ABSTRACT
The corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased the interest in self-care strategies, including self-medication. Medical students, as future health practitioners, learn more about medications than other students. This study aimed to describe self-medication practices for preventing COVID-19 among medical students at Universitas Islam Indonesia. This observational study used a cross-sectional design and was undertaken in November- December 2020. The study sample included 336 undergraduate medical students determined using a consecutive sampling technique based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected using an online questionnaire about self-medication practices in the preceding 3 months. Among a total of 336 students, 137 (41%) reported using self-medication intending to prevent COVID-19, and 126 (92%) of these 137 took preventive supplements, mainly vitamins C, D, and E, and omega-3. Seven students reported the use of zinc, mainly in combination with other vitamins. Students who practiced self-medication lived closer to people confirmed with COVID-19, washed their hands more often, and desinfected their belongings more frequently than their counterparts (p<0.05). The mean duration for consuming vitamins was 11-16 days. Forty students (29%) used herbal medicine to prevent COVID-19;ginger, turmeric, honey, black seed, cutcherry, and Curcuma were the most often consumed herbal remedies. Fourteen students (10%) reported taking over-the-counter medications to relieve symptoms related to COVID-19, including antipyretic, analgesic, antiseptic, antihistamine, decongestant, antitussive, and expectorant medications. Most respondents (82%) purchased their medications at pharmacies, and 11 (9%) obtained them from online shops. These findings show the high rate of self-medication using vitamins and herbal remedies for COVID-19 prevention among university medical students. Further studies are needed to explore students' knowledge about the risks of self-medication including the use of herbal medicines.Copyright © 2022 Marmara University Press.
ABSTRACT
Since the outbreak in December 2019, in Wuhan (China) of COVID-19, approved drugs are still lacking and the world is seeking effective treatment. The purpose of this article is to review the medicinal plants with potential to be used as complementary therapies against COVID-19. Bibliographic information was searched in several databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, PROTA, ResearchGate and GLOBEinMED), to retrieve relevant papers on (1) plants used to manage common symptoms of COVID-19, (2) plant secondary metabolites with confirmed inhibitory effects on COVID-19 and (3) plants exhibiting pharmacological activities of relevance for COVID-19 management. A total of 230 species was recorded as potential source of ingredients for the fight against the 2019 novel corona virus. Of these species, 30 contain confirmed antiCOVID-19 secondary metabolites, 90 are used traditionally to manage at least 3 common symptoms of COVID-19, 10 have immunostimulant activity, 52 have anti-inflamatory activity, 14 have antiviral properties and 78 species are documented as used to treat malaria. A PCA analysis showing cluster formatting among the recorded species indicates 4 groups of species and an array of possibility of using individual species or a combination of species for their complementary effects. The authors argue that Cameroonian medicinal plants can be of potential contribution to the fight against COVID-19. Further applied research is needed to provide more scientific evidence for their efficacy, to establish standard formulations and clinical studies as part of efforts to develop therapies for COVID-19.Copyright © 2021, Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University.
ABSTRACT
Objective: Pegagan embun (Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam.) is one of the herbs used in ethnomedicines as an immunostimulant during the COVID-19 pandemic. This present study aims to discover the potential toxicity effect of pegagan embun extract through sub-acute administration on the SGPT and SGOT levels of Wistar white male rats. Method(s): Thirty-six test animals were divided into four groups: the control group was given Na CMC 0.5%, and the treatment groups were treated with ethanol extract of pegagan embun at doses of 7, 35, and 150 mg/kgBW. All groups were treated orally for 7, 14, and 21 d once daily. On the 8th, 15th, and 22nd day, the SGPT and SGOT of the test animal level were measured. The data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA followed by Duncan's multiple range test (p<0.05). Result(s): The study revealed that administration of pegagan embun extract did not cause any harmful effect on the liver but significantly decreased the level of SGPT and SGOT influenced by the variety of doses and duration of administration (p<0.05). Significant reductions in SGPT and SGOT levels are seen after extract administration at dosages of 7 mg/kgBW for 21 d. Conclusion(s): This study showed that pegagan embun (Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam.) extract sub-acute administration at doses of 7, 35, and 150 mg/kgBW is relatively non-toxic and safe to be used as an immunostimulant. There was no sign of damage showed in the liver of treated rats based on the levels of SGOT and SGPT.Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Innovare Academic Sciences Pvt Ltd.
ABSTRACT
Background: Infectious diseases have posed a major threat to human survival for centu-ries and can devastate entire populations. Recently, the global outbreak of COVID-19 has increased exponentially, affecting more than 200 countries and millions of lives since the fall of 2019, largely due to the ineffectiveness of existing antiviral therapies. WHO announced it a public health emer-gency of international concern. A significant waiting period in antiviral therapy hindered by the rapid evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 aggravated the situation ensuing imposition of strict laws (e.g., communal dissociation, international travel restrictions, and mainte-nance of hygiene) that would help in inhibiting further outspread of COVID-19. Ayurveda system of medicine offers a holistic approach to the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective(s): This review aims to highlight the potential of medicinal herbs and Ayurvedic drugs as the remedial approach for viral diseases, such as COVID-19. Method(s): We reviewed the literature from journal publication websites and electronic databases, such as Bentham, Science Direct, Pub Med, Scopus, USFDA, etc. Result(s): The drugs used in the traditional system of medicine have the potential to prevent and cure the infected patient. Ayurvedic therapies are known for regulating immunity and rejuvenation properties that behold much promise in the management of COVID-19 disease. Government of India, Ministry of AYUSH recommends some precautionary fitness measures and an increase in immunity with special reference to respiratory health. Conclusion(s): While there is no medication for COVID-19 as of now, taking preventive measures and boosting body immunity is highly recommended. A number of medicinal plants that play an im-portant role in revitalizing the immune system are easily accessible in home remedies.Copyright © 2023 Bentham Science Publishers.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The retina is a highly specialized sense organ subjected to constant exposure to systemic toxins and oxidative stress. The frequency and etiology of drug-induced retinopathy, as well as the number of new potential drugs involved, are largely unknown. Objective: Describe the most frequent drug-induced retinal disorders and the drugs implicated gathered through the spontaneous report registry of the Spanish System of Pharmacovigilance (SSP). Methods: All spontaneous reported cases describing Retinal structural change, deposit and degeneration, Retinopathies not elsewhere classified, and Retinal bleeding and vascular disorders (excluded retinopathy) (MedDRA-HLT) in the SSP database from 1983 to January 2022 were selected. Medical devices and marketing authorisation holder cases were excluded. The variables studied were age and sex of the patients, characteristics of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) (seriousness, outcome) and suspect drugs (active substance, anatomical therapeutic chemical code, previous knowledge of drug-reaction association, rechallenge and existence of alternative causes). Results: Out of 175 spontaneous reports (0.1% of the spontaneous reports in the SSP database) that describe 210 ocular ADRs and/or adverse events, the most frequent (MedDRA-HLT) were retinal bleeding and vascular disorders (111, 52.9%), ocular structural change, deposit and degeneration (59, 28.1%) and vision disorders (12, 5.7%). For MedDRA-PT;retinal vein thrombosis (38, 18.1%), retinal detachment (22, 10.5%) and retinal hemorrhage (20, 9.5%). In only 8 cases (3.8%) drug administration was ophthalmic. Patient's median age was 57.65 (IQR 48-67.5) years;68.6% (120) were adults and 56.6% (99) were women. 153 reports (87.4%) were serious. 10.9% (19) cases resolved after withdrawal of the suspect drug and 12.6% (22) resolved with sequelae. A total of 220 drugs were suspected, of which 55 (25%) were COVID-19 vaccines -vector vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/AZD1222, Oxford-AstraZeneca (27) and mRNA vaccine BNT162b2, Pfizer- BioNTech (23)-, followed by sex hormones (21), immunostimulants (16) and antiprotozoals (14). Of the 175 reports, 56% (98) were poorly or unknown ADR associations. Alternative causes were excluded in 46 (26.3%) cases of which 12 (26%) were poorly or unknown ADR associations and no cases had a positive rechallenge. Conclusion: Our study shows that drug-induced retinopathy is an infrequent but serious complication. In the SSP database more than half of ADRs were retinal bleeding and vascular disorders. A quarter of the suspected drugs were new COVID-19 vaccines, followed by other drugs for which retinal disorders are well known. Although striking, it is important to contextualize this data in the current situation, considering the particularities of pharmacovigilance in vaccines, the massive rollout campaign and the nascent and evolving data on COVID-19 vaccines. Thus, further studies are needed to confirm such associations. Moreover, clinicians should be aware of drug-induced retinal disorders, even when not listed in the product information leaflet.