Role of Diet and Nutrients in SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Incidence on Oxidative Stress, Inflammatory Status and Viral Production

Abstract

Coronavirus illness (COVID-19) is an infectious pathology generated by intense severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This infectious disease has emerged in 2019. The COVID-19-associated pandemic has considerably affected the way of life and the economy in the world. It is consequently crucial to find solutions allowing remedying or alleviating the effects of this infectious disease. Natural products have been in perpetual application from immemorial time given that they are attested to be efficient towards several illnesses without major side effects. Various studies have shown that plant extracts or purified molecules have a promising inhibiting impact towards coronavirus. In addition, it is substantial to understand the characteristics, susceptibility and impact of diet on patients infected with COVID-19. In this review, we recapitulate the influence of extracts or pure molecules from medicinal plants on COVID-19. We approach the possibilities of plant treatment/co-treatment and feeding applied to COVID-19. We also show coronavirus susceptibility and complications associated with nutrient deficiencies and then discuss the major food groups efficient on COVID-19 pathogenesis. Then, we covered emerging technologies using plant-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. We conclude by giving nutrient and plants curative therapy recommendations which are of potential interest in the COVID-19 infection and could pave the way for pharmacological treatments or co-treatments of COVID-19.

Full text: Brahmi F, Vejux A, Ghzaiel I, Ksila M, Zarrouk A, Ghrairi T, Essadek S, Mandard S, Leoni V, Poli G, Vervandier-Fasseur D, Kharoubi O, El Midaoui A, Atanasov AG, Meziane S, Latruffe N, Nasser B, Bouhaouala-Zahar B, Masmoudi-Kouki O, Madani K, Boulekbache-Makhlouf L, Lizard G. Role of Diet and Nutrients in SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Incidence on Oxidative Stress, Inflammatory Status and Viral Production. Nutrients. 2022 May 25;14(11):2194. doi: 10.3390/nu14112194. PMID: 35683996; PMCID: PMC9182601.

Keywords: COVID-19; medicinal plants; diet; nutrients; antiviral activity; antioxidant activity; anti-inflammatory effect.