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Cinnamon and its possible impact on COVID-19: The viewpoint of traditional and conventional medicine.
Yakhchali, M, Taghipour, Z, Mirabzadeh Ardakani, M, Alizadeh Vaghasloo, M, Vazirian, M, Sadrai, S
Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie. 2021;143:112221
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COVID-19 is a disease that is associated with extremely high inflammation within the body, because of the body’s immune system trying to fight the infection. Conventional treatments focus on decreasing the immune response and controlling the disease; however, no treatment strategy has been shown to be effective. Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) focuses on a holistic approach to the prevention and treatment of disease. Cinnamon has been thought as a TPM, which may be effective in the treatment of COVID-19 and this systematic review aimed to analyse the data behind these claims. Cinnamon was found to have anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Anti-viral effects were shown in cells against several viruses including the virus responsible for COVID-19. Cinnamon was shown to have extensive anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in various cells, however no specific research was found on COVID-19. It was concluded that as cinnamon has the potential to target different aspects of COVID-19 it could be used as an effective therapy. This study could be used by healthcare professionals to understand that cinnamon may have therapeutic effects in COVID-19, however clinical trials need to be performed before specific recommendations are made.
Abstract
The COVID-19 global epidemic caused by coronavirus has affected the health and other aspects of life for more than one year. Despite the current pharmacotherapies, there is still no specific treatment, and studies are in progress to find a proper therapy with high efficacy and low side effects. In this way, Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM), due to its holistic view, can provide recommendations for the prevention and treatment of new diseases such as COVID-19. The muco-obstruction of the airway, which occurs in SARS-CoV-2, has similar features in TPM textbooks that can lead us to new treatment approaches. Based on TPM and pharmacological studies, Cinnamomum verum (Darchini)'s potential effective functions can contribute to SARS-CoV-2 infection treatment and has been known to be effective in corona disease in Public beliefs. From the viewpoint of TPM theories, Cinnamon can be effective in SARS-CoV-2 improvement and treatment through its anti-obstructive, diuretic, tonic and antidote effects. In addition, there is pharmacological evidence on anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, organ-o-protective and anti-depression effects of Cinnamon that are in line with the therapeutic functions mentioned in TPM.Overall, Cinnamon and its ingredients can be recommended for SARS-CoV2 management due to multi-targeting therapies. This review provides basic information for future studies on this drug's effectiveness in preventing and treating COVID-19 and similar diseases.
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Antiviral Functional Foods and Exercise Lifestyle Prevention of Coronavirus.
Alkhatib, A
Nutrients. 2020;12(9)
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In lieu of a vaccine, complementary therapies have a major role to play in the Covid-19 pandemic. This review paper aimed to highlight how lifestyle approaches such as consumption of functional foods and increased physical activity could optimise the immune system in response to viral infections such as respiratory tract infections and Covid-19, and act as a possible adjuvant to vaccination. The paper outlined the role of exercise as being controversial. Although exercise has been shown to activate white blood cells, intense exercise in elite athletes has been linked to higher upper respiratory tract infection rates. It appears that varying intensity and type of exercise may optimise the immune system and have an additive effect to immunisation against viruses like influenza. The authors also stated that having a sedentary lifestyle may impair the immune system and diseases such as obesity and diabetes may increase susceptibility to infections such as Covid-19. The antiviral effect of functional foods was discussed. The paper paid particular attention to olive oil, vitamin D, traditional herbs and roots, coffee and caffeine. The reviewed mechanisms included enhanced gut bacteria profiles and promotion of anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatories. The authors also stated that supplementation as well as adequate dietary intake might be of importance against Covid-19, especially in deficient individuals. It was concluded that moderate intensity exercise alongside dietary intake of functional foods, may prevent communicable diseases, such as Covid-19. Clinicians could use this paper to recommend specific functional foods plus moderate exercise, to help prevent viral infections like Covid-19.
Abstract
Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is causing global mortality and lockdown burdens. A compromised immune system is a known risk factor for all viral influenza infections. Functional foods optimize the immune system capacity to prevent and control pathogenic viral infections, while physical activity augments such protective benefits. Exercise enhances innate and adaptive immune systems through acute, transient, and long-term adaptations to physical activity in a dose-response relationship. Functional foods prevention of non-communicable disease can be translated into protecting against respiratory viral infections and COVID-19. Functional foods and nutraceuticals within popular diets contain immune-boosting nutraceuticals, polyphenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, sterols, pigments, unsaturated fatty-acids, micronutrient vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, B6, B12, C, D, E, and folate, and trace elements, including zinc, iron, selenium, magnesium, and copper. Foods with antiviral properties include fruits, vegetables, fermented foods and probiotics, olive oil, fish, nuts and seeds, herbs, roots, fungi, amino acids, peptides, and cyclotides. Regular moderate exercise may contribute to reduce viral risk and enhance sleep quality during quarantine, in combination with appropriate dietary habits and functional foods. Lifestyle and appropriate nutrition with functional compounds may offer further antiviral approaches for public health.
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Chinese herbal medicine for coronavirus disease 2019: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Xiong, X, Wang, P, Su, K, Cho, WC, Xing, Y
Pharmacological research. 2020;160:105056
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Coronavirus- 2019 (COVID-19) infection, the cause of a global pandemic, can lead to respiratory failure and death. Whilst no specific antiviral drugs or vaccines were available in the early stages of the outbreak, in China Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) had been widely used since the beginning. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared the efficacy of CHM to conventional Western medicine treatments for COVID-19 infections, involving 2275 patients from 18 trials. The outcome suggested that the use of CHM exhibited many positive effects on the course of the disease, including fever severity, length of hospital stay, cough, fatigue, anti-inflammatory markers and lung imaging, therefore presenting a promising treatment for reducing the severity and duration of the disease, whilst having little to no side effects. The trials included various formulations predominantly based on traditional Chinese herbal medicine, with the therapeutic principles of ‘dispelling cold’, ‘relieving exterior’, ‘dissipating phlegm’, ‘clearing away heat’, ‘invigorating spleen’, and ‘replenishing qi’. In the included trials a total of 100 different herbs were identified. The five most frequently used herbs being Liquorice Root (Glycyrrhiza spp.), Baikal Skullcap Root (Scutellaria baicalensis), Pinellia Rhizome (Pinelliae tematae), Forsythia Fruit (Forsythia suspensa), and Bitter Apricot Seed (Armeniacae amarum). The treatment course ranged from 5 to 15 days and the most common dosage were tea preparations. The authors describe the meta-analysis as one of the larger ones conducted so far and briefly discuss some of the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of the herbs most used. This meta-analysis yields evidence for alternative strategies in the support and management of COVID-19 infections.
Abstract
Currently, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which can lead to severe respiratory failure and death, is now a global pandemic with no specific anti-viral drugs or vaccines. However, It is worth noting that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), especially Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), has been widely applied in mainland China since outbreak, bringing new hope for the prevention and control of COVID-19. A comprehensive literature searching was conducted in 7 electronic databases from their inception up to June 21, 2020 to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CHM for COVID-19. Eighteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 2275 patients were enrolled. Most of CHMs were originated from classical Chinese herbal formulas. Liquoric Root (Gancao, Radix Glycyrrhizae), Baical Skullcap Root (Huangqin, Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis), Pinellia Rhizome (Banxia, Rhizoma Pinelliae Tematae), Forsythia Fruit (Lianqiao, Fructus Forsythiae Suspensae), and Bitter Apricot Seed (Kuxingren, Semen Armeniacae Amarum) were most frequently used Chinese herbs. The most commonly used dosage formulation was decoction. Our meta-analyses found that comparing CHM group and conventional western medicine group, CHM group has improvements in several clinical parameters including lung CT, clinical cure rate, ranging from mild to critical cases, length of hospital stay, total score of clinical symptoms, fever reduction time, symptom score of fever, number of cough reduction cases, symptom score of cough, number of fatigue reduction cases, symptom score of fatigue, disappearing time of fatigue, TCM syndrome, viral nucleic acid testing, and inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein). Besides, no severe adverse effects was identified by CHM. CHM, especially classical Chinese herbal formulas, could be used as potential candidates for COVID-19 in this battle.
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A pilot, open labelled, randomised controlled trial of hypertonic saline nasal irrigation and gargling for the common cold.
Ramalingam, S, Graham, C, Dove, J, Morrice, L, Sheikh, A
Scientific reports. 2019;9(1):1015
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The common cold is a viral upper respiratory tract infection which affects adults and children worldwide, often multiple times a year. A large number of viruses cause these infections, making targeted antiviral treatment impractical. This small, randomised, controlled pilot trial (not blinded) of 68 adults aimed to assess the impact of salt-water nasal washing and throat gargling as many times as required (on average 3 times a day for 5 days) within 48 hours of symptom on-set on study recruitment and retention, as well as acceptability, symptom duration and viral shedding. The researchers found that nasal irrigation and gargling with a saline solution was acceptable to study participants. Illness duration was shortened by 1.9 days in the intervention arm, with significant reductions in the duration of runny nose, blocked nose, sneezing, cough and hoarseness of voice. The average quality of life score was also higher in the intervention arm, although this failed to reach significance. Viral shedding was higher in the intervention arm, with over the counter medication use 36% lower. There was also a lower rate of infection spread within households for the intervention arm. The authors call for a larger, placebo controlled trial to confirm these findings. Nutrition Practitioners supporting immunity in relation to the common cold virus may want to discuss the use of saline nasal irrigation with their clients as a simple measure to reduce symptoms and spread.
Abstract
There are no antivirals to treat viral upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Since numerous viruses cause URTI, antiviral therapy is impractical. As we have evidence of chloride-ion dependent innate antiviral response in epithelial cells, we conducted a pilot, non-blinded, randomised controlled trial of hypertonic saline nasal irrigation and gargling (HSNIG) vs standard care on healthy adults within 48 hours of URTI onset to assess recruitment (primary outcome). Acceptability, symptom duration and viral shedding were secondary outcomes. Participants maintained a symptom diary until well for two days or a maximum of 14 days and collected 5 sequential mid-turbinate swabs to measure viral shedding. The intervention arm prepared hypertonic saline and performed HSNIG. We recruited 68 participants (2.6 participants/week; November 2014-March 2015). A participant declined after randomisation. Another was on antibiotics and hence removed (Intervention:32, Control:34). Follow up data was available from 61 (Intervention:30, Control:31). 87% found HSNIG acceptable, 93% thought HSNIG made a difference to their symptoms. In the intervention arm, duration of illness was lower by 1.9 days (p = 0.01), over-the-counter medications (OTCM) use by 36% (p = 0.004), transmission within household contacts by 35% (p = 0.006) and viral shedding by ≥0.5 log10/day (p = 0.04). We hence need a larger trial to confirm our findings.