Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40567371›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in pharmacology2025

Time-dose response and mechanistic specificity of berberine in renal fibrosis from a multi-model integration perspective: a systematic review and meta-analysis on animal models.

Ruyi Nie, Ziting Yuan, Yizhe Wu, Minqi Pan, Jiandong Lu, Guoliang Xiong

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in pharmacology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. [Nan fang yi ke da xue xue bao = Journal of Southern Medical University · 2025
    Article
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

6 authors.

Ruyi NieThe Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
Ziting YuanThe Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
Yizhe WuThe Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
Minqi PanThe Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
Jiandong LuThe Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
Guoliang XiongThe Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: This research intends to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy of berberine (BBR) and the specificity of its mechanisms of action in different animal models of renal fibrosis through a multi-model integration strategy. Methods: A comprehensive search of animal experimental studies was carried out across 10 different databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, SCIELO, CNKI, Wanfang database, CBM and VIP Information Chinese Periodical Service Platform, spanning from their inception up to November 2024. The included studies' methodological quality was assessed using the SYRCLE's risk of bias tool for animal experiment, and statistical analyses were carried out with Stata 18.0. Results: In total, 26 animal studies (2010-2024) were included, encompassing diverse models of renal fibrosis. The Meta-analysis revealed that BBR significantly lowered serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, α-SMA, and TGF-β1 levels, alongside reductions in renal fibrosis area and oxidative stress markers. The time-dose response analysis indicated that BBR was most efficacious within the 100-400 mg/kg dose range over a 5-12-week intervention period. Still, the mechanism of action was model-dependent: in the UUO model, BBR predominantly modulated the AMPK/PPARα pathway and ferroptosis, while in the DN model, it primarily targeted glycolipid metabolism and epigenetic regulation. Conclusion: BBR significantly ameliorates renal fibrosis progression through a multi-targeted mechanism that is model-specific. Although preclinical evidence supports its therapeutic potential, the interpretation of the conclusions requires caution, considering the significant heterogeneity and methodological quality differences among the included experiments. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/, identifier CRD42024619202.

Indexed as

animal modelberberinemechanism of actionmeta-analysisrenal fibrosissystematic review

Identifiers

PMID40567371
PMCPMC12187843

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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 Socratic graph.