A Perspective Review on Siddha System of Medicine in the Management of Corona Virus Disease 2019

Respiratory Tract Infections (RTIs) are the most common, and potentially most severe, of infections treated by health care practitioners. Lower RTIs along with influenza, are the most common cause of death by infection. The fatality risk is doubled if the person is with other morbid conditions or in extremes of age. These seasonal respiratory infections caused by viruses are of more concern as their spread is very vast than we imagine. COVID-19 (corona virus disease 2019) is such a pandemic respiratory illness caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a strain of Corona virus. The emerging anti-microbial resistance and easy spread of respiratory pathogens has also increased the challenge for appropriate management of RTI like COVID-19. Drugs with anti-viral property and potency to prevent the comorbidity stand are the need of the hour. This review article includes information on preclinical studies and clinical studies to add a scientific validation to formulations that are commonly used in Siddha system of Medicine. The ingredients of the Siddha drugs possessing anti-viral property and immune-modulatory effect particularly against respiratory pathogens are elaborated. Evidence of anti-viral property has been made out to the light for further clinical trials.