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Review
. 2020 May 30;10(4):405-419.
doi: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2020.05.003. eCollection 2020 Jul.

The antiviral and coronavirus-host protein pathways inhibiting properties of herbs and natural compounds - Additional weapons in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic?

Andréa D Fuzimoto  1 , Ciro Isidoro  2
Affiliations
Review

The antiviral and coronavirus-host protein pathways inhibiting properties of herbs and natural compounds - Additional weapons in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic?

Andréa D Fuzimoto et al. J Tradit Complement Med. .

Abstract

Introduction: As of March 11th, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. Articles published after the SARS-CoV-1 (2002) epidemic suggest that the use of an herbal-drug integrative medical approach could have contributed to a lower fatality rate and a more rapid response in controlling the outbreak.

Methods: Pubmed was searched for articles that investigated the antiviral properties and mechanisms of action of herbs or natural compounds against the SARS-coronavirus (CoV).

Results: Forty-three (43) relevant papers were located. A general count rendered 450+ herbs and natural compounds with antiviral properties against the SARS-CoV and related viruses. From the 43 articles, thirty-one (31) uncovered the mechanisms of action of the natural substances able to oppose the coronavirus.

Discussion: A series of herbs and natural compounds demonstrated moderate to strong antiviral activity. Research on many herbs-natural compounds also showed potent and significant inhibition of CoV-host protein pathways responsible for different phases of viral replication specifically targeting 3CLPRO, PLPRO, RdRp, helicase protein, S protein, N protein, 3a protein, Cathepsin L, Nsp1, Nsp3c, and ORF7a, and the S protein/ACE-2 interaction.

Conclusion: The herbs-natural compounds with antiviral activity and that caused inhibition/blockade of the CoV-host protein pathways are potential therapeutic candidates. The homology between the SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 is around 80%. Thus, effective herbs-compounds for the former would likely be beneficial for the latter also depending on target protein similarities between the viruses. Here we provide the mechanistic bases supporting an integrative approach that includes natural compounds to fight coronavirus infections.

Keywords: Antiviral; COVID-19; Coronavirus; Herbs; Natural compounds; Pandemic.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Image 1
Graphical abstract
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Herbs and natural compounds able to inhibit the SARS-CoV-host protein pathways. Panel A corresponds to the proteins involved in the internalization of the CoV into the host cells; Panel B corresponds to further processes involved in translation, transcription, replication, assembly and egress from the host cells.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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