Phytotechnological interventions and herbal perspectives of medicinal plants in Ayurveda as phytoimmunoboosters - A novel preventive approach for microbial pathogens

Being the sources of many imperative drugs of the modern world, medicinal plants occupy an important position in various fields of medical science like allopathic medicine, herbal medicine, homoeopathy and aromatherapy. The empirical knowledge on the bioactive constituents of medicinal plants and their mode of action has emerged in recent era of medical science to combat the detrimental side effects of conventional antibiotics with higher safety and sustainable health practice. With the emerging risk of COVID-19 infection and its associated health ailments, there is an utmost need for sustainable health practices through alternate herbal medicines. The present article gives an insight into the application of traditional knowledge of Indian traditional medicine with the practice of Ayurveda. This knowledge could be a tool against deadliest microbial pathogens by employing immunomodulatory phytoconstituents to strengthen the immune system in order to fight against infections. The natural defense system of the body (immunity) plays a vital role in maintaining health and defeating disease. Several phytoconstituents like saponins, berberine and giloin, euseohygrine, anaferine, withanolide-A, carvacrol, sesquiterpene, hydrocarbon, cirsilineol, circimaritin, bisapolene, zingiberol, zingiberene, sylvatin, sesamin, piperine and piperidine, B-sitosterol, chebulagic acid, tannins like emblicanin A and B, punigluconin and pedunculagin, flavonoids like quercetin and alkaloids like phyllantin and phyllantidin obtained from medicinal herbs could be used as phyto-immunoboosters to offer protection against various pathogenic attacks. The present review explained the potential role of phyto immune modulators and listed the plants and plant parts used for boosting immunity through novel ayurvedic treatments.