MIT Solve

Solution Overview

Solution Name:

Combating COVID19

One-line solution summary:

Combat COVID19 through Natural Phyto-compounds

Pitch your solution.

This project is designed after the sudden outbreak of COVID19 A number of cases with Viral Pneumonia of Unknown Etiology (VPUE) were admitted in Wuhan hospital, on 29th December 2019. Several preparation has been tried topically and per oral but none of value. This project is for the preparation of Herbal hand sanitizer intends to minimize the spread of viral, bacterial or any other organism. We will select 7 herbs (Peganum harmala, Nigella sativa, Baikal Scullcap, Sambucus nigra, Andrographis paniculata, Camellia sinensis (green tea) and licorice). We will initially screen phyto-compounds for terpenoids and lignoids against COVID19 viral infections. The extracted compounds will be applied locally with other ingredients of proved efficacy of sanitization authenticity. The product getting good rubrics will be utilized for general public for their benefit(s).

What specific problem are you solving?

At present the pandemic situation declared by WHO Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation report of 30 March 2020, cases in Pakistan are 1625, with 28 recoveries and 20 deaths. While worldwide situation is 693,224 cases with 33,106 cases of death tool have been documented globally in more than 203 countries are from Two hundred three different countries including Developed and developing countries . Many countries are fighting with this worse situation with their meager resources. Various therapeutics options are under consideration for viral control but still no promising option has been tried. Coronavirus belongs to the family of Coronavirinae, order Nidovirales. Until 2019, only six human coronaviruses (HCoVs) were known that could be held responsible for respiratory diseases. The other two, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), are known to infect the lower respiratory tract . It is very interesting to know after whole genome sequence that it has not emerged from recombination . A number of herbal and Chinese natural medicines in single and in combination have certain effects which has been tried in previous viral respiratory out breaks and found satisfactory .

What is your solution?

The candidate herbs/plants including Peganum harmala, Nigella sativa, Baikal Scullcap, Sambucus nigra, Andrographis paniculata, Camellia sinensis (green tea) and licorice will be used.

The following procedure would be adopted

Maceration:

Straining:
The extract will be then repeated from the plant particles by straining.
Extraction:

Evaporation:

Screening of Specific Plant Terpenoids and Lignoids:
The aqueous extract of all selected plants listed above will be subjected to different phytochemical tests using standard procedures to identify the phytochemical constituents qualitatively.
Test for terpenoids (Salkowski test):
The terpenoids in aqueous extract of various plant will be detected by mixing 5 ml of each extract with 2 ml of chloroform with the careful addition of 3 ml concentrated H2 SO4 so as to allow the formation of a layer. The formation of a reddish brown color at the interface confirmed the presence of terpenoids.
Separation of lignoid mixtures:
The colorless methanol and water solutions will be extracted first with hexane and then with dichloromethane. Evaporation of the hexane and dichloromethane solutions will be done at reduced pressure.
Preparation of Hand Sanitizer:
The extracted terpenoids and lignoids from plants will be mixed with other solutions for the preparation of sanitizer to be applied locally for effective control of Corona virus through skin especially by hands.

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

The target population will be poor people and general people of either gender.

Contribution through project:

The proposed project research activities would make significant contribution in better understanding of epidemic and timely control of COVID19 because it is contact and surface virus.

Spread of COVID19:

Its spread through social contact and surface spread makes the population vulnerable, so this sanitizer could be very helpful.

Spread Pattern of COVID19:

The patterns of spread are through social intermingle. The frequently clean of hands will minimize the spread.

Timely Patient Care: Hand Sanitizer and Hygiene:

The best method is improve patient care which can be achieved through sanitization especially Hand sanitizer and Hygiene. Moreover the suspected patients could be minimizing the spread of infection like COVID19.

Public Health Response:

The public health response in national context. Our focus on why and how? the proposal is timely and requires rapid activation to address the identified research priorities because in project we would cater the dire need of pandemic of COVID19.

Explain how the problem, your solution, and your solution’s target population relate to the Challenge.

The project is directly aligned with the problem/ challenge and for the target population

In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?

Bahawalpur, Pakistan

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Concept: An idea being explored for its feasibility to build a product, service, or business model based on that idea

Who is the primary delegate for your solution?

Muhammad Mazhar Ayaz