Efficacy of Dang Gui Shao Yao San in treating vascular dementia in animal models: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second most prevalent form of dementia, following Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and severely impacts life quality of patients. Currently, effective strategies to alleviate symptoms and delay disease progression remain unavailable. Animal studies indicate that Dang Gui Shao Yao San (DGSYS) may enhance cognitive function in VaD models through mechanisms such as antioxidation and the enhancement of cerebral blood flow. However, a systematic review of its neuroprotective effects and a comprehensive assessment of its translational potential in preclinical models are still lacking. Objective This study seeks to synthesize evidence on the intervention effects and underlying mechanisms of DGSYS in animal models of VaD through a systematic review and meta-analysis, so as to offer preclinical evidence to inform future research. Methods A comprehensive literature search was performed across eight databases: China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, Wanfang Data, SinoMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and EMBASE, to identify studies published from the inception to May 2025 on the effects of DGSYS in animal models of VaD. The primary outcomes were cognitive and behavioral assessments, histopathological alterations in brain tissue, and biomarkers of oxidative stress. The quality of the included studies was assessed using a 10-item checklist, and meta-analysis was conducted with RevMan 5.4 software. Results Seven studies involving 420 rats and mice were included. DGSYS notably enhanced cognitive and behavioral performance in the animal models. Specifically, DGSYS significantly improved spatial learning and memory performance, as assessed by the Morris water maze, and attenuated oxidative stress–related pathological changes. Conclusion Current animal studies provide evidence for the multidimensional neuroprotective effects of DGSYS in VaD, with potential mechanisms involving antioxidative stress, inhibition of neuroinflammation, and enhancement of cerebral microcirculation. However, substantial heterogeneity across outcome measures and generally low methodological quality were observed. Overall, the available evidence suggests potential neuroprotective effects of DGSYS in preclinical models, warranting further standardized and rigorously designed studies before clinical translation can be considered. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251058443 , identifier CRD420251058443.