**2. Potential use of TMPs in adjuvant, prophylactic, and management therapy for COVID-19 disease**

TMPs have become the subject of interest in the era of COVID-19 pandemic, and various researchers have conducted studies based on selecting TMPs commonly used traditionally to treat fever, cold, and flu symptoms [13, 14]. *Echinacea purpurea* and *Zingiber officinale* were identified among TMPs with promising adjuvant symptomatic therapy [14]. A number of secondary metabolites isolated from TMPs were identified to have immunomodulatory, antiviral, and antiinflammatory activities against SARS-CoV-2 [15]. TMPs with immunomodulatory effect could be used in COVID-19 patients as a prophylactic and treatment therapy [16]. Immunomodulation agents identified as potential therapy against infectious diseases, including COVID-19, are, among others, *Dioscorea batatas* decne, *Clerodendrum splendens,* and *Tinospora crispa* [17].

Active secondary metabolites of these TMPs have immunomodulatory effect and can reduce cytokine production against viral infections [6]. TMPs with potential antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 were identified as *Artemisia afra*, *Acacia Senegal*, *Aspolathus linerias*, *Hypoxis hemerocallidea, Sutherladia frutescens*, and *Xysmalobium undulatum* [15, 18, 19]. Madagascar's *Artemisia afra* was found to have inhibitory effect against SARS-CoV-2 [18]. Although the safety and dosage of this medicinal plant was determined *in vitro*, clinical studies must still be conducted to evaluate the use of this medicinal plant for COVID-19 prevention and treatment in COVID-19 patients [18]. Molecular docking research using the list of South African TMPs identified plants with

*Traditional Medicinal Plants as the Potential Adjuvant, Prophylactic and Treatment Therapy… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.104491*
