Potential of bryophytes in prevention and medication of COVID-19

Alam, A.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome Corona Virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the latest adherent in the family Coronaviridae. It is an extremely transmissible and transmits through interaction/droplets. Early response in an infected person includes deregulations of cytokine followed by failure of the immune system. World Health Organization (WHO) stated it as worldwide wellbeing emergency regarding this pandemic. The death tally is ever increasing since the first report in Wuhan (China) in December 2019. Consequently, the scientific community of the world started the work on his remedy and suggested the obligatory precautionary actions. Though, few vaccines have been developed, yet the best option is still to take preventive measures at present in future also. Among all preventive measures, the use of herbs in our diet is the easiest and best. Many herbs with great antioxidant profiles and antiviral potential are known to us. But, usually angiosperms are the first choice to be utilized and other plants such as bryophytes have been neglected for their use as remedy to treat many diseases caused by viruses. The purpose of this review to explore and compile those bryophytes which would be the possible candidates as remedy against coronavirus as immunity boosters.