Which of the domestic herbs have an antiviral effect on coronavirus infection?

Which of the domestic herbs have an antiviral effect on coronavirus infection?

Rather limited number of plants for which scientists have established antiviral action against various types of coronaviruses are available in Ukraine. Phytomedicines based on Echinacea, which is traditionally used to strengthen the immune system, deserve for special attention in this context.

Echinacea purpurea (coneflower) based preparation is licensed in Switzerland and some other countries as a preventive and therapeutic agent for respiratory infections, inactivates in vitro coronaviruses (HCoV-229E, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV) at a concentration of <10 μg/ml (Signer et al., 2020). In addition to coronaviruses, influenza A virus (human and avian), influenza B, herpes simplex 1 and 2, rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus (Hudson and Vimalanathan, 2011) are sensitive to coneflower drugs.

In licorice roots, the main active compound is glycyrrhizin, for which by German scientists (Cinatl J et al; Hoever et al) have established the ability to inhibit the replication of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome)-associated coronavirus. According to some experts’ opinion, the rating of this plant is the highest in the world phytotherapeutic practice; it is traditionally used in the treatment of viral respiratory infections in Chinese medicine.