Alkaloids as potential phytochemicals against Sars-Cov-2: Starting points for the associated central mechanisms

Alkaloids as potential phytochemicals against Sars-Cov-2: Starting points for the associated central mechanisms

alkaloids as potential phytochemicals against Sars-Cov-2: approaches to the associated key mechanisms

alkaloids are nitrogen -containing phytochemicals that occur in plant families such as amaryllidaceae, apocynaceae, papaveraceae, asteraceae and solanaceae and have potential biological and pharmacological effects. Many alkaloids that occur in human nutrition can be found in coffee seeds (caffeine), cocoa seeds (theobromine and caffeine), tea leaves (theophylline and caffeine), tomatoes and potatoes (solanine).

alkaloids are known to be effective in the treatment of various diseases such as neurological diseases, cancer, metabolic diseases and infectious diseases. These secondary plant metabolites also have a significant effect on viruses such as influenza virus, the herpes simplex virus, the human immune deficiency virus and the hepatitis c-virus.

In order to further investigate these organic connections, researchers at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (Iran) and the Universidad de Santiago de Chile (Chile) have examined the role of alkaloids as potential antiviral active ingredients for the severe acute acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2). They presented the chemistry, the vegetable sources and the antiviral effect of alkaloids as well as their anti-sars-cov-2 effects.

This overview has been published in the magazine "Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine".

Despite countless efforts to find therapeutic active ingredient candidates for the COVID-19 disease, there has been no effective solution for prescription by medical specialist personnel. To date, over 176 million infections are due to Sars-Cov-2, and over 3.8 million people have died worldwide. The search for a medication to control the disease is the primary goal of scientists and doctors all over the world.

Despite intensive research, the inherent nature of the Sars-Cov-2 infection and its pathogenesis make the search for an effective medication complex and impossible.

main objectives of the alkaloids in the fight against Sars-Cov-2

A look towards herbal connections shows that former in-vitro and in-silico studies have shown significant effects of alkaloids against coronaviruses, especially Sars-Cov-2. The authors have summarized all evidence of the antiviral, neuroprotective, antipyretic and anti -inflammatory effects of alkaloids.

"Lycorin and other alkaloids such as Tetrandrin, Harmine, Conessin and Emetin showed antiviral activities against HCOV such as HCOV-OC43 and HCOV-NL63."

In the overview, a list of alkaloids based on in vitro and in-silico studies with potential anti-sars-cov-2 activity is presented-together with the chemical structure, the mechanism of action, the study type and the references.

alkaloids contain nitrogen atoms in a negative level of oxidation. These are responsible for their alkaline properties that are associated with therapeutic effects.

While the virus uses various mechanisms such as inhibition of the main protease (MPro) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDRP) and interaction with coronavirus-associated structural proteins, alkaloids interact with the coronavirus-associated structural proteins and the non-structural angiotensin-enzyme 2 (ACE2) in The cell membrane and inhibit the RDRP and the 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3ClPro).

With regard to the fight against Sars-Cov-2, the researchers discuss the main goals of alkaloids: ACE2, TMPRSS2 (Transmembranous Serin Protease 2) and the RNA replication, assembly, S-protein expression and proteolysis.

The researchers found that several clinical studies on alkaloids such as colchicin (NCT04527562, NCT04375202, NCT0435143 and NCT04360980), Berber (NCT04479202) and tetrandrin are running. Many alkaloids have proven to be highly effective anti-Sars-COV-2 active ingredients.

"According to the coughing activities of Thalimonin and the anti-rhinoviral activities of Sophalin D, these alkaloids are promising candidates for the treatment of covid-19."

In this overview, the researchers come to the conclusion that alkaloids give hope for effective treatment against COVID-19, since they have simultaneous effects on several therapeutic goals with outstanding antiviral effects.

"Marine/plant-abolished alkaloids such as Berber, Tetrandrin, Cepharanthin, Lycorin, Ergotamine, CramBescidin 786, Palmatin, Noscapin and Chinine with outstanding anti-Sars-Cov-2 effects together with antipyretic, inflammatory, coughing and lung Immun modulatory and protective effects in neurotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity could be promising candidates for the treatment of covid-19, ”summarize the researchers.

"Cepharanthin improved the lung damage, as a critical complication of Covid-19, with effects on inflammatory signal paths. Therefore Cepharanthin could be a promising candidate in the fight against Covid-19."

source reference:

"Alkaloids as potential Phytochemicals Against Sars-Cov-2: Approaches to the Associated Pivotal Mechanisms", Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Volume 2021