Glycyrrhizin Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Entry into Cells by Targeting ACE2.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly infectious and pathogenic disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Early in this epidemic, the herbal formulas used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) were widely used for the treatment of COVID-19 in China. According to Venn diagram analysis, we found that Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma is a frequent herb in TCM formulas against COVID-19. The extract of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma exhibits an anti-SARS-CoV-2 replication activity in vitro, but its pharmacological mechanism remains unclear. We here demonstrate that glycyrrhizin, the main active ingredient of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, prevents the coronavirus from entering cells by targeting angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Glycyrrhizin inhibited the binding of the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 to ACE2 in our Western blot-based assay. The following bulk RNA-seq analysis showed that glycyrrhizin down-regulated ACE2 expression in vitro which was further confirmed by Western blot and quantitative PCR. Together, we believe that glycyrrhizin inhibits SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells by targeting ACE2.

[Effect of Comprehensive Protocol of Integrative Medicine on Motor Function, Activity of Daily Living and Quality of Life in Hemiplegia Patients after Stroke].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of integrative medicine (IM) rehabilitation protocolon motor function, activity of daily living, and quality of life (QOL) in hemiplegia patients after stroke. METHODS: Totally 120 patients with post-stroke hemiplegia were allocated to four groups using sealed envalope drawing, i.e., the rehabilitation group, the Chinese medical treatment group, the acupuncture group, and the comprehensive rehabilitation group, 30 cases in each group. Based on routine rehabilitative training, patients in the Chinese medical treatment group, the acupuncture group, and the compre-hensive rehabilitation group received standardized treatment based on syndrome typing, Shi's Consciousness-Restoring Resuscitation acupuncture, Chinese herbs + acupuncture comprehensive rehabilitatino protocol, respectively. The treatmet cycle consisted of 4 weeks with 24-week follow-ups. Fugl-Meyer motor assessment (FMA), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale(SS-QQL), and safety assessment were taken as main effect indices before treatment, at week 4 of treatment, at week 12 and 24 of follow-ups, respectively. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in FMA score, MBI score, SS-QOL score among the four groups before treatment (P > 0.05). These scores were significantly improved in the four groups at week 4 of treatment, week 12 and 24 of follow-ups, respectively (P < 0.05). Besides, FMA score and SS-QOL score were significantly improved in the comprehensive rehabilitation group at each corresponding time point, as compared with other treatment groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The comprehensive protocol could significantly improve motor function, activity of daily living in hemiplegia patients after stroke, and further improve their QOL. Its effect was better than other single treatment.

[Effects of L-Arg on expression of PI3K and PKB in liver among low-birth-weight newborn rats].

OBJECTIVE: To measure the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (PKB) in liver tissue among low-birth-weight newborn rats treated with L-arginine (L-Arg) in early life, and to investigate the effect of L-Arg on insulin resistance. METHODS: Eighteen pregnant rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, model and intervention (n=6 each). The control group was fed with normal protein feed (protein content=21%) during pregnancy to establish a normal-birth-weight newborn rat model, and the model and intervention groups were fed with low-protein feed (protein content=10%) during pregnancy to establish a low-birth-weight newborn rat model. Newborn rats from the three pregnant rat groups were also assigned to control, model and intervention groups. During 21 days of lactation, maternal rats in the control and model groups were fed with normal protein feed and normal drinking water, while maternal rats in the intervention group were fed with normal protein feed and drinking water rich in L-Arg (200 mg/kg·d). After ablactation, the three groups of newborn rats were fed with normal protein feed and normal drinking water. Liver tissue samples were collected from these newborn rats at 1, 3 and 8 weeks after birth. Protein expression of PI3K and PKB in liver tissue was measured by Western blot. RESULTS: At 1 week after birth, the newborn rats in the intervention group had significantly higher protein expression of PI3K than in the model group (P=0.045), but there was no significant difference when compared with the control group (P=0.503). At 8 weeks after birth, the newborn rats in the intervention group had significantly higher protein expression of PKB than the model group (P=0.039), but there was no significant difference when compared with the control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A supplement of L-Arg in early life can boost protein synthesis, increase protein expression of PI3K and PKB in liver tissue, promote insulin signaling and reduce insulin resistance.

[Investigation on the relationship between the solar term of onset and syndrome types in 430 patients with acute myocardial infarction by circular statistical analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between the solar term of onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and its syndrome types in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). METHODS: The clinical data about 430 patients with AMI hospitalized in Foshan Hospital of TCM from February 4th 2003 (Beginning of Spring) to February 3rd 2008 (Beginning of Spring) were collected, and the solar term of onset as angle coordinate was regarded, then the peak phase of the onset solar term in each syndrome type of AMI was calculated by circular statistical analysis. RESULTS: Among 430 patients with AMI, 134 patients were considered to have qi stagnancy and blood stasis syndrome, 188 patients showed the syndrome of turbid sputum obstruction, 29 of them showed deficiency of yin-blood, and 79 showed deficiency of yang qi. The clinical manifestation of AMI was mainly asthenia syndrome (qi stagnancy and blood stasis+turbid sputum obstruction, 74.9%). According to the circular statistical analysis, the peak of the solar terms of AMI onset occurred at the Beginning of Spring in all cases (r=0.127 4, P<0.01), and standard deviation (s)=116.300 6 degree angle, showed it mainly occurred in winter and spring. As the peak of the onset of qi stagnancy and blood stasis occurred at Winter Solstice and Lesser Cold (r=0.200 5, P<0.01), its peak occurred in winter; the turbid sputum obstruction syndrome occurred at Spring Equinox (r=0.147 0, P<0.05), mainly in spring, yet the symptoms of above two peaks were generally mild. Besides, there was no significant difference in onset of the solar term in regard to onset of deficiency of yin-blood and deficiency of yang qi (both P>0.05). CONCLUSION: There is a close relationship between periodicity of the solar terms and onset of AMI. The main treatment for AMI is to expel turbid sputum, activate blood to resolve stasis and promote blood circulation to relieve pain; also the method of activating blood to resolve stasis is frequently contemplated in winter, and the method of expelling turbid sputum is the main strategy in spring.