The prevention and control of the COVID-19 is an issue that highly concerns the public at the present. The epidemic development attracts attention from numerous compatriots. According to the statistical data released by related departments, by January 26, 2,066 confirmed cases had been reported in accumulation in 30 provinces (municipalities, autonomous regions), including 56 deaths and 49 patients cured and discharged from hospital. A Level-1 response to a major public health emergency has been launched in multiple regions across the nation.

Under the severe situation that the COVID-19 epidemic is spreading faster, China has entered a flu season. Many flu patients were in panic because their early symptoms were similar to the pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus (including fever, dry cough, respiratory symptoms, post-fever weakness, and even some symptoms at the digestive tract). During this special period, hospitals are relatively short in medical resources. If you are not certain whether your pneumonia is caused by a flue or novel coronavirus, you can go to the hospital to receive a virus detection, and then receive a targeted treatment after the test report confirms whether it’s a flu or COVID-19. In this way, you can avoid the waste of medical resources.

Whether pneumonia is caused by a flue or novel coronavirus, it was classified in the category of “plagues” by TCM in the ancient time. In the long-term resistance against the the disease, the TCM has summarized a set of treatment systems different from that for the treatment of cold-- the doctrine of epidemic febrile disease. In Suzhou, LYS Liu Shen Wan is a typical medicine of epidemic febrile disease with an application history of over 150 years, which was used for plagues in the ancient time, particularly with distinctive curative effects for such diseases as scarlet fever and swollen sore throat. In the modern times, Liu Shen Wan is also often used in clinical treatment of flu, but today there’s still not a scientific evaluation of its effects and a clear mechanism for its action. The team led by Professor Yang Zifeng with PI of SKLRD applied related modern biological technologies and discovered that Liu Shen Wan pill/capsule can effectively inhibit flu virus multiplication and lung inflammation caused by the virus. Meanwhile, the team also discovered that through regulating the signal channel of TLR4/NF-κB, Liu Shen Wan pill/capsule can down-regulate the expression of proteins TLR4, p-NF-κB p65, NF-κB p65 and p-IκBα, up-regulate the expression of protein IκBα, thus inhibiting the secretion of inflammation factors such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IFN-γ, improving the lung inflammation caused by flu virus and lengthening the survival time of mice infected by flu virus. In the research, the team applied modern biological technology to evaluate the curative effect of Liu Shen Wan against flue virus and inflammation, interpreted the scientific connotation of famous classical medicines. The research achievement was published in the internationally renowned journal “Journal of Ethnopharmacology (IF: 3.115), which reflects that the SKLRD has made another innovative exploration in fighting the flue with Chinese medicine. Therefore, will Liu Shen Wan unleash its ability of fighting the virus and inflammation triggered by virus in the epidemic of 2019-nCoV? We expect to see more basic research data and clinical evidences.