What is the efficacy of herbal medicine in the treatment of COVID-19 infection?

Currently, the cases continue to develop due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 via human-to-human transmission. Because there are no definitive anti COVID-19 drugs or vaccines available to treat this fatal infection, supporting medication to relieve the patient’s manifestations is generally the only choice. Because of the homology of COVID-19 pandemic and the previous SARS coronavirus outbreak in epidemiology, genomics, pathogenesis, and the widespread use of herbal medicine for the previous SARS outbreak, clinical data suggesting the beneficial impact of herbal medicine in the treatment of COVID-19 infections is discussed. 3-Chymotrypsin-protease inhibition, blocking RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity, inhibition of helicase protein, inhibition of replication, inhibition of viral cell entry and immunomodulatory effect are the scientific reported anti-coronavirus effects of herb-derived compounds. The findings of a number of clinical experiences have shown that herbal medicine plays an important role in the treatment of COVID-19, giving new hope for COVID-19 prevention and control.