Therapeutic approach for COVID-19: The power of herbal medicine

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i10.8907

Keywords:

Medicinal plants; Homeopathics; Florals; SARS-CoV-2; Complementary treatment.

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate whether medicinal plants as active ingredients of herbal, homeopathic and floral medicines marketed in Brazil, had potential use as a therapeutic strategy for prevention, treatment and cure for COVID-19. This study took into account products marketed and regulated by Brazilian legislation with claims such as: immunomodulators, antivirals and improvement of symptoms related to respiratory system deficiency, which were calculated the absolute (n) and relative (%) frequencies. In addition, PubMed®, Web of Science® and SciVerse Scopus® databases were used to search the literature in order to obtain the scientific claims of plants found in the formulations of the evaluated products, taking into account the typical symptoms of COVID-19. 113 products were found, of which 65% were herbal medicines, 27% homeopathic medicines and 7% floral. There were 13 medicinal plants with an absolute frequency ≥ 5, in which scientific evidence was found regarding their medicinal use, as a complementary therapy in the treatment of symptoms related to COVID-19.

Author Biography

Danilo José Machado de Abreu, Universidade Federal de Lavras

Escola de Agronomia

References

Aanouz, I., Belhassan, A., El Khatabi, K., Lakhlifi, T., El Idrissi, M., & Bouachrine, M. (2020). Moroccan Medicinal plants as inhibitors of COVID-19: Computational investigations. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, 0(0), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080 /07391102.2020.1758790

Ali, I., & Alharbi, O. M. L. (2020). COVID-19: Disease, management, treatment, and social impact. Science of the Total Environment, 728, 138861. https://doi.org/10.1 016/j.scitotenv.2020.138861

Ang, L., Lee, H. W., Kim, A., Lee, J. A., Zhang, J., & Lee, M. S. (2020). Herbal medicine for treatment of children diagnosed with COVID-19: A review of guidelines. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 39, 101174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101174

Azevedo, B. C., Morel, L. J. F., Carmona, F., Cunha, T. M., Contini, S. H. T., Delprete, P. G., Ramalho, F. S., Crevelin, E., Bertoni, B. W., França, S. C., Borges, M. C., & Pereira, A. M. S. (2018). Aqueous extracts from Uncaria tomentosa (Willd. ex Schult.) DC. reduce bronchial hyperresponsiveness and inflammation in a murine model of asthma. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 218, 76–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2018.02.013

Brazil. Ministry of Health. Health Care Secretariat. Primary Care Department. (2006). Política Nacional de Práticas Integrativas e complementares no SUS: https://bvsms.saude.g ov.br/bvs/publicacoes/pnpic.pdf

Brazil. Ministry of Health. Secretariat of Science, T. and S. I. P. A. and S. I. D. (2006). A fitoterapia no SUS e o Programa de Pesquisa de Plantas Medicinais da Central de Medicamentos.

Brazil. Ministry of Health. The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa). (2009). Instrução normativa - in no 9, de 17 de agosto de 2009. Dispõe sobre a relação de produtos permitidos para dispensação ecomercialização em farmácias e drogarias. Diário Oficial Da União, Poder Executivo, DF, Brasília. http://www.cff.org.br/userfiles/file/noti cias/in9_170809.pdf

Brazil. Ministry of Health. The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa). (2014). Resolução de Diretoria Colegiada - RDC No 26, de 13 de maio de 2014. Dispõe sobre o registro de medicamentos fitoterápicos e o registro e a notificação de produtos tradicionais fitoterápicos. Diário Oficial Da União, Poder Executivo, DF, Brasília. https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis/anvisa/2014/rdc0026_13_05_2014.pdf

Brazil. Ministry of Health. The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa). (2018a). Instrução normativa - IN No 28, de 26 de julho de 2018. Estabelece as listas de constituintes, de limites de uso, de alegações e de rotulagem complementar dos suplementos alimentares. Diário Oficial Da União, Poder Executivo, DF, Brasília. http://portal.anvisa.gov.br/documents/10181/3898888/IN_28_2018_COMP.pdf/db9c7460-ae66-4f78-8576-dfd019bc9fa1

Brazil. Ministry of Health. The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa). (2018b). Resolução de Diretoria Colegiada - RDC No 238, de 25 de julho de 2018. Dispõe sobre o registro, a renovação de registro, as mudanças pós-registro e a notificação de medicamentos dinamizados industrializados. Diário Oficial Da União, Poder Executivo, DF, Brasília. http://portal.anvisa.gov.br/documents/10181/3898888/IN_28_2018_COMP.pdf/db9c7460-ae66-4f78-8576-dfd019bc9fa1

Brazil. Ministry of Health. The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa). (2018c). Resolução de Diretoria Colegiada - RDC No 242, de 26 de julho de 2018. Regulamenta o registro de vitaminas, minerais, aminoácidos e proteínas de uso oral,classificados como medicamentos específicos. Diário Oficial Da União, Poder Executivo, DF, Brasília. https://doi.org/10.20961/ge.v4i1.19180

Brazil. Ministry of Health. The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa)., & (Anvisa), R. A. (2018). Resolução de Diretoria Colegiada - RDC No 240, de 26 de julho de 2018. Dispõe sobre as categorias de alimentos e embalagens isentos e com obrigato. Diário Oficial Da União, Poder Executivo, DF, Brasília. http://portal.anvisa.gov.br/documen ts/10181/3898888/RDC_240_2018_.pdf/3cd5567c-0a4a-461a-a1f9-4191304c0e07

Carvalho, A. C. B., Lana, T. N., Perfeito, J. P. S., & Silveira, D. (2018). The Brazilian market of herbal medicinal products and the impacts of the new legislation on traditional medicines. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 212, 29–35. https://doi.org/https://doi. org/10.1016/j.jep.2017.09.040

Chang, Y.-Y., Tsai, Y.-T., Lai, J.-N., Yeh, C.-H., & Lin, S.-K. (2014). The traditional Chinese medicine prescription patterns for migraine patients in Taiwan: A population-based study. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 151(3), 1209–1217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2013.12.040

Chavan, R., Shinde, P., Girkar, K., Madage, R., & Chowdhary, A. (2016). Assessment of Anti-Influenza activity and hemagglutination inhibition of Plumbago indica and Allium sativum extracts. Pharmacognosy Research, 8(2), 105–111. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-8490.172562

Chiru, T., Fursenco, C., Ciobanu, N., Dinu, M., Popescu, E., Ancuceanu, R., Volmer, D., & Raal, A. (2020). Use of medicinal plants in complementary treatment of the common cold and influenza – Perception of pharmacy customers in Moldova and Romania. Journal of Herbal Medicine, 100346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2020.100346

Dao, T. T., Nguyen, P. H., Won, H. K., Kim, E. H., Park, J., Won, B. Y., & Oh, W. K. (2012). Curcuminoids from Curcuma longa and their inhibitory activities on influenza A neuraminidases. Food Chemistry, 134(1), 21–28. https://doi.org/https://doi.o rg/10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.02.015

de Albuquerque, U. P., Monteiro, J. M., Ramos, M. A., & de Amorim, E. L. C. (2007). Medicinal and magic plants from a public market in northeastern Brazil. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 110(1), 76–91. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2006.09.010

de Moura, R. S., Costa, S. S., Jansen, J. M., Silva, C. A., Lopes, C. S., Bernardo-Filho, M., da Silva, V. N., Criddle, D. N., Portela, B. N., Rubenich, L. M. S., Araújo, R. G., & Carvalho, L. C. R. M. (2002). Bronchodilator activity of Mikania glomerata Sprengel on human bronchi and guinea-pig trachea . Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 54(2), 249–256. https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357021778277

Derksen, A., Kühn, J., Hafezi, W., Sendker, J., Ehrhardt, C., Ludwig, S., & Hensel, A. (2016). Antiviral activity of hydroalcoholic extract from Eupatorium perfoliatum L. against the attachment of influenza A virus. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 188, 144–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2016.05.016

Dutt, V., Thakur, S., Dhar, V., & Sharma, A. (2010). The genus Gelsemium: An update. Pharmacognosy Reviews, 4(8), 185–194. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.70916

Ferreira Júnior, W. S., Cruz, M. P., Santos, L. L. dos, & Medeiros, M. F. T. (2012). Use and importance of quina (Cinchona spp.) and ipeca (Carapichea ipecacuanha (Brot.) L. Andersson): Plants for medicinal use from the 16th century to the present. Journal of Herbal Medicine, 2(4), 103–112. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2012.07.003

Flora do Brasil 2020 em construção. (2020). Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. http://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/reflora/PrincipalUC/PrincipalUC.do

Freitas, J. A., Vanat, N., Pinheiro, J. W., Balarin, M. R. S., Sforcin, J. M., & Venancio, E. J. (2011). The effects of propolis on antibody production by laying hens. Poultry Science, 90(6), 1227–1233. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2010-01315

Fusco, D., Liu, X., Savage, C., Taur, Y., Xiao, W., Kennelly, E., Yuan, J., Cassileth, B., Salvatore, M., & Papanicolaou, G. A. (2010). Echinacea purpurea aerial extract alters course of influenza infection in mice. Vaccine, 28(23), 3956–3962. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.vaccine.2010.03.047

Goel, V., Lovlin, R., Chang, C., Slama, J. V., Barton, R., Gahler, R., Bauer, R., Goonewardene, L., & Basu, T. K. (2005). A proprietary extract from the echinacea plant (Echinacea purpurea) enhances systemic immune response during a common cold. Phytotherapy Research, 19(8), 689–694. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1733

Han, S., Xu, J., Guo, X., & Huang, M. (2018). Curcumin ameliorates severe influenza pneumonia via attenuating lung injury and regulating macrophage cytokines production. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 45(1), 84–93. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1681.12848

Ho, L. T. F., Chan, K. K. H., Chung, V. C. H., & Leung, T. H. (2020). Highlights of traditional Chinese medicine frontline expert advice in the China national guideline for COVID-19. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 36(March), 101116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2020.101116

Hong, C.-E., & Lyu, S.-Y. (2011). Anti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidative Effects of Korean Red Ginseng Extract in Human Keratinocytes. Immune Network, 11(1), 42–49. https://doi.org/10.4110/in.2011.11.1.42

Hudson, J. B. (2012). Applications of the Phytomedicine Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) in Infectious Diseases. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 2012, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/769896

Imanishi, N., Andoh, T., Mantani, N., Sakai, S., Terasawa, K., Shimada, Y., Sato, M., Katada, Y., Ueda, K., & Ochiai, H. (2006). Macrophage-Mediated Inhibitory Effect of Zingiber officinale Rosc, A Traditional Oriental Herbal Medicine, on the Growth of Influenza A/Aichi/2/68 Virus. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 34(01), 157–169. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0192415X06003722

Irfan, M., Kwak, Y.-S., Han, C.-K., Hyun, S. H., & Rhee, M. H. (2020). Adaptogenic effects of Panax ginseng on modulation of cardiovascular functions. Journal of Ginseng Research. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2020.03.001

Jin, G. L., Su, Y. P., Liu, M., Xu, Y., Yang, J., Liao, K. J., & Yu, C. X. (2014). Medicinal plants of the genus Gelsemium (Gelsemiaceae, Gentianales) - A review of their phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and traditional use. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 152(1), 33–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.01.003

Kim, J., Lee, K. W., & Lee, H. J. (2014). Chapter 29 - Polyphenols Suppress and Modulate Inflammation: Possible Roles in Health and Disease (R. R. Watson, V. R. Preedy, & S. B. T.-P. in H. H. and D. Zibadi (eds.); pp. 393–408). Academic Press. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-398456-2.00029-3

Lal, P., Kumar, A., Kumar, S., Kumari, S., Saikia, P., Dayanandan, A., Adhikari, D., & Khan, M. L. (2020). The dark cloud with a silver lining: Assessing the impact of the SARS COVID-19 pandemic on the global environment. Science of The Total Environment, 732, 139297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139297

Lee, J. S., Hwang, H. S., Ko, E.-J., Lee, Y.-N., Kwon, Y.-M., Kim, M.-C., & Kang, S.-M. (2014). Immunomodulatory activity of red ginseng against influenza A virus infection. Nutrients, 6(2), 517–529. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu6020517

Moore, Michael; Chesner, D. (1997). Specifi c Indications for Herbs in General Use. Southwest School Of Botanical Medicine. http://www.swsbm.com/Manuals MM/SpecIndic3.pdf

Nayak, D., Nayak, C., Oberai, P., Padmanabhan, M., Singh, H., Singh, V., Sreedhara Kurup, T., Varanasi, R., Aggarwal, A., Gopinadhan, S., Janardanan Nair, K., & Kumar, B. S. R. (2014). Homoeopathic Genus Epidemicus ′Bryonia alba′ as a prophylactic during an outbreak of Chikungunya in India: A cluster -randomised, double -blind, placebo- controlled trial. Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy, 8(3), 160. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-7168.141739

Oliveira, A. L., Pozza, L. N. L., Santos, D. N., Kamimura, E. S., Vicente, E., & Cabral, F. A. (2013). Supercritical extraction of coumarin from guaco (Mikania laevigata and Mikania glomerata) for pharmaceutical applications. Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 83, 65–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.supflu.2013.07.019

Park, Kap Joo; Lee, H. H. (2005). In Vitro AntiviralActivity of Aqueous Extracts from Korean Medicinal Plants Against Influenza Virus Type A. Journal of Microbiology and Biotechcnologynology, 15(5), 924–929.

Pearson, W., Charch, A., Brewer, D., & Clarke, A. F. (2007). Pilot study investigating the ability of an herbal composite to alleviate clinical signs of respiratory dysfunction in horses with recurrent airway obstruction. Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research = Revue Canadienne de Recherche Veterinaire, 71(2), 145–151. https://pubmed.ncbi.n lm.nih.gov/17479778

Pistelli, L. . (2002). Secondary metabolites of genus Astragalus: Structure and biological activity. Studies in Natural Products Chemistry, 27, 443–545. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1572-5995(02)80043-6

Prasad, N. S., Raghavendra, R., Lokesh, B. R., & Naidu, K. A. (2004). Spice phenolics inhibit human PMNL 5-lipoxygenase. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 70(6), 521–528. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plefa.2003.11.006

Prata, D. N., Rodrigues, W., & Bermejo, P. H. (2020). Temperature significantly changes COVID-19 transmission in (sub)tropical cities of Brazil. Science of the Total Environment, 729, 138862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138862

Rahmani, G., Farajdokht, F., Mohaddes, G., Babri, S., Ebrahimi, V., & Ebrahimi, H. (2020). Garlic ( Allium sativum ) improves anxiety- and depressive-related behaviors and brain oxidative stress in diabetic rats. Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry, 126(2), 95–100. https://doi.org/10.1080/13813455.2018.1494746

Rajkumar, R. P. (2020). COVID-19 and mental health: A review of the existing literature. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 52, 102066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102066

Reis, S. R. I. N., Valente, L. M. M., Sampaio, A. L., Siani, A. C., Gandini, M., Azeredo, E. L., D’Avila, L. A., Mazzei, J. L., Henriques, M. das G. M., & Kubelka, C. F. (2008). Immunomodulating and antiviral activities of Uncaria tomentosa on human monocytes infected with Dengue Virus-2. International Immunopharmacology, 8(3), 468–476. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2007.11.010

Resende, M. M. de C., Costa, F. E. de C., Gardona, R. G. B., Araújo, R. G., Mundim, F. G. L., & Costa, M. J. de C. (2014). Preventive use of Bach flower Rescue Remedy in the control of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in rats. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 22(4), 719–723. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2014.06.008

Sharif, M. K., Ejaz, R., & Pasha, I. (2018). Chapter 11 - Nutritional and Therapeutic Potential of Spices (A. M. Grumezescu & A. M. B. T.-T. Holban Probiotic, and Unconventional Foods (eds.); pp. 181–199). Academic Press. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-814625-5.00011-X

Shi, P., Dong, Y., Yan, H., Zhao, C., Li, X., Liu, W., He, M., Tang, S., & Xi, S. (2020). Impact of temperature on the dynamics of the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Science of the Total Environment, 728(77), 138890. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138890

Shimizu, T., Hino, A., Tsutsumi, A., Yong, K. P., Watanabe, W., & Kurokawa, M. (2008). Anti-influenza virus activity of propolis in vitro and its efficacy against influenza infection in mice. Antiviral Chemistry and Chemotherapy, 19(1), 7–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/0 95632020801900102

Teixeira, M. (2010). Homeopatia nas doenças epidêmicas: conceitos, evidências e propostas. Revista de Homeopatia, 73, 36–56. http://revista.aph.org.br/index.php/aph/article/view/36/68 . Acesso em 21/03/2020

Vellingiri, B., Jayaramayya, K., Iyer, M., Narayanasamy, A., Govindasamy, V., Giridharan, B., Ganesan, S., Venugopal, A., Venkatesan, D., Ganesan, H., Rajagopalan, K., Rahman, P. K. S. M., Cho, S. G., Kumar, N. S., & Subramaniam, M. D. (2020). COVID-19: A promising cure for the global panic. Science of the Total Environment, 725, 138277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138277

WHO. (2001). Legal Status of Traditional Medicine and Complementary/Alternative Medicine: A Worldwide Review. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/4245 2/WHO_EDM_TRM_2001.2_eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

WHO. (2020). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic. https://www.who.int/em ergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

World Flora Online. (2017). The plant list. http://www.theplantlist.org/

Yesilada, E., Bedir, E., Çalış, İ., Takaishi, Y., & Ohmoto, Y. (2005). Effects of triterpene saponins from Astragalus species on in vitro cytokine release. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 96(1–2), 71–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2004.08.036

Zhai, P., Ding, Y., Wu, X., Long, J., Zhong, Y., & Li, Y. (2020). The epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 55(5), 105955. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2020.105955

Downloads

Published

14/10/2020

How to Cite

ABREU, D. J. M. de; BARROS, H. E. A. de .; NATARELLI, C. V. L. .; ZANZINI, A. P. .; BOAS, E. V. de B. V. .; PICCOLI, R. H. .; CARVALHO, E. E. N. . Therapeutic approach for COVID-19: The power of herbal medicine. Research, Society and Development, [S. l.], v. 9, n. 10, p. e6789108907, 2020. DOI: 10.33448/rsd-v9i10.8907. Disponível em: https://www.rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/8907. Acesso em: 24 apr. 2024.

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 10

Section

Agrarian and Biological Sciences

License

Copyright (c) 2020 Danilo José Machado de Abreu; Hanna Elisia Araújo de Barros; Caio Vinicius Lima Natarelli; Alice Pereira Zanzini; Eduardo Valério de Barros Vilas Boas; Roberta Hilsdorf Piccoli; Elisângela Elena Nunes Carvalho

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

1) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

2) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

3) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.