AYUSH- 64: A Potential Therapeutic Agent in COVID-19

Abstract

Corona Virus disease (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic resulting in large scale morbidity and mortality worldwide. The causative agent SARS-CoV-2 is easily subject to repeated mutation with swift spread of infection. The management of COVID-19 has been a big challenge on account of non-availability of specific therapeutic agents. The complex and multifactorial pathophysiology of COVID-19 requires therapeutic agents with anti-viral properties against SARS-CoV-2 as well as immunomodulatory properties that have a broad-spectrum effectiveness covering the disease in totality. AYUSH-64, a poly-herbal formulation developed by CCRAS, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India through extensive pharmacological, toxicological and clinical studies has proven efficacy in infective febrile conditions such as malaria, micro filaremia, chikungunya and influenza with no safety issues observed in published clinical studies. Based on the empirical evidence, it has been repurposed as an adjuvant to standard care or standalone therapy for asymptomatic and mild to moderate cases of COVID- 19 by the Ministry of AYUSH at a time when India is experiencing wave after wave of COVID-19 variants causing mass distress to the healthcare delivery systems. AYUSH- 64 has four ingredients having immune-modulator, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antioxidant and anti-viral activities. These effects could arrest the extreme inflammatory responses in COVID-19 that causes progression to significant morbidity. Several clinical studies on AYUSH-64 in asymptomatic and mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 have been undertaken at reputed medical institutions across the country. The evidence generated through these studies is promising. AYUSH-64 has also been incorporated in the National COVID management protocol based on Ayurveda and Yoga by Government of India for asymptomatic and mild cases of COVID-19. Further, on the basis of tangible evidence generated through robust clinical and experimental studies on AYUSH-64, the Ministry of AYUSH has launched nation-wide campaign for mass distribution of AYUSH-64 to asymptomatic, mild to moderate COVID-19 patients in home isolation to reduce the burden on the hospital-based health care delivery system. This review will highlight about the specifications of AYUSH-64, its probable mechanism of action, its repurposing for COVID-19, various clinical and experimental studies undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic and the initiatives taken to translate the outcomes of these studies on AYUSH-64 .