Open Access

Nutraceuticals and herbal extracts: A ray of hope for COVID‑19 and related infections (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Ahmed Hamza Tahir
    • Muhammad Mohsin Javed
    • Zahid Hussain
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: August 31, 2020     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijfn.2020.6
  • Article Number: 6
  • Copyright: © Tahir et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

The global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19), for which there is no effective vaccine or treatment available yet, has led to a global health emergency. Despite a lack of clinical data, compelling evidence from the literature suggests that certain nutraceuticals (such as omega‑3 fats, β‑glucans, amino acids, probiotics, vitamins and minerals) and plant‑based compounds derived from herbal extracts may potentially be used in the treatment of COVID‑19. In the present review article, the benefits of such natural products in treating various respiratory complications are highlighted, and it is tentatively suggested that these benefits could be extrapolated to COVID‑19. These natural compounds may not only modulate the immunity of a susceptible population, but may also pave the way towards the development of drugs which may be used to treat COVID‑19. Although attention has recently focused on these compounds in this context, further clinical and experimental studies are required to validate their efficacy. It is thus suggested that the in vitro and in vivo evaluation of these compounds be carried out as soon as possible, in order to counteract the ongoing increase in the number of cases of COVID‑19.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

November-December 2020
Volume 1 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 2634-7989
Online ISSN:2634-7237

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Tahir A, Javed M and Hussain Z: Nutraceuticals and herbal extracts: A ray of hope for COVID‑19 and related infections (Review). Int J Funct Nutr 1: 6, 2020.
APA
Tahir, A., Javed, M., & Hussain, Z. (2020). Nutraceuticals and herbal extracts: A ray of hope for COVID‑19 and related infections (Review). International Journal of Functional Nutrition, 1, 6. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijfn.2020.6
MLA
Tahir, A., Javed, M., Hussain, Z."Nutraceuticals and herbal extracts: A ray of hope for COVID‑19 and related infections (Review)". International Journal of Functional Nutrition 1.2 (2020): 6.
Chicago
Tahir, A., Javed, M., Hussain, Z."Nutraceuticals and herbal extracts: A ray of hope for COVID‑19 and related infections (Review)". International Journal of Functional Nutrition 1, no. 2 (2020): 6. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijfn.2020.6