ABSTRACT
Monolaurin and lauric acid (C12) have demonstrated considerable viral activity. Lauric acid is a medium-chain fatty acid that accounts for around 50% of coconut oil;monolaurin is a metabolite produced by the body's enzymes after ingestion of coconut oil and is available as a supplement. Sodium lauryl sulfate, a lauric acid-based surfactant, exhibits antiviral properties. Several antiviral products contain lauric acid, monolaurin, and sodium lauryl sulfate (also known as sodium dodecyl sulfate). This article summarizes the 3 mechanisms proposed to explain the antiviral activity of lauric acid and monolaurin: first, they cause virus envelope disintegration;second, they can inhibit late maturation in the virus replication cycle;and third, they can prevent viral proteins from binding to the host cell membrane. This article also discusses several in vitro, animal, and human research that support the potential of coconut oil, lauric acid, and its derivatives.
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to devastate the world's health and economy, affecting all aspects of life leading to widespread social disruption. Even as several vaccines have been developed, their availability in developing countries is limited and their efficacy against the variants of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2) needs to be continuously assessed. The World Health Organization (WHO) has acknowledged that vaccines alone will not overcome the global challenges of COVID-19. Medicinal plants may provide the needed support. Herein, we identify Philippine medicinal plants that possess phytochemicals with potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and/or immunomodulatory properties that may strengthen one's immune system against COVID-19. These plants were selected from 100 of the best-studied Philippine medicinal plants with antiviral and immunomodulatory properties. The general antiviral and specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities and immunomodulatory properties of the phytochemicals that these plants contained were searched. While many compounds assessed individually using in vitro and in silico techniques suggest potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 or immunomodulatory effects, this review sought to identify the medicinal plants which contain these compounds and which, based on literature, have the best potential application against COVID-19. These plants are Allium spp. bulbs (bawang), Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees leaves (sinta), Cocos nucifera L. oil (niyog), Euphorbia hirta L. leaves (tawa-tawa), Euphorbia neriifolia L. leaves (sorosoro), Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves (malunggay), Ocimum basilicum L. leaves (balanoy), Piper nigrum L. seeds (paminta), Vitex negundo L. leaves (lagundi), and Zingiber officinale Roscoe rhizome (luya). This review provides a shortlist that can guide research on possible solutions to COVID-19 using Philippine medicinal plants.
ABSTRACT
Lauric acid (C12) and monolaurin, its derivative, have been known for many years to have significant antiviral activity. Sodium lauryl sulfate, a common surfactant that is made from lauric acid, has been shown to have potent antiviral properties. Lauric acid, monolaurin, and sodium lauryl sulfate (which is also known as sodium dodecyl sulfate) are used in a wide range of products for their antiviral properties. Several in vitro, animal, and human studies support the potential of coconut oil, lauric acid and its derivatives as effective and safe agents against a virus like nCoV-2019. Given the considerable scientific evidence for the antiviral activity of coconut oil, lauric acid and its derivatives and their general safety, and the absence of a cure for nCoV-2019, they urge that clinical studies be conducted among patients who have been infected with nCoV-2019.