The management of COVID 19 by plant extracts, essential oils and phytoconstituents: A review

Abstract

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARSCoV- 2), it is a virus belonging to the family Coronaviridae which includes zoonotic viruses infecting mammals and birds. This disease emerged in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and quickly developed into a global pandemic with high mortality rates. The magnitude of the pandemic has involved a global collaborative scientific response to develop effective preventive and therapeutic means using both traditional and advanced techniques. However, to date specific therapies for COVID-19 are not well established and only a few vaccines are approved for emergency use. Herbal remedies, especially essential oils (EOs) can boost immunity which plays a decisive role in the initiation and progression of the disease in the preliminary stage of a COVID-19 infection. The low cost and availability of medicinal plants as well as the almost non-existent side effects encourages their widespread use during the pandemic, hence a great need to identify plant extracts for anti-COVID 19 use. Although the majority of studies are done in silico, with little in vivo or in vitro study, we can have an idea for further later experiments.