehensive synthesis of modern evidence is warranted. This study aimed to review the clinical efficacy, pharmacological mechanisms, and safety profile of BDD for MDD to inform its clinical application and guide future research. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in both English (PubMed, Web of Science) and Chinese (CNKI, Wanfang) databases from inception to June 2025. For clinical evidence, the search focused on "Baihe Dihuang Decoction", "major depressive disorder/depression", and "randomized controlled trial". Supplementary searches using terms like "chemical constituents" and "pharmacological action" were performed for mechanistic studies. Relevant literature was subsequently summarized and analyzed. Results: Current evidence suggests that BHDH, as an adjunct to conventional antidepressants, can improve the overall clinical response rate, reduce Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores, and potentially alleviate adverse reactions. Its active constituents may exert antidepressant effects via multiple pathways, including monoaminergic neurotransmission modulation, neuroinflammation inhibition, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation, hippocampal neuron protection, and gut microbiota modulation. However, its efficacy as a monotherapy and long-term safety profile require further validation through high-quality clinical trials. Conclusion: BHDH possesses a multi-target pharmacological basis for antidepressant activity. Existing clinical evidence supports its effectiveness and relative safety as an adjunctive therapy for MDD. To better define its clinical role and advance TCM modernization, future research should prioritize rigorous randomized controlled trials, elucidate its formula compatibility mechanisms, and identify its key bioactive components.

Indexed as

Antidepressive AgentsDrugs, Chinese HerbalMajor Depressive DisorderAnimalsHumansMedicine, Chinese TraditionalAntidepressive AgentsDrugs, Chinese HerbalBaihe Dihuang decoctionchemical compositionhistory of developmentmajor depressive disordermechanism of action

Identifiers

PMID41884478
PMCPMC13012543

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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.