Repurposing Siddha Medicine Amukkara Chooranam as a Therapeutic Approach for the Management of COVID-19: A Review

Abstract

COVID-19 is a global pandemic caused by SARSCOV-2. It is a dreadful disease due to its rapid spread and increase in mortality rate, now is of great global health concern. We are in an urgent need of vaccine/medicine to tackle COVID-19. Drug repurposing is the novel treatment option accelerating the drug discovery process through the identification of a novel clinical use for an already existing approved drug which minimize the costs, risks and save time when compared with invention of new drug. Siddha polyherbal medicine Amukkara Chooranam (AMKC) constitutes seven herbal ingredients being used in the treatment of various other diseases like Gastric ulcer, Peripheral neuritis, Gonorrhoea, Asthma and Tuberculosis. In this, Withania somnifera, Zingiber officinale have antiviral activity that inhibits M protease and Spike protein prevents the entry and growth of COVID-19. Piper longum, Piper nigrum, Mesua ferrea, Syzigium aromaticum binds with M protease [MPro] and ACE2 receptors and Elletaria cardamomum binds with Nucleo caspid protein [N protein] thereby inhibiting the viral replication. The polyherbal synergism of AMKC enhances its efficacy over co morbid conditions also. From various research reports, ingredients of AMKC revealed anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, immuno enhancing properties can exhibit potential activities against COVID-19. This made reasonable grounds on drug repurposing of AMKC as a novel clinical use for COVID-19. In future, clinical trials to be conducted to induce drug discovery through drug repurposing initiatives. Hence this review is intended to repurpose and explore the comprehensive effects of polyherbal formulation AMKC as a therapeutic approach for the management of COVID-19.