Mini Review
Can food and food supplements be deployed in the fight against the COVID 19 pandemic?

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbagen.2020.129801Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Antiviral activity of Curcumin, zinc and zinc-ionophores.

  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

  • COVID-19 (corona virus disease 2019).

  • Nutraceutical and nutrient.

Abstract

Background

Due to lack of approved drugs and vaccines, the medical world has resorted to older drugs, produced for viral infections and other diseases, as a remedy to combat COVID-19. The accumulating evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies for SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV have demonstrated that several polyphenols found in plants and zinc- polyphenol clusters have been in use as herbal medicines have antiviral activities against viruses with various mechanisms.

Scope of review

Curcumin, zinc and zinc-ionophores have been considered as nutraceuticals and nutrients showing great antiviral activities with their medicinal like activities.

Major conclusions

In this work, we discussed the potential prophylactic and/or therapeutic effects of curcumin, zinc and zinc-ionophores in treatment of viral infections including COVID-19.

General significance

Curcuminoids and Zinc classified as nutraceuticals under GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) by FDA can provide complementary treatment for COVID 19 patients with their immunity-boosting and antiviral properties.

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