Potential use of polyphenols in the battle against COVID-19

Curr Opin Food Sci. 2020 Apr:32:149-155. doi: 10.1016/j.cofs.2020.08.004. Epub 2020 Sep 9.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a public health emergency of international concern. The rising number of cases of this highly transmissible infection has stressed the urgent need to find a potent drug. Although repurposing of known drugs currently provides an accelerated route to approval, there is no satisfactory treatment. Polyphenols, a major class of bioactive compounds in nature, are known for their antiviral activity and pleiotropic effects. The aim of this review is to assess the effects of polyphenols on COVID-19 drug targets as well as to provide a perspective on the possibility to use polyphenols in the development of natural approaches against this viral disease.

Publication types

  • Review