Investigating the anti-inflammatory effects of icariin: A combined meta-analysis and machine learning study
Xiaochuan Guo,
Yanqin Qin,
Zhenzhen Feng,
Haibo Li,
Jingfan Yang,
Kailin Su,
Ruixiao Mao,
Jiansheng Li
Affiliations
Xiaochuan Guo
Department of Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China; The First Clinical Medical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan Province, China; Co-construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases By Henan and Education Ministry of PR China, Henan Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine for Respiratory Disease, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan province, China
Yanqin Qin
Co-construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases By Henan and Education Ministry of PR China, Henan Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine for Respiratory Disease, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan province, China; Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan Province, China
Zhenzhen Feng
Department of Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China; Co-construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases By Henan and Education Ministry of PR China, Henan Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine for Respiratory Disease, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan province, China
Haibo Li
Co-construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases By Henan and Education Ministry of PR China, Henan Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine for Respiratory Disease, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan province, China
Jingfan Yang
Co-construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases By Henan and Education Ministry of PR China, Henan Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine for Respiratory Disease, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan province, China
Kailin Su
Department of Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China; The First Clinical Medical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan Province, China; Co-construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases By Henan and Education Ministry of PR China, Henan Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine for Respiratory Disease, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan province, China
Ruixiao Mao
Department of Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China; The First Clinical Medical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan Province, China; Co-construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases By Henan and Education Ministry of PR China, Henan Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine for Respiratory Disease, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan province, China
Jiansheng Li
Department of Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China; Co-construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases By Henan and Education Ministry of PR China, Henan Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine for Respiratory Disease, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan province, China; Corresponding author. Department of Respiratory Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China.
Objective: The objectives of this study were to define the superiority of icariin and its derivatives' anti-inflammatory activities and to create a reference framework for evaluating preclinical evidence. This method combines machine learning and meta-analysis to identify underlying biological pathways. Methods: Data came from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. SYRCLE was used to evaluate the risk of bias in a subset of research. Meta-analysis and detailed subgroup analyses, categorized by species, genders, disease type, dosage, and treatment duration, were performed using R and STATA 15.0 software to derive nuanced insights. Employing R software (version 4.2.3) and the tidymodels package, the analysis focused on constructing a model and selecting features, with TNF-α as the dependent variable. This approach aims to identify significant predictors of drug efficacy. An in-depth literature facilitated the synthesis of anti-inflammatory mechanisms attributed to icariin and its constituent compounds. Results: Following a meticulous search and selection process, 19 studies, involving 370 and 260 animals were included in the meta-analysis and machine-learning assessment, respectively. The findings revealed that icariin and its derivatives markedly reduced inflammation markers, including TNF-α and IL-1β. Additionally, machine-learning outcomes, with TNF-α as the target variable, indicated enhanced anti-inflammatory effects of icariin across respiratory, urological, neurological, and digestive disease types. These effects were more pronounced at doses exceeding 27.52 mg/kg/day and treatment durations beyond 31.22 days. Conclusion: Strong anti-inflammatory effects are exhibited by icariiin and its derivatives, which are especially beneficial in the management of digestive, neurological, pulmonary, and urinary conditions. Effective for periods longer than 31.22 days and at dosages more than 27.52 mg/kg/day. Subsequent research will involve more targeted animal experiments and safety assessments to obtain more comprehensive preclinical evidence.
