Olive Leaf

Efficacy of olive leaves on the outcomes of hospitalised COVID-19 patients: A randomised, triple-blinded clinical trial

Olive leaves can improve the clinical status of COVID-19 patients and decrease the length of hospitalisation an October 2022 clinical trial has found. The randomised, triple-blinded trial was conducted in Iran on 141 patients hospitalised with COVID-19 confirmed with a PCR test. The research project investigated the efficacy of olive leaves extract on the vital signs and laboratory parameters of COVID-19 patients. The researchers said the mechanism by which olive leaves fights viruses is not yet fully understood however it may interfere with the attachment of the virus to the target cell and its subsequent engulfment by immune cells.

Eligible patients were allocated to the following groups: intervention A received olive leaves extract (250mg every 12 hours for five days), intervention B received olive leaves extract (500mg every 12 hours for five days), and the control group received placebo (every 12 hours for five days). The outcomes (vital signs, laboratory tests and length of hospitalisation) were compared by group.

Based on the results, olive leaves extract effectively reduced respiratory rate, pulse rate and body temperature, and increased blood oxygen saturation of COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, it decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR: used in the clinical field as a non-specific marker of systemic inflammation) and C-reactive protein (CRP: seen in acute infections and inflammatory conditions) levels in COVID-19 patients. The findings also showed that olive leaves extract can shorten the duration of hospitalisation and lead to the early discharge of the patient. There was no difference between the two doses of olive leaves extract (250mg and 500mg) in terms of efficacy. The researchers suggested that further studies, with a larger sample size, be conducted to discover the efficacy of olive leaves in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

References

Ahmadpour E, Toulabi T, Yadegarinia D, Yarahmadi S, Mohammadi R, Keyvanfar A. Efficacy of olive leaves extract on the outcomes of hospitalized covid-19 patients: A randomized, triple-blinded clinical trial. Explore (NY). 2022 Oct 29:S1550-8307(22)00204-X. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2022.10.020. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36319585; PMCID: PMC9617633.