Medicinal Plants for Prevention and Treatment of Coronavirus Disease

Abstract

The 2019-nCoV (new Corona Virus) outbreak was announced by the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Emergency Public Health Organization, on January 30, 2020, and WHO reported the 2019-nCoV pathogen to SARSCoV-2 and Corona virus Disease 2019 on 12 February. (COVID2019). COVID-19 was officially recognized as a Pandemic by WHO on March 11, 2020. Plants have been used all over the world as traditional medicine for centuries to treat many chronic infections, including viral diseases. In recent years, scientists have been trying to verify the potential of functional compounds to protect human health and cure diseases with their research on functional and nutraceutical foods. Traditional medicinal plants have a long history supported by many researches such as maintaining a healthy life, toxins taken in daily life, fighting and preventing diseases, and longevity. Studies on the antiviral, antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties of ethnomedical plants and natural phytochemicals can be considered as a great potential drug source against various ailments as well as Covid-19 treatment. Based on this study, plant extracts increase immunity with the increase in the number of white blood cells and lymphocytes in viral infections such as Covid-19, which can lead to fatal consequences, regulating the production and release of proinflammatory cytokines, showing an anti-inflammatory effect with a decrease in the C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, It appears to have a positive effect such as interfering with the development and potential antiviral agent activity. In this study, phytochemicals and effects associated with COVID-19 infection were reviewed.