Narrative review of Dachengqi Decoction for sepsis-induced organ injury

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Frontiers in Medicine Published April 28, 2026 Medically reviewed April 28, 2026 DOI ↗ By Dr. Julia Lee, PhD · Oncology, Genomics & Drug Development

Key Takeaway

Consider that Dachengqi Decoction may protect against sepsis-induced organ injury, but evidence is qualitative and lacks quantitative data.

This is a narrative review that examines the potential of Dachengqi Decoction (DCQD), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, and its bioactive constituents or metabolites for treating sepsis and associated multiple organ dysfunction. The review covers protective effects against sepsis-induced injury of the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, liver, kidneys, and heart.

The authors report that DCQD and its bioactive metabolites exert protective effects through anti-inflammatory actions, immune regulation, improvement of microcirculation, and attenuation of oxidative stress. No pooled effect sizes, absolute numbers, or confidence intervals are provided, and the review does not specify the number or types of studies included.

Limitations are not explicitly stated in the abstract, but the narrative nature and lack of quantitative synthesis mean the conclusions are qualitative. Safety data, including adverse events and tolerability, are not reported. The review does not detail study designs (e.g., preclinical vs. clinical), which limits the ability to assess clinical applicability.

Clinicians should interpret these findings cautiously. While DCQD shows therapeutic potential for sepsis-induced organ dysfunction, the absence of effect sizes, safety data, and study-level details precludes definitive recommendations. Further rigorous studies are needed to confirm efficacy and safety.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedApr 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

Sepsis is a life-threatening systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by dysregulated host responses to infection, which frequently progresses to multiple organ dysfunction and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Conventional Western medicine has limited efficacy in controlling inflammation and protecting target organs. In contrast, DCQD, a classical traditional Chinese medicine formula, has attracted increasing attention due to its multi-target pharmacological properties. This review systematically summarize recent advances in the study of DCQD and its bioactive constituents in the treatment of sepsis and sepsis-related organ injuries, and to explore their underlying mechanisms and translational potential. Relevant studies published from 2015 to October 2025 were systematically searched in PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang databases. Studies focusing on the protective effects and mechanisms of DCQD and its active metabolites in sepsis and target organ protection were included and reviewed. Current evidence indicates that DCQD and its bioactive metabolites exert protective effects against sepsis-induced injury of the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, liver, kidneys, and heart. These protective effects are primarily achieved through multiple mechanisms, including anti-inflammatory, immune regulation, improvement of microcirculation, and attenuation of oxidative stress. DCQD and its active metabolites show significant therapeutic potential for sepsis and associated target organ dysfunction. Their multi-target and multi-pathway mechanisms provide a scientific basis for optimizing treatment strategies and developing novel traditional Chinese medicine-based therapeutics.