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Review
. 2020 Aug 7:11:1189.
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.01189. eCollection 2020.

Medicinal Plants as Sources of Active Molecules Against COVID-19

Bachir Benarba  1 , Atanasio Pandiella  2
Affiliations
Review

Medicinal Plants as Sources of Active Molecules Against COVID-19

Bachir Benarba et al. Front Pharmacol. .

Abstract

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection has been declared world pandemic causing a worrisome number of deaths, especially among vulnerable citizens, in 209 countries around the world. Although several therapeutic molecules are being tested, no effective vaccines or specific treatments have been developed. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, different traditional herbal medicines with promising results have been used alone or in combination with conventional drugs to treat infected patients. Here, we review the recent findings regarding the use of natural products to prevent or treat COVID-19 infection. Furthermore, the mechanisms responsible for this preventive or therapeutic effect are discussed. We conducted literature research using PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and WHO website. Dissertations and theses were not considered. Only the situation reports edited by the WHO were included. The different herbal products (extracts) and purified molecules may exert their anti-SARS-CoV-2 actions by direct inhibition of the virus replication or entry. Interestingly, some products may block the ACE-2 receptor or the serine protease TMPRRS2 required by SARS-CoV-2 to infect human cells. In addition, natural products were shown to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 life-cycle related proteins such as papain-like or chymotrypsin-like proteases. In conclusion, we suggest that natural products could be used alone or in combination as alternative medicines to treat/prevent COVID-19 infection. Moreover, their structures may offer clues for the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs.

Keywords: ACE2; Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19); Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); natural products; plants.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Natural products that act as SARS-CoV helicase activity.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Natural products that act as inhibitors of ACE2.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Natural products that act as inhibitors of TMPRSS2.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Natural products that act as inhibitors of PLpro.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Natural products that act as inhibitors of 3CL(pro).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Summary of possible anti SARS-CoV 2 actions of natural products.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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