Information about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is still evolving since its appearance in December 2019 and has affected the whole world. Particularly, a search for an effective and safe treatment for COVID-19 continues. Botanical mixtures contain secondary metabolites (such as flavonoids, phenolics, alkaloids, essential oils
etc.
) with many therapeutic effects. In this study, the use of herbal treatments against COVID-19 was evaluated. Medical synthetic drugs focus mainly on respiratory symptoms, however herbal therapy with plant extracts may be useful to relieve overall symptoms of COVID-19 due to the variety of bioactive ingredients. Since COVID-19 is a virus that affects the respiratory tract, the antiviral effects of botanicals/plants against respiratory viruses have been examined through clinical studies. Data about COVID-19 patients revealed that the virus not only affects the respiratory system but different organs including the gastrointestinal (GI) system. As GI symptoms seriously affect quality of life, herbal options that might eliminate these problems were also evaluated. Finally, computer modeling studies of plants and their active compounds on COVID-19 were included. In summary, herbal therapies were identified as potential options for both antiviral effects and control of COVID-19 symptoms. Further data will be needed to enlighten all aspects of COVID-19 pathogenesis, before determining the effects of plants on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
Background:
Tissue cells of the eye are sensitive to oxidative stress leading to oxidative damage and
inflammation, which have crucial roles in the pathogenesis of most of the eye diseases. Moreover, factors such as age,
angiogenesis, ischemia, genetic predisposition, diabetes, obesity, and smoking affect the onset and progression of ocular
anomalies. Major eye diseases are either age-related such as Age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic
retinopathy, glaucoma, dry eye, or inflammatory eye diseases such as blepharitis, conjunctivitis, uveitis and other retinal
pathologies, which can cause ocular damage and visual problems through oxidative stress, inflammation pathways.
Although there are conventional chemical or surgical treatments, due to their mainly antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant properties, phytotherapeutic preparations and their natural compounds can be applied to prevent or treat eye
disease as follows: oral, topical or both. Thus, this study aims to comprehensively evaluate the pre-clinical and clinical
studies of the phytotherapeutics and natural compounds used in the prevention and treatment of common serious and
painful eye diseases. Moreover, for the first time, nature-derived preparations/supplements commonly used for eye
problems also included in this review to present applications of the extracts/compounds in the pharmaceutical field.
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