Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Aug 20, 2025 2 hours, 32 minutes ago
Medical News: Ancient Healing Plants Under Modern Investigation
A new international study has revealed that two traditional medicinal plants from the Philippines—Vitex negundo (locally called lagundi) and Macaranga tanarius—have powerful antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Researchers from Nagasaki University (Japan), Shimane University (Japan), the University of the Philippines Manila, the University of the Philippines Mindanao, and De La Salle University collaborated on this groundbreaking work. This
Medical News report highlights how these plants, long used in folk medicine, may soon become part of modern antiviral treatments.
Philippine Herbs Cuch as Vitex Negundo Shown Here, Show Strong Potential Against COVID-19
Study Approach and Key Experiments
The team tested different extracts of the plants prepared using solvents like hexane and dichloromethane. These extracts were applied to laboratory cell cultures infected with both the original Wuhan strain of the virus and multiple variants, including Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron.
The results were striking. The Vitex negundo dichloromethane extract and the Macaranga extract caused a 5-log reduction in viral growth, meaning they cut down the number of viruses by over 99.999%. The Vitex hexane extract showed moderate results, with about a 100-fold reduction. Importantly, the extracts were not toxic to cells at effective doses.
Strong Activity Across Variants
The antiviral effects were not limited to just the original virus. Both Vitex and Macaranga worked strongly against the variants, proving their wide effectiveness. Tests confirmed that these extracts were able to block the virus before infection and even stop it after it had already entered cells.
Further analysis revealed that the plant compounds also blocked the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) enzyme, which is critical for the virus to multiply. This dual action—stopping the virus from entering cells and halting its replication—makes these extracts highly promising.
Synergy With Existing Antivirals
Another key finding was that when the extracts were combined with remdesivir, an existing COVID-19 drug, the results were synergistic—meaning the combined effect was far stronger than either treatment alone. This opens up possibilities for new combination therapies that can fight the virus more effectively and reduce the risk of drug resistance.
Why This Matters
Lagundi has long been used in the Philippines for coughs, asthma, and fever, while Macaranga has a history of use in folk medicine for its antibacterial and antioxidant effects. Now, science has confirmed their antiviral abilities against one of the deadliest modern viruses.
The study suggests that these extracts could become the basis of future anti-COVID-19 medicines or supportive treatments. However, the researchers emphasize that furt
her animal and human trials are needed before they can be recommended for clinical use.
Final Thoughts
This research shines a spotlight on the untapped medical potential of traditional plants. At a time when new COVID-19 variants keep emerging, having natural compounds that act at multiple stages of infection could be a game-changer. The discovery that lagundi and Macaranga extracts can also boost the power of remdesivir makes the findings even more exciting. These plants could eventually help strengthen the fight against COVID-19 while reducing the threat of resistant viral strains.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Pathogens.
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/8/820
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