Efficacy of Herbal Drugs and Marketed Herbal Drugs used in treatment of COVID-19: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has fast-tracked the global search for effective and affordable therapeutic interventions, giving new impetus to herbal medicine systems like Ayurveda and TCM. These ancient systems prescribe natural remedies that confine antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects upon the body. This review highlights the efficacy of individual herbal drugs and polyherbal formulations in the treatment and management of COVID-19. Several prospective medical and scientific literature published from 2020 to 2024 have been considered for the collated literature analysis: RCTs, observational studies, clinical reports, and patent literature. Several herbal formulations showed promising results, with Lianhua Qingwen (TCM) and NRICM101 (Taiwan) notably demonstrating reduced symptom severity, shortened recovery times, and slowed progression toward serious forms of COVID-19 by angling viral replication and immune modulation. In light of these hopeful results, in general, trial designs remain inconsistent between these studies, with small sample sizes and variability in regulatory approvals; this makes generalization of the results inappropriate. This review thus highlights the need for urgent large-scale, standardized clinical trials to establish safety and efficacy. Integrating scientifically validated herbal medicines into COVID-19 management protocols could offer cost-effective, complementary treatment options, especially in resource-constrained settings, but must be guided by rigorous scientific evaluation and regulatory oversight.