The pandemic of viral diseases like novel coronavirus (2019‐nCoV) prompted the scientific world to examine antiviral bioactive compounds rather than nucleic acid analogous, protease inhibitors, or other toxic synthetic molecules. The emerging viral infections significantly associated with 2019‐nCoV have challenged humanity's survival. Further, there is a constant emergence of new resistant viral strains that demand novel antiviral agents with fewer side effects and cell toxicity. Despite significant progress made in immunization and regenerative medicine, numerous viruses still lack prophylactic vaccines and specific antiviral treatments that are so often influenced by the generation of viral escape mutants. Of importance, medicinal herbs offer a wide variety of therapeutic antiviral chemotypes that can inhibit viral replication by preventing viral adsorption, adhering to cell receptors, inhibiting virus penetration in the host cell, and competing for pathways of activation of intracellular signals. The present review will comprehensively summarize the promising antiviral activities of medicinal plants and their bioactive molecules. Furthermore, it will elucidate their mechanism of action and possible implications in the treatment/prevention of viral diseases even when their mechanism of action is not fully understood, which could serve as the base for the future development of novel or complementary antiviral treatments.

(2012) Protective effect of curcumin against arsenicinduced apoptosis in murine splenocytes in vitro, Journal of Immunotoxicology, 9:2, 148-159,

Background The COVID‐19 pandemic has demanded effective therapeutic protocol from researchers and clinicians across the world. Currently, a large amount of primary data have been generated from several preclinical studies. At least 300 clinical trials are underway for drug repurposing against COVID‐19; the clinician needs objective evidence‐based medication to treat COVID‐19. Observations Single‐stranded RNA viral genome of SARS‐CoV‐2 encodes structural proteins (spike protein), non‐structural enzymatic proteins (RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase, helicase, papain‐like protease, 3‐chymotrypsin‐like protease) and other accessory proteins. These four enzymatic proteins on spike protein are rate‐limiting steps in viral replications and, therefore, an attractive target for drug development against SARS‐CoV‐2. In silico and in vitro studies have identified various potential epitomes as candidate sequences for vaccine development. These studies have also revealed potential targets for drug development and drug repurposing against COVID‐19. Clinical trials utilizing antiviral drugs and other drugs have given inconclusive results regarding their clinical efficacy and side effects. The need for angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE‐2) inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers and corticosteroids has been recommended. Western countries have adopted telemedicine as an alternative to prevent transmission of infection in the population. Currently, no proven, evidence‐based therapeutic regimen exists for COVID‐19. Conclusion The COVID‐19 pandemic has put tremendous pressure on researchers to evaluate and approve drugs effective against the disease. Well‐controlled randomized trials should assess medicines that are not marketed with substantial evidence of safety and efficacy and more emphasis on time tested approaches for drug evaluation.