The role of natural products from medicinal plants against COVID-19: traditional medicine practice in Tanzania

Mlozi, Stephano Hanolo

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09739

Cited by 17 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Flavonoids, tannins, and phenols were identified from the ethanolic extracts of all investigated medicinal plants except that of C. rueppellii . Flavonoids have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities; hence, they attribute to the medicinal properties of different medicinal plants [ 43 ]. For instance, plants like Zingiber , Curcuma , and Acorus were reported as sources of antibacterial and antiseptic agents owing to their flavonoid content [ 47 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnomedicine, antibacterial activity, antioxidant potential and phytochemical screening of selected medicinal plants in Dibatie district, Metekel zone, western Ethiopia

Anbessa,

Lulekal,

Hymete

et al. 2024

BMC Complement Med Ther

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Background Medicinal plants play a major role in the delivery of healthcare, particularly among the rural population of Ethiopia. Plant extracts and their bioactive compounds have been utilized for the treatment of several diseases. This study was aimed at evaluating the antibacterial activity, antioxidant capacity, and phytochemical content of selected medicinal plants used in Dibatie district, western Ethiopia. Methods Study plants were collected, shade dried, pulverized, extracted by maceration in 80% ethanol, and subjected to antibacterial, antioxidant, and phytochemical tests. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using 96-well microplates and nutrient broth microdilution. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. Phytochemical screening was conducted using standard test methods. Results The ethanolic extract of Polystachya steudneri Rchb.f. pseudobulbs was the most active against gram-negative Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Shigella flexneri, with MIC values of 8 ± 0, 11 ± 5, 3 ± 1, 3 ± 1, and 2 ± 0 mg/mL, respectively. The ethanolic extract of P. steudneri was also the most effective against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Enterococcus faecalis, with MIC values of 8 ± 0, 8 ± 0, 3 ± 1, and 16 ± 0 mg/mL, respectively. Ethanolic extracts of Gnidia involucrata Steud. ex A.Rich. stems and roots were effective antioxidants, with respective 50% DPPH free radical inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 168.68 and 181.79 µg/mL, followed by that of P. steudneri (IC50 = 203.11 µg/mL). The study plants contained alkaloids, anthocyanins, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, coumarins, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids. Conclusions This study confirmed the antibiotic, antioxidant, and phytochemical constituents of the investigated plants and suggested further investigations that may lead to bioactive lead compounds.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnomedicine, antibacterial activity, antioxidant potential and phytochemical screening of selected medicinal plants in Dibatie district, Metekel zone, western Ethiopia

Anbessa,

Lulekal,

Hymete

et al. 2024

BMC Complement Med Ther

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“…Alternatively, medicinal plants provide a significant prospect for discovering new and effective anti-COVID-19 drugs. The PSMs from medicinal plants have been demonstrated to be powerful in fighting against SARS-CoV-2 as they can interfere with the viral life cycle, including viral entrance, replication, assembly, and virus-specific host targets [ 190 ]. Many potential antiviral PSMs against SARS-CoV-2 have been tested in vitro, in vivo or predicted by in silico analysis.…”

Section: Prospectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plants as Biofactories for Therapeutic Proteins and Antiviral Compounds to Combat COVID-19

England

TrejoMartinez

PerezSanchez

et al. 2023

Life

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The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) had a profound impact on the world’s health and economy. Although the end of the pandemic may come in 2023, it is generally believed that the virus will not be completely eradicated. Most likely, the disease will become an endemicity. The rapid development of vaccines of different types (mRNA, subunit protein, inactivated virus, etc.) and some other antiviral drugs (Remdesivir, Olumiant, Paxlovid, etc.) has provided effectiveness in reducing COVID-19’s impact worldwide. However, the circulating SARS-CoV-2 virus has been constantly mutating with the emergence of multiple variants, which makes control of COVID-19 difficult. There is still a pressing need for developing more effective antiviral drugs to fight against the disease. Plants have provided a promising production platform for both bioactive chemical compounds (small molecules) and recombinant therapeutics (big molecules). Plants naturally produce a diverse range of bioactive compounds as secondary metabolites, such as alkaloids, terpenoids/terpenes and polyphenols, which are a rich source of countless antiviral compounds. Plants can also be genetically engineered to produce valuable recombinant therapeutics. This molecular farming in plants has an unprecedented opportunity for developing vaccines, antibodies, and other biologics for pandemic diseases because of its potential advantages, such as low cost, safety, and high production volume. This review summarizes the latest advancements in plant-derived drugs used to combat COVID-19 and discusses the prospects and challenges of the plant-based production platform for antiviral agents.

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“…These review papers demonstrate that endophyte fungi as a source of new drug leads to treat individuals with COVID-19 is a major research theme all over the world [ 116 , 117 ]. The research is mainly associated with host plants that have key biological activities, including species already used to fight COVID-19 symptoms [ 121 , 127 ]. Some works searched metabolites to be used in the prevention of viral infections, by means of strengthening the immune system [ 122 , 123 ].…”

Section: Covid 19: Context Treatment and New Drugs Demandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant Spices as a Source of Antimicrobial Synergic Molecules to Treat Bacterial and Viral Co-Infections

Duarte

Takahashi

2022

Molecules

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The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the lack of antiviral agents available for human use, while the complexity of the physiological changes caused by coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) imposed the prescription of multidrug pharmacotherapy to treat infected patients. In a significant number of cases, it was necessary to add antibiotics to the prescription to decrease the risk of co-infections, preventing the worsening of the patient’s condition. However, the precautionary use of antibiotics corroborated to increase bacterial resistance. Since the development of vaccines for COVID-19, the pandemic scenario has changed, but the development of new antiviral drugs is still a major challenge. Research for new drugs with synergistic activity against virus and resistant bacteria can produce drug leads to be used in the treatment of mild cases of COVID-19 and to fight other viruses and new viral diseases. Following the repurposing approach, plant spices have been searched for antiviral lead compounds, since the toxic effects of plants that are traditionally consumed are already known, speeding up the drug discovery process. The need for effective drugs in the context of viral diseases is discussed in this review, with special focus on plant-based spices with antiviral and antibiotic activity. The activity of plants against resistant bacteria, the diversity of the components present in plant extracts and the synergistic interaction of these metabolites and industrialized antibiotics are discussed, with the aim of contributing to the development of antiviral and antibiotic drugs. A literature search was performed in electronic databases such as Science Direct; SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online); LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences); Elsevier, SpringerLink; and Google Scholar, using the descriptors: antiviral plants, antibacterial plants, coronavirus treatment, morbidities and COVID-19, bacterial resistance, resistant antibiotics, hospital-acquired infections, spices of plant origin, coronaviruses and foods, spices with antiviral effect, drug prescriptions and COVID-19, and plant synergism. Articles published in English in the period from 2020 to 2022 and relevant to the topic were used as the main inclusion criteria.

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The role of natural products from medicinal plants against COVID-19: traditional medicine practice in Tanzania

Cited by 17 publications

References 40 publications

Ethnomedicine, antibacterial activity, antioxidant potential and phytochemical screening of selected medicinal plants in Dibatie district, Metekel zone, western Ethiopia

Ethnomedicine, antibacterial activity, antioxidant potential and phytochemical screening of selected medicinal plants in Dibatie district, Metekel zone, western Ethiopia

Plants as Biofactories for Therapeutic Proteins and Antiviral Compounds to Combat COVID-19

Plant Spices as a Source of Antimicrobial Synergic Molecules to Treat Bacterial and Viral Co-Infections

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