Exploration of Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 by Regulating Mucosal Immune System with Traditional Chinese Medicine / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Patients with low immune function are prone to novel coronavirus infection, which is consistent with the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) concept of deficiency of vital Qi and invasion of toxin. At present, it is necessary to focus on the development of antiviral drugs, but it is also urgent to study the preparation for regulating the immune system. Mucosal tissue is an important barrier of human immune system. It has an independent immune system with unique functions and structures. It is the body's first line of defense against infection, and is in direct contact with external antigens (such as food, symbiotic bacteria, viruses, etc.). In the resistance to viruses and infections, the mucosal immune system (such as respiratory mucosa, intestinal mucosa, etc.) plays an extremely important role, which can eliminate foreign pathogenic microorganisms or other foreign antigens, so that the virus does not invade the body tissue and cause damage to the body. There are more and more reports on the therapeutic effects of TCM through the mucosal immune system. This paper aims to explore the relationship between mucosal immunity and coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and the intervention mechanism of TCM, so as to provide useful research methods and therapeutic ideas for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.