TABLE 3.

Subgroup analysis of MMSE at the end of treatment (with or without top three frequently used herbs ^a ).

Subgroups	No. of studies	No. of participants	MD [95% CI]	I2%
1) With and without Ren shen (Test for subgroup difference: p = 0.94)
With Ren shen	6	464	1.88 [0.86, 2.89]	90
Wthout Ren shen	4	284	1.81 [0.55, 3.07]	87
2) With and without Shi chang pu (Test for subgroup difference: p = 0.03)
With Shi chang pu	2	149	2.76 [2.29, 3.23]	0
Without Shi chang pu	8	599	1.64 [0.78, 2.50]	89
3) With and without Yuan zhi (Test for subgroup difference: p = 0.05)
With Yuan zhi	3	179	2.70 [2.23, 3.16]	0
Without Yuan zhi	7	569	1.65 [0.73, 2.57]	90
4) With and without Shi chang pu & Yuan zhi (Test for subgroup difference: p = 0.03)
With Shi chang pu & Yuan zhi	2	149	2.76 [2.29, 3.23]	0
Without Shi chang pu & Yuan zhi	8	599	1.64 [0.78, 2.50]	89

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; I²: index of heterogeneity; IV, inverse variance; MD, mean difference.

^a Top three frequently used herbs: Panax ginseng C.A.Mey. (Ren shen), Acorus calamus var. angustatus Besser (Shi chang pu), Polygala tenuifolia Willd. (Yuan zhi).