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Chinese medicinal herbs for chronic hepatitis B
1Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group, Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, Copenhagen University Hospital, Dept. 7701, H:S Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen, Denmark, DK-2100. Jianping l@hotmail.com
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|May 2, 2001
Summary
Some traditional Chinese medicinal herbs show promise for treating chronic hepatitis B infection. However, current evidence is limited, necessitating more rigorous trials to confirm efficacy and safety of these herbal treatments.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Virology
Background:
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses a significant global health challenge.
- Traditional Chinese medicinal herbs are frequently used for chronic liver diseases, prompting investigation into their therapeutic potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs in managing chronic hepatitis B infection.
Main Methods:
- Conducted comprehensive searches across multiple electronic databases and handsearched key Chinese journals and conference proceedings.
- Included randomized or quasi-randomized trials with a minimum three-month follow-up, comparing Chinese medicinal herbs (single or compound) against placebo, no intervention, general treatment, or interferon.
- Extracted data independently and assessed trial quality using the Jadad-scale with allocation concealment; intention-to-treat analyses were performed.
Main Results:
- Nine randomized trials involving 936 patients met the inclusion criteria; only one trial demonstrated adequate methodological quality.
- Significant funnel plot asymmetry was observed, suggesting potential publication bias.
- Fuzheng Jiedu Tang, Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharide, and Phyllanthus amarus demonstrated positive effects on viral markers (HBsAg, HBeAg, HBV DNA) compared to placebo or non-specific treatments.
Conclusions:
- Certain traditional Chinese medicinal herbs show potential benefits for chronic hepatitis B.
- The existing evidence base is insufficient to recommend specific herbs due to methodological limitations and potential bias.
- High-quality, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials are essential to establish the definitive efficacy and safety of these herbal interventions.