The mechanism of antiviral action of traditional Chinese medicine!

Due to its special biological characteristics and pathogenic mechanism, the virus still lacks effective prevention and treatment methods for many viral diseases. At present, the main methods for prevention and treatment of viral diseases include vaccine control, antiviral chemical synthetic drugs and exogenous cytokine treatment. Vaccine control is the most commonly used method, but there are many virus species and many serotypes, which brings difficulties for the application of vaccines; the number of antiviral western medicines is small, the clinical effect is not ideal, and there are no new antiviral synthetic drugs for many years. Produced; medical exogenous interferon, interleukin-2 can inhibit viral replication, improve cellular immune function, and have good therapeutic prospects, but it is expensive, and it is still in the basic research and clinical trials. The traditional Chinese medicine has little side effects, rich drug sources and low price. It can regulate the overall immune function, inhibit virus replication, prevent virus-induced cytopathic changes, improve clinical symptoms, and show unique advantages in the treatment of viral infectious diseases.

1 Application status of antiviral of traditional Chinese medicine

Veterinary medicines are widely used in anti-viral Chinese medicine preparations, and many of them appear under the trade name. Traditional Chinese medicine preparations mainly include two types: one is a traditional Chinese medicine preparation made of a single Chinese herbal medicine extract; the other is a traditional Chinese medicine compound preparation, which is a classical prescription or a traditional Chinese medicine preparation which is added or subtracted on the basis of a classical prescription.

2 Antiviral mechanism of Chinese medicine

2.1 Direct antiviral effect

Mainly refers to the direct killing of the virus, as well as blocking the adsorption, penetration, replication and other aspects of the virus to normal cells to achieve anti-virus purposes.

Direct killing refers to the killing effect of drugs on the virus before it invades cells. Wang Zhiyu (1996) reported that the steroids in the rhubarb alcohol extract have a direct killing effect on the virus; Li Tiemin (1994) reported that glycyrrhizin has a direct killing effect on herpes zoster virus; Zhang Qiwei (2005) reported. Banlangen It has a killing effect on herpes virus rather than inhibition.

Preventing the adsorption and penetration of viruses on cells. Zhang Weimin et al reported that the A6 component of Astragalus membranaceus has a significant inhibitory effect on the function of influenza virus envelope and the adsorption and penetration of virus into sensitive cells. Xu Xiaoqin et al. (2004) reported that flavonoids, polysaccharides and their derivatives, triterpenoids and their derivatives (such as glycyrrhizin derivatives), alkaloids and glycosides in the antiviral active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicines are Prevents the adsorption process of virus particles on host cells, and exerts antiviral effects.

Inhibition of viral replication Japanese scientists have found that licorice has a strong inhibitory effect on HIV, such as 1 ml of HIV-infected cells, 0.25 ml of glycyrrhizin, or an equal dose of intravenous injection, which can make HIV infected. All cells died without any side effects. Yang Haiyan et al. (2004) reported that polyphenols in traditional Chinese medicine can inhibit the synthesis of influenza virus proteins and RNA, and also inhibit the adsorption of influenza virus.

Stopping the virus from infected cells to uninfected cells. Li Tiemin et al reported that the herpes zoster virus was infected with glycyrrhizin after 16 hours of in vitro infection, which inhibited the spread of the virus from infected cells to uninfected cells. Xu Xiaoqin et al. Sugar and pentosan sulfate inhibit the formation of syncytia and inhibit the release of HIV-1P24 pro-culture, thereby preventing the infection of the virus from infected cells to uninfected cells.

2.2 Indirect antiviral effect

Because the virus infects the body, it must be parasitic in the cells of the body to survive and multiply. Therefore, it is especially important to enhance the body's immunity and stimulate the immune defense system of the body to indirectly exert antiviral effects. The basic idea of ​​"fostering righteousness and evil spirits" and "justifying the evil spirits, and evil can't do it".

Immune organs that promote the development of immune organs include the central immune organs such as the thymus and supra-sac and the peripheral immune organs such as the spleen and lymph nodes. Their condition directly affects the body's immunity. Sliding (1998) and others found that Astragalus and Epimedium and safflower mixture can significantly increase the weight of the sac of the small cock. Zhang Lecui et al. (1998) found that Astragalus polysaccharide and lentinan can promote spleen, thymus and other immunity. Organ development.

Enhancing the phagocytic ability of phagocytic cells Zhou et al. reported that Yupingfeng Powder not only significantly enhanced the phagocytic ability of normal mouse peritoneal macrophages, but also inhibited the phagocytic function of peritoneal macrophages caused by cyclophosphamide. Activation. Wu Hechi et al. (1984) reported that Ca2+ in Baihutang can enhance the phagocytosis of rabbit alveolar macrophages against Staphylococcus aureus and promote the maturation of macrophages. Baihutang has activation on alveolar macrophages. effect. Zhu Zuojin et al. (1994) reported that paeoniflorin and paeoniflorin in peony bark can also enhance the phagocytosis of mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro; the aerosol inoculation of paeonol can also increase the cells of lung cells. The phagocytic rate of macrophages.

Enhancing the body fluid immune antibody of strong body is the main factor of antiviral humoral immunity. Secretory IgA can prevent local invasion of virus. IgG and IgM can interrupt the spread of invaded virus through blood circulation. Zhou Yong et al reported that the mice were given a daily intraperitoneal injection of Shenqi injection (containing 0.5g of raw drug Codonopsis pilosula and Astragalus membranaceus) for 5 consecutive days. As a result, the humoral immune response was significantly enhanced and the serum antibody titer was increased. In addition, Atractylodes macrocephala, Epimedium, medlar, and Gynostemma can enhance the body's humoral immunity and increase serum IgG, IgA, and IgM levels.

Enhancing the cellular immune cell immunity of the body is an important immune response of the T cell-mediated organism, which can resist bacterial infections in intracellular microorganisms such as viruses and host cells. Because antibodies cannot enter infected cells, the elimination of intracellular viruses relies primarily on cellular immunity. Ding Yan et al reported that Epimedium polysaccharide can promote the release of mouse thymic mature cells and directly enhance the proliferation and differentiation of T cells. Sun Wei et al. (2002) reported that Xiaochaihu decoction significantly enhanced cellular immunity, humoral immunity and phagocytosis of macrophages.

Inducible Interferon (IFN) Interferon is a natural non-specific immune defense system with a broad-spectrum antiviral effect. Interferon produced by cells at the invasion site can penetrate into adjacent cells and limit the spread of the virus to the surrounding. Interferon It has no inactivation effect on the virus, and mainly acts on normal cells to produce antiviral protein and inhibit viral polymer biosynthesis, so that the cells can obtain antiviral ability. Modern research has confirmed that there are many drugs in Chinese medicine that have endogenous IFN-induced or pro-inducing effects. For example, shiitake mushroom extracted from shiitake mushroom can induce serum IFN in mice, and licorice sweet extracted from Japanese licorice by Japanese scholars. The glycyrrhetinic acid preparation can induce type II IFN and enhance the cellular immune function; Qian Ruisheng et al. (1985) reported that artesunate in Artemisia annua can induce an acid and heat-resistant in vivo. Interferon.

Enhancing the activity of natural killer cells (NKC) Natural killer cells are one kind of lymphocytes that the body participates in the immune response. They can kill tumor cells and virus-infected cells in the body, and play an immune surveillance and anti-infective role. Li Jianyong and others reported that Chinese herbal medicine Xiaochaihu Tang and Ginseng Decoction have obvious enhancement effects on inhibited NKC activity. Zhang Chongquan et al (1990) reported that Gynostemma total glycoside 400mg/kg·d, administered to mice for 10 days, can significantly improve the NKC activity caused by cyclophosphamide. In addition, raw land, rehmannia, yam, psoralen, and spleen spleen can significantly increase the activity of NKC in the aged.

Improving the adverse reactions and pathology caused by the virus The British scholar KuroKawa MM administered the influenza virus intranasally and the Kugeng soup was administered orally. It was found that Pueraria can delay the weight loss of the mice and antagonize the degeneration of the lungs. Antipyretic effect. Fu Hangyu et al. (1986) reported that the administration of Zhengchaihuyu to mice significantly inhibited the proliferation of influenza virus in the lungs of rats and the inflammation of the lungs caused by the virus, and showed a significant dose-effect relationship. It can reduce the mortality of mice infected with lethal virus and prolong the survival time. Matrine in Sophora flavescens can alleviate the degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes caused by hepatitis B virus, promote the regeneration and repair of hepatocytes, and has obvious liver-protecting effects.

3 prospects

Since the virus is a strict intracellular parasite, it relies on many functions of the host cell to replicate and proliferate, making it difficult for synthetic drugs (chemical drugs) to function. Therefore, clinically used antiviral chemical synthetic drugs are less effective and less effective; The serotype is more and the antigen is susceptible to variability, so the effect of the vaccine is getting worse and worse, and the vaccine control can accelerate the variation of the antigen. Chinese medicine treatment of viral infectious diseases does not focus solely on direct antiviral effects, but on the relationship between "virus, one body and one traditional Chinese medicine"; not only directly kills viruses, but also prevents the adsorption, penetration, replication and transfection of viruses. More importantly, it can also enhance the body's immunity and stimulate all immune defense systems that regulate the body to exert antiviral effects. Multi-channel, multi-link, and can improve the adverse reactions and symptoms caused by the virus, which is the unique advantage of traditional Chinese medicine anti-virus.