Asparagus racemosus for COVID-19

Desde o início da pandemia do novo coronavírus, houve grande preocupação diante de uma doença cujos possíveis impactos e morbidade ainda eram desconhecidos, iniciando, assim, uma corrida na descoberta de um tratamento para esta doença. Nesse sentido diversas pesquisas foram e estão sendo realizadas em busca de espécies vegetais passíveis de serem utilizadas na terapêutica da COVID-19. Portanto, esse estudo tem como objetivo realizar revisão de estudos etnodirigidos de espécies vegetais referenciadas na terapêutica e/ou prevenção da COVID-19. Foi realizada uma busca nas bases Scielo, LILACS e PubMed entre 2020 a 2022. Foram selecionados 32 artigos, predominando os de língua inglesa (n= 30), em 2021 (56,25%) e nos países Irã, Índia e Estados Unidos (15,62%); 86 espécies vegetais foram referidas, pertencentes a 51 famílias, com predomínio de Asteraceae e Laminaceae. As espécies mais referidas foram Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (4,65%) e Nigella sativa L. (3,48%), predominando o uso da raiz (29,4 %), preparadas como extrato aquoso (23,5%). Para futuros trabalhos, deve ser estimulada a continuidade dos estudos de validação com tais espécies, fundamentados na certificação de eficácia, segurança e qualidade; afim de minimizar os riscos do uso popular de produto inadequado e contribuir na pesquisa e desenvolvimento de um futuro bioproduto no tratamento do SARS-CoV-2.

Outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases continue to challenge human health. Novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has triggered a global coronavirus pandemic, namely COVID-19. Multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus are circulating and raises question with respect to effectiveness of different lines of treatment such as vaccines and antiviral drugs. To find appropriate prevention/treatment, 21 plant-based ingredients were identified with antiviral properties. We pseudo typed SARS-CoV-2 on a lentiviral vector plasmid and tested the impact of five different herbal formulations in mammalian HEK293T cells. Viral inactivation assay showed that the natural extracts in herb-derived phytoconstituents based formulation, BITS-003 comprising of Bacopa monnieri, Glycyerrhiza glabra, Asparagus racemosus-wild, and Nigella sativa bear strong virucidal properties, inactivating enveloped viruses from 2log10 (or 99%) to >4log10 (or 99.99%). Moreover, bacterial and yeast cells treated with BITS-003 displayed reduced growth. Topical use of formulation as mouthwash/gargle will be effective in reducing symptoms of respiratory viral infections with a potential to decrease viral load in buccal/oral cavity. This may inhibit the coronavirus spreading to the lungs of infected person and at the same time will reduce the risk of viral transmission to other susceptible persons through micro-droplets originating from the oral cavity of the infected person.

The rapid spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 has become a global pandemic. Although specific vaccines are available and natural drugs are being researched, supportive care and specific treatments to alleviate symptoms and improve patient quality of life remain critical. Chinese medicine (CM) has been employed in China due to the similarities between the epidemiology, genomics, and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV. Moreover, the integration of other traditional oriental medical systems into the broader framework of integrative medicine can offer a powerful approach to managing the disease. Additionally, it has been reported that integrated medicine has better effects and does not increase adverse drug reactions in the context of COVID-19. This article examines preventive measures, potential infection mechanisms, and immune responses in Western medicine (WM), as well as the pathophysiology based on principles of complementary medicine (CM). The convergence between WM and CM approaches, such as the importance of maintaining a strong immune system and promoting preventive care measures, is also addressed. Current treatment options, traditional therapies, and classical prescriptions based on empirical knowledge are also explored, with individual patient circumstances taken into account. An analysis of the potential benefits and challenges associated with the integration of complementary and Western medicine (WM) in the treatment of COVID-19 can provide valuable guidance, enrichment, and empowerment for future research endeavors.