How Chinese Herbal Medicine Prevents Epidemics: From Ancient Pestilences to COVID-19 Pandemic

Wu, Xiaqiu; Zhang, Weina; Hao, Mingzhao; Liu, Xiping; Xiao, Jing; Wang, Tengfei; Dong, Yi-Zhi; Zhao, Jing

doi:10.1142/s0192415x2150049x

Cited by 31 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Wearing colorful sachets containing realgar, drinking realgar wine, and sprinkling realgar on walls and doors during the Dragon Boat Festival represent traditional public uses. Realgar works primarily by killing pathogens (disinfecting) and expelling pathogens (detoxifying) [ 75 ].…”

Section: Realgarmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Rational Application of Cinnabar, Realgar, and Their Formulations

Guan

et al. 2022

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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Ethnopharmacological Relevance. Mineral medicines are widely used traditional Chinese medicines with curative effects. These medicines are used for many refractory diseases. Aim of the Review. In this review, cinnabar (HgS) and realgar (As₂S₂) serve as examples of mineral medicines, and their pharmacology, therapeutic toxicity, use in traditional medicine mixtures, and research perspectives are discussed. Materials and Methods. A search was performed for the literature on cinnabar and realgar in PubMed, the Chinese Pharmacopeia, Google, and other sources. The search included studies using single herbs, traditional formulations, or novel dosage forms. Results. Cinnabar and cinnabar formulas exhibit good efficacy for sedation, sleep improvement, anxiety alleviation, and brain protection. However, previous studies on neurotransmitters have reached different conclusions, and detailed pharmacological mechanisms are lacking. Realgar and its formulas exert promising antitumor activity through regulation of cell cycle arrest, intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis, induction of differentiation, autophagy, metabolic reprogramming, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) signaling, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In addition, realgar can be used to treat a variety of refractory diseases by regulating immunity and exerting antibacterial, antiviral, and other effects. However, the existing pharmacological research on the use of realgar for epidemic prevention is insufficient, and animal experiments and research at the cellular level are lacking. Inappropriate applications of cinnabar and realgar can cause toxicity, including neurotoxicity, liver toxicity, kidney toxicity, and genotoxicity. The toxicological mechanism is complex, and molecular-level research is limited. For clinical applications, theory and clinical experience must be combined to guide scientific and rational drug use and to achieve reduced toxicity and increased efficacy through the use of modern preparation methods or combined drugs. Notably, when cinnabar and realgar are used to treat targeted diseases, these agents have a bidirectional effect of “treatment” and “toxicity” on the central nervous system in pathological and normal states. The pharmacological and toxicological mechanisms need to be elucidated in greater detail in the future. Overall, systematic research is needed to provide a basis for better promotion of the rational use of cinnabar and realgar in the clinic. Conclusion. Mineral medicines are multicomponent, multiactivity, and multitargeted substances. The pharmacology and mechanisms of the toxicity and action of realgar and cinnabar are extremely complex. A number of Chinese medicinal preparations of realgar and cinnabar have demonstrated unique efficacy in the treatment of refractory diseases.

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Section: Realgarmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Rational Application of Cinnabar, Realgar, and Their Formulations

Guan

et al. 2022

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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“…The COVID-19 patients are more common in the manifestations of Qi deficiency and blood stasis, for which reason they are prone to have fatigue and decreased exercise endurance. Replenishing and restoring pulmonary Qi are important approach for rehabilitation of COVID-19 ( Wu et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy and safety of Bufei Huoxue capsules in the management of convalescent patients with COVID-19 infection: A multicentre, double-blind, and randomised controlled trial

Chen

Liu

Wang

et al. 2022

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

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“…When the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic emerged, LJ was promoted as a potential remedy to deal with COVID-19, due to its effect of dispersing wind, discharging heat, and resolving dampness [ 15 ]. Its major constituent, chlorogenic acid, was also predicted to be active in targeting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), based on molecular modeling and network pharmacology approaches [ 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lonicerae Japonicae Flos Attenuates Neutrophilic Inflammation by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress

et al. 2022

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Lonicerae japonicae flos (LJ) is an Asian traditional herb that is used as a dietary supplement, tea, and beverage to clear heat and quench thirst. However, no studies investigated its effect on activated human neutrophils, which played a crucial role in the bad prognosis of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) patients by aggravating lung inflammation and respiratory failure. Herein, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of LJ ethanol extract (LJEE) on human neutrophils activated by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLF). Our experimental results indicated that LJEE suppressed fMLF-activated superoxide anion (O2•−) generation, the expression of CD11b, and cell adhesion and migration, as well as the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps in human neutrophils. Further in-depth mechanical investigation revealed that pretreatment with LJEE accelerated the Ca2+ clearance, but did not affect the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and protein kinase B (Akt) in activated human neutrophils. In addition, LJEE displayed a dose-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger activity, which assisted its anti-inflammatory activity. From the bioassay-coupled chromatographic profile, chlorogenic acids were found to dominate the anti-inflammatory effects of LJEE. Moreover, LJ water extract (LJWE) demonstrated an interrupting effect on the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 spike protein (SARS-CoV-2-Spike)/angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding. In conclusion, the obtained results not only supported the traditional use of LJ for heat-clearance, but also suggested its potential application in daily health care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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How Chinese Herbal Medicine Prevents Epidemics: From Ancient Pestilences to COVID-19 Pandemic

Cited by 31 publications

References 42 publications

Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Rational Application of Cinnabar, Realgar, and Their Formulations

Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Rational Application of Cinnabar, Realgar, and Their Formulations

Efficacy and safety of Bufei Huoxue capsules in the management of convalescent patients with COVID-19 infection: A multicentre, double-blind, and randomised controlled trial

Lonicerae Japonicae Flos Attenuates Neutrophilic Inflammation by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress

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