Oleoylethanolamide, A Bioactive Lipid Amide, as A Promising Treatment Strategy for Coronavirus/COVID-19

Arch Med Res. 2020 Jul;51(5):464-467. doi: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2020.04.006. Epub 2020 Apr 15.

Abstract

The current outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus) has been identified by World Health Organization (WHO) as a global pandemic. With the emergence of the COVID-19 virus and considering the lack of effective pharmaceutical treatment for it, there is an urgent need to identify safe and effective drugs or potential adjuvant therapy in this regard. Bioactive lipids with an array of known health-promoting properties can be suggested as effective agents in alleviating acute respiratory stress induced by virus. The bioactive lipid amide, oleoylethanolamide (OEA), due to several distinctive homeostatic properties, including anti-inflammatory activities, modulation of immune response, and anti-oxidant effects can be considered as a novel potential pharmacological alternative for the management of COVID-19.

Keywords: Bioactive lipids; COVID-19; Coronavirus; OEA; Oleoylethanolamide.

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus / drug effects
  • Betacoronavirus / immunology
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Coronavirus Infections / pathology
  • Endocannabinoids / pharmacology
  • Endocannabinoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Oleic Acids / pharmacology
  • Oleic Acids / therapeutic use
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / pathology
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Endocannabinoids
  • Oleic Acids
  • oleoylethanolamide