Since the outbreak of the 2019 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), little progress has been made in the development of effective and safe antivirals for the prevention and treatment of infections by the pathogen that is responsible for it, the acute coronavirus respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2). A new study appeared in the journal recently Boundaries in Plant Science which describes the potential for two common plant products to make a difference in the true control of COVID-19.
In severe and acute COVID-19 patients, a so-called cytokine storm has been identified, characterized by excessive inflammation and severe respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), often with multisystem damage and organ failure.
The inflammatory response is due to the production of high levels of reactive oxygen species and nitrogen (ROS / RNS) which establishes the vicious cycle of further inflammation. The possible inflammatory damage to the alveoli of the lungs, the endothelium, and ingrowth of blood vessels has become apparent.
This type of inflammation based on the blood vessels is not limited to the damaged lungs in COVID-19, but it also involves persistent inflammatory changes in the liver, brain, gut and heart, the among other organs. Thus, the ability to inhibit or limit the cytokine storm and reduce oxidative stress on these organs would be useful in preventing death and could even, possibly, reduce the viral load by eliminate viral reproduction.
One such option is dexamethasone, which reduces mortality by 30% in patients on ventilator devices.
The current study is a follow-up to a pre-screening that included 99 herbal extracts that were thought to be anti-inflammatory. It moves into the top two, namely Hop extracts (Humulus lupulus, cones) and Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum alias C. zeylanicum, bark).
These have been found to achieve stem reduction in the main regulatory activity of pro-inflammatory cytokines, i.e., NF-κB transcription factor (kappa-light-chain-enhancer nuclear factor of activated B cells).
Hops are seed cones that contain medicinal fertilizers such as humulone, lupulone and xanthohumol. The extracts of these cones appear to have antiviral effects. Humulone can suppress the reproduction of the respiratory syncytial virus in cell culture, e.g. Xanthohumol is compatible with interferon-alpha against viral bovine diarrhea virus (BVDV).
Humulone is also older with some antibiotics; it has anti-inflammatory effects through the expression of cyclo-oxygenase expression after exposure to tumor necrosis factor (TNF); and can inhibit Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and NF-κB signaling.
The anti-inflammatory Xanthohumol follows viral or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge, reducing interleukins and TNF, and may also reduce oxidative DNA damage.
Hop extract is also useful in suppressing ROS and RNS, reducing nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) activity within neurons, and lipid oxidation. It also activates the important regulatory molecule and the associated erythroid factor 2 (NRF2) nuclear factor transcription factor.
Anti-thrombotic and anti-fibrogenic effects have also been reported in animal studies and in vitro, separately.
Cinnamon is a spice with Chinese and Ceylonian varieties. The latter is discussed here. Like lentils, this also has anti-inflammatory activity, antagonizing TLR2 and TLR4 activation and stimulating NRF2. It also inhibits angiogenesis.
What is the impact?
The researchers found that both hop and cinnamon extracts have many anti-inflammatory functions, including reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibition of angiogenesis, bleeding, and endothelial inflammation within blood vessels.
Their activity in stimulating NRF2 expression should also reduce ROS and RNS generation from the high level normalized in inflammation. Thus, these two components could significantly reduce the complications of COVID-19.
Testing both sections, alone or in combination, and especially as a treatment in addition to other medications, may be a promising therapeutic approach. ”
Because dexamethasone shows promising results, but with potential side effects such as arteriosclerosis, supplementation with these extracts can prevent the complications of dexamethasone therapy as well.
Patients often have a severe exposure to mechanical ventilation, and a lover’s dose may help counteract this as well.
Further studies will show whether these extracts are useful in protection against SARS-CoV-2. The common use or derivation of products used in food demonstrates their safety, unless there is a sensitivity to either or intolerance to alcohol, which prevents the use of use of alcohol extracts.
They can also be implemented on a large scale and are readily available, thus proving their advantages in low-resource settings.
However, it should be noted that the individual components in each herbal extract may have a synergistic effect, making them superior to the real products.
More convenient formulas such as capsules or water extracts can be used to allow easier administration. The dosage remains to be determined once the current results are confirmed, drawing on earlier studies that used these fertilizers to treat other inflammatory conditions.