Using lagundi as herbal medicine for mild coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients yielded positive results, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said.
DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development (R&D) Rowena Cristina Guevara bared the initial conclusion of the project team that conducted the clinical trials on the use of lagundi (Chinese chaste tree) as herbal drug against COVID-19.
The team, headed by Dr. Cecilia Nelia C. Maramba-Lazarte of the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila-National Institute of Health (UP-NIH), completed the clinical trials on Aug. 12, and is finalizing the technical report.
“Ito ang pauna natin ang conclusion ng team yung lagundi na-dedecrease nya ang symptoms pag mild COVID lalo na yung anosmia, yung nawawalan ka ng pang amoy (This is the initial conclusion of the team, lagundi reduces the symptoms of mild COVID, especially anosmia, when you lose your sense of smell),” Guevara said in an interview over DZBB.
She said the team also found that lagundi can provide “overall relief” to mild COVID patients from discomfort due to the symptoms.
“Naprove na nila na nalelessen ang symptoms using lagundi (They have proven that symptoms are reduced using lagundi),” the DOST official said.
Guevara said they will study the anti-viral effect of lagundi for mild and moderate COVID-19 patients with comorbidities.
Lagundi is widely used as a cough remedy.
During his weekly report on June 25, DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said that the condition of patients with mild COVID-19 who were involved in the country’s lagundi clinical trials has not progressed to moderate or severe cases, and no adverse effects have been observed in the participants, citing the study’s initial data analysis.
In July 2020, it was announced that the clinical trials for lagundi were approved by the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD).