Enhancing Immune Responses to Combat Viral Infections: A Phytoconstituents Approach

ABSTRACT: Viral infections like AIDS, COVID-19, Zika, Nipah, Chikungunya, Dengue, and M-Pox pose significant global health challenges, impacting public health and causing systemic complications. Viral entry, immune evasion, and tissue damage lead to severe consequences, including immune dysregulation, lung injury, and multi-organ failure.COVID-19 has affected 600 million people, with 6 million deaths, while Dengue and Chikungunya affect millions annually in India. Phytoconstituents from natural plants, such as Withania somnifera, Tinospora cordifolia and Curcuma longa, demonstrate immunomodulatory properties, enhancing T-cell activity, reducing inflammation, and stimulating antibody production. Immunoboosting through phytoconstituents offers a promising avenue for preventing viral infections and strengthening the body's ability to combat pathogens. On 27th May 2020, WHO declared SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)-CoV-2 or COVID-19 caused by Corona virus as pandemic. During this tough time herbal remedies came to rescue when used as an adjunct therapy. Thus best strategy to boost immunity and provide safe antiviral therapy is use of herbal remedies available naturally and abundantly. The objective of this article is to identify and explore the potential of 25 naturally occurring plants rich in immune-boosting phytoconstituents to combat viral infections and mitigate their pathogenic effects.