Lianhuaqingwen exerts anti-viral and anti-inflammatory activity against novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)
Authors: Jiang Haiming
Hou Yunlong
Zhao Jin
Ma Qinhai
Pan Weiqi
Huang Shuxiang
Shi Yongxia
Zheng Kui
Dai Jun
Li Xiaobo
Hou Xiaotao
Wang Lin
Li Chufang
Jia Zhenhua
Yang Zifeng
Zhong Nanshan
Huang Jicheng
Li Runfeng
Journal: Pharmacological research (2020)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Coronavirus; Lianhuaqingwen; SARS-CoV-2.
Affiliations: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China., Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, China., Technology Centre, Guangzhou Customs, China., KingMed Virology Diagnostic & Translational Center, China., State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau SAR, China; KingMed Virology Diagnostic & Translational Center, China. Electronic address: .

Abstract:  Purpose: Lianhuaqingwen (LH) as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula has been used to treat influenza and exerted broad-spectrum antiviral effects on a series of influenza viruses and immune regulatory effects Ding et al. (2017). The goal of this study is to demonstrate the antiviral activity of LH against the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus and its potential effect in regulating host immune response. Methods: The antiviral activity of LH against SARS-CoV-2 was assessed in Vero E6 cells using CPE and plaque reduction assay. The effect of LH on virion morphology was visualized under transmission electron microscope. Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression levels upon SARS-CoV-2 infection in Huh-7 cells were measured by real-time quantitative PCR assays. Results: LH significantly inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells and markedly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, CCL-2/MCP-1 and CXCL-10/IP-10) production at the mRNA levels. Furthermore, LH treatment resulted in abnormal particle morphology of virion in cells. Conclusions: LH significantly inhibits the SARS-COV-2 replication, affects virus morphology and exerts anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. These findings indicate that LH protects against the virus attack, making its use a novel strategy for controlling the COVID-19 disease. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 In Introduction, u201cLianhuaqingwen (LH), a Chinese patent medicine composed of 13 herbs, has played a positive role in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2. A retrospective analysis of clinical records was conducted in the SARS-CoV-2 infected patients at Wuhan Ninth Hospital and CR WISCO General Hospital. LH combination could significantly relieve cardinal symptoms and reduce the course of the COVID-19 [13]u201d After reading Reference 13, I think this is a misleading statement. The evidence given by the authors cannot support such optimistic statements. Although this article mainly discusses a cytology study, why did the reviewers not suggest that the authors use more stable wording for Lianhuaqingwen in the introduction? The Reference 13, *Retrospective Clinical Analysis on Treatment of Novel Coronavirus-infected Pneumonia with Traditional Chinese Medicine Lianhua Qingwen*, can be found in CNKI with its Chinese name, *u4e2du836fu8fdeu82b1u6e05u761fu6cbbu7597u65b0u578bu51a0u72b6u75c5u6bd2u80bau708eu7684u56deu987eu6027u4e34u5e8au5206u6790*(doiuff1a10.13422 j.cnki.syfjx.20201099, not indexed by Crossref). There were only 42 patients divided into conventional treatment group and extra treatment with Lianhua Qingwen group in this research, and there are significant difference in the age of patients between conventional treatment group(62.4u00b112.3) and extra treatment group (57.1u00b114.0). This is a no-blind method, no placebo control, no discussion on how to control bias, and a small sample study. Reference 13 is a low-quality evidence in all respects. Whatu2019s interesting, the authors said next: u201c(Reference 13)making it(Lianhua Qingwen) successively included in the Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Pneumonia (On Trials, the Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Edition) issued by National Health Commission of the Peopleu2019s Republic of China and also recommended by 20 provincial health commissions including Hubei, Beijing, and Shanghai as well as National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of COVID-19.u201d It mentioned that Chinese official medical guideline recognize this low-quality evidence, which is worrying about the quality of this medical guideline. ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] , 
 #1  It mentioned that Chinese official medical guideline recognize this low-quality evidence, which is worrying about the quality of this medical guideline. The penultimate author (Zhong Nanshan)  [was president of the Chinese Medical Association from 2005 to 2009 and is currently the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Thoracic Disease]  ; also currently director of the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases. Possibly a contributor to that Chinese official medical guideline? And [a firm believer in TCM] : ![file] , 
 See https: retractionwatch.com 2021 09 15 authors-who-dont-disclose-conflicts-of-interest-we-cannot-force-them-to-do-so-says-editor for concerns about undisclosed conflicts of interest. , 
 Conflicts of Interest listed in a [December 2021 Corrigendum] . The Editor s willingness to affirm the **correctness** of the study (as well as its rigor) tells us all we need to know. ------------------------------- Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. provided the study drug, Lianhuaqingwen capsules Lot No.B2001019, for this research. It had no role in the data acquisition, statistical analysis and writing of this article. The corresponding author, Dr. Jia Zhenhua is the son-in-law of Wu Yiling, who is the founder of the study drug manufacturer, Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Dr. Jia Zhenhua, as the leader of Hebei Provincial Department of Science and Technology NCP Prevention and Control Emergency Scientific Research Project, played a role in u201cfunding acquisitionu201d as to direct this government funding for the study (Grant no. 20277708D). Zhong Nanshan signed a u201ccooperation projectu201d agreement with Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical in 2015 to test the study drug and cooperates with it. The other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. The Editor notes that the article has been additionally peer reviewed post publication and its scientific rigour and correctness confirmed. ,