{
    "title": "Patents : Herbs vs Covid / SARS / MERS",
    "inventor_name": null,
    "publication_year": null,
    "device_name": "Herbal antiviral formulation",
    "goal": "Prevent and treat SARS, COVID-19 and related coronavirus infections using traditional Chinese herbal medicines.",
    "problem_addressed": "Lack of specific, effective antiviral drugs for SARS-like viruses and the need for low-cost, readily available therapeutic options.",
    "concept_summary": "A series of Chinese-medicine compositions-oral liquids, injections, granules, decoctions and suspensions-prepared from multiple medicinal herbs (e.g., Herba Solidaginis, Scutellaria baicalensis, honeysuckle, Echinacea, etc.) that are claimed to possess antiviral, anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating activities against SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, influenza and other respiratory viruses.",
    "detailed_description": "The article compiles abstracts of ten patents describing various herbal formulations. The inventions detail raw-herb selection, extraction (water, ethanol, 70 % alcohol), concentration, and final dosage forms (oral liquid, spray, injection, granule, decoction). Claims include high recovery rates in canine coronavirus (>=95 %), inhibition of SARS virus replication in VeroE6 cells at 100 ug ml^-^1, and broad-spectrum activity against multiple respiratory viruses. Preparation methods involve crushing herbs, boiling, vacuum concentration, mixing with excipients (sugar, starch, sodium sulfate) and drying. The formulations are marketed as safe, low-cost, and effective for preventing or treating viral pneumonia, SARS, influenza, and related illnesses.",
    "principles": [
        "Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory of heat-clearing and toxin removal",
        "Phytochemical antiviral activity (flavonoids, alkaloids, polysaccharides)",
        "Synergistic multi-herb combination",
        "Extraction and concentration of active constituents"
    ],
    "scientific_domains": [
        "Medicine",
        "Virology",
        "Pharmacology",
        "Traditional Chinese Medicine"
    ],
    "mechanisms_of_action": [
        "Direct viral replication inhibition",
        "Immune system modulation",
        "Anti-inflammatory effects",
        "Reduction of oxidative stress"
    ],
    "materials": [
        "Herba Solidaginis (goldenrod)",
        "Scutellaria baicalensis",
        "Lonicera japonica (honeysuckle)",
        "Echinacea purpurea",
        "Peganum harmala (Syrian rue)",
        "Tilia cordata (tillet)",
        "Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice)",
        "Fructus evodiae",
        "Codonopsis pilosula",
        "Fresh ginger",
        "Chinese yam",
        "Longan aril",
        "Brucea javanica",
        "Pulsatilla",
        "Lygodium japonicum",
        "Griffith streptocaulon",
        "Orange peel",
        "Herba menthae spicatae",
        "Delavay gerbera root",
        "Radix angelicae",
        "Hemp-leaved vitex root",
        "Ordos wormwood",
        "Anisopappus chinensis",
        "Moldavian dragon's head",
        "Semen armeniacae amarae",
        "Bulbus fritillaria thunbergii",
        "Pericarpium citri reticulatae viride",
        "Succus bambusae",
        "Chinese ephedra",
        "Canton hedyotis herb",
        "Ligusticum wallichii",
        "Smoked plum"
    ],
    "energy_sources": [],
    "inputs": [
        "Raw dried herbs",
        "Water",
        "Ethanol (70 % alcohol)",
        "Sugar",
        "Starch",
        "Anhydrous sodium sulfate"
    ],
    "outputs": [
        "Oral liquid",
        "Injection solution",
        "Spray",
        "Electuary",
        "Decoction pieces",
        "Capsule pharmaceutical",
        "Granules",
        "Suspension dosage form"
    ],
    "claimed_performance": "Recovery rates up to >=95 % in canine coronavirus; complete inhibition of SARS virus in cell culture at 100 ug ml^-^1; broad-spectrum efficacy against influenza, rhinovirus, RSV, adenovirus, etc.; rapid clinical improvement reported in patents.",
    "experimental_evidence": "One patent reports a canine coronavirus recovery rate >=95 %; another cites VeroE6 cell assay showing complete SARS inhibition at 100 ug ml^-^1; other abstracts claim clinical effectiveness without quantitative data.",
    "replication_status": "No explicit independent replication or peer-reviewed studies are mentioned in the abstracts.",
    "keywords": [
        "Herbal antiviral",
        "Traditional Chinese Medicine",
        "SARS",
        "COVID-19",
        "Coronavirus",
        "Herbal decoction",
        "Plant flavonoids",
        "Immune modulation"
    ],
    "related_technologies": [
        "Synthetic antiviral drugs (e.g., remdesivir)",
        "Vaccines",
        "Phytochemical extraction techniques",
        "Standardized herbal extracts"
    ],
    "controversy_level": "medium",
    "confidence_score": 0.73,
    "practicability_score": 0.62,
    "fringe_score": 0.71,
    "evidence_strength": 0.45,
    "risk_score": 0.18,
    "trl_estimate": 4,
    "source_urls": [
        "http://rexresearch.com/"
    ],
    "organizations": [],
    "applications": [
        "Treatment and prevention of SARS, COVID-19, MERS and other respiratory viral infections",
        "Veterinary antiviral therapy for dogs and calves",
        "Low-cost community health remedies"
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Lack of randomized clinical trials in humans",
        "Variability of herb quality and composition",
        "No standard dosing guidelines",
        "Potential herb-drug interactions"
    ],
    "open_questions": [
        "What are the active molecular constituents responsible for antiviral activity?",
        "Do these formulations achieve therapeutic plasma concentrations in humans?",
        "Can the claimed efficacy be reproduced in double-blind, placebo-controlled studies?",
        "What are the long-term safety profiles of chronic use?"
    ],
    "red_flags": [
        "Claims of high cure rates without peer-reviewed data",
        "Absence of disclosed clinical trial methodology",
        "Potential for unverified health claims"
    ],
    "evidence_quotes": [
        "The recovery rate on the canine coronavirus infection can reach more than or equal to 95 %.",
        "This concentration has complete inhibitory action to SARS virus.",
        "The effect on treatment or prevention of the viral influenza caused by an influenza virus, a coronavirus, a parainfluenza virus, an adenovirus and the like in clinical is good; and the curative ratio is high."
    ],
    "category": "Medical & Dental Technologies"
}