Prominent Ayurved doctors told Express Newsline on Tuesday, observed as World AIDS Day, that green vegetables, fruits -- particularly bananas, papayas, mangoes, watermelons, apples and pineapples -- and dry fruits like black grapes and sprouted pulses not only increased human immunity, but could also check all viral invasions, including the Human-Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

While the Vadodara Government Ayurved College's Heads of Departments of Medicines and Pharmcology G K Chaturvedi and Maitreyee Rawal say adequate intake of green vegetables and fruits can increase human immunity, Kiran Joshi and R Pathak, two practising Ayurved doctors, stress on the intake of certain herbs commonly used in the kitchen.

Claiming that at least a dozen AIDS patients in Vadodara were under Ayurvedic treatment, the doctors said the cure was becoming more and more popular. In the early '80s, when AIDS had not become a household word, Ayurved had diagnosed and treated the disease under the name Ojakshyaya -- Oj in Sanskrit means immunity while akshyaya means decrease -- the doctors said, adding that Sushrut Sahinta contained all the details of the disease.

According to the doctors, there were several anti-viral ingredients that checked HIV, including Mandukparni (Hydrocotyl asiatica), Yashti Madhu (Glycerrhiza glabra), Karela (Monordema charenti), Vasant (Hypericum perforatum), Jufa (Hyssopophy sitalis), Kalmegh (Endrographis peniculata) and Neem (Malia azadirachta), which were easily and cheaply available.

Among the immuno-regulatory herbs, the doctors named Mandukparni, Galo (in different combinations), Chirayta (Prcrorrhiza curroa), Ashwagandha (Withenia somnifera), Tulsi (Osimum sanctum), Harringar or Parijatak (Nycanthus arbostrestis), Kushmand (watermelon) and Lehsun (Alium sativum). Among other helpful herbs are Amla, Shilajeet, Tulsi, Lehsun and Ashwagandha.

According to the doctors, if Ayurved which means the Veda to improve Ayu or age, both quantitatively and qualitatively was given a fillip, it would be helpful to many, as it was quite affordable and accessible, unlike allopathy.

Agreeing, State Ayurved wing of the Health department D N Shahane said the government was keen to support such research. P N V Kurup, vice-chancellor of the Junagadh-based Gujarat Ayurved University, was already engaged in AIDS-specific research, he added.