Therapeutic options of TCM for organ injuries associated with COVID-19 and the underlying mechanism

Background: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) caused by infection with severe acute respiratory coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been spreading rapidly throughout China and in other countries since the end of 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that the epidemic is a public health emergency of international concerns. The timely and appropriate measures for treating COVID-19 in China, which are inseparable from the contribution of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), have won much praise of the world. Purpose: This review aimed to summarize and discuss the essential role of TCM in protecting tissues from injuries associated with COVID-19, and accordingly to clarify the possible action mechanisms of TCM from the perspectives of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects. Methods: Electronic databases such as Pubmed, ResearchGate, Science Direct, Web of Science, medRixv and Wiley were used to search scientific literatures. Results: The present review found that traditional Chinese herbs commonly used for the clinical treatment of organ damages caused by COVID-19, such as Scutellaria baicalensis, Salvia miltiorrhizaSalvia miltiorrhiza, and ginseng, could act on multiple signaling pathways involved in inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis. Conclusion: TCM could protect COVID-19 patients from tissue injuries, a protection that might be, at least partially, attributed to the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects of the TCM under investigation. This review provides evidence and support for clinical treatment and novel drug research using TCM.

Automated summary

This review discusses the essential role of traditional Chinese medicine in treating COVID-19, exploring its mechanisms from anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic perspectives. It highlights specific Chinese herbs commonly used for treating organ damages caused by COVID-19 and their effects on inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis signaling pathways. The review suggests that TCM can protect COVID-19 patients from tissue injuries through its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic properties, providing evidence for clinical treatment and drug research.