{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]],"date-time":"2026-07-24T07:02:02Z","timestamp":1784876522739,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]],"date-time":"2026-07-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784851200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Pharmacol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Matrine and oxymatrine are bioactive alkaloids from Sophora species with reported anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in ulcerative colitis (UC). However, their overall efficacy has not been systematically evaluated.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and SinoMed were searched to January 2026. Animal studies using matrine or oxymatrine monotherapy in UC models were included. Effect sizes were calculated as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Thirteen studies were included. Compared with controls, matrine-type alkaloids significantly reduced histopathological scores (SMD = \u22123.47, 95% CI: \u22124.83 to \u22122.11) and decreased Disease Activity Index (DAI) at 3 days (SMD = \u22122.92, 95% CI: \u22124.27 to \u22121.57) and 7 days (SMD = \u22124.76, 95% CI: \u22126.30 to \u22123.23), but not at 14 days (SMD = \u22121.01, 95% CI: \u22122.22 to 0.20). Body weight increased at 7 days (SMD = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.95\u20133.57) and 14 days (SMD = 2.41, 95% CI: 0.12\u20134.69), and colon length was also increased (SMD = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.55\u20132.64). Matrine-type alkaloids reduced TNF-\u03b1 (SMD = \u22122.88, 95% CI: \u22123.50 to \u22122.26), IL-6 (SMD = \u22122.91, 95% CI: \u22124.64 to \u22121.17), IL-1\u03b2 (SMD = \u22122.73, 95% CI: \u22124.27 to \u22121.19), and MDA levels (SMD = \u22123.06, 95% CI: \u22124.47 to \u22121.65), while increasing SOD activity (SMD = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.37\u20133.89). Subgroup analyses suggested generally similar directions of effect across species and model types. The pooled effect estimate appeared larger in the oxymatrine subgroup than in the matrine subgroup, but this indirect comparison should be interpreted cautiously.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Matrine-type alkaloids may exert protective effects in UC animal models by improving histological damage, reducing disease activity, and modulating inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways. These findings suggest their potential as multi-target therapeutic agents, although further high-quality studies are required for clinical translation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Systematic Review Registration<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      <jats:ext-link>https:\/\/www.crd.york.ac.uk\/PROSPERO\/view\/CRD420261376235<\/jats:ext-link>\n                      , identifier CRD420261376235.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2026.1870457","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]],"date-time":"2026-07-24T06:23:54Z","timestamp":1784874234000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Protective effects and possible mechanisms of matrine-type alkaloids (matrine and oxymatrine) in animal models of ulcerative colitis: a preclinical systematic review and meta-analysis"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Shuqing","family":"Lu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine","place":["Guangzhou, Guangdong, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hanjian","family":"Yang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Colorectal Surgery, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital","place":["Fuzhou, Fujian, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shiying","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine","place":["Guangzhou, Guangdong, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jiahui","family":"Ye","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of International Education, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine","place":["Nanning, Guangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Suiping","family":"Huang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine","place":["Guangzhou, Guangdong, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Linkun","family":"Cai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine","place":["Guangzhou, Guangdong, China"]},{"name":"Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome","place":["Guangzhou, Guangdong, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"219","DOI":"10.2147\/PGPM.S536459","article-title":"Ulcerative colitis: advances in pathogenesis, biomarkers, and therapeutic strategies","volume":"18","author":"Bu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Pharmgenomics Pers. Med."},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1085","DOI":"10.3390\/genes16091085","article-title":"Genetic and epigenetic factors in ulcerative colitis: a narrative literature review","volume":"16","author":"Caba","year":"2025","journal-title":"Genes (Basel)"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6490","DOI":"10.1080\/21655979.2022.2031676","article-title":"Matrine protects Colon mucosal epithelial cells against inflammation and apoptosis Via the janus kinase 2\/Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway","volume":"13","author":"Chen","year":"2022","journal-title":"Bioengineered"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2116","DOI":"10.1007\/s12325-023-02488-z","article-title":"A systematic review of the economic and health-related quality of life impact of advanced therapies used to treat moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis","volume":"40","author":"Cichewicz","year":"2023","journal-title":"Adv. Ther."},{"key":"B5","first-page":"1107","article-title":"Effect of oxymatrine on the expression of inflammatory cytokine and intestinal flora in mice with ulcerative colitis","volume":"27","author":"Derong","year":"2023","journal-title":"Anhui Med. Pharm. J."},{"key":"B6","first-page":"165","article-title":"Anti-inflammatory effects of oxymatrine through inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in lipopolysaccharide-induced Bv2 microglia cells","volume":"12","author":"Dong","year":"2013","journal-title":"Iran. J. Pharm. Res."},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1940","DOI":"10.14309\/ajg.0000000000002404","article-title":"Bowel urgency in ulcerative colitis: current perspectives and future directions","volume":"118","author":"Dubinsky","year":"2023","journal-title":"Am. J. Gastroenterol."},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.5114\/pg.2023.125882","article-title":"Guidelines for the management of ulcerative colitis. Recommendations of the Polish society of gastroenterology and the Polish national consultant in gastroenterology","volume":"18","author":"Eder","year":"2023","journal-title":"Prz. Gastroenterol."},{"key":"B9","first-page":"537","article-title":"Mechanistic study of matrine in the treatment of ulcerative colitis Via modulation of memory B cells through the Akt\/Mtor signaling pathway","volume":"34","author":"Feihao","year":"2023","journal-title":"Lishizhen Med. Materia Medica Res."},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"32","DOI":"10.1093\/mutage\/gead032","article-title":"Matrine and oxymatrine: evaluating the gene mutation potential using in silico tools and the bacterial reverse mutation assay (ames test)","volume":"39","author":"Fischer","year":"2024","journal-title":"Mutagenesis"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14156","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms232214156","article-title":"The Ppar\u03b1 regulation of the gut physiology in regard to interaction with microbiota, intestinal immunity, metabolism, and permeability","volume":"23","author":"Grabacka","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Mol. Sci."},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"293","DOI":"10.2147\/CEG.S57248","article-title":"Optimal management of steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis","volume":"8","author":"Khan","year":"2015","journal-title":"Clin. Exp. Gastroenterol."},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"571","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(23)00966-2","article-title":"Ulcerative colitis","volume":"402","author":"Le Berre","year":"2023","journal-title":"Lancet London, Engl."},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2019.00028","article-title":"Matrine mediates inflammatory response Via gut microbiota in Tnbs-induced murine colitis","volume":"10","author":"Li","year":"2019","journal-title":"Front. Physiology"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"157370","DOI":"10.1016\/j.phymed.2025.157370","article-title":"Oxymatrine ameliorates ulcerative colitis Via improving epithelial barrier function through targeting Dsg2","volume":"148","author":"Li","year":"2025","journal-title":"Phytomedicine"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"533","DOI":"10.2147\/DDDT.S349678","article-title":"Matrine exerts pharmacological effects through multiple signaling pathways: a comprehensive review","volume":"16","author":"Lin","year":"2022","journal-title":"Drug Des. Devel Ther."},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"109612","DOI":"10.1016\/j.intimp.2022.109612","article-title":"Oxymatrine ameliorated experimental colitis Via mechanisms involving inflammatory Dcs, gut Microbiota and Tlr\/Nf-\u039ab pathway","volume":"115","author":"Liu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. Immunopharmacol."},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6613","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms25126613","article-title":"Matrine ameliorates Dss-Induced colitis by suppressing inflammation, modulating oxidative stress and remodeling the gut microbiota","volume":"25","author":"Mao","year":"","journal-title":"Int. J. Mol. Sci."},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"113432","DOI":"10.1016\/j.intimp.2024.113432","article-title":"Preventive effects of matrine on Lps-Induced inflammation in raw 264.7 cells and intestinal damage in mice through the Tlr4\/Nf-\u039ab\/Mapk pathway","volume":"143","author":"Mao","year":"","journal-title":"Int. Immunopharmacol."},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103","DOI":"10.5217\/ir.2024.00119","article-title":"Clinical characteristics of patients with difficult-to-treat ulcerative colitis: a nested case-control study using a Japanese claims database","volume":"24","author":"Matsuoka","year":"2025","journal-title":"Intest. Res."},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"61","DOI":"10.5217\/ir.2022.00007","article-title":"Korean clinical practice guidelines on biologics and small molecules for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis","volume":"21","author":"Na","year":"2022","journal-title":"Intest. Res."},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"260","DOI":"10.15430\/JCP.2015.20.4.260","article-title":"Adequate dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis model in mice and effective outcome measurement method","volume":"20","author":"Park","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Cancer Prev."},{"key":"B23","first-page":"138","article-title":"Effects of oxymatrine injection on expression of Nod2 and Tnf- \u0391 in colonic intestinal mucosa of rats with experimental colitis","volume":"31","author":"Qing Tang","year":"2012","journal-title":"Her. Med."},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.1093\/ecco-jcc\/jjab178","article-title":"Ecco guidelines on therapeutics in ulcerative colitis: medical treatment","volume":"16","author":"Raine","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Crohns Colitis"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2015","DOI":"10.1007\/s10620-006-9622-2","article-title":"Oxidative stress and pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease: an epiphenomenon or the cause?","volume":"52","author":"Rezaie","year":"2007","journal-title":"Dig. Dis. Sci."},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1633","DOI":"10.1093\/ibd\/izac200","article-title":"Systematic review and meta-analysis: loss of response and need for dose escalation of infliximab and adalimumab in ulcerative colitis","volume":"29","author":"Savelkoul","year":"2023","journal-title":"Inflamm. Bowel Dis."},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"977374","DOI":"10.3389\/fnins.2022.977374","article-title":"Research progress on the pharmacological effects of matrine","volume":"16","author":"Sun","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Neurosci."},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"654","DOI":"10.2174\/0113862073292384240209095838","article-title":"Matrine: a promising treatment for ulcerative colitis by targeting the Hmgb1\/Nlrp3\/Caspase-1 pathway","volume":"28","author":"Sun","year":"2025","journal-title":"Comb. Chem. and High Throughput Screen."},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4535194","DOI":"10.1155\/2017\/4535194","article-title":"Pathomechanisms of oxidative stress in inflammatory bowel disease and potential antioxidant therapies","volume":"2017","author":"Tian","year":"2017","journal-title":"Oxid. Med. Cell Longev."},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"goae021","DOI":"10.1093\/gastro\/goae021","article-title":"Animal models of inflammatory bowel disease: category and evaluation indexes","volume":"12","author":"Wen","year":"2024","journal-title":"Gastroenterol. Rep. (Oxf)"},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e6073","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0006073","article-title":"Temporal and spatial analysis of clinical and molecular parameters in dextran sodium sulfate induced colitis","volume":"4","author":"Yan","year":"2009","journal-title":"PloS One"},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.3748\/wjg.v26.i1.55","article-title":"Synergistic protection of astragalus polysaccharides and matrine against ulcerative colitis and associated lung injury in rats","volume":"26","author":"Yan","year":"2020","journal-title":"World J. Gastroenterol."},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1120","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpba.2009.11.020","article-title":"Biopharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic characterization of matrine as determined by a sensitive and robust Uplc-Ms\/Ms method","volume":"51","author":"Yang","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Pharm. Biomed. Analysis"},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"108091","DOI":"10.1016\/j.intimp.2021.108091","article-title":"Matrine protects against Dss-Induced murine colitis by improving gut barrier integrity, inhibiting the Ppar-\u0391 signaling pathway, and modulating gut microbiota","volume":"100","author":"Yao","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. Immunopharmacol."},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.13422\/j.cnki.syfjx.20190638","article-title":"Effect of oxymatrine mediated by Rhoa\/Rock signaling pathway on expression of E-Cadherin and Tgf-\u0392 in ulcerative colitis","volume":"25","author":"Yifan Wang","year":"2019","journal-title":"Chin. J. Exp. Traditional Med. Formulae"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"152","DOI":"10.13422\/j.cnki.syfjx.2012.08.058","article-title":"Study on mechanism of oxymatrine in treatment of ulcerative colitis in rats","volume":"18","author":"Yongai Xiong","year":"2012","journal-title":"Chin. J. Exp. Traditional Med. Formulae"},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"01067","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2020.01067","article-title":"A systematic review of the pharmacology, toxicology and pharmacokinetics of matrine","volume":"11","author":"You","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front. Pharmacol."},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2882","DOI":"10.21037\/jgo-21-800","article-title":"Secondary Colon cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"12","author":"Zhang","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Gastrointest. Oncol."},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1542953","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2025.1542953","article-title":"Oxymatrine for inflammatory bowel disease in preclinical studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"12","author":"Zhao","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front. Med. (Lausanne)"},{"key":"B40","first-page":"251","article-title":"Effects of matrine on cytokines and free radicals in the intestinal mucosa of rats with ulcerative colitis","volume":"6","author":"Zhendong","year":"2011","journal-title":"Chin. Med. Biotechnol."},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2014","DOI":"10.13748\/j.cnki.issn1007-7693.2019.16.006","article-title":"Mechanism of oxymatrine alleviating oxidative damage of colonic mucosal cells by regulating autophagy in ulcerative colitis mice","volume":"36","author":"Zheng","year":"2019","journal-title":"Chin. J. Mod. Appl. Pharm."},{"key":"B42","first-page":"209","article-title":"Effect of oxymatrine on dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis: a preliminary study","volume":"6","author":"Zheng","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Gastroenterol."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Pharmacology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fphar.2026.1870457\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]],"date-time":"2026-07-24T06:23:57Z","timestamp":1784874237000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fphar.2026.1870457\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]]},"references-count":42,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fphar.2026.1870457"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fphar.2026.1870457","relation":{},"ISSN":["1663-9812"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1663-9812","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]]},"article-number":"1870457"}}