Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42568705›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in pharmacology2026

Protective effects and possible mechanisms of matrine-type alkaloids (matrine and oxymatrine) in animal models of ulcerative colitis: a preclinical systematic review and meta-analysis.

Shuqing Lu, Hanjian Yang, Shiying Wang, Jiahui Ye, Suiping Huang, Linkun Cai

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in pharmacology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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.

Shuqing Lu *Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Hanjian Yang *Department of Colorectal Surgery, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
Shiying WangDepartment of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Jiahui YeCollege of International Education, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Suiping HuangDepartment of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Linkun CaiDepartment of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Matrine and oxymatrine are bioactive alkaloids from Sophora species with reported anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in ulcerative colitis (UC). However, their overall efficacy has not been systematically evaluated. Methods: Databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and SinoMed were searched to January 2026. Animal studies using matrine or oxymatrine monotherapy in UC models were included. Effect sizes were calculated as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Thirteen studies were included. Compared with controls, matrine-type alkaloids significantly reduced histopathological scores (SMD = -3.47, 95% CI: -4.83 to -2.11) and decreased Disease Activity Index (DAI) at 3 days (SMD = -2.92, 95% CI: -4.27 to -1.57) and 7 days (SMD = -4.76, 95% CI: -6.30 to -3.23), but not at 14 days (SMD = -1.01, 95% CI: -2.22 to 0.20). Body weight increased at 7 days (SMD = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.95-3.57) and 14 days (SMD = 2.41, 95% CI: 0.12-4.69), and colon length was also increased (SMD = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.55-2.64). Matrine-type alkaloids reduced TNF-α (SMD = -2.88, 95% CI: -3.50 to -2.26), IL-6 (SMD = -2.91, 95% CI: -4.64 to -1.17), IL-1β (SMD = -2.73, 95% CI: -4.27 to -1.19), and MDA levels (SMD = -3.06, 95% CI: -4.47 to -1.65), while increasing SOD activity (SMD = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.37-3.89). Subgroup analyses suggested generally similar directions of effect across species and model types. The pooled effect estimate appeared larger in the oxymatrine subgroup than in the matrine subgroup, but this indirect comparison should be interpreted cautiously. Conclusion: Matrine-type alkaloids may exert protective effects in UC animal models by improving histological damage, reducing disease activity, and modulating inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways. These findings suggest their potential as multi-target therapeutic agents, although further high-quality studies are required for clinical translation. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261376235, identifier CRD420261376235.

Indexed as

inflammationmatrinemeta-analysisoxymatrinepreclinical studyulcerative colitis

Identifiers

PMID42568705
PMCPMC13447476

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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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.