ABSTRACT
Background: SARS-CoV-2 has led to a sharp increase in the number of hospitalizations and deaths from pneumonia and multiorgan disease worldwide;therefore, SARS-CoV-2 has become a global health problem. Supportive therapies remain the mainstay treatments against COVID-19, such as oxygen inhalation, antiviral drugs, and antibiotics. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been shown clinically to relieve the symptoms of COVID-19 infection, and TCMs can affect the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. Jing Si Herbal Drink (JSHD), an eight herb formula jointly developed by Tzu Chi University and Tzu Chi Hospital, has shown potential as an adjuvant treatment for COVID-19 infection. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) of JSHD as an adjuvant treatment in patients with COVID-19 infection is underway Objectives: This article aims to explore the efficacy of the herbs in JSHD against COVID-19 infection from a mechanistic standpoint and provide a reference for the rational utilization of JSHD in the treatment of COVID-19. Method(s): We compiled evidence of the herbs in JSHD to treat COVID-19 in vivo and in vitro. Result(s): We described the efficacy and mechanism of action of the active ingredients in JSHD to treat COVID-19 based on experimental evidence. JSHD includes 5 antiviral herbs, 7 antioxidant herbs, and 7 anti-inflammatory herbs. In addition, 2 herbs inhibit the overactive immune system, 1 herb reduces cell apoptosis, and 1 herb possesses antithrombotic ability. Conclusion(s): Although experimental data have confirmed that the ingredients in JSHD are effective against COVID-19, more rigorously designed studies are required to confirm the efficacy and safety of JSHD as a COVID-19 treatment.Copyright © 2021
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the application pattern and mechanism of medicine and food homologous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) against modern viral diseases. Methods The method of literature mining was applied based on the characteristics of modern viral diseases, combining with ancient books and modern prescriptions for the prevention and treatment of viral diseases to build a relevant prescription database. Then SPSS and R language were used to analyze the high-frequency medicine and food homologous TCM and high confidence medicine and food homologous prescriptions in these prescriptions, and cluster analysis was carried out. The antiviral characteristic active ingredients of high-frequency medicinal and food homologous TCN were identified and analyzed, and the action mechanism of active ingredients against modern viral diseases was evaluate by network pharmacology. Results In the prevention and treatment of modern viral diseases, Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma)-Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium)-Fuling (Poria) had the highest confidence, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix) had the highest support. At the same time, the prescriptions were clustered and analyzed to obtain Jinyinhua (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos)-Huangqi (Astragali Radix)-Huoxiang (Agastache rugosa), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum)-Poria-Platycodonis Radix-Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma)-Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Zisu (Perilla frutescens)-Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), Lugen (Phragmitis Rhizoma)-Sangye (Mori Folium), Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens)-Dazao (Jujubae Fructus) clustering new prescription. The core action targets of EGFR, CASP3, VEGFA, STAT3, MMP9, HSP90AA1, mTOR, PTGS2, MMP2, TLR4, MAPK14, etc were identified. The action mechanism involved human cytomegalovirus infection, coronavirus disease-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), etc. The core action pathway were phosphatidylinositol-3/kinase protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signal pathway, mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway, interleukin-17 (IL-17) signal pathway, Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signal pathway, etc. Conclusion Through data mining, six new prescriptions for preventing and controlling modern viral diseases were obtained, and the mechanism of action was preliminarily discussed, which provided some reference for the research and development of medicine and food homologous TCM prescriptions for the prevention and treatment of viral epidemics and related health products.