Phytochemicals in plant extracts can fight Covid, says expert

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 4

Assistant professor Ashok Kumar, chairperson, Centre for Systems Biology and Bioinformatics (UIEAST), Panjab University, has studied the binding potential of approximately 50 phytochemicals present in multiple natural plant extracts that are capable of inhibiting virus replication.

“Phytochemicals are compounds that are produced by plants. They are found in fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, and other parts of plants. Some of these phytochemicals are believed to protect us from pathogenic attacks,” the chairperson stated.

“Herbal extracts are full of phytochemicals,” he added.

His research gas been published in journal Phytomedicine under the title “Identification of phytochemicals as potential therapeutic agents that binds to Nsp15 protein target of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that is capable of inhibiting virus replication”. This international journal has an impact factor of 4.26. Ashok Kumar did his research in collaboration with Dr Suresh Kumar from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi.