A REVIEW ON POLYHERBAL FORMULATION – VISHASURA KUDINEER CHOORANAM - A CLASSICAL ANTI-VIRAL DRUG USED IN SIDDHA SYSTEM OF MEDICINE

R. Shailaja*, S. Sugunthan and M. Pitchiah Kumar

ABSTRACT

Vector borne diseases are one of the major threat to the mankind especially Dengue Fever (DF), Chikungunya etc. The increased complexity in the epidemiology of these viral diseases is due to the intricate relationship between the host, the agent and complex environmental nature including biotic and abiotic factors. Hence the development of drugs including development of vaccines is cumbersome to achieve in modern medicine. On the other hand, ethno-medicines, provide complete solution to the viral diseases through traditional medicines with no adverse effects. This review emphasizes the potential role of one of the poly-herbal formulations, “Vishasura Kudineer chooranam” used in Siddha system of medicine for viral diseases. Out of nine herbs of this formulation neem bark, licorice, sandal wood, ginger was already found to possess antiviral activity against many kinds of viral pathogens. This review throws limelight on revealing pharmacognostical, ethnobotanical and pharmacological data of constituents of the formulation.

Keywords: Viral fever, Vishasura Kudineer chooranam, Siddha medicine, Dengue fever, chikungunya.