**2. Covid-19 and vegetarian, spice diet relation**

The COVID-19 burden cross top 10 infected countries (dt. 28 Feb. 2021) is shown in the **Table 1** and India is the 2nd most infected after USA but its no. of cases (incidence) and per million (7,990) and deaths (113) is the lowest. It is only 16% of the average (47,000/ 1 million) of the other 9 leading countries incidence and 10% of the death rate (1,110/1 million). This makes it worth studying.

#### **2.1 Immunity Buster foods**

It is known that the Immunity is compromised by the higher consumption fast/ packed foods, refined cards, intoxicants, higher salt, sugar, fat etc. We find the immunity stress foods consumed in 2–30 times in EU/USA (average 9 times intake) than India, as seen in **Tables 2** and **3**, **Figure 1**.

#### **2.2 Immunity booster foods**

Indian spice consumption, rich in polyphenols, is 2 times higher (2.07 kg/head/ year, **Table 4** and **Figure 2**) than the global average (1.01 kg/head/year) [7] or USA [8]. Cancer incidence (89 per 0.1 million) in India is 50% of the global average (197) 25% of the EU (363) or USA (387), indicating better immunity [9], possibly due to the higher spice consumption. Asthama incidence, a major respiratory ailment and immunity indicator is similarly low in India with below 10% population affected but higher levels in the European nations- 20 to 25% [10].


**243**

*Polyphenols, Spices and Vegetarian Diet for Immunity and Anti-Inflammatory Drug Design*

**Component Unit Ind West Ratio** 1. Alcohol Lit/ yr 5 10 2 2. Cigarettes no.s 117 1400 9 3. Sugar Kg/yr 19 35 2 5. Meat Kg/yr 5 88 17 6. Fats Gram/day 45 145 3 7. Salt Gram/day 10 34 3 8. Refined carbohydrates kg Kg/yr. 1.5 50 30 9. Packed foods % <5 45 10

**Item Developing % Share Industrial % share** Meat 369 17 958 35 Sugar 170 8 328 12 Pulses 99 5 37 1 Tubers 154 7 112 4 veg. Oil 239 11 494 18 Wheat 457 21 627 23 Rice 655 31 153 6

Total 2143 2709

*Various food items share in Calorie intake (Kcal/day/head) [6].*

However, the spice consumption in India varies greatly across states and economic strata or ethnicity and has changed over times much. Chilli for instance, has replaced black paper, common earlier for adding pungent flavor and changed the world history as European discovered India for the later. The former has no antiviral report [11] while the later is an effective antiviral [12]. Similarly, Chilli is consumed more in northern India while Black Pepper in southern India- its main producer region- and this region also shows lowest fatality rate in India- 1%. Chilli comprises nearly 20% of the 5 gram/day/head spices consumed, and Turmeric, Ginger,

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.97661*

*Immunity Buster Foods Intake Globe per capita/yr. [2].*

**Table 2.**

**Table 3.**

**Figure 1.**

*Food items % in Calorie intake- nations.*

#### **Table 1.**

*COVID-19 Incidence and death rate in top 10 countries.*

*Polyphenols, Spices and Vegetarian Diet for Immunity and Anti-Inflammatory Drug Design DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.97661*


#### **Table 2.**

*Bioactive Compounds - Biosynthesis, Characterization and Applications*

**2. Covid-19 and vegetarian, spice diet relation**

than India, as seen in **Tables 2** and **3**, **Figure 1**.

but higher levels in the European nations- 20 to 25% [10].

*Source- https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ dt. 28 Feb. 2021.*

*COVID-19 Incidence and death rate in top 10 countries.*

**2.1 Immunity Buster foods**

**2.2 Immunity booster foods**

rich in antioxidants, including polyphenols. Spices are among the richest in these, and are anti-inflammatory. Thus, they can be useful to manage immunity disorders

Adverse drug reaction (ADR) is another major concern that spice/herbal medicines can reduce in principle and as experienced, leading to their growing global demand. ADR affects about 5–10% of the patients globally and can cause sever damage/expenses [5]. As spices are permitted food ingredients globally, ADR risk is low.

The COVID-19 burden cross top 10 infected countries (dt. 28 Feb. 2021) is shown in the **Table 1** and India is the 2nd most infected after USA but its no. of cases (incidence) and per million (7,990) and deaths (113) is the lowest. It is only 16% of the average (47,000/ 1 million) of the other 9 leading countries incidence and 10% of the death rate (1,110/1 million). This makes it worth studying.

It is known that the Immunity is compromised by the higher consumption fast/ packed foods, refined cards, intoxicants, higher salt, sugar, fat etc. We find the immunity stress foods consumed in 2–30 times in EU/USA (average 9 times intake)

Indian spice consumption, rich in polyphenols, is 2 times higher (2.07 kg/head/ year, **Table 4** and **Figure 2**) than the global average (1.01 kg/head/year) [7] or USA [8]. Cancer incidence (89 per 0.1 million) in India is 50% of the global average (197) 25% of the EU (363) or USA (387), indicating better immunity [9], possibly due to the higher spice consumption. Asthama incidence, a major respiratory ailment and immunity indicator is similarly low in India with below 10% population affected

**Country Total Cases Total Deaths Tot Cases/1 M pop Deaths/1 M pop** World 114,468,838 2,539,109 14,685 325.7 1. USA 29,202,966 524,670 87,886 1,579 2. India 11,097,134 157,092 7,990 113 3. Brazil 10,517,232 254,263 49,248 1,191 4. Russia 4,246,079 86,122 29,088 590 5. UK 4,170,519 122,705 61,222 1,801 6. France 3,736,016 86,332 57,153 1,321 7. Spain 3,188,553 69,142 68,180 1,478 8. Italy 2,907,825 97,507 48,140 1,614 9. Turkey 2,693,164 28,503 31,708 336 10. Germany 2,444,303 70,608 29,112 841

such as COVID-19 and Arthritis, an auto-immune disorder of the elderly.

**242**

**Table 1.**

*Immunity Buster Foods Intake Globe per capita/yr. [2].*


#### **Table 3.**

*Various food items share in Calorie intake (Kcal/day/head) [6].*

#### **Figure 1.**

However, the spice consumption in India varies greatly across states and economic strata or ethnicity and has changed over times much. Chilli for instance, has replaced black paper, common earlier for adding pungent flavor and changed the world history as European discovered India for the later. The former has no antiviral report [11] while the later is an effective antiviral [12]. Similarly, Chilli is consumed more in northern India while Black Pepper in southern India- its main producer region- and this region also shows lowest fatality rate in India- 1%. Chilli comprises nearly 20% of the 5 gram/day/head spices consumed, and Turmeric, Ginger,


#### **Table 4.**

*Spice Intake & Cancer incidence- India & the world.*

#### **Figure 2.**

*Spice intake & Cancer Incidence (Note- the Y axis is in the log scale so the world and India incidence is less distinct).*

Mustard, Coriander, Cumin are nearly equal, the 5 adding to 80% of the spices consumed on average [7]. More potent antiviral spices (except Ginger & Turmeric) are consumed to lesser extent viz. Cinnamon, Clove and Garlic. The potential of spice bioactive agents as possible COVID-19 remedy or relief is enlisted in **Table 5**.

Scientists have postulated other hypotheses to explain the much lower COVID-19 prevalence and mortality in India/Asia than in the Europe & America, such as the hygiene/exposure [25] and genetics [26], but the role of diet is also mentioned in both prevention and treatment with immunity focus [27]. Spices are found to be important preventive agents and immunity guards in case of the corona, based on data from 163 countries by German scientists [28].

Spices can be important immunity booster due to their bioactive compounds known to be healthy [29, 30]. They may be suppressing the inflammatory pathways


**245**

*Polyphenols, Spices and Vegetarian Diet for Immunity and Anti-Inflammatory Drug Design*

correlates of Corona intensity and mortality before that in **Table 6**.

in Hindi- https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1609524).

They also mention the spices as having therapeutic effects below

3.Antidiabetic- Cinnamon, Bayleaf, Fenugreek, Mustard

Its rationale and working mechanism is also explained by scientists [38].

Scientists from Russia & USA describe the health benefits of spices due to their bioactive ingredients & antioxidant nature [39]. They say rosamarinic acid content from the Mint family as beneficial (Oregano- 2,562 mg/100 gm dry weight, Sage-2,186, Mint- 1908, Sweet Basil- 1,086, & Thyme- 681). Aromatic and medicinal herbs or spices such as these and Parsley, Coriander, Onion, Cumin, Cinnamon, Bay etc. (except Chilli) protect human health due to flavanoid content e.g. Quercetin, Luteolin, Rutin, Apigenin, Myicetin. They indicate that the the herbs are found

NF-κB and STAT3 [31]. Flavonoids inhibit biosynthesis of prostaglandins (the end products of the COX and lipoxygenase pathways), which acts as a secondary messengers and are involved in various immunologic responses [32]. We illustrate below the scope of use of bioactives from spices to treat Arthritis, a common auto-immune disease with no sure modern cure yet, as drug design example to integrate the traditional wisdom with modern science and technology. But we present some other

**Table 6** shows that the corona intensity (no. of cases/ million) is strongly (r = 0.7) correlated with the income per capita and even strongly (r = 0.75) with literacy. The lower corona burden in India and its poorer states may also be because the poorer, illiterate people of states such as U. P., Bihar have stronger immunity, despite higher population density. For, they mainly eat natural foods, with very low amount of packed food, bottled water so low HFSS intake. Hence, the lesser Covid-19 intensity in North & eastern India. Corona is mainly rich countries & people's ailment [33]. Lac of hygiene & exposure to microbes in the slums etc. makes people resistant to microbes, it is said [34]. Migrations improve immunity, is another hypothesis [35]. Mustard oil, common in northern India is antiviral & SARS inhibitor [36], unlike Groundnut in western India, which is an allergen. Lastly, Asians got a protein D614 mutation, making them stronger than the Europeans [37]. These 5 reasons may explain the trend besides Govt. advisory on spice decoction ("Kadha"

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.97661*

**2.3 Spices and herbs- global resurgence**

useful in treating the cancers below-

b.Saffron- Skin, rectal, hepatic,

c.Garlic- prostate, colon,

e.Mustard- Rectal, Bladder,

f. Bayleaf- melanoma.

d.Onion- Gastric,

a.Turmeric- Rectal, oral, head, neck, Leukemia;

1.Cardiovascular- garlic, Turmeric, Ginger

2.Neuro-degenrative- Mint, Onion

#### **Table 5.**

*Spices with scope of COVID-19 immunity/cure.*

#### *Polyphenols, Spices and Vegetarian Diet for Immunity and Anti-Inflammatory Drug Design DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.97661*

NF-κB and STAT3 [31]. Flavonoids inhibit biosynthesis of prostaglandins (the end products of the COX and lipoxygenase pathways), which acts as a secondary messengers and are involved in various immunologic responses [32]. We illustrate below the scope of use of bioactives from spices to treat Arthritis, a common auto-immune disease with no sure modern cure yet, as drug design example to integrate the traditional wisdom with modern science and technology. But we present some other correlates of Corona intensity and mortality before that in **Table 6**.

**Table 6** shows that the corona intensity (no. of cases/ million) is strongly (r = 0.7) correlated with the income per capita and even strongly (r = 0.75) with literacy. The lower corona burden in India and its poorer states may also be because the poorer, illiterate people of states such as U. P., Bihar have stronger immunity, despite higher population density. For, they mainly eat natural foods, with very low amount of packed food, bottled water so low HFSS intake. Hence, the lesser Covid-19 intensity in North & eastern India. Corona is mainly rich countries & people's ailment [33]. Lac of hygiene & exposure to microbes in the slums etc. makes people resistant to microbes, it is said [34]. Migrations improve immunity, is another hypothesis [35]. Mustard oil, common in northern India is antiviral & SARS inhibitor [36], unlike Groundnut in western India, which is an allergen. Lastly, Asians got a protein D614 mutation, making them stronger than the Europeans [37]. These 5 reasons may explain the trend besides Govt. advisory on spice decoction ("Kadha" in Hindi- https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1609524).

Its rationale and working mechanism is also explained by scientists [38].

### **2.3 Spices and herbs- global resurgence**

Scientists from Russia & USA describe the health benefits of spices due to their bioactive ingredients & antioxidant nature [39]. They say rosamarinic acid content from the Mint family as beneficial (Oregano- 2,562 mg/100 gm dry weight, Sage-2,186, Mint- 1908, Sweet Basil- 1,086, & Thyme- 681). Aromatic and medicinal herbs or spices such as these and Parsley, Coriander, Onion, Cumin, Cinnamon, Bay etc. (except Chilli) protect human health due to flavanoid content e.g. Quercetin, Luteolin, Rutin, Apigenin, Myicetin. They indicate that the the herbs are found useful in treating the cancers below-


They also mention the spices as having therapeutic effects below


*Bioactive Compounds - Biosynthesis, Characterization and Applications*

*Spice Intake & Cancer incidence- India & the world.*

Mustard, Coriander, Cumin are nearly equal, the 5 adding to 80% of the spices consumed on average [7]. More potent antiviral spices (except Ginger & Turmeric) are consumed to lesser extent viz. Cinnamon, Clove and Garlic. The potential of spice bioactive agents as possible COVID-19 remedy or relief is enlisted in **Table 5**. Scientists have postulated other hypotheses to explain the much lower COVID-19 prevalence and mortality in India/Asia than in the Europe & America, such as the hygiene/exposure [25] and genetics [26], but the role of diet is also mentioned in both prevention and treatment with immunity focus [27]. Spices are found to be important preventive agents and immunity guards in case of the corona, based on

*Spice intake & Cancer Incidence (Note- the Y axis is in the log scale so the world and India incidence is less* 

**Parameter- region India [7] USA [8] Ratio Rest/India** Spice intake kg/head/year 1 0.6 0.6 Cancer prevalence [9] 89 363 4

Spices can be important immunity booster due to their bioactive compounds known to be healthy [29, 30]. They may be suppressing the inflammatory pathways

1. Coriander Quercetin Attachment, endocytosis, cell fusion [13, 14] 2. Ginger Gingerol Secrete IFN-β t, inhibits initiation of virus - reduces

3. Turmeric Curcumin Anti-inflammatory, used in rhinitis [17]

4. Pepper, Black Piperine Anti-proliferative activity- in vascular smooth muscle

1. Camphor Imine 1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo [2.2.1] heptanes2-ylidene [19]

3. Clove Essential oil, Eugenol Enveloped virus- HSV-1 and Newcastle [21]

4. Garlic, Onion Allicin Block multiplication [22]

cells [18]

Terpenoid, polyphenols Non- neuraminidase inhibition [23, 24]

HRSV-induced plaque [15, 16]

Vero cell membrane and/ or HSV-1 envelope [20]

data from 163 countries by German scientists [28].

**Priority Ingredient Effect**

2. Cumin EHP [1-(2-Ethyl,6-Heptyl) Phenol]

*Spices with scope of COVID-19 immunity/cure.*

**244**

**Table 5.**

Ancillary

5. Tulsi (Holy Basil)

**Table 4.**

**Figure 2.**

*distinct).*


**Table 6.**

**247**

*Polyphenols, Spices and Vegetarian Diet for Immunity and Anti-Inflammatory Drug Design*

Due to the efficacy, safety and sentiments, herbal medicines top the complimentary & alternative medicine (CAM) treatements becoming popular globally recently. The amount of money spent on CAM treatments in the U.S. has skyrocketed in recent years. As per an 2007 survey, Americans spent \$33.9 billion out of pocket on CAM therapies that year [40]. About \$22 billion was spent on natural products, instructional classes, and materials. Dietary supplements accounted for \$14.8 billion of this amount, an expenditure equal to about 1/3rd of out-ofpocket spending or prescription drugs. The remaining \$11.9 billion was spent on an estimated 354 million visits to CAM practitioners (acupuncturists, massage therapists, or chiropractors), an amount equal to about 25% of out-of-pocket costs for visits to conventional doctors. The following 10 species (3 spices, 4 herbs)

The main ailments by frequency referred to the CAM practitioners are

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.97661*

6.Hepatic- Caraway, cardamom,

7.Endocrine- Ginger, Turmeric,

8.Obesity- Saffron, Turmeric,

9.Renal- garlic, Fennel, Ginger,

10.Alcohol abuse- Thyme, Ginger

prevail [40]

a.*Echinacea- 41%*,

b.Ginseng- 24%,

d.Garlic - 10%,

c.*Gingko biloba- 21%*,

e. St. John's wort- 12%,

f. Glucosamine- 12%,

g.Peppermint- 12%,

i. Ginger - 10%,

1.Back pain- 17%,

2.Neck pain- 6%,

3.Joint pain- 5%,

j. Soy - 9%.

h.Fish oil/omega-3-10%,

4.Gastrointestinal- Black Pepper, Bayleaf

5.Hypertension- Cardamom, Cinnamom,

*Corona intensity & socio-economic correlates across Indian states.*

*\*\*\*\*(deaths/ cases), M.P.- Madhya Pradesh Ref.- https://www.mohfw.gov.in/, Dt. 28-03-2021.*

*Bioactive Compounds - Biosynthesis, Characterization and Applications*

*Polyphenols, Spices and Vegetarian Diet for Immunity and Anti-Inflammatory Drug Design DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.97661*


*Bioactive Compounds - Biosynthesis, Characterization and Applications*

**246**

**State** Kerala

Delhi Maharashtra

Andhra Karnataka Tamil Nadu West Bengal

Gujarat Rajasthan

M.P. Ttar Pradesh

Bihar

Total

Correlation coefficient

Correlation between

*@no. k/ sq. km.*

*\*\*\*70% of India.*

*\*\*80% of India.*

*#2011 census data.*

*\*Rs. K/head/yr- ref. RBI, 2020.*

**Table 6.**

*Corona intensity & socio-economic correlates across Indian states.*

*\*\*\*\*(deaths/ cases), M.P.- Madhya Pradesh Ref.- https://www.mohfw.gov.in/, Dt. 28-03-2021.*

199 103

\*\*\*

949

68 76

91 60

72

61

49

112

33 25

**Popu-lation** 

**Popu-lation** 

**Corona cases** 

**Corona – Deaths** 

**Corona Cases/**

**Corona Fatality** 

**Income\***

**Literacy#**

**%**

**\*\***

**million**

33694 26110 23222 18283 16041 12128 6416 4977 4847 3769 3067 2569

0.41 1.68 2.07 0.80 1.27 1.45 1.77 1.50 0.85 1.38 1.44 0.59

13

62

25 20

67

69

31

66

55

78

35

76

54

87

48

75

44

67

54 111 62

82

86

94

**Nos.**

**nos.**

1111897

652742

10978

4539

**Density@**

859 7400

365 303 319 555 1029 308 200 236 828 1102

610273 264604

\*\*\*\*

9486362

0.38 Cases-Populn.

Fatality-Case

density

Density

−0.07

0.71 Case

Case

density- literacy

density- Income

0.76

1571

8783

286407

3947

298,596 329595

2811

583839

10322 4484

873219

978478

12471 12641

895879

7201

2600833

53795

**Million**


Due to the efficacy, safety and sentiments, herbal medicines top the complimentary & alternative medicine (CAM) treatements becoming popular globally recently. The amount of money spent on CAM treatments in the U.S. has skyrocketed in recent years. As per an 2007 survey, Americans spent \$33.9 billion out of pocket on CAM therapies that year [40]. About \$22 billion was spent on natural products, instructional classes, and materials. Dietary supplements accounted for \$14.8 billion of this amount, an expenditure equal to about 1/3rd of out-ofpocket spending or prescription drugs. The remaining \$11.9 billion was spent on an estimated 354 million visits to CAM practitioners (acupuncturists, massage therapists, or chiropractors), an amount equal to about 25% of out-of-pocket costs for visits to conventional doctors. The following 10 species (3 spices, 4 herbs) prevail [40]


The main ailments by frequency referred to the CAM practitioners are


Reasons for the Increased Use of CAM and Dietary Supplements are


With the growing use of the herbal medicines, safety concern is emerging due to the issues such as adulteration, quality and adverse reaction [41]. Hence, World Health Organization (WHO), devised a Traditional Medicine New Strategy (2006–2013) with 3 key health priorities [42], as most countries have traditional/ herbal medicine policy to mainstream it


Nevertheless, spices and herbs have great potential in future as depicted below with in the example of an anti-inflammatory drug design excercise.
