The mechanisms and clinical application of Traditional Chinese Medicine Lianhua-Qingwen capsule

Abstract

Lianhua-Qingwen capsule (LQC) is a commonly used Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in China and has 11 herb components. The main active ingredient can target specific molecules and perform many clinic treatment roles. LQC has been authorized by National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China to treat severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002-2003, type A influenza virus HIN1 pandemic in 2009, H7N9, H3N2 and coronavirus disease-19 (COVID19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) in 2020. It is also widely used to treat common cold with wind-heat syndrome, chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), amygdalitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This article summarizes the advanced research progress of LQC in clinical application, mechanisms and provides new clues in the clinical application of LQC.

Keywords: Broad-spectrum antiviral; Lianhua-Qingwen capsule; SARS; SARS-COV-2.

Fig. 1

Pathogenesis of SARS-COV-2. S protein of SARS-COV-2 bind to ACE2 and endocytosed by target cells. In target cells, SARS-COV-2 replicated, assembled and released by exocytosis. Besides, SARS-COV-2 can downregulate ACE2 and make angiotensinⅡ bind to AT1R which induce NFκB pathway to regulate expression of DNA of inflammatory cytokines. SARS-COV-2 also can be recognized by IgG and induce immune cells to secrete cytokines. Finally, cytokines storm occurs and induce tissue injury.

Fig. 2

Mechanism of Lianhuaqingwen capsule (LQC). LQC can inhibit M protein of SARS-COV-2 which help virus replication. LQC also inhibit binding of S protein with ACE2 and activation of cytokines. By blocking virus binding with cells, LQC prevent cytokines storm from occurring and protect the tissue.