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Chinese Medicine for Treatment of COVID-19: A Review of Potential Pharmacological Components and Mechanisms

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Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute infectious respiratory disease that has been prevalent since December 2019. Chinese medicine (CM) has demonstrated its unique advantages in the fight against COVID-19 in the areas of disease prevention, improvement of clinical symptoms, and control of disease progression. This review summarized the relevant material components of CM in the treatment of COVID-19 by searching the relevant literature and reports on CM in the treatment of COVID-19 and combining with the physiological and pathological characteristics of the novel coronavirus. On the basis of sorting out experimental methods in vivo and in vitro, the mechanism of herb action was further clarified in terms of inhibiting virus invasion and replication and improving related complications. The aim of the article is to explore the strengths and characteristics of CM in the treatment of COVID-19, and to provide a basis for the research and scientific, standardized treatment of COVID-19 with CM.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful the support from the Key Laboratory of Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of Ministry of Education, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100700, China

    Qian-qian Xu, Xiao-dan Fan, He-rong Cui, Qian-qian Dai, Xin-yi Zhang,  Liang-zhen You & Hong-cai Shang

  2. The Geriatrics Center, First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230031, China

    Dong-dong Yu

  3. School of Medical Information Engineering, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 51006, China

    Xiao-ying Zhong

  4. Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China

    Chen Zhao

Authors
  1. Qian-qian Xu
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  2. Dong-dong Yu
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  3. Xiao-dan Fan
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  4. He-rong Cui
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  5. Qian-qian Dai
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  6. Xiao-ying Zhong
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  7. Xin-yi Zhang
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  8. Chen Zhao
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  9. Liang-zhen You
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  10. Hong-cai Shang
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Contributions

Xu QQ, Fan XD and Yu DD designed, drafted and revised the manuscript. Cui HR guided the writing of the article. Dai QQ, Zhang XY and Zhong XY searched the databases. Zhao C provided methodological guidance. You LZ and Shang HC conceived and supervised the study. All authors agreed the final version of this article.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Liang-zhen You.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Supported by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (No. GZY-KJS-2021-055)

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Xu, Qq., Yu, Dd., Fan, Xd. et al. Chinese Medicine for Treatment of COVID-19: A Review of Potential Pharmacological Components and Mechanisms. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 31, 83–95 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-024-3909-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-024-3909-z

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