Zihua Wenfei Zhisou Granule Demonstrates Efficacy in Treating Post-Infectious Cough

Key Insights

• A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated Zihua Wenfei Zhisou Granule (ZWZG) for postinfectious cough (PIC) with Wind-Cold invading Fei (Lung) syndrome.
• ZWZG significantly improved cough relief and disappearance rates compared to placebo in PIC patients, with both 15g and 10g dosages showing efficacy.
• The treatment groups experienced faster cough relief and disappearance times, along with improvements in cough symptom scores during both daytime and nighttime.

Zihua Wenfei Zhisou Granule (ZWZG), a traditional Chinese medicine, has shown promising results in treating postinfectious cough (PIC) with Wind-Cold invading Fei (Lung) syndrome. A recent multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II clinical trial conducted across six hospitals in China between March 2019 and December 2020, demonstrated the efficacy and safety of ZWZG in alleviating PIC symptoms.

The study, published in PubMed, involved 198 patients diagnosed with PIC and Wind-Cold invading Fei syndrome. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a placebo group (Group A), a 15g ZWZG group (Group B), and a 10g ZWZG group (Group C). All medications were administered orally three times daily for 14 consecutive days. The primary outcomes assessed were cough relief rate and cough disappearance rate.

The results indicated a significant improvement in both cough relief and disappearance rates in the ZWZG groups compared to the placebo group. Specifically, the cough relief rates were 47.76% in Group A, 90.77% in Group B, and 84.85% in Group C (P<0.0001 for B vs. A and C vs. A). The cough disappearance rates were 31.34% in Group A, 72.31% in Group B, and 68.18% in Group C (P<0.0001 for B vs. A and C vs. A).

Furthermore, the median time to cough relief and cough disappearance was significantly shorter in the ZWZG groups compared to the placebo group (P<0.0001). Patients in Groups B and C also experienced greater improvements in cough symptom scores (CSS) during both daytime and nighttime, as well as improvements in cough Visual Analog Scale (VAS) values (P<0.05).

Notably, the incidence of adverse events was lower in the ZWZG groups compared to the placebo group (P<0.05), and no drug-related severe adverse events were reported, suggesting a favorable safety profile for ZWZG.

ZWZG is composed of six traditional Chinese medicines, including Aster, Lonicera japonica, Shegan, dried ginger, mango seed and Schizonepeta tenuifolia. It is designed to relieve wind, relieve cough, warm the lung and resolve phlegm, addressing the cough syndrome caused by Wind-cold invading lungs syndrome. The study suggests that ZWZG could be a valuable therapeutic option for patients suffering from postinfectious cough with Wind-Cold invading Fei syndrome.