Remarkable effects in diabetes
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) has become the leading cause of kidney failure, causing a significant socioeconomic burden worldwide. The usual care for DKD fails to achieve satisfactory effects in delaying the persistent loss of renal function. A Chinese herbal medicine, Tangshen Qushi Formula (TQF), showed preliminary clinical benefits with a sound safety profile for people with stage 2-4 DKD. We present the protocol of an ongoing clinical trial investigating the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of TQF compared to placebo in delaying the progressive decline of renal function for people with stage 2-4 DKD.
Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) plus usual care has demonstrated effects in protecting renal function and decreasing albuminuria, which is superior to that shown by usual care alone for DKD patients in previous clinical trials. Fewer side effects are reported when using CHM with usual care . Tangshen Qushi Formula (TQF) is a CHM derived from the classical Chinese formula Ping Wei San recorded in Welfare Pharmacy (Shiwen Chen, 1151AD) and modified by specialists in modern clinical practice, showing the function of tonifying the Kidney and dispelling dampness in the Chinese medicine theory. TQF consists of seven herbs, namely Astragalus mongholicus Bunge [Fabaceae; Astragali mongholici radix], Cuscuta australis R.Br. [Convolvulaceae; Cuscutae semen], Prunus davidiana (Carrière) Franch. [Rosaceae; Persicae semen], Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. [Asteraceae; Atractylodis lanceae rhizoma], Citrus × aurantium L. [Rutaceae; Aurantii amari epicarpium et mesocarpium], Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. [Apiaceae; Centellae asiaticae herba], and Isaria cicadae Miquel [Cordycipitaceae; Isaria cicadae Miquel]. The dose of each herb in TQF is 20: 15: 10: 10: 10: 15: 8 (gram), respectively, aligning with the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 Edition) and clinical experience.
Additionally, evidence from clinical research showed that Astragalus mongholicus Bunge plus conventional treatment could reduce urinary albumin or protein excretion and lower serum creatinine levels for DKD patients in the short term.
Correspondence: Charlie Changli Xue, charlie.xue@rmit.edu.au; Xusheng Liu, liuxusheng@gzucm.edu.cn
These authors have contributed equally to this work
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Above information source from STUDY PROTOCOL article Volume 15 – 2024