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Dealing with COVID-19 Pandemic: Possible Role of Plant Natural Products
Manoj Patidar*
Department of Zoology, Govt. College Manawar, Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, India
Email of Corresponding author: manoj1patidar@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The ongoing second wave of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the fear of the third wave have
forcing us to prepare our armory of weapons. The double and triple mutants are making the
preparations outdated and the situation is becoming unmanageable. The whole scientific
community is trying its best to invent & re-invent the therapeutics, drugs, and vaccines
against SARS-CoV-2 strains. Meanwhile, it is equally important to look deeper into our
Ancient Literature like Ayurveda and learn some lessons from Mother Nature. Our traditional
knowledge together with the modern experiments supports the wide range of health benefits
of Plant Natural Products. Previously, we have reported that the consumption of natural
compounds by Indians as part of their daily diet might provide protective immunity against
Malaria. And this prompted the author to correlate the experience of malaria research with
the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this article is an attempt to investigate
systematically the efficacy of natural plant products against SARS-CoV-2.
KEYWORDS: SARS-CoV-2, Plant Products, Ayurveda, Immunity
INTRODUCTION
Ancient Rishis have gifted us the “Ayurveda” to serve mankind all over the world. Ayurveda
mainly concerns with the use of Plant Natural Products as precautionary steps or for the
systematic treatment of diseases. The ancient Indian scriptures are full of knowledge and
always provide hope against diseases. The Ayurveda is the central theme of Atharva Veda.
However, these are the oldest scriptures in the world, but as useful as the modern techniques.
The wide range of health benefits of Plant Natural Products has attracted not only the
Ancient Rishis but the modern researchers to explore their maximum therapeutic potentials.
The antiviral, Anticancer, analgesic, tonic, aphrodisiac, narcotic, antimicrobial, diuretic,
anthelmintic, astringent, thermogenic, and stimulant roles of these natural plant products are
well documented (Dalai, 2015). The Ayurveda-based natural compounds are easily
accessible. And in another word we all are surrounded by the Ayurveda as trees, herbs, fruits,
vegetables, and spices around us have some type of medicinal properties. Here, we cannot
forget the Indian Kitchen as from our childhood directly or indirectly we are using turmeric,
cloves, garlic, ginger, etc for health issues (Dalai, 2015).
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