Phytochemicals containing biologically active polyphenols as an effective agent against Covid-19-inducing coronavirus

K Chojnacka; A Witek-Krowiak; D Skrzypczak; K Mikula; P Młynarz

doi:10.1016/j.jff.2020.104146

Phytochemicals containing biologically active polyphenols as an effective agent against Covid-19-inducing coronavirus

J Funct Foods. 2020 Oct:73:104146. doi: 10.1016/j.jff.2020.104146. Epub 2020 Jul 30.

Authors

K Chojnacka¹, A Witek-Krowiak¹, D Skrzypczak¹, K Mikula¹, P Młynarz²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Advanced Material Technologies, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Smoluchowskiego 25, 50-372 Wrocław, Poland.
² Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wyb. S. Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland.

Abstract

The outbreak of Covid-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-19, along with the lack of targeted medicaments and vaccines, forced the scientific world to search for new antiviral formulations. In this review, we describe the current knowledge about plant extracts containing polyphenols that inhibit Covid-19. Many plant-derived natural compounds (polyphenols) might provide a starting point for the research on the use of plant extracts in coronavirus treatment and prevention. Antivirus polyphenolic drugs can inhibit coronavirus enzymes, which are essential for virus replication and infection. This group of natural substances (betulinic acid, indigo, aloeemodine, luteolin, and quinomethyl triterpenoids, quercitin or gallates) is a potential key to designing antiviral therapies for inhibiting viral proteases. The known pharmacophore structures of bioactive substances can be useful in the elaboration of new anti-Covid-19 formulations. The benefit of using preparations containing phytochemicals is their high safety for patients and no side effects.

Keywords: 3CLpro, 3C-like protease; ACE2, Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; Antiviral; Bioactivity; CBE, CBM, Herbal extracts from Rhizoma Cibotii; CC50, 50% cytotoxicity concentration; CDC, Cholesterol-dependent cytolysin; CPE, Cytopathogenic effect; CTH, Herbal extract from Cassiae Semen; Coronavirus; Covid-19, Coronavirus Disease 2019; DBM, Herbal extract from Dioscoreae Rhizoma; DNA, Deoxyribonucleic acid; EC50, 50% effective concentration; FA, Fatty acid; FFA, Free fatty acid; GCG, Gallocatechin gallate; GSH, Herbal extract from Gentianae Radix; IC50, 50% inhibitory concentrations; MERS-CoV, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus; MNP, Marine Natural Product; MTT test, Cytotoxicity test using 3- (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) −2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; Mpro, The major protease; PLY, Pneumolysin; PLpro, The papain-like protease; Pandemic; Phytochemicals; Plant extracts; Polyphenols; RNA, Ribonucleic acid; SARS-CoV, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus; TCH, Herbal extract from Loranthi Ramus; WHO, World Health Organization.

Publication types

Review