1.
Ginsenoside-Rd improves outcome of acute ischaemic stroke - a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial.
Liu, X, Wang, L, Wen, A, Yang, J, Yan, Y, Song, Y, Liu, X, Ren, H, Wu, Y, Li, Z, et al
European journal of neurology. 2012;(6):855-63
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Ginsenoside-Rd is a receptor-operated calcium channel antagonist and has shown promise as a neuroprotectant in our phase II study. As an extended work, we sought to confirm its efficacy and safety of Ginsenoside-Rd in patients with acute ischaemic stroke. METHODS We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 390 patients with acute ischaemic stroke in a 3:1 ratio to receive a 14-day intravenous infusion of Ginsenoside-Rd or placebo within 72 h after the onset of stroke. Our primary end-point was the distribution of disability scores on the modified Rankin scale (mRs) at 90 days. RESULTS The efficacy analysis was based on 386 patients (Ginsenoside-Rd group: 290; placebo group: 96). Ginsenoside-Rd significantly improved the overall distribution of scores on the mRs, as compared with the placebo (P = 0.02; odds ratios [OR], 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-2.78). There were significant differences between the two groups when we categorized the scores into 0-1 vs. 2-5 (P = 0.01; OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.23-4.38; 66.8% vs. 53.1%). It also improved the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at 15 days [P < 0.01; least squares mean (LSM), -0.77; 95% CI, -1.31 to -0.24]. Mortality and rates of adverse events were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Ginsenoside-Rd improved the primary outcome of acute ischaemic stroke and had an acceptable adverse-event profile.
2.
Radix/rhizoma notoginseng extract (sanchitongtshu) for ischemic stroke: a randomized controlled study.
He, L, Chen, X, Zhou, M, Zhang, D, Yang, J, Yang, M, Zhou, D
Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. 2011;(6):437-42
Abstract
Agents of sanchi have been widely used as a complementary medicine for stroke in China. Sanchitongshu is a new Chinese patent medicine extracted from sanchi which has stronger anti-platelet activity than other agents of sanchi. Our aim was to investigate the synergistic action of low dose of aspirin combined with sanchitongshu capsule in the treatment of patients with light and moderate ischemic stroke in acute and subacute stages. This was a multi-center, double-blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial conducted in four hospitals in China from July 2004 to 2006. 140 patients of ischemic stroke in anterior cerebral circulation within 30 days of onset were enrolled. Participants were assigned either to receive aspirin (50mg per day) and sanchitongshu capsule (200mg three times a day) or aspirin (50mg per day) and placebo capsule. Low dose of aspirin combined with sanchitongshu capsule significantly ameliorated neurological deficit (increased score of ESS: t=-5.02, p<0.0001) and activities of daily living (increased score of BI: t=-2.4, p=0.0178) after treatment compared with aspirin alone. Adverse reaction which occurred equally in both arms, was light to moderate and disappeared without special treatment. Sanchitongshu capsule, as a complementary medicine to aspirin, was effective in improving outcomes after ischemic stroke. It was a safe drug in our trial.