Efficacy evaluation of "Tieu doc duong nhan" oral liquid in the treatment of acne vulgaris at Da Nang Traditional Medicine Hospital

Abstract

Background: Acne vulgaris is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit that significantly impacts aesthetic appearance and quality of life. Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of "Tieu doc duong nhan" oral liquid extract in patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris. Methods: An open-label controlled clinical trial was conducted on 60 patients at Da Nang Traditional Medicine Hospital (Apr-Oct 2020), divided into two matched groups: Study group (30 patients taking "Tieu doc duong nhan" 50 ml/day for 60 days) and Control group (30 patients taking Doxycycline 100 mg/day for 30 days, then 100 mg/2 days for 30 days). Results: After 60 days, the total number of primary lesions decreased significantly in both groups (p < 0.05). The overall effective rate in the study group was 61.8 ± 3.0% (cured 3.3%, marked 56.7%, effective 33.3%), comparable to the control group (61.4 ± 0.9%, p > 0.05). Traditional medicine symptoms improved significantly in the study group compared to controls (p < 0.05). The herbal liquid exhibited high safety without altering hematological or liver/kidney parameters (AST, ALT, Urea, Creatinine), with mild Gastrointestinal disturbance occurring in only 3.33%. Conclusion: "Tieu doc duong nhan" liquid extract demonstrates equivalent efficacy to Doxycycline 100mg in mild to moderate acne vulgaris, effectively relieves systemic traditional medicine symptoms, and possesses an excellent safety profile.