Viral outbreaks had been a threat for the human race for a long time. Several epidemics and pandemics have been reported in the past with serious consequences on human health and subsequent social and economic aspects. According to WHO, viral infections continue to be a major health concern globally. Novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2) causes the most recent infectious pandemic disease, COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease-19). As of now, there were 249 million infections of COVID-19 worldwide with a high mortality of more than 5 million deaths reported; and the number of new additional cases is drastically increasing. Development of therapies to treat the infected cases and prophylactic agents including vaccines that are effective towards different variants are crucial to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic. Owing to the fact that there is a high mortality and morbidity rate along with the risk of virus causing further epidemic outbursts, development of additional effective therapeutic and preventive strategies are highly warranted. Prevention, early detection and treatment will reduce the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. The present review highlights the novel mutations and therapeutic updates associated with coronaviruses along with the clinical manifestations—diagnosis, clinical management and, prophylactic and therapeutic strategies of COVID-19 infection.

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Background Alcohol is a widely abused drug with many health implications, mainly caused by the oxidative and nitrosative stress on different body parts. Ayurvedic herbalism authenticates the multiple therapeutic applications of Terminalia arjuna bark due to its rich phytochemical repertoire. Objective To observe the extent of oxidative damage caused to erythrocytes by alcohol and assess the protective ability of T. arjuna bark powder aqueous extract (AETA) against the damage. Materials and methods Wister albino rats were categorized into four groups of eight rats per group; first group (control) was fed with glucose, second group was given alcohol at a dose of 20% v/v; 5g alcohol/kg b. wt/day, third group was co-administered with AETA (0.5 g/kg b. wt/day) and alcohol and the fourth group was kept on bark extract alone. Blood samples were collected and evaluated for different biochemical parameters after the completion of the treatment period. Results Alcohol significantly increased the erythrocyte membrane protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, along with a concomitant decrease in the membrane antioxidant status, when compared to the control group. Chromatographic analysis of the alcohol-treated rat erythrocyte membranes revealed altered membrane individual phospholipid contents and fluidity properties. Alcohol-induced morphological changes in the erythrocytes and its effect on decreasing the resistance of hypotonic shock induced by NaCl are evident from the hemolysis curves. However, AETA administration to alcoholic rats beneficially modulated the membrane properties anvd protected erythrocytes from damage. Conclusion Results suggest that AETA protects erythrocytes from alcohol-induced oxidative stress, biophysical, and biochemical changes very effectively.

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