Possible therapeutic effects of phytochemicals derived from medicinal plants on coronavirus, a review

The coronavirus disease 2019 or severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus identified at the end of 2019. The use of plants and derivate phytochemicals compounds for immune enhancement has been reported by several recent studies. The present study reviewed the possible therapeutic properties of phytochemicals on SARS-CoV-2. The key words including; “COVID-19”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “Phytochemicals” or “flavonoid” or “natural product” in the Title/Abstract were searched in scientific databases, Web of Science (ISI), PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Phytochemicals including; thymoquinone (TQ), Kaempferol (KA), Hesperidin (Hes) and Quercetin (QU) showed antiviral properties including, inhibition of protein kinase B and phosphorylation of protein kinase as well as blocking effects on a selective channel expressed in the infected cell of SARS-CoV (3a channel). The phytochemicals also reduced the level pro-inflammatory cytokines including; TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, IL-1 α, IL-1 β, and chemokines. Phytochemicals might be beneficial effects in the control or treatment of infectious disease such as SARS-CoV-2 due to antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects.