Potentials medicinal plants used in the treatment of Covid-19 symptoms

Abstract

Plants still form the bases of traditional medicine system and that plant-based systems continue to play an essential role in healthcare for over 80% of the world population. An ethnomedicinal survey was conducted to document the use of medicinal plants in the treatment of COVID-19 symptoms in the Northern-Senatorial district of Kano. Information was generated from 26- traditional medicine practitioners, 50 herb sellers and 20-elderly people. The information collected were divided based on the symptoms treated by the medicinal plants. A total of 36-plant species belonging to 22 families were reported to be used in the treatment of COVID-19 symptoms. Plants from Poaceae, Myrtaceae Liliaceae, Lamiaceae and Combretaceae family had the highest number of species being used in the symptoms treatment. Leaves were reported to be the most frequent plant part used followed by bark, corn, bulb, whole plant and rhizomes. The survey revealed that the most prominent method of preparation used are decoction and infusion. Traditional medicine encourage prevention of symptoms and enhanced self-immunity against host of infections, hence the survey had documented information on medicinal plants, method of their prepations by the native people, traditional practitioners, herbalist of North-Senatorial district Kano, for treatment of COVID-19 symptoms.