Abstract
Plants consistently synthesize and accumulate medically valuable secondary metabolites which can be isolated and clinically tested under in vitro conditions. An advancement with such important phytochemical production has been recognized and utilized as herbal drugs. Bioactive andrographolide (AGL; C20H30O5) isolated from Andrographis paniculate (AP) (Kalmegh) is a diterpenoid lactones having multifunctional medicinal properties including anti-manic, anti-inflammatory, liver, and lung protective. AGL is known for its immunostimulant activity against a variety of microbial infections thereby, regulating classical and alternative macrophage activation, Ag-specific antibody production during immune disorder therapy. In vitro studies with AGL found it to be effective against multiple tumors, neuronal disorders, diabetes, pneumonia, fibrosis, and other diverse therapeutic misadventures. Generally, virus-based diseases like ZIKA, influenza A virus subtype (H1NI), Ebola (EBOV), Dengue (DENV), and coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemics have greatly increased scientific interest and demands to develop more effective and economical immunomodulating drugs with minimal side effects. Trials and in vitro pharmacological studies with AGL and medicinally beneficial herbs might contribute to benefit the human population without using chemical-based synthetic drugs. In this review, we have discussed the possible role of AGL as a promising herbal-chemo remedy during human diseases, viral infections and as an immunity booster.
Highlights
Andrographis paniculata (AP) a therapeutic herb, has been discovered and practiced as an effective herbal immuno-drug in traditional medicine systems to cure several health disorders worldwide [1]
The protective role of this multitarget bioactive herbal compound has long been established for treating microbial infections, fatal diseases like cancer, diabetes, acute respiratory tract infections, etc
During the current global COVID-19 pandemic a lot of AGL-based productive research is on the go, yet a lot awaits to be explored at its target molecules having immune-modulatory and anti-viral properties which is crucial for drug designing
Summary
Andrographis paniculata (AP) a therapeutic herb, has been discovered and practiced as an effective herbal immuno-drug in traditional medicine systems to cure several health disorders worldwide [1]. Recent pandemics with SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 accelerated studies targeting human immunity and defense against constantly emerging novel viruses The severity of such pandemic accelerated grant funds from the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Union (EU), various governmental and research organizations supporting scientific research to develop effective drugs and vaccines capable of reducing worldwide infections and fatalities (October 2021, 4.96 M). The core structure of AGL was targeted and modified at various parts with emerging trends i.e., new structural features fitted to the receptors, the substitution of metabolically active compounds i.e., lipoic acid increasing the ability of the designed analog to reach the targets and induce selective biological activities acting as pro-drugs These modified analogs and derivatives were further in vitro tested for the treatment and prevention of a wide range of viral infections having mentioned below.
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