CAN TERMINALIA CHEBULA (HARITAKI) STOP COVID-19?

Ehfazul Haque, Ariful Karim, Jakir Ahmed Chowdhury, Refaya Rezwan, Tahmina Akter, Md. Rafat Tahsin, Abu Asad Chowdhury, Shaila Kabir and Md. Shah Amran*

ABSTRACT

Pathogenic microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and other parasites, can cause serious diseases leading to pandemic such as COVID-19 caused by coronavirus. Natural products from medicinal plants may act as suitable weapons to combat such diseases. Terminalia chebula, a famous medicinal plant of Bangladesh commonly known as ‘Haritaki’, was found to be active against viral infections by many investigators. For example, Terminalia chebula was shown to be effective against enterovirus (EC50 10.6 μg/mL). In this review work, it is inferred that screening of medicinal plants, including Terminalia chebula, against a wide range of viral infections may help to develop new drug against viral pandemics like COVID-19.

Keywords: Haritaki, Terminalia chebula, COVID-19, pandemic, new drug development.