Jinhua Qinggan granule, a Chinese herbal medicine against COVID-19, induces rapid changes in the plasma levels of IL-6 and IFN-γ

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>Currently, effective vaccines or specific therapeutic agents against COVID-19 are not available. However, in China, traditional Chinese herbal medicines have provided therapeutic benefit to patients with COVID-19. Jinhua Qinggan granule (JHQGG) is a Chinese multi-herbal formula previously developed for the treatment of H1N1 influenza and has been encouraged for patients clinically suspected of COVID-19 during medical observation. However, the immunological mechanism for the efficacy of JHQGG has not been confirmed.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives</jats:title><jats:p>We thus examined whether the administration of JHQGG affects hematological and immunological measures in healthy individuals.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Method</jats:title><jats:p>We enrolled 18 healthy volunteers, all of whom tested negative for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Peripheral blood samples were collected 1 h after oral administration of JHQGG and subjected to hematological, biochemical, and cytokine tests.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>JHQGG rapidly induced a significant decrease in the plasma level of IL-6 and an increase in the plasma level of IFN-γ.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p>Our finding suggests that the therapeutic efficacy of JHQGG against COVID-19 is, in part, associated with its rapid immunomodulatory activity.</jats:p></jats:sec>