Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39683135›Full record

ArticlePlants (Basel, Switzerland)2024

Herbal Medicine in Three Different Mediterranean Living Areas During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Polyphenolic-Rich Thyme-like Plants.

Mohamad Khalil, Hala Abdallah, Maria Calasso, Nour Khalil, Ahmad Daher, Jihen Missaoui, Farah Diab, Lama Zeaiter, Laura Vergani, Agostino Di Ciaula and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Plants (Basel, Switzerland), 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Two traditional Apulian varieties ofFrontiers in nutrition · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Mohamad KhalilClinica Medica "A. Murri", Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePre-J), University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5943-9531
Hala AbdallahClinica Medica "A. Murri", Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePre-J), University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Maria CalassoDepartment of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Amendola 165/a, 70126 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2500-8650
Nour KhalilRammal Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University, Al-Hadath Campus, Beirut 1003, Lebanon.
Ahmad DaherRammal Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University, Al-Hadath Campus, Beirut 1003, Lebanon.
Jihen MissaouiResearch Laboratory of BIORESSOURCES-Integrative Biology & Valorisation BIOLIVAL (LR14 ES06) at ISBM, Monastir 5000, Tunisia.ORCID 0000-0002-1095-0347
Farah DiabDepartment of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genova, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-4488-5547
Lama ZeaiterDepartment of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genova, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, Italy.
Laura VerganiDepartment of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genova, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, Italy.
Agostino Di CiaulaClinica Medica "A. Murri", Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePre-J), University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Piero PortincasaClinica Medica "A. Murri", Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePre-J), University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-5359-1471

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Despite herbal medicine being popular across the Mediterranean basin, there is no evidence in favor of COVID-19 infection. This study investigates the utilization and effects of medicinal plants in Italy, Lebanon, and Tunisia during COVID-19 and its effects on post-COVID-19 pandemics. We used a tailored, web-based "Google Form" questionnaire with the random sampling method. We gathered 812 complete responses (Italy: 116, Lebanon: 557, and Tunisia: 139), revealing diverse demographics and symptom experiences. Fatigue prevailed across all groups (89.0-94.2%), while psychological impacts ranged from 20.1% to 30.9%, with higher rates in Lebanon. Post-COVID-19 symptoms affected 22.4% (Italy), 48.8% (Lebanon), and 31.7% (Tunisia). General use of herbs was consistent (41.4-50.4%), with 23.3% (Italy), 50.2% (Lebanon), and 65.5% (Tunisia) employing herbs for COVID-19 therapy. Notably, in Lebanon, Za'atar, a thyme-like plant, correlated with reduced symptoms, suggesting potential protective effects that are likely due to its polyphenol richness. This study underscores the persistent reliance on traditional medicinal plants remedies in the Mediterranean area, with regional variations. Further exploration of herbal compounds for COVID-19-like symptoms is warranted.

Indexed as

COVID-19medicinal plantsMediterraneanpost-COVID-19Za’atar

Identifiers

PMID39683135
PMCPMC11644039

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.