TY - JOUR
T1 - Botanical drugs and supplements affecting the immune response in the time of COVID-19
T2 - Implications for research and clinical practice
AU - Brendler, Thomas
AU - Al-Harrasi, Ahmed
AU - Bauer, Rudolf
AU - Gafner, Stefan
AU - Hardy, Mary L.
AU - Heinrich, Michael
AU - Hosseinzadeh, Hossein
AU - Izzo, Angelo A.
AU - Michaelis, Martin
AU - Nassiri-Asl, Marjan
AU - Panossian, Alexander
AU - Wasser, Solomon P.
AU - Williamson, Elizabeth M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PY - 2021/6
Y1 - 2021/6
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Boswellia
KW - COVID-19
KW - Curcuma
KW - Echinacea
KW - Glycyrrhiza
KW - Pelargonium
KW - Sambucus
KW - adaptogens
KW - herbal medicine
KW - medicinal fungi
KW - phytotherapy
KW - salicylate
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85098164112&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/ptr.7008
DO - 10.1002/ptr.7008
M3 - Review article
C2 - 33373071
AN - SCOPUS:85098164112
SN - 0951-418X
VL - 35
SP - 3013
EP - 3031
JO - Phytotherapy Research
JF - Phytotherapy Research
IS - 6
ER -