Shuanghuanglian (Chinese: 双黄连) is a traditional Chinese medicine with a long history for treating respiratory tract infection in China. Some of its active ingredients are Wogonin, Baicalin and baicalein. It is derived from three Chinese herbal medicines, namely, Lonicera japonica Thunb., Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, and Forsythia suspense (Thunb.) Vahl. It has been used for the treatment of acute respiratory tract infections since 1973. It is mentioned in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.[1]

The substance has been shown in vitro to be cytotoxic "against a clinical isolate of SARS-CoV-2".[1]

History

In July 2020, Su et al reported on an in vitro experiment of its effect on COVID-19.[1] Following the release of the report, which was in part supported by the Jack Ma Foundation,[1] there was an uptick in Shuanghuanglian sales.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Su, Hai-xia; Yao, Sheng; Zhao, Wen-Feng; Li, Min-jun; Liu, Jia; Shang, Wei-Juan; Xie, Hang; Ke, Chang-Qiang; Hu, Hang-Chen; Gao, Mei-na; Yu, Kun-Qian; Liu, Hong; Shen, Jing-Shan; Tang, Wei; Zhang, Lei-ke; Xiao, Geng-fu; Ni, Li; Wang, Dao-wen; Zuo, Jian-Ping; Jiang, Hua-Liang; Bai, Fang; Wu, Yan; Ye, Yang; Xu, Ye-Chun (2020). "Anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities in vitro of Shuanghuanglian preparations and bioactive ingredients". Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. 41 (9): 1167–1177. doi:10.1038/s41401-020-0483-6. PMC 7393338. PMID 32737471.
  2. ^ Wee, Sui-Lee (5 February 2020). "In Coronavirus, China Weighs Benefits of Buffalo Horn and Other Remedies". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
Category