Natural Products Homoharringtonine and Emetine Alkaloids as SARS-CoV-2 Treatment Options

Abstract

Background: Viruses are known as the major causative agents for infectious diseases globally. The coronaviruses are one of the serious pathogens to cause serious diseases in humans. Recently identified SARSCoV- 2 from Wuhan City, China, has emerged as a serious threat to human health and caused a global pandemic. Bats have been confirmed as a primary source of infection. The vaccination of the human population and animals serving as a potential reservoir is a straightforward strategy to control the transmission of any pathogen to humans. Natural products from many herbal plants are well known to have novel antiviral properties and evaluated against various viral diseases. There are many alkaloids that have shown to be effective against coronaviruses.

Methods: Recently, the antiviral efficacy of natural alkaloids known as Homoharringtonine (HTT) and Emetine has been evaluated and provided promising results against coronaviruses, including SARS-CoVs. These alkaloids may be very useful and can be used as antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 because they have already been reported to inhibit the replication of SASRS-CoV and other viruses in cell lines.

Conclusion: This review specifically focuses on the recent findings of these alkaloids against coronaviruses and possible treatment options for SARS-CoV-2. It is expected that natural products as alkaloids from herbal plants could be considered as novel and valuable candidates for the new antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2.

Keywords: COVID-19.; Coronaviruses; SARS-CoV-2; alkaloids; antivirals; natural products.