Meta-Analysis of Animal Experiments on Astragali Radix or Its Ingredients for Acute Pancreatitis

ObjectiveBased on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, to obtain precise and reliable comprehensive effect conclusions by quantitatively combining pharmacodynamic results from animal experiments investigating Astragali Radix (single-entity Astragali Radix preparation) or its ingredients for treatment of acute pancreatitis (AP) in literature reports through meta-analysis.MethodsDatabases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals (VIP), Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, China Biomedical Literature Database (CBMdisc), PubMed, and Web of Science (WOS) were searched from inception to March 2025 for animal studies related to Astragali Radix (single-entity Astragali Radix preparation) or its ingredients for AP treatment. Risk of bias for included studies was assessed with SYRCLE tool. Heterogeneity among studies was evaluated according to Cochrane Handbook using Cochrane's Q test and I² statistic. Sensitivity analysis was performed using the leave-one-out method, and publication bias risk was detected using Egger's test.ResultsA total of 297 articles were retrieved, and after screening and evaluation, 19 animal studies were finally included for meta-analysis. These 19 publications cover SD rats, as well as three breeds of mice: C57BL/6 mice, BALB/c mice, and Kunming mice. SYRCLE scores ranged from 3 to 4. The results of the sensitivity analysis showed that no study significantly affected the heterogeneity index. The results of Egger's test showed a significant publication bias with P<0.05. Cochrane's Q test and I² statistic indicated substantial heterogeneity among studies. Meta-analysis results of 19 animal studies showed that single-entity Astragali Radix preparation (Astragali Radix injection) could reduce serum amylase (AMY) levels, an AP-specific indicator. The Astragali Radix ingredients could decrease both AMY and lipase (LPS) levels. Astragali Radix injection or its ingredients could reduce serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL) -6, and IL-1β, while increasing IL-10 levels; could increase serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and decrease malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. High-dose groups of Astragali Radix injection or Astragali Radix ingredients were more effective than low-dose groups in reducing AMY, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels and increasing SOD levels, but dosage effect on MDA levels was not demonstrated.ConclusionEvidence-based analysis of animal experiment results shows that in various animal models including SD rats, C57BL/6 mice, BALB/c mice, and Kunming mice, Astragali Radix injection or its ingredients can effectively reduce expression or secretion levels of AP-specific indicators (AMY and LPS). The mechanisms may be related to some inflammatory mediators, including reducing TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β levels and increasing IL-10 levels; They may also intervene in oxidative/antioxidative equilibrium, such as increasing SOD and GSH-Px levels and reducing MDA levels. Except for MDA, dose–response relationships are shown for reducing AMY, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels and increasing SOD levels with Astragali Radix injection or its ingredients. However, due to high heterogeneity, potential publication bias risk, and species differences between animal models and human diseases in existing studies, further high-quality clinical trials or animal experiments are still needed in the future.