Covid-19 COVID-19 AND NATURAL HERBS: A WAY FORWARD

Abstract

The emergence of COVID-19 caused by the SARS-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in late 2019 has caused dramatic downfall of economies, health and social mobilization of people all over the world. Up to date, there is no widely accepted drug for the treatment of COVID-19, necessitating the exploration of medicinal plants or plant components as therapeutic agents. To make matters worse there is massive Covid -19 vaccination hesitancy in the public and even in medical staff. Medicinal plants, according to various studies have shown varying efficacy in clearing signs and symptoms of COVID-19 which includes dry cough, loss of appetite, fever, tiredness, sore throat and diarrhea, as well as complications like chest pain, shortness of breath and loss of speech and movement. This review explores the extensive flora of Africa and other parts of the world for information on medicinal herbs with potentials for the treatment of COVID-19. Africa is in pole position because of her rich history, practice and knowledge of medicinal plants to treat varying number of infections to find the perfect herb for the cure of COVID-19. Bioactive phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenes and so on with varying mechanism of action could target the virus architecture such as the structural protein (Spike protein), the virus genome (RNA), and the non-structural proteins of the virus which are responsible for replication, transcription and host cell recognition. The indiscriminate use of medicinal plants in the treatment of various infections, should be avoided against COVID-19 and thus strict regulations and education of such implications should be highlighted to the public