The global outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, has resulted in significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite extensive research, no definitive antiviral treatment has been established, and current management primarily includes supportive care and combination therapies. In this context, natural bioactive compounds have gained attention for their potential therapeutic value. Curcumin, a principal component of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), has long been used in traditional Asian medicine and is recognized as safe by regulatory authorities. Curcumin exhibits multiple pharmacological properties, including antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-pyretic and antiemetic effects, making it a promising complementary candidate for COVID-19 management. Previous studies have demonstrated curcumin’s antiviral activity against hepatitis viruses, influenza, Zika virus, chikungunya virus, HIV, HSV-2 and HPV, suggesting its broad-spectrum potential. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects may help counteract cytokine surge, oxidative stress, and respiratory complications seen in severe COVID-19 cases. Additionally, curcumin has shown efficacy in reducing fever, improving appetite, and alleviating symptoms associated with viral infections. While preclinical findings indicate encouraging outcomes, clinical evidence specific to COVID-19 remains limited. This review highlights the therapeutic promise of curcumin as a supportive treatment option for COVID-19 and emphasizes the need for well-designed clinical trials to validate its efficacy and safety in infected patients.
A major outbreak of highly contagious disease novel coronavirus (COVID19) has recently emerged as epidemic in China in December 2019. It spreads globally and soon become a global pandemic. This deadly disease is caused by novel Corona virus SARS-COV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) which belong to the family corona viridae. Coronaviruses, a single stranded positive sense RNA virus, transmitted among humans through respiratory droplets. The surge levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines result in development of acute respiratory distress in majority of patient. Along with this, mild to moderate clinical symptoms like are also present in Covid-19 patients. Till date specific antiviral therapy is available to treat COVID-19 patients. Combination therapy including antiviral agents, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are widely recommended by the clinician to combat the symptoms. In the context of preventive and supportive therapy, natural compounds having antiviral properties has been used. In line with this, curcumin, isolated from turmeric, is considered as one of the natural compounds that had been widely used as preventive major in developing countries like India [1].
Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) belongs to the family of ginger (Zingiberaceae) and naturally occur in India and Southeast Asia. The plants contain several secondary metabolites including curcuminoids, sesquiterpenes and steroids. Curcumin being major bioactive substance and one of the principles with the yellow pigmentation. Chemically, curcumin is a diferuloylmethane, a diarylheptanoid belonging to the class of natural phenols.
Curcumin is widely used as yellow in Europe. Previously, it was utilized mostly for leather and fabric but now a day it is used as a food coloring. Ground turmeric has been utilized as a spice for centuries in Asian country. It is also recognized as medicinal herb in Chinese and Indian medicine traditionally, where it is used to treat different diseased condition like depression, liver disorders, dermatological ailments, skin disorders. The use of curcumin does not have any toxic effect and the FDA recognized it as “Generally Recognized as Safe [2,3].”
Anti-Viral Effect of Curcumin
An antiviral activity of this compound was detected against several different viruses like hepatitis viruses, influenza viruses and Zika virus (ZIKV) or chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Moreover, it has also been demonstrated that this molecule inhibits human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) and human papillomavirus (HPV) also [4,5].
Antiemetic Effect of Curcumin
Curcumin is used to treat vomiting from ancient times in Asian Countries Curcumin with the dose of 20 mg/kg, intragastric, 3 days improved appetite of rats in chemotherapy induced by fluorouracil (5‐FU). Therefore, it may be effective to treat certain symptoms in COVID‐19 patient [6].
Anti‐Inflammatory and Antipyretic Effects of Curcumin
Anti‐inflammatory effects of curcumin in animal and human studies were reported previous. Also, in an invitro study, curcumin with dose of 100 mg/kg, i.p. has an antipyretic effect in rats. Curcumin can be used to mitigate headache and other related symptoms in Covid-19 patients [2,3].
Antioxidant Effects of Curcumin
In severe COVID‐19 infection, pneumonia results in hypoxemia. Occurrence of this condition disturbs the overall cell metabolism and reduces the energy supply. Then, this condition leads to acidosis and generation of excessive oxygen free radicals which in turn destroy the phospholipid layer of the cell membrane causing oxidative stress. Curcumin is reported to have antioxidant properties. Curcumin with dose of 1 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg increased the antioxidant enzyme profiling. Curcumin with administration of 200 mg/kg reduced oxidative stress [4,5].
COVID‐19 is regarded as global pandemic. But there is no definitive treatment yet for this disease. In this review, we stated the use of curcumin might be effective to treat COVID‐19.
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