This review explores the interplay between COVID-19 and malaria, with a focus on pregnant women. The concurrent infection of SARS-CoV-2 and malaria presents significant challenges in diagnosis, treatment, and management due to overlapping symptoms and complex immune responses. Genetic factors, particularly variations in the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, play a crucial role in determining disease susceptibility and severity. Malaria-induced immunomodulation may influence the clinical progression of COVID-19, though the precise impact remains uncertain. The review emphasizes the need for integrated diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to effectively manage co-infections and improve maternal and fetal health outcomes. It underscores the importance of timely intervention and enhanced diagnostic methods to better understand and address these interactions. This review aims to bridge gaps in current knowledge and pave the way for future research and targeted therapeutic interventions, addressing a significant yet often overlooked public health challenge.

Chirality is one of the essential attributes of nature. Chiral drugs refer to a class of drugs containing chiral centers, and the molecular stereo-structures of their enantiomers are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. Sixty percent of commonly used drugs, including those from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), are chiral. Developing a single enantiomer with high efficiency and low toxicity has drawn considerable attention due to significant differences in pharmacological activities, metabolic processes, and toxicity exhibited by the enantiomers of chiral drugs. This review concisely summarizes chiral drugs, including their sources, absolute configuration identification, pharmacological applications, and future research trends, particularly in TCM.