Herbal Therapy Inhibits COVID-19 & Variants

Scientific researchers in India, China, and other parts of the world have discovered herbs that inhibit COVID-19 and its variants.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has resulted in over 123.7 million cases and more than 2.7 million deaths globally. In the absence of widely effective antivirals, treatment and prevention strategies have been limited to general therapeutic modalities and non-pharmaceutical interventions, despite intensive research into better drug alternatives.

Key Herbal Compounds Studied

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) – Curcumin
Piperine (1-piperoyl piperidine)
EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate from green tea)

Dandelion as a Potential Inhibitor

A recent study published on the bioRxiv preprint server describes a specific virus inhibitor found in an extract of the common dandelion that may offer a promising avenue for drug development.

Study: “Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Efficiently Blocks the Interaction Between the ACE2 Cell Surface Receptor and SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Mutants D614, D614G, N501Y, K417N, and E484K In Vitro.”

These mutations are characteristic of the UK (variant B.1.1.7), South African (variant B.1.351), and Brazilian (variant P.1) strains. They share the N501Y spike protein mutation and descended from an earlier D614G strain, which became dominant worldwide.

The common dandelion is a perennial plant native to warm temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere. It grows along roadsides, in fields, and in gardens—often considered a weed. However, in Europe, it has a longstanding reputation as a medicinal plant used for treating conditions affecting the liver, gallbladder, gut, and joints.

Dandelion contains terpenes, phenolic resins (including coumarins and flavonoids), and polysaccharides. Its roots are rich in the insoluble fiber inulin. The most abundant phenolic compound is chicoric acid.

The Role of Flavonoids Against SARS-CoV-2

A systematic review highlights naturally occurring flavonoids as a promising antiviral option against SARS-CoV-2. Flavonoids such as quercetin, myricetin, baicalin, baicalein, EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), and tannic acid show significant antiviral potential.

These compounds have been shown to inhibit viral enzymes and mechanisms like:

3CL_pro (main viral protease)
PL_pro (papain-like protease)
The S protein–ACE2 interaction
Viral helicase
The nucleocapsid (N) protein

Among these, EGCG demonstrated strong inhibition of 3CL_pro in vitro. Other promising compounds include flavones such as baicalein, wogonin, and oroxylin, and flavanones such as naringenin. Isoflavones like puerarin, daidzein, and genistin also show antiviral effects.

Turmeric and Piperine: A Powerful Combination

Curcumin, the bioactive compound in turmeric (Curcuma longa), effectively neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Turmeric has a long-standing history of use in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties.

Curcumin is poorly absorbed when consumed alone. However, when combined with piperine—a compound found in black pepper (Piper nigrum) and long pepper (Piper longum)—its bioavailability increases significantly. Piperine acts as a natural bio-enhancer, allowing the body to better utilize curcumin’s medicinal properties.

Why Herbal Therapies Matter

Increased side effects, lack of curative treatments for many chronic diseases, the high cost of new drugs, microbial resistance, and emerging illnesses like COVID-19 have renewed global interest in complementary and alternative medicines.

Traditional herbal remedies and plant-derived compounds like dandelion, turmeric, piperine, and EGCG are promising alternatives—or adjuncts—to conventional pharmaceuticals. These natural compounds offer multi-targeted antiviral effects without the heavy burden of pharmaceutical side effects.

Conclusion

The ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic emphasize the importance of expanding our therapeutic arsenal. Herbal compounds such as flavonoids, curcumin, and piperine show strong promise in supporting immune health and inhibiting viral activity, particularly against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.

Further clinical studies are needed, but the early findings support the integration of these natural compounds into complementary approaches for prevention and recovery. Herbal medicine has always been a source of healing—perhaps it’s time we bring that knowledge back into the mainstream.

References

bioRxiv – Dr. Liji Thomas, Tran, H. T. T. et al. (2021). Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) efficiently blocks interaction between ACE2 receptor and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variants.
Dr. Ramya Dwivedi, Ph.D. – Curcumin, a bioactive component of turmeric, effectively neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 in vitro.
Kaul, R., Paul, P., Kumar, S., et al. (2021). Promising Antiviral Activities of Natural Flavonoids against SARS-CoV-2 Targets.