A brief review of the effects of ginseng and ginger in respiratory tract infections

Abstract

Infectious diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. They are primarily caused by either viral or bacterial infections. Viruses are the most common cause of respiratory infections and facilitate secondary bacterial infections by aiding bacterial adherence, colonization, and translocation through the epithelial barrier of respiratory cells. This is called superimposed infection. By end of 2019, an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus occurred in China. COVID-19 was declared by the WHO a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in January 2020, and a pandemic in March 2020. Because of the importance of pulmonary infection associated with COVID-19, the present article will review the medicinal benefits of two species of plants, ginseng and ginger, in the management of upper and lower respiratory tract infections (URTI; LRTI), knowing that many food supplements and nutraceutical products contain ingredients originating from them.