CSIR begins clinical trials of four Ayurvedic medicines for COVID-19 treatment

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a traditional remedy that is thought to reduce inflammation in arthritis patients and boost overall immunity.

A study published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research in 2015 found that taking five grams of Ashwagandha twice a day for three weeks, followed by a four-week course of taking 100 grams Sidh makardhwaj with honey once a day, reduced inflammation and joint pain in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the study included only 86 people, of whom 78 completed the course of medication.

This trial will put Ashwagandha to a bigger test. If it is seen to reduce inflammation here, this could be significant: remember, medical researchers are already looking into the efficacy of RA medicines like baricitinib for the treatment of COVID-19. (Read more: Existing drugs being tried out to find a cure for COVID-19)

Inflammation occurs naturally when our immune system fights an infection. In the case of COVID-19, researchers say, the immune response can sometimes be so over-the-top or excessive (cytokine storm) that the inflammation doesn’t subside even after the viral infection is gone. This is what causes some COVID-19 patients to become severely ill.

If, however, the inflammation can be controlled early on, then the patient’s chances of survival might improve.

That said, Ayurvedic remedies should not be taken without consulting a doctor about usage and dosage. Research has pointed to some side-effects of Ashwagandha: it is thought to cause liver injury in some people. However, more research needs to be done into the side-effects of Ashwagandha, too.

Yashtimadhu is the Sanskrit name for mulethi or liquorice root. Researchers have argued that the glycyrrhizic acid present in Yashtimadhu gives it “antiviral, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-modulating properties”.

Research also shows that glycyrrhizic acid, which gives liquorice its distinctive sweet taste, is effective against both RNA and DNA virus. The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 which causes COVID-19 is a single-stranded RNA virus, which means that it’s genetic material is ribonucleic acid or RNA.

Guduchi or giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) is similarly said to be imbued with antiviral properties. Researchers have argued that it contains compounds like tinosporone, giloin and polysaccharides that give it adaptogenic (stress-reducing) and immunomodulating properties.

Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine that is supposed to be thousands of years old. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that its tenets cannot be used to explore treatments for new illnesses.

Indeed, in the absence of an approved drug or vaccine to treat COVID-19, doctors around the world are depending on off-label use of drugs (using medicines that were made or approved for some other illness) and supportive therapies to treat the new coronavirus infection.

This trial, provided that it is indeed large enough and randomised, could help to understand if Ayurveda may have a few remedies that can be repurposed to treat COVID-19, too.

On that note, here’s a quick look at AYUSH 64 and what it is meant to do. The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Science, Ministry of AYUSH, has recommended its use against malaria, an infection caused by Plasmodium parasite. The formulation contains Saptaparna: in addition to malaria, it is said to be useful for people with asthma or bronchitis, too. Next, it contains Katuki or Picrorhiza kurroa. In addition to malaria, it is thought to be effective against upper respiratory tract infections.

COVID-19 infection begins in the nose and throat (upper respiratory tract) and then travels to the windpipe, airways and air sacs of the lungs (lower respiratory tract).

To be sure, the clinical trial would tell us about the efficacy (or lack thereof) of these medicines. And a lot will depend on how these trials are conducted. But the fact that we are finally seeing some clinical trials of Ayurvedic medicines is heartening.