Andrographis paniculata or favipiravir in Mild COVID-19: A randomized control trial
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to an urgent search for effective treatments. Andrographis paniculata (AP), a traditional herbal medicine, has shown potential due to its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of AP capsules with favipira...
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Phytomedicine Plus |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667031325001290 |
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| author | Rujipas Sirijatuphat Navin Horthongkham Chutikarn Chaimayo Patimaporn Wongprompitak Wuttikrai Kongsankum Phornnapa Charoenkij Titchaphorn Palo Suthatip Mahajaroensiri Nalinthika Nathananwanit Sansanee Senawong Wannee Kantakamalakul Pravit Akarasereenont Chairat Permpikul |
| author_facet | Rujipas Sirijatuphat Navin Horthongkham Chutikarn Chaimayo Patimaporn Wongprompitak Wuttikrai Kongsankum Phornnapa Charoenkij Titchaphorn Palo Suthatip Mahajaroensiri Nalinthika Nathananwanit Sansanee Senawong Wannee Kantakamalakul Pravit Akarasereenont Chairat Permpikul |
| author_sort | Rujipas Sirijatuphat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to an urgent search for effective treatments. Andrographis paniculata (AP), a traditional herbal medicine, has shown potential due to its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of AP capsules with favipiravir (FV) in treating mild COVID-19 patients. Methods: This randomized, double-blind trial was conducted at Siriraj Hospital, Thailand. This study was in the Thai Clinical Trials Registry register, which number is TCTR20240802007. The study included patients aged 18–59 who were diagnosed with mild COVID-19. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either AP capsules (180 mg/day) or FV for five days, with a 10-day follow-up period. Primary outcomes included changes in viral load, pneumonia incidence, and symptom improvement. Secondary outcomes focused on viral clearance and adverse events. Results: A total of 190 participants (95 per group) were enrolled. By day 10, none had developed pneumonia. Both AP and FV effectively reduced viral load, with the Mann-Whitney U-test showing statistical significance (p < 0.05). The AP group showed greater improvement in specific symptoms, particularly in phlegm (1.15 ± 1.58 vs. 1.9 ± 2.04, p = 0.004) and headache (0.15 ± 0.51 vs. 0.47 ± 1.25, p = 0.033), compared to the FV group. Adverse events were minimal and similar between the two groups. Conclusion: Both AP and FV effectively reduced symptoms and viral load with minimal side effects. However, AP showed superior improvements in phlegm and headaches. Consequently, physicians may regard AP as an appropriate option for COVID-19 patients to alleviate symptoms. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8dcd61d8c0454674a5f0b76a0e884587 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2667-0313 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Phytomedicine Plus |
| spelling | doaj-art-8dcd61d8c0454674a5f0b76a0e8845872025-08-21T04:17:42ZengElsevierPhytomedicine Plus2667-03132025-08-015310085810.1016/j.phyplu.2025.100858Andrographis paniculata or favipiravir in Mild COVID-19: A randomized control trialRujipas Sirijatuphat0Navin Horthongkham1Chutikarn Chaimayo2Patimaporn Wongprompitak3Wuttikrai Kongsankum4Phornnapa Charoenkij5Titchaphorn Palo6Suthatip Mahajaroensiri7Nalinthika Nathananwanit8Sansanee Senawong9Wannee Kantakamalakul10Pravit Akarasereenont11Chairat Permpikul12Department of Medicine, Faculty of medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand 10700Department of Microbiology, Faculty of medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand 10700Department of Microbiology, Faculty of medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand 10700Department of Immunology, Faculty of medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand 10700Department of Immunology, Faculty of medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand 10700Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand 10700Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand 10700Center of Applied Thai traditional medicine, Faculty of medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand 10700Center of Applied Thai traditional medicine, Faculty of medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand 10700Department of Immunology, Faculty of medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand 10700Department of Microbiology, Faculty of medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand 10700Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand 10700; Center of Applied Thai traditional medicine, Faculty of medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand 10700Department of Medicine, Faculty of medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand 10700; Corresponding author at: Department of Medicine, Faculty of medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, 2 Wanglang Road Bangkoknoi, Bangkok 10700, ThailandBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic led to an urgent search for effective treatments. Andrographis paniculata (AP), a traditional herbal medicine, has shown potential due to its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of AP capsules with favipiravir (FV) in treating mild COVID-19 patients. Methods: This randomized, double-blind trial was conducted at Siriraj Hospital, Thailand. This study was in the Thai Clinical Trials Registry register, which number is TCTR20240802007. The study included patients aged 18–59 who were diagnosed with mild COVID-19. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either AP capsules (180 mg/day) or FV for five days, with a 10-day follow-up period. Primary outcomes included changes in viral load, pneumonia incidence, and symptom improvement. Secondary outcomes focused on viral clearance and adverse events. Results: A total of 190 participants (95 per group) were enrolled. By day 10, none had developed pneumonia. Both AP and FV effectively reduced viral load, with the Mann-Whitney U-test showing statistical significance (p < 0.05). The AP group showed greater improvement in specific symptoms, particularly in phlegm (1.15 ± 1.58 vs. 1.9 ± 2.04, p = 0.004) and headache (0.15 ± 0.51 vs. 0.47 ± 1.25, p = 0.033), compared to the FV group. Adverse events were minimal and similar between the two groups. Conclusion: Both AP and FV effectively reduced symptoms and viral load with minimal side effects. However, AP showed superior improvements in phlegm and headaches. Consequently, physicians may regard AP as an appropriate option for COVID-19 patients to alleviate symptoms.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667031325001290Andrographis paniculatafavipiravirCOVID-19traditional herbal medicinesymptom reliefpneumonia |
| spellingShingle | Rujipas Sirijatuphat Navin Horthongkham Chutikarn Chaimayo Patimaporn Wongprompitak Wuttikrai Kongsankum Phornnapa Charoenkij Titchaphorn Palo Suthatip Mahajaroensiri Nalinthika Nathananwanit Sansanee Senawong Wannee Kantakamalakul Pravit Akarasereenont Chairat Permpikul Andrographis paniculata or favipiravir in Mild COVID-19: A randomized control trial Phytomedicine Plus Andrographis paniculata favipiravir COVID-19 traditional herbal medicine symptom relief pneumonia |
| title | Andrographis paniculata or favipiravir in Mild COVID-19: A randomized control trial |
| title_full | Andrographis paniculata or favipiravir in Mild COVID-19: A randomized control trial |
| title_fullStr | Andrographis paniculata or favipiravir in Mild COVID-19: A randomized control trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Andrographis paniculata or favipiravir in Mild COVID-19: A randomized control trial |
| title_short | Andrographis paniculata or favipiravir in Mild COVID-19: A randomized control trial |
| title_sort | andrographis paniculata or favipiravir in mild covid 19 a randomized control trial |
| topic | Andrographis paniculata favipiravir COVID-19 traditional herbal medicine symptom relief pneumonia |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667031325001290 |
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