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Since the outbreak in December 2019, in Wuhan (China) of COVID-19, approved drugs are still lacking and the world is seeking effective treatment. The purpose of this article is to review the medicinal plants with potential to be used as complementary therapies against COVID-19. Bibliographic information was searched in several databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, PROTA, ResearchGate and GLOBEinMED), to retrieve relevant papers on (1) plants used to manage common symptoms of COVID-19, (2) plant secondary metabolites with confirmed inhibitory effects on COVID-19 and (3) plants exhibiting pharmacological activities of relevance for COVID-19 management. A total of 230 species was recorded as potential source of ingredients for the fight against the 2019 novel corona virus. Of these species, 30 contain confirmed antiCOVID-19 secondary metabolites, 90 are used traditionally to manage at least 3 common symptoms of COVID-19, 10 have immunostimulant activity, 52 have anti-inflamatory activity, 14 have antiviral properties and 78 species are documented as used to treat malaria. A PCA analysis showing cluster formatting among the recorded species indicates 4 groups of species and an array of possibility of using individual species or a combination of species for their complementary effects. The authors argue that Cameroonian medicinal plants can be of potential contribution to the fight against COVID-19. Further applied research is needed to provide more scientific evidence for their efficacy, to establish standard formulations and clinical studies as part of efforts to develop therapies for COVID-19.

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Since the outbreak in December 2019 in Wuhan (China) of COVID-19, approved drugs are still lacking and the world is seeking effective treatment. The purpose of this article is to review the medicinal plants with potential to be used as complementary therapies against COVID-19. Bibliographic information was searched in several databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, PROTA), to retrieve relevant papers on (1) plants used to manage common symptoms of COVI-19, (2) plant secondary metabolites with confirmed inhibitory effects on COVI-19 and (3) plants exhibiting pharmacological activities of relevance for COVID-19 management. A total of 230 species was recorded as potential source of ingredients for the fight against the 2019 novel corona virus. Of these species, 30 contain confirmed antiCOVID-19 secondary metabolites, 90 are used traditionally to manage at least 3 common symptoms of COVID-19, 10 have immunostimulant activity, 52 have anti-inflamatory activity, 14 have antiviral properties and 78 species are documented as used to treat malaria. A PCA analysis showing cluster formatting among the recorded species recorded indicates 4 groups of species and an array of possibility of using individual species or combination of species for their complementary effects. The authors argue that Cameroonian medicinal plants can be of potential contribution to the fight against COVID-19. Further applied research is needed to provide more scientific evidence for their efficacy, to establish standard formulations and clinical studies as part of efforts to develop therapies for COVID-19.

Till date, there are few studies on the flora found in receiving environments polluted by effluent from agri-food industries. Floristic inventories of ten receiving environments in Cameroon. were carried out using the line transect method from upstream to downstream discharge areas in the Littoral and Center regions during the dry and rainy season. The abundance/dominance (AD) of each floristic survey was assessed using Braun-Blanquet scale. Species richness of the different receiving environments is marked by higher and lower Shannon Weaver (H 0) diversity index values, respectively in the rainy season and dry season from upstream to downstream. Regularity values (R) show that the maximum number of species is involved in the covering of the surface. In terms of floristic composition, the Simpson's diversity index (D) shows similarities between the different receiving environments. The Sorensen index (Q) shows similar number of common species between upstream and downstream zones of the same site. Nitrophilous species are abundant. Some could be organic pollution indicators, namely: Pennisetum purpureum, Cynodon dactylon, Commelina benghalensis, Lemna minor, Acroceras zizanoides, Echinochloa pyramidalis and Panicum maximum. The Poaceae family dominates the ten receiving environments.

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