Narrow Results

The relationship of liver regeneration to immunoactivity was examined after ursodesoxycholic acid (UDCA) administration to partially (about 66%) hepatectomized rats. The UDCA was given orally. Liver regeneration was evaluated by the hepatocyte mitotic index (MI) and immunoactivity by natural killer cell (NK) activity in the blood. When UDCA 12.5 mg/kg/day was administered, a significant increase in the MI was observed 2 and 3 days after hepatectomy, and the MI response 2 days after hepatectomy tended to be dose-dependent in the range of 0–25 mg/kg/day. NK activity was decreased 2 days after hepatectomy when UDCA was given, and a significant correlation between MI and NK activity was obtained. The increase in MI and decrease in NK activity was blocked completely or partially (respectively) by interleukin-2 administration. It was also noted that UDCA did not affect serum parameters indicating liver and kidney function.

These findings suggest that liver regeneration can be modified by orally administered UDCA through a change in immunoactivity.

SARS-CoV-2 has posed a threat to the health of people around the world because of its strong transmission and high virulence. Currently, there is no specific medicine for the treatment of COVID-19. However, for a wide variety of medicines used to treat COVID-19, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays a major role. In this paper, the effective treatment of COVID-19 using TCM was consulted first, and several Chinese medicines that were frequently used apart from their huge role in treating it were found. Then, when exploring the active ingredients of these herbs, it was discovered that most of them contained flavonoids. Therefore, the structure and function of the potential active substances of flavonoids, including flavonols, flavonoids, and flavanes, respectively, are discussed in this paper. According to the screening data, these flavonoids can bind to the key proteins of SARS-CoV-2, 3CLpro, PLpro, and RdRp, respectively, or block the interface between the viral spike protein and ACE2 receptor, which could inhibit the proliferation of coronavirus and prevent the virus from entering human cells. Besides, the effects of flavonoids on the human body systems are expounded on in this paper, including the respiratory system, digestive system, and immune system, respectively. Normally, flavonoids boost the body’s immune system. However, they can suppress the immune system when over immunized. Ultimately, this study hopes to provide a reference for the clinical drug treatment of COVID-19 patients, and more TCM can be put into the market accordingly, which is expected to promote the development of TCM on the international stage.