Andrographis paniculata! Might be used as herbal alternative and complementary medicine for COVID-19

The novel Corona Virus disease (COVID-19) is caused by SARS-CoV-2, which is causative agent of the potential fatal disease.During this period, virus multiply and spread throughout our body and after that inflammations in the form of symptoms are produced and suddenly the whole pressure of this virus infection comes on our immune system. So, to fight against COVID-19 the things/questions comes in our mind, How our immune system will be stronger? How the inflammations/symptoms will be suppressed? How COVID-19 will be died? Keeping these things/questions in my mind when I seen in literature, I found a plant Andrographis paniculata (Burm. F.) Wall ex Nees, which is an important medicinal plant of family Acanthaceae, commonly called "Kalmegh". 

In traditional medicines this plant is used as a remedy against various incurable diseases like cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, ulcer, leprosy, bronchitis, skin diseases, flatulence, colic, influenza, dysentery, dyspepsia and malaria since time immemorial. Andrographis paniculata possess several active chemical constituents, among them, Andrographolide, neoandrographoliode and dehydroandrographolide are most important. These phytochemicals have certain anti-inflammatory and immuno-stimulatory properties. Thus exhibiting certain ability to alleviate respiratory and pneumonia symptoms. Andrographolide, a diterpenoid, is known for its anti-inflammatory effects. Besides anti-iflammatory effects, previous studies showed that the ethanolic extract of this plant has antiviral against variety of viruses and immunostimulant property specially lymphocytes cell proliferation. The extract of this plant also exhibits immunomodulatory effects by effectively enhancing cytotoxic T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, phagocytosis, and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). All these properties form the foundation for the use of this miraculous plant to restrain COVID-19 replication and induced pathogenesis. Thus, Andrographis panculata plant can be used as an herbal alternative and as a complementray medicine for COVID-19, until an authentic medicine is discovered.