The cases of COVID-19 are still increasing day-by-day worldwide, even after a year of its first occurrence in Wuhan city of China. The spreading of SARS-CoV-2 infection is very fast and different from other SARS-CoV infections possibly due to structural differences in S proteins. The patients with severe diseases may die due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by systemic inflammatory reactions due to the excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by the immune effector cells. In India too, it is spreading very rapidly, although the case fatality rate is below 1.50% (https://www.statista.com), which is markedly less than in other countries, despite the dense population and minimal health infrastructure in rural areas. This may be due to the routine use of many immunomodulator medicinal plants and traditional AYUSH formulations by the Indian people. This communication reviews the AYUSH recommended formulations and their ingredients, routinely used medicinal plants and formulations by Indian population as well as other promising Indian medicinal plants, which can be tested against COVID-19. Special emphasis is placed on Indian medicinal plants reported for antiviral, immunomodulatory and anti-allergic/anti-inflammatory activities and they are categorized for prioritization in research on the basis of earlier reports. The traditional AYUSH medicines currently under clinical trials against COVID-19 are also discussed as well as furtherance of pre-clinical and clinical testing of the potential traditional medicines against COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2. The results of the clinical studies on AYUSH drugs will guide the policymakers from the AYUSH systems of medicines to maneuver their policies for public health, provide information to the global scientific community and could form a platform for collaborative studies at national and global levels. It is thereby suggested that promising AYUSH formulations and Indian medicinal plants must be investigated on a priority basis to solve the current crisis.

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Mulberry ( Morus alba L. ) is commonly cultivated in Asian countries as a traditional medicine and food supplement. Four Kashmiri Morus alba varieties ( Zagtul , Chtattatual , Chattatual Zaingir , and Brentul Kashmir ) were evaluated for their proximate composition, mineral content, total phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant potential, and antihyperglycemic activity. Furthermore, TLC-MS-bioautography was used for the identification of antioxidant and antidiabetic compounds in the best active extract. Lastly, UPLC-MS was employed for metabolomic profiling of the best variety of M. alba . Among all the varieties, the Zagtul variety was found to have the highest phenolic (71.10 ± 0.44 mg GAE/g DW) and flavonoid (53.22 ± 0.69 mg rutin/g DW) content. The highest antioxidant potential (DPPH) with an IC 50 value of 107.88 ± 3.8 μg/mL was recorded for the Zagtul variety. Similarly, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition for antidiabetic potential with IC 50 74.76 ± 6.76 and 109.19 ± 5.78 μg/mL, respectively, was recorded in Zagtul variety. TLC-MS-bioautography for identification of bioactive compounds revealed the presence of chlorogenic acid for antioxidant potential and 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) and syringic acid for antidiabetic potential. Further, bioactive compounds responsible for diverse functions of M. alba were confirmed by UPLC-MS in both negative and positive modes. However, major compounds in the Zagtul variety were identified as chlorogenic acid, moracin N, gallic acid, ferulic acid, morin, 1-deoxynojirimycin, and syringic acid. Hence, based on our findings, it can be concluded that M. alba leaves can be consumed as a promising dietary supplement and can be formulated as phytopharmaceutical for the management of various metabolic disorders.

Based on traditional therapeutic claims, NEERI KFT (a traditional Ayurvedic polyherbal preparation) has been innovatively developed in recent time on the decades of experience for treating kidney dysfunction. Due to the lack of scientific evidence, the present investigations are needed to support the rationale use of NEERI KFT. Considering the facts, the study investigated the nephroprotective effect of NEERI KFT against kidney dysfunction using in silico, in vitro and in vivo approaches. In this study, phytochemical and network pharmacology studies were performed for the developed formulation to evaluate the molecular mechanism of NEERI KFT in the amelioration of kidney disease. In vitro nephroprotective and antioxidant effect of NEERI KFT was determined on HEK 293 cells against cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress. In vivo nephroprotective effect of NEERI KFT was determined against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats, via assessing biochemical markers, antioxidant enzymes and inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, CASP-3, etc. The results showed that the compounds such as gallic acid, caffeic acid and ferulic acid are the major constituents of NEERI KFT, while network pharmacology analysis indicated a strong interaction between polyphenols and several genes (CASPs, ILs, AGTR1, AKT, ACE2, SOD1, etc.) involved in the pathophysiology of kidney disease. In vivo studies showed a significant (p < 0.05) ameliorative effect on biochemical markers and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH, etc.), and regulates inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1β, CASP-3) expression in kidney tissue. Hence, it can be concluded that NEERI KFT subsequently alleviates renal dysfunction mediated by cisplatin via attenuating oxidative and inflammatory stress, thus preserving the normalcy of kidney function.

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