Natural immunity boosters: Clinical trial reports

Background 

The recent ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has adversely affected the whole world. The (SARS-CoV-2) virus causing COVID-19 infection targets the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor and causes a respiratory illness with complications. Mostly the related complications arise due to low immunity and the oxidative stress generated by the infection which leads to inflammation of the lungs and cell damage. To balance and maintain the redox homeostasis inside the cell and prevent damage of cells due to ROS or RNS antioxidants play an important role. Health drinks containing a balanced proportion of required micronutrients, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties are gaining importance, one such is the Mulmina® Mango which contains proper amounts of vitamins, minerals and has significant antioxidants and stress-relieving properties ¹.  Hence, in-vitro clinical trials were carried out to prove the efficacy of the health drink ².  

Study design and Method ²

The study was designed to determine the total antioxidant capacity of Mulmina® in normal and stress-induced mice

The acute hypovolemic hemorrhagic stress was induced in BALB/c mice by the withdrawal of 10% blood of total blood volume. The total antioxidant capacity was estimated in plasma samples of both normal- and stress-induced mice. Vitamin E was used as the standard antioxidant.

Results ²

• No elevation was observed in the total antioxidant capacity in normal animals when treated with Vitamin E (40 mg/kg) as well as Mulmina® (40 mg/kg and 80 mL/kg) as compared to normal control.
• Significant improvement was observed in the total antioxidant capacity (p<0.0001), on treatment with Mulmina® in the stressed animals.
• Significant improvement was observed in the total antioxidant capacity as compared with baseline (58.15±7.465 vs. 788.1±105; p<0.0001) in Mulmina® treatment group.
• Significant elevation was seen in the total antioxidant capacity as compared with baseline (45.11±11.28 vs. 946.3±202.3) in Mulmina® treated group after induction of stress.

Discussion ^{2, 3}

Antioxidants cause free-radical scavenging of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and maintain intracellular antioxidant balance. Mulmina contains extracts of different herbs which has the antioxidant property.

Mango contains many flavonoids which have shown elevation in free radical scavenging enzymes and a decrease in lipid peroxidation levels in preclinical trials. Centella asiatica, present in Mulmina contains saponins (also called triterpenoids) which exhibit antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective, antioxidant and wound healing activities.  Preclinical trials have shown that these saponins in Centella asiatica decreased the generation of ROS and oxidative stress as well as significantly reduced the SOD levels, which confirm its strong antioxidant activity ².  Polyphenol, flavonoid, β-carotene, tannin, Vitamin C found in Centella asiatica also contribute to its significantly higher antioxidant activity. Curcumin obtained from Curcuma longa present in Mulmina® possesses a potential antioxidant property which is evident from studies by Wang et al which showed that curcumin inhibited the inflammatory cells and oxidative stress causing lung damage, reduces edema and lung injury and helps to maintain a redox balance ^3,4.  

Conclusion

The above studies show that Mulmina® containing extracts from Mangifera indica, Centella asiatica and Curcuma longa have strong antioxidant property which may be helpful and effectively reduce oxidative stress and also has the ability to increase total antioxidant capacity.

References:

1. Yadav, R. P. a. U. COVID-19 Pandemic in India: Present Scenario and a Steep Climb Ahead. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 2020, Volume 11, 1–4.
2. Mulmina, Scientific updates,Update-1, 1-64.
3. XunWang, X. A., XiaocenWang, ChenBa, JingLi, DongYang, Chunxue Bai. Curcumin ameliorated ventilator-induced lung injury in rats. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy., 2018,98, 754-761.
4. Bruna A. C. Rattis, G. R. a. N. C. Curcumin as a Potential Treatment for COVID-19. Front. Pharmacol., 2021, 12, 1-14.