Efficacy and safety of Lianhuaqingwen capsules, a repurposed Chinese herb, in patients with coronavirus disease 2019: A multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has resulted in a global outbreak. Few existing targeted medications are available. Lianhuaqingwen (LH) capsule, a repurposed marketed Chinese herb product, has been proven effective for influenza. Purpose: To determine the safety and efficacy of LH capsule in patients with Covid-19. Methods: We did a prospective multicenter open-label randomized controlled trial on LH capsule in confirmed cases with Covid-19. Patients were randomized to receive usual treatment alone or in combination with LH capsules (4 capsules, thrice daily) for 14 days. The primary endpoint was the rate of symptom (fever, fatigue, coughing) recovery. Results: We included 284 patients (142 each in treatment and control group) in the full-analysis set. The recovery rate was significantly higher in treatment group as compared with control group (91.5% vs. 82.4%, p = 0.022). The median time to symptom recovery was markedly shorter in treatment group (median: 7 vs. 10 days, p < 0.001). Time to recovery of fever (2 vs. 3 days), fatigue (3 vs. 6 days) and coughing (7 vs. 10 days) was also significantly shorter in treatment group (all p < 0.001). The rate of improvement in chest computed tomographic manifestations (83.8% vs. 64.1%, p < 0.001) and clinical cure (78.9% vs. 66.2%, p = 0.017) was also higher in treatment group. However, both groups did not differ in the rate of conversion to severe cases or viral assay findings (both p > 0.05). No serious adverse events were reported.

Exploring the potential therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) through a combination of data mining and network pharmacology analysis

“…Besides, based on the composition of the MXSGT, the Qing Fei Pai Du Decoction (QFPDD) and Lianhua Qingwen Capsules (LHQWC) were manufactured and issued by the National Health Commission and have been widely used in China to treat the COVID-19 patients. Data has suggested significant positive clinical outcomes [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] .…”

Safety and efficacy of artemisinin-piperaquine for treatment of COVID-19: an open-label, non-randomised and controlled trial

“…Herbal medicine, including Lianhua Qingwen and Huoxiang Zhengqi in treatment of COVID-19, could significantly improve the patient's symptoms, improve patient prognosis and without serious adverse reactions, but did not significantly contribute to viral assay findings [ 28 , 29 , 30 ]. Based on this, the focus of this study was that AP could significantly shorten the time to reach undetectable SARS-CoV-2.…”

Efficacy of Early Combination Therapy With Lianhuaqingwen and Arbidol in Moderate and Severe COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

“…Given its relatively lower price and easier access, a large number of Chinese individuals have chosen to use LHQW to prevent or treat Therefore LHQW may have played a positive role in preventing and treating COVID-19, especially in patients with mild symptoms (Yao and Li, 2020). In randomized, double-blind, positive controlled clinical trials, LHQW treatment significantly reduced the severity of illness and the duration of symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat and fatigue, compared with the outcomes in the oseltamivir group (Duan ZP et al, 2011;Zhao P Hu et al, 2020) in patients with influenza A virus infection. In an in vitro study, LHQW significantly inhibited the replication of SARS-CoV-2, affected virus morphology, and exerted anti-inflammatory effects (Runfeng et al, 2020).…”