Effect of a Herbal Medicine Containing Satureja hortensis L., Hypericum perforatum L. and Foeniculum vulgare L. on Patients with COVID-19 Infection

 Background and purpose: This research aimed at investigating the effect of herbal medicine on reduction of pulmonary complications in patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Materials and methods: Forty patients with COVID-19 infection older than 18 years of age (60% men) with the average age of over 55 years old enrolled in this study. Written consent was obtained and participants with the following symptoms were divided into experimental group and control group: body temperature higher than 38℃, lymphocyte counts of less than 1200, positive CRP, respiratory symptoms, and pulmonary involvement in lung CT scan. The control group was treated with 400 mg Kaletra® and 200 mg hydroxychloroquine oral every 12 hours, and the experimental group, in addition to this regimen, received 5 ml of a herbal medicine (consisting of Satureja hortensis L., Hypericum perforatum L. and Foeniculum vulgare L.) three times a day. Statistical analysis was done in SPSS applying Chi-square test and t-test. Results: The herbal medicine was found to be significantly effective in decreasing the time of hospitalization and recovery from the disease (8.5 days in control group vs. 5 days in experimental group, (P<0.05). Also, CRP levels decreased significantly in experimental group and CRP level changes in the control group were 4.75 times higher than the experimental group (P<0.05). Furthermore, pulmonary involvement improved by 8.34% in experimental group compared to the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The herbal drug administered in this study, considerably improved lung symptoms and decreased the course of treatment of COVID-19 infection.   (Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT20200404046935N1)