Brahmbhatt

REVIEW

Herbal Medicines in management and

prevention of COVID-19

Ritav viralbhai Brahmbhatt

Abstract

Traditional herbal medicines are widely accepted in the world. Certain countries and WHO have research investment in traditional

herbal medicines. COVID-19 came as a major Health care challenge for human in 2019. 480 deaths have been recorded

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ll 18th

Curcuma longa; Ocimum sanctum; Phyllanthus emblica

Introduction

Traditional herbal medicines are getting significant attention

in global health debates. India, The United States of America

(USA), China, Nigeria and World Health Organization - WHO

have all made substantial research investments in traditional

herbal medicines [1]. Herbal medicine finds itself in a race to

develop new medicines, with fewer or no adverse effects, for

therapeutic and preventive application in illnesses [2].

Herbal medicine finds itself in a race to develop new

Correspondence: ritavbrahmbhatt@gmail.com

The Himalaya Drug Company, Makali, Makali Aluru Main Rd, opp. JCB,,

Bengaluru, 562162, Karnataka, India

Full list of author information is available at the end of the article.

But Still, No pharmaceutical products have yet been shown

to be safe and effective for the treatment of COVID-19. How-

ever, a number of medicines have been suggested as potential

investigational therapies, many of which are now being or will

soon be studied in clinical trials, including the SOLIDARITY

trial co-sponsored by WHO and participating countries [4].

der viral replication [6].

Tribulus terrestris fruits are well known for their usage in phar-

maceutical preparations and food supplements. The methanol

extract of T. terrestris fruits showed potent inhibition against the

papain-like protease (PLpro), an essential proteolylic enzyme

for protection to pathogenic virus and bacteria. Major bioac-

tive compounds, are six cinnamic amides and ferulic acid, were

showing inhibition of Papain-like proteinase (PLpro), which is

major protein target of COVID-19 [7].

timicrobial activity against few bacterial and phytopathogenic

virus [9].

W. somnifera would be an effective agent in the manage-

ment of COVID-19 through modulation of host Th-1/Th-2 im-

munity. WS may be beneficial in inducing anti-viral immunity

(owing to increased IFN-gamma responses) and optimum anti-

inflammatory activities (down-regulation of IL-1, IL-6, TNF-

alpha and other inflammatory mediators), which are the key tar-

gets relevant to COVID-19 [10] .

As per the recent Molecular Docking Studies, Withanolide

than the pharmacological inhibitor, N3. The binding of these

phytochemicals with main protease may slow down the cleav-

age of PPs to releases NSPs and decrease the process of viral

replication and transcription [12].

Curcuma longa contain demethoxycurcumin, curcumin, Di-

acetylcurcumin [13], as a major phytoconstituents, which are

the most recommended compounds found in medicinal plants

that may act as potential inhibitors of COVID-19 Main Protein

(Mpro) [14].

Curcumin is strongly bind to 3CL-protease of COVID–19

in comparison to the antimalaric drugs and promote important

structural changes in this viral protease, inducing folding of the

ceptor binding domain. Therefor, Curcumin could be used as

combination therapy along with hydroxychloroquine for disrupt-

ing the stability of SARS-CoV2 receptor proteins [17]. Cur-

cumin and HCQ interact with the C-terminal of S1 domain with

binding energies of -7.1 and -5.6 Kcal/mol [18].

Ocimum sanctum extract can be included as a preventive mea-

sure against COVID-19 due to its potential to inhibit replication

of COVID-19 supported with its immune-modulatory feature

and ACE II blocking properties. Ocimum sanctum containing,

Phyllanthus emblica also have immunomodulatory properties,

and may have the potential to bolster health and immunity of the

community in the fight against SARS-CoV-2 infection [10] .

Phyllaemblicin-B and phyllaemblinol from P. emblica

showed high binding affinity to helicase protein, which is one

of the major targets of COVID-19. Phyllaemblicin G7 from

Phyllanthus emblica exhibited high binding affinity to the Spike

Protein of COVID-19 [5].

terrestris

Papain-like protease (PLpro) (7)

somnifera

3C-like Main protease (3CLpro) (11)

sanctum

Main Protease and Papain-like

Protease.

(19)

emblica

Helicase protein and Spike

Protein

(5)

Conclusion

Pharmaceutica Sinica B. 2020;10(5):766–788.

[6] Hastantram M, Ramaiah S. Molecular docking analy-

sis of selected natural products from plants for inhibition

of SARS-CoV-2 main protease. CURRENT SCIENCE.

2020;118(7):1087–1092.