Ayurvedic NanoGold Formulation as a Shield against Coronaviruses: Including SARS CoV 2

Abstract

Immunosenescence has been postulated by many workers to be the prime reason behind the increased mortality observed in the ageing population during the ongoing SARS-CoV 2 pandemic. SARS-CoV 2 infection results in a range of effects, from mostly asymptomatic and mild cases to more severe manifestations.  Defects and dysfunctions of the primary immune cells are being considered as the most important factor in the patients who develop the more serious form of the disease. These defects may be in the efficient and early recognition of PAMPs by the PRRs of the Dendritic cells or in the delayed and hyper-inflammatory cytokine release by the monocytes and macrophages in the lung. The innate immune system response is now being advanced as the critical factor in disease outcome. While Immunosenescence is considered irreversible, yet it is a dynamic process and as such it is amenable to re-conditioning and enhancements. One agent that can revitalize the ageing immune system is Gold nanoparticles (GNP) which have recently been studied because of their ability to act as carriers of vaccines and chemotherapeutic agents. Use of GNP in rats has caused increase in lymphocyte cell populations and induced activation of dendritic cells and macrophages. Since immunosenescence causes a depletion of naive T and B lymphocytes, use of GNP can have a salutary role. Improved recognition of PAMPs by Dendritic cells and Macrophages can help in mounting a more efficient response to the invading virus. Elemental gold formulations have been used in India for millennia, for diseases ranging from fevers and memory loss to senility. Some formulations are prescribed for infants, hence their safety is not suspect. If employed with suitable modifications, such formulations can play the vital role of oral vaccines against not just Covid 19, but also the vast range of other influenza viruses.