- Licorice 
- Garlic 
- Tea
- Ethanolic leaves extracts of the common fig 
- Hexane leaves extract of mango

Yang F. et al. state that pomegranate, black pepper, papaya, soybeans, long pepper, black caraway, barberry, European plum, Chinese box thorn and white mulberry also have immunomodulatory properties that may help prevent COVID-19. Considering their cheap price compared to other measures, consumption of these functional food plants may be a cost-effective strategy to prevent cases of COVID-19. 

Examples of functional food plants with immunomodulatory and antiviral effects that may help fight against COVID-19 

The leaves of green tea and black tea contain gallic acid, epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin, which are responsible for immunomodulatory activities. 

The impact of tea on the immune system 

The immunomodulatory compounds found in certain plants may help prevent and/or treat COVID-19 by regulating the immune response. 

Santa Clara University

Foods that can assist in benefitting the immune system, and can contribute to preventing or treating chronic diseases. Functional foods may be common foods that are modified to contain extra nutrients or minerals that are beneficial for one's health. Functional foods are also called nutraceuticals

Functional Foods

Immunomodulators, chemicals that affect immune system function, have been proven effective against other viral infections and can be used to combat SARS-CoV-2 by both stimulating the innate antiviral response and performing immune regulatory functions.

Immunomodulators

Yang, F., Zhang, Y., Tariq, A., Jiang, X., Ahmed, Z., Zhihao, Z., Idrees, M., Azizullah, A., Adnan, M., & Bussmann, R. W. (2020). Food as medicine: A possible preventive measure against coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Phytotherapy research : PTR, 10.1002/ptr.6770. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6770

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