Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2017.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 21, 2017; 23(7): 1125-1138
Published online Feb 21, 2017. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i7.1125
Table 1 Clinical trials using Yīn-Chén-Hāo decoction
Herb or compoundDose and course of treatmentCombined medicationCase/controlDisease typeSymptomsEfficacyPositive control drugSide effectsRef.
YCHDFrom 28th wk of pregnancy, decocted with water, daily, 4 wkFrom 36th wk of pregnancy, both groups, + administration of 30 mg phenobarbital, twice a day, orally81/76Maternal-fetal ABO blood group incompatibilityIgG anti-A/B antibody titer, growth in fetus, neonatal jaundiceReduced antibody titer, reduced jaundice incidence rate, reduced TBILVitamin C 0.5 g + 100 IU coenzyme A + 40 mg adenosine triphosphate, IVGTTNone[61]
YCHDModified YCHD, decocted with water daily; orally, twice a day1000 mg transmetil injection, IVGTT38/30Hyperbilirubinemia induced by viral hepatitisClinical symptoms, liver function, bilirubinSymptoms, bilirubin levels significantly improved due to liver functionVitamin C, vitamin B6, diammoniumNone[62]
Modified YCHDDecocted with water, daily, 10 dRoutine Western medical treatment34/34Pathological neonatal jaundiceTime of jaundice disappearance, jaundice degree, TBILTime jaundice disappearance is shut down, liver TBIL significantly decreasedRoutine Western medicine therapy, etiological treatment, light therapy, phenobarbital, albumin for patients with high bilirubin, gamma globulin for patients with hemolytic diseaseNone[63]
Modified YCHDDecocted with water, daily, 14 dPlasma exchange20/20Hepatitis B combined with hyperbilirubinemiaLiver function, prothrombin activityTBIL significantly decreased effective rate of treatment group compared with significantly increased control groupPlasma exchangeNone[64]
Modified YCHDDecocted with water, daily, orally, 28 dMask with the function of removing heat and eliminating stasis31/29Gastrointestinal damp-heat acneAcne coalescence conditionIncreased total effective rate of acne coalescence, average efficacy index statistically significantly decreasedDanshentong capsules for oral use, vitamin E emulsifiable paste for external useNone[65]
Modified YCHDDecocted with water, daily, orally, 7 dNone32/34Juvenile bronchial asthmaAsthma symptomsCurative effect of treatment group significantly better than control group; fade time of cough, sputum, and wheezing in treatment group significantly shorter than control group (P < 0.05)Normal saline, dexamethasone injection, ambroxol hydrochloride injection, aerosol inhalation, twice a day, 3-7 days, additional antibiotics for infected individualNone[66]
Modified YCHDDecocted with water, daily, orallyEST + endoscopic stone extraction + ENBD24/24CholedocholithiasisTBIL, DBIL, AKP, GGT, ALT, daily bile refluxObserved indicators improved significantly, daily bile reflux significantly higher than control group (P < 0.05)Anti-infection, hepatoprotective, prevents fluid and electrolyte imbalance, symptomatic supportive careNone[67]
Yin-Zhi-Huang injection10 mL + 20 mL glucose solution, IVGTT, daily, 15 wkKadai surgery, antibiotic treatment, hormone treatment, +vitamin K1, +ursodeoxycholic acid18/14Biliary atresiaTBIL, DBIL, ALT, ASTObservation target significantly improved (P < 0.05)NoneNone[68]
Yin-Zhi-Huang granule1.0 g, 3 times a day, orally, 7 dBlue light irradiation, 8 h daily + 105 mg bifid-triple viable capsule, twice a day orally, 7 d150/133/141Neonatal jaundiceTime of jaundice disappearance, transcutaneous bilirubinTime of jaundice disappearance significantly reduced, transcutaneous bilirubin level significantly reduced (P < 0.05)Blue light irradiationNone[69]
Yin-Zhi-Huang granule3.3 mL, 3 times a day, orally, 5 dNone120/120/120Pathological neonatal jaundiceBilirubin concentration, time of jaundice disappearancePlasma bilirubin level significantly reduced, total effective rate significantly increasedTuihuang mixtureNone[70]
Yin-Zhi-Huang injection5 mL + 10% glucose solution 50 mL, IVGTT, daily, 10 dATP, coenzyme A, inosine, vitamin C, glucuronolactone46/12Infantile hepatitis syndromeTreatment results (cured, improved, invalid), serum TBIL, ALT value, size of liver and spleenCure rate, total effective rate significantly increased, plasma bilirubin level significantly reduced, obvious change to liver and spleen sizeATP, coenzyme A, inosine, vitamin C, glucuronolactoneNone[71]
Modified compound Yīn-Chén recipeTwice a dayNone215/120Maternal-fetal ABO blood group incompatibility-induced neonatal jaundiceAntibody titer, neonatal jaundice incidence, jaundice degreeAntibody titer and neonatal jaundice incidence much lower post-treatment, TCM treatment before delivery failed to reduce jaundice degreeNoneNone[72]
ICKT7.5 g, daily, orallyNone1Acute cholestatic hepatitisClinical course of patientTBIL level began to decrease, liver biopsy showed chronic active hepatitis with mild fibrosisPredonineNone[73]
ICKT7.5 g, daily, orallyNone50/50Persistent hyperbilirubinemia as a symptom of post-operative liver failure after hepatectomyCholeretic effectICKT group showed significant decrease compared with control group in indirect bilirubin levelsNoneNone[74]
Modified compound Yīn-Chén recipeModified compound Yīn-Chén recipe decoction, orallyRoutine Western medical treatment30/30Chronic severe hepatitisLiver function indices, complication incidences, score of TCM syndromes, clinical effectsTreatment group better than control group (P < 0.05)Basic Western medical treatmentNone[75]
Modified YCHDRetention enema, dailyRoutine comprehensive treatment30/30Chronic severe hepatitisLiver function indices, endotoxin, blood ammoniaTreatment group better than control group (P < 0.05) in improvement of clinical symptoms, endotoxin, blood ammonia, ALT, AST, and TBILLactulose medicated by retention enemaNone[76]
Modified ArtemisiaeTwice a dayUrsodeoxycholic acid30/30Primary biliary cirrhosisClinical effect, biochemistry indicators, immunoglobulin levelsTreatment group better than control group (P < 0.05) in clinical effect and biochemistry indicators, insignificantly decreased immunoglobulin levels (P > 0. 05)Ursodeoxycholic acidNone[77]
Scopariae decoction
Modified YCHDTwice a dayConventional treatment, phenobarbital (blue light-struck)30/29Neonatal hyperbilirubinemiaClinical effectTreatment group better than control group (P < 0.05) in clinical effectConventional treatment (phenobarbital, blue light-struck)None[78]
Lidan Xiaohuang decoction50-100 mL 2-3 times a day, orallyRoutine35/31Obstructive jaundice, post-operative persistent jaundiceBilirubinTreatment group better than control group (P < 0.01)Acupuncture therapyNone[79]
Western medical treatment
Qing-Re-Li-Shi formulaTwice a day, 90 dNone60Chronic hepatitis BLiver function comparison, hepatitis B virus marker comparisonContents of ALT, AST, AKP, G, TBIL, DBIL improved (P < 0.01); negative conversion rates of 16.7% HbsAg, 21.2% HbeAg, and 35.0% HBVNoneNone[80]
Modified compound Yīn-Chén recipeTwice a dayTriple anti-Hp therapy30/30Hp-positive rosaceaClinical effective rate, Hp- positive rate, serum IL-8, TNF-αClinical effective rate in treatment group better than control group (P < 0.05); Hp- positive rate, serum IL-8, and TNF-α in treatment group significantly lower than control group (P < 0.01)Triple anti-Hp therapyNone[81]
Modified compound Yīn-Chén recipeTwice a dayRoutine120/90Viral hepatitis jaundiceJaundice disappearance, liver function improvementClinical effective rate and liver function in treatment group better than control group (P < 0.05)RoutineNone[82]
Western medical treatmentWestern medical treatment
Obstructive jaundiceTwice a dayObstructive jaundice28/26Obstructive jaundiceTBIL, DBILMore obvious decline of TBIL and DBIL in experimental group (P < 0.05)Obstructive jaundiceNone[83]
Supplement YCHDTwice a dayRoutine30/30Severe chronic hepatitis BLiver function, gross effective rate, mortality rateYCHD significantly improved liver function and gross effective rate, mortality rate lower than control group (P < 0.05)RoutineNone[84]
Western medical treatment for protective liver, plasma exchangeWestern medicinal treatment for protective liver, plasma exchange
YCHDTwice a dayRoutine30/30Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancyPruritus score, serum bile acid level, Apgar score, body weightPruritus score and serum bile acid level lower than control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively); Apgar score and body weight better than control group (P < 0.01)RoutineNone[85]
Western medical treatment for protective liverWestern medical treatment for protective liver
Table 2 Mechanisms of action of compounds found in Yīn-Chén-Hāo decoction
CompoundPharmacological activitiesMechanisms of actionRef.
Chlorogenic acidAntibacterial, antiviral, antioxidation,Reversed liver reduced GSH levels and expression of TRX, triggering GSH and TRX antioxidant systems and MAPK signaling cascade[8]
free radical scavenging,
mutation suppression, anti-tumor
ScoparoneAnti-inflammatory, analgesia, antioxidant, immunosuppressive, cholagogue, blood pressure, hypolipidemic, anti-asthmaticInhibition of protein tyrosine kinase and release of arachidonic acid metabolites, reduced expression of tissue factor at mRNA level and thrombus generation; enhancement of prostacyclin release, protection against endothelium derived relaxing factor inactivation, and activating guanylate cyclase, relaxed bronchial smooth muscle[86-89]
GeniposideAnti-inflammatory, analgesia, cholagogue, laxness, soft tissue injury repair, gastric acid secretion inhibition, amylopsin secretion reductionEnhancing antioxidative defense system and reducing apoptotic signaling pathways; regulating adipocytokine release and the expression of PPARα expression[9,90]
RheinAntineoplastic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunosuppressive, diuresis and purgation, improve glycometabolicInhibiting cytochrome P450 enzymes in liver microsomes[91]
EmodinAntineoplastic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunosuppressive, diuresis and purgationInhibiting HSC activation[92]
Table 3 Patents containing Yīn-Chén-Hāo decoction
PatentPatent number
YCHD preparation methodsCN101371882
Damp-proof TCM granule and its preparation methodCN1781499
Composition for improving the composition/kind of composition of crude drug powder containing rhubarb and/or its extract that can improve constipationJP2005179316
Medical treatment for heterotopic calcification/medicine root in TCM prescription treatment for heterotopic calcificationJP5000961
Kind of formula granules, including YCHD and its preparation and detection methodsCN103230453
Method which can filtrate the material foundation of YCHD efficacyCN104101674