Table 1.
Characteristics of the included RCTs for acne vulgaris
| First author, year | Composition of herb(s), used form of EAHM, amount used | sample size (randomized, /analysed) | Experimental group(intervention, regimen) | Control group (intervention, regimen) | Outcome measures | Main results | AEs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baek, 2011[18] | S. flavescens, Lotion, n.r. | M)/30 | (A) EAHM lotion (containing S. /lavescens), n= 15. 56 sessions (2 times per day for 28 days) | (B) Placebo lotion (coniaining S. flavescens), n=15. 56 sessions (2 times per day for 28 days) | (1) Sebum of skin (2) Anti-bacterial activity test |
(1) Significant difference in (A)a but not in (B) (2) NS |
Itching (1 in group(A)), irritation (1 in group (A)) |
| Capitanio, 2012[19] | L. digitataa, Cream, n.r. | 60/60 | (A) EAHM cream (containing L. digilaia), n=30, 102 sessions (2 times per day for 8 weeks) | (A) Placebo cream (without L. digilaia), n=30, 102 sessions (2 times per day for 8 weeks) | (1) Acne lesion count ① Inflammatory lesions ② Non- Inflammatory lesions (2) Sebum of skin |
(1) ① (A) better than (B) but NS ② Positiveb (2) Improved in (A) and (B) but NS between groups |
None |
| Du, 2004[20] | H. cordala. Pack. n.r. | 65/44 | (A) EAHM pack (containing H. cordata), n=24, 56 sessions (2 times per day for 28 days) | (B) Placebo pack (without H. cordata), n=20, 56 sessions (2 times per day for 28days) | (1) Acne lesion count □ Inflammatory lesions □ Non- Inflammatory lesions (2) patient-reported changes in symptom |
(1) ① Significant difference in (A)c but not in (B) ② Significant difference in (A)c but noi in (B) (2) Positivea |
Itching (2 in group(A)), irritation (2 in group (A)), pigmentation (1 in group (A)) |
| Enshaieh, 2007[21] | M, alternifolia, Gel. n.r. | 60/60 | (A) EAHM gel (containing M, alternifolia). n=30, 90 sessions (2 times per day for 45 days) | (B) Placebo gel (without M. ollcnufolia), n=30. 90 sessions (2 times per day for 45 days) | (1) Acne lesion count ① Inflammatory lesions (papules) ② Inflammatory lesions (pustules) ③ Non-Inflammatory lesions (comedones) (2) Global assessment |
(1) ① Positivea ② Positiveb ③ Positivec (2) Positivec |
Pruritus (3 in group (A), 2 in group (B)), burning sensation (1 in group (A), 2 in group (B)), scaling (1 in group(A)) |
| Khan, 2014[22] | H. rhamnoides, Emulsion, total 500 mg | 50/50 | (A) EAHM emulsion (containing H. rhamnoides), n=25d, 112 sessions (2 times per day for 8 weeks) | (B) Placebo emulsion (without plant extract), n=25d, 112 sessions (2 times per day for 8 weeks) (c) EAHM emulsion (containing C. fistula), n=25d, 112 sessions (2 times per day for 8 weeks) |
(1) Global assessment (2) Sebum of skin (3) Anti-bacterial activity test |
(1) Unclear (2) (A)a, (B)b significantly better than (C) (3) Anti-bacterial activity was observed in (A) and (H) but not in (C) |
Itching and irritation(4 in group (A), 7 in group (B)) |
| Park, 2013[23] | B. platyphyllae, Foaming cleanser total 170 ml, toner total 200ml, ampule total 60ml | 60/60 | (A) EAHM product (containing B. platyphyllae), n=30, 102 sessions (2 times per day for 56 days) | (B) Placebo product (without B. platyphyllae), n=30, 102 sessions (2 times per day for 56 days) | (1) Global assessment (2) Sebum of skin (3) Moisture of skin (4) Quality of life (skindex29) |
(1) Positivea
(2) NS (3) NS (4) NS |
None |
| Parveen, 2009[24] | 13 herbse, Cream, n.r. | 30/30 | (A) EAHM cream, n=20, 120 sessions (2 times per day for 60 days) | (B) Placebo cream, n=10, 120 sessions (2 times per day for 60 days) | (1) Global assessment | (1) Significant diflcrcncc in (A)a but not in (B) | n.r. |
| Sharquie, 2006[25] | C. sinensis, Lotion, n.r. | 60/49 | (A) EAHM lotion (containing C. sinensistea leaves), n=25, 60 sessions (2 times per day for 30 days) | (B) Placebo solution(without C. sinensistea leaves), n=24, 60 sessions (2 times per day for 30 days) | (1) Acne lesion count ① Inflammatory lesions (papules) ② Inflammatory lesions (pustules) (2) patient-reported changes in symptom |
(1) ① Positivea ② Positivea (2) Positiveb |
None |
| Sharquie, 2008[26] | C. sinensis, Lotion, n.r. | 47/40 | (A) EAHM lotion (Containing C. sinensis), n=20, 120 sessions (2 times per day for 60 days) | (B) Zinc sulphate solution, n=20, 120 sessions (2 times per day for 60 days) | (1) Global assessment (2) Acne lesion count ① Inflammatory lesions (papules) ② Inflammatory lesions (pustules) |
(1) (A) better than (B) (2) ① Significant difference in (A)c but not in (B) ② Significant difference in (A)c but not in (B) |
Itching (5 in group (A), 2 in group (B)), burning sensation (5 in group (B)) |
| Zeng, 2012[27] | S. baicalensis + P. amurense + I. tincoria, Pack, n.r. | 233/233 | (A) EAHM pack, n=113, 8 sessions (2 times per week for 4 weeks)bs | (B) Benzoyl peroxide gel, n=120, 28 sessions (1 time per day for 28 days) | (1) Acne lesion count (2) patient-reported changes in symptom |
(1) Positivea
(2) Positiveb |
AEs (2 in group (A), 3 in group (B)) |
p<0.05; bp<0.01; cp<0.001; dcheeks of same patients with acne received (A) versus (C), and (B) versus (C) respectively; e 13 herbs: A. barbadensis + A. indica + A. sarcocolla + B. serrata + C. myrrha + C. rotundus + C. zizanoides + J. officinale + L. ensata + M. chamomilla + N. arbor-tristis + O. europaea + P. dulcis
A. barbadensis, Aloe barbadensis; A. indica, Azadirachta indica; A. sarcocolla, Astragalus sarcocolla; AEs, Adverse events; B. Platyphyllae, Betulae platyphyllae; B. serrata, Boswellia serrafa; C. fistula, Cassia fistula; C. myrrha, Commiphora myrrha; C. rotundus, Cyperus rotundus; C. sinensis, Camellia sinensis; C. zizanoides, Chrysopogon zizanoides; EAHM, External application of herbal medicine; H. cordata, Houttuynia cordata; H. rhamnoides, Hippophae rhamnoides; I. ensata, Iris ensata; I. tinctoria, Isatis tinctoria; J. officinale, Jasminum officinale; L. digitate, Laminaria digitata; M. alternifolia, Melaleuca alternifolia; M. chamomilla, Matricaria chamomilla; N. arbor-tristis, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis; NS, No significant difference; O. europaea, Olea europaea; P. amurense, Phellodendron amurense; P. dulcis, Prinus dulcis; S. baicalensis, Scutellaria baicalensis; S. flavescens, Sophora flavescens.