Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Volume 2017 (2017), Article ID 2141645, 16 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2141645

Review Article

Chinese Herbal Extractions for Relieving Radiation Induced Lung Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Bo Deng,¹ Chao Deng,1,2 and Zhiqiang Cheng¹

¹Department of Oncology of Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
²Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China

Correspondence should be addressed to Zhiqiang Cheng; zhiqiangcheng@163.com

Received 3 November 2016; Accepted 9 March 2017; Published 29 March 2017

Academic Editor: Oliver Micke

Copyright © 2017 Bo Deng et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Background. Radiation induced lung injury (RILI) is one of the most common and severe side effects of thoracic radiotherapy. In this meta-analysis, the effects of Chinese herbal extractions (CHE) for preventing and treating RILI are evaluated. Methods. Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) from five databases were identified. Studies were evaluated and the relevant data were extracted by two authors independently. Differences were resolved by a third party. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.0. Results. In total, 2734 participants receiving thoracic radiotherapy were included in 28 RCTs, and 16 CHE were evaluated. Meta-analysis showed that CHE intervention significantly reduced the incidence of acute radiation pneumonitis (RP) and radiation induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF). In CHE group, total effective rate and remission rate of RILI patients were significantly higher. Patient’s quality of life (Qol) and clinical symptoms and signs were improved significantly. Inflammatory cytokines decreased, and thymus dependent lymphocytes subgroups were improved. Conclusion. CHE intervention may have clinical effectiveness for relieving RILI and related symptoms and signs and lead to improvement of Qol. However, more double-blind, multicenter, large-scale RCTs are needed to support this theory. Trial Registration. PROSPERO International prospective register of systematic reviews has registration number CRD42016043538.

1. Introduction

Thoracic radiation is an important curative and palliative treatment for lung cancer, esophagus cancer, breast cancer, mediastinal malignant tumors, and so on. Radiation induced lung injury (RILI) is one of the most common and severe side effects of thoracic radiotherapy [1]. RILI can occur in two phases, namely, early (<6 months) when it is called radiation pneumonitis (RP) and late (>6 months) when it is called radiation induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF) [1]. The reported rates of symptomatic RP after radiotherapy range from 9% to 51% [2–4]. Steroids and broad-spectrum antibiotics form the mainstay of treatment of RP. However their effectiveness is limited and their adverse effects are significant [1]. RP may trigger multiple repair mechanisms to restore lung function and remodel lung fibrosis; the incidence of RIPF varies from 8% to 43% [5, 6]. Unfortunately, there are no defined protocols or guidelines for the management of RIPF. Novel therapeutic approaches to improve the effectiveness of RILI treatment are required.

Chinese herbal medicine has been widely used alone or in combination with western conventional medicine to relieve RILI for more than 20 years. Multiple randomized clinical trials have suggested that Chinese herbal extractions (CHE) intervention can reduce symptoms and improve patient’s quality of life and reduce proinflammatory cytokines and profibrosis cytokines [7–34]. In vivo, CHE can effectively relieve RP and RIPF, reducing proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-) and profibrosis cytokines (transforming growth factor-, TGF-) in rat/mouse models of RILI [35–38]. However, there is no systematic review on effectiveness of CHE for relieving RILI. In this meta-analysis, the effectiveness and safety of CHE, for preventing and treating RILI, are evaluated for the first time.

2. Methods

2.1. Database and Search Strategies

Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) were identified by systematic searches in MEDLINE, Cochrane Controlled Trials, Springer, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database, and Wan-Fang database of China Science Periodical Database (CSPD) from the date of inception until April, 2016. The searching terms were “radiation induced lung injury/radiation pneumonitis/radiation induced pulmonary fibrosis” or “Traditional Chinese Medicine/herbal medicine” without language limitation. Reference lists from studies selected by electronic searching were hand searched.

2.2. Inclusion Criteria and Exclusion Criteria

We included trials with patients 18 years old and older, who have been clearly diagnosed with malignant tumors by pathology or cytology and were treated with thoracic radiotherapy. The dose of radiotherapy was not restricted. We ensured that patient age, gender, pathology, and disease stage were comparable among the treatment groups. CHE interventions should be approved by China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA), including single herb extractions and extractions from a compound of several herbs. The preparation method (e.g., oral decoction, powder, and injection) and delivery mode (e.g., oral, intravenous, and aerosol inhalation) of the CHE were not restricted. The control interventions were either placebo/no intervention, or conventional treatment such as Glucocorticoid and/or antibiotics. We also included studies that compared CHE combined with conventional medicine to conventional medicine alone. Studies with inadequate CHE quality control were excluded.

2.3. Types of Outcome Measures

(1) Incidence of RILI. Primary outcome was the incidence of RILI, including acute RP and RIPF. We considered the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) scale [39] or National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) Version 4.03 scale [40] for the clinical grading of RILI (Table 1).

Table 1: RTOG and NCI-CTCAE Version 4.03 clinical grading scale of radiation pneumonitis.

Grade
RTOG
NCI-CTCAE

1
Mild dry cough not requiring medications
Asymptomatic; clinical or diagnostic observations only; intervention not indicated

2
Cough requiring narcotic antitussives or dyspnoea not at rest
Symptomatic; medical intervention indicated; limiting instrumental ADL

3
Severe cough not controlled by medications. Dyspnoea at rest
Severe symptoms; limiting self-care ADL; oxygen indicated

4
Continuous oxygen or assisted ventilation
Life-threatening respiratory compromise; urgent intervention indicated (e.g., tracheotomy or intubation)

5
Fatal
Death

(2) Clinical Effectiveness. Total effective rate and remission rate of RILI patients were assessed according to Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) criteria [41].

Complete Remission (CR). The patients felt completely free from all symptoms, with normal results in X-ray or Computed Tomography (CT) examination for more than 4 weeks.

Partial Remission (PR). Symptoms alleviated obviously, with shadows reduced ≥50% in X-ray or CT examination for more than 4 weeks.

Not Cured (NC). Compared with before treatment, symptoms did not alleviate with shadows or fibrosis in X-ray or CT examination.

(3) Quality of Life (Qol). Patient’s Qol was measured before and after radiotherapy using the Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scale. An increase of 10 points or more on the KPS score was considered improvement.

(4) Clinical Symptoms and Signs. Duration of fever, cough, asthma exacerbation, and colored sputum was evaluated.

(5) Inflammatory Cytokines. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), TGF-, and TNF- cytokines in plasma were evaluated.

(6) Thymus Dependent Lymphocytes (T Lymphocytes) Subgroups and Natural Killer (NK) Cells. T lymphocytes subgroups in peripheral blood were evaluated, including CD3+ lymphocytes, CD4+ lymphocytes, and CD8+ lymphocytes. Natural killer (NK) cells were also evaluated.

(7) Incidence of Adverse Events. Adverse events related to CHE intervention were extracted.

2.4. Data Extraction and Quality Assessment

The included studies were evaluated and the relevant data were extracted by two authors (BD and CD) independently. Differences were resolved by a third party. An electronic database was established using EndNotX7 software. The improved Jadad scale was used to assess the quality of the trials, including randomization; blinding of participants, personnel, and outcome assessors; completeness of outcome data; and other threats to validity [42]. High quality is 4–7 points. Low quality is 1–3 points.

2.5. Data Synthesis

Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.0 (Cochrane Collaboration, UK). Dichotomous data were expressed as odds ratio (OR) and continuous data were expressed as mean difference (MD). Heterogeneity between results was assessed by statistics and Cochran’s -test, and % or was defined as indicating heterogeneity. The fixed-effect model was used in homogeneity data merging and the random-effects model was suitable for the merging of heterogeneous data [42]. Subgroups were divided according to constituents of CHE intervention. CHE containing the same ingredients was combined into 1 subgroup. Publication bias was evaluated by visual assessment of the asymmetry of funnel plots.

3. Results

3.1. Description of Studies and Methodological Quality (Figure 1 and Table 2)

Primary searches identified 1167 references from the above databases. After duplicates, animal studies, case reports, reviews, and obvious ineligibility were removed, a total of 397 references were retrieved for text review. After assessment according to inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria, 28 studies were included [5–28]. Publication year of included studies ranging from 2006 to 2016, which in the years of 2012 and 2015 had a larger amount of studies than other years (14 studies, 55.82% cases). All the studies were conducted in mainland China. Since all included studies were assessed to be of high quality (improved Jadad score of 4–7 points), the risk of bias in this systematic review was low. All studies employed computer software or random number table for randomization. Three studies used conventional medicine as control; only one study performed double-blinding. Eleven trials followed participants for 1 to 12 months.

Table 2: An overview of the included studies.

Study
Sample
size
Mean age (year)
(median/range)
% men
Dose of radiotherapy (Gy)
CHE intervention
Control
Administration of CHE
Dose of CHE
Course of CHE (d)
Grading scale
Jadad score

Bi and Sun 2015
50
58
60.0
40–65
SFI
Placebo
iv
40 mL
42 d
RTOG
4

Cong et al. 2012
50
—
82.0
60–70
EI
—
iv
400 mg
14 d 2 cycles
RTOG
4

Duan et al. 2014
63
60.2
74.6
60–66
TRQI
—
iv
20 mL
30–33 d
RTOG
4

Duan et al. 2014
96
46.2
53.1
40–76
ADI
Glucocorticoid
iv
50 mL
20 d/40 d
RTOG
4

Gong and Luo 2009
61
61.3
62.3
—
TRQI + Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
iv
20 mL
21 d
Reference
4

Hou et al. 2013
232
60
78.0
30–70
CKI
—
iv
15–20 mL
14 d 2 cycles
RTOG
4

Huang et al. 2006
62
58.7
79.0
—
SHLI + DXI
Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
iv
60 mg + 10–20 mL
14 d
—
4

Li and Ma 2015
50
56
66.0
—
SQFZI + Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
iv
250 mL
21 d
RTOG
4

Li et al. 2016
120
54.36
60.0
50–66
LI
—
iv
100 mL
35–45 d
Reference
4

Li et al. 2014
98
—
59.2
50–64
LI
—
iv
80 mg
33–42 d
RTOG
4

Liu et al. 2013
130
54
56.2
—
LBZI + Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
iv
200 mg
21 d
Reference
4

Liu and Li 2016
100
65.9
53.0
64–70
LI
—
iv
120 mg
21 d
Reference
4

Liu et al. 2008
85
65
70.6
60–70
Berberine
Placebo
p.o.
20 mg/kg
42 d
RTOG
7

Pan and Tang 2006
66
46.2
53.0
40–70
SMI + Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
iv
50 mL
7–14 d
RTOG
4

Ruan and Qun 2010
40
—
35.0
—
DI + Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
iv
800 mg
21 d
Reference
4

Tian et al. 2006
169
32–78
58.0
—
TRQI
Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
iv
20 mL
15 d
RTOG
4

Xu 2013
72
55.7
54.2
—
DLI + Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
iv
20 mL
14 d
Reference
4

Xu 2016
68
47.1
57.4
—
XBJI + Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
iv
200 mL
14 d
—
4

Xu et al. 2013
85
45
56.5
38–70
CKI
—
iv
30 mL
19–35 d
NCI-CTCAE
4

Wang et al. 2013
224
60
79.9
60–70
CKI
—
iv
15 mL
14 d
RTOG
4

Wang et al. 2016
72
66
61.1
60–66
YZXJC
—
p.o.
4.68 g
72–75 d
NCI-CTCAE
4

Yan and Jiang 2014
80
57
76.3
60–65
SMI
—
Aerosol inhalation
20 mL
35 d
RTOG
4

Yang and Jia 2010
53
59.5
60.4
40–76
SMI + Glucocorticoid
Glucocorticoid
iv
30 mL
28 d
UICC
4

Yang et al. 2015
170
61.2
60.6
56–64
TRQI
—
iv
20 mL
28 d
RTOG
4

Zhang et al. 2007
104
56.9
55.8
39–65
LBZI + Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
iv
400 mg
21 d
Reference
4

Zhang et al. 2012
126
57.6
68.3
60–72
SMI
—
iv
50 mL
With radiotherapy
RTOG
4

Zheng et al. 2007
80
61.3
66.3
40–60
SQFZI + Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
Antibiotic, Glucocorticoid
iv
250 mL
14 d
RTOG
4

Zou and Liu 2008
128
55
51.6
—
LBZI + Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
Antibiotics, Glucocorticoid
iv
400 mg
21 d
Reference
4

Figure 1: Flow chart of literature search.

3.2. Participants

In total, 2734 participants receiving thoracic radiotherapy were included. The average size of the study was 98 participants, ranging from 40 to 232 per study. All studies included adult patients, both male and female, and 63.68% participants were male patients. The entities of patients included lung cancer ( cases), esophagus cancer ( cases), breast cancer ( cases), and mediastinal malignant tumors ( cases). The entities of the other 419 cases were not mentioned. Eighteen studies only enrolled inpatients ( cases, 57.68%), the remaining 10 studies did not report the setting ( cases, 42.32%). The dose of radiotherapy varies from 30 to 76 Gy but mostly 38 to 70 Gy (15 studies). Thirteen studies used RTOG grade of RILI. Other studies used NCI-CTCAE, UICC, or other grading scales (described in references) to quantify the grade of RILI.

3.3. Intervention Comparisons (Table 3)

Sixteen CHE were evaluated, including 14 injections and 2 oral medicines. Shen Mai Injection (SMI) and Tan Re Qing Injection (TRQI) were most widely used in these studies. Six studies evaluated extractions from single herb or active ingredient(s). The other 22 studies evaluated extractions from Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound prescriptions. The most popular herbs were Radix Ginseng (Rubra)/Radix Codonopsis (9 times). Radix Scutellariae, Flos Lonicerae (5 times), Fructus Forsythiae (5 times), and Rhizoma Chuanxiong (5 times) were also popular.

Table 3: Constituents of included Chinese herbal extractions.

Chinese herbal extraction
Abbreviation
Medicinal herbs

Ai Di Injection
ADI
Radix Ginseng, Radix Astragali, Radix Et Caulis Acanthopanacis Senticosi, Mylabris

Berberine
Berberine
Rhizoma Coptidis

Compound Kushen Injection
CKI
Radix Sophorae Flavescentis, Rhizoma Hterosmilacis

Danshen Injection
DI
Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae

Danshen Ligustrazine Injection
DLI
Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Rhizoma Chuanxiong

Dan Xiang Injection
DXI
Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Lignum Dalbergiae Odoriferae

Elemene Injection
EI
Radix Curcumae/Rhizoma Curcumae

Lian Bi Zhi Injection
LBZI
Herba Andrographis

Ligustrazine Injection
LI
Rhizoma Chuanxiong

Shen Fu Injection
SFI
Radix Ginseng Rubra, Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata

Shuang Huang Lian Injection
SHLI
Fructus Forsythiae, Flos Lonicerae, Radix Scutellariae

Shen Mai Injection
SMI
Radix Ginseng, Radix Ophiopogonis

Shen Qi Fu Zheng Injection
SQFZI
Radix Codonopsis, Radix Astragali

Tan Re Qing Injection
TRQI
Radix Scutellariae, Fel ursi, Cornu gorais, Flos Lonicerae, Fructus Forsythiae

Xue Bi Jing Injection
XBJI
Flos Carthami, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, Rhizoma Chuanxiong, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Radix Angelicae Sinensis

Yang Zheng Xiao Ji Capsule
YZXJC
Radix Astragali, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi, Radix Ginseng, Rhizoma Curcumae, Ganoderma, and so on

Thirteen studies ( cases) compared CHE to placebo or no treatment. Twelve studies ( cases) tested CHE combined with Glucocorticoid and/or antibiotics, compared to the same western medications for RILI management. And other 3 studies ( cases) tested CHE compared to Glucocorticoid and/or antibiotics. Three kinds of administration methods were employed in these 28 studies, including intravenous drip (25 studies), oral administration (2 studies), and aerosol inhalation (1 study). The duration of intervention varied from 7 days to 75 days but mostly 14 to 35 days (22 studies).

3.4. Preventing Effects of Interventions

3.4.1. Incidence of Acute Radiation Pneumonitis (Figure 2)

Sixteen studies reported incidence of grades 1–5 acute RP. Ten CHE were evaluated and 1789 cases were included. The incidence of acute RP in CHE group was 34.76% and control group was 56.07%. Meta-analysis showed incidence of acute RP was significantly reduced in CHE group (, OR = 0.34, 95% CI [0.28–0.43]). Subgroup analysis showed all CHE reduced the incidence of acute RP, except for Elemene Injection (EI).

Figure 2: Forest plot of comparison: incidence of acute radiation pneumonitis.

3.4.2. Incidence of Radiation Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis (Figure 3)

Five trials ( cases) reported incidence of RIPF, and three CHE were evaluated. The incidence of RIPF in CHE group was 22.38%, with 44.60% in control group. Subgroup analysis showed that all CHE reduced the incidence of radiation pulmonary fibrosis (, OR = 0.35, 95% CI [0.24–0.50]).

Figure 3: Forest plot of comparison: incidence of radiation induced pulmonary fibrosis.

3.5. Therapeutic Effects of Interventions

3.5.1. Total Effective Rate (Figure 4)

Twelve trials included 1069 cases that already developed RILI and reported curative effects of 9 CHE injections intervention. The total effective rate (TER) of CHE group was 90.91%, and control group was 71.29%. Meta-analysis showed TER of RILI patients increased significantly in CHM group (, OR = 4.44, 95% CI [3.10–6.36]). Subgroup analysis showed all CHE injections significantly increased the TER of RILI patients ( or ), except for Danshen Ligustrazine Injection (DLI), Shen Qi Fu Zheng Injection (SQFZI), and Xue Bi Jing Injection (XBJI).

Figure 4: Forest plot of comparison: total effective rate of radiation induced lung injury.

3.5.2. Complete Remission Rate (Figure 5)

Eleven trials (1028 cases) evaluated the complete remission (CR) rate of 8 CHE injections intervention. The CR of CHE group was 52.26% and control group was 33.13%. Meta-analysis showed CR of RILI patients increased significantly in CHE group (, OR = 2.43, 95% CI [1.86–3.17]). Subgroup analysis showed DLI, Lian Bi Zhi Injection (LBZI), TRQI, and XBJI significantly increased the CR ( or ).

Figure 5: Forest plot of comparison: complete remission rate of radiation induced lung injury.

3.6. Percentage of Quality of Life Improvement (Figure 6)

Eight studies reported percentage of Qol improvement. Seven CHE injections were evaluated and 719 cases were included. The percentage of Qol improvement in CHE group was 60.67%, with 33.33% in control group. Meta-analysis showed the percentage of Qol improvement increased significantly in CHE group (, OR = 3.61, 95% CI [2.58–5.06]). Subgroup analysis showed all CHE injections significantly increased percentage of Qol improvement ( or ), except for EI, LBZI, and TRQI.

Figure 6: Forest plot of comparison: percentage of quality of life improvement.

3.7. Clinical Symptoms and Signs (Supplemental Figure  1)

Two studies ( cases) investigated the duration of fever, cough, asthma, and colored sputum. Meta-analysis and subgroup analysis showed LBZI and TRQI significantly reduced the duration of fever individually (, MD = −1.23, 95% CI [−1.81–−0.66]). The duration of asthma and colored sputum also reduced significantly ( MD = −1.43, 95% CI [−2.50–−0.36]; , MD = −1.99, 95% CI [−3.71–−0.26]) (see Supplementary Material available online at https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2141645).

3.8. Inflammatory and Fibrosis Cytokines (Supplemental Figure  2)

3.8.1. TGF- Cytokine

Four studies ( cases) investigated TGF- cytokine in plasma after treatments of 3 CHE individually. Meta-analysis and subgroup analysis showed these CHE significantly reduced TGF- cytokine in plasma individually (, MD = −3.46, 95% CI [−4.20–−2.73]).

3.8.2. TNF- Cytokine

Two studies ( cases) investigated TNF- cytokine in plasma after Danshen Injcection (DI) or Ligustrazine Injection (LI) treatment. Meta-analysis and subgroup analysis showed these injections reduced TNF- cytokine in plasma individually (, MD = −1.42, 95% CI [−1.60–−1.25]).

3.8.3. IL-6 Cytokine

Three studies ( cases) investigated IL-6 cytokine in plasma after treatments of 3 CHE injections individually. Meta-analysis and subgroup analysis showed these injections significantly reduced plasma IL-6 cytokine individually (, MD = −25.17, 95% CI [−42.68–−7.66]).

3.9. Thymus Dependent Lymphocytes Subgroups and Natural Killer Cells (Supplemental Figure  3)

Two studies ( cases) investigated subset of T lymphocytes in peripheral blood after Compound Kushen Injection (CKI) or SMI treatment. Meta-analysis and subgroup analysis showed these injections significantly increased the levels of CD3+ T lymphocytes (, MD = 9.63, 95% CI [3.68–15.58]), CD4+ T lymphocytes (, MD = 10.16, 95% CI [6.58–13.74]), and NK cells (, MD = 6.25, 95% CI [5.81–6.70]), while changes of CD8+ T lymphocytes were not statistical differences.

3.10. Adverse Events and Publication Bias (Figure 7)

No adverse events associated with CME interventions were reported among included studies. Exploration of the funnel plot for incidence of acute RP, TER, and CR of RILI patients between CME group and control suggested almost symmetry; no significant publication bias was showed.

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 7: Funnel plot analysis of risk of bias. (a) Incidence of acute radiation pneumonitis. (b) Total effective rate of radiation induced lung injury. (c) Complete remission rate of radiation induced lung injury.

4. Discussions

Radiation is one of the main therapies for lung cancer and other malignancies, but RILI is a dose-limiting factor for radiotherapy and is sometimes life-threatening. RILI limits the effectiveness, dose, and schedule of radiotherapy and reduces the Qol of patients. At present, there is a trend emphasizing the Qol in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy in addition to its cancer-killing effects. Thus, the prevention of RILI with CHE represents a new avenue for dealing with these side effects of radiotherapy.

Early RILI manifests as acute RP, occurs between 1 and 3 months of radiation, and is characterized by the loss of type I pneumocytes, increases in capillary permeability, interstitial edema, and alveolar capillary congestion, and the accumulation of inflammatory and immune cells from peripheral blood in the alveolar space. In this stage, LBZI, SMI, and TRQI reduced the incidence of acute RP and increased TER and CR in RP patients. CKI, LI, Shen Fu Injection (SFI), and SQFZI, prevented the incidence of RP, while Ai Di Injection (ADI), DI, DLI, Shuang Huang Lian Injection (SHLI), and XBJI increased TER or CR in acute RP patients. The proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-αand IL-6) were reduced by DI and SFI. CKI and SMI improved T lymphocytes subgroups in peripheral blood.

Radiation induces a second wave release of profibrosis cytokines (including TGF-), around 6–8 weeks after radiation. The increased TGF- causes influx of fibroblasts and their conversion to myofibroblasts, thus causing lung fibrosis. This in turn causes hypoxia which induces profibrosis and proangiogenic cytokines release. The vicious cycle continues and leads to chronic lung disease [1]. In this stage, berberine, LI, and TRQI significantly reduced the incidence of RIPF. TGF- decreased significantly after berberine, EI, and TRQI intervention; therefore the vicious cycle was broken.

RILI is not recorded in classic TCM books. Based on syndrome differentiation and treatment, TCM oncologists believe radiation falls under the category of heat toxin in TCM theory. CKI, TRQI, SHLI, and LBZI are extracted from herbs with clearing heat and removing toxicity efficacy. These treatments reduced the duration of fever and colored sputum and relieved pneumonia in vivo [35]. CKI have anticancer effects for various types of solid tumors, such as non-small-cell lung cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, and so on [43, 44]. Matrine (the main chemical ingredient of CKI) and its derivatives exhibit a variety of pharmacological activities including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic effects [43, 44]. They could also prevent or reduce chemotherapy- and/or radiotherapy-induced toxicity and reduce cancer induced pain [45, 46]. Radix Scutellariae, Flos Lonicerae, and Fructus Forsythiae in TRQI and SHLI have anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties in various models of lung injury [47–49]. Baicalin, extracted and purified from Radix Scutellariae, exerts an inhibitory effect on airway inflammation, and this effect may be associated with the inhibition of CC chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) and its ligands CCL19/CCL21 [47]. Luteolin, an active flavonoid compound isolated from Flos Lonicerae, has a potent antifibrotic activity; this effect was mediated, at least in part, by inhibition of lung inflammation and suppression of myofibroblast differentiation as well as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition [48]. Forsythin, an active ingredient extracted from Fructus Forsythiae, exerts anti-inflammatory action via suppressing LPS-induced activation of JAK-STATs and p38 MAPKs signaling and production of ROS in macrophage cells [49]. Andrographolide, from Herba Andrographis in LBZI, markedly hampered the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and NLRP3 inflammasome both in vivo and in vitro thus decreasing levels of TNF- and IL-1 [50].

In TCM theory, heat toxin burns lung Yin, injures Fluid, and consumes Qi. ADI, SFI, SMI, SQFZI, and Yang Zheng Xiao Ji Capsule (YZXJC) are extracted from herbs with reinforcing Qi and nourishing Yin efficacy [36, 37]. Radix Ginseng is a main component of these 5 CHE. A high pretreatment dose of ginseng extractions resulted in a marked attenuation of the severity of inflammatory changes in lung tissue in a mouse model of RILI and led to significant reductions in TNF-α and TGF-1 cytokines [51]. In vivo, ginseng extractions and SFI led to significant reductions in TNF- and TGF-1 cytokines. This may be a key mechanism behind the preventive effects of these 4 injections on RILI [36]. Ginsenoside Rg3 a main ingredient of ginseng extractions was able to sensitize A549 and H1299 lung carcinoma cells to γ-radiation and significantly enhance the efficacy of radiation therapy in C57BL/6 mice bearing a Lewis lung carcinoma cell xenograft tumor [52]. Radix Astragali in SQFZI and YZXJC is considered as potential and powerful exogenous source of antioxidants. It provides significant protection against lung injury in various models of oxidative stress-related disease [53].

Lung fibrosis falls under the category of blood stasis in TCM theory. Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Rhizoma Chuanxiong, Radix Curcumae, and Rhizoma Curcumae promote blood circulation to remove blood stasis. Their extractions tanshinone, LI, and EI relieved RILI in vivo [38] and have antitumor effects against lung cancer [54–56]. EI also enhances the radiosensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma [57].

This review has its limitations. We only included studies published in journals. Dissertations and conference papers were not included. Only high quality (improved Jadad score 4 points) trials were included. We excluded 285 trials with low quality or insufficient information for assessing risk of bias. We only included studies about herbal extractions approved by CFDA, herbal extractions without quality control were excluded. Therefore, it may not be possible to achieve a complete summary of all existent evidence. Studies conducted in different countries, which would strengthen the results on the different scales, were lacking. Future trials should assure adequate concealment of allocation and blinding of outcome assessors. And long-term outcomes, such as PFS (Progression-Free-Survival) and OS (Overall survival), should also be evaluated.

5. Conclusions

From our study, we found that herbal medicine extractions intervention may have clinical effectiveness for relieving RILI and related symptoms and signs and lead to improvement of Qol. However, the evidence is not sufficient. More double-blind, multicenter, large-scale RCTs are needed to draw definitive conclusions.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Authors’ Contributions

Bo Deng and Chao Deng contributed equally to this paper.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Fund of Natural Sciences no. 81473524 of China.

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