Puerarin injection for treatment of unstable angina pectoris: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

BACKGROUND

Puerarin is an effective ingredient isolated from Radix Puerariae, a leguminous plant. In China, a large number of early studies suggest that puerarin may be used in the treatment of coronary heart disease. In recent years, puerarin injection has been widely used to treat coronary heart disease and angina pectoris.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of puerarin injection in the treatment of unstable angina pectoris (UAP).

METHODS

Data were retrieved from digital databases, including PubMed, Excerpt Medica Database (EMBASE), China Biology Medicine (CBM), the Cochrane Library, and Chinese databases.

RESULTS

Compared with patients who were treated with conventional Western medicines alone, the patients who were treated with conventional Western medicines in combination with puerarin injection exhibited significant improvements in the incidence of angina pectoris, electrocardiogram findings, nitroglycerin consumption and plasma endothelin levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Strong evidence suggests that, the use of puerarin in combination with conventional Western medicines is a better treatment option for treating UAP, compared with the use of conventional Western medicines alone.