Xiao Xian Xiong Decoction as intervention for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma is Equivocal: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Introduction: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is associated with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infections and the 23^rd most common cancer in the world and the 21^st most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Conventional intervention for nasopharyngeal carcinoma is costly and possess many side-effects. While many studies claiming natural products to be an effective cancer intervention, this article reviewed the effects of ‘Xiao Xian Xiong’ decoction which is a Chinese medicine used more than two thousand years ago in treating various ailments and is said to be an effective intervention for many cancers.

Methods: This review uses keywords ‘Xiao Xian Xiong’ and ‘nasopharyngeal carcinoma’ on google scholar and PubMed to identify literatures dated from 2019 to 2023. The relevancy of literature was identified based on the title, abstracts, and full texts by two reviewers and disagreement were resolved by the third independent reviewer.

Results: Only one article in Google scholar which reported ‘Xiao Xian Xiong’ to be effective on human nasopharyngeal cell line. Another article uses Rhizoma Coptidis which is a component of ‘Xiao Xian Xiong’ in gastrointestinal cancer also reported its effectiveness.

Conclusion: Based on existing studies on each herbal component of ‘Xiao Xian Xiong’ decoction, all has been reported to yield positive results in cancer management via cellular genetic expression and cell signaling pathway. However, the interaction between metabolites presence in the herbal components of ‘Xiao Xian Xiong’ decoction were unknown. While this decoction is said to inhibit cellular proliferation, the side effects of this decoction had not been studied.