Chinese herbal formulas alleviated depression in breast cancer patients: A meta-analysis, network pharmacology and experimental validation

Table 1 Characteristics of included trials

Ref.	Samples	Age (mean ± SD)		Intervention/experimental group	Control group	Intervention time/period	Outcomes
Liu and Xiao[44], 2011	60	E: 51.40 ± 8.7	C: 51.30 ± 6.6	Modified Xiaoyaosan (n = 30)	Flupentixol and melitracen tablets (n = 30)	6 weeks	(1)
Zhang[49], 2011	96	E: 35-70	C: 36-69	Modified Ganmaidazao decoction plus Xiaoyaosan (n = 48)	Alprazolam (n = 48)	6 weeks	(1)(2)(3)
Sun et al[46], 2015	58	E: 45.9 ± 11.7	C: 58.6 ± 35	Modified Xiaoyaosan (n = 29)	Flupentixol and melitracen tablets (n = 29)	6 weeks	(2)
Yan et al[47], 2015	68	38-69		Modified Xiaoyaosan (n = 34)	Paroxetine hydrochloride tablets (n = 34)	4 weeks	(1)
Zhang et al[48], 2015	60	E: 40-65	C: 35-67	Modified Xiaoyaosan (n = 30)	Fluoxetine hydrochloride tablets (n = 30)	3 weeks	(1)
Jin et al[43], 2016	82	E: 23-65	C: 24-67	Fuzhengjieyu decoction (n = 41)	Alprazolam (n = 41)	10 weeks	(1)(5)
Sun et al[36], 2016	64	24-73		Modified Xiaoyaosan (n = 32)	No intervention (n = 32)	6 weeks	(2)(4)
Chang et al[32], 2017	84	E: 39-70	C: 38-68	Shuganxiaobi decoction (n = 42)	Fluoxetine hydrochloride tablets (n = 42)	4 weeks	(1)
Shi et al[45], 2017	66	E: 35-68	C: 32-71	Modified Chaihuguizhi decoction (n = 36)	Paroxetine hydrochloride tablets (n = 30)	8 weeks	(1)
Hu et al[34], 2018	80	E: 47.37 ± 8.60	C: 48.23 ± 8.10	Jiawei Xiaoyao pill (n = 40)	Venlafaxine hydrochloride sustained-release tablets (n = 40)	1 month	(4)
Yang[50], 2018	92	E: 49.12 ± 7.96	C: 48.86 ± 8.13	Chaihulonggumuli decoction (n = 46)	Fluoxetine hydrochloride tablets (n = 46)	1 month	(1)
He[33], 2019	70	E: 51.83 ± 8.15	C: 50.77 ± 9.20	Danzhixiaoyao powder (n = 35)	Flupentixol and melitracen tablets (n = 35)	4 weeks	(1)
Huang et al[42], 2019	77	E: 46.26 ± 2.32	C: 45.72 ± 2.05	Modified Ganmaidazao decoction (n = 39)	Amitriptyline hydrochloride tablets (n = 38)	4 weeks	(1)(3)
Jiang[37], 2019	60	E: 42.08 ± 5.10	C: 41.93 ± 5.37	Chaihu plus Longgumuli decotion (n = 30)	Fluoxetine hydrochloride tablets (n = 30)	4 weeks	(1)
Wang et al[38], 2019	134	E: 42.3 ± 12.34	C: 40.57 ± 13.91	Xiaoyao powder (n = 67)	No intervention (n = 67)	6 months	(1)(3)(5)
Lin[35], 2022	70	E: 47.33 ± 5.96	C: 46.82 ± 6.14	Jieyusanjie decoction (n = 35)	Sertraline hydrochloride tablets (n = 35)	4 weeks	(1)
Xiao[39], 2021	100	E: 45.81 ± 11.56	C: 46.37 ± 12.21	Modified Xiaoyao powder (n = 50)	Paroxetine Hydrochloride tablets (n = 50)	3 months	(1)(4)
An et al[31], 2022	120	E: 55.76 4 ± 8.81	C: 56.05 ± 8. 73	Chaihu plus Longgumuli decoction (n = 60)	Escitalopram tablets (n = 60)	60 days	(1)(4)
Zhang[40], 2022	60	E: 54.67 ± 6.87	C: 54.20 ± 7.56	Chaihushugan powder (n = 30)	Flupentixol and melitracen tablets (n = 30)	4 weeks	(2)(3)
Zhong et al[41], 2023	106	E: 52.09 ± 9.07	C: 51.23 ± 8.91	Modified Fangjidihuang (n = 53)	Sertraline hydrochloride tablets (n = 53)	8 weeks	(1)(4)

(1) Hamilton Depression Scale; (2) Self-rating Depression Scale; (3) Quality of Life; (4) 5-hydroxytryptamine, dopamine, and norepinephrine; (5) CD4, CD8, CD4/8. For experimental group, a dose of 150-300 mL of the traditional Chinese medicine decoction was given twice daily in the morning and evening; for control group, antidepressants are taken according to the corresponding instructions.