The therapeutic plants used in Ayurveda and Siddha medicine primarily function as immunomodulators to combat viral infection. The majority of the Indian states adopted an integrative approach to the treatment strategy for COVID-19 infection during the COVID-19 outbreak. A large percentage of Indians consume Ayurvedic and Siddha herbs as preventative medication or immune boosters during the COVID outbreak. ACE-2 receptor, Mpro, Nsp15, endoribonuclease, ACE-2-RBD interface, RBD complex, helicase inhibitors, and ACE-2-RBD interface are the main targets of the phytochemicals of medicinal plants, which also have the potential to limit their action and lower infection rates. The phytonutrients also preserve the permeability of the gut epithelial membrane and improve gut barrier proteins including occludin, Zo-1, and claudin. The phytonutrients also help probiotic bacteria flourish, such as Faecalibacterium, Rikenellaceae, Lactobacillus and Lachnospiraceae, which may lower proinflammatory cytokines and improve immunological function. A small number of opportunistic bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia, co-infect with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and increase the frequency of hospital stays and severity of the illness. The co-infections or secondary infections may be reduced by the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of phytochemicals.
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