Role of Ajan Vruksha/Khandu Chakka Plant (Ehretia Laevis Roxb.) in Covid-19 Pandemic

Rushikesh Thakre*1, Ketaki Harne2, Pradip Tekade2, Shweta Parve3 1Department of Samhita & Siddhant, Mahatma Gandhi Ayurved College, Hospital and Research Centre, Salod(Hi), Wardha, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences ( DU), Nagpur, Maharashtra, India 2Department of Chemistry, Bajaj College of Science (Formerly known as Jankidevi Bajaj College of Science), Wardha (MS), Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur(MS), India 3Department of Panchakarma, Mahatma Gandhi Ayurved College, Hospital and Research Centre, Salod(Hi), Wardha, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences ( DU), Nagpur, Maharashtra, India


INTRODUCTION
Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by virus. It causes respiratory symptoms such as a dry cough, high fever, sore throat and, dif iculty breathing in severe cases. It spreads by coughing, sneezing, personal contact, infected material, mass gatherings; one can avoid infection by regular hand wash, covering of mouth and by maintaining social distance. Cases were reported in Wohan city, Hubei province of china in the month of December 2019. On 7 th January 2020 they have con irmed COVID-19 as a causative virus. And on 30 th January 2020 WHO authorities declared that the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of interna-tional concerns (PHEIC).
No promising medicine is available for treatment and prevention till. Lot of studies is going on for treatment and prevention. In word near about 1,39,5136 cases are con irmed, 81580 con irmed deaths till 9 th of April 2020 (WHO, 2020) . In India 5095 are active cases, 472 cured and 166 total death till 9 th April 2020 (WHO, 2020). Lots of efforts are being taken by government for prevention and to stop spread of infections. Traditional medicines are very famous in China and used for COVID-19. Indian government also published advisory by AYUSH department for  As Ayurved is Science of life and lots of majors are mentioned in Ayurveda for controlling this Janapadadwansa like Dincharya, Ritucharya, majors for building good immune system and medicines to cure diseases. In Maharashtra state of India Ehretia Laevis Roxb. plant is being used for many diseases traditionally. Also this is very spiritual plant as Santa Ghynaneshwar Maharaj from Alandi Pune has taken Samadhi at the base of this plant (Admuthe, 2016). In this herbal plant, many phytochemicals are available which shows antimicrobial activities including anti viral activities. Also they have antioxidant properties which are useful for building immunity to ight viral infections.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Ehretia laevis Roxb. also known as Khandu Chakka and Ajan Vruksha plant has many medicinal useful chemical compoundsTable 1.

Ajan Vruksha
This is the sacred tree. It is a myth that the root of a plant was touching Gnyaneshwar Maharaj's throat and was removed by Shree Eknath Maharaj . Pilgrims practice Gnyaneshwari Parayan under Ajan Vruksha plant.
Eknath Maharaj visited to Alandi which is Samadhi place of Sant Gnyaneshwar . Sant Gnyaneshwar Maharaj asked him in his dream to remove the roots of Ajan tree from his neck. Eknath Maharaj located the Samadhi of Sant Gnyaneshwar Maharaj and spotted the Ajan tree near the Samadhi of Sant Its medicinal properties are used in syphilis and diphtheria, eczema, as an aphrodisiac. Leaves are used to cure ulcers and in headache, antihelminthics, diuretic, demulcent, expectorant, urine infection, diseases of lungs and decoction of bark is used for gargle in throat infections. Malaria, fever, in fungal infections and has hepato-protective properties (Thakre, 2016) .
Drug has aphrodisiac property like Rasayan and Vajikaran properties mentioned in the ayurveda. Such drugs are always useful for building immunity and acts as an antioxidant. This property of plant may be useful for ighting viral infections and other complications. Also studies shows that maximum deaths are in vulnerable patients. In vulnerable patients we can use this plant for Rasayan and Vajikaran therapy.
Local peoples are using this plant for diphtheria, head ache, demulcent and expectorant and diseases of lungs (Thakre, 2016). This property of this plant can be useful for infection of respiratory tracts and symptoms of viral infections. As decoction is used for gargles in throat infection hence it can be used for sore throat. Sore throat is one of symptoms in viral infection.
It has very good pain relief activity (Thakre, 2016). Peoples can use plant leaves with oil for pain relief. It is very bene icial for old peoples suffering from joint pains. It will save the side effects of pain killer medicines and save the money of general public, as income sources are restricted due to lock down.
This plant is also used in malaria and fever (Thakre, 2016). Recent studies shows that anti malarial drugs are effective in the treatment of COVID-19. This plant may be used for fever in viral infections.

As per Ayurvedic literature this plant is used in
Prameha (Moorthy, 2002;Acharya, 2001) . Diabetes is considered as one of the co morbidity in COVID-19. Hence this plant may be used to decrease co morbidity in viral infections. This plant has anti oxidant property (Velappan and Thangaraj, 2013). This property is very useful for boosting immunity to ight infections.
Its Hepato protective property will be useful in the side effects of drugs on liver during the treatment of viral infections. Its wound healing property is proven on scienti ic basis and can be used in wounds to avoids untoward effects of antibiotics (Thakre, 2016) . Ehretia Laevis Roxb.plant shows anti microbial activity on S. aureus, E. Coli (Thakre and Harne, 2019). Pseudomonas aeruginos ,salivary micro lora (Deshpandea et al., 2015) B.subtilis (Jyothirmai et al., 2016). This antimicrobial property can be used for secondary infection and associated infections in viral treatment and to maintain general hygiene.
The medicinal uses of above chemicals are mentioned in Table 1.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
This Ajan Vruksha plant also known as Khandu Chakka herbal plant, may be useful as antiviral drug and useful in symptom like fever and other associated infections in COVID-19 complications.
This plant has major characteristic of Analgesic, anti arthritic and antinociceptive which is useful in severe body ache, in lammation in viral infection. It has chemical which has antioxidant & anti-apoptotic property which is useful to built immunity in viral infection.
Plant has many such chemicals which are useful in malignancy, obesity, blood sugar, cardio vascu-lar diseases, blood pressure and lipids and muscle wasting to minimise the risk in viral infection, because maximum death in COVID-19 are associated with secondary complications.
Plant has a property to ight infections of fungus and bacteria which may associate with viral infections. This herbal plant has chemicals which have very good effect on neural diseases like brain ischemia, and useful for promotion of neural crest cell survival, sedative, anticonvulsant, anti-Alzheimer, Antiseizure , antidepressant , stroke (Rushikesh et al., 2012).
Plant has thyroid uptake promotion property which will be useful for thyroid patients. Anticoagulant, antiplatelet property is useful in old age patients and bedridden patients, also this will reduce the risk in heart patients. Bene icial chemicals to treat the peptic ulcer and cataract are available in this plant. This will help for prevention of diseases (Rushikesh et al., 2016).
Antiasthmatic property may be used for common cold one of the symptom in COVID-19. Antiosteoporotic and antiosteopenic properties are useful for old age patients and rural people as their movements are restricted due to lock down and limited resources.
Chemicals present in this plant act as diuretic, has protective effect on human sperm, protection to testicular tissue, reproduction, useful for kidney and reproductive organs diseases (Santos et al., 2013).
Plant chemical has a property of larvicidal which is useful in malaria. And useful in cosmetics and skin care product, atopic dermatitis, increase immunity, Anti fatigue activity.
Rutin from this plant is responsible for Neuroprotective activity, Retinoprotective, Protective effect on lung tissue hence this will be useful in COVID-19 pandemic. Also it has Cardioprotective , Hepatoprotective, Nephroprotective, Protective effect on blood vasculature, Wound healing property , Radio modulatory effects and help in prevention of splenocyte apoptosis. These properties can be used in associated conditions of the patient.
A chemical from plant is useful in Asthma and can be used in bronchodilator in chest infection. It has antidepressive activity. As many people are in lock down from many days hence there may be chance for depression. To overcome depression this property may be used.
This plant contains Lupeol which is skin protective, hence can be used as cosmetic purpose. In Ayurveda this plant is mentioned as Vishagna i.e. anti venom also this plant contains Di -n octyl phthalate which shows anti venom property. Ornithine from this plant may help to decrease stress and enhance sleep quality in the panic situation of COVID-19 pandemic. Hydroxy proline from this plant may help for formation of collagen which is important for normal structure and connective tissue & blood vessels in lack of exercise in lock down situation.
Plant contains Lysine which reduce the recurrence, severity, and healing period of herpes simplex virus infections hence can be used in other viral infection (Sivasankari et al., 2013). Also this is useful in treatment for schizophrenia, absorption of calcium, muscle protein, post surgery recovery, sports injuries, production of hormones, enzymes, antibodies, osteoporosis, anxiety and disturbances of mood, migraine, Alzheimer's dementia, loss of hairs, shingles, malignancy, heart diseases and aging. Tryptamine from this plant causes Hallucinations, used in psychotropic drugs and can be used for needy patients under medical supervision. These properties of Ajan Vruksha also known as Khandu Chakka plant may be useful for the patients in various medical conditions to overcome from COVID-19 pandemic crises, when there is lock down and limited recourses are available nationally and internationally. As this plant shows activity against pathogens and has many chemicals which can be used against pathogens, hence one can do further study to make hand wash as a sanitizer for prevention of disease. This will give employment to the peoples when there are lack of opportunities due to lock down and economical crises.

CONCLUSIONS
Hence to tackle such situation this herbal plant which is also considered very spiritual plant may help in this critical condition of COVID-19 pandemic by its Anti Viral activity and other medicinal useful activities for co morbidity conditions. These medicinal activities of plant will open the door for further research and will provide good opportunities for employment and farming to strengthen the economy of world. This spiritual plant may pave the way for humanity.