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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 14, 2013; 19(34): 5738-5749
Published online Sep 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i34.5738
Published online Sep 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i34.5738
Induction of clinical response and remission of inflammatory bowel disease by use of herbal medicines: A meta-analysis
Roja Rahimi, Department of Traditional Pharmacy, Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417614411, Iran
Roja Rahimi, Mohammad Abdollahi, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417614411, Iran
Shekoufeh Nikfar, Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmaceutical Administration, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417614411, Iran
Shekoufeh Nikfar, Food and Drug Organisation, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran 1417614411, Iran
Mohammad Abdollahi, Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417614411, Iran
Author contributions: Rahimi R contributed to study design and data collection and drafting the manuscript; Nikfar S contributed to study design, review of data collection, doing meta-analysis, and editing the manuscript; Abdollahi M supervised whole study.
Correspondence to: Mohammad Abdollahi, Professor, Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417614411, Iran. mohammad.abdollahi@utoronto.ca
Telephone: +98-21-64122319 Fax: +98-21-66959104
Received: June 20, 2013
Revised: July 28, 2013
Accepted: August 16, 2013
Published online: September 14, 2013
Revised: July 28, 2013
Accepted: August 16, 2013
Published online: September 14, 2013
Core Tip
Core tip: Meta-analysis of seven controlled trials involving 474 patients demonstrated that herbal medicines may safely induce clinical response and remission in patients with inflammatory bowel disease without significant effects on endoscopic and histological outcomes. The results of sub-analyses based on plant type demonstrated that induction of clinical remission was obtained only by Artemisia absinthium and Boswellia serrata and induction of clinical response was gained by only Aloe vera and Triticum Aestivum. Boswellia serrata in one study evaluating recurrence rate did not cause prevention of relapse. Induction of adverse events by none of the plants was significant compared to that of placebo.