COVID-19: Is There Evidence for the Use of Herbal Medicines as Adjuvant Symptomatic Therapy?

BACKGROUND

Current recommendations for the self-management of SARS-Cov-2 disease (COVID-19) include self-isolation, rest, hydration, and the use of NSAID in case of high fever only. It is expected that many patients will add other symptomatic/adjuvant treatments, such as herbal medicines.

AIMS

To provide a benefits/risks assessment of selected herbal medicines traditionally indicated for "respiratory diseases" within the current frame of the COVID-19 pandemic as an adjuvant treatment.

METHOD

The plant selection was primarily based on species listed by the WHO and EMA, but some other herbal remedies were considered due to their widespread use in respiratory conditions. Preclinical and clinical data on their efficacy and safety were collected from authoritative sources. The target population were adults with early and mild flu symptoms without underlying conditions. These were evaluated according to a modified PrOACT-URL method with paracetamol, ibuprofen, and codeine as reference drugs. The benefits/risks balance of the treatments was classified as positive, promising, negative, and unknown.

RESULTS

A total of 39 herbal medicines were identified as very likely to appeal to the COVID-19 patient. According to our method, the benefits/risks assessment of the herbal medicines was found to be positive in 5 cases (Althaea officinalis, Commiphora molmol, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Hedera helix, and Sambucus nigra), promising in 12 cases (Allium sativum, Andrographis paniculata, Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea purpurea, Eucalyptus globulus essential oil, Justicia pectoralis, Magnolia officinalis, Mikania glomerata, Pelargonium sidoides, Pimpinella anisum, Salix sp, Zingiber officinale), and unknown for the rest. On the same grounds, only ibuprofen resulted promising, but we could not find compelling evidence to endorse the use of paracetamol and/or codeine.

CONCLUSIONS

Our work suggests that several herbal medicines have safety margins superior to those of reference drugs and enough levels of evidence to start a clinical discussion about their potential use as adjuvants in the treatment of early/mild common flu in otherwise healthy adults within the context of COVID-19. While these herbal medicines will not cure or prevent the flu, they may both improve general patient well-being and offer them an opportunity to personalize the therapeutic approaches.

Caminhos e vivências de investigação acerca da saúde da população LGBT em uma capital do nordeste brasileiro

O preconceito por motivos de orientação sexual e por identidade de gênero incide na determinação social da saúde ao desenvolver processos de adoecimento e sofrimento decorrentes do estigma social reservado à população de Lésbicas, Gays, Bissexuais, Transexuais e Travestis (LGBT) na Saúde Coletiva. Diante disso, esse trabalho trata-se de um relato de experiência que buscou analisar a condução de uma pesquisa nacional que investigou o acesso e a qualidade da atenção integral à saúde da população de LGBT no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). O recorte abrange vivências e reflexões dessa produção em Teresina, Piauí. Aliado a isso, foi ressaltada a necessidade de possibilitar a reflexão sobre as atividades desenvolvidas a fim de compreender as fortalezas, fraquezas, oportunidades e ameaças na execução da pesquisa, e os resultados obtidos por meio desta análise possibilitaram uma visão detalhada da percepção dos pesquisadores sobre o processo de investigação.

Unidades Básicas de Saúde em Teresina-PI e o acesso da população LGBT: o que pensam os médicos?

Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar a percepção de médicos de Unidades Básicas de Saúde de Teresina, considerada uma das mais homofóbicas capitais brasileiras, sobre o acesso e qualidade da atenção à população LGBT. Trata-se de uma análise qualitativa de discurso sobre entrevistas semiestruturadas com profissionais médicos de sete unidades de saúde selecionadas por sorteio entre as 22 existentes na cidade e fundamentada no método hermenêutico-dialético. Quatro principais categorias analíticas emergiram: 1. Percepção confusa entre universalidade e equidade, 2. Patologização e percepção de anormalidade na condição, 3. Negação de barreira ao acesso e imputabilidade da ausência de procura do serviço aos próprios sujeitos, e 4. Baixa demanda do grupo LGBT ou invisibilidade da condição. Conclui-se que um dos principais desafios à implementação da política nacional de saúde dirigida a esta população continua sendo os estigmas e preconceitos incorporados nas subjetividades dos profissionais, os quais dificultam a compreensão de direitos e as razões da existência de políticas compensatórias.

Evaluation of the toxicity and hypoglycemic effect of the aqueous extracts of Cnidoscolus quercifolius Pohl

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common chronic degenerative diseases, and it is estimated to increase worldwide to around 415 million and to impact 642 million in 2040. Research shows that some plants are sources of bioactive compounds against diabetes. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the oral toxicity and the hypoglycemic effect of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Cnidoscolus quercifolius Pohl. Diabetes was induced in Swiss mice with streptozotocin and the mice were treated with an aqueous extract of C. quercifolius leaves for a period of 30 days. Phytochemical analysis showed that the extract was rich in flavonoids, catechins and triterpenoid, which did not show any mortality and behavioral alterations in mice treated with 200, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg body weight of the extract for 14 days. Histopathological analysis of organs (kidney, pancreas, liver) from mice treated with the 2000 mg/kg extract revealed no architectural change. In the present study, we found a 29% reduction in glucose levels in animals receiving 200 mg/kg body weight. These results are very promising because they showed that C. quercifolius had a hypoglycemic effect and did not present oral toxicity, thus being a new source of compounds for the control of diabetes.

Citrus and Coffee Strains of Xylella fastidiosa Induce Pierce's Disease in Grapevine

Xylella fastidiosa causes citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) disease in Brazil and Pierce's disease of grapevines in the United States. Both of these diseases cause significant production problems in the respective industries. The recent establishment of the glassy-winged sharpshooter in California has radically increased the threat posed by Pierce's disease to California viticulture. Populations of this insect reach very high levels in citrus groves in California and move from the orchards into the vineyards, where they acquire inoculum and spread Pierce's disease in the vineyards. Here we show that strains of X. fastidiosa isolated from diseased citrus and coffee in Brazil can incite symptoms of Pierce's disease after mechanical inoculation into seven commercial Vitis vinifera varieties grown in Brazil and California. Thus, any future introduction of the CVC strains of X. fastidiosa into the United States would pose a threat to both the sweet orange and grapevine industries. Previous work has clearly shown that the strains of X. fastidiosa isolated from Pierce's disease- and CVC-affected plants are the most distantly related of all strains in the diverse taxon X. fastidiosa. The ability of citrus strains of X. fastidiosa to incite disease in grapevine is therefore surprising and creates an experimental system with which to dissect mechanisms used by X. fastidiosa in plant colonization and disease development using the full genome sequence data that has recently become available for both the citrus and grapevine strains of this pathogen.