Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42610193›Full record

ReviewPhytotherapy research : PTR2026

Therapeutic Properties and Underlying Mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Integrative Review of Clinical and Molecular Findings.

Jianting Wen, Jian Liu, Lei Wan, Fanfan Wang, Yang Li

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review 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

5 authors.

Jianting WenDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2757-8462
Jian LiuDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3101-7553
Lei WanDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7855-0422
Fanfan WangDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1824-9213
Yang LiDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China.

Funding

Anhui Provincial Research Project on Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance and Innovation 2025CCCX005Anhui University of Chinese Medicine 2024 Annual University-Level Exploratory Research Project AHUCM2024TS099Clinical Research Project of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2024 2024YFYLCZX09National Key Discipline of Traditional Chinese Medicine-Traditional Chinese Medicine Bi Disease [2023] No. 85National Natural Science Foundation of China 82505489Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province 2508085QH332
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long-standing history in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), known as "Bi Zheng," and offers a comprehensive therapeutic approach characterized by multi-target and multi-pathway mechanisms. Modern pharmacological research has demonstrated that bioactive compounds and herbal formulas derived from TCM (e.g., triptolide [TPL] from Tripterygium wilfordii and the Xinfeng Capsule [XFC]) effectively interfere with the complex pathogenesis of RA. These interventions modulate diverse pathological processes, including the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β), induction of apoptosis in hyperplastic synovial cells, and regulation of novel cell death pathways (such as ferroptosis and pyroptosis). Furthermore, TCM components exhibit potent antioxidant properties, inhibit pathological angiogenesis, ameliorate hypercoagulable states, and restore gut microbiota dysbiosis, which is increasingly recognized as a key environmental factor in RA development. Notably, emerging evidence highlights the critical role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) as mediators of these therapeutic effects. Concurrently, a growing body of clinical evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, and real-world data mining consistently confirms the significant efficacy and safety of TCM interventions in relieving RA symptoms, improving joint function, and reducing disease activity. By integrating preclinical and clinical findings, a robust evidence chain emerges, validating traditional TCM concepts through modern scientific rigor. Therefore, TCM represents a valuable resource for RA drug discovery and integrative treatment strategies. Further in-depth investigation is needed into its specific molecular targets, optimal formulations, and long-term clinical outcomes to facilitate its global translation and application.

Indexed as

Arthritis, RheumatoidDrugs, Chinese HerbalMedicine, Chinese TraditionalAnimalsCytokinesDiterpenesEpoxy CompoundsHumansPhenanthrenesTripterygiumCytokinesDiterpenesDrugs, Chinese HerbalEpoxy CompoundsPhenanthrenestriptolideclinical studymulti‐target therapyrheumatoid arthritistraditional Chinese medicine

Identifiers

PMID42610193
PMCPMC13636168

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.