Table 6.

Potential mechanisms of commonly prescribed Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for allergic rhinitis (AR) (last assessed date from PubMed: 2020/5/31).

CHM	Possible mechanisms
Herbal formula (HF)
Xin-Yi-Qing-Fei-Tang	Antibacterial effect by activating macrophage in murine sinusitis model [38]
Xiao-Qing-Long-Tang	Antiallergy effect by reducing IL-4, IL-6, and TNF-α levels [39]. Anti-inflammation by suppressing NF-κB, JNK, and ERK1/2 signaling pathways [40]. Antiairway remodeling and hypersensitivity effect in mice model [41, 42]. Immunomodulation of Th1/Th2 balance in mice CD4 + T cell [43]. Anti-inflammation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells [44].
Xin-Yi-San	Immunomodulatory effect by suppressing IgE levels and increasing IL-10, sICAM-1, and IL-8 in the clinical trials [45]
Cang-Er-San	Anti-inflammation by inhibiting IL-4 and TNF-α in human mast cell lines [46]
Ge-Gen-Tang	Antiviral activity against the human respiratory syncytial virus [47] and influenza virus in human respiratory tract cell lines [48]
Single herb (SH)
Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC.	Anti-inflammation by reducing IL-13-induced cytokines via inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways in nasal epithelial cells [49]. Anti-inflammation/ antiairway remodeling effect in mice and A549 cells [50]. Antiallergic effect by reducing IL-6, PGD (2), LTC (4), β-hexosaminidase, and COX-2 protein in bone marrow-derived mast cells [51].
Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.	Anti-inflammation in a murine model of the allergic airway [52]. Antiviral activity against the human respiratory syncytial virus by preventing viral attachment, internalization, and by stimulating IFN secretion in human respiratory tract cell lines [53]. Antibacterial effect [54] and synergistic antimicrobial activity against strains of MRSA [55].
Angelica dahurica Benth. et Hood. F.	Anti-inflammation by inhibiting nitric oxide production in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cell lines [56]. Antiasthmatic effect by upregulating heme-oxygenase-1 in the mice model [57]. Antibacterial effect on stains of MRSA.
Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi	Anti-inflammation of baicalin by blocking JAK2-STAT5 and NF-κB signaling pathways in LPS-stimulated human mast cells [58]
Fritillaria thunbergii Miq.	Anti-inflammation of peiminine by inhibiting IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and IL-1β via blocking NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways in HMC-1 cells [59]