Preprint / Version 1

Traditional Herbal Medicines, Bioactive Metabolites, and Plant Products Against COVID-19: Update on Clinical Trials and Mechanism of Actions

Authors

  • Safaet Alam Department of Pharmacy, State University of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Md Sarker Department of Pharmacy, State University of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Sadia Afrin Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Fahmida Richi Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Chao Zhao College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
  • Jin-Rong Zhou Nutrition/Metabolism Laboratory, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
  • Isa Mohamed Pharmacology Department, Medical Faculty, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (The National University of Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Keywords:

anti-COVID-19, phytomedicine, antiviral, traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurved medicine, phytochemicals, anti-infective, bioactive metabolites

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 is the latest worldwide pandemic declared by the World Health Organization and there is no established anti-COVID-19 drug to combat this notorious situation except some recently approved vaccines. By affecting the global public health sector, this viral infection has created a disastrous situation associated with high morbidity and mortality rates along with remarkable cases of hospitalization because of its tendency to be high infective. These challenges forced researchers and leading pharmaceutical companies to find and develop cures for this novel strain of coronavirus. Besides, plants have a proven history of being notable wellsprings of potential drugs, including antiviral, antibacterial, and anticancer therapies. As a continuation of this approach, plant-based preparations and bioactive metabolites along with a notable number of traditional medicines, bioactive phytochemicals, traditional Chinese medicines, nutraceuticals, Ayurvedic preparations, and other plant-based products are being explored as possible therapeutics against COVID-19. Moreover, the unavailability of effective medicines against COVID-19 has driven researchers and members of the pharmaceutical, herbal, and related industries to conduct extensive investigations of plant-based products, especially those that have already shown antiviral properties. Even the recent invention of several vaccines has not eliminated doubts about safety and efficacy. As a consequence, many limited, unregulated clinical trials involving conventional mono- and poly-herbal therapies are being conducted in various areas of the world. Of the many clinical trials to establish such agents as credentialed sources of anti-COVID-19 medications, only a few have reached the landmark of completion. In this review, we have highlighted and focused on plant-based anti-COVID-19 clinical trials found in several scientific and authenticated databases. The aim is to allow researchers and innovators to identify promising and prospective anti-COVID-19 agents in clinical trials (either completed or recruiting) to establish them as novel therapies to address this unwanted pandemic. Keywords: anti-COVID-19, phytomedicine, antiviral, traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurved medicine, phytochemicals, anti-infective, bioactive metabolites

Author Biography

Md Sarker, Department of Pharmacy, State University of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Division, Health Med Science Research Limited, Dhaka, Bangladesh

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