Ciprandi Giorgio, Varriccchio Attilio
Allergy Center, Casa di Cura Villa Montallegro, 16145 Genoa, Italy.
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.
Children (Basel). 2023 Jul 12;10(7):1210. doi: 10.3390/children10071210.
Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are usually characterized by mucus hypersecretion. This condition may worsen and prolong symptoms and signs. For this reason, reducing mucus production and improving mucus removal represent relevant aspects of managing patients with RTIs. In this regard, mucoactive drugs may be effective. Mucoactive agents constitute a large class of compounds characterized by different mechanisms of action. Sobrerol is a monoterpene able to fluidify mucus, increase mucociliary clearance, and exert antioxidant activity. Sobrerol is available in various formulations (granules, syrup, nebulized, and suppository). Sobrerol has been on the market for over 50 years. Therefore, the present article revised the evidence concerning this compound and proposed new possible strategies. The literature analysis showed that several studies investigated the efficacy and safety of sobrerol in acute and chronic RTIs characterized by mucus hyperproduction. Seven pediatric studies have been conducted with favorable outcomes. However, the regulatory agencies recently reduced the treatment duration to three days. Therefore, a future study will test the hypothesis that a combination of oral and topical sobrerol could benefit children and adults with frequent respiratory tract infections. The rationale of this new approach is based on the concept that mucus accumulation could be a risk factor for increased susceptibility to infections.
呼吸道感染（RTIs）通常以黏液分泌过多为特征。这种情况可能会使症状和体征恶化并延长病程。因此，减少黏液分泌和改善黏液清除是管理呼吸道感染患者的相关方面。在这方面，黏液活性药物可能有效。黏液活性药物构成了一大类具有不同作用机制的化合物。索布瑞醇是一种单萜，能够使黏液液化，增加黏液纤毛清除功能，并发挥抗氧化活性。索布瑞醇有多种剂型（颗粒剂、糖浆剂、雾化剂和栓剂）。索布瑞醇已上市50多年。因此，本文对有关该化合物的证据进行了综述，并提出了新的可能策略。文献分析表明，多项研究调查了索布瑞醇在以黏液分泌过多为特征的急性和慢性呼吸道感染中的疗效和安全性。已进行了7项儿科研究，结果良好。然而，监管机构最近将治疗疗程缩短至三天。因此，未来的一项研究将检验以下假设：口服和局部使用索布瑞醇联合使用可能会使频繁发生呼吸道感染的儿童和成人受益。这种新方法的基本原理基于这样一种概念，即黏液积聚可能是感染易感性增加的一个危险因素。
