A comprehensive quality analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials of Asian ginseng and American ginseng based on the CONSORT guideline

Figures

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  Fig. 1. The flow-chart summary of the search process.

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  Fig. 2. The current tendency for time distribution, country landscape, functional classification, preparation category, and product use in Asian ginseng and American ginseng RCTs. A. The annual and cumulative number of Asian ginseng and American ginseng RCTs from 1980 to 2019. The blue column represents the annual RCT number of Asian ginseng. The pink column represents the annual RCT number of American ginseng. The dark blue line represents the cumulative RCT number of Asian ginseng. The dark pink line represents the cumulative RCT number of American ginseng. B. The analysis of function classification for Asian ginseng and American ginseng RCTs. The blue column represents the total RCT number of Asian ginseng in each function classification. The pink column represents the total RCT number of American ginseng in each function classification. C. The analysis of country landscape for Asian ginseng and American ginseng RCTs. The blue column represents the total RCT number for Asian ginseng in different countries. The pink column represents the total RCT number for American ginseng in different countries. D. The analysis of preparation category for Asian ginseng and American ginseng RCTs. The…

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  Fig. 3. The column diagram shows the percentage of “yes” (Y) in one item for all RCTs related to Asian ginseng and American ginseng. The blue column represents the Asian ginseng. The pink column represents the American ginseng. The black line indicates that the percentage is 50%.

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  Fig. 4. The quality analysis of the six domains: title and abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and other information. The length of the internal radius represents the percentage of “reported” and the external radius represents the percentage of “not reported”. The indigo issue represents “title and abstract”. The yellow issue represents “introduction”. The orange issue represents “methods”. The green issue represents “results”, The blue issue represents “discussion”. The pink issue represents “other information”. A. The Asian ginseng pie chart. B. The American ginseng pie chart.

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  Fig. 5. The RCT quality score for Asian ginseng and American ginseng with three factors: publication date, sample size and trial length. A. The all RCTs quality score column diagram for Asian ginseng and American ginseng (presented as the mean ± the standard deviation (SD)). The blue scatter points represent the RCT quality scores for Asian ginseng. The pink scatter points represent the RCT quality scores for American ginseng. B. The all RCT quality score column diagram for Asian ginseng and American ginseng with regard to publication date (Mean ± SD). The blue scatter points represent the RCT quality scores of Asian ginseng. The pink scatter points represent the RCT quality scores for American ginseng. C. The all RCT quality score column diagram for Asian ginseng and American ginseng with regard to sample size (Mean ± SD). The blue scatter points represent the RCT quality scores of Asian ginseng. The pink scatter points represent the RCT quality scores of American ginseng. D. The all RCT quality score scatter diagram for both Asian ginseng and American ginseng with regard to trial length (Mean ± SD). The blue scatter points represent the RCT quality scores of Asian ginseng. The pink…