Results of VCO, lagundi studies as potential COVID-19 therapy out this month - DOST official
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on Monday, Sept. 6, said it will release this month the results of its study on virgin coconut oil (VCO) and lagundi as potential treatments for patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Dr. Jaime Montoya, executive director of the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, said that the results of the study on VCO will be released “anytime soon” following its completion last month.
“Anytime soon, maglalabas na tayo ng ating resulta para sa VCO dahil natapos na last month yung pag-aaral tungol sa kung ito ay pwedeng gamitin sa mga pasyenteng nasa ospital na mayroong COVID-19 (we will release our result for the VCO because the study on whether it can be used on hospitalized patients with COVID-19 ended last month),” Montoya said.
The DOST has invested P8.4 million to determine the safety and efficacy of VCO as adjunctive therapy for COVID-19 patients, as well as to evaluate its possible beneficial effects on probable infected patients.
In a public briefing, Montoya bared that the study on traditional herb Lagundi, which seeks to determine whether it may help with the early recovery of COVID-19 patients, was finished last month as well.
Lagundi is traditionally used to treat cough.
“Pinagaaralan na ang mga datos at iyan ay lalabas anytime (The data is currently being analyzed and that will be released) this month,” he said.
Tawa-tawa study ongoing
Meanwhile, the study on herbal plant Tawa-tawa as another possible COVID-19 treatment is still ongoing as the target number of participants for the study has yet to be reached.
“‘Yung sa Tawa-tawa, hindi pa nila nahi-hit yung target na dami ng pasyente na kasama sa pag-aaral kaya ito ay patuloy pa (As for the Tawa-tawa, they have not yet hit the target number of patients for the study so it ongoing),” Montoya said.
“Hopefully, baka naman matapos na iyan (maybe it will be completed) within the month,” he added.