ABSTRACT
In times of health crisis, including the current COVID-19 pandemic, the potential benefit of botanical drugs and supplements emerges as a focus of attention, although controversial efficacy claims are rightly a concern. Phytotherapy has an established role in everyday self-care and health care, but, since botanical preparations contain many chemical constituents rather than single compounds, challenges arise in demonstrating efficacy and safety. However, there is ample traditional, empirical, and clinical evidence that botanicals can offer some protection and alleviation of disease symptoms as well as promoting general well-being. Newly emerging viral infections, specifically COVID-19, represent a unique challenge in their novelty and absence of established antiviral treatment or immunization. We discuss here the roles and limitations of phytotherapy in helping to prevent and address viral infections, especially regarding their effects on immune response. Botanicals with a documented immunomodulatory, immunostimulatory, and antiinflammatory effects include adaptogens, Boswellia spp., Curcuma longa, Echinacea spp., Glycyrrhiza spp., medicinal fungi, Pelargonium sidoides, salicylate-yielding herbs, and Sambucus spp. We further provide a clinical perspective on applications and safety of these herbs in prevention, onset, progression, and convalescence from respiratory viral infections.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 Drug Treatment , Plant Preparations/pharmacology , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Dietary Supplements , Humans , Immunity/drug effects , Phytotherapy/methods , SARS-CoV-2/drug effectsABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, but now more than 200 countries have been affected and the coronavirus pandemic is still ongoing. The severity of COVID-19 symptoms can range from mild to severe. FDA approved remdesivir as a treatment of COVID-19 so far. Various clinical trials are underway to find an effective method to treat patients with COVID-19. This review aimed at summarizing 219 registered clinical trials in the ClinicalTrials.gov database with possible mechanisms, and novel findings of them, and other recent publications related to COVID-19. According to our analyses, various treatment approaches and drugs are being investigated to find an effective drug to cure COVID-19 and among all strategies, three important mechanisms are suggested to be important against COVID-19 including antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. Our review can help future studies get on the way to finding an effective drug for COVID-19 treatment by providing ideas for similar researches.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 Drug Treatment , Clinical Trials as Topic , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Humans , Immunologic Factors/therapeutic use , RegistriesABSTRACT
In late December 2019, the outbreak of respiratory illness emerged in Wuhan, China, and spreads worldwide. World Health Organization (WHO) named this disease severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused by a new member of beta coronaviruses. Several medications are prescribed to patients, and some clinical trials are underway. Scientists are trying to find a specific drug against this virus. In this review, we summarize the pathogenesis, clinical features, and current treatments of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Then, we describe the possible therapeutic effects of curcumin and its molecular mechanism against coronavirus-19. Curcumin, as an active constituent of Curcuma longa (turmeric), has been studied in several experimental and clinical trial studies. Curcumin has some useful clinical effects such as antiviral, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and antifatigue effects that could be effective to manage the symptoms of the infected patient with COVID-19. It has several molecular mechanisms including antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and antifibrotic properties with inhibitory effects on Toll-like receptors, NF-κB, inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and bradykinin. Scientific evidence suggests that curcumin could have a potential role to treat COVID-19. Thus, the use of curcumin in the clinical trial, as a new treatment option, should be considered.