Graphical abstract Highlights • Pudilan (PDL) was proven to be useful in the treatment of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). • Pudilan (PDL) might inhibit the cytokine storm in 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by affecting Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and related proteins. • Pudilan (PDL) might prevent the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into cells by affecting angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). • Pudilan (PDL) might also moderate human immune system with traditional Chinese medicine theory. Background Pudilan (PDL), a four-herb prescription with the traditional function of heat-clearing and detoxifying, has been clinically used as an anti-SARS-CoV-2 infectory agent in China. PDL might also have therapeutic potentials for COVID-19 while the underlying mechanisms remain to be clarified. Methods We used network pharmacology analysis and selected 68 co-targeted genes/proteins as targets of both PDL and COVID-19. These co-targeted genes/proteins were predicted by SwissDock Server for their high-precision docking simulation, and analyzed by STRING for proteins to protein interaction (PPI), pathway and GO (gene ontology) enrichment. The therapeutic effect for PDL treatment on COVID-19 was validated by the TCMATCOV (TCM Anti COVID-19) platform. Results PDL might prevent the entrance of SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells by blocking the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). It might inhibit the cytokine storm by affecting C-reactive protein (CRP), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin- 6 (IL-6), interleukin- 10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1), and other proteins. PDL might moderate the immune system to shorten the course of the disease, delay disease progression, and reduce the mortality rate. Conclusion PDL might have a therapeutic effect on COVID-19 through three aspects, including the moderate immune system, anti-inflammation, and anti-virus entry into cells.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-COV-2 infection, SARS-CoV-2, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, network pharmacology, targeted therapy, ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome, ACE2, Angiotensin I converting enzyme 2, TCM, traditional Chinese medicine, COVID-19, 2019 novel coronavirus disease, BXTM, banxia tianma baizhu tang (TCM herbs), LHQW, lian hua qing wen (TCM herbs), HSZF, hanshi zufei fang (TCM herbs), PDL, Pudilan (TCM herbs), SFJD, shufeng jiedu fang (TCM herbs), Traditional Chinese herbs,