The outbreak of pneumonia caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), later named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO), was initiated at Wuhan, Hubei, China, and there was a rapid spread of novel SARS-CoV-2 and the disease COVID-19 in late 2019. The entire world is now experiencing the challenge of COVID-19 infection. However, still very few evidence-based treatment options are available for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 disease. The present review aims to summarize the publicly available information to give a comprehensive yet balanced scientific overview of all the fat-soluble vitamins concerning their role in SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. The roles of different fat-soluble vitamins and micronutrients in combating SARS-CoV-2 infection have been recently explored in several studies. There are various hypotheses to suggest their use to minimize the severity of COVID-19 infection. These vitamins are pivotal in the maintenance and modulation of innate and cell-mediated, and antibody-mediated immune responses. The data reported in recent literature demonstrate that deficiency in one or more of these vitamins compromises the patients' immune response and makes them more vulnerable to viral infections and perhaps worse disease prognosis. Vitamins A, D, E, and K boost the body's defense mechanism against COVID-19 infection and specifically prevent its complications such as cytokine storm and other inflammatory processes, leading to increased morbidity and mortality overemphasis. However, more detailed randomized double-blind clinical pieces of evidence are required to define the use of these supplements in preventing or reducing the severity of the COVID-19 infection.

This article describes the antioxidant capacity (AC) and total phenol content (TPC) of selected ethnic plant foods and their therapeutic uses in alleviating experimental stress-induced depression in rat model. Antioxidant capacity was determined by radical scavenging activity and TPC was estimated by Folin-Ciocalteau method. Depression was induced by chemical stressor- reserpine. Alleviation of depression by the ethnic foods was evaluated by behavioral changes in Forced Swim Test (FST) and Tail Suspension Test (TST), and by analysis of oxidative stress marker Malondialdehyde (MDA), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and change of weight of adrenal gland and brain. Antioxidant capacity was determined by IC50 value, which was ranged from 74.814 µg/ml to 411.895 µg/ml. The lowest IC50 value indicates the strongest antioxidant activity. Hence, the strongest AC was found in Gondhovatali followed by Sabarang and Titbegun. TPC ranged from 85.5 ± 5.51 to 650 ± 2.75 mgGAE/100g. Jaamalu was found to have the highest TPC value followed by Gondhovatali, Titbegun and Khudemanik. The difference among experimental and control groups was found to be significant in the weight of adrenal gland and brain. Biochemical stress indicators (MDA, FBG) and behavioral tests (TST, FST) showed significant differences among plant extract fed groups compared to that of depressed control group, but was found to be almost similar to antidepressant clomipramine treated and baseline control groups. The data indicated that the selected ethnic plant foods containing higher TPC and lower IC50 values significantly alleviated depression symptoms in the rats.