Abstract

Background: Myelosuppression is a major side effect of chemotherapy. It impairs hematopoietic function of bone marrow, decreases immunity, increases uncontrolled bleeding. Advanced myelosuppression even forces discontinuation of treatment. The agents that reduce myelosuppression can promote outcomes of clinical chemotherapy, and herbal extracts show the effects.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the effects of herbal extracts on chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression, providing evidence of their potential in mitigating myelosuppression and exploring their prospects for further clinical application.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search in six English and Chinese databases and screened studies that met the inclusion criteria. Through a systematic review of animal experiments, data were extracted and analyzed from studies that evaluated the effect of herbal extracts on myelosuppression, provided appropriate control groups for comparison, and reported key outcomes related to myelosuppression. We screened 6169 articles and ultimately selected 95 experimental studies for final analysis.

Results: The comprehensive analysis indicates that herbal extracts have a significant protective effect on myelosuppression. Herbal extracts treatment increases levels of hemoglobin, white blood cells, platelets, and granulocytes, while also enhancing immunity, which may be an effective way to alleviate chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression.

Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis underscore the significant role of herbal extracts in alleviating chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression, laying a foundation for future clinical.