Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42572206›Full record

SynthesisPhytotherapy research : PTR2026

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Plant-Based Therapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Anselm Meyer, Jonas Auer, Lorena Cascant-Ortolano, Niclas Schreiber, Amy Zimmermann-Klemd, Carsten Gründemann, Philipp Busche, Jörg Schirra, Mark R Fox

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Phytotherapy research : PTR, 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

9 authors.

Anselm MeyerMedical Department II, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7773-3985
Jonas AuerClinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2250-2936
Lorena Cascant-OrtolanoDepartmental Library for the University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
Niclas SchreiberDepartment of Visceral, Vascular and Endocrine Surgery, University Medical Center Halle (Saale), Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
Amy Zimmermann-KlemdTranslational Complementary Medicine, Departement of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Carsten GründemannTranslational Complementary Medicine, Departement of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Philipp BuscheLaboratory and Clinic for Motility Disorders and Functional Digestive Diseases, Department of Integrative Gastroenterology, Klinik Arlesheim, Arlesheim, Switzerland.
Jörg SchirraMedical Department II, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
Mark R FoxLaboratory and Clinic for Motility Disorders and Functional Digestive Diseases, Department of Integrative Gastroenterology, Klinik Arlesheim, Arlesheim, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of brain-gut interaction that presents with abdominal pain, bloating associated with variable stool consistency. Many IBS patients prefer plant-based preparations to pharmacological therapy; however, the utility of this approach is not well established. To address this issue, a systematic review with meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of plant-based therapy in IBS patients was performed. Literature search with 3 electronic databases (Medline via PubMed, Embase via Ovid, and Web of Science Core Collection) from inception to May 2024. Efficacy was assessed using dichotomous ratings of change in IBS symptoms. A random effects model with 95% confidence intervals was used. Through the screening process, 60 eligible studies were identified (6329 patients). Meta-analysis was performed for fiber (8 studies, RR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.00-1.49), peppermint oil (7 studies, RR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.33-2.00), Aloe vera (3 studies, RR = 1.25; 95% CI: 0.76-2.06), and Chinese herbal medicine (7 studies, RR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.27-1.92). For other plant-based substances investigated in at least one randomized controlled trial (RCT) (e.g., St. John's wort, Anise oil), there were insufficient data for a meta-analysis. The quality of many studies was limited. The findings demonstrate that the treatment of IBS patients with peppermint oil and Chinese herbal medicine were more effective than placebo and had a good safety profile. Dietary fiber showed effects that approached significance. Further, well-powered RCTs are needed to establish the place of plant-based preparations in IBS treatment.

Indexed as

Irritable Bowel SyndromePhytotherapyAloeDietary FiberDrugs, Chinese HerbalHumansMentha piperitaPlant OilsDietary FiberDrugs, Chinese Herbalpeppermint oilPlant OilsAloe veradietary fiberintegrative medicineirritable bowel syndromepeppermint oilsystematic review and meta‐analysistraditional Chinese herbal medicine

Identifiers

PMID42572206
PMCPMC13636137

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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.