Research Progress on Main Symptoms of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Improved by Traditional Chinese Medicine

Abstract

Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia has become a major threat to worldwide public health, having rapidly spread to more than 180 countries and infecting over 1.6 billion people. Fever, cough, and fatigue are the most common initial symptoms of COVID-19, while some patients experience diarrhea rather than fever in the early stage. Many herbal medicine and Chinese patent medicine can significantly improve these symptoms, cure the patients experiencing a mild 22form of the illness, reduce the rate of transition from mild to severe disease, and reduce mortality. Therefore, this paper summarizes the physiopathological mechanisms of fever, cough, fatigue and diarrhea, and introduces Chinese herbal medicines (Ephedrae Herba, Gypsum Fibrosum, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Asteris Radix et Rhizoma, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Codonopsis Radix, Atractylodis Rhizoma, etc.) and Chinese patent medicines (Shuang-huang-lian, Ma-xinggan-shi-tang, etc.) with their corresponding therapeutic effects. Emphasis was placed on their material basis, mechanism of action, and clinical research. Most of these medicines possess the pharmacological activities of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, and immunity-enhancement, and may be promising medicines for the treatment or adjuvant treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Network Analysis of Herbs Recommended for the Treatment of COVID-19

“…24 The herb Gypsum fibrosum is also shown to have an antipyretic effect with calcium as its main active component. 25 A study by Niu et al also identified that compounds such as quercetin, glabridin, and gallic acid present in Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizoma may regulate angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) for the treatment of COVID-19. 26 …”

“…24 The herb Gypsum fibrosum is also shown to have an antipyretic effect with calcium as its main active component. 25 A study by Niu et al also identified that compounds such as quercetin, glabridin, and gallic acid present in Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizoma may regulate angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) for the treatment of COVID-19. 26 For the severe stage of COVID-19, the herbs with high frequency of prescription were partly warm-natured and partly cold-natured herbs, including herbs with an extreme-warm-nature and extreme-cold-nature.…”

Cinnamon and its possible impact on COVID-19: The viewpoint of traditional and conventional medicine

“…Inflammation plays a key role in the occurrence of complications and organ damages of the coronavirus. Even common coronary symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and diarrhea can be caused by elevated cytokines [50] . Studies show that Cinnamon and its phytochemicals, including cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, cinnamic acid, and polyphenol fractions, have anti-inflammatory effects, reducing the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and other cytokines in different ways significantly ( Table 3 ).…”

Crosstalk between estrogen, dendritic cells, and SARS‐CoV‐2 infection

“…On the other hand, the inflammatory mediators, such as prostaglandin and bradykinin, also promote the cough reflex by sensitizing cough receptors. 22 …”