Herbal Antivirals
An info-hub for herbal antiviraLS FOR SARS-COV-2
latest update: October 1, 2025
HERB STUDIES
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Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Antiviral Properties of Herbal Materials
Treating COVID-19 with Medicinal Plants: Is It Even Conceivable? A Comprehensive Review
Prevention, treatment and potential mechanism of herbal medicine for Corona viruses: A review
Hotspots and trends in global antiviral herbal basic research: A visualization analysis
Herbal medicine use for the management of COVID-19: A review article
Potential herb–drug interactions between anti-COVID-19 drugs and traditional Chinese medicine
COVID-19: Is There Evidence for the Use of Herbal Medicines as Adjuvant Symptomatic Therapy?
A naturopathic treatment approach for mild and moderate COVID-19: A retrospective chart review
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This research has indicated that the stem skins of Artemisia vulgaris are particularly effective in obtaining endophytes that can combat SARS-CoV-2. Specifically, Colletotrichum spp. found within the stem skins has been found to possess the ability to inhibit the 3CL protease of SARS-CoV-2, while Aspergillus sp. is effective against infected cells. One of the key benefits of this innovative method is that the target can be chosen by adjusting the specific part of the plant used for isolation. Leaves with a high abundance of Penicillium spp. are optimal for antibiotics, while roots with a high abundance of Diaporthe spp. [22] are optimal for antifungal and anti-inflammatory targets.
Out of 168 bioactive compounds of Artemisia annua screened for possible inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 main protease, rhamnocitrin exhibited the highest binding affinity, followed by isokaempferide and kaempferol.
SARS-CoV-2 omicron variants succumb in vitro to Artemisia annua hot water extracts
Results continue to indicate that oral consumption of A. annua hot-water extracts (tea infusions) could potentially provide a cost-effective approach to help stave off this pandemic virus and its rapidly evolving variants.
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“Astragalus polysaccharides were identified to be a promising treatment for COVID-19 [20]. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) of the PG2 treatment transcriptional profile showed that PG2 can reverse COVID-19 signatures (MSigDB database) as well as ARDS (GSE76293), thus providing the rationale for PG2 as a potential therapy against SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, biological experiments also indicated that Astragalus polysaccharides inhibited the binding of SARS-CoV-2 S protein to ACE2 and blocked the fusion ability of the S protein. “
“A. membranaceus, in particular, has been described as a potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agent by reducing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and TNF-α, which are both detected in the cytokine storm of acute respiratory distress syndrome, a significant cause of COVID-19-associated death (Yeh et al., 2021). Previous phytochemical studies showed that saponins, phenolics, and polysaccharides are the major components of A. membranaceus“
“Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) improve the learning and memory abilities and reduce despair in mice with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). APS ameliorates intestinal barrier damage and inflammation in CFS mice. APS modulates the gut microbiota and increases levels of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in CFS mice. APS ameliorates oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain of CFS mice, an effect possibly mediated by promoting SCFAs production in the gut.”
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Prospective Asian plants with corroborated antiviral potentials: Position standing in recent years
“Okanin 4`-glucoside (12) and butein (13), present in the plant, obstruct the HIV integrase and HIV-1 protease and the entrance of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS virus) into host cells.”
“In treating COVID-19 and all forms of ailments, their medicines include: the soil, herbs, grass, weeds, roots, and the tree leaves. By August 2020, ten medicinal plants had gained popularity among Kenyans for their general healing properties. This included the following plants… Blackjack, whose botanical name is Bidens pilosa, and also called Muceegeamong the Kikuyu, Munzeeamong the Kamba, Ologoheamong the Luhya, Nyanyiegoamong the Luo, Oloreperepamong the Maasai, and Kipkoloitamong the Kipsigis. It has been used for alleviating several health conditions, including sexually transmitted diseases, anti-cancer powers, malaria, and urinary tract infections –and for reducing the risk of heart disease, cholesterol abnormalities, diabetes, high blood pressure, and many other ailments
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Interference of Chaga mushroom terpenoids with the attachment of SARS-CoV-2; in silico perspective
Chaga mushroom terpenoids can bind tightly to GRP78 SDBβ. The terpenoids have an affinity to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike and its receptor GRP78. Chaga mushroom terpenoids can be used against SARS-CoV-2 and cancer. Oleanolic acid and Inonotsulide A are the best two terpenoids in binding GRP78.
Antiviral activity was determined by the ability of I. obliquus water extracts to inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2 (nCoV/Victoria /1/2020 strain) in Vero E6 and Vero cell cultures.
The results obtained indicate the possibility of using basidial fungus Inonotus obliquus aqueous extract as a preventive agent against circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus.
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In silico screening of potential inhibitors from Cordyceps species against SARS-CoV-2 main protease
Among all the molecules that were tested, cordycepic acid was the most effective and promising candidate, with a binding affinity of −8.10 kcal/mol against Mpro. The molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and free binding energy calculations revealed that the cordycepic acid-Mpro complex was highly stable and showed fewer conformational fluctuations.
Based on obtained results the current study suggests the use of Cordyceps militaris as an add-on therapy that may reduce the progression of inflammatory co-morbidities among patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Early Trends to Show the Efficacy of Cordyceps militaris in Mild to Moderate COVID
Cordyceps capsules administered at a dose of 500 mg three times a day along with supportive treatment showed effectiveness in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 infection, as evidenced by the proportionately higher number of recoveries on day 5, the relatively shorter time for improvement of clinical symptoms, and the proportionately higher number of patients showing negative RT-PCR tests on day 10. Thus, Cordyceps appears to be a safe immunological adjuvant for the treatment of patients
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Antiviral activity of an extract derived from roots of Eleutherococcus senticosus
A liquid extract from Eleutherococcus senticosus roots inhibited the productive replication of human rhinovirus (HRV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza A virus in cell cultures infected with these viruses, all of which belong to the RNA type viruses.
Overall, this pilot study demonstrates that Chisan®/ADAPT-232 can increase physical performance in Long COVID. It also suggests that Chisan®/ADAPT-232 might be useful for preventing the progression of renal failure associated with increasing creatinine. Essentially, this study is the first randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial of the efficacy of a pharmaceutical in Long COVID.
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Lucidenic acid A inhibits the binding activity of hACE2 receptor with spike protein to prevent SARS-CoV-2 invasion.
Available evidence suggests that medicinal properties of the Ganoderma mushroom can combat the complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the co-morbidities that can aggravate the severity of the disease.
GMI is a type of fungal immunomodulatory protein that is cloned from Ganoderma microsporum and acts as modulating immunocyte for various inflammatory diseases. This study identifies GMI as a potential anti-inflammatory agent and determines the effects of GMI on the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2-induced cytokine secretion. GMI shows a strong inhibitory effect under SARS-CoV-2-E-induced inflammation. GMI down regulates SARS-CoV-2-E-induced expressions of iNOS and COX-2. GMI alleviates SARS-CoV-2-E-induced inflammation via inhibition of MAPK pathway. GMI inhibits SARS-CoV-2-E-induced inflammation in lung tissues of mice.
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Ginkgo biloba L. folium extract (EGb) is a herbal medicine containing various active constituents. This review aims to provide a critical discussion on the potential role of EGb in the management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The antiviral effect of EGb is mediated by different mechanisms, including blocking SARS-CoV-2 3-chymotrypsin-like protease that provides trans-variant effectiveness. Moreover, EGb impedes the development of pulmonary inflammatory disorders through the diminution of neutrophil elastase activity, the release of proinflammatory cytokines, platelet aggregation, and thrombosis. Thus, EGb can attenuate the acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome in COVID-19.
Collectively, GBE50 (Ginkgo Biloba Extract 50) and some constituents in this herbal product could strongly inhibit SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro in dose- and time-dependent manner. Gallocatechin and sciadopitysin were identified as potent SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro inhibitors, which offers promising lead compounds for the development of novel anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs.
Molecular Docking Study of Gingkgo biloba Compounds as Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2
Docking results showed that ginkgolide-C and bilobetin showed strong molecular interactions to all protein targets compared to the comparative drugs and other compounds. In RdRp, ginkgolide-C showed the highest binding energy with -12.7 kcal/mol. Moreover, in TMPRSS2, ACE2 and Mpro, bilobetin also showed the highest binding energy with -12.7, -9.7 and -10 kcal/mol, respectively. Ginkgolide-C and bilobetin have the potential to be developed as SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors.
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The result of molecular docking studies clearly revealed that the compound code A104 (6-Hydroxyondansetron) has shown more binding affinity toward two SARS-CoV-2 receptor proteins Mpro (PDB ID 6LU7) and PLpro (PDB ID 7JRN) with G-score − 7.274 and − 5.672, respectively, thus could be used as potential inhibitor for Mpro and PLpro to prevent the replication process of SARS-CoV-2. On the other hand, phytocompounds code A166 (Quercitrin) is also identified as another promising inhibitor as it has shown best binding affinity toward protein ADRP (PDB ID 6W02) of SARS-CoV-2
An aqueous extract of Houttuynia cordata was found to be enriched with flavonoids such as quercetin, quercitrin, and isoquercitrin, which demonstrated the inhibition of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and SARS-CoV…Cinanserin, a compound naturally available in Houttuynia cordata plant species, inhibited SARS-CoV replication, most likely through the inhibition of 3CL proteinase activity
Natural Immunomodulators Treat the Cytokine Storm in SARS-CoV-2
Houttuynia cordata water extract has a number of antiviral effects on SARS-CoV, including prevention of 3CL viral protease and disrupting the activity of RNA-dependent viral RNA polymerase
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Natural triterpenoids from licorice potently inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection
Licorice-saponin A3 and glycyrrhetinic acid inhibit SARS-CoV-2 by targeting nsp7 and the S-RBD, respectively.
Glycyvir, a mixture of nicotinates of glycyrrhizic acid, was obtained, and characterized in terms of its composition and its anti-viral activities. Glycyvir proved effective against three different strains of SARS-CoV-2 virus and HIV-1 pseudoviruses, while exhibiting low toxicity.
Glycyrrhizin Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Entry into Cells by Targeting ACE2
Glycyrrhizin, the predominate phytochemical in Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, can prevent the SARS-CoV-2 from entering cells and replicating by reducing the expression of ACE2 and inhibiting the interaction between the S protein RBD and ACE2.
Glycyrrhizin Effectively Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Replication by Inhibiting the Viral Main Protease
Glycyrrhizic Acid Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Infection by Blocking Spike Protein-Mediated Cell Attachment
Can Antiviral Activity of Licorice Help Fight COVID-19 Infection?
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“The compounds possessed excellent pharmacokinetic and toxicity properties and are safe and reliable. Thus, the present research unveiled the valuable metabolites from O. europaea and their antiviral potential against the SARS-CoV-2.”
“Secoiridoids need further optimization and are a suitable lead for the discovery of anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics. For the moment, olive secoiridoids presents an accessible mode of prevention and therapy of SARS-CoV-2 infection.”
Secoiridoids are known for their potential health benefits and have been studied for various properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and potential cardiovascular benefits. Olive oil is a well-known dietary source of secoiridoids.
“Rutin and apigenin are antiviral flavonoids extracted from fruit and pulp of olives. Previous studies reported that Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE2) help SARS-CoV-2 to enter into target (Anand et al., 2003). Inhibiting the ACE2 receptor may lessens the power to bind to virus S protein attachment. Rutin binds to the ACE2 receptor via amino acid residues”
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Pueraria inhibited the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 spike with ACE2 (IC50: 11.29 to 91.69 mg/mL)
The results of bioinformatics analysis revealed that puerarin could be able to treat COVID-19/COAD comorbidity through apoptosis, antiviral, antioxidant, NF-κB signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and HIF-1 signaling pathway etc. This study found that puerarin has the potential to treat COVID-19/COAD patients and that the therapeutic target genes obtained in the study may provide clues for the treatment of COVID19/COAD comorbidity.
Puerarin: A Potential Therapeutic for SARS-CoV-2 and Hantavirus Co-Infection
Puerarin may treat EHF/COVID-19 by modulating the immune system to enhance the induction of Tregs and modulate immune tolerance (25, 26). In conclusion, puerarin has potential therapeutic value in treating viral infections.
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“Salvia miltiorrhiza-derived tanshinones have been reported as inhibiting the coronaviral cysteine proteases.”
Proteases are enzymes are like tiny molecular scissors that the virus uses to cut long chains of building blocks (proteins) into smaller, functional pieces. These pieces are important for the virus to replicate and spread inside our bodies.
“The lipophilic compounds tanshinones derived from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge were also found to be specific and selective inhibitors for the SARS-CoV 3CLpro and PLpro viral cysteine proteases (Park et al., 2012), the activity was significantly affected by subtle changes in structure.”
“Tanshinone and its variants are lipophilic components obtained from the roots and rhizomes of the Chinese medicinal herb Salvia miltiorrhiza, found to be effective in treating cardiovascular, cerebrovascular diseases, arthritis, diabetes, etc. which has already proven to be an effective drug with anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative properties (Ying et al. 2019; Fu et al. 2020; Fang et al. 2021).”
Natural Products as a Potential Source of Promising Therapeutics for COVID-19 and Viral Diseases
“The underlying antiviral mechanisms can be divided into two categories: the direct inhibition of viruses and the indirect antiviral effect. Salvia miltiorrhiza works through a second process that inhibits the inflammatory response mediated by the virus by modulating the function of the immune system [48]. On the other hand, some main protease enzymes are important in virus replication, such as 3C like protease (3CLpro) and papain-like protease (PLpro) [23]. One of Salvia miltiorrhiza’s most robust and most effective PLpro inhibiting compounds is tanshinone, a diterpene with the structure of abietane. “
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“Baicalin reduces the expression level of ACE2 enzyme in human small alveolar epithelial cells (SAECs) by 75% at 25 μM concentration, while in presence of ascorbic acid, it reduces more effectively by synergistic effect, by 82% at the same concentration via promoting Nrf2 activation”
A Comprehensive Review of Natural Flavonoids with Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Activity
“Baicalein and baicalin were able to bind to SARS-CoV-2 RdRp, causing the RdRp to be unable to participate in the RNA replication process of the virus”
RdRp stands for “RNA-dependent RNA polymerase”. It's an enzyme found in the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This enzyme plays a crucial role in the virus's replication process. RdRp is an essential component in the virus's ability to reproduce itself. It helps the virus create new copies of its RNA genetic material.
“Zandi et al. reported the antiviral properties of baicalein 1 and baicalin 2 (polyphenolic flavonoids accessible in traditional Chinese medicine extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis root) against SARS-CoV-2 through cell-based and biochemical studies (Fig. 14). Both compounds inhibited activity against SARS-CoV-2 RdRp with higher efficacy for baicalein than that of baicalin. Antiviral evaluation assay of baicalein and baicalin exhibited 99.8% and 98% inhibition of SARS-CoV-2, respectively (at 20 μM).”
Baicalein and Baicalin Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 RNA-Dependent-RNA Polymerase
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Our data establish UDA as a potent fusion inhibitor for the current variants of SARS-CoV-2.
UDA can potentially inhibit the RBD of SRAS-CoV-2 and host cell receptor interaction.
This study indicates that UDA interaction with RBDOmic prevents virus attachment to Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and, therefore, its entry into the host cell. Altogether, UDA exhibited a significant suppression effect on the Omicron variant and can be considered a new candidate to improve protection against severe infection of this variant.
RESOURCES
Herbal Antivirals Podcast
04.21.21 - POLYCULTURED ANTIVIRAL BLEND RESEARCH SURVEY
09.12.25 - POLYCULTURED ANTIVIRAL BLEND RESEARCH SURVEY II
*FOLLOW UP COHORT*
A Guide to Purchasing / Foraging Herbal Antivirals for SARS-COV-2 IN NORTH AMERICA
Helpful Threads
H5N1 Preparation (Avian Influenza)
Outside Resources
CoVid-19 TCM Herbal Protocol for Western Herbalists with Thomas Avery Garran, PhD
An Herbalist’s Notes on the COVID-19 Virus and Viral Anxiety and Herbal Medicine by 7Song