Lianhuaqingwen exerts anti-viral and anti-inflammatory activity against novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

PURPOSE: Lianhuaqingwen (LH) as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula has been used to treat influenza and exerted broad-spectrum antiviral effects on a series of influenza viruses and immune regulatory effects Ding et al. (2017). The goal of this study is to demonstrate the antiviral activity of LH against the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus and its potential effect in regulating host immune response. METHODS: The antiviral activity of LH against SARS-CoV-2 was assessed in Vero E6 cells using CPE and plaque reduction assay. The effect of LH on virion morphology was visualized under transmission electron microscope. Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression levels upon SARS-CoV-2 infection in Huh-7 cells were measured by real-time quantitative PCR assays. RESULTS: LH significantly inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells and markedly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, CCL-2/MCP-1 and CXCL-10/IP-10) production at the mRNA levels. Furthermore, LH treatment resulted in abnormal particle morphology of virion in cells. CONCLUSIONS: LH significantly inhibits the SARS-COV-2 replication, affects virus morphology and exerts anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. These findings indicate that LH protects against the virus attack, making its use a novel strategy for controlling the COVID-19 disease.

Effects of combined administration of Ephedrae-Cinnamomi on pharmacokinetics of ephedra alkaloids,cinnamic acid and cinnamic alcohol in rats / 中国药理学通报

Aims Tocomparethepharmacokineticsof ephedra alkaloids,cinnamic acid and cinnamic alcohol in Ephedrae, Cinnamomi and Ephedrae-Cinnamomi herb couple through UPLC-MS/MS in rats respective-ly,and to investigate the effect of combination on phys-iologicaldisposition.Methods Plasmasampleswere collected at different times after oral administration of Ephedrae,Cinnamomi and Ephedrae-Cinnamomi herb couple extracts.The concentrations of ephedra alka-loids,cinnamic acid and cinnamic alcohol in plasma samples were determined by UPLC-MS/MS.DAS 3. 0 was used to calculate pharmacokinetic parameters.The differences of samples in two groups were conducted with univariate statistical analysis using SPSS 13. 0. Results ComparedwithEphedraegroup,theCmaxof norephedrine hydrochloride, norpseudoephedrine hydrochloride,ephedrine hydrochloride,pseudoephed-rine hydrochloride,and methylephedrine hydrochloride in Ephedrae-Cinnamomi herb couple group were signif-icantly greater (P<0. 05 );the AUC0-t of norpseudo-ephedrine hydrochloride was significantly greater (P<0. 05 );the MRT0-t of norephedrine hydrochloride, phedrine hydrochloride, pseudoephedrine hydrochlo-ride,and methylephedrine hydrochloride were signifi-cantly less (P <0. 05 );the T1/2z of norephedrine hydrochloride,phedrine hydrochloride,and methyl-ephedrine hydrochloride were significantly less (P <0. 05 ).The AUC0-t and MRT0-t of cinnamic acid and cinnamic alcohol were significantly greater than those inCinnamomigroup(P<0.05).Conclusion The combination of Ephedrae and Cinnamomi improves the absorption concentration of five ephedra alkaloids, Slows down the elimination of norephedrine hydrochlo-ride,phedrine hydrochloride,pseudoephedrine hydro-chloride,and methylephedrine hydrochloride,and in-creases the bioavailability of cinnamic acid and cin-namic alcohol.