Bioactive molecules in Siddha Polyherbal Nilavembu Kudineer alleviating symptoms of Dengue/Chikugunya

Dengue is the most prevalent arthropodborne viral diseases in terms of morbidity and mortality in the recent decade with the classic symptoms of high fever, headache as well as muscle and joint pain. Nilavembu Kudineer (NK) is one among the 32 types of internal medicines described in the ancient Siddha system of medicine in south India which reduces fever and relieves body aches. NK, a polyherbal formulation made up of eight traditional herbs in equal parts, is also recommended for prevention and management of all types of viral infections including Dengue/Chikugunya. Exploration of bioactive compounds in the plants is the primary step for the standardization and bioactivity screening of plants and formulations. So the current study aims at recording the chemical constituents and medicinal activities of each ingredient of NK. The antipyretic, antiinflammatory, analgesic and immunostimulant effects of NK have been attributed to more than one ingredient in NK. The medicinal property of the NK can be also attributed to the combined effect of all phytochemicals present in these eight herbs. The current study encompasses the various chemicals and the activities of individual herbs but a thorough stereoscopic and chromatographic investigation is required to trace out the major phytochemical entities which are retained once the NK is prepared by the traditional methods.