Pelargonium sidoides radix extract EPs 7630 reduces rhinovirus infection through modulation of viral binding proteins on human bronchial epithelial cells

Abstract

Bronchial epithelial cells are the first target cell for rhinovirus infection. The course of viral infections in patients with acute bronchitis, asthma and COPD can be improved by oral application of Pelargonium sidoides radix extract; however, the mechanism is not well understood. This study investigated the in vitro effect of Pelargonium sidoides radix extract (EPs 7630) on the expression of virus binding cell membrane and host defence supporting proteins on primary human bronchial epithelial cells (hBEC). Cells were isolated from patients with severe asthma (n = 6), moderate COPD (n = 6) and non-diseased controls (n = 6). Protein expression was determined by Western-blot and immunofluorescence. Rhinovirus infection was determined by immunofluorescence as well as by polymerase chain reaction. Cell survival was determined by manual cell count after live/death immunofluorescence staining. All parameters were determined over a period of 3 days. The results show that EPs 7630 concentration-dependently and significantly increased hBEC survival after rhinovirus infection. This effect was paralleled by decreased expression of the inducible co-stimulator (ICOS), its ligand ICOSL and cell surface calreticulin (C1qR). In contrast, EPs 7630 up-regulated the expression of the host defence supporting proteins β-defensin-1 and SOCS-1, both in rhinovirus infected and un-infected hBEC. The expression of other virus interacting cell membrane proteins such as MyD88, TRL2/4 or ICAM-1 was not altered by EPs 7630. The results indicate that EPs 7630 may reduce rhinovirus infection of human primary BEC by down-regulating cell membrane docking proteins and up-regulating host defence proteins.

Reduced antibiotic use after initial treatment of acute respiratory infections with phytopharmaceuticals- a retrospective cohort study

“…These findings are not unexpected, since the efficacy of the phytopharmaceuticals examined in this study had already been demonstrated in placebo-controlled clinical trials [12][13][14][15][16] and has now been confirmed by data from actual practices. In vitro anti-infective effects have been described for various active herbal ingredients [22][23][24][25]. A possible explanation for the reduced antibiotic use following phytotherapeutic prescriptions could therefore be the occurrence of fewer bacterial sequelae of respiratory tract infections.…”

COVID-19: Is There Evidence for the Use of Herbal Medicines as Adjuvant Symptomatic Therapy?

“…This herbal medicine has been experimentally proven for anti-viral activity. The commercial extract EPs 7630 ® interfered in vitro with the replication of different respiratory viruses, including human coronavirus ( Michaelis et al, 2011 ), Influenza virus ( in vitro and in vivo ) ( Theisen and Muller, 2012 ), and Rhinovirus isolated from patients with severe asthma ( Roth et al, 2019 ). EPs 7630 was able to stimulate IFN-β in vitro , and gallic acid enhanced the expression of iNOS and TNF-α ( Kolodziej et al, 2003 ).…”

Effects of Pelargonium sidoides and Coptis Rhizoma 2 : 1 Mixed Formula (PS + CR) on Ovalbumin‐Induced Asthma in Mice

“…Pelargonium sidoides (PS), the important traditional medicine for treatment of diarrhea and dysentery in South Africa, has antibacterial, antifungal, antimycobacterial, and immunomodulatory properties [13]. Moreover, PS can prevent asthma attacks during upper respiratory tract viral infections and reduce rhinovirus infection by modulating viral binding proteins [14,15]. Coptis Rhizoma (CR) is used to treat of bacillary dysentery, typhoid, tuberculosis, epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, pertussis, and other diseases [16].…”