Promising Plant for Covid-19 Purpose : from Basic Science Understanding to Therapeutic Studies

Background: Moringa plant contains many phytoconstituents such as flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, saccharides, glucosinolates, tannins, phenolic acids, nitrile glycosides etc. These complex natural phytochemicals contribute to its numerous physiological and pharmacological activities. COVID-19 virus SARS-CoV2 binds its receptor ACE2 and invades alveoli, nephron and other cells of the body and consequently inflammatory mediators like Tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and (IL-6) are produced; amplified and further cellular injury will ensue. Moringa plants phytochemicals such as flavonoids is well known in modulation of Renin Angiotensin system (RAS) particularly by inhibiting angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) which is the homologous of ACE2. It is also known for its inhibitory action against inflammatory mediators IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α, inhibitory action on reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, flavonoids containing plants such as Moringa has anti-viral activities. Objectives: By documenting and linking biological activities of Moringa plants and pathophysiology of COVID-19; it is hoped that this review will provide updated information that might help to re-purpose Moringa plants and other plants with similar phytoconstituents for COVID-19 and its complication. Methods: The literatures reviewed for this paper were obtained from PubMed and Google Scholar data bases journal papers which were published from 1996 to February 2020.