The antiviral properties of edible medicinal plants: potential remedies against coronaviruses

Takele Taye Desta; Kero Jemal; Rediet Sitotaw; Debissa Lemessa; Melesse Maryo; Alemtshay Teka; Tewodros Mulugeta

doi:10.4081/hls.2023.11205

Authors

Takele Taye Desta
takele_taye@yahoo.com
Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Science, Kotebe University of Education, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3474-0731
Kero Jemal Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Rediet Sitotaw Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Science, Kotebe University of Education, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Debissa Lemessa Deparment of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Melesse Maryo Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Science, Kotebe University of Education, Addis Ababa; Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Alemtshay Teka Endod and Other Medicinal Plants Research Unit, Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Tewodros Mulugeta Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Science, Kotebe University of Education, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) is an unparalleled challenge for the international community. Subsequently, an extraordinary effort has been made to contain SARS-CoV-2. However, this has been largely limited to behavioral changes and vaccination. To make the containment strategies effective, behavioral changes and vaccination need to be complemented with alternative prevention methods and curative treatments. This work reports the antiviral properties of some of the commonly known edible medicinal plants that can be used as potential remedies to suppress coronaviruses. A growing body of evidence substantiates that edible medicinal plants with antiviral properties that have been proven effective against sibling coronaviruses likely contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2, and they may also suppress the fatality of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). The secondary metabolites found in herbal medicines do not cause pathogens to develop drug resistance, which is a common problem in conventional medicines. The use of edible medicinal plants is much safer and causes less panic, thereby avoiding the fear associated with the use of herbal medicines. Right dosages and mixtures of edible medicinal plants need to be rigorously investigated to circumvent unanticipated side effects and chronic health risks.

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Desta, T. T., Jemal, K., Sitotaw, R., Lemessa, D., Maryo, M., Teka, A., & Mulugeta, T. (2023). The antiviral properties of edible medicinal plants: potential remedies against coronaviruses. Healthcare in Low-Resource Settings, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2023.11205