Botanical drugs and supplements affecting the immune response in the time of COVID‐19: Implications for research and clinical practice

Abstract

In times of health crisis, including the current COVID‐19 pandemic, the potential benefit of botanical drugs and supplements emerges as a focus of attention, although controversial efficacy claims are rightly a concern. Phytotherapy has an established role in everyday self‐care and health care, but, since botanical preparations contain many chemical constituents rather than single compounds, challenges arise in demonstrating efficacy and safety. However, there is ample traditional, empirical, and clinical evidence that botanicals can offer some protection and alleviation of disease symptoms as well as promoting general well‐being. Newly emerging viral infections, specifically COVID‐19, represent a unique challenge in their novelty and absence of established antiviral treatment or immunization. We discuss here the roles and limitations of phytotherapy in helping to prevent and address viral infections, especially regarding their effects on immune response. Botanicals with a documented immunomodulatory, immunostimulatory, and antiinflammatory effects include adaptogens, Boswellia spp., Curcuma longa, Echinacea spp., Glycyrrhiza spp., medicinal fungi, Pelargonium sidoides, salicylate‐yielding herbs, and Sambucus spp. We further provide a clinical perspective on applications and safety of these herbs in prevention, onset, progression, and convalescence from respiratory viral infections.

Pelargonium Extract EPs 7630 in the Treatment of Human Corona Virus-Associated Acute Respiratory Tract Infections – A Secondary Subgroup-Analysis of an Open-Label, Uncontrolled Clinical Trial

“…The favourable safety profile of EPs 7630 has been confirmed in clinical trials with a total of more than 10,000 patients including adults, adolescents and children as well as from decades of market experience (Matthys et al, 2013;Careddu & Pettenazzo, 2018;Brendler et al, 2020).…”

“…KG.) from the roots of Pelargonium sidoides possesses promising immune-modulating as well as antiviral properties (Antonelli et al, 2020;Brendler et al, 2020;Mani et al, 2020;Silveira et al, 2020). Pelargonium sidoides is a plant native to South Africa, which shares the same genus (Pelargonium) with the common ornamental geraniums and which roots have been used as herbal remedies for respiratory and gastrointestinal infections centurieslong by the local South African populations (Careddu & Pettenazzo, 2018).…”

“…Over the last 25 years, more than 30 clinical trials have investigated EPs 7630 for the treatment of acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) (Brendler et al, 2020). Systematic reviews and meta-analyses have provided evidence that EPs 7630 is effective and well-tolerated in adults, children and adolescents with ARTI such as acute bronchitis or the common cold (Agbabiaka et al, 2008;Timmer et al, 2013;Matthys et al, 2016;Kamin et al, 2018;Schapowal et al, 2019;Seifert et al, 2019;Wopker et al, 2020;Seifert et al, 2021).…”

Can Antiviral Activity of Licorice Help Fight COVID-19 Infection?

“…In 2003, Cinatl et al showed that GR hinders the internalization of the SARS-CoV-1 virus in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC 50 of 300 µM [6]. Though the mechanism of action is not clear, it seems that GR is a multi-targeting compound, interacting with various viral and cellular processes important for viral internalization and replication [57,59].…”

Concern over reporting in the following review article

“…Aucoin et al (2020) 6 , Brendler et al . (2020) 7 , de Abreu (2020) 8 & Schapowal (2020). 9 Finally, and of further interest, Signer et al (2020) demonstrated that fresh Echinacea purpurea extract (upper parts and root) has virucidal action against SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses in vitro.…”