What is Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a viral infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. On December 31, 2019, World Health Organisation(WHO) received notification of cases of pneumonia from unknown etiology in Wuhan City, China. WHO named COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, a pandemic on March 11, 2020.

COVID-19 mainly consists of three essential proteins: PLpro, 3CL and spike proteins. The 3CLpro is very important for the virus to replicate and propagate and its inhibitors may halt the disease at an early stage of replication.

How does it attack the human body?

Infection with SARS-CoV-2 can induce an extensive immune response in the host organism leading in some cases to massive tissue damage. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying the most common serious manifestation, i.e., virus-produced pneumonia characterized mainly by fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, headache, and shortness of breath, are very complex. 

The virus enters the body through the mucous membranes, mainly the nasal and larynx mucosa, travels through the respiratory tract, reaches the lungs, and rapidly replicates.

The disease leaves lesions on lungs and has effects liver as well. These pathological manifestations effects the post‐infection physiology of internal organs

9 Top Ingredients that help to fight against Covid-19

Plant-synthesized secondary metabolites (PSMs) were emphasized in recent study to create a review concentrating on the efficacy of plant-originated therapies for the treatment of COVID-19. 

Plant metabolites are a rich source of therapeutic chemicals, and their complex chemical structures make them ideal for treating serious ailments.

Some have already been identified as potentially useful alternative medications and lead molecules for drug repurposing and development.

1. Cassia Fistula

Cassia  fistula  Linn.  also  known  as  Golden  Shower, and this plant's chemical constituents include:

• Procyanidin B2

• Flavonol glycosides

• Oxyanthraquinone

• Dihydroxyanthraquinone.

According to scientific research, Cassia Fistula has several pharmacological activities as below:

• Strong antiviral action against human viral infections, in addition to other therapeutic properties. 

• An antimicrobial agent having the ability to destroy all types of germs such as viruses, bacteria, fungus, and parasites; hence, it is regarded as a highly significant antibiotic source to treat any form of microbial infection, according to "Siddha" medicine.

• Aids in the treatment of respiratory problems such as asthma and pulmonary illness, as well as respiratory tract microbial infections. This property considerably enhances the benefit of COVID-19 treatment, as COVID-19's complexity encompasses respiratory illnesses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome.

• An antipyretic agent; hence, it is clear that Cassia Fistula not only control the multiplications of the COVID19 but also helps in addressing of all symptoms of the patients along with prevention of the complications in the respiratory tract.

• The fruit pulp of Cassia Fistula is a readily available market product that can greatly aid in the recovery of COVID-19 infected patients.

2. Embelia Ribes

Embelia ribes Burm. f.  And commonly know as “False Black Paper” found in hilly parts of India up to 1500 m. elevation from the outer Himalayas to Western Ghat and this plant's chemical constituents include

• Alkyl-benzoquinones,

  • Embelin

  • Embelinol, 

  • Embeliol, 

Embelin suppresses paraquat-induced oxidative stress in lung, an organ particularly affected by Covid-19.Embelin is a unique chemical species as it includes both quinone and hydroquinone functional groups plus a long hydrophobic tail.

Based on recent studies, conclude the viral protein PDB 6Y84 protease (COVID-19)  is an excellent target receptor for quinones such as embelin.

3. Mesua Ferrea

Mesua ferrea Linn (Ceylon iron wood) belongs to family Clusiaceae, is a rich source of secondary metabolites and is blessed with diverse medicinal properties e.g. antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor and immunomodulatory

A recent study had selected some small molecules of Mesua ferrea (flavonoids, coumarins, xanthones etc.) for the interactions against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro (PDB 6LU7) (which is responsible for regulating vital function in the virus body) and it revealed that the observed small molecules in Mesua Ferrea are potential inhibitors of 6LU7.

4. Acorus Colomus

Acorus calamus. Linn. (Araceae), commonly known as “sweet flag” or “calamus”, is a semiaquatic, perennial, aromatic herb with creeping rhizomes. The plant is found in the northern temperate and subtropical regions of Asia, North America, and Europe.

Acorus calamus contains various compounds and the most widely known ligand is galangin which is used as a therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer, neurodegeneration, diabetes, cardiovascular effects, and also bronchitis diseases.

Based on research, galangin was identified as one of the useful ligand to cure covid-19.

5. Tumeric

Curcuma longa L. (turmeric) of ginger family (Zingiberaceae) belongs to the group of oldest cultivated spice plants in the south-east Asian countries. For many years rhizome of this plant has been used also as a safe and active drug for the treatment of various diseases.

Curcumin, a natural polyphenol, has been linked to a variety of pharmacological activities, including:

• potential chemotherapeutic 

• Antioxidant

•  antiviral

• Antibacterial

• anti-inflammatory activities.

Clinical trials have shown that nanoencapsulated curcumin can help patients with COVID-19. In the aforementioned trial, there was a significant reduction in clinical signs of COVID-19 (fever, cough, and dyspnea) in the nanocurcumin-treated group (patients with mild and severe disease).

Because of the several mechanisms of action discussed in various reviews, it has been confirmed that curcumin could be used as an adjuvant medication in the treatment of COVID-19.

6. Terminilia Chebula (Haritaki)

Terminalia chebula, a famous medicinal plant of Bangladesh commonly known as ‘Haritaki’, was found to be active against viral infections by many investigators.

Recent studies show Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) has an inhibitor against SARS‐COV‐2 3CLpro (a crucial enzymatic protein of SARS‐CoV‐2)

The halt in this enzymatic activity can potentially block the replication of the virus inside the cells and may confer a protective effect in COVID‐19. 

The infection of the SARS‐CoV‐2 produces a wave of inflammatory mediators and manifests severe oxidative damage .The inflammatory and oxidative damage to the cells conferred by the virus can be countered by the anti‐inflammatory and anti‐oxidative properties of these plants.

7. Emblica Officinalis (Amla)

Emblica Officinalis Gaertn. or Phyllanthus emblica Linn, commonly known as Indian gooseberry or amla, is arguably the most important medicinal plant in the Indian traditional system of medicine, the Ayurveda.

Amla is often reported for its various biological properties such as:

• Immunomodulatory

• Anti-inflammatory

• Antioxidant

•  Anticancer

• Antiviral

• Anti-diabetic

•  antimicrobial

The bioactive compounds of Emblica Officinalis can act as immunomodulators and reduce cytokine storm against viral infections

In recent studies for the correlation between COVID-19 and the potential therapeutic effect from Emblica Officinalis biochemical, the researcher targeted SARS-CoV-2 main protease (COVID-19 Mpro), an enzyme mainly involved in viral replication and transcription.

It was revealed that the bioactives namely 7-ketositosteol in Amla could be used as COVID-19Mpro inhibitors

8. Aerva lanata

Aerva lanata, one of the ten sacred herbs of Kerala. It belongs to Amaranthaceae family and is used as traditional medication in snake bites, cough, strangury, headache, urolithiasis and jaundice therapy

Aerva lanata is well known for its anti-microbial activity. 

Based on recent studies Aerva lanata medical plants are an effective treatment of COVID-19, many of the alkaloids and flavonoids from this herb are computed to be highly effective towards the main protease (PDB:6YB7) of SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2.

The robustness of some of the phytochemicals such as ervoside, which is only present in Aerva lanata computed to have very high anticoronavirus activity.

9. Boerhavia diffusa

Boerhaavia diffusa (Family Nyctinaceae) is a tropical plant that has been used in Ayurveda under the name of 'Punarnava' for jaundice, dyspepsia, and menstrual cramps. Its common English name is Red spiderling or spreading hogweed.

Recent studies involving clinical trials have also reported its role as an

• Anticancer agent 

• Antidiabetic

• Antioxidant

• Anti-inflammatory,

• antifibriolytic agent 

• The present study shows the major phytochemicals of B.diffusa namely Bioquercetin, Biorobin , Boerhavisterol was concluded that possess potential therapeutic properties against COVID-19. 

In this current situation, the combination of all of the stated natural ingredients in One Formula will be advantageous to human health status. Natural remedies derived from medicinal plants may be effective weapons in the fight against COVID-19.

Do you think it will be great if we can combine this in ONE FORMULA ?

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