Quercetin and its Relative Therapeutic Potential Against COVID-19: A Retrospective Review and Prospective Overview

Curr Mol Med. 2021;21(5):385-391. doi: 10.2174/1566524020999200918150630.

Abstract

COVID-19 is an emerging disease that is a major threat to the global community. The main challenge in this disease is the lack of proper or proven medication. The drugs used to treat this disease are only for symptomatic treatment. Studies of other coronaviruses, such as SARS and MERS, suggest that quercetin has sufficient potential to treat COVID-19. Previous studies have shown that quercetin reduces the entry of the virus into the cell by blocking the ACE2 receptor, as well as reducing the level of interleukin-6 in SARS and MERS patients. Therefore, the aim of this review was to scrutinize the potential of quercetin as a drug in the treatment of COVID-19 from a molecular perspective.

Keywords: ACE2; COVID-19; MERS.; Quercetin; SARS; therapeutic.

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Quercetin / biosynthesis
  • Quercetin / pharmacology*
  • Quercetin / therapeutic use
  • Virus Internalization / drug effects

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Cytokines
  • Quercetin