Introduction
The prevalence of new strains of viruses and other microbes every season has been causing pandemics and epidemics across the globe. According to a Report by Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2023, the spread of Influenza A (H1N1) virus is growing worldwide causing flu and other respiratory disorders after the outbreak of SARS CoV2 virus (COVID – 19) [1]. This has highlighted the fact about the infections caused by various pathogenic microbes like bacteria, fungi and other viruses. These microbes not only cause infections in humans, but also in plants and animals. For instance, coronavirus causes a variety of diseases in mammals and pigs, including upper respiratory diseases in chickens. Due to this, the rate of transmission of infection has increased among humans, as these infected plants or animals become vector when humans come in direct contact with them [2].This increased microbial transmission has not only affected the morality rate, but also led to high treatment cost for these infections and various side-effects from allopathic drugs have been reported. The need of the hour is to think for an alternative solution by increasing immunity through natural resources. This has in turn led to the exploration of some natural herbs that could help in prevention of such infections.
Natural Herbs
Several herbs like rhizome of Cimicifugaracemosa (CR or Black Cohosh), Meliaecortex (Bitter Chinaberry bark), Coptidis rhizome (Huanglian), Phellodendron cortex (Huang Bai) have shown their anti-microbial effects against viruses like SARS CoV-2 and other bacterial species [3]. These herbs contain alkaloids as the most abundant chemical components which are anti-microbial in nature.
• Cimicifugaracemose – Cimicifuga rhizome contains a compound called fukinolic acid which shows anti-bacterial effects by damaging the bacterial cell membrane, inhibiting protein and DNA synthesis and blocking bacterial division and development (Fig. 1)[4]. The herb has also shown effects against SARS CoV2 virus by damaging the cell envelope and inhibiting protein synthesis.
• Phellodendron cortex – Phellodendron cortex or China plant species is an anti-fungal herb.The active constituents are alkaloids, limonoids, phenolic acids [5] that can inhibit the integrity of fungal cell wall and cell membrane [6]. Also, the ethanol extract of Phellodendron cortex has shown inhibition against viral infections by exerting moderate effects against Herpes Simplex virus, Influenza A [6] virus,either by interrupting virion envelope structures and inhibiting the viral RNA synthesis [7].
• Coptidis rhizome – This is a Chinese drug which is anti-viral in nature. It contains organic acids, coumarins, phenylpropanoids and quinones [3]. The compounds penetrate the viral envelope and inhibit RNA polymerase or protease activity that is crucial for RNA synthesis. It has been found effective against SARS CoV2 virus and Shigella dysentriae bacterium [6,7].
Consumption of the Herbs
As mentioned above, the herbs can be consumed in a powdered form to the tune of 300-2000 mg per day either in the form of seasonings on foods, salad dressings, etc. as specified by FSSAI.
Conclusion
It is a known fact that with advancement in technology, changes in weather conditions and increasing pollution will lead to the production of harmful new strains of pathogenic microbes. Hence, it is necessary to research for more such types of herbs and the active components that can inhibit these microbes if encountered by animals or humans, thereby increasing the immunity. The application of these natural herbs in the form new food products can be one of the important achievements when it comes to medicinal foods.
References:
1. CDC, 2023 website- https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm#:~:text=Seasonal%20influenza%20activity%20remains%20low%20nationally.
2. Thapar P. (2020). “Some Recent Facts About SARS -CoV-2,” Acta Scientific Microbiology, 3(5): 3-5, 2020.
3. T. Dudani, A. Saraogi. (2020). “Use of Herbal Medicines on Coronavirus,” Acta Scientific Pharmaceutical Sciences, 4(5):1-5.
4. J. Wang, L. Wang, G. H. Lou, H. R. Zeng, J. Hu, Q. W. Huang, W. Peng, and X. B. Yang (2019). “CoptidisRhizoma: a comprehensive review of its traditional uses, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology,” Pharmaceutical Biology. 57(1):193–225.
5. M. Chu, R. Ding, Z. Y. Chu, M. B. Zhang, X. Y. Liu, S. H. Xie, Y. J. Zhai, and Y. D. Wang (2019). “Role of berberine in anti-bacterial as a high-affinity LPS antagonist binding to TLR4/MD-2 receptor,” BMC Complement Alternative Medicine,14: 89–97.
6. Y. Sun, G. B. Lenon, and A. W. H. Yang (2019). “Phellodendri Cortex: A Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Pharmacokinetic Review,” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine,14: 40-45.
7. Y. K. Hye, S. S. Hyun, P. Hyun, C. K. Youn, G. Y. Yong, P. Sun, J. S. Ho, and K. Kyongmin. 2008. “In-vitro inhibition of coronavirus replications by the traditionally used medicinal herbal extracts, Cimicifugarhizoma, Meliae cortex, Coptidisrhizoma, and Phellodendron cortex,” Journal of Clinical Virology,41:122–128.
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