Scientists have validated more plants with antiviral activity for the treatment of COVID-19 and other diseases including malaria.
Top on the list are Azadirachta indica , Psidium guajava , Allium sativa , wheat germ agglutinin, Mangifera indica , Garcinia kola , Artemisia annua, Moringa Oleifera, Vernonia amygdalina , Nauclea pobeguinii, Argemone mexicana, Citrus aurantiifolia , Andrographis paniculata , Combretum micranthum, Nauclea latifolia and Morinda lucida .
A new study, published in International Journal of Molecular Sciences, reports the antiviral activity of Wheat Germ Agglutinin against SARS-CoV-2 and its two Variants of Concern – Alpha and Beta. Infection experiments were performed to examine the antiviral activity of WGA against SARS-CoV-2. Vero B4 cells were infected with a Wuhan type SARS-CoV-2 isolated from a patient. These infected cells were then treated with different concentrations of WGA. SARS-CoV-2 replication was reduced due to WGA treatment. Moreover, this reduction was dose-dependent. This was the first evidence that showed that WGA demonstrates antiviral activity.
Exploring natural substances rather than synthetic drugs for therapeutic potential is advantageous because natural compounds have better toxicological profiles with larger therapeutic windows, fewer side effects, and a faster admission process. Natural substances have demonstrated their beneficial effects against many diseases, including metabolic disorders or cancer. They have also shown promising results against different viruses, including SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome virus .
In addition, Ritchiea capparoides has been used by herbalists in the eastern part of Nigeria for the treatment of chickenpox, smallpox and hepatitis, while Cajanus cajan is used in ethno-veterinary medicine for the treatment of several viral diseases of cattle in Northern Nigeria. However, rigorous, robust and well-validated scientific investigations are needed to turn these potential antiviral remedies to clinical use. At this time, these data are not available, thus limiting their application.
A treatise of antimalarial plants used in TAM with documented antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulatory activities as well as level of documented evidence has been presented. However, the authorisation of the repurposed use of these botanical antimalarials should be evidence-informed with impressive clinical data and supported by the best evidence.
An earlier study reported the virucidal activity of the leaf extract of A. indica against Coxsackievirus B-4 whose mechanism was proposed to be via interference with an early stage of the virus replication cycle. In a recent study, the in vivo intraperitoneal administration of methanol extracts of A. indica at a dose of 25 mg/kg body weight to murine hepatitis virus infected mice significantly reduced the expression of viral Nucleocapsid protein at the acute stage of infection.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government through the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control is now processing not less than 21 herbal formulations for “safe use” under listing status. These polyherbal formulations according to NAFDAC have been claimed to boost immunity with a parallel anti-infective activity capable of providing relief to symptoms associated with COVID-19.
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