ImmunoProtective Role of Medicinal Herbs as Phytotherapeutic Drugs in Ayurveda – A Prospective Approach for Defending COVID19

Abstract

The present review article elucidates the phytotherapeutic applications of various herbal medicines and plant products in Ayurveda for curing diseases and promoting health through boosting our immunity. This could serve as an immune protective tool in defending the antagonistic effects of the present Covid-19 pandemic. The plants with various phyto-immunomodulatory constituents could be a perspective approach for combating the antagonistic effects of COVID-19 and possibly developing immunity to fight against the upcoming health issues related to it. A list of potential herbs with their phyto protective constituents is described in this review. Our immunity plays a significant role in defending the adverse impacts of foreign antigens and synthesizes some protective biomolecules called immunoglobulins in response to that. Various naturally occurring bioactive compounds are isolated from medicinal herbs. In this regard, Ayurvedic therapy employs the ability of various immunomodulatory phytoconstituents derived from medicinal herbs to cure the ailments. In the current era of medicinal research, scientific investigations on the role of immunomodulatory phytoconstituents in the modulation of immunity have gained utmost importance. In light of this, several medicinal plants and their Ayurvedic Rasayana with immunomodulatory activity have been reported. Some of these plants are, Cinnamomum zeylanicum Garcin ex Blume, Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Adhatoda vasica L., among various immunomodulatory phytoconstituents Cinnamaldehyde, Eugenol, Glycyrrhizin, isoliquiritin, vasicine, Adhatodic acid, have notable phytoimmunomodulatory effects for effective management of COVID-19.