The Effect of Cactus Opuntia Extract on hospitalized Moderate Covid-19 Infection: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Due to the high load of COVID-19 pandemic and its extraordinary mortality rate and some antiviral effects of cactus compounds in the literature, the present study seeks the notion of assessing the effect of Cactus Opuntia in patients with COVID-19 infection considering signs and symptoms of relief.

Methods & Materials:

 It was a randomized controlled trial. Patients with COVID-19 infection referred to Imam Ali hospital located at Karaj, randomly divided into intervention and control groups. All patients received a standard treatment regimen based on the latest guidelines. Patients in the intervention group received 250 mL Cactus Opuntia extract syrup daily in addition to standard treatment and the control group received only the standard regimen. Patients’ symptoms including coughing, dyspnea, myalgia, headache, weakness etc. were evaluated daily and compared between the two groups.

Fifty-two patients participated in the study. Mean length of hospital stay, duration of blood oxygen saturation below 93, fever, anosmia, coughing, headache, dizziness, myalgia, dyspnea, chest pain and anorexia were significantly shorter in the intervention group compared to the control group (p<0.05).

Cactus Opuntia extract led to symptomatic improvement of COVID-19 patients by reducing the length of hospitalization and the duration of most signs and symptoms compared to the control group. Further confirmatory studies are needed to affirm these findings.