Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42158951›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in pharmacology2026

Sinomenine ameliorates rheumatoid arthritis in rodent models: a systematic review and meta-analysis of anti-inflammatory and joint-protective effects.

Ge Li, Yu-Chen Zheng, Rong He, Jin-Liang Gao

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in pharmacology, 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

4 authors.

Ge LiCollege of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China.
Yu-Chen ZhengCollege of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China.
Rong HeCollege of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China.
Jin-Liang GaoDepartment of Rheumatology, Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesize preclinical evidence to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of sinomenine in rodent models of rheumatoid arthritis, and integrate current understanding of its potential mechanisms. This study aims to provide preclinical evidence and mechanistic insights to guide the clinical development of sinomenine for rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: Through the systematic search of 4 English and 4 Chinese databases up to November 2025, qualified studies were identified, and a total of 38 animal studies were finally included. The quality of the literature was evaluated using the bias risk assessment tool of SYRCLE, and meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4 and Stata 18. The main evaluation indicators included clinical joint manifestations (arthritis index, paw volume), anti-inflammatory indicators (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10), and joint-protective indicators (Histological score, MMP-9, RANKL, OPG). Results: The meta-analysis demonstrated that sinomenine significantly improved arthritis index and reduced paw volume. The anti-inflammatory results indicated that the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were significantly decreased, while the level of IL-10 was increased. Regarding joint protective indicators, sinomenine markedly lowered the histological score and MMP-9 levels, increased OPG levels, but showed no significant effect on RANKL levels. Subgroup analysis identified a differential dose-response, with high-dose sinomenine more consistently improving clinical and inflammatory outcomes, and the low-dose group showed relative advantages in modulating joint-protective indices. Short-term intervention demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing inflammation and providing joint protection. Intraperitoneal injection provided the most robust and reproducible efficacy profile. Sensitivity analysis showed robust results, while funnel plots revealed publication bias. Conclusion: Sinomenine alleviates systemic inflammation conditions and joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis rodents through its dual mechanisms of anti-inflammatory (inhibiting pro-inflammatory factors and promoting anti-inflammatory factors) and joint-protective (inhibiting tissue degradation and regulating bone metabolism). However, the results should be interpreted with caution due to species differences and potential publication bias. Future high-quality clinical trials are needed to verify the clinical value of sinomenine. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251181300, identifier PROSPERO 2025 CRD420251181300.

Indexed as

anti-inflammatoryjoint-protectivemeta-analysisrheumatoid arthritissinomenine

Identifiers

PMID42158951
PMCPMC13180913

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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.