Relevance of Ayurveda Anti-viral herbal wisdom from the perspective of current researches

Abstract

Due to COVID-19 outbreaks, entire humanity across the globe is suffering from this deadly disease and searching for novel and more effective antiviral herbal drug for its complete cure. Ayurveda compendia have described herbal medicines which are said to be effective against all microorganisms. Hence in this paper attempt is made to review Krimighna drugs described in Ayurveda compendia and identify its efficacy on various viral diseases. Relevant references were searched concerning krimihar drugs  described in Brihatrayee viz. Charak Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya. Scientific research papers related to pre-clinical and clinical studies showing the antiviral activity of individual krimighna drugs were also searched. In all Samhitas total, 56 drugs were found having Krimighna  properties. Out of these only ten drugs  are found to have antiviral activity against various type of viruses such as Herpes Simplex virus (HSV type 1 & 2), Dengue virus (DNGV), Newcastle Disease virus (NDV), Sindbis virus(SINV) Measles virus, Poliovirus. Herbal medicinal drugs have great potential to treat viral diseases. Considering the global disease burden caused by COVID-19, there is an urgent need to explore the Krimighna drugs with antiviral activity and to develop novel and useful antiviral agents to combat the COVID -19 menace effectively.