Curcumin: From Ancient Spice to Modern Anti-Viral Drug in COVID-19 Pandemic

Fazli Subhan; Atif Ali Khan Khalil; Muhammad Zeeshan; Adnan Haider; Isfahan Tauseef; Syed Kashif Haleem; Ahmed Saadi Ibrahim

doi:10.37185/LnS.1.1.137

Fazli Subhan National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi
Atif Ali Khan Khalil National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi
Muhammad Zeeshan National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi
Adnan Haider NUMS
Isfahan Tauseef Hazara University Mansehra, Khyber Pakhthunkha
Syed Kashif Haleem Hazara University Mansehra, Khyber Pakhthunkha
Ahmed Saadi Ibrahim College of Engineering, Dhofar University, Oman

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.137

Keywords: Curcumin, COVID-19, Cell Signaling, Inflammation, SARS

Abstract

A viral disease such as COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease-2019) is a major health problem and worsens the complications of various diseases including cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and cancers. The current study summarises the therapeutic progress and efficacy of curcumin for the cure and prevention of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and SARS-related COVID-19. Curcumin is extracted from the herb Curcuma longa L., known for its various therapeutic functions such as anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity and anti- cancer activities. Very little is known about its therapeutic importance for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infections and complications. Curcumin has the ability to interact with spike protein or ACE2 protein in COVID-19-induced signal transduction pathway. Curcumin also suppresses several important signaling pathways in viral infection such as the well-known transcription factors including NF-kB, STAT-3, Wnt/β-catenin, Nrf2, p38/MAPK. Curcumin inhibit virus-induced inflammation by modulating the manifestation of various factors such as IL-10, IL-8, IL-6, TNF-α/β, and COX-2 in COVID-19 diseases. The modulation of multiple molecular targets by treatment with curcumin and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin make it an ideal candidate phytochemical for the treatment of SARS and SARS-related COVID-19.

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