Dr. Talat Nasim :
During the development of human civilization, pandemics have come on a continuous basis, almost every 100 years. Plague, influenza and cholera are among these epidemics. One such pandemic was the Spanish flu caused by a virus, which occurred around 100 years ago, in the early nineteenth century (1918-1919). It is estimated that one in three people on the planet was infected and around seventeen million people died in the Indian subcontinent.
The biggest pandemic of the present day is the coronavirus disease. The coronavirus disease is infected by a new virus called coronavirus. This virus belongs to coronaviridae family. Since ancient times, herbal plants have been used to prevent viral infections.The following are some of the anti-viral uses of herbal plants:
1. Cinchona tree (Cinchona officinalis)
On the 7th February 2020, the Chinese State Council announced that the chloroquine phosphate extracted from the bark of the cinchona tree could be applied to patients with Coronavirus. Chloroquine phosphate has anti-malarial and anti-viral activities as well as being able to boost the immune system. The drug has been clinically evaluated on coronavirus patients in about ten hospitals in different provinces of China. In most patients this drug has been able to relieve the symptoms.Although chloroquine phosphate could not fully cure all patients, its safe use deserves further study. 2. Jasthi modhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
In Bangladesh, the roots of Jasthimodhu have been used in colds and stomach pains. One of the chemicals extracted from the root extract is diammonium glycyrrhizinate, which has been used to prevent liver disease and inflammation caused bythe hepatitis B virus. Therefore, diammonium glycyrrhizinate and vitamin C have been recommended in China for the treatment of coronary virus. However, this remains in the phase of clinical evaluation.
3.Kalojeera(Nigella sativa)
This herbal plant has antiviral and antibacterial properties, and plays an effective role in reducing viral load from the body. The powder of the kalojeera seeds has been applied to coronavirus-infected cells and it has been shown to play an effective role in reducing viral load (the amount of viruses) in the cells.
4.Chamomile (Anthemis hyalina) and sweet orange (Citrus sinensis)
Chamomile is a daisy-like herb whose tea is effective in stomach-related illnesses and possess anti-inflammatory properties. Sweet oranges have been consumed in Turkey for relieving the symptoms of the common cold. Flower and bud extracts of chamomile plants and the peels of sweet orange fruitshave been tested on coronavirus-infected cells. These extracts have been shown to play animportant role in reducing viral load (the amount of viruses) in the cells.
5. Turmeric (Curcuma longa), ginger (Zingiber officinale) and garlic (Allium sativum)
Turmeric is commonly used as a spice in Bangladesh. Curcumin is one of the ingredients of turmericthat has antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Curcumin can suppress various types of viruses such as influenza A virus, respiratory syncytial virus, noroviruses, arboviruses, hepatitis virus, papillomavirus and HIV. It is thought that curcumin binds to viral proteins and impedes the function of those viral proteins. Ginger has been tested on human respiratory cells infected by respiratory syncytial virus, to determine if ginger can prevent the plaque formation of the virus. Results indicate that raw ginger can prevent the formation of plaque of respiratory syncytial virus. Garlic is thought to have antiviral and antibacterial efficacy, but no research has been published in a recognized scientific journal indicating that garlic has the potential to prevent coronavirus. Overall, no clinical evaluation of turmeric, ginger and garlic has been done to prevent coronavirus.
There have been recommendations on social mediaon the successful application of various herbs to prevent coronavirus, which has no scientific basis. The only drugs derived from cinchona and Jasthi modhuremain in the clinical evaluation phase and there has been no evidence that these drugs are effective for everyone.
