Ayurveda Rasayana as antivirals and immunomodulators: potential applications in COVID-19

Abstract

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization with rapid spread across 216 countries. COVID-19 pandemic has left its imprints on various health systems globally and caused immense social and economic disruptions. The scientific community across the globe is in a quest for digging the effective treatment for COVID-19 and exploring potential leads from traditional systems of healthcare across the world too. Ayurveda (Indian traditional system of medicine) has a comprehensive aspect of immunity through Rasayana which is a rejuvenation therapy. Here we attempt to generate the potential leads based on the classical text from Ayurveda in general and Rasayana in particular to develop effective antiviral and/or immunomodulator for potential or adjunct therapy in SARS-CoV-2. The Rasayana acts not only by resisting body to restrain or withstand the strength, severity or progression of a disease but also by promoting power of the body to prevent the manifestation of a disease. These Rasayana herbs are common in practice as immunomodulator, antiviral and protectives. The studies on Rasayana can provide an insight into the future course of research for the plausible development of effective management of COVID-19 by the utilization and development of various traditional systems of healthcare. Keeping in view the current pandemic situation, there is an urgent need of developing potential medicines. This study proposes certain prominent medicinal plants which may be further studied for drug development process and also in clinical setup under repurposing of these herbs.

AYURAKSHA, a prophylactic Ayurvedic immunity boosting kit reducing positivity percentage of IgG COVID-19 among frontline Indian Delhi police personnel: A non-randomized controlled intervention trial

“…The present COVID-19 challenge has brought a refocus on the traditional systems of medicines as one of the prevention strategies in reducing pathogen exposure and enhancing an individual's immunity. Numerous studies on traditional Chinese medicines and various Asian herbs such as Tinospora cordifolia, Withania somnifera, Andrographis paniculata, Glycerrhiza glabra, Boerhaevia diffusa , and Ocimum sanctum have demonstrated their potent immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory properties and their applications for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in Asian countries ( 11 – 13 ). Similarly, the formulations like Amla tea were found to be effective in shortening the recovery times of symptoms in COVID-19 patients and have shown an ameliorative effect on the severity of clinical signs and CRP levels ( 14 ).…”

High‐performance thin‐layer chromatography coupled attenuated total reflectance‐Fourier‐transform infrared and NMR spectroscopy‐based identification of α‐amylase inhibitor from the aerial part of Asparagus racemosus Willd

“…In the presence of iodine, the starch that was not hydrolysed by α ‐amylase due to enzyme inhibitors in the plant extracts generates a deep blue or purple zone on the TLC plate (Figure 2A–D, track 5). A prominent deep blue zone at hR F = 72 was reported in the TLC plate which can be associated with the presence of steroid (Figure 2A–D, track 5) 9,33 …”

“…7 Steroidal saponins (shatavarins I-IV), isoflavones, asparagine, and racemosol are reported as major phytoconstituents of asparagus root. [7][8][9] Several studies have revealed that A. racemosus root extract has powerful hypoglycemic and antioxidant activity, and can be used as an important source of antioxidants to assist diabetic conditions such as nephropathy. 8 High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) is an important tool for the accurate identification of plant material through both biochemical (enzymatic) and biological (cell-based) experiments.…”

“…Asparagus racemosus has therapeutic activity against diabetes, epilepsy, kidney problems, prolonged fevers, excessive heat, and liver cancer, as well as increased lactation in nursing mothers and regulating sexual behaviour 7 . Steroidal saponins (shatavarins I–IV), isoflavones, asparagine, and racemosol are reported as major phytoconstituents of asparagus root 7–9 . Several studies have revealed that A. racemosus root extract has powerful hypoglycemic and antioxidant activity, and can be used as an important source of antioxidants to assist diabetic conditions such as nephropathy 8…”

In Vitro Antiviral Activity of Potential Medicinal Plant Extracts Against Dengue and Chikungunya Viruses

“…Though a number of plants have been tested for the antiviral activity, it would be worth investigating other plants that have been used in the age-old practices in Ayurveda, which is a traditional form of Indian medicine. In Ayurvedic form of medicine, a group of herbs are combined into formulations called Rasayana which is provided to enhance the body’s resistance to infections and other diseases ( Singh et al., 2021 ). There is a need to study the antiviral activity of those herbs which are used in traditional forms of medicine for which not much scientific evaluations have been carried out.…”