Table 4 The potential efficacy of the herbs of NRICM101 and NRICM102 used as adjunctive therapies in COVID-19 infection

Morus alba L

Vero and HeLa cells

Kuwanon X

Anti-HSV-1, HSV-2 and reduced the expression of NF-κB

[43, 44]

MDCK cells

Aqueous extracts

Exhibited H1N1 and H3N2 inhibitory activity

[48]

Molecular docking

Anti-TMPRSS2 activity

[49]

RAW264.7 cell and animal model

30%, 50%, and 75% ethanol extract

Reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreased expression of NO, iNOS and COX-2

[50]

Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz. ex Ledeb.) Schischk

Vero cells

Methanol extract

Inhibited the PEDV inhibitor

[48, 49]

RAW 264.7 cells

70% ethanol extract

Inhibited the production of NO, PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-6

[50]

Isatis tinctoria subsp. tinctoria

Vero cells

Indigo, sinigrin, aloe-emodin, and hesperetin

Anti-SARS coronavirus 3C-like protease effects

[52]

HepG2

Lariciresinol

Inhibited hepatitis B virus

[53]

Human epidermal keratinocytes and mice

Petroleum ether extract

Inhibition of IL-6, IL-33 and mast cell degranulation

[54]

Mentha canadensis L

VeroE6/TMPRSS2 cells

Aqueous extracts

Inhibited SARS-CoV-2 virus infection

[56]

RAW264.7 cells, human epidermal keratinocyte and mice

Essential oil

Inhibited the expression of NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and reduced the expression of ERK/NF-κB signaling pathways

[57]

Nepeta tenuifolia Benth

HG23 cells

80% methanol extract

Inhibited norovirus replication through the induction of antiviral interferon production during virus replication

[59]

Vero cells

Aqueous extract

Inhibited the synthesis of viral RNA and protein

[60]

Peritoneal macrophages and mice

Aqueous extract

Inhibited the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 and reduced the expression of IκB-α degradation and activation of c-Jun and ATF-2

[61]

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi

C6/36 mosquito cell line

Aqueous extract

Antiviral activities in ZIKA22, H1N123, HIV24, and DENV25 infections

[62, 63]

Vero cells

Baicalin, baicalein wogonin

Inhibits replication of SARS-CoV-2 and its 3C-like protease

[64]

RAW264.7 cell & animal model

Aqueous extract

Reduced iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α and IL‑1β levels, and NF-κB, MAPK phosphorylation

[65]

Houttuynia cordata Thunb

HeLa 229 cells

Aqueous extract

Blocked herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection via inhibition of NF-κB activation

[67, 68]

Mouse peritoneal macrophages & animal model

Volatile oil

Suppressed NO, iNOS and TNF-α

[69]

Mouse liver epithelial cell line

Quercetin, quercetrin, cinanserin

Antiviral activities in murine coronavirus and dengue virus infections

[70,71,72]

Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. ex DC

Huh7.5 cells

Methanol extract, glycycoumarin, glycyrin, glycyrol and liquiritigenin isolated, isoliquiritigenin, licochalcone A and glabridin

Anti-hepatitis C virus

[74]

Vero cells

Glycyrrhizin

Anti-SARS virus

[75, 76]

RAW264.7 cells

Glycyrrhizin and soliquiritigenin

Suppressed IL-6 and TNF-α production

[77]

Magnolia officinalis Rehder & E.H.Wilson

Vero cells

H. officinalis extract, Honokiol

Anti-human norovirus surrogates, MNV and FCV

[79]

A549 cells

Honokiol

Blocked furin-like activity and SARS-CoV-2 virus

[80]

RAW264.7 cells

Magnolol

Inhibited the expression of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, reduced the expression of the NF-κB, TLR4 and MAPK pathways

[81]

Mice

Polyphenol-rich extract

Reduced serum levels of NO, IL-6 and TNF-α in influenza virus-induced pneumonia

[82]

Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim

MCF7, SK-BR3, and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells

Trichosanthes kirilowii ethanol extract and cucurbitacin D

Bocked tumor cell proliferation and induced apoptosis

[83, 84]

RAW264.7 cells

Trichosanhemiketal A and B

Suppressed NO, iNOS and COX-2

[85]

H9 and C8166 cells

Trichobitacin

Anti-HIV-1 activity

[86]

Artemisia scoparia Waldst. et Kit

BMDMs, 3T3-L1, THP-1 cells and C57BL/6 mice

Aqueous extract

Reduced production of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, CXCL1, and IL-1β

[87, 88]

RAW264.7 cells

Scopolein

Suppresses the production of proinflammatory cytokines and inhibits LPS-induced PGE2 production through the depression of COX-2 expression

[89, 90]

MDCK and THP-1 cells

Cirsimaritin

Inhibited IAV replication by downregulating the NF-κB signaling pathway

[91]

HepG2

ethanol extracts

Anti-hepatitis C virus

[92]

ACE2^h cells

isorhamnetin

Anti-SARS virus via the binding of ACE2

[93]

Wolfiporia extensa (Peck) Ginns

RAW264.7 cells and C57BL/10ScNJ mice

Polysaccharide

Increased nitric oxide, IL-2, IL-6, IL-17 A, TNF, and IFN-γ in macrophages and reduced tumor volume

[94, 97]

BALB/c mice

Pachymic acid and dehydrotumulosic acid

Acute ear edema, indicating considerable anti-inflammatory potency

[95]

Human peripheral blood monocytes

50% hot ethanol extract

Increased the secretion of IL-1β and IL-6

[96]

Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce

RAW264.7 cells

Scutellarein-7-glucoside; quercitrin

Reduced IL-6 secretion in LPS-stimulated macrophages

[98]

293 T/MDCK cells

Athraquinone analogues

Exhibited H1N1 inhibitory activity

[99]

RAW264.7 cells

Polysaccharides

Promoted in vitro proliferation and neutral red phagocytosis of RAW 264.7 macrophage cells

[100]

Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Makino

SD rats

P. ternata (crude herb)

Anti-coughing effects, by attenuating the budesonide withdrawal-induced rebound in goblet cell numbers, MUC5AC expression, IL-1β and TNF-α release, and ERK activity

[101, 102]

BALB/c mice

Aqueous extract

Attenuated the OVA-induced increase in IL-4, IL-13, TNF-α, mucin 5AC and iNOS expression

[103]

Aconitum carmichaeli Debeaux

SD rats

Aqueous extract (processed A. carmichaeli)

Reduces serum TNF-α and IL-β levels in the rat adjuvant arthritis model

[106]

C57BL/6 J mice

Aqueous extract

Protects against ischemia-induced heart damage by attenuating inflammatory responses through the TLR4/NF-κB pathway

[107]