Berberine reduces circulating inflammatory mediators in patients with severe COVID-19
B Y Zhang, M Chen, X C Chen, Ke Cao, Y You, Yihui Qian, Wenkui Yu
Abstract
Uncontrolled 'cytokine storms' and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) are important causes that leading to progression of illness and death in patients with COVID-19 1,2 . The gut is a major organ invaded and damaged by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and plays a vital role in controlling the systemic inflammatory response and preventing MODS. Berberine has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of diarrhoea and gastroenteritis owing to its antimicrobial, antimotility and antisecretory properties. Moreover, a study 3 has shown that berberine can protect the intestinal mucosal barrier and suppress the inflammatory response in intestinal epithelium and serum.