Herbal drug BNO 1016 is safe and effective in the treatment of acute viral rhinosinusitis

Jund, Rainer; Mondigler, Martin; Stammer, Holger; Stierna, Pontus; Bachert, Claus

This analysis shows that oral administration of 480 mg (3 Â 160 mg) of the herbal drug BNO 1016 is effective Table II have demonstrated both antiviral activity [13] and stimulation of beat frequency in human respiratory epithelia in vitro by activation of forskolin-stimulated chloride secretion [14] . BNO 1011 is a dry extract without excipients whereas for BNO 1016 excipients are added for technical reasons, for example, to enable the extract to be pressed into tablets. The clinical evidence for BNO 101 (Sinupret) (with the same constituents as BNO 1016 but in a lower dose) in the treatment of sinusitis has recently been reviewed, showing a favorable effect [15] . This herbal medicinal product exerts significant oral anti-inflammatory effects by a reduction of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression and prostaglandin (PG)E(2) formation [16] . Thus, the mode of action rationalizes its therapeutic use in the treatment of sinusitis and other viral/microbial nasal infections that are associated with inflammation. Experimental studies on Sinupret show a reduction of bacterial growth after only 4 days [6] . Other herbalsalthough chemically less defined than Sinupretseem similarly to have some anti-inflammatory effect, for example, in chronic sinusitis [17] .