Idris O Raimi
1* 
, Andrew M. Musyoki
2 , Olusanya A. Olatunji
3, 4 , Muhali O. Jimoh
5 , Welile V. Dube
6 , Joshua O. Olowoyo
1 1 Department of Biology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, P.O. Box 139, Medunsa 0204, South Africa
2 Department of microbiological pathology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Medunsa 0204, South Africa
3 College of Geographical Science,Fujian Normal University, 32 Shangsan Road, Fuzhou, 35007, Fujian, Republic of China
4 Department of Plant Biology, Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun State
5 Department of Horticultural Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville Campus, P.O. Box 1906, Bellville 7535, City of Cape Town, South Africa
6 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Campus, Western Cape, South Africa
Abstract
The surge in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has put the scientific community on overdrive to come up with a cure and/or possible vaccine to curtail the menace this virus has caused. Considering the morbidity rate from the Coronavirus and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for healthy living, this review examined and documented the possible options of plant-based immune boosters for attaining wellness and protect against infections caused by viruses. This review documented 106 plants consumed largely in Africa as food or medicine after assessing over 172 articles from notable search engines. These plants were reported for antiviral activities and immune boosters for attaining wellness and immunomodulation, a key protective feature against infections caused by viruses. The documented plants contain several immune-modulating compounds like vitamins, flavonoids, phenols, macro, and micronutrients, which might be the possible reason for the current leverage on the mortality rate associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in the African continent. The study, therefore, concluded that medicinal/food plants are able to enhance healthy living and medicinal plants are a significant source of phytomedicinal content for the management of viral-induced diseases such as COVID-19.