Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42519675›Full record

ArticleInfection and drug resistance2026

Integrated UHPLC-QTOF-MS, Network Pharmacology, and Experimental Validation Reveal the Antiviral and Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms of Xiaoer Fengreqing Against COVID-19-Associated Encephalitis.

Ruihan Chen, Xuanxuan Li, Menglei Wang, Yueyue Xiong, Peifang Xie, Yan Liu, Zhanyu Cui, Yi Ye, Runfeng Li, Chitin Hon and 1 more

Abstract read
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Article in Infection and drug resistance, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Ruihan Chen *Department of Engineering Science, Faculty of Innovation Engineering, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, People's Republic of China.
Xuanxuan Li *State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0009-0006-2748-4609
Menglei Wang *Research Department, Hebei Province (Handan) Chinese Medicine Industry Technology Research Institute, Handan, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
Yueyue Xiong *State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Peifang XieState Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Yan LiuResearch Department, Hebei Province (Handan) Chinese Medicine Industry Technology Research Institute, Handan, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
Zhanyu CuiState Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Yi YeState Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Runfeng Li *State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Chitin HonDepartment of Engineering Science, Faculty of Innovation Engineering, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, People's Republic of China.
Qinhai MaState Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Xiaoer Fengreqing (XF), a traditional Chinese medicine, is included in pediatric COVID-19 guidelines, but its active components and mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to explore XF's bioactive constituents and potential effects against COVID-19-related encephalitis. Methods: UHPLC-QTOF-MS and network pharmacology were used to identify active compounds, targets, and pathways. Antiviral effects against Omicron were assessed by cytopathic inhibition assays. RT-qPCR and Western blot evaluated anti-inflammatory responses, and in vivo experiments tested antiviral and neuroprotective effects against HCoV-OC43 using an intracranial infection model. Results: UHPLC-QTOF-MS identified 220 compounds, with 137 absorbed into plasma, yielding 774 potential targets and 242 KEGG pathways. Core targets included ACE2, EGFR, PARP1, JAK1, and SRC. Molecular docking showed isoalantolactone and isosakuranetin interacted with ACE2. XF exhibited an IC Conclusion: XF may exert antiviral and neuroprotective effects against COVID-19-related encephalitis through TNF-α/IL-6 suppression and modulation of MAPK, JAK/STAT, and PI3K/AKT immune regulatory pathways. Although XF showed potential for further development, its clinical translation remains limited by the complexity of its components, the lack of evaluation of individual active compounds, and its relatively modest in vitro antiviral potency. Therefore, in the absence of clinical trial evidence, XF should be regarded only as a candidate for further investigation.

Indexed as

coronavirusmolecular dockingnetwork pharmacologyUHPLC-QTOF-MSXFXiaoer Fengreqing

Identifiers

PMID42519675
PMCPMC13381628

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