Herbal Medicines as Potential Immune Boosters against Coronavirus Diseases

Abstract

Abstract: Coronavirus disease COVID-19 is causing havoc globally, infecting millions of people and has led to the deaths of people in thousands. COVID-19 attacks persons with low immune systems, especially neonates and geriatrics. Hence, boosting immunity may be one of the best options during this pandemic. There is a need to explore the possible herbal drugs to boost the immunity of people as a result of the rising cases of deaths due to COVID-19. However, the rationale for the use of herbal drugs is that each herb has the possibility of treating many health conditions. A single herb could have antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Herbs may be one possible source of a true cure for COVID-19. Herbal drugs are from renewable sources and pose less danger of possible adverse effects compared to synthetic drugs. Because COVID-19 has no true cure presently, man should resort to herbal drugs given by nature. Herbal drugs are highly potent and efficacious; hence, the early men treated their ailments with herbs. However, their use has been limited by poor pharmaceutical design into dosage forms that would be acceptable to people. Herbal drugs could be formulated as teas, decoctions, infusions, and, more recently, tablets, capsules, microparticles, nanoparticles, and phytosomes, amongst others. Different herbal plants with possible immune booster effects will be discussed in this work, and how they can be formulated into stable and acceptable dosage forms will be explored.