Recent Options for COVID-19 Treatment: Conventional Therapy, Herbal Medicine, and Stem Cell-Based Therapies

A range of pharmacological therapies have been explored for COVID-19 patients, yet substantial practical and clinical gaps persist. Current COVID-19 treatments remain largely pharmacologically driven and are primarily based on empirical data. Common therapeutic agents include histamine antagonists, antibiotics, antivirals, and monoclonal antibody therapies. However, the specific mechanisms of action and potential long-term side effects of these agents remain insufficiently understood. This narrative review examines the efficacy and safety profiles of promising novel therapeutic approaches for COVID-19, including herbal medicines and stem cell therapies, based on in vitro, in vivo, and clinical research. We utilized PubMed and ScienceDirect databases, applying search terms such as “COVID-19” AND “Herbal Medicine” OR “Stem Cell Therapy” OR “recent therapy” AND “efficacy” OR “safety” to identify relevant studies. This review presents clinical findings on the efficacy, safety, and indications of select recent therapies. Our results indicate that newer pharmacological therapies, herbal medicines, and stem cell therapy demonstrate high potential efficacy and safety for managing active COVID-19 infection and may also help prevent multi-organ damage post-infection. Further in-depth studies are required to assess additional therapeutic modalities that may serve as compelling candidates for future COVID-19 treatments.