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Immunomodulator, antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities (EZENAGU,
2008; García, Leiro, Delgado, Sanmartín, & Ubeira, 2003; Makare, Bodhankar, & Rangari,
2001). The place of Turmeric (Curcumin; Curcuma longa) in the Indian Kitchen is
unavoidable. It shows anti-inflammatory, anti-HIV, anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, Nematocidal,
anti-parasitic, anti-spasmodic, and anti-carcinogenic activities due to curcuminoids, phenols,
and curcumin compounds (Belcaro et al., 2014; Dairaku, Han, Yanaka, & Kato, 2010; Kim et
al., 2010; Moghadamtousi et al., 2014; Praditya et al., 2019; Prasad, Tyagi, & Aggarwal,
2014; Rahimnia, Panahi, Alishiri, Sharafi, & Sahebkar, 2015). Similarly, Holy Basil, Parijat,
Papaya, Pomegranate, Ashwagandha, Amla, Brahmi, Bitter melon, Fenugreek, etc have been
reported to have various types of health beneficial properties (manuscript under
communication). Previously we have also reported that anti-malarial activities of Quinine,
Arabinogalactan, Curcumin, Piperine, Ellagic acid, Quercetin, Alkaloids, Flavonoids,
Cinnamic acid derivatives, and Allicin like compounds and the Indian diet is a rich source of
such components (Dalai, 2015).
DEALING WITH COVID-19
The activities of natural plant products against Coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-1 and MERS
have been explored, and the extrapolation of those data suggests promising results against
SARS-CoV-2. Among such compounds, the efficacy of Quercetin (Onions) is being critically
investigated against novel Coronavirus. Quercetin is known to have antivirus, antibacterial,
and anticancer actions. Its ability to neutralize the causative agents of respiratory or urinary
diseases is well accepted (Sharma, 2019). The potential of quercetin to kill the influenza
virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and herpes simplex
virus has been well documented by various researchers. In-silico studies suggest that
quercetin blocks the binding of SARS-CoV-2 with 3CL and ACE2 receptors and hence
prevents viral entry into the host (Gu et al., 2021). Quercetin is reported as a potent inhibitor
of protease 3CL (SARS-CoV-2 main protease) (Gu et al., 2021). It is also shown to inhibit
the replication of SARS‐CoV‐2 (Luo et al., 2020). Apart from direct inhibition of the virus
life cycle, quercetin is known to decrease the level of C-reactive proteins (CRP), thus it can
be used to control the inflammatory response vis-s-vis to manage the COVID-19. The
promising results of Quercetin treatments on COVID-19 patients are also reported recently
(Luo et al., 2020).
Similarly, the therapeutic potential of curcumin is also being investigated. Its antiviral,
antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-parasitic actions against Togaviridae, Flaviviridae,
Hepadnaviridae, Retroviridae, Papillomaviridae, and Pneumoviridae viruses are widely
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