Saussurea costus may help in the treatment of COVID-19

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causing an ongoing pandemic and is considered as a national public health emergency. The signs and symptoms of COVID-19 vary from mild symptoms to a fulminating disease with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multi-organ failure, which may culminate into death with no available vaccines or specific antiviral treatments. God provides us with important medicinal plants. Here I shall shed the light on one of these plants that may help in the treatment of COVID-19 or may even cure it. Saussurea costus (S. costus) is a popular plant with medical importance, the roots of which are widely used for healing purposes throughout human history with great safety and effectiveness. Previous studies revealed the presence of many bioactive phytochemical molecules that has antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-lipid peroxidation, immunostimulant, immunomodulating, analgesic, bronchodilor, hepatoprotective and antihepatotoxic properties. S. Costus has immunomodulatory effects on cytokine release and has complement-inhibitor substances helpful in the treatment of some diseases related to marked activation of the complement system, like respiratory distress.