Abstract
BACKGROUND: Tianqi Jiangtang Capsule (TJC) is a commercial Chinese polyherbal preparation (CCPP) commonly used as adjunctive therapy for glucose management in diabetes. While its potential multi-system effects have been observed, a systematic evaluation focusing on glycemic control remains limited. This study aims to primarily assess the glucose-lowering efficacy of TJC in diabetic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) across nine electronic databases from their inception to 1 September 2025. Two independent reviewers performed trial selection, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment. Meta-analyses of efficacy and safety outcomes were performed using RevMan 5.3 and Stata 17. Evidence quality was evaluated using GRADE methodology. RESULTS: 13 RCTs involving 1,298 diabetic patients were included. Compared with conventional treatment (CT) alone or combined with placebo, TJC plus CT significantly improved primary glycemic parameters: glycated hemoglobin (mean difference [MD] = -1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.70 to -0.74, P < 0.01), fasting blood glucose (MD = -1.37, 95% CI -1.74 to -0.99, P < 0.01), and 2 h postprandial blood glucose (MD = -2.07, 95% CI -2.56 to -1.58, P < 0.01). As exploratory findings, TJC also demonstrated beneficial effects on lipid profiles, inflammatory markers, and renal function. No significant difference was observed in the incidence of adverse events between groups. CONCLUSION: TJC significantly improves glycemic control in patients with diabetes and shows potential multi-system benefits. However, its efficacy and safety profile require further validation in large-scale, high-quality trials, particularly regarding the influence of genetic factors on treatment response.