Plant formulation ATRICOV 452 in improving the level of COVID-19 specific inflammatory markers in patients

IMPORTANCE: Due to the huge demand for healthcare facilities, there is a need for safe therapeutic intervention which can reduce the need for extensive healthcare support. OBJECTIVE: In phase 1, to determine the safety of plant formulation in healthy volunteers and in phase 2, to validate its potential to improve the level of COVID-19 specific inflammatory markers. DESIGN: Setting, and Participants: The phase 1 single fasting dose study was conducted on 24 healthy adult human volunteers to evaluate the safety and tolerability of plant formulation. The usage of plant formulation in humans was found safe and encouraged conducting Phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy in 100 COVID-19 patients along with the standard of care. INTERVENTIONS: Phase 1: plant formulation capsule of 500 mg single dose; Phase 2: plant formulation 1 gm thrice a day for 14 days. RESULTS: During the Phase 1 trial no adverse event was observed and all organ systems were normal in function. During the Phase 2 trial, 100 patients underwent randomization, 50 were assigned to receive plant formulation, and 50 to receive placebo. Three patients in the placebo and two patients in the plant formulation group had dropped out of the study. Hence, the primary analysis population included 95 patients (48 allocated to plant formulation and 47 to placebo). The COVID-19-specific inflammatory markers improved faster and became normal in the plant formulation treatment group. No one needed hospital care or oxygen. CONCLUSIONS: and Relevance: The investigational product, plant formulation (ATRICOV 452) has been found to be safe in phases 1 and 2. Further, in the phase 2 trial, ATRICOV 452 was effective at the dose of 1 mg, three times a day dose frequency to improve the level of COVID-19 specific inflammatory markers. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Phase 1: CTRI Registration number: CTRI 2020/09/027660 Phase 2: CTRI Registration number: CTRI/2021/01/030795.