Discovery of drugs to combat covid-19 inspired by traditional Chinese medicine

Abstract Contributions from traditional knowledge and history have proven useful in recent years to advance drug discovery. In response to the emergence of covid-19, scientists revisited traditional Chinese medicine. This source of inspiration for drugs to treat this new disease is described here at three different levels: traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, traditional Chinese medical formulas, and traditional Chinese medical texts. Drug discovery inspired by traditional Chinese medicine still faces serious resistance for various reasons, including its system of formulas and clinical trial design. A perspective that includes related issues would benefit the reasonable application of traditional knowledge in drug research and development.

摘要：近年来，源自传统知识与历史积淀的研究成果，在推动药物研发进程方面已被证实具有重要应用价值。为应对新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）的暴发，科研人员重新审视了中医药的研发潜力。本文从三个维度阐述了这一可用于研发针对该新型疾病治疗药物的灵感来源：中药材、中药方剂以及中医典籍。但受方剂体系、临床试验设计等多重因素制约，基于中医药灵感的药物研发仍面临诸多实质性阻碍。纳入相关议题的系统性研究视角，将有助于传统知识在药物研发中的合理应用。