Efficacy and Safety of Ayurveda Intervention AYUSH 64 as add-on therapy for patients with COVID 19 infections: An open labelled, Parallel Group, Randomized controlled clinical trial

Bhardwaj, P.; Godatwar, P. K.; Charan, J.; Sharma, S.; Shafi, S.; Chauhan, N.; Vyas, P.; Dutt, N.; Midha, N.; Jalandra, R.; Sharma, M.; Nag, V. L.; Singh, S. K.; Sharma, P.; Misra, S.

COVID-19 pandemic impacted human health and the global economy. There is a huge uncertainty about the management of this disease, many drugs including some older drugs are being tested for efficacy and safety including the medicines from the complementary and alternative system. The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, India's apex body for Ayurvedic research and development under the Ministry of AYUSH, has developed a poly-herbal drug called AYUSH 64 for covid 19 which is considered to be having role in the COVID-19. This study was designed with the aim of assessing the efficacy and safety of AYUSH 64 in mild covid-19 patients as add on therapy with standard treatment. It was an open labelled, comparative, parallel group, Randomized controlled clinical trial. Total 60 stage I (mild) COVID 19 positive subjects were recruited, 30 were assigned to AYUSH 64 as an add on therapy along with the standard treatment and 30 were assigned to standard treatment as per the protocols. RT-PCR test was done as per government guidelines and protocol. Along with the RT-PCR clinical laboratory tests were also performed at screening as well as on the discharge as per the study schedule. Absolute events of negative RT-PCR at day 5 were more in the AYUSH 64 group as compared to control group but it was not statistically significant (70% Vs 54%, p=0.28). There was no significant difference between AYUSH 64 and control group for fever and respiratory symptoms or important lab parameters. No serious adverse event was reported from any group. AYUSH 64 has no significant beneficial effect as compared to control group, this may be because of the less sample size or no actual effect which need to be confirmed by studies with large sample size.