SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Ethnopharmacology
A meta-analysis of traditional herbs Zicao and Its Active Components for atopic dermatitis
Provisionally accepted
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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Background:Traditional Chinese herb Zicao and its bioactive constituents demonstrate therapeutic potential for atopic dermatitis(AD), and systematic review assessing its effectiveness for managing atopic dermatitis (AD) is still lacking. Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the effects and mechanisms of Zicao affects AD animal models. Methods: Ten databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, CBM, Wanfang,Google Scholar and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global) were systematically searched from inception through May 2025. Study quality was assessed using SYRCLE's risk-of-bias tool. Random-effects models pooled standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for primary outcomes (dermatitis severity, scratching behavior) and secondary outcomes (cytokines, epidermal thickness, filaggrin). Subgroup analyses examined animal species,modeling method,drug formulation, and intervention protocol. Publication bias was evaluated via funnel plots and Egger's regression; sensitivity analyses employed leave-one-out methodology. Analyses were conducted in R version 4.3.2 software. Results: Ten studies (n=316 animals) revealed: Zicao treatment significantly decreased in dermatitis severity (SMD = −3.30,95%CI: −4.37 to −2.23; P < 0.001) and scratching behavior(SMD=−2.60,95%CI: −3.76 to −1.44; P < 0.01).And Zicao treatment significantly decreased in cytokines: TNF-α, TSLP, IL-4, IL-13, IgE, and mast cell infiltration, whereas no significant effects were observed for IFN-γ, IL-6,epidermal thickness,or filaggrin (FLG) expression. Conclusion:Traditional Chinese herb Zicao ameliorates AD symptoms and Th2-associated inflammation but exhibits limited efficacy in epidermal barrier restoration.However,The pooled effect estimates from this meta-analysis must be interpreted with caution as preliminary indications of potential efficacy rather than as conclusive evidence, given the widespread methodological limitations and the absence of pharmacokinetic and toxicological data in the included studies. Therefore, future investigations employing chemically standardized preparations and comprehensive safety assessments are warranted to validate these findings.
Keywords: animal model, Arnebia euchroma, atopic dermatitis, effect, Mechanism, Lithospermum erythrorhizon
Received: 17 Jun 2025; Accepted: 20 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Wu, Jiang, Ming and Hao. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Qin-yao Wu, anna1997411@outlook.com
Pingsheng Hao, hpswl@126.com
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