RESUMEN
Saffron (Crocus sativus), as an herbal medicine, has been extensively investigated for treating neurological and psychiatric disorders. This systematic review aimed to assess the overall effects of saffron on cognition, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified by searching PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and Clinical Trials databases up to June 2023 according to search terms and inclusion criteria. The participants were either healthy or suffering from some diseases, including neurological and psychiatric disorders, and consumed saffron or its extracts as an intervention. The risk of bias was assessed according to the Cochrane guidelines, and the PRISMA statement was followed. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan and STATA software. A random-effects or fixed-effects model was used to calculate the pooled effect sizes. Forty-six RCTs were enrolled, and the duration of these trials ranged from 4 to 48 weeks with saffron or its extracts, both alone or in combination with conventional drugs. Saffron was more effective than placebo in improving cognition, depression with an overall effect size of -4.26 (95% CI: -5.76, -2.77), anxiety of -3.75 (95% CI: -5.83, -1.67), and sleep disorders of -1.91 (95% CI: -2.88, -0.93). Saffron was non-inferior to conventional drugs for treating cognitive disorders, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and OCD, and it exhibited good tolerance with few side effects. Saffron may exert protective roles for neurological and psychiatric disorders and represents a relatively favorable and safe treatment.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Asthma exacerbations can do a lot of harm to the patients and consume large amounts of medical resources. Although some studies have evaluated acupuncture for asthma in children, few studies have estimated acupoint catgut embedding therapy. We aim to assess the efficacy and safety of acupoint catgut embedding for asthma in adults. METHODS: The following databases will be searched from inception to December, 2019: Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed, EMBASE, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), the Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP database), and the Wan-fang database. We will also search relevant conference abstracts, and registers of clinical trials. Two reviewers will independently undertake study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. Data will be synthesized by either the fixed-effects or random-effects model according to a heterogeneity test. The Revman V5.3 software will be used to conduct meta-analysis. RESULTS: The primary outcome was lung function, forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity (FVC) were the most commonly used parameters to evaluate lung function. The safety assessment includes the incidence of adverse events. CONCLUSION: This systematic review will retrieve clinical randomized controlled trials (RCT) on acupoint catgut embedding for asthma in 7 databases, aiming to describe and update existing evidence on the efficacy and safety of acupoint catgut embedding for asthma in adults.PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019148401.