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Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds
Published on: October 29, 2015
Advances in natural product anti-coronavirus research (2002-2022)
Jiaxin Chen1, Zuoqi Ding2,3
1School of International Pharmaceutical Business, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Abstract:
COVID-19 is a severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by coronavirus that has triggered acute respiratory infections in countries around the world. In the last 20 years, there have been several outbreaks of coronaviruses, which have had a tremendous impact on productive life and globalization. Since coronaviruses are mutagenic and highly susceptible to mutation, there are no specific drugs against coronaviruses. Medicines made from natural products gains worldwide attention, and the mechanism and effectiveness of natural products for the treatment of coronavirus-related diseases have received much attention after the global pandemic of COVID-19 in 2020. The vitro research results and clinical data from various countries have shown protective effects of good effects against coronaviruses. This review summarizes representative natural products for the treatment of coronavirus-related diseases in the past 20 years, and demonstrates the promising prospects of natural products against coronavirus-related diseases by listing herbal formulas, Chinese patent medicines and natural small molecule compounds and their therapeutic mechanisms, providing references for subsequent related studies.
Insights
Natural products show promise in treating coronavirus diseases, including COVID-19. This review highlights herbal medicines and compounds effective against coronaviruses, offering hope for future treatments.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pharmacology
- Natural Products Chemistry
Background:
- Coronaviruses, including the one causing COVID-19, are significant global health threats with rapid mutation rates.
- Existing treatments for coronavirus infections are limited due to viral mutagenicity.
- Natural products have garnered attention for their potential therapeutic effects against viral diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review natural products investigated for treating coronavirus-related diseases over the past two decades.
- To summarize the therapeutic mechanisms of these natural products.
- To highlight the potential of natural products as alternative treatments for coronavirus infections.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on natural products and coronavirus treatments from the last 20 years.
- Inclusion of herbal formulas, Chinese patent medicines, and natural small molecule compounds.
- Analysis of in vitro research and clinical data.
Main Results:
- Various natural products, including herbal formulas and small molecules, have demonstrated protective effects against coronaviruses in vitro and in clinical settings.
- Identified therapeutic mechanisms of action for several natural compounds against coronaviruses.
- Documented the efficacy of specific natural products and traditional Chinese medicines.
Conclusions:
- Natural products represent a promising avenue for the development of novel treatments against coronavirus diseases.
- Further research into the mechanisms and clinical application of these natural products is warranted.
- Natural product-based therapies offer a viable complementary or alternative strategy for managing coronavirus outbreaks.
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