EUCALYPTUS ESSENTIAL OIL; AN OFF-LABEL USE TO PROTECT THE WORLD FROM COVID-19 PANDEMIC: REVIEW-BASED HYPOTHESES

Abstract

Objective: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 causes both health and economic crises and up till now no drug or vaccine has yet been approved. There is an increased demand to explore other complementary methods to protect the world. Eucalyptus essential oil; a popular off-label drug used to relieve nasal congestion via inhalation with promising effects on the upper respiratory diseases including viral infections. Methods: In order to provide review-based hypotheses demonstrating eucalyptus essential oil beneficial role; several published studies were retrieved from different databases and websites till June 2020. The retrieved data declared the antiviral potentials against viruses of same subgenus or with same pattern and the beneficial effects on respiratory system, immunity and overall health improvement, along with declaring the application methods and safety. Results: Off-label use of Eucalyptus essential oil by inhaling 12drops /150mL or 1.5% v/v solution boiling water may relief COVID-19 mild and moderate symptoms as pain, cough, respiratory inflammation, cytokine storm and dyspnea. Conclusions: Experimental and clinical data proved that inhalation of eucalyptus essential oil may provide the ability to reduce COVID-19 patients symptoms and morbidity risk factors and may play a role as a preventative technique complementary to WHO guidance for beating COVID-19 virulence and transmission spread. Peer Review History: Received 28 June 2020; Revised 20 July; Accepted 10 August, Available online 15 September 2020 UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.5/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Name: Dr. Dalia Kamal Zaffar Ali Affiliation: Modern University for technology and information, Egypt E-mail: dr.moda88@gmail.com   Name: Prof. Dr. Mahadeva Rao US Affiliation: Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Malaysia E-mail: raousm@gmail.com   Name: Francesco Ferrara Affiliation: USL Umbria 1, Perugia, Italy E-mail: francesco.ferrara@uslumbria1.it   Comments of reviewer(s): Similar Articles:  THE RISKS AND ADVANTAGES OF ANTI-DIABETES THERAPY IN THE POSITIVE COVID-19 PATIENT