Plant-derived therapeutics for COVID-19: clinical effectiveness and research evolution through bibliometric mapping

초록

Introduction Recent clinical investigations and bibliometric trends underscore a growing scientific focus on the use of phytochemicals as adjunctive therapies for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A detailed bibliometric analysis of literature published between 2020 and 2025 revealed a progressive shift from computational screening toward clinical validation, with key research clusters centred on antiviral activity, immunomodulation, and therapeutic formulation. The objective of this bibliometric review is to consolidate clinical evidence to highlight phytochemicals as potential candidates for integrative COVID-19 therapeutic strategies. Methods A bibliometric review addressed research trends, while a clinical review examined randomised controlled trials. The main emphasis was on the effects of various phytochemicals on inflammatory markers, viral load, and other clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Results The bibliometric analysis confirmed a trend toward clinical validation. Clinically, several phytochemicals have demonstrated promising outcomes in randomised controlled trials. Melatonin improved oxygen saturation and significantly reduced proinflammatory markers (tumour necrosis factor, interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, C-reactive protein). Curcumin, administered in nano-micelle form, suppressed interferon-γ, IL-17, IL-4, and transcription factors such as T-bet and ROR-γT. Artemisinin–piperaquine and propolis reduced viral load and symptom severity, while cholecalciferol facilitated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 clearance and reduced fibrinogen levels. Crude extracts from Zingiber officinale, Nigella sativa, Azadirachta indica, and Glycyrrhiza glabra showed comparable effects on symptom relief and inflammatory modulation. Conclusion The bibliometric review highlights phytochemicals as alternative options for integrative COVID-19 treatment. Despite the fact that most studies used uncharacterised extracts, more research is necessary to identify active constituents and establish standardised dosages.

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