ABSTRACT
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has triggered an international pandemic that has led to significant public health problems. To date, limited evidence exists to suggest that drugs are effective against the disease. As possible treatments are being investigated, herbal medicines have shown potential for producing novel antiviral agents for the COVID-19 disease. Aim This review explored the potential of Malawi's traditional medicinal plants for the management of COVID-19. Methods:The authors searched on PubMed and Google scholar for medicinal plants that are used in Malawi and published in openly available peer reviewed journals. Plants linked with antiviral treatment, anti-COVID-19 activity or COVID-19 symptoms management were targeted. These included activity against pneumonia, inflammation, cough, difficulty in breathing, pain/aches, fever, diarrhoea, rheumatism, fatigue, asthma, immunocompromised and cardiovascular diseases.Results:11 studies were found with 306 plant species. 127 plant species had at least one COVID-19 related pharmacological activity. Of these plant species, the number of herbal entities used for each indication was: pain/aches (87), fever (2), pneumonia (9), breathing/asthma problems (5), coughing (11), diarrhoea (1), immunosuppression (8), blood issues (10), fatigue (2), heart problems (11), inflammation (8), rheumatism (10) and viral diseases (12). Thirty (30) species were used for more than one disease and Azedarachta indica topped the list (6 of the 13 COVID-19 related diseases). The majority of the species had phytochemicals known to have antiviral activity or mechanisms of actions linked to COVID-19 and consequent diseases' treatment pathways.Conclusion:Medicinal plants are a promising source of compounds that can be used for drug development of COVID-19 related diseases. This review highlights potential targets for the World Health Organization and other research entities to explore in order to assist in controlling the pandemic.
Subject(s)
Humans , Medicine, African Traditional , COVID-19 , Plant Preparations , Malawi , Medicine, TraditionalABSTRACT
In traditional medicine practice the locally made soap is a vehicle for drug application and drugs are usually incorporated in powder form. Many herbal soaps being made incorporate the extract of the medicinal plant; but this makes the soap very expensive and not easily produced for the use of the majority of people. This study investigates the activity of a herbal soap incorporating two medicinal plants ; Senna alata (L) Roxb (Ceasalpinaceae) and Ageratum conyzoides Linn(Asteraceae) which are well known for their use in the treatment of skin diseases and their antimicrobial activity; comparing it to the extracts of the plants. The study also determines the optimum concentration of the herbs to be incorporated into the soap. Three soaps containing 3;5 and 8of the moderately fine powder of the two medicinal plants were prepared using the normal cold method for preparing hand and body soap with NaOH and Palm kernel oil. Extract of the two plants was prepared by cold extraction with methanol and concentrated in vacuo. The soaps and the extract were tested for antimicrobial activity against typed organisms and clinical isolates; gram negative; gram positive organisms and fungi. The results showed that the soap at 5herbal content was optimal. The soaps showed activity against mainly the gram positive organisms and fungi. The activity of the extract was not different from that of the soaps and therefore shows no advantage in using the extracts to prepare the herbal soap
Subject(s)
Herbal , Plant Preparations , Senna Plant , SoapsABSTRACT
PURPOSE : The study was carried out to assess the knowledge of community pharmacists who sell herbal/phytopharmaceutical formulations in pharmacy retail outlets. METHOD: Questionnaires were administered to the pharmacists to gather information on phytopharmaceuticals regarding their use; side effects; potential drug-herb interactions and contraindications of the phytopharmaceuticals sold in their retail outlets. Opinions on regulation; safety and efficacy of herbal remedies were also obtained. Descriptive statistical tests and median scores were used to evaluate the distribution of responses; opinions and perception of the pharmacists on their level of knowledge of the phytopharmaceuticals; and effects of demographic data on the pharmacists' knowledge of the herbal remedies. RESULTS: The study revealed that 31 (62 percent) sold imported herbal remedies and nutritional supplements. Seventy-two (72] percent had received no postgraduate training on herbal medications. Most of the community pharmacists agreed that they did not possess adequate knowledge of potential interaction profiles and side effects of the herbal remedies sold. The training in pharmacy schools on herbal drugs and sale of phytopharmaceuticals in their outlets also had no influence (p greater than 0.05) on desired knowledge. Community pharmacists with less than 10 years of experience in the practice however possessed better knowledge than pharmacists with more than ten years of professional practice (p=0.05) CONCLUSIONS: There was gross inadequacy in the pharmacists' knowledge of the phytopharmaceuticals sold in pharmacies indicating an urgent need for intensive training in order to render better services to their clients
Subject(s)
Knowledge , Pharmaceutical Preparations , Pharmacists , Phytotherapy , Plant PreparationsABSTRACT
Notre etude a ete basee sur la determination des proprietes pharmaco-chimique des ecorces de racines calotropis procera Ait. Le screening phytochimique a revele la presence de steroides; d'heterosides triterpeniques; d'heteroides cardiotoniques; de coumarines; de carotenoides (traces); d'oses; holosides et de mucilages. La determination de la toxicite par voie intra-peritoneale du macere aqueux et de l'extrait hydro-alcoolique a permis d'obtenir des DL50 respectives de 1197 mg/kg et 493;24 mg/kg. Ce qui permet de les classer respectivement comme faiblement et moyennement toxique selon l'echelle de Hodge et Sterner (1943). Les extraits aqueux et alcooliques n'ont ni inhibe la croissance bacterienne ni la croissance de Candida albicans. Les extraits aqueux (macere; decocte) et l'extrait hydro-alcoolique ont montre une faible activite antioxydante. Les extraits aqueux et hydro-alcoolique ont une activite anti-inflammatoire a dose dependante. Cette activite est plus marquee avec l'extrait hydro-alcoolique. L'activite anti-inflammatoire mise en evidence justifie l'utilisation et l'efficacite des ecorces de racines Calotropis procera Ait. sur les crises vaso-occlusives de la drepanocytose