At a time when India is promoting Ayush including ayurveda decoction such as kadha or ayush kwath as immunity boosters to keep the Covid-19 at a bay, researchers from Tehran have suggested use of anti-oxidative herbal drugs as an adjuvant therapy to currently prescribed conventional treatments in Covid-19 infected diabetic patients.
Following an analysis of various studies, they said In an article published in the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), : anti-oxidative herbal medicines with evidence-based beneficial impacts in the treatment of diabetes mellitus can be suggested as an adjuvant therapy to its conventional treatments in patients infected with Covid-19.
Agreeing with their observation, Dr AKS Rawat, former senior scientist with CSIR- National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) said, :Many herbs like Gioly and Gudmar have antioxidant properties and checks free radicals apart from blood sugar lowering properties that make them useful for people with or at high risk of type 2 diabetes.:
He cited example of anti-diabetic herbal formulation, BGR-34 which was scientifically developed under his guidance among other scientists at the NBRI in collaboration with Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plant (CIMAP),both Lucknow-based, using extracts of herbs like Daruharidra, Giloy, Vijaysar, Gudmar, Majeeth and Methika.
:At least 500 herbs were analysed after which we selected best six herbs having diabetes management properties to develop BGR-34.:
In fact, an independent clinical trials conducted at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi last year too showed the BGR-34 has therapeutic efficacy for treating newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. The drug is commercially manufactured by Aimil Pharmaceuticals.
As the world observe November 14 as Diabetes Day, Dr Rawat also said that compounds in herbal ingredients like giloy used in BGR-34 also corrects immunity while compounds in Dharuharida helps in insulin release in Type II diabetic patients.
Based on the 2019 International Diabetes Federation (IDF) report, the world prevalence of diabetes was 463 million, and is expected to reach 578 million in 2030, and 700 million in 2045. According to doctors, patients with co-morbidities like diabetes are more vulnerable to Covid-19 because of their compromised immunity.
It is estimated that nearly 20–50 per cent of patients infected with Covid-19 have diabetes, much higher than the worldwide incidence rate of diabetes.