Natural Plant Products: A Less Focused Aspect for the COVID-19 Viral Outbreak

Abstract

The sudden emergence of COVID-19 caused by a novel coronavirus (nCoV) led the entire world to search for relevant solutions to fight the pandemic. Although continuous trials are being conducted to develop precise vaccines and therapeutic antibodies, a potential remedy is yet to be developed. Plants have largely contributed to the treatment of several human diseases and different phytoconstituents have been previously described to impede the replication of numerous viruses. Despite the previous positive reports of plant-based medications, no successful clinical trials of phyto-anti-COVID drugs could be conducted to date. In this article, we discuss varying perspectives on why phyto-anti-viral drug clinical trials were not successful in the case of COVID-19. The issue has been discussed in light of the usage of plant-based therapeutics in previous coronavirus outbreaks. Through this article, we aim to identify the disadvantages in this research area and suggest some measures to ensure that phytoconstituents can efficiently contribute to future random viral outbreaks. It is emphasized that if used strategically phyto-inhibitors with pre-established clinical data for other diseases can save the time required for long clinical trials. The scientific community should competently tap into phytoconstituents and take their research up to the final stage of clinical trials so that potential phyto-anti-COVID drugs can be developed.

Can Echinacea be a potential candidate to target immunity, inflammation, and infection - The trinity of coronavirus disease 2019

“…The SARS-CoV occurred in 2003, since then many natural products have shown potential in experimental studies to be developed as a candidate drug until recent years, but still there is very less focus on drug development from natural products due to numerous reasons ranging from lack of pharmacokinetic and drug formulation studies [ 204 , 205 , 206 ]. Recently, it has been suggested that a meticulous, focused and integrated approach may have the potential to develop the drugs from traditional drugs to modern medicines following the scientific standards of drug development [ 207 ]. Provided the potent pharmacological effects against infection, inflammation and immunity in experimental models and in clinical studies, the potential role of Echinacea may be possible and thus speculated to be beneficial.…”

Molecular Mechanisms Responsible for Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Treatment of Viral Diseases

“…Among the numerous epidemics of infectious diseases that the world is facing, viral infections are undoubtedly the biggest pandemic threat in the recent era [ 1 ]. The epidemic outbreaks caused by viruses represents a critical threat to public health, particularly when preventive vaccines and effective antiviral therapies are not available [ 1 , 2 ].…”

“…Among the numerous epidemics of infectious diseases that the world is facing, viral infections are undoubtedly the biggest pandemic threat in the recent era [ 1 ]. The epidemic outbreaks caused by viruses represents a critical threat to public health, particularly when preventive vaccines and effective antiviral therapies are not available [ 1 , 2 ]. Since December 2019, humankind has been confronted with a new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which has infected more than 110 million people worldwide [ 2 , 3 ].…”

The 2020 Coronavirus (COVID-19) Global Pandemic, a Call to Arms to Pharmacognosy Researchers – Plant-Based Antiviral Approaches

“…Pharmacognosy has a part to play in building and broadening the potential agents in this domain. 40,41 Pharmacognosy adds to, and in many places extends the ability to fight this evolving threat to human well-being and prosperity. With the wider world currently utilizing plant based medicine for treating disease, 42,43 phytobotanicals offer a unique scope within the global healthcare response as well as the research domain.…”