Using decoction of some vitamin C enriched plants for the management of COVID-19 in Jos, Nigeria: A case report

Uchejeso M. Obeta; Goodluck A. K. Ohanube; Maureen O. Ekpere-Ezeugwu; Eno C. Mantu; Nkereuwem S. Etukudoh; Muhammad Akram; Imtiaz Mahmood Tahir

doi:10.52547/JCBioR.2.2.85

Authors

Uchejeso M. Obeta Department of Medical Laboratory Management, Federal School of Medical Laboratory Science, Jos, Nigeria http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1382-6034
Goodluck A. K. Ohanube Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Applied Sciences, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, Germany
Maureen O. Ekpere-Ezeugwu Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Eno C. Mantu Department of Special Duties, Federal School of Medical Laboratory Science, Jos, Nigeria
Nkereuwem S. Etukudoh Department of Haematology, Federal School of Medical Laboratory Science, Jos, Nigeria
Muhammad Akram Department of Eastern Medicine, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Imtiaz Mahmood Tahir College of Allied Health Professionals, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52547/JCBioR.2.2.85

Keywords:

COVID-19, Herbal tea, Vitamin C enriched plants, Epigenetics, Homeostasis, Coronavirus

Abstract

The worldwide influence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic compelled the global health organizations to prioritize the situation over all other related community health issues. The lack of specific treatment modalities against COVID-19 is a major concern nowadays. Here is a case of a 44-year-old man of 176 cm height and 87 kg body weight, who took some powdered mixture equally composed of bitter kola, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, and turmeric sweetened with three teaspoons full of honey. All ingredients were dissolved in 100 ml hot water and taken three times a day during isolation as a positive COVID-19 patient and reversed all associated signs and symptoms after 7 days as confirmed with rapid diagnostic techniques (RDTs). This case revealed that homogenized herbal tea in Jos Nigeria possesses a potential therapeutic that could be a treatment protocol against COVID-19.

References

Cucinotta D, Vanelli M. WHO Declares COVID-19 a Pandemic. Acta Biomed. 2020; 91(1):157-60.

Wang M, Cao R, Zhang L, Yang X, Liu J, Xu M, et al. Remdesivir and chloroquine effectively inhibit the recently emerged novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in vitro. Cell Res. 2020; 30(3):269-71.

Ezekwesili-Ofili Josephine Ozioma and Okaka Antoinette Nwamaka Chinwe (January 30th 2019). Herbal Medicines in African Traditional Medicine, Herbal Medicine, Philip F. Builders, IntechOpen. Available from: https://www.intechopen.com/books/herbal-medicine/herbal-medicines-in-african-traditional-medicine.

Ikeagwulonu R, Etukudoh N, Ejinaka O, Ibanga I, Obeta M, Uro-Chukwu H, et al. Profile of Some Trace Elements in Selected Traditional Medicines used for Various Aliments in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Am J Biomed Sci & Res. 2020; 9(3):239-44.

Akram M, Tahir IM, Shah SMA, Mahmood Z, Altaf A, Ahmad K, et al. Antiviral potential of medicinal plants against HIV, HSV, influenza, hepatitis, and coxsackievirus: A systematic review. Phytother Res. 2018; 32(5):811-22.

World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2004). Vitamin and mineral requirements in human nutrition. Retrieved July 8, 2020. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/42716/9241546123.pdf.

Ohanube GA, Obeta UM, Ikeagwulonu CR. Case reports in the use of vitamin C based regimen in prophylaxis and management of COVID-19 among Nigerians. J Curr Biomed Rep. 2020; 1(2):77-80.

Ohanube Goodluck A, Uchejeso O. COVID-19: Novel Opinion on Strategic Prophylaxis and Cure Using Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid). Act Sci Nutr Health. 2020; 4(5):32-3.

Ohanube G, Obeta M, Ikeagwulonu R, Jwanse I. COVID-19: A Case Study of Using Vitamin C Enriched Plants and Ascorbic Acid as Cure. Am J Med Case Rep. 2020; 8(11):435-37.

Obeta M. Uchejeso, Ikeagwulonu R. Chinaza, Ohanube A.K. Goodluck and Jwanse I. Rinpan (November 9th 2020). Some Igbo Indigenous Plants with Anti-COVID-19 Properties [Online First], IntechOpen. Available from: https://www.intechopen.com/online-first/some-igbo-indigenous-plants-with-anti-covid-19-properties.

Tadepalli SP. Novel Remedial Approaches Against Virulent Corona Viruses. Int J Infect Dis Res. 2020; 1(1):1-15.

Mirzaie A, Halaji M, Dehkordi FS, Ranjbar R, Noorbazargan H. A narrative literature review on traditional medicine options for treatment of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2020; 40:101214.

Nandedkar M, Mahajan S, Pardeshi K, Oswal R, Shah M. Novel perception on the anti-viral effect of bioactive natural molecules against COVID-19. World J Pharm Res. 2020; 9(7):674-96.

Bharara A, Grossman C, Grinnan D, Syed A, Fisher B, DeWilde C, et al. Intravenous Vitamin C Administered as Adjunctive Therapy for Recurrent Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Case Rep Crit Care. 2016; 2016:8560871.

Ukaoma A, Ukaoma V, Okechukwu R, Iwuagwu M. Phytochemical screening and antibacterial properties of Garcinia kola. J Phytopharm. 2013; 2(3):34-8.

Ameh G, Eze S, Omeje F. Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial studies on the methanolic bulb extract of Allium sativum L. Afr J Biotechnol. 2013; 12(14).

Mbadiko CM, Inkoto CL, Gbolo BZ, Lengbiye EM, Kilembe JT, Matondo A, et al. A mini review on the phytochemistry, toxicology and antiviral activity of some medically interesting Zingiberaceae species. J Complement Altern Med Res. 2020; 9(4):44-56.

Jahan I, Onay A. Potentials of plant-based substance to inhabit and probable cure for the COVID-19. Turk J Biol. 2020; 44(3):228-41.

Adarsh A, Chettiyar B, Kanthesh B, Raghu N. Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of “Cinnamon zeylanicum”. Int J Innovative Pharm Sci Res. 2020; 13:22-33.

Abeshu MA, Geleta B. Medicinal uses of honey. Biol Med. 2016; 8(2):1000279.

Alvarez-Suarez, J. M. (Ed.). (2017). Bee products-chemical and biological properties. Springer.

White JW. The Composition of Honey. Bee World. 1957; 38(3):57-66.

Figueroa-Méndez R, Rivas-Arancibia S. Vitamin C in Health and Disease: Its Role in the Metabolism of Cells and Redox State in the Brain. Front Physiol. 2015; 6:397.

Carr AC, Maggini S. Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients. 2017; 9(11).

Akbari A, Jelodar G, Nazifi S, Sajedianfard J. An Overview of the Characteristics and Function of Vitamin C in Various Tissues: Relying on its Antioxidant Function. Zahedan J Res Med Sci. 2016; 18(11):e4037.

Przybyło M, Langner M. On the physiological and cellular homeostasis of ascorbate. Cell Mol Biol Lett. 2020; 25(1):32.

Bukkuri A. A mathematical model showing the potential of vitamin c to boost the innate immune response. Open J Math Sci. 2019; 3(3):245-55.

Etukudoh NS, Uchejeso OM, Etim II. Bitter Kola (Garcinia kola) as Herbal Remedy for Diabetes. Curr Top Med Med Res. 2021; 12:61-8.

Girija PLT, Sivan N. Ayurvedic treatment of COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2: A case report. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2020. [In press]. doi: 10.1016/j.jaim.2020.06.001.

Yang Y, Islam MS, Wang J, Li Y, Chen X. Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Patients Infected with 2019-New Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2): A Review and Perspective. Int J Biol Sci. 2020; 16(10):1708-17.

Ren JL, Zhang AH, Wang XJ. Traditional Chinese medicine for COVID-19 treatment. Pharmacol Res. 2020; 155:104743.