Compounds of plants with activity against SARS-CoV-2 targets

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 global pandemic is a public health emergency due to its high virulence and mortality. Many vaccine development studies at clinical trials are currently conducted to combat SARS-CoV-2. Plants are a rich source of phytochemicals with different biological activities, including antiviral activities, which are the focus of many studies.

Areas covered: This review shows compounds of traditional plants listed on RENISUS list have therapeutic properties against SARS-CoV-2 targets.

Expert opinion: The rise of new variants, more pathogenic and virulent, impacts in the increase of mortality from SARS-CoV-2 infection, and thus, the control of the outbreaks of disease remains a global challenge. Other's drug and vaccines development is an essential element in controlling SARS-COV-2. Therefore, it is imperative that approach to tackle this pandemic has to be solidly evidence-informed. It should be noticed that the immune system does play critical roles in fighting viruses. Studies show that T cells levels decreased continuously as the disease progressed. T cell-mediated cellular immune response, probably by immunological memory, is essential for direct virus eradication after infection whilst B cells functions in producing antibodies that neutralize virus.But, have distinct patterns of T cell response exist in different patients, suggesting the possibility of distinct clinical approaches. Efforts are concentrated to elucidate the underlying immunological mechanisms in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and progression for better design of diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive strategies. We seek to identify biomolecules with the potential to act in biomarkers that predict how severe the disease can get. But it is important to warn that the plants that produce the compounds mentioned here should not be used without a physician prescription. Finally, we speculate that these compounds may eventually attract the attention of physicians and researchers to perform tests in specific contexts of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and if they show positive results, be tested in Clinical trials.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; compounds; medicinal plants; targets; therapeutic effects.

Figure 1.

PRISMA flow diagram of the literature search and study selection process

Figure 2.

Main activities of compounds against SARS-CoV-2 targets

Figure 3.

Scheme of phytoconstituents action in SARS-CoV-2. (A) SARS-CoV-2 enters through oral and respiratory mucosal cells. (B) Inhibitor compounds block the binding of the spike protein to the ACE2 surface. (C) SARS-CoV-2 downregulates albumin levels. Compounds induce serum albumin levels regulation. Albumin induce the decreased expression of the ACE2 receptors. (D) Through the spike protein, SARS-CoV-2 binds to the ACE2 surface and enters the cell epithelium, where it will fuse with the vesicle and release its RNA in the nucleus to reproduce. The new copies of the virus will be detected by T cells induced by compounds that bind to the spike protein to fight the virus’s action. (E) SARS-CoV-2 downregulates haptoglobin levels that induce thus, the presence of hemolysis. Compounds did not change haptoglobin levels. (F) SARS-CoV-2 induces increased CRP levels. Compounds decreased the plasma levels of CRP. (G) SARS-CoV-2 downregulates APO A-I levels. Compounds induce an increase in APO A-I concentrations