Application of Traditional Chinese Medical Herbs in Prevention and Treatment of Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Table 1

Aqueous extracts of TCMHs in prevention of RSV.

Herbs	Used part	Prevention activity	References
Fresh ginger	Rhizome	Showed its better effect when given before viral infection: viral attachment ↓; viral internalization ↓	[29]
		In HEp-2 cells: IC50 was 212.7 μg/mL (2 h before); in A549 cells: IC50 was 26 μg/mL (2 h before); IC50 was 82.8 μg/mL (1 h before)
		Secrete IFN- that contributed to the inhibition of viral replication
Ginseng (naturally dried)	Root	Anti-inflammatory functions: less weight loss; diminishing pulmonary inflammatory response	[30]
		Inducing host immune responses toward Th1 type immunity: IgG2a isotype antibodies ↑; IFN-γ ↑; IL-4 ↓; CD4 T cell infiltration ↓: cell numbers of CD4+ T (CD3+ CD8−) cells ↓; the ratio of CD8+/CD4+ T cells ↑
Panax Korean red ginseng (fermented red)	Root	In the prevention of RSV infections: improved survival of human lung epithelial cells against RSV infection; inhibited RSV-induced cellular oxidative damage	[31]
		Play a role in priming the host immune system: enhanced IFN-γ production following RSV viral infection; blocked induction of RSV-induced proinflammatory gene expression in the human alveolar epithelial cell line
Radix Glycyrrhizae	Rhizome	It is more effective when given before viral inoculation (): inhibition of viral attachment () and penetration ()	[32]
		In HEp-2 cells: IC50 was 78.0 μg/mL (2 h before); IC50 was 99.7 μg/mL (1 h before); in A549 cells: IC50 was 18.8 μg/mL (2 h before); IC50 was 33.8 μg/mL (1 h before)
		Stimulate mucosal cells to secrete IFN-β to counteract viral infection

IL-4: interleukin-4; IFN-γ: interferon-γ; IFN-β: interferon β; Th1 type immunity: T helper type 1 (Th1) immune; A549: human lung carcinoma cell; HEp-2: human larynx epidermoid carcinoma cell.