Adhatoda Vasica attenuates inflammatory and hypoxic responses in preclinical mouse models: potential for repurposing in COVID-19-like conditions

Abstract Background COVID-19 pneumonia has been associated with severe acute hypoxia, sepsis-like states, thrombosis and chronic sequelae including persisting hypoxia fibrosis. The molecular response pathway such pathologies our recent observations on anti-hypoxic anti-inflammatory effects of whole aqueous extract Adhatoda Vasica (AV) prompted us to explore its relevant preclinical mouse models. Methods In this study, we tested the effect AV, in murine models bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis, Cecum Ligation Puncture (CLP) sepsis, siRNA hypoxia-thrombosis phenotype. lung AV treated naïve mice was also studied at transcriptome level. We determined if may have any SARS-CoV2 replication. Results Oral administration attenuates increased airway inflammation, levels transforming growth factor-?1 (TGF-?1), IL-6, HIF-1? improves overall survival rates fibrosis sepsis rescues inflammation blood coagulation phenotypes mice. observed downregulation TGF-?1, angiogenesis genes upregulation adaptive immunity-related transcriptome. treatment reduced viral load Vero cells infected SARS-CoV2. Conclusion Our results provide a scientific rationale for ayurvedic herbal medicine ameliorating hypoxia-hyperinflammation features highlights repurposing potential COVID-19-like conditions.