Coronavirus disease 2019: The prospect for botanical drug's polymolecular approach

ABSTRACT

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused the millions of deaths worldwide. Much of the mortality has been associated with a cytokine storm syndrome in patients admitted to the hospital with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Vast arrays of anti-inflammatory therapies are being explored to decrease the cytokine storm to save the lives. None of these therapies have demonstrated efficacy at all stages of the disease thus underlining its complexity. The current vaccine approach is challenged by the emerging virus variants. A multi-target approaches have been used with success for human immunodeficiency virus and some types of cancer. It has been recently proposed to use the same strategy for COVID-19. With their polymolecular structure, botanical drugs may offer an option within that strategy. Thykamine (TM), a novel botanical drug, with demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects may become the part of the therapeutic arsenal against COVID-19.