CHARACTERIZATION AND PRE-CLINICAL EVALUATION OF BEE PRODUCTS AND WARBUGIA UGANDENSIS FOR EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF COVID-19
COVID 19 is a severe viral disease for which no cure or effective prophylaxis has been established. The goal of this project is to develop safe and effective preventive and therapeutic natural products against COVID-19 and other ailments. This study will establish the potential of bee products (bee propolis and bee venom) and Warbugia ugandensis as interventional drugs for the management of COVID –19 disease and related symptoms. The project has two work package implementation phases i.e. Preclinical and clinical studies. The
preclinical studies will include; chemical composition analysis; safety profile evaluation; invitro antiviral and antibacterial activities analysis; and in vivo antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic activity and immune modulatory activities evaluation of bee propolis, bee venom and W. ugandensis. Based on the preclinical data, a standardized product will be formulated as syrup, capsule, tablet or lozenges and pilot produced for clinical evaluation in phase I and II. The project will be implemented for one year with the first six month taking care of preclinical studies.