Herbal remedies have long been used to treat infections and viruses, such as the common cold, influenza, fever, and even herpes.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was widely regarded due to an unpredictable, imminent pandemic posing a significant threat to humanity. This new virus has high infectivity, mortality, and variable latency.

The recurrent modification in the virus' genetic (antigenic) structures poses a challenge in successful vaccine development. While several vaccine trials are underway, many conventional drugs are repositioned (i.e. repurposing) and used for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes. However, the results were not very encouraging and often causing serious adverse effects. 

To come down the grimness and duration of acute disease and complexities, safe alternative remedies are, thus, needed. In symptomatic SARS-COV-2 patients, the traditional Chinese medicine (TMC) with allopathic drugs and Moroccan medicinal plant extract showed significant benefit. Traditional medicine derived from Indian herbal plants used since ancient times to treat human diseases in India is easily available and cost-effective without any side effects.

Some compounds from Indian herbal plants such as phytonutrients, flavonoids, phytomelatonin, and others have been demonstrated to possess anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antiviral bioactivities. In this review, we discuss some of the potential herbal plants with antiviral properties based on the history of usefulness in either treating COVID-19 or other potential viral infections.

Alternative medicine has proved to be very effective especially for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in Asia, Africa, and China. The efficacy of these preparations has of course not been proven in a science lab, but the effects are undeniable. We also know that herbal remedies are devoid of any side effects. At least none have been reported so far, considering herbs are nature’s own products.

Considering the benefits of these preparations, government agencies should direct more attention and allot more funding towards the study of alternative medicine. We know that big-budget pharmaceutical companies are against this effort and would do anything to prevent the effort, due to vested interest and the billions of dollars that are currently being poured toward clinical trials and research, but the majority of drugs produced by these companies have proved non-effective towards prevention and cure of COVID-19 besides being laden with deadly side effects.