To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Guanxinshutong capsule (GXST) combined with Western medicine (WM) in treating stable angina pectoris (SAP).
Aims: To systematically evaluate the comprehensive effect of combining Naoxintong capsule (NXT) with Western medicine (WM) on coronary heart disease post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of NXT for patients with CHD after PCI were systematically searched across multiple databases, including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), and Wan Fang, from inception until 31 January 2023. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewers. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (RoB 2), and data analysis was performed using R4.2.2. Results: Fifteen RCTs conducted between 2011 and 2022 and involving 1,551 patients were identified, with 774 and 777 patients in the experimental and control groups respectively. It was found that the NXT and WM combination was superior to the WM therapy alone in terms of the effective clinical rate (odds ratio [OR] = 4.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.13–10.30), effective rate in electrocardiogram (OR = 6.92, 95% CI = 3.44–13.92), effective rate in angina (OR = 5.90, 95% CI = 3.04–11.46), left ventricular ejection fraction (mean difference [MD] = 4.94, 95% CI = 2.89–6.99), brain natriuretic peptide (MD = −294.00, 95% CI = −584.60 to −3.39), creatine kinase-MB (MD = −7.82, 95% CI = −13.26 to −2.37), major adverse cardiovascular events (OR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.14–0.43), maximum platelet aggregation rate (MD = −8.33, 95% CI = −11.64 to −5.01), and Chinese medicine evidence score (OR = 9.79, 95% CI = 3.57–26.85). However, there was no significant difference in cardiac troponin I level reduction (MD = −0.13, 95% CI = 0.35–0.09) or the occurrence of adverse medicine events (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.41–2.05). Meta-regression and subgroup analyses indicated that NXT capsule dosage, treatment duration, and patient baseline characteristics contributed to the heterogeneity. Conclusion: A combination of NXT and WM can improve clinical outcomes in patients undergoing PCI. However, further studies are needed to confirm the reliability and safety of this combined treatment approach. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=369174 , Identifier CRD42022369174.
Background Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, primarily driven by insulin resistance (IR). Although the herbal compound Chaihu Shugan powder (CSP) has demonstrated the potential to improve IR in animal models of MS, its mechanism of action remains incompletely understood. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the biological pathways through which CSP exerts its therapeutic effects on IR in MS using both in vitro and in vivo methods. Methods The primary metabolites of CSP aqueous extract and CSP-containing serum were measured by LC-MS/MS. A mouse model of MS-related IR was induced by a high-fat, high-fructose diet combined with chronic immobilization stress. The CSP’s therapeutic potential was evaluated through glucose and insulin tolerance tests and hepatic insulin signaling molecules (p-IRS-1, IRS-1, p-Akt, and Akt). The expression of lipid metabolism-related factors (FFA, DAG, LXRα, SREBP-1, FASN, and ACC) in the liver was also measured. Hepatocyte IR was modeled using high-glucose and high-insulin conditions, and CSP impact was evaluated using 2-NBDG uptake and insulin signaling molecule expression. The specific mechanism of CSP was explored using the LXRα agonist T0901317. Results The MS-related IR model exhibited a decreased p-Akt/Akt ratio and increased fasting glucose, insulin, homeostatic model assessment of IR, and hepatic lipid metabolism factors. Treatment with CSP mitigated these effects. In the hepatocyte IR model, CSP-containing serum improved glucose uptake and modulated the expression of insulin signaling and lipid metabolism factors. Furthermore, T0901317 reversed the beneficial effects of CSP, indicating the role of LXRα in CSP’s therapeutic action. Conclusion The CSP ameliorated IR in MS by restoring fatty acid metabolism through the regulation of the LXRα/SREBP-1 signaling pathway.