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As we've known, from the early 2020 up till now, global people are shaken by the spread of new virus, called as Sars-CoV-2, which afterward the infected patients will suffer from COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 19). Sars-CoV-2 was firstly discovered from a laboratory in China, and declared to have similarities with corona virus in bats. Furthermore, Sars-CoV-2 is pretty similar to other corona viruses, which thereafter Sars-CoV-2 is considered to likely have similar mechanisms in infecting human bodies. Sars-CoV-2 infects human body through binding mechanism with ACE2 (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2), which are mostly found in throat and lungs.
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Patients suffered from COVID-19 have symptoms; such as cough, fever, fatigue, and even respiratory system disorder, comma, and death (if patients are not immediately treated). Though, Sars-CoV-2 has spread over many countries, no registered drugs or vaccines are available to specifically treat patients with COVID-19. Most of drugs given to patients are antiviral, or patients are treated with oxygen therapy. However, those drugs are majorly chemical, which probably possess side effects if consumed inappropriately. Thus, herbs can be alternatives to enhance people's immune to prevent getting infected from Sars-CoV-2.
One of herbs that has been researched to own an immunomodulatory effect is Tinospora cordifolia, or in bahasa Indonesia we often hear as "Bratawali" / "Brotowali". Tinospora cordifolia often grows in tropical and sub-tropical area, its stem can be up to 2.5m tall, has heart-shaped leaves, yellowish green flowers, and green fruits. As what has been researched, both water and methanol extracts from Tinospora cordifolia's roots and stems can increase the secretion of cytokines, which in result improving the activity of macrophages to maintain immune system through phagocytosis mechanism.
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When viruses are infecting human cells, the viruses will transfer its RNAs into human cells to replicate themselves. As they have replicated, their number is increasing, and will disturb human's immune system. The immune cells will bind themselves with the viruses to make complexes. When these complexes happen, the body will start showing symptoms as the result of getting infected by viruses. Nevertheless, consuming either water / methanol extract from Tinospora cordifolia, human body is capable of producing more immune cells to fight against the viruses. Tinospora cordifolia's extract will help secrete more cytokines to produce higher amount of macrophages. These macrophages function to bind with viruses, instead the viruses bind with human cells. Therefore, the more macrophage-virus complexes happen, the less immune cell-virus complexes appear, as the result the less likely the body gets infected by the virus.
Though consuming either water or methanol extract of Tinospora cordifolia may help prevent against getting infected by virus, still health protocols are necessarily to be implemented in daily activities; such as using a face mask (and face shield), frequently washing hands, and doing social distancing while in public places. Also, maintaining body health is a must, as well, by consuming balanced and healthy diets, getting a sufficient rest, regularly exercising.
Despite the bitterness of extract of Tinospora cordifolia, its immunomodulatory activity is a thing we recently require to keep and stay healthy.
References :
Alsuhaibaini, Sultan and Masood A. Khan. 2017. "Immune-Stimulatory and Therapeutic Activity of Tinospora cordifolia : Double-edged Sword against Salmonellosis". Journal of Immunology Research, vol. 2017.
Dissanayake, K. G. C., et al. 2020. "Immunomodulatory Efficiency of Tinospora cordifolia against Viral Infections". World Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research, vol. 6 (5) : 22 - 28.
He, Jiahua, et al. 2020. "Molecular Mechanisms of Evolution and Human Infection with SARS-CoV-2". Viruses, vol. 12 (428).
Wiratno, et al. 2019. "Pemanfaatan Brotowali (Tinospora crispa (L.) Hook.f & Thomson) Sebagai Pestisida Nabati". Perspektif, vol. 18 (1) : 28 - 39.
Zheng, Jun. 2020. "SARS-CoV-2 : an Emerging Coronavirus that Causes a Global Threat". International Journal of Biological Sciences, vol. 16 : 1678 - 1685.