Background: The global attention to the capacities of traditional medicine for alleviating the clinical man-
ifestations of COVID-19 has been growing. The present trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety ofa Persian herbal medicine formula among patients with COVID-19.
Methods: The present trial was conducted in Afzalipour hospital, Kerman, Iran, from June to September
2020. Hospitalized COVID-19 patients were randomly divided into intervention (Persian herbal medicine
formula + routine treatment) or control (only routine treatment) groups. The intervention group received both capsule number 1 and 2 every 8 hours for 7 days. Capsule number 1 contained extract of the Gly-
cyrrhiza glabra, Punica granatum, and Rheum palmatum, and the second capsule was filled by Nigella sativa powder. Participants were followed up to 7 days. The primary outcome was the number of hospitaliza-
tion days, while cough, fever, and respiratory rate, days on oxygen (O2) therapy, and mortality rate were considered as the secondary outcomes.
Results: Eighty-two patients were enrolled to the study, while 79 cases completed the trial and their
data were analyzed (mean age: 59.1 ± 17.1 years). Based on the results, the Persian medicine formula decreased the mean hospitalization days, so that the mean difference of length of hospitalization as pri-
mary outcome was 2.95 ± 0.43 days. A significant clinical improvement was observed regarding dyspnea, need for O2) therapy, and respiratory rate in the intervention group. No adverse effects were reported.
Conclusion: The present study supported the use of the Persian medicine formula as an adjuvant therapy
for hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Study registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (www.irct.ir): IRCT20200330046899N1.