Could herbal medicine (Soshihotang) be a new treatment option for COVID-19?: a narrative review

Abstract

Background While the world struggles under the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a variety of antiviral agents and symptomatic treatments are being administered to patients and urgent clinical trials are underway. Under these circumstances, it is important to explore various possibilities for the treatment of COVID-19 including herbal medicines. Among various herbal medicines, Soshihotang (SSHT, Xiao Chai Hu Tang in Chinese) has been prescribed to treat various viral diseases and is used in combination with other herbal medicines depending on the patient’s symptoms. Methods For conducting the present review, we searched electronic databases focusing on the antiviral effect of SSHT in experimental and clinical study until April 2020. The search keywords included SSHT, constituents of SSHT, and antiviral effect. We also searched for materials related to topic directly from websites and published books. Based on these search results, we summarized the results of the included materials in the form of a narrative review. Results In a number of recent clinical studies, treatment with SSHT improved the infection status of the respiratory and hepatobiliary systems, and experimental studies demonstrated the antiviral effect of SSHT and its components. Furthermore, SSHT are being used in China—where COVID-19 outbreak first took place—and offer a new option to treat COVID-19. Conclusion Based on the present evidences, it is believed that SSHT is likely to be a new therapeutic option for COVID-19. Conducting further studies might provide improved understanding regarding the use of SSHT in treating COVID-19.

Withdrawn: A data‐mining based analysis of traditional Chinese medicine in diagnosing and treating COVID‐19

“…Xiao Chai Hu Tang, the representative formula for treating shaoyang syndrome could perfectly improve the symptoms as alternating chills, fever and chest tightness. Additionally, several studies have found that Xiao Chai Hu Tang could exert an anti-infection effect against SARS-CoV-2 (Kwon et al, 2020;. Da Chai Hu Tang, a representative formula for yang ming and bowel excess syndrome, could remarkably improve the symptoms such as constipation and abdominal distention in the severe cases of COVID-19 (Chen et al, 2020), which could be explained by the interior-exterior relationship between Lung and Large Intestine.…”

Xiao-Chai-Hu Decoction Ameliorates Poly (I:C)-Induced Viral Pneumonia through Inhibiting Inflammatory Response and Modulating Serum Metabolism

“…Makino, Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Zingiber officinale Roscoe, and Ziziphus jujuba Mill. and has anti-infective and antiviral effects [ 10 , 11 ]. Besides, XCH is a basic formula in Qing-Fei-Pai-Du decoction used for treating COVID-19.…”

MINOR COMPOSITION COMPOUNDS OF ALGERIAN HERBAL MEDICINES AS INHIBITORS OF SARS-CoV-2 MAIN PROTEASE: MOLECULAR DOCKING AND ADMET PROPERTIES PREDICTION

“…A need for effective vaccine is being seen an as good preventive strategy in this pandemic [3]. So, a variety of antiviral agents and symptomatic treatments are being administered to patients and urgent clinical trials are underway, thus under these circumstances, it is important to explore various possibilities for the treatment of COVID-19 including herbal medicines [13]. Clarification transmission routes and pathogenic mechanisms, and identification of potential drug treatment targets will promote the development of effective prevention and treatment measures [14].…”