Each day since December 2019, increasing numbers of cases of the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection are being detected as it spreads throughout all continents of the world except Antarctica. The virus is transmitted through contact with an infected environment or person, and the symptoms include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. The healthcare systems of many countries are overwhelmed due to limited therapeutic options and the absence of an approved vaccine. Due to its poor healthcare systems, Africa may be the worst hit continent if other therapeutic alternatives are not explored. This review explores the source and origin of the COVID-19 infection, and alternative therapeutic options derived from available and cheap medicinal foods and plants that have been shown to alleviate similar infections. The results demonstrate the inhibitory activities of selected food crops and plants against human viruses similar to the novel COVID-19.

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Disaster poses a huge threat to physical health as much as mental health, and Covid-19 is not any different. Understanding that physical and social factors can all contribute to mental health disruptions explains the rising concern of the global community about the impacts of Covid-19 on mental health, especially among the vulnerable, including children and adolescents. It is imperative to explore the diverse impacts of Covid-19 on the paediatric age group, especially to better address its effect and adequately strategize for its resulting conditions. This narrative review, therefore, explores literature reports on the effect of the pandemic on the mental health of children and adolescents. As observed in the literature, Covid-19 did not only threaten the physical health of children and adolescents but also their mental health, especially in terms of anxiety, depression, sleep alteration, etc. In this paper, we have discussed interventions, such as adequate sleep, healthy lifestyles, and nutritious foods, to improve paediatric mental health even after the pandemic.

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Brain aging is one of the unavoidable aspects of geriatric life. As one ages, changes such as the shrinking of certain parts (particularly the frontal cortex, which is vital to learning and other complex mental activities) of the brain may occur. Consequently, communications between neurons are less effective, and blood flow to the brain could also decrease. efforts made at the biological level for repair become inadequate, leading to the accumulation of β-amyloid peptide in the brain faster than its probable degradation mechanism, resulting in cognitive malfunction. Subsequent clinical usage of drugs in battling related brain-aging ailments has been associated with several undesirable side effects. However, recent research has investigated the potential use of natural compounds from food in combating such occurrences. This review provides information about the use of Piper guineense (black pepper) as a possible agent in managing brain aging because of its implications for practical brain function. P. guineense contains an alkaloid (piperine) reported to be an antioxidant, anti-depressant, and central nervous system stimulant. This alkaloid and other related compounds are neuroprotective agents that reduce lipid oxidation and inhibit tangles in the brain tissues.

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With each passing day since December 2019, more cases of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) infection are being detected and it has spread through all continents of the world except in Antarctica. The virus is transmitted through contact with an infected environment or person, and the symptoms include fever, cough, and then the difficulty in breathing. Health care systems of so many countries are overwhelmed with limited therapeutic options available and no vaccine has yet been approved. Africa also with its poor health care systems could be the worst hit continent if other therapeutic alternatives are not explored. Hence this review looked into the source and origin of the Covid-19 infection and alternative therapeutic option through the use of available and cheap medicinal foods and plants that have been touted to alleviate similar infections. The review findings have likewise demonstrated the inhibitory activities of selected food crops and plants against human viruses similar to the novel Covid-19 virus.

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