Ocimum sanctum for COVID-19

There is currently no particular cure for coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). However, studies suggest that certain medicinal plants, fruits, and vegetables possess bioactive substances capable of ameliorating the disease. This review aims to articulate fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants that have anti-coronavirus properties. Relevant articles were collected from reputable academic repositories, namely SpringerLink, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Available information shows that alkaline-rich fruits and vegetables, such as mango, cabbage, lemon, onion, okra, carrot, cucumber, pepper, spinach, and avocado, have anti-coronavirus properties. The mentioned fruits and vegetables stimulate an unfavorable pH for the replication of the virus and normalize the acid-base imbalance induced in the lungs and kidneys of the infected. Fruits and vegetables also contain health-boosting substances such as proteins, amino acids, glycosides, vitamins, and minerals. Medicinal plants, including Clitoria ternatea L., Vitex trifolia L., Sphaeranthus indicus L., Clerodendrum inerme L. Gaertn., Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Strobilanthes cusia (Nees) Kuntze, Vitis vinifera var. aestivalis (Michx.) Kuntze, Hyoscyamus niger L., and Cedrela Sinensis Juss., also possess anti-coronavirus properties. Clitoria ternatea and Cedrela sinensis reduce the virus’s replication by shredding its receptor, called the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Vitex trifolia and Sphaeranthus indicus prevent hyper-inflammatory responses and cytokine storms. Glycyrrhiza glabra induces nitrous oxide synthase and blocks the virus’s replication. Clerodendrum inerme and Strobilanthes cusia inhibit the virus’s ribosome and protein translation. Vitis vinifera represses nucleocapsid protein and lowers apoptosis. Hyoscyamus niger inhibits Ca2+ channels and lessens breathing difficulties induced by the coronavirus. Thus, dietary supplements and drugs formulated with these medicinal plants, fruits, and vegetables may lessen the effects of COVID-19.

Background: The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has originated from Wuhan, China and rapidly spread all over the world. This disease is caused by a coronavirus termed Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that mainly infects the human respiratory tract. Herbal agents including Atractylodes lancea, Ephedra, Curcumin, and Echinacea purpurea had immunomodulatory effects and antiviral activities on other respiratory viruses including Influenza virus. They strengthen the innate immunity through increasing the phagocytic activity and antiinflammatory activity. These herbs could be used as a complementary therapy to prevent entry of COVID-19 and improve immune system. This review delves into the role and therapeutic compounds of various herbal agents in relation to immunity, their effectiveness in treating other viral respiratory illnesses, and their potential influence on COVID-19 disease.