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Review
. 2021 Oct;28(40):55925-55951.
doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-16280-5. Epub 2021 Sep 7.

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

Rajeshwari Singh  1 , Sumeet Goel  1 , Pascale Bourgeade  2 , Lotfi Aleya  3 , Devesh Tewari  4
Affiliations
Review

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

Rajeshwari Singh et al. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2021 Oct.

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.

Keywords: AYUSH; Antiviral; Immunity; Repurposing; Traditional medicine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Schematic representation of the methodology for shortlisting the Rasayana drugs
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Possible mechanism of actions of various plants/phytoconstituents against CoV Withaferin A, Clitoria ternatea, xanthones and phyllaemblicin G7 act through ACE2; phyllaemblicin G7 inhibited TMPRSS2 and Vitex trifolia inhibited proinflammatory cytokines (created with BioRender.com)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Utility of Ayurveda Rasayana herbs as primary therapy towards viral infections
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Prominent phytoconstituents of various Rasayana herbs possible effective against COVID-19
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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