TITLE:
Clinical Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of the Phytomedicine APIVIRINE Based on Aqueous Extracts of Dichrostachys glomerata (Forssk.). Chiov. (D. cinerea) in COVID-19 Patients without Signs of Severity
AUTHORS:
Daouda Ouédraogo, Grissoum Tarnagda, Jean Claude Romaric Pingdwindé Ouédraogo, Amed Héma, Simon Tiendrebéogo, Salfo Ouédraogo, Geoffroy Gueswindé Ouédraogo, Lazare Belemnaba, Noufou Ouédraogo, Félix Dit Bondo Kini, Zékiba Tarnagda, Martial Ouédraogo, Sylvin Ouédraogo
KEYWORDS:
APIVIRINE, COVID-19, Clinical Study, Safety
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Clinical Medicine,
Vol.14 No.6,
June
30,
2023
ABSTRACT: Background: Since the appearance of the COVID-19 pandemic, several drugs have also been proposed for the treatment of the COVID-19, but the therapeutic effectiveness of those drugs is not satisfactory. This situation has led to the search for therapeutic solutions based on recipes from traditional medicine. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical safety, efficacy and tolerability of the phytomedicine APIVIRINE in patients with non-severe COVID-19. Methods: Patients were included following defined criteria and followed on an outpatient basis until recovery in accordance with national guidelines for the management of single cases of COVID-19 in Burkina Faso. Vital signs, anthropometric parameters as well as electrocardiographic, hematological and biochemical examinations were measured on D4, D7, D14 and D21. Adverse events were recorded during maintenance. Results: The present study included 45 patients. The clinical signs present at inclusion were mostly cough (44.44%), asthenia (42.22%), headache (40%), and anosmia (35.55%). Dyspnoea and chest pain were less represented in 05 (11.11%) and 06 (13.33%) patients. Cough, dyspnoea, chest pain, fever, sore throat, headache, and nasal obstruction present at inclusion disappeared before Day 4 of treatment. Anosmia and asthenia disappeared before Day 7. At the inclusion visit (Day 1), CRP, WBC, and blood glucose were abnormal in 15 (33.33%), 13 (28.89%), and 11 (24.44%) patients respectively. In addition, 3 (6.66%) patients had elevated creatinine levels. Transaminases Alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) were elevated in 05 (11.11%) patients while Aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) was elevated in 04 (8.89%) patients. After 4 days of treatment, the cure rate was 33.33% of patients and 48.89% after 7 days. The cumulative cure rate was 86.67% after 14 days of treatment. Conclusion: No serious side effects or allergic reactions were observed during treatment. No clinical complications were observed and all symptoms present resolved on the 7th day of treatment.