Shailesh S. Chalikwar

The entire world is facing a worst situation of pandemic ever. It’s been more than 18 months after the initial reports on Covid from China, and the pandemic is still going.  As per the data available over the WHO website as of 23 June 2021, there have been 178,837,204 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 3,880,450 deaths, reported to WHO. As of 21 June 2021, a total of 2,414,347,324 vaccine doses have been administered. Despite of having more than 15 vaccines for Covid-19; the challenge to treat a patient with a define line of treatment remains the same. In the present review we have made an attempt to summarize the various medicines which are being used by medical practitioner in India and overseas. Use of different drug molecules like Remdesivir, Tocilzumab, Hydroxychloroquine, Azithromycine, Ivermectin, Steroids, Doxicycline, Ecosprine, Low molecular weight Heparin, Lopinavir and Ritonavir, Nitazoxanide, Baricitinib etc. were highlighted; although the list is long. A focus is made on the different types of vaccines available till date and their status in various countries.

Medicinal plants are major source of bioactive compounds and chemical structures that gives potential beneficial effects. Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi) belongs to the Lamiaceae family, cultivated around tropical and semitropical zone of India and other surrounding Asian countries. In the present review on O. sanctum, the traditional uses, chemical constituents and pharmacological activities are explored. Various medicinal and therapeutic characteristics of Tulsi are found in the aerial parts, roots, leaves and seeds which havea broad range of activity on human being. O. sanctumhas multiple medicinal and therapeutic properties such as antibacterial, anticholinesterase, antioxidant, antifungal, antimicrobial, antiaflatoxigenic, anti-inflammatory and antinoceceptive, anticandidal, toxicological, anti-stress and anticonvulsant, anticancer, wound healing activities. Recent research has proven the anticancer and anti-HIV activity of O. sanctum. The chemical compounds of O. sanctum like alkaloids, phenolics, phenyl, coumarins, flavonoids, fatty acids, essential oils, steroidal, and tannin contents play an important role in herbal medicine. This paper examines the various traditional uses, phytochemical constituents and therapeutic potentials of Tulsi plant will be helpful in the treatment of oral diseases and many medicinal disorders and also will be useful in the expansion of new active principles.