Clinical Applications and Therapeutic Mechanisms of Chinese Herbal Medicine Yiaikang Capsules in Treating Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

Xue Ding,1 Leilei Fan,2 Liran Xu,3 Xiuxia Ma,4 Pengfei Meng,3 Jiahe Li,3 Jingyu Yue4 1Department of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Cardiovascular, The First People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzh...

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Main Authors: Ding X, Fan L, Xu L, Ma X, Meng P, Li J, Yue J
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-07-01
Series:Infection and Drug Resistance
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/clinical-applications-and-therapeutic-mechanisms-of-chinese-herbal-med-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IDR
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author Ding X
Fan L
Xu L
Ma X
Meng P
Li J
Yue J
author_facet Ding X
Fan L
Xu L
Ma X
Meng P
Li J
Yue J
author_sort Ding X
collection DOAJ
description Xue Ding,1 Leilei Fan,2 Liran Xu,3 Xiuxia Ma,4 Pengfei Meng,3 Jiahe Li,3 Jingyu Yue4 1Department of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Cardiovascular, The First People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of the First Clinical Medical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of AIDS Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jingyu Yue, Department of AIDS Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, 19 Renmin Road, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China, Email yuejingyu@aliyun.comAbstract: Yiaikang (YAK) is a 22-component traditional herbal medicine, exhibiting a powerful inhibitory effect on viral replication and immunity-boosting activities in clinical applications, and is widely used to treat diseases in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in China. In clinical studies, YAK alleviates the clinical symptoms of HIV/AIDS (eg, weakness, shortness of breath, spontaneous sweating, and diarrhea) while enhancing quality of life and improving survival rates of patients. In the molecular mechanism studies, its main therapeutic action is inhibition of HIV replication, alongside increased numbers of CD4+ T cells. These are achieved through inhibition of the viral transactivator of transcription (Tat) and regulatory protein Rev, and host intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). During HIV infection, the extensive destruction of CD4+ T cells consumes the Th17 subset of intestinal-associated lymphoid tissue, resulting in the loss of mucosal integrity. YAK also restores the normal expression of C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) and C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), promotes the proliferation of natural killer cells, regulates the balance between T helper 17 cells and regulatory T cells, and maintains the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier. In this review, we describe the clinical applications and therapeutic mechanisms of YAK in treating AIDS, with the goal of identifying new and efficacious therapies targets and approaches and provides new clues for the clinical application of YAK.Keywords: Yiaikang capsule, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, human immunodeficiency virus
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spelling doaj-art-1b4dfc4b310a4eb78c3f37d934a2de012025-08-20T03:30:23ZengDove Medical PressInfection and Drug Resistance1178-69732025-07-01Volume 18Issue 133173327104515Clinical Applications and Therapeutic Mechanisms of Chinese Herbal Medicine Yiaikang Capsules in Treating Acquired Immune Deficiency SyndromeDing X0Fan L1Xu LMa X2Meng P3Li JYue J4Department of MedicineDepartment of CardiovascularDepartment of AIDS Clinical Research CenterDepartment of the First Clinical Medical CollegeDepartment of AIDS Clinical Research CenterXue Ding,1 Leilei Fan,2 Liran Xu,3 Xiuxia Ma,4 Pengfei Meng,3 Jiahe Li,3 Jingyu Yue4 1Department of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Cardiovascular, The First People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of the First Clinical Medical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of AIDS Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jingyu Yue, Department of AIDS Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, 19 Renmin Road, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China, Email yuejingyu@aliyun.comAbstract: Yiaikang (YAK) is a 22-component traditional herbal medicine, exhibiting a powerful inhibitory effect on viral replication and immunity-boosting activities in clinical applications, and is widely used to treat diseases in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in China. In clinical studies, YAK alleviates the clinical symptoms of HIV/AIDS (eg, weakness, shortness of breath, spontaneous sweating, and diarrhea) while enhancing quality of life and improving survival rates of patients. In the molecular mechanism studies, its main therapeutic action is inhibition of HIV replication, alongside increased numbers of CD4+ T cells. These are achieved through inhibition of the viral transactivator of transcription (Tat) and regulatory protein Rev, and host intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). During HIV infection, the extensive destruction of CD4+ T cells consumes the Th17 subset of intestinal-associated lymphoid tissue, resulting in the loss of mucosal integrity. YAK also restores the normal expression of C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) and C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), promotes the proliferation of natural killer cells, regulates the balance between T helper 17 cells and regulatory T cells, and maintains the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier. In this review, we describe the clinical applications and therapeutic mechanisms of YAK in treating AIDS, with the goal of identifying new and efficacious therapies targets and approaches and provides new clues for the clinical application of YAK.Keywords: Yiaikang capsule, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, human immunodeficiency virushttps://www.dovepress.com/clinical-applications-and-therapeutic-mechanisms-of-chinese-herbal-med-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IDRYiaikang capsuleAcquired immune deficiency syndromeHuman immunodeficiency virus
spellingShingle Ding X
Fan L
Xu L
Ma X
Meng P
Li J
Yue J
Clinical Applications and Therapeutic Mechanisms of Chinese Herbal Medicine Yiaikang Capsules in Treating Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Infection and Drug Resistance
Yiaikang capsule
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
Human immunodeficiency virus
title Clinical Applications and Therapeutic Mechanisms of Chinese Herbal Medicine Yiaikang Capsules in Treating Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
title_full Clinical Applications and Therapeutic Mechanisms of Chinese Herbal Medicine Yiaikang Capsules in Treating Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
title_fullStr Clinical Applications and Therapeutic Mechanisms of Chinese Herbal Medicine Yiaikang Capsules in Treating Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
title_full_unstemmed Clinical Applications and Therapeutic Mechanisms of Chinese Herbal Medicine Yiaikang Capsules in Treating Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
title_short Clinical Applications and Therapeutic Mechanisms of Chinese Herbal Medicine Yiaikang Capsules in Treating Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
title_sort clinical applications and therapeutic mechanisms of chinese herbal medicine yiaikang capsules in treating acquired immune deficiency syndrome
topic Yiaikang capsule
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
Human immunodeficiency virus
url https://www.dovepress.com/clinical-applications-and-therapeutic-mechanisms-of-chinese-herbal-med-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IDR
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