Polyphenols as promising biologically active substances for preventing SARS-CoV-2: A review with research evidence and underlying mechanisms

Taha Mehany; Ibrahim Khalifa; Hassan Barakat; Sami A Althwab; Yousef M Alharbi; Sobhy El-Sohaimy

doi:10.1016/j.fbio.2021.100891

Polyphenols as promising biologically active substances for preventing SARS-CoV-2: A review with research evidence and underlying mechanisms

Food Biosci. 2021 Apr:40:100891. doi: 10.1016/j.fbio.2021.100891. Epub 2021 Jan 20.

Authors

Taha Mehany¹, Ibrahim Khalifa², Hassan Barakat^{2

3}, Sami A Althwab³, Yousef M Alharbi⁴, Sobhy El-Sohaimy^{1

5}

Affiliations

¹ Food Technology Department, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, 21934, Alexandria, Egypt.
² Food Technology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Moshtohor, 13736, Egypt.
³ Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, 51452, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, 51452, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Department of Technology and Organization of Public Catering, Institute of Sport, Tourism and Service, South Ural State University, 454080, Chelyabinsk, Russia.

Abstract

Currently, antiviral drugs and/or vaccines are not yet available to treat or prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this review, we narrated the available data, from credible publishers, regarding the possible role of polyphenols and natural extracts-containing polyphenols in the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and their immune-boosting properties. It was revealed that polyphenols could be considered as promising biologically active substances for the prevention of COVID-19. The underlying potential mechanism behind this action is mostly due to the antiviral activities and the immune-regulation functions of polyphenols against COVID-19-infections. Antivirus polyphenolic-based medications can mitigate SARS-CoV-2-enzymes, which are vital for virus duplication and infection. It was also found that triterpenoid, anthraquinone, flavonoids, and tannins are possible keys to scheming antiviral therapies for inhibiting SARS-CoV-2-proteases. The identified pharmacophore structures of polyphenols could be utilized in the explanation of novel anti-COVID-19 designs. The advantage of using mixtures containing polyphenols is related to the high-safety profile without having major side-effects, but further randomized controlled trials are required in the upcoming studies.

Keywords: Boosting immune functions; COVID-19, Coronavirus disease 2019; CoVs, Coronaviruses; Functional foods; MERS-CoV, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome; Polyphenols; SARS-CoV, Severe observation of acute respiratory syndrome; SARS-CoV-2, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; SARS-CoV2.

Publication types

Review