Preprint / Version 1

Traditional herbs against COVID-19: back to old weapons to combat the new pandemic

Authors

  • Hayder Al-kuraishy Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Medicine, College of Medicine, ALmustansiriyia University, Baghdad, Iraq
  • Omnia Al-Fakhrany Pharmaceutical Microbiology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
  • Engy Elekhnawy Pharmaceutical Microbiology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
  • Ali Al-Gareeb Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Medicine, College of Medicine, ALmustansiriyia University, Baghdad, Iraq
  • Mohammed Alorabi Department of Biotechnology, College of Sciences, Taif University, P.O.Box 11099, Taif, 21944 Saudi Arabia
  • Michel Waard Smartox Biotechnology, 6 rue des Platanes, 38120 Saint-Egrève, France
  • Sarah Albogami Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O.Box 11099, Taif, 21944 Saudi Arabia
  • Gaber Batiha Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt

Keywords:

COVID-19, Phytochemicals, Traditional Chinese medicine, Bioactive metabolites, Nutraceuticals, Functional foods

Abstract

Recently, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is a chief public health disaster caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). There are no established effective preventive or therapeutic anti-COVID-19 drugs available except for some recently approved vaccines. Still, countless recent studies recommend various alternative and complementary approaches against COVID-19, which are medicinal herbs employed as traditional remedies to enhance immunity to struggle with viral infections. In addition, physicians worldwide are highly interested in vitamin and mineral supplements to help them combat COVID-19 either through protection or treatment. Dietary supplements specifically vitamin D, vitamin C, and zinc provide good prophylactic and therapeutic support to the presently available treatment regimens. In the present work, we have focused on plant-based remedies with promising anti-COVID-19 activities. Aim To enable investigators and researchers to identify potential herbal compounds with anti-COVID activity to be used as promising therapies to combat this pandemic. Main body This review highlights the recently published studies concerning natural traditional herbs, herbal bioactive metabolites, dietary supplements, and functional foods that could help prevent and/or treat COVID-19. Herein, we explored medicinal herbs as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 and discussed how these studies help form larger discussions of diet and disease. Moreover, by investigating the herbal bioactive components, we have outlined several medicinal herbs that can fight against COVID-19 by hindering SARS-CoV-2 replication and entry to its host cells, deterring the cytokine storm, and several other means. Finally, we have summarized various herbal products, functional foods, and dietary supplements with potent bioactive compounds which can inhibit and/or prevent COVID-19 disease progression. Conclusions Based on the studies reviewed in this work, it was concluded with no doubt that phytochemical components present in various herbs could have a starring role in the deterrence and cure of coronavirus contagion. Keywords: COVID-19, Phytochemicals, Traditional Chinese medicine, Bioactive metabolites, Nutraceuticals, Functional foods

Author Biography

Michel Waard, Smartox Biotechnology, 6 rue des Platanes, 38120 Saint-Egrève, France

Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, LabEx «Ion Channels, Science & Therapeutics», 06560 Valbonne, France

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