Guduchi (Giloy), Aloe veera appear as most powerfull inhibitors of Covid-19 protease IncludingTurmeric,Neem, Aswagandha and ginger. The Inhibition Potentials of all these plant extracts are found to be larger than those Chloroquine and Hydroxy hloroquine.
On the Inhibition of COVID-19 Protease by Indian Herbal Plants:
An In Silico Investigation
*Conclusions and Perspectives*
We have performed an in silico study on the inhibition of COVID-19 protease by the
extracts of Indian herbal plants. We noticed that all these plants possess inhibition properties to a
certain extent. Based on the binding affinity as well as log P and log S values, harsingar, aloe
vera and giloy appear as the most powerful inhibitors among the eleven plants considered here.
Other potential inhibitors of COVID-19 protease include turmeric, neem, ashwagandha and
ginger. The inhibition potentials of all these plant extracts are found to be larger than those of
chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. These two anti-malarial drug compounds are already
reported to inhibit COVID-19 protease in vitro. Due to inherent toxicity and side-effects,
however, they are not approved by most of the countries. Therefore, our findings become very
interesting towards the development of alternative (herbal) medicines having no apparent sideeffects. We expect prompt actions in this direction to combat with the COVID-19.
Credit:-
Ambrish Kumar Srivastava1, 3*, Abhishek Kumar2, 3*, Neeraj Misra2
1Department of Physics, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur (U.P.) India
2Department of Physics, University of Lucknow, Lucknow (U.P.) India
3Authors have equal contribution
*Corresponding authors: ambrish.phy@ddugu.ac.in; aks.ddugu@gmail.com (A. K. Srivastava)
Dhoopana - An Ayurvedic mode of disinfection May help in massive sterilization and prevention of epidemic conditions………
“During this pandemic condition with COVID-19, we suggest you to do fumigation of your home and
surroundings with Ayurvedic herbs. Let’s make this
lock down completely successful and save our self and the Nation by take one more step for the self hygiene.”
There are millions of micro-organisms around us, non pathogenic and pathogenic. Pathogenic microbes present in the environment around us are responsible for various health related problems. Reducing microbial load to non-pathogenic levels is the purpose of traditional fumigation techniques like Dhoopana, Homa, and Havana etc.
This is also evident from Ayurvedic literature wherein fumigation is indicated for sterilization of operation theatres as well as labor rooms and management of various diseases. In ancient Indian culture and now a day’s too fumigation therapy is one of the several treatment methods described in Ayurveda where fumes produced from herbs are inhaled by patients.
Ayurveda has given much importance for preventive medicine and it has described several modes for disinfection purpose. Fumigation (Dhoopana) with various drugs is one such method which is safe and natural. Drugs of herbal, herbo-mineral and animal origin containing volatile and antimicrobial constituents are used as single or in combination. Description in Ayurveda texts and Vedic literature begin from the Vedic period, it is found that emphasis was done on preventive aspect of Dhoopana Karma, Homa, Havana, Yagya etc. These ceremonies were aimed for the purification of environment from Bhuta or Rakshasa (in perceptible causative agents, here we can consider them bacteria and viruses), creating positive energy in surroundings along with the religious values. These acts reduced the microbial load of the environment and thus aim of massive sterilization used to achieve.
Concept of Epidemic in Ayurveda:
Ayurveda, the science of life, is the most ancient medical doctrine of human civilization. Some of the basic principles described in Ayurveda
are still the same as today's medical science. Ayurveda does not have a specific text as epidemiology, but Ayurveda describes a concept called Janapadodhwansa that can be exactly correlated with epidemic.
Janapadodhwansa occurs due to vitiation of Vayu (air), Jala (water), Desh (location), and Kala (season).Acharya Charaka has divided its etiological factors into two different categories,
as NiyataHetu and AniyataHetu.
The NiyataHetu are a category of inevitable factors that affect commonly to all the individuals in a particular community and include the harmful effects of sun, moon, stars, and planets such as floods, cyclones, landslides, earthquakes, and tsunami.
AniyataHetu is the evitable disastrous factors that include Prajnaparadha (terrorism, accidents, etc.), Shastra
prabhavaja (wars–nuclear weapons, missiles, etc., advanced weapons), Abhisyangaja (effects of pathogens, evil forces and unhygienic condition), and Abhishapaja (curse). Besides affecting the individuals, these factors also affect the entire community resulting in widespread disease causation known as JanapadodhwansaRogas.
Management of epidemics as per Ayurveda:
Hetuviparit Chikitsa: Treatment to treat causes, like purifications of Air, water, location and season. For example; Purification of Vayu can be done by fumigation with the dried leaves of Neem, Tulsi, Haridra, Vacha, Guggul, etc. This destroys viruses i.e. “Jeevajantu” in the
atmosphere. The tradition of using “dhoop” twice a day is one of the
types of purifying the surrounding.
Vyadhiviparita Chikitsa: In these cases mainly upper respiratory tract infection occurs. To prevent this we can use Trikatu, Yashtimadhu, Vasa, Kantakari, Tulsi, Trifala etc.
Rasayan Chikitsa: After the body purification therapies, rasayanchikitsa can be done to improve immunity.
Achar Rasayana: Truth fullness, benevolence, charity, offerings, worship of god, observance of nobles conduct, self-protection, residence in healthy places, discourse of religious scriptures, suppuration of impelled urges, non separation of suppressible urges should be avoided, diet in accordance with Agni, irregular meal should be avoided, complicated body postures should be avoided, over indulgence in sexual intercourse, avoidance of over exertions, narratives of self-controlled grate sages., constant company with religious and those regarded by the elders this is the management for the protection of life.
Among all above measures of managing janapadodhwansa (Epidemic), here we are going to explain more about Dhoopana. This will help you to disinfect your home and surroundings.
*Benefits of dhoopana:*
It is used for massive / general sterilization also have curative and preventive aspects it includes specific fumigation from treatment point of view for particular diseases. Dhoopana Karma is indicated for both infectious and non-infectious diseases.
• It is used for disinfection of home and environment during all seasons. It also helps in control of pests, rodents and insects and prevents outbreak of epidemics.
• Purifies and sterilizes therapeutic rooms, puerperal and neonatal rooms.
• Used as a means of drug administration in disease conditions like wounds, fever, poisoning ENT diseases, gynecological and psychological disorders etc.
• Dhoopana done before storing of raw drugs and cereals helps to increase their shelflife and preserves potency.
• Disinfects vessels used for medicine preparation.
• Clothes and other household items can be kept disinfected and sterile by fumigation method.
• Dhoopana has got analgesic, antipyretic and antifungal properties depending on the specific herbs used.
• Dhoopana has broad spectrum psychological and medical significance along with its mass purification benefits.
Dhoopana Karma is an important modality & primitive method of sterilization. Besides its antimicrobial potential, it also can be used as route of drug administration without any side effect. The classical indication of Dhoopana Karma in epidemics suggests exploring its role in managing the outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases.
Commonly drugs used for fumigation:
• Guggulu resin (Commiphora mukul
• Neem (Azadirachtaindica )
• Sarsap/Indian mustard seeds (Brassica nigra )
• Barley seeds ( Hordeum vulgare)
• Camphor ( cinnamomum camphore)
• Ghrita (clarified butter),
• Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum Linn.),
• Haldi ( cucuma longa )
• Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi )
• Devdaru (Cedrusdeodara (Roxb.) etc.
All above herbs in equal quantity in dried course powder form are taken and mixed with ghrita as the material become little sticky then put two table spoon of it on charcoal or cow dung. Many of them are easily available at home and one can easily make the mixture for dhoopna and store it in a container. If you wish you can add common sugandhi Havan samgri to with these herbs.
Precaution during dhoopna :
• One should select dhoopna vessels with long handle for easy handling.
• The fumes of dhoopana should reach to each and every coroner of the house.
• Ask kids and elderly people to cover their mouth and nostrils to prevent sudden gasp of fumes in to the respiratory tract, it may induce cough.
There is no harm in inhalation of this dhoopna, but for asthmatic patients one should be careful
Folklore uses for dhoopana:
• Turmeric (curcuma longa) and tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) powder mixed with ghee and used for the fumigation for reliving upper respiratory symptoms in case of common cold.
• For the rajyakshma (tuberculosis) people use to fumigate the patient and his room with Vacha (Acorus calamus). And patient with recent on set with respiratory infections use to get relieved.
• In case rhinitis turmeric mixed with ghee used for dhoopana. The patient is made to inhale the fumes through nostrils.
• Guggal (Commiphora mukul) and Neem (Azadirachta indica) with ghee are used to fumigate home to in rainy season to control pests and fungus.
• Chandana (Santalum album), Clove (Syzygium aromaticum), Ela (Elettaria cardamomum) and Camphor are used to fumigate temple to remove smell , to provide a soothing effect on the brain and help in restoring mental and spiritual balance.
• Neem (Azadirachta indica) ,sharshpa (Brassica nigra ) and eucalyptus ( Eucalyptus globules) are used to disinfect the clothes and beds.
Qualities of Dhoopana:
• Dhoopana is ruksha, ushna in nature, its ushna guna reduces sheeta guna of vata and kapha . This way helps to check vata and kapha disorders of throat, ear nose etc.
• Its ruksha guna also decreases snigdha guna of kapha predominantly, reducing kleda or moisture which is favorable for fungal growth. Thus, fungal growth is prevented or inhibited by dhoopana.
• At the same time reduction of kapha avarana pacifies vata. Shoshanna of kleda (excessive moisture) is done by ushna virya of vartaka and laghu, ruksha, tikshna guna of dhoopana karma. Dhooma itself is kaphahara and ropana (promotes healing).
• The procedure dhoopana can be pithakara and hence if used in excess or with pithakara drugs it may lead to some complications like paka (suppuration) and vrana (wound).
*Few classical references of Dhoopana:*
Yajurveda advocates performing Havana twice everyday i.e. morning and evening to attain spiritual enlightenment, mental peace, purification of mind and the environment.
In Samhita period, Samhita has elaborated the concept of Dhoopana Karma. It emphasizes on wide aspect of Dhoopana Karma along with detailed description of it therapeutic and its preventive aspect. This includes fumigation for creating aseptic environment for the healthy beings so that no infectious disease can develop. And fumigation measure explained for the mass sanitization like Homa, Havana and Yagya.
Kashyapa has even dedicated a chapter solely for dhoopana. He explained deferent types of dhoopana on the basis of action (Karma) as follows. Dhoopa: main Dhoopa indicated for any particular purpose.
Pratidhoopa: to be done after Dhoopa, for preventing reoccurrence of disease. Anudhoopa: On the basis of mode of use External: medicated fumes exposure to a whole i.e. Dhoopana. Internal: intake of medicated fumes via oral or nasal route i.e. Dhoomapana.
Harita Samhita has described about Homa in a separate chapter. Guggulu smoking has been mentioned
in Atharva Veda Dhoopana Dravyas have been utilized for multi- faceted purposes.
Ample references of Dhoopana are found in Brihatrayi proving their vital role in disinfection and sterilization. Total 94 formulations were mentioned in the texts. The number of ingredients for a Dhoopana formulation varies from a single drug to a number of drugs.
Difficulties to promote and practice Dhoopana:
Dhoopana formulations have been mentioned a number of times as these are more feasible due to their route of administration that is through respiration. Due to the qualities of instant relief, no side effect, easy administration, cost effective, no or less toxicity and benefits of mass sterilization can effective measure to prevent and cure.
There is need of standardization of herbal fumigants, analysis of their active chemical compounds, studies on effect of single drug or particular combinations told in classics. Toxicity studies of each fumigant are necessary to prevent any ill effect.
