The effect of pomegranate tea on symptom relief of COVID-19 patients: a double-blind randomized clinical trial study

Determining and comparing the effect of pomegranate tea with placebo in relief patients' symptoms and reducing the duration of disease in patients with COVID-19

66 patients with COVID-19 will be randomly assigned to two groups of placebo and intervention by a pharmacognosy specialist based on patient respiratory support and with the same ratio (1: 1). None of the researchers in the clinical phase of the study were aware of the nature of the intervention.

This study will be performed in Hajar Hospital in Shahrekord. In this double-blind study, participants, physicians, and nurses would not be aware of the nature of the medications received by each individual group.

Inclusion criteria: • Positive SARS-CoV-2 virus test by RT-PCR method from airway samples. • Men or non-pregnant women over 18 years of age. • Significant involvement in pulmonary CT scan with a pneumonia diagnosis. • Low blood oxygen saturation or 93% in room air. • Respiratory rate above 24 per minute or more. • Patients who are taking the following medications (Amitriptyline, codeine, Desipramine, Flecainide, Fluoxetine, Ondansetron, Tramadol). Exclusion criteria: • The physician's decision to leave the study based on the patient's condition. • Allergies or hypersensitivity reactions to the drug. • Inability to swallow or drink. • Transfer the patient to more specialized medical centers. • Transferring the patient to the intensive care unit.

Participants in the intervention group will receive pomegranate syrup 4 times a day, 10 cc each time, diluted in 50 to 100 cc of hot boiled water as pomegranate tea, and participants in the control group will receive the placebo in the similar condition.

Time to clinical improvement, Duration of Hospitalisation and Time to clinical deterioration

Patients were randomly assigned to study by randomized class blocking according to the respiratory support groups they received (no need for respiratory support, respiratory support with low oxygen flow, respiratory support with high oxygen flow, respiratory support with oxygen storage, non-invasive ventilation) In four-person blocks, they are assigned to groups A and B and randomly using the software. Patient allocation will be blinded and clinical researchers will not be aware of the individual intervention group.

In this study, all participants in the study, physicians and nurses responsible for collecting patients' clinical and laboratory data, were unaware of the intervention (placebo or drug) that each person received; placebo by oral and flavoring similar to the drug. Participants in the study and nurses are unaware of the presence of pomegranate extract. All medications will be coded by a pharmacognosy specialist, and randomization will be performed by the same person as described in the relevant section, and none of the colleagues in charge of tracking patients will know about even the groups of patients.

All potential data can be shared after blinding

Six mounts after publishing

Researchers working in academic institutions

For research purposes and meta-analysis studies

Dr. Zahra lorigooini, Medical Plants Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Rahmatieh

Official letter to the researchers