Herbal hope in Covid-19 remedy

The Department of Medical Sciences (DMS) is preparing to study the effect on human immunity to Covid-19 of two traditional herbal remedies after lab tests yielded positive initial findings, DMS directorgeneral Dr Supakit Sirilak revealed yesterday.

There are two multi-herb recipes — one called Ya-Ha-Rak, which contains five plant roots, and the other is Pra-Sa-Prao-Yai, which consists of various parts of 18 medicinal plants. The two formulas are already used in some alternative fever medicines.

“With the help of Thai traditional Physician Association, the DMS has obtained the extracts of two formulas for the experiment in cell culture,” Dr Supakit said.

A preliminary round of tests has already suggested the water-based extract of Ya-Ha-Rak formula and the Pra-Sa-Prao-Yai formula can prevent transmission of the Delta variant of Covid-19 by 96.23% and up to 88.7% respectively, he said.