A systematic review on nutraceuticals as a potential source of therapeutics against COVID-19 and other emerging viral diseases

Abstract COVID-19 is a respiratory viral disease caused by acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) that resulted in a significant pandemic. There is currently no effective antiviral medication to fight the deadly and extremely contagious COVID-19 virus. Some antiviral medicines acyclovir,...

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Main Authors: Pankaj Singh, Fareha Rayeen, Roli Singh, Manikant Tripathi, Pradeep Kumar Singh, Saba Ubaid, Neelam Pathak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-07-01
Series:Discover Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-07349-8
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author Pankaj Singh
Fareha Rayeen
Roli Singh
Manikant Tripathi
Pradeep Kumar Singh
Saba Ubaid
Neelam Pathak
author_facet Pankaj Singh
Fareha Rayeen
Roli Singh
Manikant Tripathi
Pradeep Kumar Singh
Saba Ubaid
Neelam Pathak
author_sort Pankaj Singh
collection DOAJ
description Abstract COVID-19 is a respiratory viral disease caused by acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) that resulted in a significant pandemic. There is currently no effective antiviral medication to fight the deadly and extremely contagious COVID-19 virus. Some antiviral medicines acyclovir, amantadine, and zanamivir etc., have been utilized to treat various DNA/RNA viral infections like herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), influenza virus, flu, etc. However, these antiviral drugs can lead to serious and potentially fatal complications like kidney disorders, liver and bile duct cancers, cirrhosis, heart failure, peripheral nerve disorders, irritability, depression, migraines, psychosis, diarrhoea, and vomiting. So, there is a need to find out natural and effective antiviral drugs against emerging viruses such as coronavirus variants; hepatitis C, hepatitis B, Ebola, influenza, polio, and HIV without any side effects. The aim of the present review is to explore natural plant-based therapeutics mainly from Glycyrrhiza glabra, Azadirachta indica, Aloe vera, Curcuma longa, Ocimum basilinum, Ocimum sanctum, Tinospora cordifolia etc., to treat the viral infection-related diseases such as COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, and herpes simplex virus (HPV). The review paper also highlights the modes of action of phytocompounds to determine the therapeutic value of natural plant extracts against viral diseases. The findings of this review paper suggest that these plants have a high amount of bioactive components, which potentially obstruct viral entry into the host cell, prevent viral multiplication, and boost immunity, which can be applied in creating new antiviral medications for treating viral infections.
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spelling doaj-art-d170be6498df4900b7f7fa160833075e2025-08-20T03:46:11ZengSpringerDiscover Applied Sciences3004-92612025-07-017812510.1007/s42452-025-07349-8A systematic review on nutraceuticals as a potential source of therapeutics against COVID-19 and other emerging viral diseasesPankaj Singh0Fareha Rayeen1Roli Singh2Manikant Tripathi3Pradeep Kumar Singh4Saba Ubaid5Neelam Pathak6Biotechnology Program, Dr. Rammanohar Lohia Avadh UniversityDepartment of Biochemistry, Dr. Rammanohar Lohia Avadh UniversityBiotechnology Program, Dr. Rammanohar Lohia Avadh UniversityBiotechnology Program, Dr. Rammanohar Lohia Avadh UniversityDepartment of Biochemistry, Dr. Rammanohar Lohia Avadh UniversityDepartment of Biochemistry, King George’s Medical UniversityDepartment of Biochemistry, Dr. Rammanohar Lohia Avadh UniversityAbstract COVID-19 is a respiratory viral disease caused by acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) that resulted in a significant pandemic. There is currently no effective antiviral medication to fight the deadly and extremely contagious COVID-19 virus. Some antiviral medicines acyclovir, amantadine, and zanamivir etc., have been utilized to treat various DNA/RNA viral infections like herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), influenza virus, flu, etc. However, these antiviral drugs can lead to serious and potentially fatal complications like kidney disorders, liver and bile duct cancers, cirrhosis, heart failure, peripheral nerve disorders, irritability, depression, migraines, psychosis, diarrhoea, and vomiting. So, there is a need to find out natural and effective antiviral drugs against emerging viruses such as coronavirus variants; hepatitis C, hepatitis B, Ebola, influenza, polio, and HIV without any side effects. The aim of the present review is to explore natural plant-based therapeutics mainly from Glycyrrhiza glabra, Azadirachta indica, Aloe vera, Curcuma longa, Ocimum basilinum, Ocimum sanctum, Tinospora cordifolia etc., to treat the viral infection-related diseases such as COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, and herpes simplex virus (HPV). The review paper also highlights the modes of action of phytocompounds to determine the therapeutic value of natural plant extracts against viral diseases. The findings of this review paper suggest that these plants have a high amount of bioactive components, which potentially obstruct viral entry into the host cell, prevent viral multiplication, and boost immunity, which can be applied in creating new antiviral medications for treating viral infections.https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-07349-8SARS-CoVViricidalRetrovirusesHepatitisTherapeuticsPhytonutrients
spellingShingle Pankaj Singh
Fareha Rayeen
Roli Singh
Manikant Tripathi
Pradeep Kumar Singh
Saba Ubaid
Neelam Pathak
A systematic review on nutraceuticals as a potential source of therapeutics against COVID-19 and other emerging viral diseases
Discover Applied Sciences
SARS-CoV
Viricidal
Retroviruses
Hepatitis
Therapeutics
Phytonutrients
title A systematic review on nutraceuticals as a potential source of therapeutics against COVID-19 and other emerging viral diseases
title_full A systematic review on nutraceuticals as a potential source of therapeutics against COVID-19 and other emerging viral diseases
title_fullStr A systematic review on nutraceuticals as a potential source of therapeutics against COVID-19 and other emerging viral diseases
title_full_unstemmed A systematic review on nutraceuticals as a potential source of therapeutics against COVID-19 and other emerging viral diseases
title_short A systematic review on nutraceuticals as a potential source of therapeutics against COVID-19 and other emerging viral diseases
title_sort systematic review on nutraceuticals as a potential source of therapeutics against covid 19 and other emerging viral diseases
topic SARS-CoV
Viricidal
Retroviruses
Hepatitis
Therapeutics
Phytonutrients
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-07349-8
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