Rooibos, a supportive role to play during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Abstract

This article presents the potential health benefits of Rooibos to be considered a support during the COVID-19 pandemic. The recent pandemic of COVID-19 has led to severe morbidity and mortality. The highly infectious SARS-CoV-2 is known to prime a cytokine storm in patients and progression to acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome. Based on clinical features, the pathology of acute respiratory disorder induced by SARS-CoV-2 suggests that excessive inflammation, oxidative stress, and dysregulation of the renin angiotensin system are likely contributors to the COVID-19 disease. Rooibos, a well-known herbal tea, consumed for centuries, has displayed potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, redox modulating, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, cardiometabolic support and organoprotective potential. This article describes how Rooibos can potentially play a supportive role by modulating the risk of some of the comorbidities associated with COVID-19 in order to promote general health during infections.

Keywords: ACE inhibitor; ACE2, Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; Aspalathus linearis; COVID-19, Coronavirus disease 2019; Cardiovascular disease; Diabetes; Inflammation; LPS, Lipopolysaccharide; Rooibos; SARS-CoV-2, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.