ABSTRACT
The current pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has led to a massive change in every aspect of our lives. It has grossly affected the healthcare system, business and world trade, disruption of movement and supply of essential goods and has crippled the global economy. Although few vaccines have been approved for the control of disease, targeted therapy options for this virulent disease still remain limited and elusive. Exhaustive search for potent therapeutic candidate is in progress, for which herbal armory are also being explored. Medicinal plants and their products play a vital role in alleviating various diseases and have been reported to exhibit a wide range of biological activities. Plant-based drugs with antiviral, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulotry activities were hypothetically considered as potential drugs to prevent and mitigate the prevailing situation caused by SARS-CoV-2. Arq Ajib 'a Unani formulation' presents compelling approach in treating numerous diseases. The ingredients of Arq Ajib and their phytocompounds have been reported for wide-ranging pharmaco-biological activities including antiviral, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulotry, anti-allergic, antitussive and bronchodilatory activities. Scientific data available on the formulation ingredients and their phytocompounds indicates that the formulation may have a significant role in augmenting the immune status of individual, protecting them from infection and providing symptomatic relief to patients affected with COVID-19. Hence, it may be considered as a potential drug for the development of novel therapeutic candidate for SARS-CoV-2 infection. This multi-faceted review highlights the therapeutic significance and pharmacological actions of Arq Ajib and its ingredients to demonstrate the plausible role of the formulation in combating COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Background and Objective: The World Health Organization has declared the COVID-19 as global pandemic on March 11, 2020. Hippocrates the father of medicine was supposedly the first ancient Unani physician to document the infectious diseases with their conspicuous clinical features which are today named as malaria, tuberculosis, influenza, mumps and diphtheria etc. In Unani medicine, the epidemic diseases are referred to as Amrād-i-Wabāi. The present review has been embarked on to explore the Unani perspective into the scientific insight on epidemic diseases with the focus to unearth tangible information and solution to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: A total of 89 citations comprising classical Unani texts and published papers in various reputed indexed Journals from 2005 to 2020 were reviewed about prevention and management of epidemic/ pandemic diseases;antiviral, antipyretic, antitussive, immunomodulators activities of Unani drugs etc. Results: Various measures such as isolation, social distancing;spray and fumigation treatment with Unani drugs for sanitization of the environment;modified diets such as barley water, murabba-i-turanj, sikanjbeen, vinegar etc to augment the immune system of the body;and pharmacotherapy such as Tiryaq-i-Afayee, QursKafoor, Sharbat-i-Khaksi, Khameera Marwareed, Cydonia oblonga, Zizyphus jujube etc have been mentioned by Unani physicians for prevention and management of epidemic diseases and COVID like conditions. Discussion: Certain scientific studies have reported that the individual ingredients of Tiryaq-i-Afayee(a pharmacopoeial preparation) such as Aloe vera and Crocus sativus possess significant antiviral effect, and the whole preparation exhibited an immunomodulatory effect. Sharbat-i-Khaksi and Khameera Marwareed (pharmacopoeial preparations) revealed potent antipyretic and immune system potentiating effects, respectively. Cydonia oblonga and Zizyphusjujuba possesses antiviral, antiinfluenza, antitussive, antipyretic and immunomodulator activities. Conclusion: The aforesaid Unani classical and contemporary material surveyed has yielded substantial key information and practical solutions in the prevention and control of epidemic diseases and COVID like conditions. © IJCRR.