Rationalistic approach in COVID-19 prevention through intervention of Unani medicine prevalent in epidemic - A review

Introduction

A novel coronavirus virus (2019-nCoV) emerged in China in December 2019 and achieved a high-risk category by the World Health Organization (WHO). The initial symptoms included fever, cough, dyspnea, and sore throat. The present review aims to evaluate the available evidence for the safety and efficacy of Unani herbal drugs and formulations in the prevention of Wabai Amraz (epidemic diseases) having resemblance to SARS-CoV-2.

Methods

Sources of data for this paper are classical Unani textbooks, Unani pharmacopeia of India, Indian Medicinal Plants-An Illustrated Dictionary, and published articles in various reputed peer-reviewed journals. Collected information was then critically analyzed.

Results

Despite great efforts, no specific treatment has been discovered for coronavirus yet. The best choices, therefore, are prevention and management. The Unani system of medicine offers health protection during epidemics. Three important interventions practised during an outbreak are (i) purification of the environment by using certain herbal drugs as fumigants which include vinegar (acetic acid) alone or combined with Ferula foetida Regel; (ii) promotion of health and immune modulation by using the pharmacopoeial preparations Khamira-e-Khashkhash and Khamira-e-Marwareed.

Conclusion

Several single drugs, as well as compound formulations, have been recommended in Unani medicine for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. The pharmacopoeial preparation Tiryaq-e-Nazla has been used for respiratory catarrhal inflammations and influenza by Hakims of the medieval period. Scientific research on these drugs reveals the presence of many pharmacologically active substances possessing significant antiviral, antipyretic, anti-tussive, and immune-modulatory properties, which can give new insight into infection and epidemic management.

Emergence of antimicrobial resistance and magnitude of Unani medicine - scope and challenges

Emergence of antimicrobial resistance, with practically all newly developed and even more potent antibiotics like carbapenem and colistin, has become a matter of great public health concern. A number of common diseases of public health importance are becoming harder and sometimes impossible to treat due to increased resistance of pathogens. These alarming threats seek prime attention of scientific community to develop newer antibiotics with long-lasting efficacy, least side effects, and low economic burden. Unani classical texts have enormous citations on different infectious diseases. Many single drugs and compound formulations are in vogue since ages for the treatment of infectious diseases. Use of Afaviya (spices), Mufarrehat (exhilarants), Tiryaqi Advia (drugs with antidote properties) and Sirka (vinegar) is highly advocated in treating various infectious diseases. Though, enormous research activities have been undertaken worldwide to explore and develop newer antibiotics from natural resources, indicating massive magnitude of natural products in treating various infectious diseases, however, the higher plants, still largely seems to be unexplored. Moreover, elaborated and well controlled clinical studies are still lacking to authenticate their clinical significance. Hence, a rigorous, well-designed & well-structured research is highly paramount to ascertain the provision of newer, relatively safe and cost effective natural antibiotics.