Abstract
Background: Ayush Kwath is an Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation (PHF) of dry Tulsi leaves, Cinnamon bark, Sunthi rhizome, and black pepper fruit.
Methods: This PHF contain phytochemicals that help in boosting immunity; hence, it is suggested as a preventive measure against the coronavirus. Ayurveda is an ancient Indian medicine system that offers treatment for various diseases with the help of herbal, animal, or mineral-based formulations. Currently, the entire globe is facing the challenge of combating the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 19) is a highly infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2) that belongs to a large family of coronaviruses.
Results: Most people who are affected by this virus experience mild to moderate symptoms of pneumonia, but older people or those with weakened immune systems, for example, those suffering from cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or chronic respiratory diseases, are more likely to develop serious respiratory illnesses. As there is no registered medicine against COVID-19, strengthening the immune system is an effective way to tackle this disease.
Conclusion: Ayush Kwath, a natural immunity booster, has been approved by the Ministry of AYUSH as a prophylactic measure to fight against novel coronavirus infection.
Graphical Abstract
[1]
Golechha M. Time to realise the true potential of Ayurveda against COVID-19. Brain Behav Immun 2020; 87: 130-1.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.05.003] [PMID: 32389701]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.05.003] [PMID: 32389701]
[2]
Mishra L, Singh BB, Dagenais S. Ayurveda: A historical perspective and principles of the traditional healthcare system in India. Altern Ther Health Med 2001; 7(2): 36-42.
[PMID: 11253415]
[PMID: 11253415]
[3]
Gautam S, Gautam A, Chhetri S, Bhattarai U. Immunity against COVID-19: Potential role of Ayush Kwath. J Ayurveda Integr Med 2022; 13(1): 100350.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaim.2020.08.003] [PMID: 32837101]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaim.2020.08.003] [PMID: 32837101]
[4]
Juliet L, Meenakumari R. Ayush kudineer: An immune boosting herbal health drink for COVID-19. J Siddha 2020; 4(1): 48-57.
[5]
Kotecha R. The journey with COVID-19: Initiatives by Ministry of AYUSH. J Ayurveda Integr Med 2021; 12(1): 1-3.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaim.2021.03.009] [PMID: 33812534]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaim.2021.03.009] [PMID: 33812534]
[6]
Goyal M. Strategies and avenues for COVID-19 – Ayurveda perception. Ayu 2019; 40(3): 139-40.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/ayu.AYU_226_20] [PMID: 33281388]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/ayu.AYU_226_20] [PMID: 33281388]
[7]
Singh PA, Bajwa N, Baldi A. Possible role of traditional systems of medicine to manage covid-19: A review. Isr J Plant Sci 2021; 68(1-2): 3-28.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/22238980-bja10021]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/22238980-bja10021]
[8]
Priyanka S, Swapnil B. Concept of infectious diseases in Ayurveda. Int J Pharma Sci 2020; 11(3): 4756-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.26452/ijrps.v11i3.2766]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.26452/ijrps.v11i3.2766]
[9]
Parasuraman S, Thing G, Dhanaraj S. Polyherbal formulation: Concept of ayurveda. Pharmacogn Rev 2014; 8(16): 73-80.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.134229] [PMID: 25125878]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.134229] [PMID: 25125878]
[10]
Chaudhary AK. Exploring the potency of ayurveda in pandemic caused by COVID-19 on scientific parameters. Indian J Tradit Knowl 2021; 19: S-89.
[11]
Kumar A, Rahal A, Chakraborty S, Tiwari R, Latheef SK, Dhama K. Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi): A miracle herb and boon to medical science–a review. Int J Agron Plant Prod 2013; 4(7): 1580-9.
[12]
Joshi RK. Phytoconstituents, traditional, medicinal and bioactive uses of tulsi (Ocimum sanctum Linn.): A review. J Pharmacogn Phytochem 2017; 6(2): 261-4.
[13]
Gulhane NS, Ghode CD, Jadhao AG, Patil PA. Study of medicinal uses of Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi). J Pharmacogn Phytochem 2021; 10(2): 1427-31.
[14]
Upadhyay RK. Tulsi: A holy plant with high medicinal and therapeutic value. Int J Green Pharm 2017; 11(01): 1-11.
[15]
Ahmad MZ, Ali M, Mir SR. New phytoconstituents from the roots of Ocimum sanctum L. J Pharm Res 2012; 5(1): 548-50.
[16]
Bano N, Ahmed A, Tanveer M, Khan GM, Ansari MT. Pharmacological evaluation of Ocimum sanctum. J Bioequivalence Bioavailab 2017; 9(3): 387-492.
[17]
Dewangan A, Sahu BP, Meher B. Review on pharmacological potential of Ocimum sanctum L. Adv J Bioactive Molecules 2020; 17-24.
[18]
Kadian R, Parle M. Therapeutic potential and phytopharmacology of tulsi. Int J Pharm Life Sci 2012; 3(7): 1858-68.
[19]
Vani SR, Cheng SF, Chuah CH. Comparative study of volatile compounds from genus Ocimum. Am J Appl Sci 2009; 6(3): 523-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2009.523.528]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2009.523.528]
[20]
Aleem M, Khan MI, Shakshaz FA, Akbari N, Anwar D. Botany, phytochemistry and antimicrobial activity of ginger (Zingiber officinale): A review. Int J Herb Med 2020; 8(6): 36-49.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.22271/flora.2020.v8.i6a.705]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.22271/flora.2020.v8.i6a.705]
[21]
Liu Y, Liu J, Zhang Y. Research progress on chemical constituents of Zingiber officinale Roscoe. BioMed Res Int 2019; 2019: 5370823.
[22]
Wibowo DP, Mariani R, Hasanah SU, Aulifa DL. Chemical constituents, antibacterial activity and mode of action of elephant ginger (Zingiber officinale var. officinale) and emprit ginger rhizome (Zingiber officinale var. amarum) essential oils. Pharmacogn J 2020; 12(2): 404-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.5530/pj.2020.12.62]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.5530/pj.2020.12.62]
[23]
Banerjee S, Mullick HI, Banerjee J, Ghosh A. Zingiber officinale: A natural gold. Int J Pharma Bio Sci 2011; 2: 283-94.
[24]
Valizadeh S, Katiraee F, Mahmoudi R, Fakheri T, Mardani K. Biological properties of Cinnamomum zeylanicum essential oil: Phytochemical component, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Int J Food Saf Nutr Public Health 2015; 6(3): 174-84.
[25]
Ribeiro PRE, Montero IF, Saravia SAM, et al. Chemical composition and antioxidant activity in the essential oil of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees with medicinal interest. J Med Plants Res 2020; 14(7): 326-30.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.5897/JMPR2020.6966]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.5897/JMPR2020.6966]
[26]
Alizadeh BB, Falah F, Lavi Arab F, Vasiee M, Tabatabaee YF. Chemical composition and antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative activities of Cinnamomum zeylanicum bark essential oil. Evid Based Complementary Altern Med 2020; 2020: 5190603.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/5190603]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/5190603]
[27]
Teles AM, Rosa TDDS, Mouchrek AN, Abreu-Silva AL, Calabrese KDS, Almeida-Souza F. Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Origanum vulgare, and Curcuma longa essential oils: Chemical composition, antimicrobial and antileishmanial activity. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2019; 2019: 2421695.
[28]
Abd El-Hack ME, Alagawany M, Abdel-Moneim AME, et al. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) oil as a potential alternative to antibiotics in poultry. Antibiotics 2020; 9(5): 210.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9050210] [PMID: 32357577]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9050210] [PMID: 32357577]
[29]
Liyanage T, Madhujith T, Wijesinghe KGG. Comparative study on major chemical constituents in volatile oil of true cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum Presl. syn. C. zeylanicum Blum.) and five wild cinnamon species grown in Sri Lanka. Trop Agric Res; Proc Annu Congress Postgrad Inst Agric, Peradeniya Univ Peradeniya Postgrad Inst Agric Congress 2017; 28(3): 270-80.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tar.v28i3.8231]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tar.v28i3.8231]
[30]
Hameed I, Altameme H, Mohammed G. Evaluation of antifungal and antibacterial activity and analysis of bioactive phytochemical compounds of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Cinnamon bark) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Orient J Chem 2016; 32(4): 1769-88.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/ojc/320406]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/ojc/320406]
[31]
Ranasinghe P, Pigera S, Premakumara GAS, Galappaththy P, Constantine GR, Katulanda P. Medicinal properties of ‘true’ cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): a systematic review. BMC Complement Altern Med 2013; 13(1): 275.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-13-275] [PMID: 24148965]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-13-275] [PMID: 24148965]
[32]
Adarsh A, Chettiyar B, Kanthesh BM, Raghu N. Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of Cinnamon zeylanicum. Int J Pharm Res Innov 2020; 13: 22-33.
[33]
Uma B, Prabhakar K, Rajendran S, Lakshmi SY. Studies on GC/MS spectroscopic analysis of some bioactive antimicrobial compounds from Cinnamomum zeylanicum. Faslnamah-i Giyahan-i Daruyi 2009; 8(31): 125-31.
[34]
Aziz S, Naher S, Abukawsar MD, Roy SK. Comparative studies on physicochemical properties and GC-MS analysis of essential oil of the two varieties of the black pepper (Piper nigrum Linn.). Int J Pharm Phytopharmacological Res 2012; 2: 67-70.
[35]
Damanhouri ZA, Ahmad A. A review on therapeutic potential of Piper nigrum L. Black Pepper): The king of spices. Med Aromat Plants 2014; 3(3): 161.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2167-0412.1000161]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2167-0412.1000161]
[36]
Brewer MS. Natural antioxidants: Sources, compounds, mechanisms of action, and potential applications. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 2011; 10(4): 221-47.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-4337.2011.00156.x]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-4337.2011.00156.x]
[37]
Mohammed GJ, Omran AM, Hussein HM. Antibacterial and phytochemical analysis of Piper nigrum using gas chromatography-mass Spectrum and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Int J Pharmacogn Phytochem Res 2016; 8(6): 977-96.
[38]
Mohan L, Amberkar MV, Kumari M. Ocimum sanctum linn.(Tusli)-an overview. Int J Pharm Sci Rev Res 2011; 7(1): 51-3.
[39]
Arora S, Gusain M, Gunupuru R, Kaushik R, Sinha P, Kumar D. Cinnamon: A clinical approach as multifarious natural remedy with absolute immunity. Eur J Mol Clin Med 2021; 8(3): 2331-45.
[40]
Joshi B, Sah GP, Basnet BB, et al. Phytochemical extraction and antimicrobial properties of different medicinal plants: Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi), Eugenia caryophyllata (Clove), Achyranthes bidentata (Datiwan) and Azadirachta indica (Neem). J Microbiol Antimicrob 2011; 3(1): 1-7.
[41]
Prakash P, Gupta N. Therapeutic uses of Ocimum sanctum Linn (Tulsi) with a note on eugenol and its pharmacological actions: A short review. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2005; 49(2): 125-31.
[PMID: 16170979]
[PMID: 16170979]
[42]
Kaur S, Sabharwal S, Anand N, Singh S, Baghel DS, Mittal A. An overview of tulsi (Holy basil). Eur J Mol Clin Med 2020; 7(7): 2833-9.
[43]
Liao YR, Leu YL, Chan YY, Kuo PC, Wu TS. Anti-platelet aggregation and vasorelaxing effects of the constituents of the rhizomes of Zingiber officinale. Molecules 2012; 17(8): 8928-37.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules17088928] [PMID: 22836212]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules17088928] [PMID: 22836212]
[44]
Mondal S, Mirdha BR, Mahapatra SC. The science behind sacredness of Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum Linn.). Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2009; 53(4): 291-306.
[PMID: 20509321]
[PMID: 20509321]
