Potential plants for inflammatory dysfunction in the SARS-CoV-2 infection

Abstract

The inflammatory process is a biological response of the organism to remove injurious stimuli and initiate homeostasis. It has been recognized as a key player in the most severe forms of SARS-CoV-2, characterized by significantly increased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, the so-called "cytokine storm" that appears to play a pivotal role in this disease. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to select clinical trials with anti-inflammatory plants and relate the activity of these plants to inflammatory markers of SARS-CoV-2 infection. PRISMA guidelines are followed, and studies of interest are indexed in PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov databases. As a result, 32 clinical trials encompassing 22 plants were selected. The main anti-inflammatory mechanisms described in the studies are the inhibition of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, TNF-a, IFN-γ, and IL-1; decreased CRP and oxidative marker levels; increased endogenous antioxidant levels; modulation of cardiovascular risk markers. The data found are not directly related to SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, they provide possibilities for new studies as plants have a wide array of phytochemicals, and detecting which ones are responsible for anti-inflammatory effects can provide invaluable contribution to studies aiming to evaluate efficacy in scenarios of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Datura stramonium Flowers as a Potential Natural Resource of Bioactive Molecules: Identification of Anti-Inflammatory Agents and Molecular Docking Analysis

“…The inflammatory process is associated with the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines [ 2 ]. Furthermore, several serious infections, such as the infection caused by SARS-CoV-2, are usually associated with elevated levels of several cytokines, including interleukins IL6, IL8 and TNFα [ 3 ], resulting in a potential cytokine storm associated with the disease’s severity [ 4 , 5 ]. The inflammatory response is clinically manifested by severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and disseminated intravascular coagulation [ 5 ].…”

“…Furthermore, several serious infections, such as the infection caused by SARS-CoV-2, are usually associated with elevated levels of several cytokines, including interleukins IL6, IL8 and TNFα [ 3 ], resulting in a potential cytokine storm associated with the disease’s severity [ 4 , 5 ]. The inflammatory response is clinically manifested by severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and disseminated intravascular coagulation [ 5 ]. Various naturally occurring plant-derived bioactive molecules have been well described as anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulatory agents, and could likely be used as potential therapies for the coronavirus disease of 2019 “COVID-19” [ 6 , 7 ].…”

Anti-inflammatory effect of Ethanolic Extract of Bougainvillea x buttiana on LPS-induced J774A.1 macrophages

“…[26][27][28][29] Herbal medicines as a therapeutic tool have been used for centuries to treat different illnesses and numerous medicinal plants and their derivatives are used as the inflammatory diseases treatment. [30][31][32][33][34] Much research has been undertaken to identify the active compounds and mechanisms of action of plants used in traditional medicine. 30 Bougainvillea x buttiana is one of genera of the Nyctaginaceae family widely used in Mexico traditional medicine.…”