Traditional Chinese Medicine Applications in Infectious Disease Management
Summary
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) employs a holistic framework, integrating multi-herb formulations, syndrome differentiation and individualised treatment to address infectious diseases. Rooted in empirical practice, TCM formulations such as Qingfei Paidu decoction and Lianhua Qingwen capsules have been deployed in outbreaks from SARS to COVID-19, serving as adjuvant therapies to reduce symptom severity, shorten disease course and modulate the immune response. Contemporary research has elucidated antiviral mechanisms of bioactive constituents—flavonoids, alkaloids and terpenoids—that inhibit viral entry, replication and protein synthesis. Network pharmacology and systems-biology studies reveal synergistic interactions between multiple compounds and host targets, guiding the optimisation of herbal combinations. Innovative delivery platforms inspired by decoction principles, including self-assembling hydrogels, seek to enhance bioavailability and targeted release. Despite promising clinical and preclinical evidence, challenges persist in standardising herbal quality, rigorous mechanistic validation and integration of TCM into global infectious-disease protocols.
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Technical terms
Decoction: A preparation method involving prolonged boiling of medicinal herbs in water to extract active constituents.
Hydrogel: A three-dimensional polymeric network capable of entrapping bioactive compounds and controlling their release in aqueous environments.
Bioactive compound: A naturally occurring molecule in medicinal plants that exerts a pharmacological effect on pathogens or host cells.
Cytokine storm: A dysregulated immune response marked by excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to tissue damage.
ACE2 receptor: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, a cell-surface protein that serves as an entry point for SARS-CoV-2.
Nanomaterials: Materials engineered at the nanoscale to improve drug solubility, stability, targeting and cellular uptake.
References
- Effectiveness and safety of Sanhan Huashi granules versus nirmatrelvir–ritonavir in adult patients with COVID-19: A randomized, open-label, multicenter trial. Science Bulletin (2024).
- Advancing the Identification of Bioactive Molecules and the Construction of a Synergistic Drug Delivery System in Combating Lung Injury. Advanced Science (2025).
- Anti-SARS-CoV-2 and anticancer properties of triptolide and its derived carbonized nanomaterials. Cancer Letters (2025).
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