ArticleChinese medicine2025
Multi-omics and network pharmacology approaches reveal the mechanism of action of KeKe tablet against post-infectious cough.
Article in Chinese medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Review
- Efficacy and safety of Shufeng Huashi formula for post-infectious cough: study protocol for a randomized control trial.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- From respiratory viral infection to persistent cough hypersensitivity: neuroimmune regulation and therapeutic implications of P2X3/TRP ion-channel targets.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundPost-infectious cough (PIC) refers to a persistent cough lasting longer than three consecutive weeks following an infection, despite the resolution of other symptoms and normal examination results. This common respiratory disorder significantly impacts patients' quality of life due to the ongoing coughing. The Keke tablet (KKP), an herbal medicine preparation, is frequently used as an over-the-counter (OTC) treatment for respiratory conditions. However, the mechanisms underlying KKP's efficacy are not yet fully understood.
objectiveThis study aims to evaluate the therapeutic effects of KKP in treating PIC and to explore its potential mechanisms of action.
methodsRat models of post-infectious cough (PIC) were established through exposure to cigarette smoke, capsaicin nebulization, and intranasal instillation of lipopolysaccharide, followed by intragastric administration of Keke tablets (KKP). Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining assessed the morphology of trachea and lung tissues. Cytokine levels in serum and lung tissues were measured using ELISA kits. Immunofluorescence techniques were utilized to visualize neurotransmitters in airway and lung tissues. Network pharmacology, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were conducted to explore the underlying mechanisms of KKP, while Western blotting estimated the expression levels of proteins involved in relevant pathways.
resultsKKP significantly improved the pathological damage in airways and lung tissues and enhanced lung function in rats with PIC. Treatment with KKP resulted in decreased concentrations of inflammatory mediators in both serum and lung tissues, alleviating inflammatory responses. Additionally, KKP effectively reversed neurogenic inflammation associated with PIC by enhancing neutral endopeptidase activity and reducing the levels of substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide. Network pharmacology, transcriptomics and proteomics analyses indicated that KKP exerted its therapeutic effects by regulating inflammation-related pathways such as MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. Western blot analysis further confirmed that KKP activated this pathway, evidenced by reduced expression of p65-NF-κB and p-38 MAPK following KKP administration.
conclusionOur findings highlighted the clinical potential of Keke Tablet in the treatment of post-infectious cough, and confirmed that Keke tablet improved cough symptoms by alleviating inflammatory response. MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway is one of the potential pathways of Keke tablet in the treatment of post-infectious cough.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.