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Natural products can be used in therapeutic management of COVID-19: Probable mechanistic insights.
Ali, S, Alam, M, Khatoon, F, Fatima, U, Elasbali, AM, Adnan, M, Islam, A, Hassan, MI, Snoussi, M, De Feo, V
Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie. 2022;:112658
Abstract
The unexpected emergence of the new Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has affected more than three hundred million individuals and resulted in more than five million deaths worldwide. The ongoing pandemic has underscored the urgent need for effective preventive and therapeutic measures to develop anti-viral therapy. The natural compounds possess various pharmaceutical properties and are reported as effective anti-virals. The interest to develop an anti-viral drug against the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) from natural compounds has increased globally. Here, we investigated the anti-viral potential of selected promising natural products. Sources of data for this paper are current literature published in the context of therapeutic uses of phytoconstituents and their mechanism of action published in various reputed peer-reviewed journals. An extensive literature survey was done and data were critically analyzed to get deeper insights into the mechanism of action of a few important phytoconstituents. The consumption of natural products such as thymoquinone, quercetin, caffeic acid, ursolic acid, ellagic acid, vanillin, thymol, and rosmarinic acid could improve our immune response and thus possesses excellent therapeutic potential. This review focuses on the anti-viral functions of various phytoconstituent and alkaloids and their potential therapeutic implications against SARS-CoV-2. Our comprehensive analysis provides mechanistic insights into phytoconstituents to restrain viral infection and provide a better solution through natural, therapeutically active agents.
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Phytonutrient and Nutraceutical Action against COVID-19: Current Review of Characteristics and Benefits.
Pastor, N, Collado, MC, Manzoni, P
Nutrients. 2021;(2)
Abstract
The trend toward using phytonutrients and/or nutraceuticals (P/Ns) with the aim of impacting immune health has increased in recent years. The main reason is that properties of P/Ns are associated with possible immunomodulating effects in the prevention and complementary treatment of viral diseases, including COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. In the present review, we assess the scientific plausibility of specific P/Ns for this purpose of preventative and therapeutic interventions against COVID-19, with an emphasis on safety, validity, and evidence of efficacy against other viruses. Five potential candidates have been identified after reviewing available studies (in silico, in vitro, and in vivo) in which certain flavonoids have demonstrated a potential for use as adjuvant therapeutic agents against viral infections, including COVID-19. As these are often better tolerated than pharmacological treatments, their use could be more widely considered if additional detailed studies can validate the existing evidence.
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Micronutrients and bioactive compounds in the immunological pathways related to SARS-CoV-2 (adults and elderly).
Arruda de Souza Monnerat, J, Ribeiro de Souza, P, Monteiro da Fonseca Cardoso, L, Dario Mattos, J, de Souza Rocha, G, Frauches Medeiros, R
European journal of nutrition. 2021;(2):559-579
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Abstract
The new coronavirus pandemic is affecting the entire world with more than 25 million confirmed cases in August 2020 according to the World Health Organization. It is known that the virus can affect several tissues and can progress to a respiratory failure in severe cases. To prevent the progression to this stage of the disease and minimize all the damage caused by coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) the immune system must be in its integrity. A healthy nutritional status are fundamental to efficient immunological protection and consequently a good response to SARS-CoV-2. Micronutrients and bioactive compounds perform functions in immune cells that are extremely essential to stop SARS-CoV-2. Their adequate consumption is part of a non-pharmacological intervention to keep the immune system functioning. This review has as main objective to inform how micronutrients and bioactive compounds could act in the essential immunological pathways could stop SARS-CoV-2, focusing on the functions that have already established in the literature and transposing to this scenario.
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Attenuation of acute and chronic inflammation using compounds derived from plants.
Bondy, SC, Wu, M, Prasad, KN
Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.). 2021;(4):406-413
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Abstract
The appearance of excessive inflammatory activity is associated with onset of many disease states. Such non-productive responses are often the basis of the mortality consequent to incurring numerous disorders. The current outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by the virus "severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2" is a striking reflection of the inadequacy of current medical science to adequately address this issue. The usefulness of a range of materials of botanical origin in the attenuation of both chronic and acute inflammatory responses to various disease stressors is described. The properties of preparations of plant-based origin often parallel those of synthesized pharmacologics, but differ from them in some key respects. These differences can lead to more traditional preparations having distinct therapeutic advantages but also a number of specific shortcomings. The strengths and weaknesses of these materials are objectively contrasted with that of a more orthodox pharmacological approach. Each of these emphases in style has specific advantages and they should not be considered as competitors, but rather as accomplices in combating adverse states involving derangement of immune function.
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Global multi-omics and systems pharmacological strategy unravel the multi-targeted therapeutic potential of natural bioactive molecules against COVID-19: An in silico approach.
Muthuramalingam, P, Jeyasri, R, Valliammai, A, Selvaraj, A, Karthika, C, Gowrishankar, S, Pandian, SK, Ramesh, M, Chen, JT
Genomics. 2020;(6):4486-4504
Abstract
Understanding the immunological behavior of COVID-19 cases at molecular level is essential for therapeutic development. In this study, multi-omics and systems pharmacology analyses were performed to unravel the multi-targeted mechanisms of novel bioactives to combat COVID-19. Immuno-transcriptomic dataset of healthy controls and COVID-19 cases was retrieved from ArrayExpress. Phytocompounds from ethnobotanical plants were collected from PubChem. Differentially expressed 98 immune genes associated with COVID-19 were derived through NetworkAnalyst 3.0. Among 259 plant derived compounds, 154 compounds were targeting 13 COVID-19 immune genes involved in diverse signaling pathways. In addition, pharmacological properties of these phytocompounds were compared with COVID-19 drugs prescribed by WHO, and 25 novel phytocompounds were found to be more efficient with higher bioactive scores. The current study unravels the virogenomic signatures which can serve as therapeutic targets and identified phytocompounds with anti-COVID-19 efficacy. However, further experimental validation is essential to bring out these molecules as commercial drug candidates.
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Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Extracts and Pure Compounds Derived from Plants via Modulation of Signaling Pathways, Especially PI3K/AKT in Macrophages.
Merecz-Sadowska, A, Sitarek, P, Śliwiński, T, Zajdel, R
International journal of molecular sciences. 2020;(24)
Abstract
The plant kingdom is a source of important therapeutic agents. Therefore, in this review, we focus on natural compounds that exhibit efficient anti-inflammatory activity via modulation signaling transduction pathways in macrophage cells. Both extracts and pure chemicals from different species and parts of plants such as leaves, roots, flowers, barks, rhizomes, and seeds rich in secondary metabolites from various groups such as terpenes or polyphenols were included. Selected extracts and phytochemicals control macrophages biology via modulation signaling molecules including NF-κB, MAPKs, AP-1, STAT1, STAT6, IRF-4, IRF-5, PPARγ, KLF4 and especially PI3K/AKT. Macrophages are important immune effector cells that take part in antigen presentation, phagocytosis, and immunomodulation. The M1 and M2 phenotypes are related to the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory agents, respectively. The successful resolution of inflammation mediated by M2, or failed resolution mediated by M1, may lead to tissue repair or chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is strictly related to several disorders. Thus, compounds of plant origin targeting inflammatory response may constitute promising therapeutic strategies.
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Immune-Boosting, Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Food Supplements Targeting Pathogenesis of COVID-19.
Mrityunjaya, M, Pavithra, V, Neelam, R, Janhavi, P, Halami, PM, Ravindra, PV
Frontiers in immunology. 2020;:570122
Abstract
The COVID-19 is an acute and contagious disease characterized by pneumonia and ARDS. The disease is caused by SARS-CoV-2, which belongs to the family of Coronaviridae along with MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-1. The virus has the positive-sense RNA as its genome encoding for ~26 proteins that work together for the virus survival, replication, and spread in the host. The virus gets transmitted through the contact of aerosol droplets from infected persons. The pathogenesis of COVID-19 is highly complex and involves suppression of host antiviral and innate immune response, induction of oxidative stress followed by hyper inflammation described as the "cytokine storm," causing the acute lung injury, tissue fibrosis, and pneumonia. Currently, several vaccines and drugs are being evaluated for their efficacy, safety, and for determination of doses for COVID-19 and this requires considerable time for their validation. Therefore, exploring the repurposing of natural compounds may provide alternatives against COVID-19. Several nutraceuticals have a proven ability of immune-boosting, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effects. These include Zn, vitamin D, vitamin C, curcumin, cinnamaldehyde, probiotics, selenium, lactoferrin, quercetin, etc. Grouping some of these phytonutrients in the right combination in the form of a food supplement may help to boost the immune system, prevent virus spread, preclude the disease progression to severe stage, and further suppress the hyper inflammation providing both prophylactic and therapeutic support against COVID-19.
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Dietary phytochemical intake from foods and health outcomes: a systematic review protocol and preliminary scoping.
Probst, YC, Guan, VX, Kent, K
BMJ open. 2017;(2):e013337
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Dietary phytochemicals are found in plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables and grains and may be categorised in a nested hierarchical manner with many hundred individual phytochemicals identified to date. To associate phytochemical intakes with positive health outcomes, a fundamental step is to accurately estimate the dietary phytochemical intake from foods reported. The purpose of this systematic review protocol is to describe the process to be undertaken to summarise the evidence for food-based dietary phytochemical intakes and health outcomes for adults. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The review will be undertaken following the PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions using the Review Manager software. Phytochemical subclasses (phenolic acids, flavanols, etc) will be used to search for relevant studies using the Web of Science and Scopus scientific databases. The retrieved studies will be screened based on inclusion of natural whole food items and health outcomes. Phytochemical studies related to cardiovascular disease, cancer, overweight, glucose tolerance, digestive, reproductive, macular and bone health and mental disorders, fatigue and immunity will be examined based on prior scoping. The evidence will be aggregated by the food types and health outcomes. Comparison of differences in the outcomes for randomised controlled trials and observational studies will be undertaken. The strength of the review lies in its focus on whole food items and health conditions rather than one type of phytochemical related to one single health condition. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses will be conducted where an adequate number of publications are found per phytochemical subclass. DISSEMINATION By comparing the outcomes from experimental and observational studies, the review will determine whether the overall conclusions related to the phytochemical subclasses are the same between study types for the identified health conditions. This is useful to public health policymakers and health professionals alike. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER #CRD42014015610.
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Overview of the phytomedicine approaches against Helicobacter pylori.
Vale, FF, Oleastro, M
World journal of gastroenterology. 2014;(19):5594-609
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) successfully colonizes the human stomach of the majority of the human population. This infection always causes chronic gastritis, but may evolve to serious outcomes, such as peptic ulcer, gastric carcinoma or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. H. pylori first line therapy recommended by the Maastricht-4 Consensus Report comprises the use of two antibiotics and a proton-pomp inhibitor, but in some regions failure associated with this treatment is already undesirable high. Indeed, treatment failure is one of the major problems associated with H. pylori infection and is mainly associated with bacterial antibiotic resistance. In order to counteract this situation, some effort has been allocated during the last years in the investigation of therapeutic alternatives beyond antibiotics. These include vaccines, probiotics, photodynamic inactivation and phage therapy, which are briefly revisited in this review. A particular focus on phytomedicine, also described as herbal therapy and botanical therapy, which consists in the use of plant extracts for medicinal purposes, is specifically addressed, namely considering its history, category of performed studies, tested compounds, active principle and mode of action. The herbs already experienced are highly diverse and usually selected from products with a long history of employment against diseases associated with H. pylori infection from each country own folk medicine. The studies demonstrated that many phytomedicine products have an anti-H. pylori activity and gastroprotective action. Although the mechanism of action is far from being completely understood, current knowledge correlates the beneficial action of herbs with inhibition of essential H. pylori enzymes, modulation of the host immune system and with attenuation of inflammation.