Document Type : Short Communication

Authors

1 Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India

2 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal Srinagar-190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India

3 Department of Clinical Pharmacy Girls Section, Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz University Alkharj, Saudia Arabia

10.22034/ajcb.2021.299322.1091

Abstract

In the current situation, it is more crucial than ever to strengthen our defence system against it, as no evidence-based treatment for COVID-19 has been developed. Traditional spices and herbs have long been used in Indian cuisine as immunity enhancers. The findings of past studies on the immunomodulatory effects and antiviral activities of specific foods and herbs on influenza virus and coronavirus have been compiled in order to promote the use of herbal medicine as COVID-19 prevention therapy. Foods and herbs have a potential antiviral activity against SARSCoV-2 and can prevent COVID-19, according to a large number of reports. Herbs and spices have long been known for their therapeutic effects. Several spices are grown in India and are widely utilised in traditional medicine. Herbs such as Amla, Ashwagandha, Cinnamon, Giloy, Moringa, Neem, and Tulsi are thought to have a variety of health advantages. We don't have to "take" herbs and spices like we do medications. Instead, we add them to our favourite foods to give them a flavour boost and boost our immunity.

Graphical Abstract

Herbs Boosting Immunity in Covid-19: An Overview

Keywords

Main Subjects

References
[1] S.-S. Jean, P.-I. Lee and P.-R. Hsueh, Treatment options for COVID-19: The reality and challenges. Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection,  53 (2020)  436-443.
[2] J.A. Malik and M. Maqbool, COVID-19: An overview of current scenario. CELLMED,  10 (2020)  21.1-21.8.
[3] T.A. Hajam, A.G. Hajam, H.A. Hajam and M.M. Bhat, Lessons and Remedies Learned from COVID-19.
[4] Q. Li, X. Guan, P. Wu, X. Wang, L. Zhou, Y. Tong, R. Ren, K.S. Leung, E.H. Lau and J.Y. Wong, Early transmission dynamics in Wuhan, China, of novel coronavirus–infected pneumonia. New England journal of medicine, (2020) 
[5] H.-Y. Kim, E.-Y. Eo, H. Park, Y.-C. Kim, S. Park, H.-J. Shin and K. Kim, Medicinal herbal extracts of Sophorae radix, Acanthopanacis cortex, Sanguisorbae radix and Torilis fructus inhibit coronavirus replication in vitro. Antivir Ther,  15 (2010)  697-709.
[6] S. Dasaroju and K.M. Gottumukkala, Current trends in the research of Emblica officinalis (Amla): A pharmacological perspective. Int J Pharm Sci Rev Res,  24 (2014)  150-59.
[7] K.V. Kulkarni and S.M. Ghurghure, Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis): Complete pharmacognosy review. International Journal of Chemistry Studies,  2 (2018)  5-11.
[8] P.R. Bhandari and M.A. Kamdod, Emblica officinalis (Amla): A review of potential therapeutic applications. International Journal of Green Pharmacy (IJGP),  6 (2012) 
[9] R. Dutta, R. Khalil, R. Green, S.S. Mohapatra and S. Mohapatra, Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) and withaferin A: Potential in integrative oncology. International journal of molecular sciences,  20 (2019)  5310.
[10] L.-C. Mishra, B.B. Singh and S. Dagenais, Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha): a review. Alternative medicine review,  5 (2000)  334-346.
[11] M.H. Mirjalili, E. Moyano, M. Bonfill, R.M. Cusido and J. Palazón, Steroidal lactones from Withania somnifera, an ancient plant for novel medicine. Molecules,  14 (2009)  2373-2393.
[12] M. Ziauddin, N. Phansalkar, P. Patki, S. Diwanay and B. Patwardhan, Studies on the immunomodulatory effects of Ashwagandha. Journal of ethnopharmacology,  50 (1996)  69-76.
[13] R. Agarwal, S. Diwanay, P. Patki and B. Patwardhan, Studies on immunomodulatory activity of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) extracts in experimental immune inflammation. Journal of Ethnopharmacology,  67 (1999)  27-35.
[14] H.H.A. Yousif. (2016), University of Gezira.
[15] J. Gruenwald, J. Freder and N. Armbruester, Cinnamon and health. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition,  50 (2010)  822-834.
[16] P.V. Rao and S.H. Gan, Cinnamon: a multifaceted medicinal plant. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine,  2014 (2014) 
[17] M.C. Mohan and A.P. Abhimannue, Identification and characterization of Berberine in tinospora cordifolia by liquid chromatography Quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (LC MS/MS q-tof) and evaluation of its anti inflammatory potential. Pharmacognosy Journal,  9 (2017) 
[18] V.D. Aher and A. Wahi, Pharmacological study of Tinospora cordifolia as an immunomodulator. Int J Curr Pharm Res,  2 (2010)  52-4.
[19] P. More and K. Pai, Immunomodulatory effects of Tinospora cordifolia (Guduchi) on macrophage activation. Biology and Medicine,  3 (2011)  134-140.
[20] K. Salkar, A. Suthar and C. Chotalia, Study of Immunomodulatory activity of Tinospora cordifolia extract. Int J Pharm Bio Sci,  3 (2014)  880-3.
[21] M. Estari, L. Venkanna and A.S. Reddy, In vitro anti-HIV activity of crude extracts from Tinospora cordifolia. BMC Infectious Diseases,  12 (2012)  1-1.
[22] C. Bhadraa, S. Pala and K. Adhikarib, Efficacy evaluation of chromium (VI) adsorption on clay soil blended with Azadiracta indica (Neem) and Moringa oleifera (Drum stick) seed shell. JOURNAL OF THE INDIAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY,  96 (2019)  419-423.
[23] R. Kurmi, A. Ganeshpurkar, D. Bansal, A. Agnihotri and N. Dubey, Ethanol extract of Moringa oliefera prevents in vitro glucose induced cataract on isolated goat eye lens. Indian journal of ophthalmology,  62 (2014)  154.
[24] L. Gopalakrishnan, K. Doriya and D.S. Kumar, Moringa oleifera: A review on nutritive importance and its medicinal application. Food science and human wellness,  5 (2016)  49-56.
[25] A. Adedapo, M. Abatan, S. Idowu and O. Olorunsogo, Toxic effects of chromatographic fractions of Phyllanthus amarus on the serum biochemistry of rats. Phytotherapy Research: An International Journal Devoted to Pharmacological and Toxicological Evaluation of Natural Product Derivatives,  19 (2005)  812-815.
[26] K. Biswas, I. Chattopadhyay, R.K. Banerjee and U. Bandyopadhyay, Biological activities and medicinal properties of neem (Azadirachta indica). Current science, (2002)  1336-1345.
[27] V.S. Kumar and V. Navaratnam, Neem (Azadirachta indica): Prehistory to contemporary medicinal uses to humankind. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine,  3 (2013)  505-514.
[28] S.C. Gupta, S. Prasad, A.K. Tyagi, A.B. Kunnumakkara and B.B. Aggarwal, Neem (Azadirachta indica): An indian traditional panacea with modern molecular basis. Phytomedicine,  34 (2017)  14-20.
[29] S.N. Upadhyay, S. Dhawan, S. Garg and G. Talwar, Immunomodulatory effects of neem (Azadirachta indica) oil. International journal of immunopharmacology,  14 (1992)  1187-1193.
[30] I. Hashmat, H. Azad and A. Ahmed, Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss)-A nature’s drugstore: an overview. Int Res J Biol Sci,  1 (2012)  76-79.
[31] L. Giraldo, V. Castro, F. Gregory and A.C. Dias, Potential of Ocimum sanctum L. cell suspensions for rosmarinic acid production. Drug Research,  26 (2014)  2015.
[32] S. Gupta, J. Prakash and S. Srivastava, Validation of traditional claim of Tulsi, Ocimum sanctum Linn. as a medicinal plant. (2002) 
[33] M.M. Cohen, Tulsi-Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine,  5 (2014)  251.
[34] P. Prakash and N. Gupta, Therapeutic uses of Ocimum sanctum Linn (Tulsi) with a note on eugenol and its pharmacological actions: a short review. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology,  49 (2005)  125.