Philippine Journal of Science
150 (5): 999-1015, October 2021
ISSN 0031 – 7683
Date Received: 29 Mar 2021

Philippine Medicinal Plants with Potential
Immunomodulatory and Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Activities

Fabian M. Dayrit^1,2*, Armando M. Guidote Jr.^1,2, Nina G. Gloriani³,
Sheriah Laine M. de Paz-Silava³, Irene M. Villaseñor⁴, Rene Angelo S. Macahig^1,5,
Mario A. Tan⁶, John Ross N. Chua¹, and Isidro C. Sia⁷

¹Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Engineering
Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Philippines
²Philippine Institute of Pure and Applied Chemistry (PIPAC)
Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Philippines
³College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Taft Avenue, Manila, Philippines
⁴Institute of Chemistry, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
⁵Andrew Moore and Associates Ltd., Singapore
⁶Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences
University of Santo Tomas, España, Manila, Philippines
⁷Integrative Medicine for Alternative Healthcare Systems (INAM) Philippines,
Inc. Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

*Corresponding author: fdayrit@ateneo.edu

ABSTRACT

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to devastate the world’s health and economy, affecting all aspects of life leading to widespread social disruption. Even as several vaccines have been developed, their availability in developing countries is limited and their efficacy against the variants of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus 2) needs to be continuously assessed. The World Health Organization (WHO) has acknowledged that vaccines alone will not overcome the global challenges of COVID-19. Medicinal plants may provide the needed support. Herein, we identify Philippine medicinal plants that possess phytochemicals with potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and/or immunomodulatory properties that may strengthen one’s immune system against COVID-19. These plants were selected from 100 of the best-studied Philippine medicinal plants with antiviral and immunomodulatory properties. The general antiviral and specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities and immunomodulatory properties of the phytochemicals that these plants contained were searched. While many compounds assessed individually using in vitro and in silico techniques suggest potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 or immunomodulatory effects, this review sought to identify the medicinal plants which contain these compounds and which, based on literature, have the best potential application against COVID-19. These plants are Allium spp. bulbs (bawang), Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees leaves (sinta), Cocos nucifera L. oil (niyog), Euphorbia hirta L. leaves (tawa-tawa), Euphorbia neriifolia L. leaves (sorosoro), Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves (malunggay), Ocimum basilicum L. leaves (balanoy), Piper nigrum L. seeds (paminta), Vitex negundo L. leaves (lagundi), and Zingiber officinale Roscoe rhizome (luya). This review provides a shortlist that can guide research on possible solutions to COVID-19 using Philippine medicinal plants.