The study aimed to examine how traditional Chinese medicines that tonify Qi, specifically in the Yiqi Qingwen Jiedu mixture, affect lung inflammation and injury in mice infected with the influenza virus.
Researchers used RT-PCR to analyze the effect of the mixture on the mRNA levels of key inflammatory cytokines and observed improvements in lung health of infected mice during specific periods post-infection.
Results showed that the mixture significantly reduced harmful cytokines and improved lung injury, particularly effective between 3 to 7 days after infection, indicating a potential therapeutic role for these traditional medicines in managing viral lung inflammation.