Curcumin (a constituent of turmeric): New treatment option against COVID-19.

Abstract

In late December 2019, the outbreak of respiratory illness emerged in Wuhan, China, and spreads worldwide. World Health Organization (WHO) named this disease severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused by a new member of beta coronaviruses. Several medications are prescribed to patients, and some clinical trials are underway. Scientists are trying to find a specific drug against this virus. In this review, we summarize the pathogenesis, clinical features, and current treatments of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Then, we describe the possible therapeutic effects of curcumin and its molecular mechanism against coronavirus-19. Curcumin, as an active constituent of Curcuma longa (turmeric), has been studied in several experimental and clinical trial studies. Curcumin has some useful clinical effects such as antiviral, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and antifatigue effects that could be effective to manage the symptoms of the infected patient with COVID-19. It has several molecular mechanisms including antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and antifibrotic properties with inhibitory effects on Toll-like receptors, NF-κB, inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and bradykinin. Scientific evidence suggests that curcumin could have a potential role to treat COVID-19. Thus, the use of curcumin in the clinical trial, as a new treatment option, should be considered.

• Authors: Fatemeh Babaei, Marjan Nassiri-Asl, Hossein Hosseinzadeh
• Journal: Food science & nutrition (Food Sci Nutr) Vol. 8 Issue 10 Pg. 5215-5227 (Oct 2020) ISSN: 2048-7177 [Print] United States
• PMID: 33133525 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: © 2020 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.