Effects of the Chinese Herb Formula Yufeining on Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial

Background: A Chinese herb formula Yufeining (YFN) has showed promise in the treatment of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), less is known that the impact of YFN in combination with standard Western treatments on lung inflammation. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of YFN as a treatment for stable COPD and as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Methods: Sixty patients with stable COPD were randomly assigned to two treatment groups (YFN treatment, N = 30; placebo treatment, N = 30). Both groups received inhaled steroids and bronchodilators during an 8-week intervention, and patient status was assessed at 8 weeks later and 4 months after treatment. The primary outcome included clinical efficacy. The secondary outcomes involved CAT score, mMRC grade, six-minute walking distance (6MWD). IL-8, TNF-α, IL-17A, LTB4, TGF-β1 and CRP were also detection in peripheral serum, as well as adverse reaction conditions.

Results: The YFN group demonstrated a significant improvement in clinical efficacy (compare 89.3% to 63.3% in the placebo group; P < 0.05). CAT scores and mMRC grades significantly decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and 6MWD significantly increased (P<0.05), after YFN treatment. The levels of IL-8, TNF-α, LTB4 and CRP decreased significantly after 8 weeks of treatment compared to baseline levels in both groups. Only in the YFN treatment group, the levels of IL-17A decreased significantly after treatment compared to baseline levels (P < 0.05). No changes were observed inTGF-β1 from pre-to post-treatment in either group (P > 0.05). Serum levels of IL-8, TNF-α, IL-17A, LTB4 and CRP decreased significantly after YFN treatment compared to the placebo group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: A combinatorial treatment approach with YFN, inhaled steroids and bronchodilators produced a clinically effective treatment for stable COPD, leading to a significant decrease in circulating inflammatory mediators. The study appeared YFN was safety.

Clinical Trial Registration Number: No. ChiCTR-IOR-17013577.