Role of Essential Oils in the Management of COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a global health threat. Unfortunately, there are very limited approved therapeutics available with established efficacy and safety profiles against SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 vaccines aim to actively induce systemic immunization; however, the possibility or fear of side effects decreases or discourages their use. Alternative therapy via natural products, especially essential oils, could be considered safe and effective to improve health, cure ailments, and soothe your body and mind. Essential oils, which have been known for their anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, bronchodilatory, and antiviral properties, could possibly be useful for the symptomatic management of COVID-19. This book is vital in respect of designing approaches to protect humanity from further losses and harm due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Role of Essential Oils in the Management of COVID-19 offers a complete outline of the recent novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection, its biology, and associated challenges for the prevention and treatment of novel COVID-19, with a prime focus on the possible role of essential oils in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. This book is written for everyone who needs to be thoroughly familiar with the appropriate and safe use of essential oils in COVID-19 therapy.

As per the objectives of the book:

• The first seven chapters cover various aspects of COVID-19 infection, including epidemiology, origin, morphology, genome organization, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, preventive measures, and treatment strategies.
• The remaining chapters elaborate on the various aspects related to essential oils, such as chemistry, extraction methods, dispensing methods, stability, quality control, mechanism of action, therapeutic effects, pharmacokinetics, aromatherapy, and safety profiles.

Prof. Ahmed Al-Harrasi is Vice Chancellor for Graduate Studies, Research and External Relations, Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, and Professor of Organic Chemistry, University of Nizwa, Oman. Prof. Ahmed received his M.Sc. degree in Chemistry followed by his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Berlin. He then pursued his postdoctoral research at Cornell University. Afterward, he continued his research rigor at the University of Nizwa, where he founded the Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, which has now become a center of excellence in natural and medical sciences. While enduring his research aptitude, he has authored and co-authored more than 400 scientific papers, 2 books, and 12 book chapters of high repute.

Dr. Saurabh Bhatia graduated from Kurukshetra University, followed by postgraduation from Bharati Vidyapeeth University. He received his Ph.D in Pharmaceutical Technology at Jadavpur University. He now works as an Associate Professor at Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Oman. He has 12 years of academic experience; has authored 75 articles and 9 books of repute; and filed 11 patents.

Prof. Ahmed Al-Harrasi received his BSc in Chemistry from Sultan Qaboos University (Oman) in 1997. He then moved to the University of Berlin from where he received his MSc. degree in Chemistry (2002) followed by PhD in Organic Chemistry (2005) as a DAAD fellow under the supervision of Prof. Hans-Ulrich Reissig. His PhD work was on New Transformations of Enantiopure 1,2-Oxazines. He received the Fulbright Award (2008) for postdoctoral research in chemistry for which he joined Prof. Tadhg Begely group at Cornell University to work on the synthesis of isotopically labeled thiamine pyrophosphate. After postdoctoral research from Cornell University (2009), he started his independent research at the University of Nizwa, Oman, where he founded the Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center merging chemistry and biology research that has now become a center of excellence in natural and medical sciences. He is currently Professor of Organic Chemistry and Vice Chancellor for Graduate Studies, Research and External Relations at the University of Nizwa. The budget of his interdisciplinary funded projects exceeds US＄10 million. He was a chair and invited speaker in many international conferences. He is a referee for more than 15 international chemistry and biotechnology journals. He served as a guest editor in chemistry journals. While enduring his research aptitude, he has authored and co-authored over 400 scientific papers, 2 books, and 12 book chapters of high repute. He taught chemistry courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Dr. Saurabh Bhatia graduated from Kurukshetra University, India, in 2007, followed by postgraduation in 2009 from Bharati Vidyapeeth University, India. He successfully completed a PhD program in Pharmaceutical Technology at Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India (2015). Currently, he works as an Associate Professor at Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman, and Adjunct Associate Professor at School of Health Science, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, India. He has 12 years of academic experience. His areas of interest include nanotechnology (drug delivery), biomaterials, natural products science, biotechnology (plant and animal), microbiology, modified drug delivery systems, analytical chemistry, parasitology (leishmaniasis), and marine science. He has promoted several marine algae and their derived polymers throughout India and has published more than 9 books and 75 articles in many areas of pharmaceutical science and filed 11 patents. He has participated in more than 30 national and international conferences.