European Journal of Medicinal Plants 31(20): 65-78, 2020; Article no.EJMP.65940 ISSN: 2231-0894, NLM ID: 101583475 Bio-active Compounds (Curcumin, Allicin and Gingerol) of Common Spices used in Indian and South-east Asian Countries Might Protect against COVID-19 Infection: A Short Review Jawed Alam1*, Tahziba Hussain1 and Sanghamitra Pati1 1ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Chandrasekharpur, Nandankanan Road, Bhubaneswar – 751023, Odisha, India. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration among all authors. Author JA conceptualized the idea and has written the review article. Author TH edited the article throughout all stages. Author SP director provided overall support. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/EJMP/2020/v31i2030363 Editor(s): (1) Dr. Prem K. Ramasamy, Brandeis University, USA. (2) Dr. Paola Angelini, University of Perugia, Italy. (3) Dr. Naseem A. Qureshi, National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Saudi Arabia. (4) Prof. Marcello Iriti, Milan State University, Italy. Reviewers: (1) Ashwani Kumar, University of Rajasthan, India. (2) Onder Yumrutas, University Of Adiyaman, Turkey. (3) Tahany Ramzy Elias, National Research Centre, Egypt. Complete Peer review History: http://www.sdiarticle4.com/review-history/65940 Received 25 November 2020 Mini-review Article Accepted 30 December 2020 Published 31 December 2020 ABSTRACT Presently, our world is suffering with COVID-19 caused by novel coronavirus SARS- CoV-2. The high rate of mutation in SARS- CoV-2 helps viruses to become resistance against pre-existent anti- viral medications. Currently, there are no effective therapeutic strategies against COVID-19 infection except some vaccines. Curcumin, Allicin and Gingerol are natural bioactive compounds having anti-viral, anti-inflamatory, anti-pyretic, anti-fibrotic properties and were used as spices in food in South East Asian and Indian subcontinent that could be a potential treatment for COVID-19 disease. This review will help in understanding the biology and potential of bioactive compounds present in turmeric, garlic and ginger as therapeutic against COVID-19 infection. Computational study suggested that gingerol, curcumin, and allicin showed good interaction with proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2 receptor of host cell and might have an important role in impeding SARS- _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected]; Alam et al.; EJMP, 31(20): 65-78, 2020; Article no.EJMP.65940 CoV-2 replication. Clinical trials have been conducted for nanocurcumin and gingerol. The fatality rate of people from South East Asia and Indian subcontinent eating highly spicy food is less as compared to people from America and Europe eating less spicy food. Further, this review will help people to do research on curcumin, allicin and gingerol against the treatment of COVID-19. All of the spices are commercially available, edible and might be used as precautionary home remedies against COVID-19. Keywords: Curcumin; allicin; gingerol; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; bioactive compounds. 1. INTRODUCTION COVID-19 [12,13]. Till January, 2021, not a complete treatment against COVID-19 was The present pandemic in the world is coronavirus available except some new authorized or infectious diseases 2019 (COVID19) caused by approved vaccine from ICMR-Bharat Biotech severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (Covaxin), Serum Oxford vaccine (covishield), (SARS-CoV-2) having single stranded RNA Astrazenece (AZD1222), Sinopharm (BBIBP- genome of around 29 kb consist of 14 open CorV), Sinovac (coronavac), Pfizer-BioNTech reading frames (Orf) and belong to family β- (BNT162b2) and Moderna (mRNA 1273). coronavirus [1]. The SARS- CoV-2 has 4 However, the present antiviral therapy has not structural proteins (nucleocapsid, membrane, been very successful due to resistance, side envelope and spike protein). During COVID-19 effects, cost, incomplete cure and non- infection, the spike protein (S) of SARS-CoV-2 compliance among patients. The drawbacks of binds with Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2 these anti-viral therapy lead to development of a (ACE2) receptor protein of host cell. The virus new non-synthetic antiviral agent from natural releases RNA into the cytoplasm and starts source as these agents are highly effective, safe, synthesizing proteins for the replication and specific cellular targets, low cost. Recent study transcription [2,3,4]. The genome sequence showed the anti-viral properties of natural analysis revealed that novel coronavirus SARS- compounds like curcumin [14]. The modern in CoV-2 is very similar to the earlier reported vitro, in vivo studies and clinical trials have corona virus like SARS-CoV. The ACE2 protein unravelled the potential for selected of host cell and spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 are phytochemicals [15]. the proposed drug target candidates as the spike protein binds with ACE2 receptor that facilitates In this review, we have chosen three entry of virus into host cell [5]. The SARS-CoV-2 phytochemicals namely curcumin (Curcuma lacks the proof-reading ability that leads to high longa), gingerol (Zingiber officinale) and allicin rate of mutation and emergence of different types (Allium sativum) as these compounds are of variant. Recently, one variant of SARS-CoV-2 commonly found in spices used in daily diet food is found in U.K and it is spreading very fast to of Indian subcontinent and South East Asian other parts of world. Because of this variant (VUI- people with proven multiple biological and 2020/01) of SARS-CoV-2, a complete lockdown therapeutic activities. We have explored have been imposed in U.K till mid-February 2021 important search engines and databases like [6]. The mutation in the genome of virus act as NCBI-PubMed, Scopus. In this review, the blessing in disguise for viruses as they develop results of relevant studies and the effect of resistance against available antiviral therapy bioactive compounds (curcumin, allicin, gingerol) [7,8,9]. The mutation in coronavirus poses on viral diseases especially COVID-19 has been difficulty in developing vaccines and drugs summarized. This review highlights the against SARS-CoV-2 [10]. Aged, immune- importance of bioactive compounds used in compromised and people with other morbidities Indian subcontinent and South East Asian foods are the most susceptible towards COVID-19 due on COVID-19. to physiological changes in immune system according to reports from different parts of the 2. GINGER world [11]. Various pre-existing anti-viral drugs have been evaluated but only few of these have Ginger is obtained from rhizome of Zingiber been approved for treatment of COVID-19. officinale having medicinal properties and used Studies on development of new drugs or therapy as spice in food. Gingerols, paradols, shogaols, against COVID-19 are at early stage and there is zerumbones and zingiberene are the bioactive need of more studies to be done on therapy of compounds found in Ginger. Gingerol (C17H26O4) 66 Alam et al.; EJMP, 31(20): 65-78, 2020; Article no.EJMP.65940 commonly known as [6]-gingerol, is a major system [22]. Another in vivo study conducted on polyphenolic compound found in ginger having garlic treated rats showed that garlic significantly anti-microbial properties useful for human health. increases T cell (CD4+) and white blood cell It has been used for the treatment of many count (WBC) which boosts the immune system common diseases including colds, flu, nausea, [23]. Study conducted by Arreola et al. 2005 on arthritis, asthma, and gastrointestinal complaints. garlic extract showed the reduction of expression Previous studies have shown that gingerol has of pro-inflammatory cytokines [24]. A been used against respiratory symptoms [16]. computational study was conducted to Computational studies have suggested that demonstrate the binding potential of gingerol, gingerol showed good interaction with proteins curcumin and allicin towards proteins (main (main protease, Cathepsin K and SARS-CoV3C protease, cathepsin K, SARS-CoV 3 C-like like protein) and less toxicity [17]. The docking protease) of SARS-CoV-2 and suggested that analysis of 50 phytochemicals with Nsp15 of binding affinities of allicin with proteases was SARS-CoV-2 have been done and found that lower as compare to curcumin and gingerol [17]. curcumin, gingerol, ursonic acid, In contrast to the finding of Oso et al. 2020, sarsasapogenin, ajmalicine, piperine, novobiocin, another computational study using molecular aranotin, alpha terpinyl acetate, silymarin, docking analysis with 7 natural compounds from rosmarinic acid bind to Nsp15 protein and might Allium sativum and Allium cepa (S-Allylcysteine play a significant role in inhibiting replication of sulfoxide (Alliin), S-Propyl cysteine, S- SARS-CoV-2 [18]. A randomized clinical trial is Allylcysteine, S-Ethylcysteine, S- going on in Shahid Mohammadi Hospital, Bandar Allylmercaptocysteine, S-Methylcysteine, S- Abbas, Iran where a total of 84 COVID-19 propyl L-cysteine) found that S-Allylcysteine patients were taken and categorised into two sulfoxide (Alliin) have best binding efficacy (-5.24 groups of 42 each (Intervention group and kcal/mol ) with the main protease of COVID-19 Control group). The intervention group (42 as compared to other compounds analysed. patients) will be given standard treatment with They suggested that S-Allylcysteine sulfoxide 1000 mg ginger thrice