Future prospects of antiviral research in traditional Chinese medicine

Kexin Wang; Zifeng Yang

doi:10.1016/j.chmed.2026.02.014

Future prospects of antiviral research in traditional Chinese medicine

Chin Herb Med. 2026 Feb 14;18(2):226-230. doi: 10.1016/j.chmed.2026.02.014. eCollection 2026 Apr.

Authors

Kexin Wang^{1

2}, Zifeng Yang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, Joint International Research Laboratory of Respiratory Health, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510230, China.
² China-Portugal Artificial Intelligence and Public Health Technologies Joint Laboratory, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease Research, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China.

Abstract

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of treating viral diseases through holistic approaches and multi-component formulations. In response to emerging global viral threats like coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), TCM has demonstrated significant potential in both antiviral and immune-modulatory roles. This review summarizes the current state of TCM antiviral research, highlighting advances in identifying active components and elucidating their mechanisms, which include direct viral inhibition and immune regulation. Technological innovations, including artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery and advanced extraction methods, are accelerating the development of TCM antiviral products. However, challenges remain in standardization, mechanistic validation, and international regulatory acceptance. Looking ahead, research should prioritize systems pharmacology, the development of multi-dimensional evaluation models, standardized clinical trials, and global health integration. By addressing these challenges, TCM can play a vital role in worldwide antiviral strategies and public health.

Keywords: active components; antiviral research; internationalization; multi-dimensional models; systems pharmacology; technological innovation; traditional Chinese medicine.

Publication types

Review