REVIEW article
Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Virology
Advances in Anti-Dengue Virus Properties of Traditional Chinese Medicines
Ruyi Zeng 1
Tiantian Wu 2,3
Kui Zheng 2,3
Lu Zhang 2,3
Fangfang Sun 2,3
Shuai Yuan 2,3
Shuxiang Huang 2,3
Fan Wang 2,3
Zhiping Dai 2,3
Jian Zhou 2,3
Suxiang Li 2,3
Dandan Hu 2,3
Yongxia Shi 2,3
Jun Dai 1,2,3
1. Artemisinin Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
2. Guangzhou Customs District Technology Center, Guangzhou, China
3. State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Customs District Technology Center, Guangzhou Customs District, Guangzhou, China
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Abstract
Dengue fever is an acute mosquito-borne disease caused by the dengue virus (DENV). Based on antigenic variations in the envelope (E) protein, DENV is classified into four serotypes (DENV-1 to DENV-4), with DENV-2 being most frequently associated with severe disease. Given its high transmissibility, broad geographic distribution, and rapid viral evolution, there remains an urgent need for specific antiviral therapeutics against dengue. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)- characterized by multi-target pharmacology activity, generally favorable safety profiles, and a low propensity for inducing resistance—represents a promising complementary strategy for dengue prevention and treatment. Historical TCM records on Tianxing fever, a condition exhibiting strong clinical parallels with modern dengue, provide valuable insights for selecting candidate herbs, extraction methods, and dosage strategies. This review systematically examines herbal agents documented in classical TCM texts for the treatment of Tianxing fever and synthesizes contemporary pharmacological research on TCM-derived compounds with anti-dengue activity. Furthermore, it outlines key future research directions for TCM-based dengue therapeutics, with the aim of guiding clinical practice and modern drug development.
Summary
Keywords
dengue fever, Dengue Virus, Research advances, Tianxingfever, Traditional Chinese Medicine
Received
04 January 2026
Accepted
18 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Zeng, Wu, Zheng, Zhang, Sun, Yuan, Huang, Wang, Dai, Zhou, Li, Hu, Shi and Dai. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Yongxia Shi; Jun Dai
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.